By Ismat ManglaWhy Getting a New Credit Card Is a Good Idea
By Ismat Mangla
If you've had the same credit cards in your wallet for a while, it might be a good time to ask yourself whether you should get a new credit card. A new credit card can potentially unlock access to a number of benefits and savings you're not taking advantage of—and it can even improve your credit scores. Worried that getting a new card will hurt your already exceptional credit score? Think again. Below, we'll explain why getting a new credit card could be your next smart financial move.
You Can Increase Your Credit Card Rewards Earnings
If you haven't gotten a new rewards card in a while, it's worth taking another look at what's out there. The credit card landscape has become increasingly competitive in recent years, with issuers adding all sorts of intro bonuses and perks to sweeten the pot. Many travel rewards cards now offer benefits like fee credits for trusted traveler programs. Intro bonuses are impressively high, and there are a number of new cards that let you maximize your rewards earnings based on how you spend.
Best rewards cards of 2026
Compare cards from our partners that earn points, cash back or miles on everyday spending.
Offers from our partners
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Intro bonus:
As High As $200 Cash Back. Find Out Your Offer.
You may be eligible for as high as $200 cash back after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars, redeemable for statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Terms Apply.
Intro APR:0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable
Rewards:
1% - 3% (cash back)
Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on eligible purchases for each category on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
Annual Fee:$0
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Intro bonus:
$100
Earn a $100 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Intro APR:0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Ongoing APR:18.74%, 24.74%, or 28.74% Variable APR
Rewards:
2% (Cash Rewards)
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
Annual Fee:$0
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
Intro APR:0% for 15 months on Balance Transfers
Ongoing APR:19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
Rewards:
2x (Miles per dollar)
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services. Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Save 25% on inflight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights
Annual Fee:$0
Credit One Bank® Secured Card
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:
1% (cash back)
Earn 1% cash back rewards on eligible gas, grocery purchases and mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services. Terms apply.
Annual Fee:$0
Citi Strata Premier® Card
Intro bonus:
60,000 Points
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Ongoing APR:19.74% - 27.74% (Variable)
Rewards:
1x - 10x (Points per dollar)
Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com. Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Annual Fee:$95
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Intro bonus:
100,000 Bonus Points
Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable
Rewards:
2x - 6x (Points per dollar)
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee:$650
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card
Intro bonus:
85,000 Bonus Points
Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable
Rewards:
2x - 6x (Points per dollar)
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. Supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points). Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee:$250
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:29.99%*
Rewards:
1% (cash back)
Cash back will be awarded as points redeemable for a statement credit
Annual Fee:$0*
See all our best rewards credit cards for 2026.
You Can Save Money on Qualifying Interest
If you typically carry a balance on your credit cards, it's smart to shop for the card with the lowest interest rate possible. Your credit scores may have improved since the last time you applied for a card, which means you probably qualify for cards at lower rates now. Or you may be able to take advantage of a promotional rate that can save you money as you pay down your debt.
For example, a number of cards currently offer generous introductory 0% annual percentage rate (APR) financing. That means you can put your spending on one of these cards and pay off the debt during a promotional financing period without paying any interest.
Find some of the best low interest credit cards for your needs.
Unsure how to determine whether you qualify for a credit card for your needs? Sign up for Experian's card comparison tool for free. It can pair you with the credit cards you qualify for based on your FICO® ScoreΘ. Once you are matched with cards, you can compare them by features and card type.
You Can Improve Your Credit Scores
One of the common myths associated with opening a new credit card is that it will hurt your credit score. In fact, opening a new card—whether your credit score is already excellent or needs a little work—can actually help your credit in the long run. That's because a new line of credit can actually improve your credit utilization ratio, or the amount of credit you use in relation to the amount of credit you have available to you. This is one of the most important factors in calculating your credit scores.
Your credit utilization ratio is calculated by adding all your credit card balances at any given time and dividing that by your total credit limit. For example, if you typically have total balances of about $2,000 each month, and your total credit limit across all your cards is $10,000, your utilization ratio is 20%. But if you add another card to your wallet (increasing your total credit limit) but keep your spending the same, your utilization ratio will decrease.
Experts suggest keeping your utilization ratio below 30% and, for the best scores, below 6%.
You can get your FICO® Score from Experian to see where your utilization ratio currently stands.
Now, if you're concerned that a hard inquiry on your credit report will drag your credit scores down, take comfort. Typically, a hard inquiry for a new credit card only sets your score back a few points for a short period of time, generally less than 12 months. Your score rebounds from a hard inquiry pretty quickly. As long as you're not applying for multiple new lines of credit at once and paying your bills on time, your credit scores are safe.
What's more, a diversity of different types of credit on your credit report is also a good thing. Credit mix is one of the factors that go into determining your credit scores, and if you can demonstrate that you can handle a variety of accounts, your scores will benefit.
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About the author
Ismat Mangla
Ismat Sarah Mangla is a veteran journalist with a background in writing about money and religion, though not necessarily at the same time. Her writing has appeared in Time, Fortune, Money, CNNMoney, Quartz, MarketWatch, Al Jazeera America, International Business Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Detroit Free Press and Michigan Alumnus magazine.
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