Best Credit Cards for Bills, Utilities & Recurring Expenses of December 2024
Updated: Dec 20, 2024
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When you track your household spending, you see just how much of your money goes to the recurring costs of daily life — trips to the grocery store, utility bills, commuting, monthly memberships and subscriptions, and so on. Using a credit card that gives you extra cash back for those expenses is a relatively low-effort way to reduce the real cost of living.
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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.
When you track your household spending, you see just how much of your money goes to the recurring costs of daily life — trips to the grocery store, utility bills, commuting, monthly memberships and subscriptions, and so on. Using a credit card that gives you extra cash back for those expenses is a relatively low-effort way to reduce the real cost of living.
Why trust NerdWallet
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.
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When you track your household spending, you see just how much of your money goes to the recurring costs of daily life — trips to the grocery store, utility bills, commuting, monthly memberships and subscriptions, and so on. Using a credit card that gives you extra cash back for those expenses is a relatively low-effort way to reduce the real cost of living.
Why trust NerdWallet
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.
When you track your household spending, you see just how much of your money goes to the recurring costs of daily life — trips to the grocery store, utility bills, commuting, monthly memberships and subscriptions, and so on. Using a credit card that gives you extra cash back for those expenses is a relatively low-effort way to reduce the real cost of living.
Why trust NerdWallet
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.
Why trust NerdWallet
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 Credit Cards for Bills, Utilities & Recurring Expenses of December 2024
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Best for Consistent cash back
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for Household expenses
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card: Best for Utilities, commuting and more
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: Best for Your choice of expenses
Citi Custom Cash® Card: Best for Earning more automatically
Prime Visa: Best for Regular purchases and deliveries
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card: Best for Superstores, big box runs & bills
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi: Best for Wholesale shoppers
Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card: Best for Paying rent
MyLowe’s Rewards Credit Card: Best for Home maintenance
Show SummaryHide Summary
Best Credit Cards for Bills, Utilities & Recurring Expenses
| Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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.
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.
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST CREDIT CARDS FOR BILLS, UTILITIES & RECURRING EXPENSES
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Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Our pick for: Consistent cash back
Among flat-rate cash-back cards, you'll be hard-pressed to beat the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. It earns an unlimited 2% back on all purchases, which is excellent. But in addition, the card offers a rich sign-up bonus and a decent intro APR period on both purchases and balance transfers. That's an impressive, hard-to-find combination of features on a card with a $0 annual fee. Read our review.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Our pick for: Household expenses
If your household spends a lot on groceries, gas, transit and streaming, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is for you. The rewards it pays in those categories — particularly at U.S. supermarkets and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions — are among the richest of any card. There's a nice welcome offer for new cardholders and an introductory APR period, too. The generous benefits come at a cost, though: Unlike most cash-back cards, this one charges an annual fee. Terms apply. Read our review.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
Our pick for: Utilities, commuting and more
If you don't mind putting some work into your rewards, check out the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card. It might be the most customizable cash back card available. You pick which categories earn the most cash back — you get two 5% categories and a 2% category — and you can change those options every quarter. There's a good bonus offer for new cardholders, too. Read our review.
Full list of 5% categories on the U.S. Bank Cash+
Fast food.
Home utilities.
TV, internet and streaming.
Department stores.
Cell phone providers.
Electronics stores.
Sporting goods stores.
Movie theaters.
Gyms/fitness centers.
Furniture stores.
Ground transportation.
Select clothing stores.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Our pick for: Your choice of expenses
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card gives you a little more control over your credit card rewards by letting you choose which category earns the highest cash-back rate, from a list that includes gas stations, restaurants, travel, home improvement and more. You also get bonus rewards at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, plus a great new-cardholder bonus offer. Read our review.
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Our pick for: Earning more automatically
The Citi Custom Cash® Card offers a lot of value for a $0 annual fee: 5% back automatically in your eligible top spending category on up to $500 spent per billing cycle (1% back on other spending). The list of eligible 5% categories is varied and includes biggies like restaurants, grocery stores and more. And unlike with its competitors, there's no activation schedule or bonus calendar to keep track of. Read our review.
Prime Visa from Amazon
Our pick for: Regular purchases and deliveries
If you drop a lot of money at Amazon and/or Whole Foods Market, this is the card for you, with 5% back on such purchases, plus bonus rewards at restaurants and gas stations, plus local transit and commuting (including rideshare). There's no annual fee, but you have to be a Prime member, and that does have a fee. Read our review.
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card
Our pick for: Superstores, big box runs & bills
The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card is tailor-made for consumers who spend a lot of money at retailers that don't fit into (or are specifically excluded from) the bonus categories offered by other credit cards. The card also offers a higher-than-usual rate on spending outside its bonus categories. The downside: There's an annual fee. Read our review.
Full list of 6% merchants
Ace Hardware.
Apple.
Amazon.com.
Anthropologie.
Bed, Bath, & Beyond.
Best Buy.
Chewy.com.
Crate & Barrel.
Disney.
Home Depot.
Ikea.
Kohl's.
Lowe's.
Lululemon.
Macy's.
Menards.
Nordstrom.
Pottery Barn.
QVC.
Restoration Hardware.
Target.
Walmart.
Wayfair.com.
Williams Sonoma.
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Our pick for: Wholesale shoppers
The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi turns everyday spending into rewards you can redeem at Costco (although you can only redeem them once a year). You earn bonus rewards on gas, at restaurants, on travel and at Costco itself. There's no annual fee for the card, but you have to be a Costco member (which does require a fee). Read our review.
Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card
Our pick for: Rent payments
The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card stands out by offering credit card rewards on rent payments without incurring an additional transaction fee. The ability to earn rewards on what for many people is their single biggest monthly expense makes this card worth a look for any renter. You also get bonus points on dining and travel when you make at least five transactions on the card each statement period, and redemption options include point transfers to partner hotel and loyalty programs. Read our review.
MyLowe’s Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Home maintenance
Unlike store cards whose rewards have value only if you return to the store and spend more money, the MyLowe’s Rewards Credit Card gives you an immediate 5% discount on almost everything you buy, with a $0 annual fee. That makes it a compelling choice not just for loyal Lowe's customers, but also for those who spend heavily on home improvement elsewhere and could easily shift to Lowe's. Read our review.
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NerdWallet's Robin Saks Frankel contributed to this article.
To view rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, see this page.
Last updated on December 20, 2024
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best credit cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen as among the "best" in multiple categories. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
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