Choosing a credit card takes time, attention, and a plan. No two credit cards are exactly the same and not every credit card is right for your personal credit history. However, by understanding your options you can find the best credit card for your lifestyle. To do that, you will need to answer the following questions:

What is your credit score?

If you don’t know your credit score, then the first thing you need to do is get a copy of your credit report. Your credit score will help you determine which credit cards you can and can’t apply for. The higher your credit score, according to the Huffington Post, the better the perks you can expect from credit card companies. Also, with a copy of your credit report, you can check for any errors or other issues that may be lowering your credit score.

What kind of credit card do you need?

The three kinds of credit cards to choose from include cards that help build or improve credit, cards that earn rewards, and cards with lower interest rates than what you are paying right now. The best card for you is the one that fits one of these three greatest needs at this present time. If you love to travel, then a rewards card with travel perks is probably your best choice. If you love to shop, then a cash-back rewards program would be your best credit card match.

If you want to transfer a balance to save money on interest, then a credit card that offers low-interest or introductory no interest on transfer balances is right for you. If you need to build or improve your credit score, you can get a secured credit card, which means you need to pay a security deposit to the credit card company in order to use a credit card. This security deposit will be returned once your account has been in good standing for a predetermined amount of time.

Have you looked at all the details?

Once you’ve decided what kind of card you need, you can then compare your options within that group of cards. To help with that, the New York Times has reported on a comparison tool from Consumer Reports that “aims to help shoppers cut through the clutter. Plugin your monthly spending and it will cull through 55 cards to make a personalized recommendation.” In the end, choose the credit card that offers you the highest value overall.