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PesoPilot
Credit card guide · Philippines · checked November 2026

Best everyday credit cards in the Philippines

Cashback, points or shopping perks that match where your money goes. Worth it once you pay in full every month.

  • 21cards from 8 banks
  • 3%max monthly interest (BSP cap)
  • ₱0to use this guide, no signup
The card path

From first card to premium

Most people should move up one level at a time, every year or two, as income and history grow.

  1. 0Not yetFix the basics first

    If you would carry a balance, a card costs you money. Build a small emergency fund and clear utang first.

    Debt payoff planner
  2. 1StarterYour first card

    No or low annual fee and the lowest income rules. The job of this card is to build a clean credit history, not to earn rewards.

    From about ₱10,000 a monthStarter cards
  3. 2EverydayEarn on what you already spend

    Cashback, points or shopping perks that match where your money goes. Worth it once you pay in full every month.

    From about ₱15,000–40,000 a monthYou are here
  4. 3PremiumTravel and big-spender perks

    Miles, travel perks and higher limits, with higher annual fees. Only worth it if you travel or spend enough to beat the fee.

    From about ₱65,000 a monthPremium cards
Card finder

Find the card that fits you now

Four questions. We only show cards whose income rule you clear.

₱25,000/month
Your credit card history
What do you want most?
Will you pay the full balance every month?
  1. The lowest income rule we found, and no annual fee ever.

    • No annual fee for life, supplementary cards too (PNB fee table)
    • No annual fee
    • Your income clears its ₱10,000/month rule
    Annual fee
    No annual feeFree for life (PNB fee table)
    Income needed
    ₱10,000/moPNB application form

    Few rewards. It is a card for building history, and a good backup card later.

    See it on PNB From the bank’s own pages · November 2026
  2. A no-fee first card from a bank with a strong app.

    • No annual fee
    • Your income clears its ₱15,000/month rule
    Annual fee
    No annual feeNo annual fee
    Income needed
    ₱15,000/mo₱180,000 a year

    Check the current fee and perks on UnionBank’s page; promos change.

    See it on UnionBank From comparison listings · confirm with the bank · November 2026
  3. Maya app users who want to apply and manage the card on their phone.

    • No annual fee
    • Your income clears its ₱15,000/month rule
    Annual fee
    No annual feeNo annual fee while you use it; an inactivity fee can apply after months without use
    Income needed
    ₱15,000/mo₱180,000 a year

    Offered to eligible Maya users. Check “Credit card” in the Maya app to see if you can apply.

    See it on Maya From comparison listings · confirm with the bank · November 2026

6 of 21 cards fit your income. Matches favour your goal, your history and banks’ own published figures. Not a guarantee of approval.

Everyday cards

Earn on what you already spend: the cards

Sorted by lowest income needed. Fees are the principal card’s yearly fee before any waiver.

  1. Families who spend a lot on groceries.

    • 4% cashback at supermarkets
    • 1% cashback at drugstores and on utilities
    • 0.3% cashback on other local spend
    Annual fee
    ₱2,050/yrBPI fee table
    Income needed
    ₱15,000/moFrom listings; ask BPI

    Cashback has caps. Check BPI’s maximum against what you really spend at the supermarket.

    See it on BPI Partly from the bank · confirm the rest · November 2026
  2. Metrobank Titanium Mastercard card

    Metrobank Titanium Mastercard

    Rewards pointsOnline shopping

    Points on online shopping and dining with a mid-level income rule.

    • 1 point for every ₱20, points never expire
    • 2× points on online, department store and dining spend
    • Redeem for eGCs, miles or donations
    Annual fee
    Ask the bankWaived under a current Metrobank offer (listings); ask for the regular fee
    Income needed
    ~₱29,200/moMetrobank

    The fee waiver is a promo. Ask whether it is for life or only the first year.

    See it on Metrobank Partly from the bank · confirm the rest · November 2026
  3. A mid-tier card from Security Bank.

    Annual fee
    ₱2,500/yr
    Income needed
    ₱30,000/mo₱360,000 a year

    Figures from a 2025 fee table; confirm with Security Bank.

    See it on Security Bank From comparison listings · confirm with the bank · November 2026
  4. People who shop on Lazada often.

    Annual fee
    ₱3,000/yr
    Income needed
    ₱30,000/mo₱360,000 a year

    Only worth it if Lazada is a big part of your spending.

    See it on UnionBank From comparison listings · confirm with the bank · November 2026
  5. HSBC Red Mastercard card

    HSBC Red Mastercard

    Rewards points

    Points on dining, shopping and online spend, first year free.

    • 4× bonus points on online, dining, shopping and overseas spend
    • 1 bonus point for every ₱20
    • No annual fee the first year
    Annual fee
    ₱2,500/yrFree the first year (HSBC)
    Income needed
    ~₱33,300/moLowest income HSBC lists for a public card

    From year two the annual fee applies unless you get a waiver.

    See it on HSBC Partly from the bank · confirm the rest · November 2026
  6. Metrobank M Free Mastercard card

    A no-fee second card once you have a year of card history.

    • No annual fee for life
    • Metrobank card promos and installment deals

    Needs an existing card from another bank

    Annual fee
    No annual feeNo annual fee for life
    Income needed
    ~₱37,200/mo₱446,000 a year

    You must already hold another bank’s card for 9+ months with a ₱25,000+ limit.

    See it on Metrobank From the bank’s own pages · November 2026
  7. BPI Gold Rewards Card

    Rewards pointsTravel perks

    A step up from BPI Rewards with travel insurance and a higher limit.

    • 1 BPI point for every ₱35, points never expire
    • Up to ₱10 million travel insurance when you book with the card
    Annual fee
    ₱2,250/yr
    Income needed
    ₱40,000/mo₱40,000 a month

    A higher limit is not more money. Keep spending to what you can pay in full.

    See it on BPI From the bank’s own pages · November 2026
  8. Metrobank Cashback Visa card

    Rebates on everyday categories from Metrobank.

    • Rebates on everyday categories; Metrobank says up to ₱12,000 a year
    • 0.2% rebate on all other purchases

    Needs an existing card from another bank

    Annual fee
    Ask the bankAsk Metrobank
    Income needed
    ₱40,000/mo₱480,000 a year

    Needs another bank’s card for 9+ months with a ₱50,000+ limit.

    See it on Metrobank From the bank’s own pages · November 2026
  9. RCBC Flex Visa Gold card

    RCBC Flex Visa Gold

    Rewards points

    RCBC’s step-up card once you outgrow Flex.

    • First year membership fee waived
    • Rewards points on every spend
    Annual fee
    ₱3,000/yrRCBC fee schedule; first year waived
    Income needed
    ~₱41,700/moFrom listings; ask RCBC

    Confirm the income rule with RCBC.

    See it on RCBC Partly from the bank · confirm the rest · November 2026
  10. People who eat out often and can hit the promo spend.

    • Up to 8% cashback on dining
    • 5% on travel, shopping and entertainment
    • 2% on fast food
    Annual fee
    Ask the bankHSBC promo: no annual fee for life if you spend ₱60,000 within 60 days and register in the HSBC app
    Income needed
    Ask the bankAsk HSBC

    High cashback rates come with caps and conditions. Read HSBC’s terms first.

    See it on HSBC Partly from the bank · confirm the rest · November 2026
Before you apply

What banks ask for

  • A valid government IDPassport, UMID, driver’s license, PhilSys ID or similar.
  • Proof of incomeEmployees: latest payslips, Certificate of Employment, or BIR Form 2316. Self-employed: ITR stamped by BIR, plus business documents.
  • A clean recordPay existing loans and bills on time. Missed payments with any lender can show up when banks check you.
  • Apply where you bankYour payroll or savings bank already sees your income. Some banks also issue cards secured by a deposit.
Habits that pay

Make the card work for you

  1. 1
    Pay the full statement balance

    Interest only starts when you leave a balance. Set up auto-debit for the full amount from your payroll account.

  2. 2
    Never just pay the minimum

    Banks can charge up to 3% a month. A ₱20,000 balance on minimum payments takes years to clear. See the real cost.

  3. 3
    Skip cash advances

    They charge a fee and interest from day one, with no grace period.

  4. 4
    Ask for the annual fee waiver

    Call before the fee posts. Many banks waive it if you use the card regularly; some let you redeem points for it.

  5. 5
    Use under 30% of your limit

    Low use and on-time payments are what build a good record for your next card and future loans.

  6. 6
    Make your card pay you back

    Use the card promo scanner before you buy: discounts and 0% installment from your own bank.

Questions

Credit card questions, answered

How this guide works. Fees and income rules come from each bank’s own pages where we could read them (marked “From the bank’s own page”), otherwise from public comparison listings, marked “confirm with the bank”. Banks change fees, waive them on promo and decide approvals case by case, so check the bank’s page before you apply. Some “Apply” buttons may be partner links, labelled as such; PesoPilot may earn a fee when an application is approved, at no cost to you, and it never changes which cards we list or how we rank them. Educational, not financial advice.

More on cards: Card promo scanner · Cost of credit card debt · Pay off card debt · Starter cards · Premium cards · All credit cards