The best credit cards for 2013
(MoneyWatch) Shopping for a credit card? Then take a gander at CardHub's list of what it says are the best credit cards for 2013.
CardHub is a reliable source of useful information about personal and business credit cards, and it regularly describes trends in the industry. CardHub says, for example, that the value of signup rewards is trending up; the average cash-based reward is 11 percent higher than a year ago, and miles-based rewards are up 12 percent. On the other hand, the site has found that zero percent introductory interest rates have peaked at a length of about 10 months, and has remained unchanged for the last 6 months.
- Smart ways to be a more savvy credit card owner
- Check credit card perks before you shop
- Calculate the best way to pay off credit card debt
So what credit cards might you want to look at this year? Here are CardHub's top three picks:
Chase Sapphire Preferred. After the cardholder spends $3.000, this card offers 40,000 bonus points, which can be redeemed for $400.
Blue Cash Preferred from American Express. CardHub claims this is one of the nest cards you can get for everyday spending. It offers 6 percent cash back from supermarkets, 3 percent cash back from gas stations and 1 percent everywhere else. It does have a $75 annual fee, but if you spend $1,000 in the first three months, you get a $150 bonus, which pays that fee for the first two years.
Capital One Venture Card. If you choose to redeem your points for travel-related expenses, you get the equivalent of 2 percent cash back across all purchases. If you spend $1,000 in the first three months, you get a $100 reward. There is a $99 fee, but you get the first year free.
Photo courtesy of Flickr user 401(K) 2013