Best Cash Back Credit Cards
Earn money back on every purchase with cards tailored to your spending habits.
Find Your Perfect Cash Back Card
Cash back credit cards offer a simple, straightforward way to earn rewards on your everyday spending. Whether you prefer a flat rate on all purchases or higher rates in specific categories that match your spending habits, we've analyzed the top cards to help you maximize your cash back.
Showing 12 cards
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase
$200 cash back after spending $500 in 3 months
5% on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining and drugstores, 1.5% on everything else
Key Benefits:
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR for 15 months
- 3% cash back on dining and drugstores
- +1 more benefits
Citi Double Cash
Citi
No welcome bonus
2% on all purchases (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay)
Key Benefits:
- No annual fee
- 2% cash back on all purchases
- No rotating categories to track
- +1 more benefits
Capital One SavorOne
Capital One
$200 cash back after spending $500 in 3 months
3% on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery stores, 1% on everything else
Key Benefits:
- No annual fee
- 3% cash back on dining and entertainment
- No foreign transaction fees
- +1 more benefits
Citi Custom Cash Card
Citi
$200 cash back after spending $1,500 in first 6 months
5% on top category each month (up to $500), 1% on all other purchases
Key Benefits:
- 5% cash back automatically in your top spending category each billing cycle
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months
- +1 more benefits
Discover it Cash Back
Discover
Cashback Match - all cash back earned in first year will be matched
5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500 per quarter), 1% on all other purchases
Key Benefits:
- 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories
- Cashback Match™ in your first year
- No annual fee
- +1 more benefits
Capital One Savor Rewards
Capital One
$300 cash bonus after spending $3,000 in first 3 months
4% cash back on dining and entertainment, 3% at grocery stores, 1% on all other purchases
Key Benefits:
- 4% cash back on dining and entertainment
- 3% at grocery stores
- No foreign transaction fees
- +1 more benefits
American Express Blue Cash Preferred
American Express
$350 statement credit after spending $3,000 in first 6 months
6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year) and on select U.S. streaming services, 3% on transit and at U.S. gas stations, 1% on all other purchases
Key Benefits:
- 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year)
- 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 3% back on transit and at U.S. gas stations
- +1 more benefits
Wells Fargo Active Cash
Wells Fargo
$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in first 3 months
Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Key Benefits:
- Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR for 15 months
- +1 more benefits
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards
Bank of America
$200 online cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in first 90 days
3% cash back in the category of your choice (gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings), 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, 1% on all other purchases
Key Benefits:
- 3% cash back in the category of your choice
- Ability to change your 3% category once each month
- Up to 75% more cash back for Preferred Rewards members
- +1 more benefits
Chase Freedom Flex
Chase
$200 bonus after spending $500 in first 3 months
5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500) and travel booked through Chase, 3% on dining and drugstore purchases, 1% on all other purchases
Key Benefits:
- 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories
- 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
- Cell phone protection
- +1 more benefits
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa
Chase
$150 Amazon.com Gift Card upon approval
5% cash back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market, 2% at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, 1% on all other purchases
Key Benefits:
- 5% cash back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market
- No foreign transaction fees
- Travel and purchase protections
- +1 more benefits
U.S. Bank Cash+
U.S. Bank
$200 cash back after spending $1,000 in first 120 days
5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter in two categories you choose, 2% on one everyday category (gas stations, grocery stores, or restaurants), 1% on all other purchases
Key Benefits:
- 5% cash back in two categories of your choice
- 5% categories include utilities, home improvement stores, and streaming services
- Ability to change 5% and 2% categories each quarter
- +1 more benefits
Our Top Cash Back Pick for 2025
Citi Custom Cash Card
The most flexible cash back card for everyday spenders
Automatic 5% Categories
Earn 5% cash back automatically on your top spending category each billing cycle (up to $500 spent)
No Annual Fee
All the benefits with no yearly cost to maintain the card
No Category Activation
No need to register for or keep track of bonus categories—it's all automatic
Cash Back Strategy Guide
Learn how to maximize your rewards with the right combination of cash back cards.
For Everyday Spending:
- Start with a 2% flat-rate card as your foundation
- Add category-specific cards for your highest spending areas
- Use shopping portals to stack additional cash back
Best Card Combinations:
- 2% flat-rate card + 5% rotating categories card
- Grocery/gas card + dining/entertainment card
- Custom category card + flat-rate card for everything else
Advanced Tips:
- Track category bonuses with mobile apps
- Time large purchases with welcome bonuses
- Set calendar reminders for rotating categories
Compare Top Cash Back Cards
| Card Name | Annual Fee | Welcome Bonus | Top Cash Back Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | $0 | $200 cash back after spending $500 in 3 months | 5% on travel purchased through Chase | Everyday Spending |
| Citi Double Cash | $0 | No welcome bonus | 2% on all purchases (1% when you buy | Everyday Spending |
| Capital One SavorOne | $0 | $200 cash back after spending $500 in 3 months | 3% on dining | Dining |
| Citi Custom Cash Card | $0 | $200 cash back after spending $1,500 in first 6 months | 5% on top category each month (up to $500) | Flexible Categories |
| Discover it Cash Back | $0 | Cashback Match - all cash back earned in first year will be matched | 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1 | Rotating Categories |
Frequently Asked Questions
Flat-rate cash back cards offer the same cash back percentage on all purchases (typically 1.5-2%), while category cards offer higher rates (3-5%) in specific spending categories like groceries, dining, or gas. Flat-rate cards are simpler and require no tracking, while category cards can earn more cash back if your spending aligns with their bonus categories.
Cash back cards with annual fees can be worth it if the higher cash back rates and benefits outweigh the fee. To determine if a card with an annual fee is worth it, calculate how much you expect to spend in the card's bonus categories and see if the extra cash back (compared to a no-fee card) exceeds the annual fee. For example, a card with a $95 annual fee would need to generate at least $95 more in cash back than a no-fee alternative to be worth considering.
Rotating category cards offer elevated cash back rates (typically 5%) in categories that change each quarter. For example, January-March might be grocery stores, April-June might be gas stations, and so on. These cards usually require you to activate the categories each quarter, and the elevated rate applies only up to a spending cap (often $1,500 per quarter). After reaching the cap or for purchases outside the bonus categories, you'll earn a lower base rate (typically 1%).
Cash back can typically be redeemed in several ways: statement credits that reduce your card balance, direct deposits to a bank account, paper checks, gift cards, or merchandise. Some cards allow redemptions at any time, while others require you to reach a minimum amount (like $25) before redeeming. Statement credits and direct deposits are usually the most flexible options, while gift cards and merchandise may sometimes offer special promotions or discounts.