Who’s this for? The Petal Visa Credit Card is one of the few cards that charge no fees whatsoever. There are no annual fees, no late payment fees and no foreign transaction fees.

The application process for the Petal Visa Credit Card differs from most credit cards. Applicants link their bank accounts, and then Petal’s algorithm reviews the data, taking into account bill payments and earnings. This allows Petal to determine your eligibility from more than just your credit history. And if you have no credit history that’s OK — it’s not required. (It’s one of the reasons this card also tops our list of best cards for rebuilding your credit history.)

This card also has a rewards program: you can earn 1% cash back on all purchases, which rises to 1.5% after you make 12 on-time monthly payments. This is a great way to encourage responsible behavior, while earning cash back for everyday purchases.

Who’s this for? Many of the best cash-back cards require good or excellent credit, but there are some cards for people with fair/average credit that offer good cash-back rates. Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card gives consumers a competitive 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no limit on the amount of cash back you can earn. And cash back can be redeemed at any amount, without the typical $25 minimum some other cards set.

This card has a $39 annual fee, but the average American can earn $289 a year in cash back, which is more than enough to offset the fee. After five years, you could earn $1,444.

The Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card charges no foreign transaction fees and comes with travel accident insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver and 24-hour travel assistance services. Plus, you can get access to a higher credit limit after making your first five monthly payments on time.

Who’s this for? The Discover it® Secured Card is a best-in-class secured card offering cardholders the opportunity to build credit, earn rewards and easily transition to an unsecured card — all at no annual fee — and it tops our list of the best secured credit cards. Like most secured cards, you need to make a $200 security deposit to access a $200 credit limit. If you want a bigger credit limit, you’ll need to deposit more money (up to $2,500).

Cardholders earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter (then 1%) and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. There’s also a unique welcome bonus where Discover automatically matches any cash back you’ve earned after the first 12 billing cycles. If you earned $50 cash back at the end of the first year, Discover will give you an additional $50.

This card really sets itself apart from competing secured cards with the automatic monthly account reviews. Eight months after you open your card, Discover will look to see if you qualify to get your security deposit back, effectively transitioning you to an unsecured card. This takes the guesswork out of wondering when you should open an unsecured card.

CNBC Select doesn’t calculate the number of rewards you can earn with a secured credit card because the focus should be on building your credit history and practicing good financial habits rather than maximizing your rewards.

Who’s this for? If you travel often, it’s a good idea to choose a card that provides travel benefits that can save you money and protect you against unexpected issues. The Capital One® Platinum Credit Card offers a variety of travel benefits — most notably no foreign transaction fees.

This perk will save you the typical 3% fee many other cards charge on each purchase made outside the U.S. For example, the average American spends $2,154 a year on travel, and depending on how much of that is done abroad, you could potentially save up to $65 with the Platinum Credit Card from Capital One® (and even more depending on your travel spending habits).

This card also offers travel accident insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, roadside assistance and 24-hour travel assistance services — all at no extra cost, though third-party service fees apply for roadside assistance. These perks are a great way to make traveling less stressful and provide you with coverage for eligible issues.

This card doesn’t offer a rewards program, so you don’t have the opportunity to earn cash back, points or miles from your everyday spending. But with no annual fee, it can be a good starter card if you want to eventually upgrade to another card in the Capital One family.

Who’s this for? The Deserve Edu Mastercard is one of our top picks for college students looking to build credit, earn rewards and benefit from money-saving perks. This card has no annual fee and offers 1% cash back on all purchases. While the rewards rate isn’t the most competitive, you can also benefit from a free year of Amazon Prime Student (up to $59), which is a great way to enjoy free two-day shipping, discounts at Whole Foods Market and access to Prime Video.

This card is also good for international students since a social security number isn’t required. Plus, you don’t need to have a credit history. You do need to be over 18, enrolled in college and have a U.S. bank account.

Deserve doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees, which is helpful if you do a semester abroad or travel outside the U.S. during school breaks.

CNBC Select doesn’t calculate the number of rewards you can earn with a student credit card because the focus should be on building your credit history and practicing good financial habits rather than maximizing your rewards.