Best Credit Cards for 2022
What Are Some of the Best-Looking Credit Cards?
Some of the best-looking credit cards are made with metal. Featuring stainless steel, titanium, copper, gold, platinum, or a mix of materials, these cards are more durable than their plastic counterparts. A metal card also adds a satisfying "plunk factor," a term to describe its heft.
Other trends in card design have emerged in recent years too. For instance, some credit cards are made from recovered ocean-bound plastic, while others are designed with metallic ink, matte-colored plastic, or vibrant colors, says Josh Hatcher, senior graphic designer at Vericast Card Solutions.
"An attractive card design is eye-catching and builds a favorable impression," Hatcher says. "Consumers like to use cards that look unique and show prestige."
At the same time, he adds, no single design appeals to everyone.
If you're in the market for a credit card with a pleasing aesthetic, here are a few to get you started.
Can I Customize My Credit Card?
Certain credit card features are customizable, depending on the card issuer. Here's what you may or may not be able to adjust:
Card design and material. You may be able to choose what your credit card is made of, such as recycled materials, or what it looks like. Discover cardholders can select from 170 card designs, and Wells Fargo lets you customize certain credit cards using your own uploaded image or one from the issuer's library.
However, "Most of the design-customizable cards aren't particularly good cards from a rewards perspective," says Nick Reyes, a senior author at Frequent Miler. "Most good rewards cards have a set design that goes with their brand."
Rewards categories. Credit card reward rates are usually fixed, but some cards come with customizable bonus categories. For instance, some cards rotate the bonus category quarterly, provide cash back in the category of your choice or earn more in the category where you spend the most each month.
Benefits, perks, and fees. You're typically out of luck if you're looking to adjust fees, change the basic rewards structure or add card benefits such as trip insurance, rental car coverage, or purchase protection. Beyond design and security features, "cardholders can't customize their benefits," Medearis says.
What Is the Latest Card Technology?
Looks don't matter if a credit card has weak security features. The latest card technology focuses on security as data breaches and instances of credit card fraud have become increasingly common. Make sure your cool card comes with:
Customizable security features. Depending on the card issuer, you may be able to set up usage alerts, identity monitoring, and two-factor authentication. A chip-enabled card will encrypt information during each transaction, which makes fraud more difficult. The signature panel and security code also help retailers confirm who's supposed to use the card.
Virtual credit card numbers. Also known as single-use card numbers, these randomly generated account numbers make online purchases safer. They're connected to your physical card but can be used only for a single transaction. Capital One offers virtual credit cards via Eno, a browser extension, and Citi generates virtual numbers for some cards.
Digital wallets. A digital wallet, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, is a digital version of your credit card that is stored on an app. You can use digital wallets to make purchases anywhere retailers accept them. The wallet creates a one-time security code for each transaction, which safeguards your payment information. Anyone who deciphered the code would essentially find an outdated password.
