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Best Credit Cards For Cash Back

Discover the ultimate cashback credit cards that put money back in your pocket while you spend, offering generous rewards, enticing perks, and a chance to earn as you shop.

Written by
Grace Lemire
Last Update on Jul 31, 2023

Who doesn’t love the idea of getting paid while they shop? If you’re on the hunt for a credit card that lets you earn cashback on your everyday purchases, look no further. We’ve scoured the credit card market to bring you a handpicked selection of the best cashback credit cards out there. From groceries to gas, dining to travel, these cards have got your back with enticing rewards, exciting perks, and the opportunity to earn money as you swipe. Get ready to turn your purchases into savings and unlock a world of financial benefits that make every dollar count.

Best Credit Cards For Cash Back

Credit CardRatingBest For…Welcome BonusAnnual FeesCash Back Rate
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express4Cash back on U.S. supermarkets$250$95; waived the first year1% to 6% cash back
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card3.6Dining and entertainment rewards$200None1% to 10% cash back
Chase Freedom Flex5Rotating category cash back$200None1% to 5% cash back
Chase Freedom Unlimited5Travel purchasesUp to $300None3% to 6.5% cash back
Discover It Balance Transfer4.1Balance transfersCashback MatchNone1% to 5% cash back
Discover It Cash Back4.5Rotating category cash backCashback MatchNone1% to 5% cash back
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card4.6Flat-rate cash back$200None2% cash back
Best for Cash back on U.S. supermarkets

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express

4
★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Credit Score Needed
Good to Excellent (700 to 749)
Welcome Bonus
$250
Cash Back Rate
1% to 6% cash back
Annual Fee
$95; waived the first year
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.7%
Interest Rates
18.99% to 29.99%
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If you’re a frequent visitor of supermarkets, this card might be for you. With up to 6% cash back on supermarkets and streaming services, you can rack up quite a bit in cash back.

Rewards:

  • 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases
  • 6% cash back on select streaming services
  • 3% cash back on transit and gas stations
  • 1% cash back on everything else

You cannot earn cash back outside the U.S.

Earning Potential: You can earn $360 on supermarket purchases if you spend $6,000 per year, or around $500 per month on groceries.

Redemption Options: Cash back is given as Reward Dollars which can be redeemed for a statement credit.

Pros:

  • Solid cash back rewards rate
  • Offers 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases

Cons:

  • Annual fee
  • 6% cash back at supermarkets is capped at $6,000 in spending per year; Purchases after the $6,000 limit will earn 1% cash back
  • Foreign transaction fee
Additional Details

This card comes with an optional $0 Buy Now, Pay Later intro Plan. It also comes with up to $120 in Equinox+ credits and up to $84 in Disney Bundle credits.

Best for Dining and entertainment rewards

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

3.6
★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Credit Score Needed
Good to Excellent (700 to 749)
Welcome Bonus
$200, after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening the card
Cash Back Rate
1% to 10% cash back
Annual Fee
None
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
Interest Rates
19.74% to 29.74%
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The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card has a smaller welcome  bonus than some competing cards, but it doesn’t have an annual fee like many others. Its cash back rewards rate on dining and entertainment make it a solid option.

Rewards: 

  • 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber and Uber Eats through 11/14/2024
  • 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel portal
  • 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
  • 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, streaming services, and grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target superstores)
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases

Earning Potential: The average American household spends $2,700 on dining out each year. With this card, you’d earn $81 cash back per year on this one category alone.

Redemption Options: Cash back rewards can be redeemed for cash, account credit, purchases, and gift cards.

Pros:

  • No annual fee
  • Good rewards rate for dining and entertainment
  • Offers 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months

Cons:

  • Smaller welcome bonus than competitors
  • Cash back categories are limited
Additional Details

This card comes with price protection benefits, travel insurance, and the ability to lengthen manufacturer warranties by up to two years.

Best for Rotating category cash back

Chase Freedom Flex

5
★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Credit Score Needed
Good to Excellent (700 to 749)
Welcome Bonus
$200
Cash Back Rate
1% to 5% cash back
Annual Fee
None
Foreign Transaction Fee
Interest Rates
19.74% to 28.49%
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The Chase Freedom Flex offers a strong cash back rewards program, making it stand out for a card with no annual fee.

Rewards:

  • 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in rotating categories
  • 5% cash back on travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 3% cash back on dining and drugstores
  • 1% cash back on everything else

Earning Potential: If you earned the full 5% cash back on $1,500 in purchases each quarter, you’d earn around $300 cash back total per year. This doesn’t include cash back earned in other categories, which could increase your cash back total significantly.

Redemption Options: You can redeem cash back for travel purchases, statement credit, direct deposit, gift cards, or Amazon purchases.

Pros:

  • No annual fee
  • Solid rewards rate

Cons:

  • You must activate the rotating rewards categories to earn cash back on them
  • You must book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal to earn cash back on it; Travel purchases made outside the portal will not qualify
Additional Details

This card comes with purchase protection, trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance, and the option to extend manufacturer warranties by one year.

Best for Travel purchases

Chase Freedom Unlimited

5
★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Credit Score Needed
Good to Excellent (700 to 749)
Welcome Bonus
Up to $300 cash back
Cash Back Rate
3% to 6.5% cash back
Annual Fee
None
Foreign Transaction Fee
3%
Interest Rates
19.74% to 28.94%
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The Chase Freedom Unlimited offers an incredibly competitive rewards rate for a card with no annual fee. If you’re a frequent traveler, this card is ideal for you.

Rewards: 

  • 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and restaurant dining
  • 3% on everything else (on up to $20,000 in purchases for the first year)

Earning Potential: Let’s say you travel fairly often, spending around $3,000 four times per year on vacations. If you booked entirely through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, you’d earn $780 in cash back on travel purchases alone.

Redemption Options: You can redeem Chase points for travel purchases, statement credits, direct deposit, gift cards, and Amazon purchases.

Pros:

  • No annual fee
  • Competitive rewards rate
  • No minimum redemption requirements

Cons:

  • Foreign transaction fee
Additional Details

This card comes with an optional 0% intro APR for purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. It also comes with purchase protection, trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance, the option to extend manufacturer warranties by up to one year.

Best for Balance transfers

Discover It Balance Transfer

4.1
★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Credit Score Needed
Good to Excellent (700 to 749)
Welcome Bonus
Cashback Match
Cash Back Rate
1% to 5% cash back
Annual Fee
None
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
Interest Rates
6.99% to 27.99%
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If you have a high-interest credit card you’re looking to pay down, the Discover It Balance Transfer card is ideal for doing so. The card comes with 0% intro APR for 15 months, starting on the transfer date.

Rewards:

  • 5% cash back on rotating categories (Up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter)
  • 1% cash back on everything else

Earning Potential: If you earned the full 5% cash back on $1,500 in purchases each quarter, you’d earn around $300 cash back total per year. This doesn’t include any 1% cash back earned on other purchases.

Redemption Options: Discover cash back can be redeemed for cash, Amazon purchases, PayPal credit, gift cards, or charity donations.

Pros:

  • No annual fee
  • Ability to earn rewards, which some balance transfer cards don’t offer
  • 0% intro APR
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • Cashback Match

Cons:

  • Rotating categories require activation to earn 5% cash back
  • No purchase protection, travel insurance, or extended warranties
Additional Details

The Discover It Balance Transfer card comes with Discover’s Cashback Match — any cash back you earn in the first year will be automatically doubled. There’s no minimum or maximum spending required.

 

The card does not come with purchase protection, travel insurance, or extended warranties.

Best for Cash back on rotating categories

Discover It Cash Back

4.5
★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Credit Score Needed
Good to Excellent (700 to 749)
Welcome Bonus
Cashback Match
Cash Back Rate
1% to 5% cash back
Annual Fee
None
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
Interest Rates
16.99% to 27.99%
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The Discover It Cash Back card is ideal for people that prefer a rotating category cash back program and don’t mind activating the offer each quarter.

Rewards: 

  • 5% cash back on rotating categories (Up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter)
  • Unlimited 1% cash back on everything else

Earning Potential:  If you earned the full 5% cash back on $1,500 in purchases each quarter, you’d earn around $300 cash back total per year. This doesn’t include any 1% cash back earned on other purchases.

Redemption Options: Discover cash back can be redeemed for cash, Amazon purchases, PayPal credit, gift cards, or charity donations.

Pros:

  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • Solid rewards rate
  • No minimum redemption requirements
  • Cashback Match

Cons:

  • Rotating categories require activation to earn 5% cash back
  • No purchase protection, travel insurance, or extended warranties
  • 5% cash back is capped at $1,500 in purchases per quarter
Additional Details

This card doesn’t come with purchase protection, travel insurance, or extended warranties. It does, however, offer Discover’s Cashback Match, which will double any cash back earned within the first year.

Best for Flat-rate cash back

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

4.6
★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Credit Score Needed
Good to Excellent (700 to 749)
Welcome Bonus
$200 cash rewards
Cash Back Rate
2% cash back on all purchases
Annual Fee
None
Foreign Transaction Fee
3%
Interest Rates
19.99%, 24.99%, or 29.99%
Show More Details

The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card is a simple, straightforward flat-rate cash back card, making it ideal for people who don’t want to worry about tracking cash back categories. It comes with no annual fee, a variety of bonus perks, and unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases.

Rewards: Unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases

Earning Potential: This card comes with unlimited cash back, meaning your earning potential is massive. If you spent $60,000 in one year, you’d earn around $1,200 in cash back.

Redemption Options: Wells Fargo cash back can be redeemed for PayPal credits, statement credits, cash, gift cards, or even at an ATM.

Pros:

  • No annual fee
  • Visa Signature Concierge
  • Simple, flat-rate rewards structure

Cons:

  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
Additional Details

This card has an optional 0% intro APR offer for purchases and qualifying balance transfers, for up to 15 months. However, there is a balance transfer fee of 5%.

The card does, however, come with a few extra perks:

  • Up to $600 in cell phone protection
  • Visa Signature Concierge, which acts as a 24/7 personal assistant
  • Travel and emergency assistance services
  • Auto rental collision assistance
Grace Lemire is a full-time content writer and part-time social media creator with a passion for helping people navigate life's toughest financial decisions – from moving out of your parents' house to buying a home.