Overview of the Best Barclays Credit Cards
Barclays is one of the newer issuers of credit cards in the United States. However, after a little over a decade, they have quickly become a favorite for many households. The biggest reasons are because they offers one of the most valuable flat-rate travel cards on the market, plus they waive fees and provide 0% interest to active military personnel. A look through the Barclays credit card list and you will notice a common theme...corporate partners. You will find everything from American Airlines, Choice Hotels, and even the NFL. We have taken each card through a strict grading process to determine which card might be the best for your individual needs. See More
| Best for | Category Winner | Annual Fee | First Year Rewards | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Profit-sharing | Barclaycard Ring® Mastercard® | $0 | N/A |
 | Airline Rewards | JetBlue Plus Card | $99 | $555 |
 | Travel | Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® | $89 (waived first year) | N/A |
Best Barclays Credit Card for Profit-sharing
Barclaycard Ring® Mastercard®
Benefits
The Barclaycard Ring® Mastercard®, while lacking rewards, provides solid cardholder benefits elsewhere, namely only having few fees and a low interest rate.
No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees are also great perks and mean this card will be a welcome additional to a frequent traveler’s wallet.
The rest of your card’s benefits are up for grabs depending on what you, the cardholder, and the rest of the Barclaycard Ring community wants most. Barclay offers a unique program that allows members to voice their ideas for potential card features, along with a voting system to make the final decision.
Things to Consider
If you’re hoping to benefit from a credit card rewards program, you won’t find that with this card. Furthermore, you’ll need good to excellent credit to qualify for the Barclaycard Ring® Mastercard®.
Verdict
If you are looking for a card with a low APR and almost no fees, then Barclaycard Ring® Mastercard® is a great option.
- No annual fee
- No balance transfer fee on transfers completed after the first 45 days
- Low 14.24% Variable APR on purchases, balance transfers and cash advances
- No foreign transaction fee
- 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months on transfers completed in the first 45 days
- Either 2% or $5 whichever is greater balance transfer fee on transfers completed within the first 45 days
- No traditional rewards system
More Details
- Enjoy a 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening. After that, a variable 14.24% APR will apply
- Low 14.24% variable APR on purchases and cash advances
- NEW – Control Your Card – Instantly secure your accounts by locking your cards with Barclays SecurHold™, plus set transaction limits and block certain purchase categories for you or your authorized users. Available only on the Barclays mobile app.
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- International Chip and PIN
Benefits
The Barclaycard Ring® Mastercard®, while lacking rewards, provides solid cardholder benefits elsewhere, namely only having few fees and a low interest rate.
No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees are also great perks and mean this card will be a welcome additional to a frequent traveler’s wallet.
The rest of your card’s benefits are up for grabs depending on what you, the cardholder, and the rest of the Barclaycard Ring community wants most. Barclay offers a unique program that allows members to voice their ideas for potential card features, along with a voting system to make the final decision.
Things to Consider
If you’re hoping to benefit from a credit card rewards program, you won’t find that with this card. Furthermore, you’ll need good to excellent credit to qualify for the Barclaycard Ring® Mastercard®.
Verdict
If you are looking for a card with a low APR and almost no fees, then Barclaycard Ring® Mastercard® is a great option.
Best Overall Airline Rewards Card
JetBlue Plus Card
Offer is no longer available through our site.
Benefits
The JetBlue Plus Card offers one of the strongest rates of any travel rewards credit card on the market. The card offers a whopping 6 points on purchases made directly with JetBlue, 2 points on dining out and groceries and 1 point on other purchases. The points you earn don’t expire and there are no blackout dates, giving you the chance to use your points however you’d like.
JetBlue does a fantastic job of keeping those rewards coming with an annual 5,000-point bonus after your account anniversary. You’ll also get 10% points back every time you redeem. In-flight spending also features some major perks, like 50% off eligible in-flight purchases of cocktails and food, as well as your first checked bag free on JetBlue-operated flights.
After you book your trip with JetBlue, feel free to bring your card with you abroad, as there are no foreign transaction fees. Plus, if you need to make a balance transfer, you’ll have the opportunity to do so without any interest for a full year.
Things to Consider
The $99 annual fee associated with this card is easily its most significant drawback. For some people, it may even be a deal breaker. You’ll have to decide for yourself if the benefits are worth the price tag for you.
Verdict
If you’re looking for an airline-based rewards program, there’s no better choice out there than the JetBlue Plus Card. Between the massive bonus earnings, the service discounts and the 6 rewards points afforded for all JetBlue purchases, this card is an incredibly attractive contender, especially for loyal JetBlue customers.
- Earn 30,000 bonus points by spending $1,000 during the first 90 days
- 6 points on JetBlue purchases, 2 points at restaurants and grocery stores and 1 point everywhere else
- 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 15 billing cycles (for transfers posted within the first 45 days)
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free first checked bag for primary cardmember
- $99 annual fee
- 15.99%, 19.99% or 24.99% Variable APR
More Details
- Earn 40,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days
- Earn 6 points per $1 on eligible JetBlue purchases, 2 points per $1 at restaurants and grocery stores and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- No blackout dates on JetBlue-operated flights & redeem for any seat, any time on JetBlue-operated flights. Points required for an Award Flight will vary based on the published base fare at the time of booking
- Points awarded in your TrueBlue account don't expire
- Earn and share points together with Family Pooling
- Earn 5,000 bonus points every year after your account anniversary
- 50% savings on eligible inflight purchases like cocktails and food & the first checked bag is free for you and three companions on JetBlue-operated flights
- Enjoy TrueBlue Mosaic benefits for one year after you spend $50,000 or more on purchases each calendar year with your card
- Enjoy a $100 statement credit after purchasing a JetBlue Vacations package of $100 or more with your JetBlue Plus Card
Annual Fee
$99Purchase Intro APR
N/ABalance Transfer Intro APR
0% intro APR for 12 billing cycles (for balance transfers posted within first 45 days)Regular APR
15.99%, 19.99% or 24.99% VariableOffer is no longer available through our site.
Benefits
The JetBlue Plus Card offers one of the strongest rates of any travel rewards credit card on the market. The card offers a whopping 6 points on purchases made directly with JetBlue, 2 points on dining out and groceries and 1 point on other purchases. The points you earn don’t expire and there are no blackout dates, giving you the chance to use your points however you’d like.
JetBlue does a fantastic job of keeping those rewards coming with an annual 5,000-point bonus after your account anniversary. You’ll also get 10% points back every time you redeem. In-flight spending also features some major perks, like 50% off eligible in-flight purchases of cocktails and food, as well as your first checked bag free on JetBlue-operated flights.
After you book your trip with JetBlue, feel free to bring your card with you abroad, as there are no foreign transaction fees. Plus, if you need to make a balance transfer, you’ll have the opportunity to do so without any interest for a full year.
Things to Consider
The $99 annual fee associated with this card is easily its most significant drawback. For some people, it may even be a deal breaker. You’ll have to decide for yourself if the benefits are worth the price tag for you.
Verdict
If you’re looking for an airline-based rewards program, there’s no better choice out there than the JetBlue Plus Card. Between the massive bonus earnings, the service discounts and the 6 rewards points afforded for all JetBlue purchases, this card is an incredibly attractive contender, especially for loyal JetBlue customers.
Best Barclays Credit Card for Travel
Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard®
Benefits
If you are looking for a travel credit card with a high sign-up bonus, generous rewards for purchases and flexible redemption options, then Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® is for you. When you sign up, you’ll receive a 70,000-mile bonus after spending $5,000 within the first 90 days.
You will then receive 2x miles for every dollar that you spend with your card. When it comes time to redeem your miles, you can do so for statement credits on any travel expense. Every 10,000 miles that you redeem is worth a $100 statement credit. Plus, each time you redeem miles, you will receive 5% back into your account.
In addition to being a great card for rewards, it also offers an introductory 0% APR for 12 billing cycles (on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening). After the introductory period is over, the APR will change to 18.24%, 22.24% or 25.24% Variable. There is also a fee on all balance transfers of 3%, minimum $5.
Things to Consider
Like most travel reward cards, Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® has an annual fee. The fee is $89, though it is waived the first year. Before you make the decision to apply for this card, make sure the miles you can earn justify paying an annual fee.
Verdict
If you are looking for a travel credit card with flexible redemption options, then Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® is the perfect choice. This card will allow you to use your rewards toward travel purchases, which most cards won’t cover.
- Earn 70,000-mile sign-up bonus after spending $5,000 within 90 days
- Earn unlimited double miles on all purchases
- Introductory 0% APR for 12 billing cycles (on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening)
- No foreign transaction fees
- Receive a 5% bonus each time miles are redeemed
- $89 annual fee
- No ability to earn bonus miles of spending within different categories
More Details
- Enjoy 70,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase
- NEW – Control Your Card – Instantly secure your accounts by locking your cards with Barclays SecurHold™, plus set transaction limits and block certain purchase categories for you or your authorized users. Available only on the Barclays mobile app.
- Book travel your way—no airline, seat or hotel restrictions—and redeem your miles for travel statement credits
- Get 5% miles back to use toward your next redemption, every time you redeem
- No foreign transaction fees
- International Chip and PIN for use at self-service chip terminals around the world
- Miles don’t expire as long as your account is open, active and in good standing
Annual Fee
$89 (waived first year)Purchase Intro APR
N/ABalance Transfer Intro APR
0% for 12 Billing Cycles (for balance transfers completed within first 45 days)Regular APR
18.24%, 22.24% or 25.24% VariableBenefits
If you are looking for a travel credit card with a high sign-up bonus, generous rewards for purchases and flexible redemption options, then Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® is for you. When you sign up, you’ll receive a 70,000-mile bonus after spending $5,000 within the first 90 days.
You will then receive 2x miles for every dollar that you spend with your card. When it comes time to redeem your miles, you can do so for statement credits on any travel expense. Every 10,000 miles that you redeem is worth a $100 statement credit. Plus, each time you redeem miles, you will receive 5% back into your account.
In addition to being a great card for rewards, it also offers an introductory 0% APR for 12 billing cycles (on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening). After the introductory period is over, the APR will change to 18.24%, 22.24% or 25.24% Variable. There is also a fee on all balance transfers of 3%, minimum $5.
Things to Consider
Like most travel reward cards, Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® has an annual fee. The fee is $89, though it is waived the first year. Before you make the decision to apply for this card, make sure the miles you can earn justify paying an annual fee.
Verdict
If you are looking for a travel credit card with flexible redemption options, then Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® is the perfect choice. This card will allow you to use your rewards toward travel purchases, which most cards won’t cover.
Methodology SmartAsset has developed a quantitative and independent system for evaluating the relative value of a credit card offer versus other offers in the marketplace. Our system evaluates cards based exclusively on their features, such as their rewards earning rate (if applicable), fees, perks, and rewards program redemption options. The annual rewards values on this page are calculated using annual spending assumptions in various categories such as, but not limited to, gas, restaurants, airfare, and US supermarkets. These spending assumptions are built on research that SmartAsset has conducted on existing student credit cardholders. Our promise with our credit card recommendations is that we will always strive to have the most comprehensive, accurate, and objective method of evaluating credit card offers. Any recommendations are solely determined by the result of this research and model, and is never influenced by any fees, commissions, or other forms of compensation that SmartAsset may receive from credit card issuers for leads generated on our website.
