Introduction: Citi Diamond Preferred® Card vs Chase Freedom® Credit Card vs HSBC Platinum Credit Card vs. Wells Fargo Platinum Credit Card
For people with decent credit, finding a quality credit card that comes with competitive APR rates, low fees, and a great rewards program should be a number one priority.
However, with so many different credit card issuing companies out there, it can be difficult to find the right card for you.
The Chase Freedom® Credit Card, Citi Diamond Preferred® Card, HSBC Platinum Credit Card, and Wells Fargo Platinum Credit Card are four of the top cards currently on the market to help you make the most of your personal financial management.
In this brief article, AdvisoryHQ will offer a complete review of the Citi Preferred Card, the Chase Freedom cash back card, the Wells Fargo Platinum Card, and the HSBC Platinum card. We will look at what sets these top credit cards apart from other competitors.
Furthermore, in this Citi Diamond Preferred Credit Card, HSBC Platinum card, Wells Fargo Platinum Card, and Chase Freedom review, we will also compare the top features of each of these cards, including:
- Intro APR offers
- Regular APR for purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances
- Credit card fees
- Needed credit to apply
- Rewards programs
See Also: The Best Credit Card for Airline Miles | Guide | How to Find and Get the Best Credit Cards for Miles
What Makes the Citi Diamond Preferred, Chase Freedom Cash Back, Wells Fargo Platinum Card, and HSBC Platinum Card Stand Apart from the Rest?
There are numerous credit card issuing companies all offering the supposed “best” deals on the market. So, how is one supposed to choose from so many different offers and deals?
One of the most important features of the Citi Diamond Preferred, Chase Freedom cash back, Wells Fargo platinum credit card, and HSBC platinum credit card is that they are all offered by big name banks that are among the most well-known names in the industry.
Image Source: Chase Freedom® credit cards
The Citi Diamond preferred credit card is offered by Citibank which has been around for over 204 years, making it one of the oldest banks in the United States. Similarly, the Wells Fargo bank, which issues the Wells Fargo platinum credit card, recently ranked 7th on Forbes magazine’s Global 2000 list of largest public companies in the world.
HSBC offers the HSBC platinum credit card and is a truly international financial institution with over 22 billion in operating income. The Chase Freedom card benefits are some of the best on the market, largely because Chase bank had over 70 billion dollars in revenue in 2014.
The sheer size of these companies offering the Citi Preferred card, the quality Chase Freedom card benefits, the Wells Fargo Platinum Card, and the HSBC Platinum card allow them to offer better benefits, terms, and conditions than their competitors.
Comparison Review List
The list below is sorted alphabetically:
- Chase Freedom® Credit Card
- Citi Diamond Preferred® Card
- HSBC Platinum Credit Card
- Wells Fargo Platinum Credit Card
High-Level Comparison Table
Credit Card Names | Introductory APR Offer | Regular APR for purchases | Annual Fee |
| Chase Freedom® Credit Card | 0% for 15 months | 14.24% to 23.24% | None |
| Citi Diamond Preferred® Card | 0% for 21 months | 12.24% to 22.24% | None |
| HSBC Platinum Credit Card | 0% for 18 months | 13.24% to 23.24% | None |
| Wells Fargo Platinum Credit Card | 0% for 15 months | 15.40% to 25.24% | None |
Table: The above list is sorted alphabetically
Intro APR Offers
Many people looking to switch credit card companies often look for the best intro APR offers, and the Chase Freedom® Credit Card, Citi Diamond Preferred® Card, HSBC Platinum Credit Card, and Wells Fargo Platinum Credit Card all come with quality intro APR offers.
Citi Diamond Preferred offers the best deal, with a 0% intro APR for 21 months, while the HSBC platinum card is right behind, at 18 months. Both the Wells Fargo Platinum card and the Chase Freedom® Credit Card are last on the list, at 15 months. However, all of these cards offer the 0% intro for both regular purchases and balance transfers.
If you are stuck paying high interest on a low quality credit card that doesn’t offer you any perks or rewards, these top cards can offer you a window of between 15 and 21 months to pay off your debt. Furthermore, once you are out of debt, you can continue to use these cards at some of the better APRs on the market.
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Regular APR for Purchases, Balance Transfers, and Cash Advances
If you tend to carry a monthly balance on your credit cards, finding a card with a low APR should be your number one priority. While many credit card issuing companies may offer a low APR for purchases, they may hide their high APR for balance transfers or cash advances.
Photo Courtesy of Wells Fargo Corporation
It is important to research the APR for all types of purchases before signing up for any credit card. Below, you will find important information regarding the APRs for regular purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances offered by the Chase Freedom® Credit Card, Citi Diamond Preferred® Card, HSBC Platinum Credit Card, and Wells Fargo Platinum Credit Card.
Card Name | Purchase APR | Balance Transfer APR | Cash Advance APR | Link |
Chase Freedom Cash Back Card | 14.24% to 23.24% | 14.24% to 23.24% | 25.24% | Rates |
Citi Preferred Card | 12.24% to 22.24% | 12.24% to 22.24% | 25.49% | |
Wells Fargo Platinum Card | 13.24% to 23.24% | 13.24% to 23.24% | 25.24% | |
HSBC Platinum Card | 15.40% to 25.24% | 15.40% to 25.24% | 24.24% to 26.24% | Rates |
As you can see, all of these cards offer variable APRs that are the same for purchases and balance transfers. However, when it comes to cash advance, their rates are considerably higher. The Wells Fargo Platinum credit card has the highest cash advance APR, topping out over 26%.
Credit Card Fees
The credit card fees associated with these top credit cards are some of the best on the market. All of them come with no annual fee while still offering some of the best APRs out there. If you are planning on traveling abroad, however, some of these cards fare better than others.
One Chase freedom review considers that “like most cash-back cards, the Chase Freedom® charges a foreign transaction fee. Because of this, it’s not the perfect card to take with you on your next international getaway.” Similarly, the Citi Preferred Card and the Wells Fargo Platinum card also charge a foreign transaction fee.
Photo Courtesy of rewardscreditcards.org
If you are a world traveler and plan on using a card during your overseas travel, the HSBC Platinum card is your best bet since it is one of the only cards that offers absolutely no foreign transaction fees.
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Credit Needed to Apply
To apply for the best credit card deals, you obviously will need to have a halfway decent credit score. If your credit score is anywhere below the 600 to 650 range, chances are that you won’t be able to apply for any of the top cards we are reviewing here.
Since all of these cards offer a variable APR for purchases, the better your credit score, the lower APR you will be able to obtain.
The Citi Diamond Preferred offers the lowest APR for people with great credit, at 12.24% – one percent lower than its nearest competitor. If your credit score isn’t where you’d like it to be, however, the Wells Fargo Platinum credit card is your best option as you might be accepted with only average credit. Though you may end up being offered the high end, at a 25.24% APR, you can improve that APR through responsible use of your card over time.
Rewards Programs
Everyone loves a credit card that also offers a quality rewards program, and the Chase Freedom card benefits offer the most enticing rewards of the four options in this guide. One Chase Freedom review considers that “The Chase Freedom® card is popular among cash-back enthusiasts because of its unique earning structure.
Chase Freedom® Credit Card
With this card, you’ll earn 1% cash back on all purchases, plus 5% cash back on popular spending categories that rotate every quarter. Not only can you redeem points for statement credits (‘true’ cash back), you can also redeem your Ultimate Rewards points for other valuable benefits such as gift cards, products, and even travel.”
Furthermore, the Chase Freedom® credit card also offers a $150 bonus after you spend $500 during the first three months of owning the card. The Citi Diamond Preferred® Card, Wells Fargo platinum credit card, and HSBC platinum credit card do not offer comparable bonuses or reward programs.
However, these other three cards do offer other quality perks and benefits that are worth considering. The Wells Fargo Platinum credit card offers free access to your FICO credit score while the Citi Diamond Preferred® Card offers free car rental insurance and travel and emergency assistance. The HSBC Platinum credit card comes with emergency card replacement or a cash advance within 24 hours in the U.S. and within 2 business days elsewhere.
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Conclusion
When it comes to choosing between the Citi Diamond Preferred Credit Card, Chase Freedom card benefits, the HSBC Platinum Card or Wells Fargo Platinum Card, the best one for you will largely depend 0n your personal financial situation, your credit standing, and how you plan to use the card.
The HSBC platinum credit card may be the best option for world travelers while the Chase Freedom card benefits may be too sweet to ignore for those looking for quality cashback offers.
The Citi Diamond Preferred® Card is probably the best option for people searching for the longest introductory APR to start paying off their debt while the Wells Fargo Platinum card is available to people with lower credit scores.
Whichever card you choose, the Citi Diamond Preferred Credit Card, Chase Freedom card benefits, HSBC Platinum Card or Wells Fargo Platinum Card will help you regain control over your financial management and enjoy the benefits of some of the best cards on the market.
Read More: Top Credit Card Comparison | Guide | Best Ways to Compare Credit Cards Offers
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