18 Best Cash Back Credit Cards of December 2024

You'll earn 2% cash rewards on all purchases, among the best rates on the market for products in its class. But the card also features a generous sign-up bonus: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. On top of that, it also offers a 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable APR.

This card’s 6% cash back rate at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 a year in spending, then 1%) and its 3% rate at U.S. gas stations have long made it a NerdWallet favorite. On top of that, you now get 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions and 3% on transit, including such things as taxis, rideshares, parking, tolls, trains and buses. All other purchases earn 1% back. The welcome bonus offer also adds to the appeal.

This card earns 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase; 3% cash back at restaurants and drugstores; and 1.5% on other purchases. There's a strong intro APR offer, and new cardholders who apply through NerdWallet get this bonus offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

There are no bonus categories to track or spending limits to be mindful of. The combined 2% rate on all purchases is probably the best you're going to do on a card with a $0 annual fee.

The card earns 3% cash back on up to $6,000 spent per year in each of three categories: U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. online retail purchases. Other spending earns 1% cash back. There's a great 0% intro APR period and a strong welcome offer, among other benefits. And the annual fee is an unbeatable $0. Terms apply.

A rotating category card with a twist: You pick your bonus categories. You earn 5% cash back in two categories you choose, on up to $2,000 per quarter in combined spending (then 1%); unlimited 2% cash back in an "everyday" category of your choice; and 1% elsewhere. There's a good sign-up bonus, and the annual fee is $0.

You earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, and you can redeem your cash back in any amount, with no minimum. New cardholders get a great 0% intro APR period for purchases. And don't sleep on the sign-up offer: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

The card earns 5% back automatically in your eligible top spending category per billing cycle, on up to $500 spent per cycle. Other purchases earn 1% back. Eligible 5% categories include popular line items like restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations and a host of others. And you get that rate automatically; it's customized to your spending.

This is a good card for someone who wants to earn a lot of cash back without a lot of work. There are no bonus categories to keep track of, just straight 2% cash back on all purchases. Your cash back redeems automatically as a statement credit (within two billing cycles). And the annual fee is $0.

In addition to 6% back on up to $1,500 a quarter in combined spending at your two chosen retailers, you earn 3% on up to $1,500 per quarter spent in an "everyday" category like gas, wholesale clubs or bills and utilities. All other purchases earn 1.5% — a major edge over other cards that pay only 1% on non-bonus-category spending.

You'll earn 8% back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 3% back on dining, grocery stores, eligible streaming services and entertainment. All other purchases earn 1% back. There's also a generous sign-up bonus, not to mention an intro APR offer. That's a lot of value packed into a card with a $0 annual fee.

The card earns an unlimited 1.5% back on all purchases, an uncomplicated rate that's in line with the industry standard. If you're a member of the issuer's Preferred Rewards program, that rate can be 1.875% to 2.625%, depending on your level in the program. On top of that, it offers incentives, including a sign-up bonus and an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.

This card earns 5% cash back in bonus categories that change every three months (on up to $1,500 per quarter in spending, then 1%); 5% on travel booked through Chase; 3% cash back at restaurants and drugstores; and 1% on other purchases. New cardholders can snag a strong sign-up bonus, too.

This card earns 5% back at Amazon and Whole Foods Market, as well as on Chase Travel purchases. You also get 2% back at restaurants and gas stations and on rideshare, commuting and local transit, and 1% back elsewhere. Rewards are earned as points that you can redeem for Amazon purchases or for statement credit, so they're as good as cash. New cardholders get this offer: Get a $200 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members.

The bonus offer is rich for a no-fee cash-back card. You'll earn 3% cash back in a category you choose and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, on up to $2,500 per quarter in combined spending in those categories. All other purchases earn 1% cash back. (The 3% options are gas, dining, travel, online shopping, drugstores or home improvement and furnishings; you can change your choice once a month.)

The card earns 2% cash back on Apple Pay purchases and 3% when using Apple Pay at certain merchants. (As of December 2023, the list included Apple, Nike, Panera, Walgreeens, Exxon and Ace Hardware, among others.) Your rewards, which the issuer refers to as Daily Cash, are credited to your account daily and can be redeemed right away; by contrast, some cards make you wait as long as two statement cycles. There's also no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee and no late fees.

This card earns 3% cash back on purchases through PayPal and 1.5% on other spending. The annual fee is $0. With most major online retailers now accepting PayPal, you can earn 3% on a considerable amount of your discretionary spending.