How Many Credit Cards Should You ACTUALLY Have?

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In this video, we're answering the question of “how many credit cards should you have” by going over the different ranges of credit cards that might be right for you. We’ll break down these credit card ranges by talking about the benefits that each range has, but we’ll also explain some credit card basics of why you should be using them.
Personally, I have 20 credit cards at the moment, but I think that for most people there is a sweet spot for the number of cards to have which is much less.
CREDIT CARD LINKS:
💳 My Top Credit Cards: danielbraun.me/TopCreditCards
💳 Cash Back Credit Cards: danielbraun.me/CashBackCards
💳 Pay Rent & Earn Points With The Bilt Mastercard: danielbraun.me/Bilt
Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points. Bilt Terms: danielbraun.me/BiltTerms
OTHER LINKS:
🏦 SoFi Checking & Savings ($300 Bonus): danielbraun.me/SoFi
🛒 Get a $30 Bonus With Rakuten: danielbraun.me/Rakuten
📱 Follow Me On Instagram: / _danbraun
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro
0:44 - 1 to 2 Cards
4:54 - 3 to 5 Cards
8:16 - Moomoo
9:27 - 6 to 10 Cards
11:59 - 10 or More Cards
CHECK OUT SOME OF MY OTHER VIDEOS:
▶️ The Only 5 Credit Cards You Need in 2024: • The Only 5 Credit Card...
▶️ The Bilt Mastercard - 1 Year Later (My Honest Review): • The Bilt Mastercard - ...
▶️ I Ranked Every Credit Card (Here’s What’s ACTUALLY Good): • I Ranked Every Credit ...
▶️ How We Got $40,000 of Free Travel (with Credit Cards): • How We Got $40,000 of ...
▶️ The 20 Credit Cards I Have at Age 28: • How I Got 1 Million Po...
DISCLAIMER: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this website are from companies which Daniel Braun will earn an affiliate commission or referral bonus. Daniel Braun is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers.
The content in this video is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available.

[@stephen.bohner]

Answer: Pokémon “gotta catch em’ all”

[@LogosBKC]

Me all the way….

[@LogosBKC]

3 paths available to catch them all.. - Go full Yolo and hunt SUBs highest wins. - Get the first few Chase cards while under 5/24 and then full LOL/24 and return later when velocity cools down - or just start with Chase 5/24 and hover there gardening forever getting other cards when possible while also rotating Chase SUBs maintaining 5/24

[@FinickyHorseGameStudios]

Good one

[@TheRestrictedgamer]

I have 5 credit cards total, but I only use 2 at any one time. The rest are just cards I tried and don't use anymore but kept for the credit history.

[@coreyw5981]

I know theres 2 i definitely want gone because theyre useless boa cards but theyre also 7-10 years old though

[@TheRestrictedgamer]

@@coreyw5981 if they don't cost you anything, there's no reason to get rid of them. Shove them in a drawer somewhere and forget about them, and maybe they'll cancel themselves after so many years of inactivity, or maybe they wont. I have a credit account from a card I lost well over 10 years ago that is totally inactive and unusable, but it still shows up on my report and counts towards my number of revolving accounts for some reason.

[@pashahillyard8763]

​@@coreyw5981If they have no annual fee, why not keep them on your credit report by buying something small on them every year or so? Seems like a waste just to drop cards that help your credit history that much.

[@sjg6158]

The way I see it, 1) One decent cash back card with at least 2% for catch-all, 2) a max cash back card that gives you 5% in one category and maybe >2% in another category, 3) A travel card that has no foreign transaction fee. It's all about balance. Thanks for the video Dan, and for sharing as you always do.

[@ptalabiify]

What card is best for catch all 2%?

[@zac_est.1990]

@@ptalabiifyCity Double Cash Card

[@justgaming6245]

​@@ptalabiifyWells Fargo Active Cash or Citi Double Cash

[@det_tf2]

​@@ptalabiify Some pretty simple options are the Citi double cash card or the Wells Fargo active cash card. Look at welcome bonuses and see if one has a better deal, otherwise I'd probably just go with the Citi because they've also got the active cash card and it'll be easier to manage two good cards on one platform

[@Jack_Clemans]

Great video! As a CFP I LOVE that you acknowledge that different people have different financial goals/relationships with money and trying to reach outside of that could be more harmful than good. It may be easy to just say "everyone should have 20 credit cards" but you know that's not the case and still empower people to reap all the benefits they can within a system logical/comfortable for them! Keep up the great videos!

[@davidshettlesworth1442]

Thank you for this excellent educational video! The information you covered was exactly what I was needing to find out. Carry On Sir!

[@anthonywilliams9415]

Great video. That's quite a bit of credit cards.

[@SpencerChewitt]

Great video sir! I think for lots of people it can get overwhelming having a bunch of cards from different lenders. That’s another reason why getting a setup like the Chase trifecta is great, and even adding on the capital one duo after isn’t so bad either. With that you have 5 cards, but only 2 different apps to manage them.

[@Sakurasan2023]

Great video 📹 👍

[@mrsnulch]

I hope you pay your editor well because these video edits are SICK! Goes very well with the content, makes it more digestible without being obnoxious. This is definitely the best credit card breakdown I've seen. I've never considered surpassing 3 credit cards, but this got me thinking. If I find cards with no annual fees and use them tastefully, I can get a nice travel stack and some meaty signup bonuses with no substantial loss to myself. I'm Canadian so can't use the stacks shown here persay, but I'll do some research and consider nabbing a couple more cards. I like the idea of the 5-8 card "sweet spot", makes sense if you can manage it.

[@YumDex]

I only use 4. Autograph, gold, bilt and platinum

[@j2citiez64]

I currently have 4 CC and my wife gave full control of her Amex preferred so technically 5 and I think I’m done. I’ll just upgrade my venture one to a VX within time and call it after that

[@saarthaknarsipur3753]

Daniel, what do you think of having Wells Fargo active cash + autograph cards? Being able to transfer points from active cash to autograph and then from autograph to travel partners seems like a great deal considering both these cards are free. Better combo than chase due to the $95 annual fee?

[@bobbycamacho7457]

As always thank you for the new content! Can you help me I have a rapid fire question. I am on the boarder of excellent credit and my wallet consist of my original Cap One QS, Then I went Amex Gold, which has been Very Good to me and my habits. Recently I have the Venture X as I travel slightly more then average domestic and internationally. In what direction would you recommend if I value travel perks and rewards more then cash back. Thank you Daniel!

[@dylanpilgim288]

can you make a video about the new wells Fargo cards and a possible wells Fargo trifecta with the active cash the journey and the autograph please i want to hear someone's take on it that knows more than me

[@HowToCredit]

i always tell myself "that's enough" . *proceeds to get another for the sign on bonus* lol

[@dnpaker84]

I got 2 and I going to close one next year. I’m not putting myself back into debt. I just hoping I get to upgrade my Cap one quicksilver one card.. To the regular quicksilver.

[@ltsken2730]

Why would you choose to combine the chase trifecta with the capital one duo in a 5 card rotation considering many of their benefits / spending multipliers overlap each other? (Really curious to know, i have the 4 cards myself & i was considering considering getting the venture x)

[@teiks886]

Where can I get the Braun Budgeting Template 2024?

[@juliancen2815]

Great Video Daniel!

[@little1233s]

Please do a video on the Robinhood gold card 🙏🙏

[@benjaminwolf9801]

I am always baffled when people say they only use debit cards. Either they are financially irresponsible or don't trust themselves. Currently at (8) credit cards and last years cash back equated to just shy of $4,000.

[@user-dx6dp5jr8l]

Don't do cash back.. use it for travel. That 4k can be worth easily 10k in travel.

[@benjaminwolf9801]

@user-dx6dp5jr8l I do agree and use to do travel, but just finished a divorce and have small children so traveling isn't as much of a focus right now. Once they are in school then going to go back to travel focus.

[@tiffz_travelz]

Super helpful

[@ds5651]

6 to 8 is the sweet spot. Got my core then added hotel cards

[@chrisoverbey5937]

For me it’s a puzzle I enjoy solving.

[@rickorefice9417]

Any comment on the bill being put forth in congress which would stop all of us of our cash back points?

[@iliketrains0pwned]

I have the Capital One duo for travel, and I was thinking about potentially getting into the Chase trifecta sometime early next year for more benefits. What is the best 5 card strategy for using those two ecosystems together, and how do I optimize spending between all of the cards?

[@faizpkmn129]

Its a little harder to say to get the chase trifecta but I would def get the freedom flex. You can capture the 5% categories and later on get the CSP to transfer out your points. Wouldn’t necessarily recommend the CFU since your VX is a better catch all.

[@faizpkmn129]

Card 5 really can be whatever you think would pick up some slack in your setup. You could think about a hotel or airline card if you think it would help or if willing, consider the amex gold and the uber benefits you can stack with the savor one. Your gold card is the better food/grocery card and it provides 3x on travel which would be the highest you can get when booking flights outside the chase and CO travel portals

[@yoddy0]

Having more than 10 cc's sounds insane to me. Like you can cover just about all the normal budget categories with 5-7 cc's for sure with maybe 1 or 2 niche ones.

[@wblake22]

I think the real question should be something like. What is your purpose or goal with getting a credit card or cards. Also how many can you manage.

[@callmeNeno]

11 open & closed 10

[@brendanchang1161]

Most average Americans I think should have it least 2-4 credit cards. The people who have 10+ or 20+ like Daniel are credit card experts who know a lot about the industry. Best thing to do is have a bonus category card that matches your highest spend categories and a flat rate 2% card that is your catch all card if you are looking for a simple 2 card setup. Good luck everyone!

[@DanielaSilva-wq4ly]

what should I do when I what to build a core that’s a mix of cash back and travel 🤔

[@robert8311]

I like to build out a hybrid set up Points currency that can be cashed out / statement credit towards my bill at 1 cent per point and travel for transfer partners So Amex isn’t for me Ig 😅

[@HspncAt7heDisco]

Just optimize for Travel. Most of the supplementary-ecosystem cards like the Capital One Savor One to the Venture X or the Chase Freedom Flex to the Sapphire Preferred offer cash back that you can choose to convert to travel points if you also have the more expensive travel card. But if you'd rather have cash back for whatever reason just don't convert it into miles

[@DanielaSilva-wq4ly]

@@HspncAt7heDiscothanks

[@007dumbo]

I'm stuck in the 5/24 rule, does Chase ever accept people who get more than 5 cards in 24 months. I need that CSR deal!

[@nightsla1701]

Nope, don’t try it my friend. Don’t take the hit on your credit just to not get it. Always next year as well.

[@docsays]

- same have in the past but they are the exceptions rather than the norm

[@user-dx6dp5jr8l]

Apply for business cards.

[@jeffreywilliams9220]

I have over 25 cards just to thicken up my credit profile

[@RobertBeedle]

There is absolutely no benefit to your score by having that many cards.

[@Guillhrme]

Guys, I have a question does paying a credit card in advance hurt or help increase our score? I'm working hard trying to increase my score and sometimes I realize that I have the money for mine bill earlie, sometimes even a week in advance in my wallet and I end up paying early so I don't run the risk of forgetting.

[@allurevibe]

Let the statement come then pay it off fully.

[@34skyline]

I have 15 and not done yet

[@cjones4047]

just 9 so far waiting to get to 800 credit score to apply for more lol

[@willharris5562]

Not seeing the need for the freedom unlimited if you have capitol 1 venture x. Is there a good reason?

[@nostalgiakid100]

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. My guess is that he’s assuming you started with the chase trifecta (which includes the unlimited as the catch all option) then moved on to add the venture x and savor rewards cards. At that point the unlimited is redundant since the capital one cards have better catch all rewards, but you shouldn’t close it because credit history. It can also still be useful as a secondary catch all if you need to save up chase points to use on one of their travel partners that doesn’t overlap with capital one

[@austenkincaid1987]

Dave Ramsey is having an aneurysm somewhere right now

[@elismith1163]

Would you ever consider researching Canadian credit cards and making us a video of suggestions ?

[@dustyrabbit9234]

sorry mate, he is not going to cover cards that give 5x points on maple and moose purchases.

[@robertfrancojr]

I love you Daniel 🫡

[@TmurphyIT]

Would you count line of credits from credit unions and Paypal (Credit & Smart Connect) as a credit card for my total?

[@TmurphyIT]

If I subtract all of them I am at solid 8. I just don’t want to close them so I gotta use them all once a year.

[@FatStacksAcademy]

Almost all of them at least once for the SUB 😅

[@robnichols229]

Over 2000 dollars in annual fees is WILD lmao

[@joyhappiness]

2

[@docsays]

I lost track after 25 cards.

[@usmanzia9116]

How many annual fees do you pay total?

[@docsays]

@@usmanzia9116 - about $700

[@docsays]

@@usmanzia9116 - around $700 in AFs

[@ItsMeCJ]

It looks like I’m first again 😂

[@dabaydestrian437]

Answer: as many as possible

[@MuscleMan500]

Robinhood gold also gives you $1,000 at no margin which you could probably invest to cover that annual fee

[@AngelaVlahos]

financial stuff. don't get it

[@SOXGATORS]

👍🏻

[@thomasperez8807]

Anyone else see the resemblance between Daniel and NBA menace Christian Braun? 🤔

[@jetski335]

😊💳💳💳✨️✨️✨️

[@AhmadKhwajazada]

First

[@seph4667]

First.

[@dgwolf-1077]

7% on a house 😂

[@widowmaker666u]

i can tell you many you should have… none

[@user-dx6dp5jr8l]

Dumb lol. I've gotten 6 sign up bonuses this year, raised my credit from 792 to 815, and taken my family on a $7000 vacation stay for 10 days due to points.

[@widowmaker666u]

@@user-dx6dp5jr8l so you got $7000 of points? how much money did you spend for this… and I dnt care about my credit score why would i if a I dont need any debt

[@widowmaker666u]

@@user-dx6dp5jr8l how much did you spend on your card to get $7000 vacation then? that’s amazing

[@LightRealms]

Neanderthal

[@jrome1135]

I have 26. I need more. I have a giant stack of expired/pcd/closed cards... it's funny to me. I need to re think my life. Thanks for reading, i love you 😂😂😂

[@Brilliantick99]

I LOVE cards man sheesh