Best Credit Cards in Your 20s
In your 20s the priorities are no fees, simple rewards, and never paying interest. A no-fee everyday card plus an optional first miles card for travel is a strong, low-risk setup.
- Rewards points
Why it fits: No fee, rewards online and contactless spend — fits a phone-first lifestyle.
No annual fee · Min income S$65,000
Pros
- +No annual fee, permanent — no waiver to chase
- +Up to 4 mpd (10X points) on online/contactless spend
- +Beginner-friendly, simple day-to-day
- +Rewards points convertible to miles via Visa
Cons
- −4 mpd capped at ~S$1,000/month spend
- −High rate limited to eligible online/contactless spend
- −Low base earn ~0.4 mpd on everything else
- 2Cashback
Trust Cashback Credit Card
Trust Bank
Why it fits: No fee, app-managed cashback on everyday essentials.
No annual fee · Min income S$30,000
Pros
- +No annual fee
- +Up to 15% cashback on 1 self-picked category per quarter
- +Fully managed in-app, no paperwork
- +Visa, widely accepted at home and abroad
Cons
- −15% rate needs ~S$2,000/mo spend, caps ~S$250/quarter
- −Only 1 preferred category; just 1% local / 0.5% foreign base
- −Foreign-spend cashback was cut in Mar 2026
- 3Miles
Citi PremierMiles Card
Citibank
Why it fits: A first miles card for when travel ambitions kick in — miles never expire.
Annual fee S$196.20 · Min income S$30,000
Pros
- +Citi Miles never expire, so no rush to redeem
- +~2.2 mpd on foreign spend, good for travel
- +Wide transfer-partner list for flexible redemptions
- +Lounge access; first-year fee waived
Cons
- −S$196.20 annual fee from year two onward
- −Low ~1.2 mpd on local spend
- −Not especially beginner-friendly
Frequently asked questions
- How many cards should I have in my 20s?
- Usually one is enough to start. Learn how you spend and how to pay in full, then add a second card with a clear purpose, like travel miles.
- Should someone in their 20s get a miles card?
- Only if you travel and will redeem the miles well. Otherwise a simple cashback card returns more for less effort.