After you’ve built a solid credit history with your first card, adding a second one can boost your credit score and provide new benefits.
The best second credit cards offer something more than your existing one, such as greater rewards in categories you spend the most on, like dining or travel.
The best second credit cards also give you access to more credit, which can improve your credit utilization ratio – a key factor in increasing your credit score. Your credit utilization ratio is the percentage of total credit you’re using. For example, if you have a credit card with a $1,000 limit and charge $300 on it, your credit utilization ratio is 30%. You should try to keep your credit utilization ratio below 30%.
Choosing the best second credit card will diversify your credit portfolio, which is smart for your long-term financial health.
What Makes a Good Credit Card Option for Adding Another to Your Rotation?
When adding another credit card to your wallet, consider rewards, consumer protection and other benefits to ensure the card complements your existing card while maximizing your spending ability.
Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card
The Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card’s 0% annual percentage rate on balance transfers and purchases remains in place for 15 months after you open your account.
You’ll get 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories you activate each quarter. You’ll also earn 5% cash back on travel by booking your trips through Chase Travel, 3% on dining (including takeout) and drug stores. All other purchases earn 1% cash back. Your cash-back rewards won’t expire as long as your account remains open, and there is no minimum to redeem for cash back.
The Chase Freedom Flex Card offers several layers of protection. You won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information, and your purchases will be covered up to $500 for 120 days from the date you bought them.
Chase also provides trip cancellation and interruption insurance. It will reimburse you up to $1,500 per covered traveler and $6,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable passenger fares if your trip is cut short by sickness, severe weather or other covered situations.
Your cell phone is also protected when you pay your bill with your credit card. Your monthly bill covers up to $800 per claim and $1,000 per 12-month period in protection against theft or damage for cellphones.
In addition, Chase offers 24/7 fraud monitoring and will text, email or call you if there are unusual purchases on your card.
Why We Picked It: You’ll receive a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months of opening your account. You can earn $50 cash back for referring friends and family to the card (up to $500).
Citi Double Cash Card
With the Citi Double Cash Card, you earn 2% cash back – 1% when you make a purchase and 1% when you pay your bill. However, you won’t earn cash back on balance transfers, cash advances, account fees, interest or returned items.
A big plus is that you don’t have to enroll in categories or track where you spend your money – you earn cash back on all purchases. You also get to choose how to redeem your points. You can get a statement credit, direct deposit or a check or use your points for gift cards and Shop with Points at Amazon.com.
You’ll also get $200 when you spend $1,500 on purchases within the first six months of opening your account.
Citi offers 24-hour fraud protection and will notify you if unusual activity is observed on your account. The card issuer also provides an ID Theft Protection program through Mastercard, which helps eliminate the worry of identity theft.
You’re also protected against unauthorized charges on your account.
Why We Picked It: For a limited time, you can earn 5% cash back on bookings through the Citi Travel portal – on top of the 1% when you buy and the 1% as you pay. The benefit is good through Dec. 31, 2025.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card offers a 0% annual percentage rate for the first 12 months you have your account. After that, your variable APR will be 19.24%, 24.24% or 29.4%
The card lets you earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases with no categories to track.
You’ll also get a $200 cash rewards bonus when you spend $500 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash credit card offers many benefits, including auto rental collision damage waivers that reimburse you for covered damage and theft, travel and emergency assistance services while traveling anywhere in the world, and roadside dispatch whenever you need a tow.
The card’s My Wells Fargo Deals grants you access to personalized deals from a variety of merchants. When you shop, dine or enjoy an experience paid for with your card, you earn cash back as an account credit.
The Credit Close-Up feature lets you track your FICO score and receive monthly updates and personalized credit insights.
Why We Picked It: The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card offers up to $600 of cellphone protection against damage or theft. This benefit is subject to a $25 deductible.
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
- Regular APR
19.24% – 29.99% Variable | Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express – Rates & Fees 29.99% variable for cash advances Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%
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The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express offers a 0% APR introductory offer on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date you open your account. After that, the variable APR increases from 18.24% to 29.24%.
As a special welcome, American Express will give you a $300 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your card within the first six months of opening your account.
The card’s benefits include a $7 monthly statement credit when you use your Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express to spend at least $9.99 monthly on a Disney Bundle subscription.
You’ll get special access to tickets and presales for sporting events, concerts, theater and more. Card members also get benefits such as Amex Fan Experiences and exclusive merchandise offers.
Card members can access American Express’s Global Assist Hotline when traveling more than 100 miles from home. The hotline will help members in emergencies from emergency coordination and assistance services.
Why We Picked It: At 6%, the American Express Blue Cash Preferred credit card offers one of the highest cash-back rates. You’ll get 6% cash back on up to $6,000 per year at U.S. supermarkets, select U.S. streaming subscriptions and 3% at U.S. gas stations and on transit.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card’s 75,000 bonus miles earned when you spend $4,000 within the first three months of opening your account is higher than many other cards.
You’ll also get unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase and 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. There are no foreign transaction fees, but the card requires an annual fee of $95.
The card’s security features include notifications through text, email and phone if Capital One suspects suspicious activity on your account or potential duplicate charges. You also won’t be liable for unauthorized charges and you can lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it is stolen or you lose it.
Why We Picked It: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a variety of travel benefits. Your miles don’t expire for the life of your account, and you’ll get benefits like price drop protection. The card also gives you up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck to let you skip lines at the airport, and you’ll have Hertz Five Star status to enjoy a larger selection of rental cars and skip that line, too.
Citi Custom Cash Card
The Citi Custom Cash Card offers 5% cash back on your top eligible spending category for each billing cycle up to $500, making it easy to earn bonus rewards without tracking rotating categories. You’ll earn 1% cash back on all other purchases. If you book hotels, car rentals and tickets to attractions through Citi Travel, you’ll earn 4% cash back through June 30, 2026.
The card also gives you $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months after opening your account.
You can set up automatic account alerts via email or mobile phone to stay informed about your balance levels, payments due or when you exceed your credit limit.
You’ll get Master Card’s identity theft protection and won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges on your account. You’ll also be able to look at your FICO Score anytime without impacting your credit score.
If your card is lost or stolen, you can use Citi Quick Lock to block new charges while allowing recurring charges to continue.
Citi also allows you to choose your payment date from due dates available at the beginning, middle or end of the month.
Why We Picked It: The Citi Custom Cash Card offers an introductory rate of 0% for 15 months on purchases from the date you open your account – three months longer than most other cards’ introductory rates. If you transfer your balance from another card, you’ll get the 0% rate for 15 months after completing the transfer.
Chase Freedom Unlimited Card
The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card offers a 0% APR introductory rate and no annual fee.
In addition to its generous cash-back rewards, the card offers benefits such as purchase protection, which covers your eligible new purchases for 120 days from the date of purchase against damage or theft up to $500 per item.
You’ll also be reimbursed for up to $1,500 per covered traveler and $6,000 per trip for your prepaid, nonrefundable passenger fares if your trip is canceled or cut short by illness, severe weather or other covered situations.
Chase monitors your account for fraud and will notify you if there are unusual purchases on your card.
The card also provides extended warranty protection for an additional year on eligible warranties of three or less for up to four years from the date of purchase.
You can also decline a car rental company’s collision insurance and charge because Chase will reimburse you for theft and collision damage for most rental vehicles. Just be aware that coverage in the United States is secondary to your insurance.
Why We Picked It: The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card gives you 1.5% cash back on every purchase plus 5% cash back on vacations booked through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on dining, including takeout and eligible deliveries, and 3% cash back in drugstores without having to enter codes.
How We Chose These 2nd Credit Card Options for Adding Another to Your Rotation
We focused on credit cards that likely complement an existing credit card, not just duplicate its features. We looked at category diversification, rewards, ease of redemption, annual and other fees. The issuer’s reputation and ease of use were also factors in determining the best second credit card to add to your wallet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a second credit card to my account?
Most banks will permit you to have multiple credit cards under the same account, but your approval depends on your credit score, income and payment history.
Is it better to combine 2 credit cards?
You’ll have a higher credit limit, simplified payment and possibly a lower interest rate if you combine two cards, but it could negatively impact your credit score, and you may lose some rewards. Not all credit card issuers allow you to combine cards.
Does being a secondary credit card holder help your credit?
A secondary credit card holder, also known as an authorized user, is a good way to start building credit if you don’t have a credit history. Be sure to choose a friend or family member with responsible credit habits and ensure the card issuer reports authorized user activity to the credit bureaus.