2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING BEST VISA CARDS
Whether you’re searching for the best Visa credit card through Bank of America, Chase, U.S. Bank, or any number of other banks, you need to know what to look for. Comparing rates, fees, and incentives with the top Visa credit cards can be tedious, but it is critical to success.
Award Emblem: Top 6 Best Visa Credit Cards & Offers
AdvisoryHQ has noticed just how much interest there is in uncovering the best Visa cards available. Our compilation of the top Visa credit cards will give you a quick overview and thorough analysis of what allowed them to qualify as the best Visa card options.
Want to know more about what Visa card offers are available? Join us as we go through a detailed review and breakdown of the best Visa cards around.
See Also: Top Best Hotel Rewards Programs & Hotel Credit Cards | Ranking and Reviews
AdvisoryHQ’s List of the Top 6 Best Visa Cards
List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the credit card names below to go directly to the detailed review section for that credit card):
- BankAmericard Cash Rewards™ Credit Card
- BankAmericard Travel Rewards® Credit Card
- Chase Freedom® Credit Card
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card
- Chase Slate® Credit Card
- U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card
Top 6 Best Visa Cards | Brief Comparison & Ranking
Credit Card Names | Annual Fee | APR | 0% APR intro offer duration |
| BankAmericard Cash Rewards™ Credit Card | None | 13.24%–23.24% | 12 months |
| BankAmericard Travel Rewards® Credit Card | None | 15.24%–23.24% | 12 months |
| Chase Freedom® Credit Card | None | 14.24%–23.24% | 15 months |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card | Waived the first year, $95 after | 16.24%–23.24% | 12 months |
| Chase Slate® Credit Card | None | 13.24%–23.24% | 15 months |
| U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card | $29 | 19.24% | N/A |
Table: Top 6 Best Visa Cards | Above list is sorted alphabetically
How Does APR Work on Visa Credit Cards?
Image source: Pixabay
When you compare any of the best Visa cards, it’s easy to get caught up in the details without really understanding what they mean. You can see the interest rates, but how to do you make them translate to what the APR means for your final bill?
Visa credit card offers typically come with very competitive and low interest rates, also referred to as APR. The term “APR” stands for your annual percentage rate, the amount of interest that you will pay over the course of the year.
The APR of your Visa credit cards will only apply to balances that are carried over from one month to the next. For example, if you only make the minimum payment instead of paying the full balance each month, you will be subject to interest on the amount rolled over onto next month’s Visa credit card bill.
Also keep in mind that some of the top Visa credit card options will have varying APRs. The figures may look different on purchases that you make with your best Visa card and on balance transfers from other cards.
While you will typically have a standard APR offered on your best Visa credit card, you may also receive some Visa card offers that pertain to interest rates. Many of the Visa rewards credit cards will come with a 0% introductory APR for either purchases or balance transfers. The very best Visa credit card offers will apply to both.
You should know what the APR will return to when these Visa credit card offers end. Knowing in advance what interest rates you could face can mean the difference between responsibly managing your debt and becoming enslaved to it.
AdvisoryHQ’s Selection Methodology
What methodology does AdvisoryHQ use in selecting and finalizing the credit cards, financial products, firms, services, and products that are ranked on its various top-rated lists?
Please click here “AdvisoryHQ’s Ranking Methodologies” for a detailed review of AdvisoryHQ’s selection methodologies for ranking top-rated credit cards, financial accounts, firms, products, and services.
Detailed Review—Top Ranking Best Visa Cards
Below, please find the detailed review of each credit card on our list of top Visa credit cards. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these Visa credit cards to score so high in our selection ranking.
BankAmericard Cash Rewards™ Credit Card Review
Opt for the simplicity of Visa rewards credit cards with this BankAmericard Cash Rewards™ Credit Card. You receive cash back, low introductory APR offers, and no annual fee.
Image source: bankofamerica.com
Card Benefits
The BankAmericard Cash Rewards™ Credit Card gives you a simplified rewards program that makes earning cash back easy. You automatically earn 1% cash back on all purchases as your base rate. However, you also have the opportunity to earn additional cash back:
- 2% cash back at grocery stores or wholesale clubs
- 3% cash back on gas.
Maximize your rewards with these top Visa credit cards when you redeem your cash back into a Bank of America checking or savings account. Doing so could score you an additional 10% cash bonus. Preferred Rewards clients will benefit even more with bonus increases ranging from 25% to 75%.
Even better, you can receive a $100 online cash rewards bonus offer after you make $500 in purchases in the first three months.
Rates and Fees
Which Visa credit card offers allowed the BankAmericard Cash Rewards™ Credit Card to rank as one of the best Visa cards? First, they have an extremely low introductory offer. Enjoy 0% APR for the first twelve billing cycles on purchases (or on balance transfers made within the first sixty days of your open account).
After that point, you’ll face variable APR ranging between 13.24% and 23.24% APR.
What does it cost to keep the BankAmericard Cash Rewards™ Credit Card in your wallet? Annually, this best Visa credit card won’t cost you a dime. Between the introductory interest rates and no annual fees, this BankAmericard Cash Rewards™ Credit Card is certainly one of the top Visa credit cards.
BankAmericard Travel Rewards® Credit Card Review
Named the “Best Travel Rewards credit card” by Kiplinger’s 2015 Best List, the BankAmericard Travel Rewards® Credit Card certainly qualifies as one of the best Visa cards you could choose. Enjoy no annual fee and generous mile accumulation with your everyday spending.
Image source: bankofamerica.com
Rewards Programs
For every one dollar that you spend on purchases, you’ll earn an unlimited amount of points at a rate of 1.5 points per dollar. Better yet, as part of the Visa credit card benefits, those miles and rewards will never expire, and you never max out your spending in certain categories. These Visa credit card benefits give consumers a simple way to earn miles without worrying about what categories their spending falls into.
Rewards are redeemable in the form of statement credits toward flights, hotels, vacations, cruises, car rentals, and baggage fees.
Other perks included with this top Visa credit card are also worth mentioning. You’ll find no foreign transaction fees, ideal for those who travel often overseas.
Right now, the BankAmericard Travel Rewards® Credit Card also allows you to earn online bonus points. With $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days, you can earn 20,000 online bonus points. Continue to qualify for a 10% point bonus when deposited into a Bank of America checking or savings account and larger bonuses for Bank of America Preferred Rewards clients.
Rates and Fees
Consumers who are interested in making a large purchase initially may want to take advantage of the Visa credit card offers made by the BankAmericard Travel Rewards® Credit Card. For the first twelve billing cycles, you’ll have a 0% introductory APR. After this period expires, expect variable APR ranging from 15.24% to 23.24%.
Like many of the other best Visa cards, the BankAmericard Travel Rewards® Credit Card also has no annual fee.
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Chase Freedom® Credit Card Review
Earn quick cash back rewards with base rates and bonus categories with this highly competitive contender for the best Visa credit card, the Chase Freedom® Credit Card.
Rewards Program
The unique rewards program offered through this best Visa credit card allows you to earn extra cash back with flexible spending categories. All purchases will qualify for an unlimited and automatic 1% cash back. According to various parts of the year, you have the opportunity to earn up to 5% cash back among preselected categories and merchants.
To give you a few examples, the 2016 bonus categories for this best Visa credit card were gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and department stores. These categories are relatively achievable for most consumers who would shop there regardless. The extra cash back is valid for a maximum of $1,500 spent in each activated quarter.
You can also earn a $150 bonus when you make your first $500 in purchases over the course of the first 90 days. A second bonus of a lesser amount ($25) will apply when you add your first authorized user who makes a purchase in the first 90 days.
Rates and Fees
One of the biggest draws for these best Visa cards is the introductory 0% APR, valid for the first fifteen months on both purchases and balance transfers. When this period ends, you’ll face highly competitive rates, with variable APRs ranging from 14.24% to 23.24% depending on your creditworthiness.
The Chase Freedom® Credit Card shares another common trait with several of the other top Visa credit cards as well. You’ll pay no annual fee, which makes earning rewards with this best Visa credit card simple and poses no risk to you financially.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card Review
Travel rewards are easy to obtain and make use of with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card. You’ll find competitive interest rates and your annual fee will be waived for the first year.
Rewards Program
For consumers who prefer to travel, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card provides easy ways to reward your everyday purchases. As a base rate, you receive one point per dollar on every purchase but those who travel will benefit even more. Travel and dining (ranging from airfare, hotels, fine dining, cafes) will net you double the rewards points.
When you opt to redeem your bonus points for more travel accommodations (including airfare, hotels, car rentals, cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards), they have more value. They are worth 25% more than they would be otherwise.
When you first open your account, this best Visa credit card allows you to receive a bonus of 50,000 points when you spend your first $4,000 over the course of 90 days from the time your account opened. When redeemed for more travel, those points could be worth up to $625.
Frequent flyers who are already members of a frequent travel program can transfer their points in a 1:1 ratio. You’ll also have the added advantage of having:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
- Auto rental collision damage
- Baggage delay insurance
Rates and Fees
This Visa card offers an annual fee that will be waived for the first year of membership. Afterward, the annual fee on these top Visa credit cards will come in at $95 per year. This puts the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card at a higher rate compared to some of the other top Visa credit cards on our ranking.
You also forego an introductory interest promotion with this best Visa credit card. Instead, you will automatically find that any remaining balance on your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card will be subject to a variable APR between 16.24% and 23.24% based on your creditworthiness.
Chase Slate® Credit Card Review
The Chase Slate® Credit Card is one of the top Visa credit cards for consumers who are looking to make a balance transfer and get out of debt faster. With no balance transfer fees, no annual fees, and low interest rates, you’ll love the Chase Slate® Credit Card.
Account Features
The Chase Slate® Credit Card is one of the top Visa credit card choices for consumers focused on getting out of debt. With these best Visa credit cards, you receive a truly rare option: no balance transfer fees when you transfer balances within the first 60 days of membership.
Future balance transfers are subject to their usual rates and fees (5% or a minimum of $5, depending on the amount transferred). However, with the low interest rates and introductory offers on this best Visa card option, you have the opportunity to transfer all of your balances onto this card and make the most of their low rates and opportunities.
Individuals who are accustomed to making their payments late will also enjoy the lack of penalty APR. Other account pricing will apply, but you won’t be penalized via the APR on your account.
If you’re looking to build up your credit score, you also receive monthly access to your FICO score at no additional cost. It allows you to both pay down your debt and to watch your credit score rise simultaneously.
Rates and Fees
The Chase Slate® Credit Card is one of the best Visa cards for quickly reducing your debt, in part because of the no balance transfer fees and in part because of its usual rates and fees.
Over the course of the first 15 months, you will have a 0% introductory APR. The extremely long time for which this reward is granted is a top reason why this Visa credit card qualified as one of the best Visa card choices available. When this offer expires, consumers can expect variable APRs from 13.24% to 23.24%, very competitive with some of the other best Visa credit cards.
The Chase Slate® Credit Card also has no annual fee. The low cost of maintaining this selection from among the best Visa credit cards makes the Chase Slate® Credit Card an all-around winner.
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U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card Review
Finding the right Visa credit card to help you rebuild or establish your credit can be a challenge. However, this U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card can assist you with that and grant you access to other features inherent to top Visa credit cards.
Image source: usbank.com
Account Features
The U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card provides you with one of the best Visa cards around that can help you to begin rebuilding or even just being establishing your credit history. While you will need to make a deposit that provides the bank with collateral in case you don’t ultimately make your payments, this best Visa credit card is fairly low-cost and has great perks.
You won’t find the U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card qualifying as one of the top Visa rewards credit cards, but you do maintain zero fraud liability and fraud protection to keep your money and information safe. Other perks of this Visa credit card include automatic bill pay, online banking, and FlexControl to assist you with making payments and avoiding late fees or interest.
Perks not often found with secured credit cards are also included with accounts that utilize the U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card. These top Visa credit cards offer you auto rental insurance at no additional cost. This is automatically applied when you use this card for payment.
Rates and Fees
What can you expect the U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card to cost you? For starters, you will be hit with a minimal annual membership fee of just $29. Compared to some of the best Visa credit cards, this may seem high, but it still comes in low in comparison to others.
The interest rates are fairly competitive with those of other secured cards and even fall in line with those offered by some of the top Visa credit cards. The average APR for both purchases and balance transfers will be a variable percentage of 19.24% (based on the Prime Rate).
While the U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card doesn’t offer any of the better benefits in regards to introductory APR offers or no annual fees, it is nevertheless one of the best Visa cards. The rates associated with it are still nominal in comparison to some other choices.
Conclusion—Top 6 Best Visa Cards
The determination of which of these Visa credit card offers is going to be the best fit for your wallet is solely up to you. Which of the Visa credit card offers do you feel is likely to benefit you the most?
You have plenty of choices from one of the leading names in the credit card industry. You would be hard-pressed to say that you couldn’t find a single option that you would qualify as one of the top Visa credit cards for you. Their vast selection is a part of what makes them so popular among their customers.
Decide which of these Visa credit card benefits is going to be the most appealing to you. Then, make the most of our comprehensive guide to the top Visa credit cards available to make a decision. Which one will you apply for?
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AdvisoryHQ (AHQ) Disclaimer:
Reasonable efforts have been made by AdvisoryHQ to present accurate information, however all info is presented without warranty. Review AdvisoryHQ’s Terms for details. Also review each firm’s site for the most updated data, rates and info.
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