By KBC Associate 
We spend a lot of time discussing travel and the best credit cards for things like no foreign transaction fees, restaurants, supermarkets and more. We also have guides to the best credit cards for students, but another group that deserves its own consideration is seniors and retirees, given their differing lifestyles from these other groups.
Let’s review which credit cards for this group can help you navigate your senior years with perks and benefits geared specifically toward your needs.
The best credit cards for retirees and seniors
These cards offer quality earning structures, low annual percentage rates (APRs) and other perks that should be attractive for people in their later years who may have less disposable income due to no longer working. Let’s look at the best everyday credit cards for retirees and seniors.
*The information for the AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard and Fidelity Rewards Visa has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Welcome bonus: Earn 6% cash back for the first year from account opening in your choice category. Plus, get a $200 online cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
Annual fee: $0.
Why we like it: The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card has no annual fee and allows you to choose a category where you earn 6% cash back (for the first year, then 3%) on spending on the first $2,500 and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs on the first $2,500 of combined spending in these categories each quarter (then 1%) and 1% back on all other purchases.
Where this card can excel is if you are a member of Bank of America Preferred Rewards®. Eligible members can earn an up-to-75% bonus on credit card rewards, which can almost double the Customized Cash Rewards card’s earning rates. The Preferred Rewards bonus is not applied to the 3% first-year bonus.
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For more information, check out our full review of the Customized Cash Rewards.
Apply here: Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
Welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases on the card within the first six months.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95 (see rates and fees).
Why we like it: This card earns well in common spending categories, has a moderate annual fee and the value of the rewards you earn can easily offset the annual fee. Plus, enjoy 0% introductory APR for new purchases and balance transfers in the first 12 months from account opening (then a variable APR between 20.24% to 29.24% will apply; see rates and fees).
Cardmembers earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in spending per year (then 1% cash back). If maximized, this alone could provide $360 in cash back per year. Cardmembers also earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis, ride-hailing services, parking, tolls, trains and other commuting expenses) and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of reward dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at amazon.com.
For more information, check out our full review of the Blue Cash Preferred.
Apply here: Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Welcome offer: Earn $200 cash back after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $0.
Why we like it: The Freedom Unlimited earns 5% cash back on Chase Travelâ„ purchases, 3% cash back on dining and at drugstores, and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. The card’s strong suit is the ability to earn 1.5% on all purchases that fall outside of the card’s bonus categories.
This can be useful when you pay for various things or if you have larger expenses, such as medical bills. Best of all, if you or a member of your household has another Chase Ultimate Rewards point-earning credit card, you can combine points to unlock Chase’s full range of hotel and airline partners.
For more information, check out our full review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
Apply here: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $95.
Why we like it: Aside from our recommendation that this should be the first card in any points and miles collector’s wallet, it’s more than just a starter card. The card provides compelling benefits, like a $50 annual hotel credit, a 10% annual points bonus, a year of complimentary DoorDash DashPass for food delivery with no fees (activate by Dec. 31, 2027), and a slew of travel protections, as well as no foreign transaction fees. If you want a travel card for your later years but don’t want a hefty annual fee, this can be a great card for your purse or wallet.
The earning structure is also excellent when compared to other cards with a sub-$100 annual fee. You’ll earn 5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Travel, 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft (through Sept. 30, 2027), 3 points per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar spent on all travel not booked through Chase Travel and 1 point per dollar spent on everything else.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are extremely valuable, and this is the card with the lowest annual fee that unlocks all of Chase’s transfer partners.
For more information, check out our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Citi Double Cash Card
Welcome bonus: Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening, plus an introductory APR of 0% for 18 months on balance transfers only; after that, the variable APR will be 18.24% — 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
Annual fee: $0.
Why we like it: The Citi Double Cash Card is a simple way to earn rewards. The card earns 2% cash back — 1% when you make a purchase with this card and another 1% when you make a payment. You can also access Citi’s full range of hotel and airline transfer partners if you hold another Citi credit card, like the Citi Strata Premierâ„ Card (see rates and fees).
Although this card’s welcome bonus does not offer a windfall of rewards, the introductory APR offer can help you finance a large purchase.
For more information, check out our full review of the Citi Double Cash.
Apply here: Citi Double Cash Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $395.
Why we like it: The Venture X offers quality benefits, a decent reward rate, travel perks that should make your trips more enjoyable — all without charging you foreign transaction fees.
The card provides a $300 annual travel credit for bookings with Capital One Travel, 10,000 anniversary bonus miles each year, reimbursement for your TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee, Priority Pass Select membership and access to Capital One lounges for you and two guests.
You’ll also get Hertz President’s Circle status for rental car perks*, cellphone protection and the ability to add up to four free authorized users. These users can enjoy a slew of perks in their own right.
Cardmembers earn Capital One miles, which, according to TPG’s May 2025 valuations, are worth 1.85 cents each and can be used with Capital One’s 15-plus travel partners. The card earns 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked with Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.
For more information, check out our full review of the Venture X
*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at that status level through the duration of the offer. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply
Learn more: Capital One Venture X
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $550.
Why we like it: Despite a higher annual fee, the perks and benefits offered by the card can easily be justified by those who travel often and are able to use them. These include an annual $300 travel credit that applies automatically to a broad range of travel expenses, access to Priority Pass Select lounges, travel portal redemptions at elevated rates, application fee reimbursement for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Nexus and numerous travel and shopping protections. Cardholders also enjoy no foreign transaction fees.
The Sapphire Reserve earns Ultimate Rewards points that, according to TPG’s May 2025 valuations, are worth 2.05 cents apiece. You’ll earn 10 points per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Travel, 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027), 5 points per dollar spent on airfare booked through the Chase travel portal, 3 points per dollar spent on dining and other travel spending and 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases. (Note that you do not earn bonus points on purchases covered by the $300 travel credit.)
The annual fee can be justified for those who can utilize the card’s perks and the travel protections can provide peace of mind when something goes wrong.
For more information, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
American Express Gold Card
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
Annual fee: $325 (see rates and fees).
Why we like it: The American Express Gold Card is a great option for anyone looking to leverage their everyday spending for maximum rewards, while also enjoying useful statement credits.
With the Amex Gold you’ll earn 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) as well as 4 points per dollar spent on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year at U.S. supermarkets (then 1 point per dollar), 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com, 2 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com and 1 point per dollar spent on everything else.
You also get a range of statement credits including up to $120 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $10 per month) toward dining purchases with select merchants, up to $120 per calendar year (up to $10 per month) in Uber Cash toward U.S. Uber rides and U.S. Uber Eats orders after enrolling your Amex Gold card in your Uber account (you can then pay with any Amex card). You also get up to $7 per month in statement credits (up to $84 annually) toward Dunkin’ purchases in the U.S. and up to $100 in U.S. Resy statement credits per calendar year on purchases made at restaurants. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
For more information, check out our full review of the Amex Gold Card.
Apply here: American Express Gold Card
Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Credit Card
Welcome bonus: None.
Annual fee: $0.
Why we like it: It’s not often that you find a card that earns rewards that can be deposited into a retirement account, health savings account or college savings account. With the Fidelity Rewards Visa, you can do all three, which presents an interesting prospect for seniors and retirees who want to grow their retirement savings, plan for medical expenses or help their children and grandchildren prepare for the rising costs of tuition.
Cardmembers earn unlimited 2% cash back on purchases, and the earnings can be deposited into several types of eligible Fidelity accounts. As the name implies, you must have a Fidelity account to work in tandem with the credit card. Since the card has no annual fee, no earning limits and no reward categories to keep track of, it could be a great card for those who want to use their credit card rewards to plan for the future.
AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard from Barclays
Welcome bonus: Earn a $100 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within 90 days of account opening.
Annual fee: $0.
Why we like it: If you have a lot of medical expenses, you’ve likely noticed a severe lack of cards that earn bonus points on this type of spending. The AARP Essential Rewards card earns 2% cash back on eligible medical expenses and 3% cash back on gas and drugstore purchases (excluding Target and Walmart). You’ll earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
You can redeem your earnings for cash back, statement credits, gift cards, merchandise and toward the cost of an AARP membership for yourself or someone else. There are no earning limits in any of the categories and no annual fee. For those seeking a card that earns well on medical expenses but who don’t want to pay an annual fee, this card could be your solution.
Bottom line
One size does not fit all here. Seniors and retirees are not all alike, and you may even find that one card from our list does not meet all of your needs. You should consider your spending habits and personal goals (including travel) at this stage in your life to find a card that rewards you for purchases you make often and provides perks that you can actually use in a way that more than compensates for the card’s annual fee.
Whether you’re looking for cash back, 0% APR for large purchases coming soon, a card that rewards a particular spending need or a card that offers premium travel perks, you should be able to find a card or two that merit a place in your wallet.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click here.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.