Best credit cards to help you meet your New Year’s resolutions

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Discover cards are currently not available on CNBC Select, and links have been redirected to our credit card marketplace, where you can review offers from other issuers like American Express or Chase. You can also check out our list of the best credit cards for alternative options.

At the start of 2025, 60% of people who set New Year’s resolutions, or roughly 96 million Americans, made health, fitness and exercise their top goals moving forward, according to a survey by the Health & Fitness Association (HFA).

According to the same survey, almost a third (32%) of people note cost as the most significant roadblock to achieving these goals. But what if your credit card earned rewards on your resolutions?

Whether you resolve to bulk up your wallet, body or brain, CNBC Select compiled the top cards to help you reach your new year goals — and save you money while doing it.

Best for eating healthy

How it supports your goal: The Blue Cash Everyday offers up to $180 in annual Home Chef credits, a meal delivery service that offers calorie-conscious meals (up to $15 in monthly credits; enrollment required). If you prefer a more hands-on approach when picking your menu, the card also earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in spending per year (then 1%).

Other great perks: With the Blue Cash Everyday, you also receive up to $84 in annual Disney streaming credits (up to $7 per month; subject to auto-renewal) after using your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday for a subscription purchase (enrollment required). Plus, get access to both purchase and return protection.

Best for fitness

How it supports your goal: With the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature, you earn 5% cash back each quarter in two of 12 categories of your choice (up to $2,000 in combined purchases, then 1%). One category is gyms and fitness centers, and another is sporting goods stores, both of which are ideal if you’re looking to get into better shape.

Other great perks: The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature also offers 2% cash back in one everyday category you choose and comes with a great intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.

Best for travel

How it supports your goal: For those hoping to explore more in 2026, the Capital One Venture X offers a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, a credit for either a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee and airport lounge access. Plus, the card earns points that transfer to 20 different airline and hotel partners for even greater value.

Other great perks: For a limited time, you can earn 100,000 bonus miles (equal to $1,000 toward travel) when you spend $10,000 on purchases within the first six months from account opening. As a Visa Infinite® card, the Venture X also includes several helpful travel insurance perks.

Best for paying down debt

How it supports your goal: If you’re looking to pay down credit card debt, the U.S. Bank Shield offers an exceptionally long 0% intro APR on balance transfers (and purchases) within 60 days of account opening (16.99% to 27.99% variable APR thereafter). This can help you temporarily pause interest payments for 24 billing cycles, allowing you to pay down your balance more effectively.

Other great perks: The U.S. Bank Shield is primarily geared toward helping you manage debt, but it also offers up to $600 in cellphone protection if your phone is stolen or damaged and a $20 annual statement credit for 11 consecutive months of purchases.

Best for reading more

How it supports your goal: While the Prime Visa does require an Amazon Prime membership, you can earn 5% back at Amazon.com — including any books you purchase through the site. Plus, Prime membership includes Prime Reading (a rotating library of thousands of ebooks and more), and each month, Prime members can choose one Kindle book from Prime’s editors’ picks for free.

Other great perks: The Prime Visa also earns an unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants and local transit and commuting (including rideshare). There are a surprising number of travel protections, to boot, especially for a card with strong shopping perks.

Best for new experiences

How it supports your goal: The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers you access to new and exclusive events each year, from behind-the-scenes experiences to preferred seating at major sporting events. The card also grants access to the Sapphire Exclusive Tables collection on OpenTable for some of the hardest-to-book restaurants in major cities.

Other great perks: The Sapphire Reserve is a great card for world travelers, offering over $2,700 in value each year. Enjoy Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions, a DoorDash membership, StubHub and Lyft credits and much more.

Best for self-care

How it supports your goal: If you’re looking to treat yourself in the new year, the Wells Fargo Attune earns an unlimited 4% cash rewards across three categories, one being self-care. This includes beauty and barber shops, gym and fitness studios, health and beauty spas and massage parlors — perfect for de-stressing after the holidays.

Other great perks: In addition to self-care, the Wells Fargo Attune earns 4% cash rewards on select sports, recreation and entertainment, as well as on planet-friendly purchases. You can redeem your rewards for gift cards, statement credits and more.

Best for building credit

How it supports your goal: The Discover it® Secured Card is great if you’re aiming to boost your finances. It has no annual fee, it doesn’t require a credit score for approval and the security deposit is refundable. Discover will report your activity to the three major credit bureaus, so using it responsibly will likely improve your credit score.

Other great perks: Starting in month seven and beyond, your account will be reviewed to determine if you qualify for an unsecured card. Plus, at the end of your first year, Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned in the first 365 days of card ownership.

While everyone’s exact New Year’s resolutions will vary, the framework for setting an achievable goal is fairly consistent. One thing that often helps is focusing on making your goal “SMART,” which stands for:

1. Specific: What action will actually take place?
2. Measurable: You can track progress, whether in time, money or weight.
3. Achievable: You set a realistic and reachable primary goal.
4. Realistic: The goal is reachable with the resources you have.
5. Timely: You can set a timeline for expected outcomes.

If you typically work better with a visual cue, consider creating a calendar with dates that mark important steps toward your goal and, if applicable, when you expect to finish.

If you’re making small but meaningful changes, like cutting down on weekly coffee orders, consider pairing your goals with other good habits. For instance, if you grab a free coffee from work, also fill up your water bottle to help form a new hydration habit.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card list is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards for your New Year’s resolutions.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please click here.