The best cash back credit cards are the ones that earn you the most cash back based on how you spend your money. Review the best cash back credit cards and calculate which cards can earn you the best return based on your spend.
Best Cash Back Credit Cards
Cash back is the simplest of rewards due to the fact that you know how much your rewards are worth. There's no need to research best redemption options or worry about transferring rewards to partners to maximize your value. A dollar in cash back will typically be equal to a dollar in redeemable cash.
This page details our top picks for the best cash back credit cards from our partners. There's also a Cash Back Calculator at the bottom of this page that you can use to estimate which cash back cards can earn you the best average return on your spend.
The cards on this page are updated periodically. New cards are introduced from time to time and the benefits of current cards could change at any time. If you're looking for credit cards based on other criteria, you can check all of our best credit cards lists.
You can also use our Credit Card Finder Tool to search by spend across all credit cards in our database.
Best For Earning High Cash Back
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of the best credit cards on the market when it comes to earning high rates of cash back.
The card earns 6% cash back on the first $6,000 in annual spend at U.S. supermarkets (then 1%), 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% back on transit and U.S. gas station purchases, and 1% back on everything else.
This card is best if you spend more than $270 per month across the U.S. supermarket and U.S. streaming service categories. If you plan on spending less than that per month, you may want to consider the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express.
- Earn 20% back on Amazon.com purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $200 back.
- Plus, earn $150 back after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You will receive cash back in the form of statement credits.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- 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 and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Low intro APR: 0% for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 13.99% to 23.99%
- Plan It® gives the option to select purchases of $100 or more to split up into monthly payments with a fixed fee.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
- Terms Apply.
Best For 5% Back On Select Category
The Citi Custom Cashâ„ Card is top-notch if you're looking to earn a high amount of cash back in a single category.
The card earns 5% cash back on the eligible you spend the most in during each billing cycle on up to $500 (then 1%). Eligible categories include: restaurants, gas stations, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment.
If you're able to dedicate this card to a single eligible category and hit the 5% cap every cycle, you'll sweep up an easy $300 in cash back every year which is great for a card with no annual fee.
On top of that, cash back earned with the Citi Custom Cash℠Card can be converted to ThankYou Rewards Points that can be transferred to Citi's airline partners (such as JetBlue Airways) if you own the Citi Premier® Card or Citi Prestige® Card.
You can also pair the Citi Custom Cash℠Card with the Citi® Double Cash Card. Use the Citi Custom Cash℠Card to earn 5% back on your eligible category and use the Citi® Double Cash Card to earn 2% back on all other purchases. It makes for a fantastic money-making combo.
- Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $750 on purchases in the first 3 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 13.99% - 23.99%, 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.
- 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 Cashâ„ Card account per person.
Best For 3% Back On Select Category
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card gives you the option to choose your own eligible 3% cash back category and customize your cash back.
Eligible 3% categories include gas stations, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, and home improvement/furnishings. You'll also earn an automatic 2% back on grocery store and wholesale club purchases.
The 3% back category of your choice and automatic 2% categories share a combined cap of $2,500 per quarter. If you want to maximize your cash back, I suggest using the card for as much of the 3% category as possible.
Another big plus to banking with Bank of America is that you can earn a 10% to 75% bonus based on your relationship with them and how much money you have invested with them and their partners. This allows you to earn up to 5.25% on your selected category, 3.75% on grocery store and wholesale club purchases, and 1.75% back on everything else.
It's worth mentioning that this bonus also applies to several other credit cards they offer. If you have money to sit in an account, Bank of America's credit cards will easily offer more value than most credit cards in the market.
- No annual fee
- $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
- 0% Introductory APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 13.99% - 23.99% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee (min $10) applies to all balance transfers
- No expiration on rewards
- If you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25% - 75% more cash back on every purchase
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap
Best For Flat-Rate Cash Back & Bonus Cash Back
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is one of the best cash back credit cards for earning bonus cash back across select categories while still earning a great flat rate of cash back across all other spend.
It earns 5% back on Chase Travel, 3% back on dining at restaurants and drugstores, and 1.5% back on all other purchases which is great considering it has no annual fee.
The card earns Ultimate Rewards Points that can be redeemed for 1 cent each towards cash back. If you pair this card with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Sapphire Preferred®, you'll be able to transfer your earned rewards to Chase's airline and hotel partners as well as redeem rewards for a higher value of 1.25 or 1.5 cents towards Chase Travel.
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn 5% cash back on grocery store purchases (not including Target® or Walmart® purchases) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases, then a variable APR of 14.99 - 23.74%.
- No annual fee
Best For High Earnings On Rotating Categories
The Chase Freedom Flexâ„ features categories that rotate quarterly.
You'll earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined spend between the categories featured during the quarter, then 1% for the remainder of that quarter after the cap has been hit. This means that you can earn $75 if you hit the cap.
The card also earns 5% back on Chase Travel, 3% back at restaurants and drugstores, and 1% back on everything else.
As with other Chase cash back credit cards, rewards are displayed as Ultimate Rewards Points. These points can be redeemed for 1 cent each for cash back.
Pairing this card with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Sapphire Preferred® will greatly increase the value of your rewards as you'll be able to redeem them for 1.25 or 1.5 cents towards Chase Travel or transfer them to airline and hotel partners such as United, Hyatt, and Southwest.
- Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases, then a variable APR of 14.99 - 23.74%.
- No annual fee.
Best No-Annual Fee 2% Back Card
The Citi® Double Cash Card is a simple and straightforward cash back credit card with no annual fee.
It earns cash back at a flat rate of 2% back in which you'll earn 1% back on your purchases and 1% back when you pay off those purchases.
Cash back earned with the card can be converted to ThankYou Rewards Points which can be transferred to Citi's airline partners if you own the Citi Premier® Card or Citi Premier® Card. This significantly increases the value of the rewards earned with the Citi® Double Cash Card.
You can also pair this card with the Citi Custom Cashâ„ Card to create and excellent combination of cash back credit cards which will ensure that you're always earning either 2% or 5% back on your purchases.
- To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
- Cash back earned can be converted to the Citi ThankYou Rewards program
Best For Earning Flat-Rate Cash Back Worldwide
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular cash back credit cards because it's a straightforward no-annual fee card that earns easy to redeem rewards.
It earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases and has no annual fee, no authorized user fee, and no foreign transaction fee. This means you can add as many authorized users as you want and you can use the card worldwide without worrying about additional fees.
Cash back earned with the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card can easily be redeemed for cash back, statement credits, and gift cards.
- 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 for 15 months; 15.49%-25.49% variable APR after that
- Pay no annual fee or foreign transaction fees
Best For Dining & Entertainment
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the best credit cards for raking up cash back across popular everyday categories.
It earns 3% back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores and 1% back on everything else. There's no cap on how much cash back you can earn spending across these categories.
Along with having no annual fee, the card also has no foreign transaction fee which makes this a great card for earning across these categories internationally.
Pair this card with the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card and you'll have yourself a nice 2-card cash back combo.
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases
- 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 for 15 months; 15.49% - 25.49% variable APR after that
- No foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
Best No-Annual Fee Card For Supermarket Spenders
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a great option if you don't spend as much at supermarkets to make the Blue Cash Preferred® Card worth it, but still want to maximize your spend.
It earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarket on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 2% back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores, and 1% back on all other purchases.
If you're looking at supermarket spend alone, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card is the best option if you spend less than $270 per month or around $3,240 per year. If you spend more than that at U.S. supermarkets, you'll want to go with the Blue Cash Preferred® Card as you'll earn a better return at the 6% rate even with the annual fee.
- Earn 20% back on Amazon.com purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card membership, up to $150 back.
- Plus, earn $100 back after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of card membership. You will receive cash back in the form of statement credits.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%).
- 2% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores.
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Low intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 13.99% to 23.99%.
- Plan It® gives the option to select purchases of $100 or more to split up into monthly payments with a fixed fee.
- Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be easily redeemed for statement credits.
- No annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
Home Projects, Large Purchases, & Emergency Funds
The Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa Card is a great option if you want to earn cash back across high-spend categories and need access to a large credit line.
It earns 3% cash back on home, auto, and health purchases and 1% back on everything else. Here's some examples of what applies to these categories:
- Home: appliance stores, landscaping, home repairs, home improvement stores, hardware stores, and furniture stores
- Auto: car washes, auto repairs, auto part stores, car dealership purchases, and towing services
- Health: gym memberships, gym equipment purchased directly from vendor, sporting good stores, pharmacies, doctor offices, health and beauty services, and spas
These categories are very broad and typically feature large purchases which makes it very easy to earn significant amounts of cash back, especially when used for things like home projects, medical bills or emergency car repairs.
When using the Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa Card, it can be used as a credit card or a personal loan.
When used as a credit card, you'll earn cash back on your purchases and any balance carried beyond the due date will be converted to an installment loan at a fixed interest rate with equal monthly installments over a set period.
When used as a personal loan, you can request funds be sent directly to your bank account from your card's credit limit. You'll be able to pay it back in the equal monthly installments at a fixed interest rate.
Overall it's a great card to have with no annual fee, no authorized user fee, and no foreign transaction fee. The card is opened to anyone with a FICO score of 600 or higher which makes it great for building credit as well.
- Earn 3% unlimited cash back on home, auto, and health categories
- Combine the flexibility of a card with the low cost and predictability of a loan
- $0 fees - $0 annual fee, $0 activation fees, $0 maintenance fees
- No touch payments with contactless technology built in
- See if you qualify in minutes without hurting your credit score
- Access to a virtual card while you wait for your card to arrive in the mail
- Great for large purchases with predictable payments you can budget for
- Mobile app to access your account anytime, anywhere
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud liability
Best Cash Back Credit Cards Summary
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Best For | See All Available Offers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | $0 the first year, then $95 | Best For Earning High Cash Back | Learn More |
| Citi Custom Cashâ„ Card | $0 | Best For 5% Back On Select Category | Learn More |
| Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card | $0 | Best For 3% Back On Select Category | Learn More |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited® | $0 | Best For Flat-Rate Cash Back & Bonus Cash Back | Learn More |
| Chase Freedom Flexâ„ | $0 | Best For High Earnings On Rotating Categories | Learn More |
| Citi® Double Cash Card | $0 | Best No-Annual Fee 2% Back Card | Learn More |
| Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | $0 | Best For Earning Flat-Rate Cash Back Worldwide | Learn More |
| Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | $0 | Best For Dining & Entertainment | Learn More |
| Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | $0 | Best No-Annual Fee Card For Supermarket Spenders | Learn More |
| Upgrade Triple Cash Visa Card | $0 | Home Projects, Large Purchases, & Emergencies | Apply Now |
Best Cash Back Credit Cards Calculator
The Best Cash Back Credit Cards Calculator will give you an idea of which credit cards will offer you the most cash back based on your spend.
Results will be sorted by net return which is the average value of the rewards earned, plus annual credits, and minus annual fees.
The results will consist of all top-rated cash back credit cards from our partners, so credit cards outside of our top picks may also appear in the list.
