Best credit cards of 2021

1. Chase Freedom Flex. I think this card debuted in 2020 and became an instant hit of sorts. It's as good a cash back card as you can find, with 5% returns on rotating categories to go with the fixed returns on things like restaurants and travel. You have to activate the alternating bonuses, which means there's a hands-on element to your rewards, but with no fee and lots of ways to get 5% back, it's obvious why this card is so popular.

2. Wells Fargo Propel AMEX. If the goal is to earn travel rewards, I like what I see with this option. No annual fee, low introductory APR, and you can earn double and triple points on a bunch of different categories. Some of these travel cards take too long to accrue usable points, but the variety of ways you can earn rewards with the Propel card takes care of that.

3. U.S. Bank Visa Platinum. For anyone looking to get debt under control or improve a credit score, this card offers a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 20 billing cycles. Hard to find a better option if you're doing some in-house debt consolidation.

4. Capital One Spark Cash for Business. Business owners need to have a good rewards card, otherwise you're pretty much throwing money away. This one has a $95 annual fee and an APR around 20, but you get 2% cash back on every purchase without a limit. As long as you pay off your balance regularly, you can save thousands each year just for buying the things you need to buy.

5. Blue Cash Preferred AMEX. 6% cash back on purchases at U.S. supermarkets. 6%! That's almost unheard of. If you have a big family or just buy a lot of fancy foods, you'll easily make up for the $95 annual fee.

6. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature. This one's a little more obscure but it's awesome for domestic travel. Growing list of U.S. cities, a lot of direct flights to Hawaii and Alaska, and you get a yearly companion ticket that essentially lets you get 2-for-1 travel. The $75 annual fee is reasonable and definitely outweighed by the perks.