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Maximize your savings with our best cash back credit cards, designed to reward you for what you already spend. We’ve compared fees, rewards, and special offers to simplify your decision-making process. Start earning today by selecting the card that fits your lifestyle.
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The Citi Double Cash® Card boasts a market-leading unlimited cashback rate of 2%, plus an intro APR period of 18 months, which is comparable to some of the top balance transfer cards. With additional perks like no annual fee, convenient redemption options, and 24-hour fraud monitoring, this card could be a worthy addition to your wallet.
The Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card offers an enticing 1.5% unlimited cash back on all purchases, with a chance to earn even more if you’re a Bank of America® Preferred Rewards member. If you’re looking for a hassle-free way to get rewarded for your purchases, this card is worth looking into.
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card has no annual fee while offering up to 3% cash back in your chosen category. It is a good choice for those who want a card with rewards for everyday purchases.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers generous cash back rewards with no annual fee. It’s a great card if you spend a moderate amount on travel or dining and don’t want to manage rotating bonus categories. It also comes with 0% intro APR for 15 months, making this card a good choice if you want to pause interest on an existing credit card balance.
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When you take the time to compare the best cash back credit cards, you'll notice they all do things differently. Some offer a flat rate of cash back for every type of purchase, whereas others offer bonus rewards in some categories and a base earning rate on everything else. There are also cash back credit cards that offer a higher rewards rate in categories that rotate every three months, which help consumers maximize their rewards on certain purchases.
Break things down further and you'll find that some come with 0% APR introductory offers and consumer protections like extended warranties. What credit cards have the best cash back rewards and other perks? We break down the best offers below with some expert advice on how to make the most of them.
Many of the best cash back credit cards don't charge an annual fee, although a handful of cards with the most lucrative rewards rates do.
Some cash back credit cards come with 0% APR on purchases, balance transfers or both for a limited time.
Top offers in this niche come from card issuers like American Express, Bank of America, Chase and Citi.
Before you pick a card, make sure to compare offers based on their rewards rates, intro APR offers, fees and perks.
The best cards stand out for their generous rewards, easy-to-earn welcome offers and other perks. The chart below can help you pick the right card.
Card | Our Pick for … | Consider other cards if … |
U.S. supermarket spending and streaming services | You want to earn a higher base rate of rewards on everyday purchases. | |
Flat-rate cash back | You want 0% APR on purchases in addition to balance transfers. | |
Bank of America Preferred Rewards members | You aren't a member of the program, you want a higher flat rewards rate or both. | |
Flexible rewards | You want to earn 5% cash back in quarterly rotating categories. | |
Customized rewards | You want a cash back credit card with unlimited rewards in its top bonus categories. |
Can't find the specific card you're looking for? Consider these additional offers that feature generous cash back rewards and other perks.
The Chase Freedom Flex® Credit Card has some similarities to the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, yet it doles out bonus rewards in a different way. Members with this card earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in bonus category spending each quarter (then 1% back), plus 5% cash back on travel through Chase and 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases. All other purchases earn the standard rewards rate of 1% cash back.
Those who opt for the Chase Freedom Flex® Credit Card can earn a generous sign-up bonus worth $200 after spending $500 within three months of account opening. Other notable perks include an intro APR offer for purchases and balance transfers, travel insurance protections and cell phone insurance.
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is another no annual fee option worth checking out. It starts new customers off with $200 bonus cash after they spend $500 within three months of account opening, and members can earn 5% cash back on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One, 3% cash back at grocery stores, on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services and 1% back on other purchases.
This card also has an intro APR offer for purchases and balance transfers, plus the benefit of no foreign transaction fees.
The Discover it® Cash Back offers cardholders 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in rotating bonus categories that change every three months (then 1% back), plus 1% cash back on other purchases. There's no annual fee, and an intro APR offer for purchases and balance transfers applies.
Unlike other top cash back credit cards that have set welcome bonuses, cardholders with the Discover it® Cash Back can see their rewards earned doubled after the first year through Discover's Cashback Match program.
If you're comparing the best cash back business credit cards, the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® should be on the top of your list. This card starts new members off with $750 bonus cash after they spend $6,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. The card also offers a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases and 5% cash back on Lyft rides (through March 2025).
Business owners can enjoy several premium perks with this card, including free cards for employees, primary auto rental coverage when renting a car for business purposes and a 0% intro APR offer for purchases. There's no annual fee.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card starts new cardholders off with a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within three months of account opening. All spending earns a flat rate of 2% cash back, and there's no annual fee.
Cardholder perks include an intro APR offer for purchases and balance transfers, roadside dispatch and cellular telephone protection.
While some users believe the best cash back credit cards are ones with no annual fee, others are fine paying a reasonable annual fee for a higher rewards rate. There are also people who believe a specific type of rewards are best, even among cash back credit cards. This is mostly due to the diverse range of redemption options different cash back credit cards have, and the fact some have more flexibility than others.
While it's up to you to decide on the type of cash back card you want and the redemption options you want access to, hearing some outside perspectives could help you make your choice.
Reddit users can be pretty opinionated about the best cash back credit cards, and many recommend pairing up a few different cards to maximize rewards on all types of spending. Proponents of having one card for most of your spending often say the best cash back credit card for you depends on the categories you spend the most in, which you can find out by poring over your past bank statements and credit card bills.
Some Reddit users love unconventional cash back credit cards that aren't as mainstream as some others. For example, one Reddit user posted the following:
"I love my Paypal credit card because my business spends a lot on materials and supplies and I can get 3% back if I can checkout using paypal. If I can't checkout with PayPal, I still get 2%."
When it comes to pairing a few cash back credit cards, another Reddit user had this to say:
"AmEx Blue Cash Preferred gives 6% at grocery stores and streaming, 3% at gas stations/Uber/parking. Surprised no one mentioned this card. It's worth $95/year. I pair it with the Citi Double Cash."
Some consumers also recommend different cash back credit cards for low spenders, usually due to the lack of annual fees and generous rewards rates. One Reddit user said:
"For low spenders: the Citi custom cash. This is my favorite. Super flexible, can change 5% category month to month, and the options are excellent, including groceries, gas, dining, and even travel! I primarily use it for groceries and max it out nicely. When I have room in the cap, I'll buy gift cards at the grocery store: Amazon, airbnb, Target, etc. People with high spending will be annoyed by the $500 cap/month."
A user on the myFICO.com forum agreed that the Citi Custom Cash® Card is a good deal and explained why the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express makes sense despite its annual fee.
"The AMEX BCP may be good too if you have more than $270 a month in groceries and streaming. 6% groceries, 6% streaming, 3% gas. It has a $95 annual fee though so you have to have enough 6% spend to make it positive. The Citi Custom Cash is great as well. No annual fee and gives 5% on your top spending category each month automatically."
Travel rewards expert Julian Kheel of Points Path says that the best cash back credit card can be any that earns 2% back on everything with no annual fee. This could be one of the many cards structured this way, including the Citi Double Cash® Card, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card or the PayPal Cashback Mastercard®.
"When you have a card that earns the same amount of cash back on all your purchases, you don't have to worry about bonus categories or other more complicated earning structures," he said.
Kheel went on to say that he thinks the Citi Double Cash® Card is a top option for people who don't want to spend a lot of time thinking about their rewards strategy.
"It's a great 'set it and forget it' option that you can use essentially anywhere credit cards are accepted, and the cash back it earns is easy to redeem," said Kheel. "Plus, it has no annual fee."
Travel and rewards expert Aaron Hurd of Cards and Points says he is all about simplicity when it comes to earning cash back. Thus, his favorite cash back credit card is the TD Double UpSM Credit Card.
Hurd says this card offers 2% cash back on all purchases within no annual fee and comes with perks like cell phone protection. It also has an intro APR offer for balance transfers.
"Unfortunately, the card is only available if you live in one of the handful of states where TD Bank has physical branch banks," he said. For those who live elsewhere, he recommends the Citi Double Cash® Card instead.
Credit card expert Elliot Rosenberg is another pro who believes an unconventional cash back credit card is one of the best right now — the U.S. Bank SmartlySM Visa Signature® Card. This card offers most consumers 2% cash back on all purchases, but customers who pair it with U.S. Bank savings accounts and/or eligible investment accounts with at least $100,000 on deposit earn 4% cash back on all purchases made with the card.
"This card blows every other cash back card out of the water." notes Rosenberg. "That being said, I'd take transferable bank points such as Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards points over cash-back any day since they're far more valuable when transferred to airline and hotel partners for luxury travel."
Finally, award travel coach Michael Gandara says that the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and Chase Freedom Flex® Credit Card stand out for obvious reasons, but that the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is still his top pick in this niche. This is partly due to its excellent rewards rates, including the fact it earns an impressive 3% back on dining, groceries, streaming services and entertainment.
Gandara points out that, for many people, these categories already make up a significant portion of their spending. He also says the Capital One Savor is even more flexible when paired with a premium travel credit card like the Capital One Venture or Capital One Venture X. In that case, your cash back can be converted into Venture miles.
"These miles can then be transferred to airline and hotel partners, potentially turning your everyday cashback into premium travel experiences," he added.
Credit cards themselves can be a rectangular piece of metal or plastic, or they can come in the form of a virtual card number. Each credit card has a line of credit consumers can use to charge purchases, and they can opt to pay back their purchases over time or all at once.
Cash back credit cards are the cream of the crop because they grant cardholders a percentage of cash back on everything they buy. These rewards can be offered on a flat-rate basis, or come with a flat rate and bonus rewards in specific categories. Many of the best cash back credit cards also have benefits like intro APR offers, consumer protections and travel insurance coverages included.
Another benefit of credit cards is the fact they offer $0 fraud liability coverage. With this protection, consumers aren't on the hook for purchases if a criminal uses their credit card or card number to go on a shopping spree.
What's the catch? Using a credit card isn't free, and most charge a high variable APR on balances you carry from one month to the next.
Expert intel: Avoid credit card interest completely by paying your card's full statement balance by its posted due date each month. Some credit cards also offer 0% APR on purchases, but these offers are only available for a limited time.
Convenient way to make purchases in-person or online
Earn cash back for everything you buy
Some cards offer intro 0% APR terms for purchases, balance transfers or both
Many offer guaranteed returns and extended warranties
$0 liability for fraudulent purchases
Potential for $0 annual fee
Build credit for the future
High variable interest rates apply
Some cards charge annual fees
Potential for overspending and debt
Cash back credit cards have different rewards rates and features, and they all have variable interest rates that apply when you carry a balance from one month to the next. If you opt for a card that has 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for a limited time, you can enjoy this benefit. However, you need to remember that interest will apply once the intro period ends.
To illustrate how a specific cash back credit card would work in practice, imagine a scenario where someone signs up for the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.
This card earns:
5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel
5% cash back on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases
1.5% cash back on other purchases.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® also comes with a $0 annual fee and offers 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, followed by a variable APR of 19.49% to 28.24%.
Imagine this person spends the following on their card each month (on average):
$300 per month on travel through Chase
$400 per month dining out
$100 per month at drugstores
$800 per month on groceries
$500 per month on other miscellaneous purchases
In this case, they would earn $49.50 in cash back rewards each month. Over the course of one year, their cash back earnings would grow to $594. When you tack on the welcome bonus on this card, this means the example spender could earn $794 in cash back rewards with regular spending and bills the first year.
They could also pay off their purchases slowly the first 15 months due to the 0% intro APR offer that applies. However, any balances left after the introductory period ends would begin accruing interest at the card's high variable APR.
A cash back credit card could be right for you if you want to get something back for each dollar you spend — and if you have the discipline to avoid long-term credit card debt. After all, the high variable rates cards charge more than eclipse the cash back rates they offer. This means that, if you wind up in debt trying to earn more rewards, the interest you pay will far surpass the cash back you earn.
A cash back credit card can also be right for you if you don't want to deal with the complexity of other credit card rewards programs, and especially travel credit card programs. The simplicity of cash back credit cards makes them a good option for people who want to earn rewards without a lot of effort then redeem their cash back for simple options later on.
In summary, a cash back credit card could be right for you if:
You want to earn valuable, yet simple rewards on your spending.
You have the discipline to avoid credit card interest and long-term debt.
Having access to simple redemption options for rewards is important to you.
While the best credit cards for cash back are all different in their own way, they tend to have some overlapping features. Here's a rundown of things to look for as you search for the best offer.
Most cash back credit cards have a welcome offer that's worth at least $200 when you meet a minimum spending requirement within a few months of account opening. There are some higher offers out there, but they tend to come from cash back business credit cards and consumer cash back credit cards with a higher annual fee.
For example, the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® offers $750 bonus cash after new cardholders spend $6,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. Meanwhile, the welcome offer on the highly popular Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express ($95 annual fee) is for $250 cash back after cardholders spend $3,000 on new purchases within six months of account opening.
The best cash back credit cards also offer lucrative rewards rates for all kinds of purchases, although they don't all give out rewards in the same way. For example, there are flat-rate cash back credit cards, tiered bonus category cards and cash back cards that offer bonus rewards in rotating categories that change over time.
Many top cash back cards include some consumer protections for cardholders automatically. These protections are available for cardholders any time they use their cash back credit card for an eligible purchase.
As an example, the top-rated Chase Freedom Flex® Credit Card comes with purchase protection, extended warranties, secondary auto rental coverage, trip cancellation and interruption insurance and cell phone protection.
Also look for cards that offer the redemptions you want for your rewards, and remember that some cards and programs are considerably more flexible than others.
If you opt for a cash back credit card from Chase or Capital One, for example, you can redeem rewards for options like statement credits, merchandise, travel through a portal or gift cards. If you opt for a card like the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, on the other hand, you could only redeem for statement credits on your account.
Nearly all cash back credit cards offer 0% APR on purchases, balance transfers or both for a limited time. These offers can help you save on interest as you consolidate debt or pay down large purchases. Just remember that your card's variable interest rates apply when these offers end.
Before you pick the best cash back credit card, you should think over the factors that matter the most. These steps can help you narrow down your options.
The best cash back credit cards are typically geared to consumers with FICO scores of at least 670 or 700. However, there are cash back credit cards for people with fair credit or poor credit, too.
Taking the time to check your credit score can help you figure out which type of cards you may be eligible for. If you have poor credit or no credit, for example, you'll find several secured credit card options that still offer cash back rewards for spending.
Expert intel: "A secured card can be a good way to build credit when you have no credit or are just beginning to build your credit profile. It’s typically easier to get approved for a secured card since you are putting down a security deposit, which reduces the lender's risk." - Leslie H. Tayne, Esq., founder of Tayne Law Group
Decide if you want to earn flat-rate cash back or a higher cash back rate in different categories. It can help to look over your regular expenses and bills you charge to plastic to see which type of card might leave you ahead.
Expert intel: If you can't decide between a flat-rate cash back credit card or bonus category card, consider getting both. This strategy can help you earn bonus rewards in categories you spend the most in, then you can switch to your more lucrative flat-rate cash back credit card for other spending and bills.
The vast majority of cash back credit cards don't charge an annual fee, yet you can find card options that do charge one. There's nothing wrong with paying an annual fee for a credit card, but you should run the numbers to make sure the additional rewards you earn will leave you "ahead."
Decide which cardholder benefits you want, and look for cash back credit cards that offer them. Common benefits you can get with these cards include purchase protection, extended warranties and travel insurance benefits, to name a few.
Make sure you're happy with the redemption options your favorite card offers, whether you prefer to redeem rewards for a check in the mail, statement credits, gift cards, merchandise or travel. Note that many of the best cash back credit cards offer all of these options to choose from.
Expert intel: If you want the option to use your cash back rewards for travel, consider cards and programs that let you pool your rewards for premium redemptions like point transfers. Both Chase and Capital One offer this option when you pair their cash back credit cards with premium cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Venture X.
Hoping to leverage your cash back credit card to the hilt? Consider these expert tips to find the right card and get the most bang for your buck.
Travel rewards expert Luis Lan of Better than Points says consumers looking for a new card should first assess their spending and decide how much effort they want to put into the process.
"Would they rather have one card that gives them a lower cash back amount but the same amount for all purchases? Or, do they value getting more cash back for a few categories while a lower amount for others?" he asks.
"Once that decision is made, do your research in seeing what card best fits with the values you outlined previously," Lan added.
Cash back credit cards that also have balance transfer offers can lure consumers into a debt trap if they're not careful. With that warning in mind, it can make sense to pay off debt before you start using a credit card for the purpose of earning rewards on spending.
"The problem with using a balance transfer card that also earns rewards is the temptation users have to earn a welcome bonus or earn rewards on spending," said credit card expert Lee Huffman. "While these are valuable perks once you're out of debt, the primary focus when using a balance transfer credit card is to pay off your debt, not spend more trying to earn rewards."
We mentioned how cardholders with the U.S. Bank SmartlySM Visa Signature® Card earn a higher rewards rate when they have a minimum of $100,000 invested or on deposit in an eligible account with U.S. Bank. Meanwhile, Bank of America offers similar benefits on its cash back credit cards through the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program.
Travel expert Elliot Rosenberg says it can make sense to ask yourself if you're willing to park considerable assets with a bank like U.S. Bank or Bank of America in order to score a higher percentage of rewards with their top credit cards.
"If not, you should expect to settle for 2% cash-back on all purchases or opt for cards that have higher earnings on quarterly rotating spending categories," he said.
If you're struggling to decide on a cash back credit card, you may want to consider alternative options. These could include:
Co-branded travel credit cards: If you want to earn rewards for travel instead of cash back, comparing all the best travel credit cards on the market today makes a lot of sense. With co-branded card options from travel brands like Delta SkyMiles or Hilton Honors, you could earn airline miles or hotel loyalty points with your favorite programs instead of cash back.
Flexible travel credit cards: Flexible travel credit cards from top programs like Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles and Chase Ultimate Rewards let users redeem their points for transfers to airlines and hotels, travel through a portal and simple options like cash back or gift cards.
Cash back debit cards: There are also cash back debit cards available, which tap into funds you deposit in a connected checking account when you make a purchase. This means these accounts don't build credit like credit cards do, and they also have some limitations. For example, the Discover Cashback Debit account has no fees and earns 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month.
To find the best cash back credit cards on the market today, we compared offers based on their welcome bonuses, rates and fees, redemption options for rewards and included cardholder benefits. We also surveyed consumer sentiment about the best card offers online, and we reached out to experts for their take on the best cards available.
The cards that made our ranking offer the most robust rewards rates and welcome offers out there, plus a generous selection of benefits that help consumers protect their purchases.
Some credit cards offer 5% cash back in quarterly bonus categories that change every three months, although bonus rewards caps apply. Meanwhile, the Citi Custom Cash® Card offers 5% cash back in your top spending category each month and 1% cash back on other purchases.
Some cash back credit cards offer 3% cash back in bonus categories, but this higher rewards rate does not apply to other everyday purchases.
The best cash back credit cards offer a flat rate of 2% cash back on all purchases or a lower base rewards rate and more rewards (usually 3% to 6% back) in bonus categories like dining out, groceries or gas.
Cash back credit cards offer something back for each dollar you spend, but there's a catch. They also charge high variable interest rates if you carry a balance from one month to the next.
Most cash back rewards programs say your rewards won't expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing. However, you should still read over your card's rewards program terms and conditions to confirm.
Credit card rewards are considered a rebate by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), thus they are not considered part of your taxable income.
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
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Writer: Holly Johnson
Writer Bio: Holly Johnson is a credit card expert, award-winning writer, and mother of two who covers travel rewards and loyalty programs, rewards credit cards, loans, banking and personal finance. In addition to writing for publications like Bankrate, Investopedia, U.S. News and World Report Travel, and Travel Pulse, Johnson owns Club Thrifty and is the co-author of "Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You’ll Love." Linkedin.