Looking for a credit card that rewards you for your everyday spending? Cash-back credit cards offer a way to earn money back on your purchases, providing a percentage of your spending back in the form of cash rewards.
With a variety of options available, from cards with rotating bonus categories to those with flat-rate cash back on all purchases, there’s likely a card that fits your spending habits and maximizes your earnings.
1. SoFi Credit Card
2% Cash Back on Everyday Spending
The SoFi Unlimited 2% Credit Card offers a straightforward rewards structure that gives you 2% back on purchases, plus an extra boost to 3% when booking through SoFi Travel. You’ll get the most value by staying within the SoFi ecosystem, as rewards can be redeemed into SoFi accounts or used to pay down SoFi loans.
Welcome Bonus: No welcome bonus is currently offered.
Earn Rewards: 3% back on travel via SoFi Travel and 2% back on all other purchases.
Card Benefits: Cell phone insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and Mastercard World Elite benefits.
2. Citi® Double Cash Card
2% Cash Back on Everyday Spending
The Citi® Double Cash Card stands out with its straightforward approach to rewards, offering up to 2% back on every purchase – 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay. This no-nonsense card becomes even more powerful when paired with a premium Citi card, allowing you to transform your cash back into valuable transferable ThankYou points. Welcome Bonus: Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. Earning Rewards: 2% cash back on all eligible purchases (1% cash back when you buy and 1% when you pay for your purchases).
3. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
2% Cash Back on Everyday Spending
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card stands out with no annual fee and a flat 2% cash rewards rate on all purchases. While it has limited redemption options, the card’s consistent earnings and practical benefits like cell phone protection make it a solid choice for a basic rewards card.
Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earn Rewards: 2% cash back on all eligible purchases.
Card Benefits: Cell phone protection, Visa Signature benefits, 0% Intro APR for 15 months, after that a reg_apr,reg_apr_type applies.
4. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
1.5% Cash Back on Everyday Spending
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® (review) sets itself apart with 1.5% back on non-bonus purchases, plus higher rewards in select categories including dining and travel. This flexible rewards card becomes even more valuable when paired with a premium Chase card, allowing you to transfer your rewards to travel partners. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Cash Back: 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3% back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services; 3% back on drugstore purchases; 1.5% back on all other purchases CaBenefits: Purchase protection, extended warranty, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, secondary rental car insurance, and 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, after that reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR applies; 
5. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Best for Online Shopping
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (review) offers 3% cash back on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retailers, and U.S. gas stations, plus credits for eligible subcriptions. Welcome Bonus: Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Earning Rewards: 3% cash back at US Supermarkets, US online retail purchases, and US gas stations; 1% back on all other eligible purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Card Benefits: Eligible subscription credit (earn $7 back as statement credit for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at Disneyplus.com, Hulu.com, or Plus.espn.com U.S. websites; enrollment required), secondary rental car insurance, and purchase protection.
6. Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
Best for Your Top Category
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card offers a unique rewards structure that automatically earns 5x points in your highest spending category each billing cycle, up to $500 in purchases. You’ll maximize your rewards with this flexible no-annual-fee card that adapts to your spending habits across ten useful bonus categories including restaurants, travel, groceries, and gas stations. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earn Rewards: 5% cash back for your top category each billing cycle up to $500 in the following categories: restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel (airlines, hotels, cruise lines and travel agencies), select transit (car rentals, parking, EV charging, tolls, etc.), select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment.; 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. Card Benefits: Access to Citi Entertainment, contactless payment, a free check of your FICO credit score, and 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfer, after that, a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR applies.
7. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Best for U.S. Supermarkets
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (review) is designed to maximize cash back on common household expenses. If you spend heavily on groceries, streaming services, transit or gas, you’ll find the card’s bonus categories and earning rates hard to beat. Welcome Bonus: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Earning Rewards: 6% back at US Supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1% back) and select US streaming subscriptions; 3% back on transit (including rideshare) and at US gas stations; 1% back on all other eligible purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Card Benefits: Subscription credit (up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled card for a subscription purchase, including at disneyplus.com, Hulu.com, or Plus.espn.com U.S. websites), secondary rental car insurance, extended warranty, purchase protection, return protection, and 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening, after that a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR.
8. Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
1.5% Cash Back on Everyday Spending
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card (review) keeps rewards simple with unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases and includes useful benefits like no foreign transaction fees. The card works best for people seeking a low-maintenance rewards experience, though its earning rate falls behind more specialized cash back cards. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Rewards: 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 1.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases. Card Benefits: No foreign transaction fees, extended warranty, travel accident insurance, and a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases, then a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR .
9. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best for Entertainment
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card (review) offers generous rewards with no annual fee, including bonus earnings on dining, entertainment, streaming services, and groceries. You’ll enjoy the flexibility to redeem your rewards as cash back or convert them to travel miles when paired with select Capital One cards, making this an excellent choice for both casual spenders and travel enthusiasts. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earn Rewards: 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services; 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. Card Benefits: Extended warranty, secondary rental car insurance, price protection, no foreign transaction fees, and 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers, after that a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR.
10. Chase Freedom Flex℠
Best for Rotating Categories
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ (review) rewards cardholders with 5x points in rotating quarterly categories and includes solid benefits like cell phone protection and purchase coverage. While the rotating categories require activation each quarter, this card offers significant value for those willing to track and maximize the bonus categories. Welcome Bonus: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months. Earn Rewards: 5% back in quarterly bonus categories; 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3% back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services; 3% back on drugstore purchases; 1% back on all other purchases. Card Benefits: Cell phone protection, purchase protection, extended warranty, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, secondary rental car insurance, and 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, after that a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR applies.
Our Methodology
When curating our list of the best credit cards, we employ a comprehensive review process that reviews over 150 cards to ensure we provide recommendations that suit a wide array of financial needs and preferences. Our methodology is data-driven and consumer-focused, taking into account the following key factors:
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Welcome Bonuses: We assess the value of the welcome bonuses offered by credit cards, understanding that a substantial initial bonus can significantly enhance the cardholder’s value proposition.
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Fees: It’s essential to consider the cost of owning a credit card. We evaluate annual fees, balance transfer fees, and foreign transaction fees, among others, to determine how they might offset the card’s benefits.
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Rewards: We analyze the rewards structure of each card, looking at the earning rate on purchases, the variety of categories that earn rewards, the overall value of the rewards points or miles, and redeeming points, miles, or cash back.
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Travel Benefits: For cards tailored towards travelers, we review all of the cards’ travel benefits including, airport lounge access, travel insurance, and no foreign transaction fees, to judge the card’s utility for frequent travelers.
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Purchase Benefits: We also consider purchase benefits such as extended warranty, purchase protection, cell phone insurance, and return protection, which can provide additional value and peace of mind for cardholders.
Our selections are regularly updated to reflect the most current offers and card features, ensuring our readers have access to the most relevant and beneficial credit card options on the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Cash Back Credit Card?
A cash back credit card is a type of rewards card that allows you to earn a percentage of your spending back in the form of cash rewards.
Depending on the card issuer’s options, these rewards can be redeemed in various ways, such as a statement credit, check, or direct deposit.
The cash back you earn is typically a small percentage of each purchase, and certain cards may offer higher cash back rates on specific categories like groceries or gas
Pros and Cons of Cash Back Credit Cards
Pros of Cash Back Credit Cards:
- Earn a percentage of your spending back, effectively saving money on every purchase.
- Easy to redeem rewards.
- Many options for no annual fee.
Cons of Cash Back Credit Cards:
- Rewards might be less valuable than points or miles for frequent travelers.
- Some cards have a cap on the amount of cash back you can earn.
- Fewer benefits overall than travel rewards cards.
Typical Cash Back Credit Card Reward Categories
Cash back credit cards offer a range of reward categories, with several common ones you’re likely to encounter.
Groceries: Most cash back cards provide rewards for purchases made in supermarkets, but it’s important to note that many exclude wholesale clubs and big-box retailers.
Dining: Rewards for dining out are standard, and many cash back cards extend these benefits to include cash back on takeout and delivery services.
Gas: While some cash back credit cards offer rewards on fuel purchases at any station, others are partnered with specific gas station chains for exclusive benefits.
Travel: A broad category, travel rewards often cover airfare and hotel stays, with some cards offering higher cash back rates for bookings made through their own travel platforms.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
