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17 Best Cash Back Credit Cards of December 2024

Updated: Dec 5, 2024
Jae Bratton
Written by
Lead Writer
Caitlin Mims
Reviewed by
Content Management Specialist
Paul Soucy
Edited by
Fact Checked
Director
Fact Checked
Jae Bratton
Written by
Lead Writer
Caitlin Mims
Reviewed by
Content Management Specialist
Paul Soucy
Edited by
Fact Checked
Director
Fact Checked
+ 2 more
+ 2 more
Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.

The best cash back credit card is one you will use regularly. Some cards pay a single rate on every purchase, with no work required on your part. Others pay higher rewards in specific categories (up to 6% in some cases) and a lower rate elsewhere. Choose one card for everything, or carry several to maximize your cash back.

  • 400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)

  • 80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance

  • 27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months

  • Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)

NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.

  • 400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)

  • 80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance

  • 27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months

  • Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)

NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.

NerdWallet's Best Cash Back Credit Cards of December 2024

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Best Cash Back Credit Cards

Credit card
NerdWallet rating
Annual feeRewards rateIntro offerLearn more
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card ImageWells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Best for Flat-rate cash back

$0

2%

Cashback
$200
Chase Freedom Unlimited® ImageChase Freedom Unlimited®
Apply Now
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
Best for All-around cash back

$0

1.5%-5%

Cashback
Up to $300
Apply Now
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express ImageBlue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Best for Families & households

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

1%-6%

Cashback
$250
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card ImageCapital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best for Going out & staying in

$0

1%-8%

Cashback
$250
Discover it® Cash Back ImageDiscover it® Cash Back
Best for Quarterly categories + matching bonus

$0

1%-5%

Cashback
Cashback Match™
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card ImageU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
Best for Wide selection of categories

$0

1%-5%

Cashback
$200
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express ImageBlue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Best for Popular 3% categories

$0

1%-3%

Cashback
$200
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card ImageU.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card
Best for Big box shoppers

$0 intro for the first year, then $95

1.5%-6%

Cashback
$250
Citi Double Cash® Card ImageCiti Double Cash® Card
Best for Simplicity + high rate

$0

1%-5%

Cashback
$200
Chase Freedom Flex® ImageChase Freedom Flex®
Apply Now
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
Best for Quarterly categories + cash bonus

$0

1%-5%

Cashback
$200
Apply Now
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card ImageCapital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best for Simplicity + 0% APR offer

$0

1.5%-5%

Cashback
$200
Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® ImageSynchrony Premier World Mastercard®
Apply Now
on Synchrony Bank's website
on Synchrony Bank's website
Best for High rate + hassle-free redemption

$0

2%

Cashback
None
Apply Now
on Synchrony Bank's website
on Synchrony Bank's website
Citi Custom Cash® Card ImageCiti Custom Cash® Card
Best for Automatic 5% rewards

$0

1%-5%

Cashback
$200
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card ImageBank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Apply Now
on Bank of America's website
on Bank of America's website
Best for Adjustable 3% categories

$0

1%-3%

Cashback
$200
Apply Now
on Bank of America's website
on Bank of America's website
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card ImageBank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card
Apply Now
on Bank of America's website
on Bank of America's website
Best for Simplicity + relationship rewards

$0

1.5%

Cashback
$200
Apply Now
on Bank of America's website
on Bank of America's website
Apple Card ImageApple Card
Best for Apple Pay users

No Fees*

1%-3%

Cashback
N/A
PayPal Cashback Mastercard® ImagePayPal Cashback Mastercard®
Best for Regular PayPal users

$0

1.5%-3%

Cashback
N/A
save money

Find the right credit card for you.

Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.

Find the right credit card for you.

Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.

Our pick for

Flat-rate cash back

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
2%
Cashback
Intro offer
$200
Recommended Credit Score

The $0-annual-fee Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers an excellent 2% rewards rate on everything you buy, as well as a bundle of other goodies not often found on cards like it.

Product Details

  • Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
  • Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
  • Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
  • 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
  • $0 annual fee.
  • No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
  • Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
  • Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
  • View Rates & Fees

Pros
  • 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.

Cons
  • You can find higher cash-back rates in specific, popular spending categories, if you're OK with keeping track of tiered or rotating reward structures. And like many cash-back cards, this one's not ideal for traveling abroad, thanks to its foreign transaction fee.

Why We Like It

The $0-annual-fee Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers an excellent 2% rewards rate on everything you buy, as well as a bundle of other goodies not often found on cards like it.

Our pick for

Families & households

Annual fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Rewards rate
1%-6%
Cashback
Intro offer
$250
Recommended Credit Score

The annual fee is high for a cash-back card, but the stellar rewards rates on the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express will more than make up for it for families that spend a lot on groceries, gas, transit and streaming.

  • Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
  • Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
  • Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 18.49% - 29.49%.
  • 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
  • 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
  • 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
  • 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
  • Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
  • $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
  • Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
  • Terms Apply.
  • View Rates & Fees

Pros
  • 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.

Cons
  • The annual fee will be a sticking point for some, but the rewards will offset the fee if you spend just $31 a week at the supermarket. If you don't have significant grocery expenses, however, this simply isn't the card for you. Instead, consider the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, which has a $0 fee but lower rewards rates.

Why We Like It

The annual fee is high for a cash-back card, but the stellar rewards rates on the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express will more than make up for it for families that spend a lot on groceries, gas, transit and streaming.

Our pick for

All-around cash back

Chase Freedom Unlimited® card image
Apply Now
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%-5%
Cashback
Intro offer
Up to $300
Recommended Credit Score

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is the rare cash back card that doesn't just have bonus categories (travel booked through Chase, restaurants and drugstores) but also pays more than 1% on purchases outside those categories. New cardholders get a great bonus opportunity, too.

  • INTRO 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!
  • Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
  • After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
  • No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
  • Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.74% - 28.49%.
  • No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
  • Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
  • Member FDIC

Pros
  • 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!

Cons
  • While you can earn big rewards on travel bookings with this card, it also charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, so it's not a good companion abroad.

Why We Like It

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is the rare cash back card that doesn't just have bonus categories (travel booked through Chase, restaurants and drugstores) but also pays more than 1% on purchases outside those categories. New cardholders get a great bonus opportunity, too.

Our pick for

Popular 3% categories

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-3%
Cashback
Intro offer
$200
Recommended Credit Score

Refreshed with new benefits, including higher rewards in some of the most popular spending categories, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a strong contender for fee-averse families.

  • Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  • No Annual Fee.
  • Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 18.49% to 29.49% variable APR.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
  • 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
  • Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
  • Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Everyday® Card. Enrollment required.
  • Enjoy up to $15 back per month when you purchase a Home Chef meal kit subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card.
  • Terms Apply.
  • View Rates & Fees

Pros
  • 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.

Cons
  • Bonus rewards are capped in each category. Many households that spend a lot on groceries and streaming will be better off with the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, even after accounting for its annual fee, because of that card's high rewards rates.

Why We Like It

Refreshed with new benefits, including higher rewards in some of the most popular spending categories, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a strong contender for fee-averse families.

Our pick for

Quarterly categories + matching bonus

Bonus rewards at Amazon & Target right now
Why this card stands out

This card earns 5% cash back on quarterly categories that you activate (on up to $1,500 per quarter in category spending) and 1% on other purchases. The categories for October through December 2024 are especially enticing for holiday shoppers: Amazon.com and Target.

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5%
Cashback
Intro offer
Cashback Match™
Recommended Credit Score

You get 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in spending per quarter in categories that you activate — and unlike with some cards, the 5% categories include places where a lot of people spend a lot of money. With Discover's unique bonus and a $0 annual fee, the Discover it® Cash Back does well as either an everyday card or a backup.

  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
  • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • Apply and you could get a decision in as little as 60 seconds. No annual fee.
  • Start shopping and earning rewards in minutes with our digital card, before your physical card arrives in the mail, if eligible.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.49% to 27.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
  • View Rates & Fees

Pros
  • The 5% categories regularly include big line items in many household budgets: grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and more. You earn 1% on all other spending (that is, spending outside the bonus categories and category spending above the $1,500 quarterly limit when you activate). This card also puts you in charge of your new cardmember bonus. The more you use the card, the bigger your bonus.

Cons
  • Activating the bonus categories each quarter can be a hassle. If you forget, you don't get 5%. The categories might not be a good fit for everyone. You also have to wait a year for your bonus.

Why We Like It

You get 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in spending per quarter in categories that you activate — and unlike with some cards, the 5% categories include places where a lot of people spend a lot of money. With Discover's unique bonus and a $0 annual fee, the Discover it® Cash Back does well as either an everyday card or a backup.

Our pick for

Simplicity + high rate

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$200
Recommended Credit Score

The stalwart Citi Double Cash® Card gets high marks for pure value and simplicity: 2% cash back on every purchase — 1% when you make it and 1% when you pay it off.

Shop as you normally would and get a fantastic rewards rate on EVERYTHING.

  • Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
  • Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.
  • Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
  • If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
  • There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
  • View Rates & Fees

Pros
  • 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.

Cons
  • The value in this card is all in the rewards rate, so there's no 0% period for purchases. Higher cash back percentages can be had on different cards for specific categories.

Why We Like It

The stalwart Citi Double Cash® Card gets high marks for pure value and simplicity: 2% cash back on every purchase — 1% when you make it and 1% when you pay it off.

Shop as you normally would and get a fantastic rewards rate on EVERYTHING.

Our pick for

Wide selection of categories

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$200
Recommended Credit Score

The unique rewards system on the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card makes it a potentially lucrative option for people who don't mind (or who even enjoy) actively managing their credit card accounts.

  • $200 rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
  • 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories you choose.
  • 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center.
  • 2% cash back on one everyday category like Gas Stations and EV Charging Stations, or Grocery Stores (excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs).
  • 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
  • 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 18.74% - 28.99%.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Terms and conditions apply.
  • View Rates & Fees

Pros
  • 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.

Cons
  • Rotating category cards involve work, and this one adds an extra layer of effort because you have to pick your categories each quarter. Forget to do so, and you'll earn only 1%. Further, the 5% categories tend to be more specialized than on comparable cards, so you might have trouble maxing out bonus rewards.

Why We Like It

The unique rewards system on the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card makes it a potentially lucrative option for people who don't mind (or who even enjoy) actively managing their credit card accounts.

Our pick for

Automatic 5% rewards

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$200
Recommended Credit Score

The $0-annual-fee Citi Custom Cash® Card offers something unique in its class: 5% rewards that are automated based on your spending and don't require any "activation" or bonus-calendar tracking. Terms apply.

  • Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
  • 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026.
  • No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.
  • View Rates & Fees

Pros
  • 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.

Cons
  • Note the $500 monthly spending cap for the 5% rewards rate, which means the most you can earn per month in a bonus category would be $25.

Why We Like It

The $0-annual-fee Citi Custom Cash® Card offers something unique in its class: 5% rewards that are automated based on your spending and don't require any "activation" or bonus-calendar tracking. Terms apply.

Our pick for

Going out & staying in

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-8%
Cashback
Intro offer
$250
Recommended Credit Score

For foodies, the $0-annual-fee Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers an irresistible (and hard-to-find) combo: high rates on dining AND at grocery stores.

  • For a limited time, earn a $250 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
  • Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
  • Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
  • No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.74% - 29.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • No annual fee
  • View Rates & Fees

Pros
  • 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.

Cons
  • If your spending is more concentrated in one food category over the other — dining out or cooking at home — you might do better with a card that specializes in one of those areas.

Why We Like It

For foodies, the $0-annual-fee Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers an irresistible (and hard-to-find) combo: high rates on dining AND at grocery stores.

Our pick for

Simplicity + 0% APR offer

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%-5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$200
Recommended Credit Score

The original 1.5% cash-back credit card is still getting it done, even after being challenged by a wave of competitors. Few cards offer as compelling a combination of cash-back rate, sign-up bonus, intro 0% APR offer and redemption flexibility as the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card.

  • Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
  • No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.74% - 29.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
  • View Rates & Fees

Pros
  • 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.

Cons
  • Simplicity is this card's strength, but if you're willing to put in a little effort, you can score bigger cash back with other options, especially those with bonus categories.

Why We Like It

The original 1.5% cash-back credit card is still getting it done, even after being challenged by a wave of competitors. Few cards offer as compelling a combination of cash-back rate, sign-up bonus, intro 0% APR offer and redemption flexibility as the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card.

Our pick for

Simplicity + relationship rewards

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card card image
Apply Now
on Bank of America's website
on Bank of America's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$200
Recommended Credit Score

The $0-annual-fee Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card earns a simple, straightforward rate on all purchases, and you can boost that rate even further if you're eligible for the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program.

  • $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
  • If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 1.87%-2.62% cash back on every purchase with Preferred Rewards.
  • No annual fee.
  • No limit to the amount of cash back you can earn and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.49% - 28.49% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
  • Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
  • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Pros
  • 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.

Cons
  • In recent years, a 1.5% rewards rate has become table stakes. You can find cards with higher rewards rates.

Why We Like It

The $0-annual-fee Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card earns a simple, straightforward rate on all purchases, and you can boost that rate even further if you're eligible for the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program.

Our pick for

High rate + hassle-free redemption

Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® card image
Apply Now
on Synchrony Bank's website
on Synchrony Bank's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
2%
Cashback
Intro offer
None
Recommended Credit Score

The Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® pays a flat 2% cash back on all purchases, and those rewards are automatically applied to your balance as a statement credit.

  • 2% cash back* on every purchase--no categories, tiers, or limits--no kidding.
  • No annual fee^
  • Zero Liability Protection
  • Secure online and mobile app account access
  • Get more out of every day purchases -- earn 2% cash back with your Synchrony Premier Card. No complicated math or rewards categories to remember.
  • Plus, you'll also gain access to additional key benefits like identity theft protection, money-saving discounts, and concierge travel planning support.
  • *2% cash back is valid on net purchases (less credits, returns and adjustments) of goods and services made with a Synchrony Premier World Mastercard. Cash back earned will be applied as a statement credit within 2 billing periods after an eligible purchase is made, if the account is open and in good standing. See Rewards Terms for details. We reserve the right to modify features of the Cashback Program at any time.
  • ^NO ANNUAL FEE: New Accounts as of October 1, 2024: Variable Purchase APR 18.74%, 27.74%, or 34.49%. Variable Bal Trans APR 18.74%, 27.74%, or 34.49% and 4% Fee ($10 min). Variable Cash APR 21.74%, 30.74% or 37.49% and 5% Fee ($10 min). Variable Penalty APR 28.74%, 37.74% or 39.99%. Minimum Interest Charge is $2. Foreign transaction fee: 3%.

Pros
  • 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.

Cons
  • This card doesn't have a sign-up bonus or a 0% intro APR period. Because the rewards redeem automatically, you can't save them up for something special, as some folks like to do.

Why We Like It

The Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® pays a flat 2% cash back on all purchases, and those rewards are automatically applied to your balance as a statement credit.

Our pick for

Big box shoppers

Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Rewards rate
1.5%-6%
Cashback
Intro offer
$250
Recommended Credit Score

The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card is tailor-made for consumers who spend a lot at specific merchants that don't fit into (or are specifically excluded from) the highest-paying categories on other cards. You earn 6% cash back on up to $1,500 a quarter in combined spending at two retailers you choose from a list. Options include Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Home Depot and more.

  • 6% Cash Back on your first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases each quarter at two retailers you choose.
  • Earn a $250 bonus after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.
  • 3% Cash Back on your first $1,500 in eligible purchases each quarter on your choice of one everyday category like gas stations & EV charging stations (excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs), bills and home utilities.
  • 1.5% Cash Back on all other eligible purchases.
  • 6% Cash Back on prepaid car and hotel reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
  • View Rates & Fees

Pros
  • 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.

Cons
  • The card charges an annual fee, although $31 a week in spending at your chosen retailers will return enough cash back to offset it. The rewards structure requires a bit of work, since it's on you to lock in your 6% and 3% options each quarter.

Why We Like It

The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card is tailor-made for consumers who spend a lot at specific merchants that don't fit into (or are specifically excluded from) the highest-paying categories on other cards. You earn 6% cash back on up to $1,500 a quarter in combined spending at two retailers you choose from a list. Options include Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Home Depot and more.

Our pick for

Quarterly categories + cash bonus

Chase Freedom Flex® card image
Apply Now
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5%
Cashback
Intro offer
$200
Recommended Credit Score

The Chase Freedom Flex® offers rewards as high as 5% in specific categories (some that change quarterly and some that don't), plus a generous bonus for new cardholders. If you're willing to put in a little work, it's one rich card.

  • Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
  • 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
  • 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
  • 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.74%-28.49%.
  • No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex® card
  • Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
  • Member FDIC

Pros
  • 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.

Cons
  • You have to opt in to the bonus categories every quarter, which can be a hassle. The rotating 5% categories might not be a good fit for everyone, and in recent years, they've shifted a bit toward lower-spending areas: Restaurants dropped out of the rotation entirely (although dining is now a permanent 3% category), and gas stations have been included for two quarters a year.

Why We Like It

The Chase Freedom Flex® offers rewards as high as 5% in specific categories (some that change quarterly and some that don't), plus a generous bonus for new cardholders. If you're willing to put in a little work, it's one rich card.

Our pick for

Adjustable 3% categories

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card card image
Apply Now
on Bank of America's website
on Bank of America's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-3%
Cashback
Intro offer
$200
Recommended Credit Score

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card combines a rich offer for new cardholders (see the product details tab) with a semi-customizable rewards structure that lets you choose which purchases will earn the highest cash-back rate.

  • $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
  • Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
  • Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishings purchases.
  • If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
  • No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.49% - 28.49% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
  • Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
  • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Pros
  • 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.)

Cons
  • The rewards structure is somewhat complicated. Because the amount of spending eligible for the 3% and 2% rewards is capped, you might earn more rewards with a simple flat-rate card that pays an unlimited 1.5% or 2% on everything.

Why We Like It

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card combines a rich offer for new cardholders (see the product details tab) with a semi-customizable rewards structure that lets you choose which purchases will earn the highest cash-back rate.

Our pick for

Apple Pay users

Annual fee
No Fees*
Rewards rate
1%-3%
Cashback
Intro offer
N/A
Recommended Credit Score

If the bulk of your purchases are going through Apple Pay, it makes sense to put them on the Apple Card. It earns 2% cash back on all Apple Pay purchases, rising to 3% at Apple and other select merchants.

  • *Variable APRs for Apple Card range from 18.74% to 28.99% based on creditworthiness. Rates as of October 1, 2024. Existing customers can view their variable APR in the Wallet app or card.apple.com.
  • Approval Odds are statements and determinations by NerdWallet and not those of Goldman Sachs Bank USA.
  • See if you’re approved for Apple Card with no impact to your credit score.¹
  • Created by Apple and built for iPhone. Designed to be private and secure.
  • No fees.² No annual fees, foreign transaction fees, late fees, or any other fees.³
  • Unlimited Daily Cash back on every purchase, every day. It’s real cash⁴ that never expires or loses value.
  • Now, you can automatically grow your Daily Cash when you open a high-yield Savings account.⁵ Savings provided by Goldman Sachs Bank USA. Member FDIC.
  • Apple Card Family allows you to share the benefits with anyone you call family.⁶
  • Apple-designed, laser-etched titanium card that is accepted all over the world with the Mastercard payment network.
  • 3% back on anything you buy from Apple, and at select merchants like Uber, Nike, Walgreens and more when you use Apple Card with Apple Pay.⁷
  • 2% back when you use Apple Card with Apple Pay. Apple Pay is accepted at over 85% of retail locations in the U.S.
  • Apply in minutes and use it right away.⁸
  • ¹²³⁴⁵⁶⁷⁸Select “View Rates and Fees” to see offer, benefit terms, and important disclosures.
  • View Rates & Fees

Pros
  • 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.

Cons
  • The value of this card depends largely on your ability to use Apple Pay. If that isn't an option with a specific merchant, you can still use a physical Apple Card or a virtual card number online, but you earn only 1% on such purchases. The list of 3% merchants is fairly short and hasn't been added to since 2020.

Why We Like It

If the bulk of your purchases are going through Apple Pay, it makes sense to put them on the Apple Card. It earns 2% cash back on all Apple Pay purchases, rising to 3% at Apple and other select merchants.

Our pick for

Regular PayPal users

Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%-3%
Cashback
Intro offer
N/A
Recommended Credit Score

The 1.5% base rewards rate on the PayPal Cashback Mastercard® isn't anything special within the cash back category. But that rate doubles to 3% on purchases through PayPal, and that makes it a winner for heavy PayPal users.

  • With the PayPal Cashback Mastercard, you’ll earn unlimited 3% cash back when you checkout with PayPal and 1.5% on all other purchases everywhere else Mastercard is accepted—unlimited cash back, no rotating categories, and no annual fee. Plus, apply with no impact to your credit score if you’re declined.
  • Combine merchant cash back offers with cash back you earn with your card. Just save the offers in the app and we'll automatically apply them at checkout.
  • With the Mastercard ID Theft Protection™ benefit, you will be alerted to possible identity theft.

Pros
  • 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.

Cons
  • Unlike competing options in its class, this card offers neither a sign-up bonus nor a 0% intro APR period. You must have a PayPal account to apply.

Why We Like It

The 1.5% base rewards rate on the PayPal Cashback Mastercard® isn't anything special within the cash back category. But that rate doubles to 3% on purchases through PayPal, and that makes it a winner for heavy PayPal users.

HOW NERDWALLET RATES CASH BACK CREDIT CARDS

BACK TO TOP

NerdWallet assigns star ratings to cash back credit cards based on how much value they provide to a typical consumer. Our scale goes from 1.0 at the bottom to 5.0 at the top and is incremented in tenths of a star — such as 2.5, 3.7 or 5.0.

Ratings for cash back cards are determined by a proprietary formula developed by NerdWallet’s credit card experts. The formula calculates how much cash back a typical consumer might expect to earn by using the card as their primary payment method, as well as how much the card would cost the user in fees. The formula also takes into account the value of additional card perks, how easy it is to earn and redeem rewards, the simplicity of the cash back structure, and other factors.

Generally speaking, a 5.0 rating indicates that this is a best-in-class card that would provide substantial value to just about anyone, while a 1.0 rating indicates that this card would be a poor value for just about anyone. In the middle, a 3.0 rating represents decent value — most people will come out ahead, but they might be able to do better with a different card.

A five-star cash back card is not a “perfect” card, however, because an objectively perfect card doesn’t exist. Every consumer has different needs, and each cash back credit card delivers value to consumers through a unique combination of features. Depending on your situation, a card that earns an overall rating of, say, 4.0 or 3.5 might actually be the perfect card for you.

The single biggest consideration for most people looking for a cash back credit card is how much cash back they can earn. Also important, though, is how much work they have to do to earn that cash back.

Some cards pay a single “flat” rate on all purchases. Others pay higher rates in select bonus categories. Further, some cards with bonus categories change them up periodically, let you choose your own categories, or even adjust rewards rates automatically based on your spending. The simplicity (or complexity) of the rewards structure is a factor in NerdWallet’s ratings.

Most people spend far more money at grocery stores than they do at, say, drugstores, so earning 3% at supermarkets will usually be worth more to a consumer than earning 3% (or even higher) at the drugstore. Our ratings formula takes these kinds of differences into account, drawing on federal consumer spending data to assess the relative value of bonus categories.

Keep in mind, though, that what really matters is how you spend money. All other things being equal, a card that earns 5% at the supermarket will get a higher star rating than one that earns 5% at the drugstore — but if you’re looking for a card to use at the drugstore, then the latter card might be your personal five-star option.

Our formula weighs the rewards you earn on a credit card against the costs of carrying that card. Most cash back cards don’t charge an annual fee, but for those that do, you should be getting outsized value that more than makes up for the fee.

We also assess the value of any perks that come with the card, such as a sign-up bonus, automatic credits for certain spending or a 0% introductory APR offer that can save you interest on a big purchase. And we consider such things as the issuer’s customer service record and how hard it is to qualify for the card.

  • How ratings are set
  • What the stars mean
  • Rewards structure
  • Bonus categories
  • Fees, perks and more
  • Ratings for cash back cards are determined by a proprietary formula developed by NerdWallet’s credit card experts. The formula calculates how much cash back a typical consumer might expect to earn by using the card as their primary payment method, as well as how much the card would cost the user in fees. The formula also takes into account the value of additional card perks, how easy it is to earn and redeem rewards, the simplicity of the cash back structure, and other factors.

    Generally speaking, a 5.0 rating indicates that this is a best-in-class card that would provide substantial value to just about anyone, while a 1.0 rating indicates that this card would be a poor value for just about anyone. In the middle, a 3.0 rating represents decent value — most people will come out ahead, but they might be able to do better with a different card.

    A five-star cash back card is not a “perfect” card, however, because an objectively perfect card doesn’t exist. Every consumer has different needs, and each cash back credit card delivers value to consumers through a unique combination of features. Depending on your situation, a card that earns an overall rating of, say, 4.0 or 3.5 might actually be the perfect card for you.

    The single biggest consideration for most people looking for a cash back credit card is how much cash back they can earn. Also important, though, is how much work they have to do to earn that cash back.

    Some cards pay a single “flat” rate on all purchases. Others pay higher rates in select bonus categories. Further, some cards with bonus categories change them up periodically, let you choose your own categories, or even adjust rewards rates automatically based on your spending. The simplicity (or complexity) of the rewards structure is a factor in NerdWallet’s ratings.

    Most people spend far more money at grocery stores than they do at, say, drugstores, so earning 3% at supermarkets will usually be worth more to a consumer than earning 3% (or even higher) at the drugstore. Our ratings formula takes these kinds of differences into account, drawing on federal consumer spending data to assess the relative value of bonus categories.

    Keep in mind, though, that what really matters is how you spend money. All other things being equal, a card that earns 5% at the supermarket will get a higher star rating than one that earns 5% at the drugstore — but if you’re looking for a card to use at the drugstore, then the latter card might be your personal five-star option.

    Our formula weighs the rewards you earn on a credit card against the costs of carrying that card. Most cash back cards don’t charge an annual fee, but for those that do, you should be getting outsized value that more than makes up for the fee.

    We also assess the value of any perks that come with the card, such as a sign-up bonus, automatic credits for certain spending or a 0% introductory APR offer that can save you interest on a big purchase. And we consider such things as the issuer’s customer service record and how hard it is to qualify for the card.

    ASK OUR CREDIT CARD EXPERTS

    BACK TO TOP

    Kenley Young avatarKenley Young

    WHAT'S YOUR CASH BACK CREDIT CARD STRATEGY?

    I carry about a half-dozen cash-back credit cards, and each has a specific use case. Groceries are a major line item for our family of four, so the Citi Custom Cash® Card is our designated card for supermarket sweeps. Dining out is a close second, and those expenses typically go on the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. If either grocery stores or restaurants happens to be in the quarterly bonus categories for Chase or Discover, then I reach for my Chase Freedom Flex® or my Discover it® Cash Back. For "all else," it's usually my Citi Double Cash® Card.

    Kenley Young avatar

    Kenley Young

    Assigning editor

    WHAT'S YOUR CASH BACK CREDIT CARD STRATEGY?

    The best cash back card for me is one that earns a high flat rate for all my spending, so I don't have to juggle many cards or keep track of multiple bonus rewards categories. I use a credit card for nearly every purchase, so it gives me the peace of mind knowing I can pull out one card and earn rewards regardless of what I use it for.
    Funto Omojola avatar

    Funto Omojola

    Lead writer

    WHAT'S YOUR CASH BACK CREDIT CARD STRATEGY?

    I use the Citi Double Cash® Card, which I got in 2015, for almost all of my purchases. When it came out, I remember wondering if it would stick around for long because the rewards rate seemed too high (and at the time, higher than all the other offers). It changed some details but it's basically the same as when I got it. It's helped me earned thousands in rewards over the years without any fancy strategies. At times, I've juggled dozens of credit cards and been a super-optimizer, but this is a card that I come back to when I don't want to deal with all that.

    Claire Tsosie avatar

    Claire Tsosie

    Assigning editor

    WHAT'S YOUR CASH BACK CREDIT CARD STRATEGY?

    I use both cash back and travel rewards cards. I always pay attention to the 5% categories for the original Chase Freedom® since I can transfer those points over to my Chase Sapphire Reserve® and redeem them at a rate of 1.5 cents each for travel later on. I also carry a Citi Double Cash® Card for those "everything else" purchases that aren't the usual rewards categories - things like co-pays at the doctor, or vet bills. I also have a Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card (no longer available), which is my go-to dining card because it earns 4% cash back at restaurants.
    Sara Rathner avatar

    Sara Rathner

    Senior writer/spokesperson

  • Kenley Young avatarKenley Young
  • Funto Omojola avatarFunto Omojola
  • Claire Tsosie avatarClaire Tsosie
  • Sara Rathner avatarSara Rathner
  • WHAT'S YOUR CASH BACK CREDIT CARD STRATEGY?

    I carry about a half-dozen cash-back credit cards, and each has a specific use case. Groceries are a major line item for our family of four, so the Citi Custom Cash® Card is our designated card for supermarket sweeps. Dining out is a close second, and those expenses typically go on the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. If either grocery stores or restaurants happens to be in the quarterly bonus categories for Chase or Discover, then I reach for my Chase Freedom Flex® or my Discover it® Cash Back. For "all else," it's usually my Citi Double Cash® Card.

    Kenley Young avatar

    Kenley Young

    Assigning editor

    WHAT'S YOUR CASH BACK CREDIT CARD STRATEGY?

    The best cash back card for me is one that earns a high flat rate for all my spending, so I don't have to juggle many cards or keep track of multiple bonus rewards categories. I use a credit card for nearly every purchase, so it gives me the peace of mind knowing I can pull out one card and earn rewards regardless of what I use it for.
    Funto Omojola avatar

    Funto Omojola

    Lead writer

    WHAT'S YOUR CASH BACK CREDIT CARD STRATEGY?

    I use the Citi Double Cash® Card, which I got in 2015, for almost all of my purchases. When it came out, I remember wondering if it would stick around for long because the rewards rate seemed too high (and at the time, higher than all the other offers). It changed some details but it's basically the same as when I got it. It's helped me earned thousands in rewards over the years without any fancy strategies. At times, I've juggled dozens of credit cards and been a super-optimizer, but this is a card that I come back to when I don't want to deal with all that.

    Claire Tsosie avatar

    Claire Tsosie

    Assigning editor

    WHAT'S YOUR CASH BACK CREDIT CARD STRATEGY?

    I use both cash back and travel rewards cards. I always pay attention to the 5% categories for the original Chase Freedom® since I can transfer those points over to my Chase Sapphire Reserve® and redeem them at a rate of 1.5 cents each for travel later on. I also carry a Citi Double Cash® Card for those "everything else" purchases that aren't the usual rewards categories - things like co-pays at the doctor, or vet bills. I also have a Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card (no longer available), which is my go-to dining card because it earns 4% cash back at restaurants.
    Sara Rathner avatar

    Sara Rathner

    Senior writer/spokesperson

    ASK REDDIT: WHAT’S THE BEST CASH BACK CARD?

    BACK TO TOP

    Reddit users who frequent the site's personal finance forums, particularly r/CreditCards, know that requests for credit card recommendations come up on a daily if not hourly basis. These requests are so common that r/CreditCards asks users to fill out a detailed template with enough information to help other redditors make an appropriate recommendation.

    The credit cards subreddit has scores of threads asking some variation of the question "What's the best cash back credit card?" The answers tend to be all over the map — as they should be, since the "best" cash back credit card for you (or anyone) is very much dependent on your individual circumstances. In one of these discussions, a user summed up the point pretty much the same way NerdWallet does:

    "Depends on where you spend your cash & how much it is. One card doesn't fit everyone's needs or wants."
    Reddit user Eli-Had-A-Book-

    For example, in a post from spring 2024 (the source of the comment shown above), a redditor asked for the "best cash back card in 2024," with their only parameters being no "hoops" to jump through and no rotating categories. The thread attracted 208 comments before being archived, and those comments touched on more than 30 distinct cards. Some were cited more than others, but the sheer variety of the suggestions reflects the many ways in which people use cash back cards. For example:

    • For those who value simplicity, multiple users suggested getting a good flat-rate card like the Citi Double Cash® Card (the card that came up most frequently in that discussion), the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, the Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Card or the PayPal Cashback Mastercard® and then putting all spending on that card.

    • Other redditors recommended cards that offer supercharged rewards when used in specific ways. For example, the Kroger Rewards World Elite Mastercard, from the Kroger supermarket conglomerate, pays 5% cash back on purchases made with mobile wallets. With so many merchants now able to take mobile wallet payments, some users view this card as giving them 5% on everything. The amount of spending eligible for 5% has an annual cap, though, so some users said they have more than one account, giving them a higher cap.

    • Users who are members of the Bank of America® Preferred Rewards program rave about the high cash back rates they're able to earn on that issuer's cards thanks to rewards bonuses of up to 75%.

    A separate discussion in fall 2024 started with a question, "What is the BEST cash back card for EVERYTHING?" After 117 comments, users had tossed around more than 30 options there, too. And looking back at similar threads over the years, the pattern is the same.

    Worth noting: The r/CreditCards subreddit is popular with card hackers who might carry a dozen or more cards and excel at squeezing maximum rewards out of them all, so it's common to see suggestions that point to fairly obscure cash back cards or even travel rewards credit cards whose points can be turned into cash with strategic redemption. A post asking for recommendations for a single cash back card that someone can use for every purchase will commonly draw responses encouraging the user to expand their horizons and combine two or more options to enhance their earning.

    So what's Reddit's favorite cash back credit card? It doesn't have one. While r/CreditCards maintains comprehensive lists of cards that earn good cash back in common categories, it isn't going to pick a "winner." Reddit is a huge community of individuals. The r/CreditCards subreddit had 1.4 million members as of September 2024, while r/personalfinance had 20 million. You're never going to get a single definitive answer, because every response is coming from a different individual who has found what works for them. But because so many people are participating, Reddit users offer up a lot of different scenarios that might match your situation, which means the recommendations that accompany those scenarios may have value to you.

    Here are threads that Reddit's algorithm has highlighted for discussions about the "best" cash back cards in popular categories:

    MOST POPULAR CASH BACK CREDIT CARDS

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    METHODOLOGY

    BACK TO TOP

    NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best cash-back credit cards based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of consumers. Factors in our evaluation include each card's cash-back earning rates, rewards structure (such as flat-rate or tiered categories), annual fee, redemption options (including minimum redemption amounts), promotional APR period for purchases, bonus offers for new cardholders, and noteworthy features such as loyalty bonuses or the ability to choose one's own rewards categories. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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    Every time you use a cash-back credit card, the card issuer "pays you back" a certain percentage of the purchase amount. For example, if your card earns 2% cash back on all purchases, and you buy something for $80, then you would earn $1.60 in cash back. Or say your card earns 5% at the gas station; in that case, a $42 fill-up would earn $2.10.

    With most cash-back cards, you can see your accumulated earnings on your monthly statement or through your online account portal, and you can decide when and how to redeem your cash back. Some cards automatically apply your cash back to your account as a credit.

    "Cash back" doesn't mean the card issuer sends you an envelope full of dollar bills. But the rewards do ultimately leave you with more cash in your pocket. The simplest way to redeem cash back is to take it as a credit that reduces your account balance: Redeem $50 worth of cash back, and a $325 balance becomes $275. Many cards also allow you to redeem cash back as a direct deposit into a bank account, and some will even mail you a paper check if you request it.

    Every card issuer has its own rules for how you can redeem cash back. Some have a minimum redemption requirement — you might not be able to cash in your rewards until you have accumulated at least $20 or $25. Others let you redeem any amount at any time.

    There are two basic kinds of cash-back credit cards:

    • Flat-rate cards pay the same cash-back rate no matter what you buy. Flat-rate cards typically pay 1.5% to 2% on everything.

    • Bonus category cards pay higher rates (as much as 5% or 6%) at specific types of merchants, such as grocery stores or restaurants, and a lower rate (usually 1%) everywhere else.

    Bonus categories themselves come in different flavors. On a lot of cards, the bonus categories never change. For example, you might always earn 3% at restaurants or 5% at gas stations. Some cards have rotating categories that change every three months, and you need to "activate" the categories online to qualify for the higher rate. And some cards have customizable bonus categories — you can choose which purchases earn higher rewards, or the card automatically adjusts to give you higher rewards in the category where you spend the most money.

    It's common (though by no means universal) for bonus category cards to cap the amount of spending that qualifies for their highest rates; once you hit the cap, any spending in those categories reverts to the card's lower "everywhere else" rate. In general, cash back cards don't limit the total amount of cash back you can earn, although there are some exceptions.

    Everyone's spending patterns are different, so the card that earns you the most cash back depends on your individual situation. If you spend far more money eating out than at home, for example, a card that pays 3% at restaurants would likely be a better fit than one that pays 6% at supermarkets.

    Legally speaking, credit card rewards are treated as discounts on purchases rather than as income. That means you don't owe any taxes on your cash back.

    Cash back rewards typically do not expire as long as your account remains open and active. (Exceptions may apply, so check your card agreement.) Some cards may automatically apply your cash back as a credit against purchases on your next statement; others let you save it up and use it when you want.

    From a purely financial standpoint, the best way to use cash back is to redeem it as soon as it is received. Cash back doesn't earn interest, so inflation erodes its value as it sits unredeemed. If you want to put the money into savings, redeem it as a direct deposit into a bank account rather than let it build up. If that's not an option, redeem for statement credit and then put an equal amount into savings.

    That said, it's not a catastrophic error to let your rewards balance build toward a goal — a big purchase, a trip, whatever. Just have a goal in mind, and don't let it sit for years on end.

    Credit card issuers give you cash back because doing so encourages you to use their cards. Credit card issuers make money from three main sources:

    • Fees paid by cardholders, including annual fees, late fees, balance transfer fees and so on.

    • Interest.

    • Transaction fees paid by merchants who accept credit cards, often referred to as "interchange."

    Most cash back cards don't charge annual fees. So in most cases, the only way the card issuer is going to make money off a cash back card is if the cardholder uses the card — and uses it enough that the fees and interest collected by the issuer outweigh the rewards it pays out. Cardholders can make the math work in their favor by paying their bill in full and on time each month. When you do that, you don't incur interest on purchases and you never pay late fees.

    About the author

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    Jae Bratton

    Jae is a writer for the credit cards team at NerdWallet. Her writing has been published in newspapers, blogs and an academic journal. Read full profile
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