Geeky Insights:

Best Rewards Credit Cards - June 2023

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DollarGeek's team has spent countless hours researching and analyzing the best credit cards. Start comparing today’s best credit cards and offers, from travel and cash back, to business and balance transfers. We focus on the features that matter: rewards programs, affordable APR, welcome offers and more. Choose a category below and find your best credit card today.

OVERALL RATING:
(4.8)

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

BEST FOR: High rewards rates on travel and dining
Geek Approved

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

OVERALL RATING:
(4.8)
  • Purchase Intro APR:
    N/A
  • Transfer Intro APR:
    N/A | Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
  • Regular APR:
    15.99% - 22.99% (Variable Rate)
Compare Card Apply Now on Chase's website
Credit Score Range
690
850
Annual Fee
$95
Purcahse Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
15.99% - 22.99%
Rewards Rate
1 - 5 points / $1
Rewards Bonus
60,000 points
Reward Details:
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
Geeky Insight:
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
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OVERALL RATING:
(4.3)

Citi Rewards+℠ Card

BEST FOR: No annual fee + cash back rewards

Citi Rewards+℠ Card

OVERALL RATING:
(4.3)
  • Purchase Intro APR:
    0% for 15 months
  • Transfer Intro APR:
    0% for 15 months | Transfer Fee: 3% (min $5)
  • Regular APR:
    13.49% - 23.49% (Variable Rate)
Compare Card Apply Now on Citibank's website
Credit Score Range
720-850
Annual Fee
$0
Purcahse Intro APR
0% for 15 months
Regular APR
13.49% - 23.49%
Rewards Rate
1 - 2 points / $1
Rewards Bonus
15,000 points
Reward Details:
  • The Citi Rewards+℠ Card - the only credit card that automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase - with no cap.
  • Earn 15,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $150 in gift cards at thankyou.com.
  • Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou® Points on All Other Purchases.
Geeky Insight:
  • 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 13.49% - 23.49%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfer fee — either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
  • The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 13.49% - 23.49%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi's discretion.
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OVERALL RATING:
(4)

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

BEST FOR: Multiple cash back categories

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

OVERALL RATING:
(4)
  • Purchase Intro APR:
    0% for 12 months
  • Transfer Intro APR:
    0% for 12 months | Transfer Fee: 3% (min $5)
  • Regular APR:
    12.99% - 23.99% (Variable Rate)
Compare Card Apply Now on American Express's website
Credit Score Range
690
850
Annual Fee
$95
Purcahse Intro APR
0% for 12 months
Regular APR
12.99% - 23.99%
Rewards Rate
1 - 6% Cash Back
Rewards Bonus
$250
Reward Details:
  • Earn a $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  • 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.
  • Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
  • Thinking about getting The Disney Bundle which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $13.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription with your Blue Cash Preferred Card. Enrollment required.
  • Terms Apply.
Geeky Insight:
  • Balance Transfer is back! Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 16.99%-27.99%.
  • Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 Plan It fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a fixed monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
  • $95 Annual Fee.
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OVERALL RATING:
(4.6)

Citi® Double Cash Card 18 month BT offer

BEST FOR: Flat rate cash back

Citi® Double Cash Card 18 month BT offer

OVERALL RATING:
(4.6)
  • Purchase Intro APR:
    0% for 18 months
  • Transfer Intro APR:
    N/A | Transfer Fee: 3% intro fee ($5 min) for each transfer in first 4 months, after that 5% ($5 min) for each transfer
  • Regular APR:
    13.99% - 23.99% (Variable Rate)
Compare Card Apply Now on Citibank's website
Credit Score Range
720-850
Annual Fee
$0
Purcahse Intro APR
0% for 18 months
Regular APR
13.99% - 23.99%
Rewards Rate
2% Cash Back
Rewards Bonus
None
Reward Details:
  • Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
  • For a limited time, earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.
Geeky Insight:
  • Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 16.99% - 26.99%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
  • If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
  • There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
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OVERALL RATING:
(4.6)

American Express® Gold Card

BEST FOR: Dining and travel points

American Express® Gold Card

OVERALL RATING:
(4.6)
  • Purchase Intro APR:
    N/A
  • Transfer Intro APR:
    N/A | Transfer Fee: N/A
  • Regular APR:
    100% - 100% (Variable Rate)
Compare Card Apply Now on American Express's website
Credit Score Range
690
850
Annual Fee
$250
Purcahse Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
100% - 100%
Rewards Rate
1 - 4 points / $1
Rewards Bonus
35,000 points
Reward Details:
  • Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
  • Updated $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
  • Terms Apply.
Geeky Insight:
  • Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $250.
  • This American Express Card has no preset spending limit, giving you purchasing power that adjusts with your use of the card. No preset spending limit does not mean unlimited spending. Your purchases are approved based on a variety of factors including spending patterns, your payment history, your credit history, and financial resources known to us.
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OVERALL RATING:
(5)

Discover it® Cash Back

BEST FOR: Cash back rates

Discover it® Cash Back

OVERALL RATING:
(5)
  • Purchase Intro APR:
    0% for 15 months
  • Transfer Intro APR:
    0% for 15 months | Transfer Fee: 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
  • Regular APR:
    11.99% - 22.99% (Variable Rate)
Compare Card Apply Now on Discover Bank's website
Credit Score Range
690
850
Annual Fee
$0
Purcahse Intro APR
0% for 15 months
Regular APR
11.99% - 22.99%
Rewards Rate
1 - 5% Cash Back
Rewards Bonus
None
Reward Details:
  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
  • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
  • Every $1 you earn in cash back is $1 you can redeem.
Geeky Insight:
  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
  • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
  • NEW! Discover helps remove your personal information from select people-search websites. Activate by mobile app for free.
  • Every $1 you earn in cash back is $1 you can redeem.
  • Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 14.99% to 25.99% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
  • No annual fee.
  • Click "Apply Now" to see terms and conditions.
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OVERALL RATING:
(4.7)

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

BEST FOR: Ongoing rewards in different categories

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

OVERALL RATING:
(4.7)
  • Purchase Intro APR:
    0% for 15 months
  • Transfer Intro APR:
    0% for 15 months | Transfer Fee: 3% (min $5)
  • Regular APR:
    12.99% - 23.99% (Variable Rate)
Compare Card Apply Now on American Express's website
Credit Score Range
690
850
Annual Fee
$0
Purcahse Intro APR
0% for 15 months
Regular APR
12.99% - 23.99%
Rewards Rate
1 - 3% Cash Back
Rewards Bonus
$150
Reward Details:
  • Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
  • New! 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
  • Get $7 back each month after using your Blue Cash Everyday® Card to spend $13.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription to The Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. Enrollment required.
  • Terms Apply.
Geeky Insight:
  • No Annual Fee.
  • Balance Transfer is back! Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 16.99% to 27.99% variable APR.
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Best Rewards Credit Cards Recap

Overall Rating

Best For

Rewards Bonus

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

(4.8)
High rewards rates on travel and dining
60,000 points
1 - 5 points / $1
$95
(4.3)
No annual fee + cash back rewards
15,000 points
1 - 2 points / $1
$0
(4.0)
Multiple cash back categories
$250
1 - 6% Cash Back
$95
(4.6)
Flat rate cash back
None
2% Cash Back
$0
(4.6)
Dining and travel points
35,000 points
1 - 4 points / $1
$250
(5.0)
Cash back rates
None
1 - 5% Cash Back
$0
(4.7)
Ongoing rewards in different categories
$150
1 - 3% Cash Back
$0

OTHER GEEKY PICKS

From Our Editors

Best for: Delta Loyalist With No Annual Fee

The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is a no-annual-fee rewards card that’s best for people with good credit or better who want to save extra at restaurants and on their Delta flights. This card will give you 2 miles per $1 in eligible restaurant and Delta purchases, compared to 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases. New cardholders who spend $500 in the first three months after opening an account also get 10,000 miles, worth roughly $127 in Delta airfare, per our calculations. Plus, the Blue Delta SkyMiles Credit Card provides a 20% statement credit after eligible in-flight purchases: food, beverages and headphones.

Best Rewards Credit Cards of June 2023

Gain some clarity on the best business credit cards with our geeky insight.

BEST FOR: High rewards rates on travel and dining

Rewards Rate

1 - 5 points / $1

Rewards Bonus

60,000 points

Annual Fee

$95

Rewards Details:

  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.

Geek Point Of View:

The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card is one of the top card deals out right now. With everything that the Chase Sapphire Card has going for it, there is no reason to consider this card! If you travel and have fantastic credit, you can have great on-going travel rewards.

To qualify for the big signup bonus, you will need to use at least $4,000 in the first three months of owning this card to qualify. The enormous travel bonus is 60,000 points, which is equivalent to either a $750 travel through Chase or a $600 credit card statement credit.

For those of you who love to get into the details about the benefits cards have to offer here is the nitty gritty on this offer.

Review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card:

  • Cash Money: The bonus of up to $750 towards Travel through the Chase Travel Portal after spending a minimum of $4000 in the first 3 months of card ownership or 60,000 travel points or a $600 cash value against your credit card balance.
  • Travel and Food: For every $1 you spend, you earn 2 points for future travel and dining out. You can earn points for just eating, which if you are like most people that’s multiple times a day! Whether you use your points for cash back or travel this card has a great return rate for you! If you prefer the cash option, you receive 2% against your statement balance. If you choose to use your travel rewards, it is 2.5% back. Spending on this card other than food or travel is 1 point for $1 spent.
  • Winning with Lyft: If you use Lyft to get from here to there you will earn 5 points per $1 spent with when riding with Lyft, through March 2022. Who doesn’t love getting extra points for doing what you were going to do anyway! Getting those 3 extra points per $1 spent. That means earning up to 6.25% cash back for riding with Lyft when you pay with your Sapphire Preferred credit card.
  • Annual Fee: This card comes with an annual fee of $95, but the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers you so much more than $95 worth in cash back options, travel rewards, it should be no trouble at all for anyone to not earn $95 cash back on their card making this fee disappear by just using the card to earn cash back towards your statement balance.
  • Being Average is OK with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Why is average ok? Because an average cardholder will earn at least $1450 within a 2-year period through rewards. Covering not only the annual fee but putting some extra change in your pocket for paying down or paying off your monthly balance.
  • More Food: You get fee free or discounted delivery when you use DoorDash to get your food delivered to your door. Again, if you eat, you will use this benefit! You can get a year’s subscription to the DashPass with DoorDash, you must start your subscription by  12/31/2021.

The bottom line: The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card is in a category of its own, and one of the top credit cards for a reason. With a big initial bonus and excellent ongoing rewards, this card definitely justifies the annual fee.

APPLY ON THE LINK BELOW:

BEST FOR: No annual fee + cash back rewards

Rewards Rate

1 - 2 points / $1

Rewards Bonus

15,000 points

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Details:

  • The Citi Rewards+℠ Card - the only credit card that automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase - with no cap.
  • Earn 15,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $150 in gift cards at thankyou.com.
  • Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou® Points on All Other Purchases.

Geek Point Of View:

The Citi Rewards+℠ Card is one of the most popular rewards cards for people who have excellent credit, spend a lot at the gas pump and grocery store. The Citi Rewards+℠ Card will give you 2 points per $1 spent, on up to $6,000 per year at gas stations and super markets. Any purchase aside from the gas station and grocery store will get you 1 point per $1 spent. Cardholders who make $1,000 worth of purchases within the first three months of opening an account will get a sign-up bonus of 15,000 points worth $150. The Citi Rewards+℠ Card gives cardholders great words all with a $0 annual fee.

One of the best perks about the Citi Rewards+℠ Card is it’s policy of rounding up your points earned on every purchase to the next multiple of 10. So, for example, if you earn 103 points on a particular purchase, you’ll get 110 points. If you earn 4 points, you’ll get 10. With this card you will also get you 10% points back on all of your redemptions for the first 100,000 Thank You Points you redeem per year. So, if you redeem 20,000 points you’ll get 2,000 back.

The Citi Rewards+ Credit Card will offer you an introductory APRs of 0% for 15 months on new purchases and 0% for 15 months on balance transfers. If you’re going to do a balance transfer there will be a 3% (min $5) transfer free. This card isn’t the best for financing, but if you’re going to buy a big ticket item it can help you save on interest with the 0% introductory APR for 15 months.

Check out some of the Citi Rewards+ Credit Card highlights below:

The Citi Rewards+℠ Card Review Highlights

  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Bonus Category Rewards: 2 points per $1 at supermarkets and gas stations, on up to $6,000 spent per year, then 1 point per $1.
  • Base Rewards Rate: 1 point per $1 spent with no limit.
  • Initial Bonus: 15,000 points for spending $1,000 within three months of opening an account.
  • Other Bonuses: Citi Rewards+ gives back 10% of the first 100,000 points you redeem each year. It also rounds the points you earn on each purchase up to the nearest multiple of 10.
  • Point Value: 1 cent when redeemed for gift cards at thankyou.com. You can also pay with points on amazon.com and bestbuy.com or redeem for statement credits, but you might get slightly less value.
  • Intro APRs: 0% for 15 months on new purchases and 0% for 15 months on balance transfers, with a 3% (min $5) balance transfer fee.
  • Regular APR: 13.49% – 23.49% (V), based on creditworthiness. This is not the card for regularly carrying a balance from month to month so make sure to pay your bill in full every month.
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: If you’re going to be traveling make sure to be aware this card does indeed charge a fee of 3%.

The bottom line: Overall the The Citi Rewards+℠ Credit Card can provide you great rewards, big bonuses and rounding up points look no further — this card has it all and you won’t have to worry about an annual fee.

APPLY ON THE LINK BELOW:

BEST FOR: Multiple cash back categories

Rewards Rate

1 - 6% Cash Back

Rewards Bonus

$250

Annual Fee

$95

Rewards Details:

  • Earn a $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  • 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.
  • Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
  • Thinking about getting The Disney Bundle which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $13.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription with your Blue Cash Preferred Card. Enrollment required.
  • Terms Apply.

Geek Point Of View:

The American Express Blue Cash Preferred card is one of the best rewards credit cards available. This card is great for people with good/excellent credit whose top expenses include groceries, streaming services, gas and transit purchases (train, taxi, ride share, etc.).

This card comes with a $95 annual fee but it definitely justifies it with all the rewards. If you spend $1,000 within three months of opening an account you will earn an initial $250 bonus. The card offers 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in spending per year, 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, and a generous 3% back on transit including U.S. gas stations, plus 1% cash back on everything else (terms apply). Cash back is received in the form of reward dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit when your rewards total at least $25.

Check out some more details on the American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card below.

American Express Blue Cash Preferred Review Highlights:

  • Hefty $250 initial bonus: The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express currently offers an initial bonus of $250 cash back for spending $1,000 within three months of opening an account
  • Big perks on groceries & streaming services: The American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card offers 6% cash back on the first $6,000 that you spend at U.S. supermarkets each year. Blue Cash Preferred also recently added unlimited 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services to the mix. The list includes pretty much everything you might think of, from Netflix, Amazon Music, Apple, Audible and many others.
  • Rewards for gas and transit purchases: Amex Blue Cash Preferred is very rewarding at the gas pump, offering 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations. Fortunately for cardholders, that 3% rate now extends to a whole range of other transit expenses like trains, taxis and ridesharing services to parking, subway fares and tolls.
  • $95 annual fee: While this card comes with a $95 annual fee, the American Express Blue Cash Preferred is still one of the most rewarding cards on the market. The perks can justify the annual cost associated with this card.
  • Not the best for carrying a balance: Amex Blue Cash Preferred offers 0% introductory rates on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months. After 12 months you will have to face a higher interest rate so make sure you plan accordingly.
  • Good or excellent credit required: Not everyone can get Amex Blue Cash Preferred given its good-credit approval requirement.

The bottom line: The American Express Blue Cash Preferred is a top rewards credit card that can provide you with great perks and an attractive initial bonus. Make sure you have a healthy credit score before applying.

BEST FOR: Flat rate cash back

Rewards Rate

2% Cash Back

Rewards Bonus

None

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Details:

  • Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
  • For a limited time, earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.

Geek Point Of View:

The Citi Double Cash card is one of the best credit cards available right now. The combination of top cash-back rewards and no annual fee can let cardholders rack in the both rewards and savings. Aside from the no annual fee, the card gives you a total of 2% cash back in rewards on all purchases. How it works is, when you purchase something you will receive 1%, and after you pay the balance you will receive the other 1%. Having this 2% cash back rewards is a great perk that many cash rewards programs can’t compete with.

A couple of other things cardholders should be conscious of with this card is that while it does offer 0% interest for 18 months on balance transfers, it will also charge a balance transfer fee of 3% (min $5), which could make you think of some other options of your priority is a balance transfer. For those looking for a big sign up bonus, prepared to be disappointed. The Citi Double Cash card does not have any sign-up bonuses or initial rewards bonuses for spending a certain amount within the first few months of opening your account. The absence of an initial sign up bonus might be a disadvantage, but don’t forget you will be getting 2% cash back and no annual fees!

Below you will find a breakdown of the Citi Double Cash. Make sure to look these over before applying.

Citi Double Cash Review Highlights:

  • Double your cash back rewards: The Citi Double Cash Card offers cardholders 1% cash back twice – once when you make purchases and again when you pay your bill. The average cash back rewards credit card doesn’t compete with this high rate. 2% is a lot more attractive than the common 1% cash back.
  • No huge intro bonus: While this card offers much more ongoing value than most of the other cash back credit cards, the card does not include an initial bonus like most. So, if you’re looking to make a big-ticket purchase and get a big initial bonus for spending during the first months of owning the card, you might want to look elsewhere.
  • No annual fee: A lot of the best rewards cards charge annual fees, and it forces you to make a lot of purchases just to get your money’s worth. But with the Citi Double Cash card and it’s $0 annual fee, you can save unneeded cost. By not having an annual fee you can complement this card with another credit card and not worry about wasting money. As for an example, some cardholders will use the Citi Double Cash card for purchases in categories their other rewards cards won’t provide higher bonus earning rates for.
  • Zero-interest balance transfer intro offer: New applicants will get a promotional APR of 0% for 18 months on balance transfers (18 months is longer than most other cards provide cardholders). Balances transferred within four months of account opening are eligible for the introductory rate. Terms apply.
  • Balance transfers will cost you: The Citi Double Cash balance transfer offer is one of the best deals available (0% for 18 months), but it would be even better if it was paired up with a lower balance transfer fee. The transfer fee is 3% (min $5) so make sure to run the numbers.
  • High regular APR: This card comes with a high regular APR so if you’re not going to pay your bill in full every month you might want to look elsewhere.
  • You need a healthy credit score: You must excellent credit to qualify for the Citi Double Cash card.

The bottom line: The Citi Double Cash is among 2020’s best cash back credit cards due to its stellar rewards rate, no annual fee, and incentive for paying your monthly balance. If you are looking for a great card with simple, big cashback rewards, and no annual fee, you can’t go wrong with Citi Double Cash card.

BEST FOR: Dining and travel points

Rewards Rate

1 - 4 points / $1

Rewards Bonus

35,000 points

Annual Fee

$250

Rewards Details:

  • Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
  • Updated $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
  • Terms Apply.

Geek Point Of View:

The American Express Gold Card is the ultimate credit card for foodies and travelers. This card will give you 4 points per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide, 4 points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 spent per year), and 3 points per $1 spent on flights booked directly through airlines or through amextravel.com. All other purchases made on this card will get you 1 point per $1 spent. Cardholders can take advantage of these rewards bonuses each year so whether you’re cooking at home, going out to eat or want loaded travel perks, the American Express Gold Card should be at the top of your list.

The Amex Gold card will give you $100 per year in statement credits for fees charged by airlines and up to $120 in credits each year for dining purchases from partners like Grubhub and Seamless. Also, as an intro bonus, if you spend $4,000 within three months of opening the American Express Gold card, you’ll receive 35,000 points.

The Amex Gold Card has an annual fee of $250. If you take advantage of all the rewards and perks the annual price can be justified. Check out our summary on the Amex Gold Card below, we will highlight the pros and cons.

American Express Gold Card Review Highlights:

  • Annual Fee: With a $250 annual fee, the Amex Gold could still be worth it to cardholders that will use the card’s rewards and other perks each year.
  • Initial Bonus: 35,000 points for spending $4,000 within three months. That’s worth roughly $300, depending on how you redeem.
  • Airline Fee Credits: Up to $100 per year from one airline. You get to choose your airline when you open an account, and you’ll have the opportunity to switch each January.
  • Dining Credits: Get up to $10 per month ($120 per year) with eligible dining partners like Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations.
  • Restaurant Rewards: Get 4 points per $1 at restaurants worldwide. This is one of the highest earning rates available from a credit card for restaurant purchases.
  • Rewards on Groceries: Get 4 points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 spent per year, then 1 point per $1). The average person spends just north of $4,100 per year on groceries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  • Airfare Rewards: 3 points per $1 spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. So, if you’re into shopping around for flights on third party websites you’ll have to change your ways to get airfare rewards with this card.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fee: Travel at ease with no foreign transaction fees.
  • “Pay Over Time” Feature: $100+ purchases are eligible to be paid down over an extended period, for a fixed fee. Amex must approve transactions for Pay Over Time status.
  • Good or Excellent Credit Needed: For high approval odds, you’ll want a credit score of 700 or higher.

The bottom line: The American Express Gold Card is one of the best cards for food lovers and travelers. The annual fee can be easily justified if you do the bulk of your spending on food and travel, and take advantage of the yearly statement credits.

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BEST FOR: Cash back rates

Rewards Rate

1 - 5% Cash Back

Rewards Bonus

None

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Details:

  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
  • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
  • Every $1 you earn in cash back is $1 you can redeem.

Geek Point Of View:

This is one of Discover’s most popular cards and it’s not hard to see why. The Discover it Cash Back Card will give you the ability to earn up to 5% cash back on purchases, 0% intro rates on new purchases, 0% balance transfer and no annual fee. The whole combination the card gives you is quite rare, but this card also has a couple downsides. The cash back categories that can give you 5% might not always line up with your spending habits and the balance transfer does have a fee associated with it.

Check out our deep dive into the Discover it Cash Back card below:

  • 5% bonus categories offer huge savings + some hassle.The Discover it Cash Back credit card gives you 5% back on the first $1,500 you spend in designated purchase categories each quarter (not all categories). So, that 5% cash back on the first $1,500 you spend each quarter essentially means you can earn as much as $300 per year. To make it happen you have to sign up for the new bonus categories each quarter. So, in other words, it won’t just do it for you. Also keep in mind that there’s no guarantee the things you spend the most money on will qualify. For all the purchases that don’t fall under the specific category you will earn 1% cash back on.
  • First-year-rewards match is it’s best feature:For a limited time, the Discover it Cash Back will double your first-year earnings. That’s a great deal, worth an extra $525 to the average person, according to our calculations. But it’s not unique, as all of Discover’s rewards cards currently have this promotion.
  • No Annual Fee: There is annual fee with the Discover it Cash Back card.
  • Intro APR of 0% for 14 months: A nice intro APR of 0% can be an attractive perk if you need to buy some time on big-ticket purchase.
  • Healthy Credit Score: To qualify for the Discover it Cash Back card you will need to have good to excellent credit.

The bottom line: The Discover it Cash Back card gives a cash back rewards rate that is sky high, but you have to make sure those categories you earn the most points on match your spending – you don’t want to be stuck with a card that doesn’t reward your spending. If the category calendar has some familiar names, this card is ranks at the top.

Discover it Cash Back Rewards 2020 Category Calendar

Q1

Jan 1 – March 31

  • Grocery Stores
  • CVS
  • Walgreens

Q2

April 1 – June 30

  • Gas stations.
  • Uber and Lyft
  • Wholesale clubs

Q3

July 1 – Sept 30

  • Restaurants
  • Paypal

Q4

Oct 1 – Dec 31

  • Amazon.com
  • Walmart.com
  • Target.com

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BEST FOR: Ongoing rewards in different categories

Rewards Rate

1 - 3% Cash Back

Rewards Bonus

$150

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Details:

  • Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
  • New! 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
  • Get $7 back each month after using your Blue Cash Everyday® Card to spend $13.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription to The Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. Enrollment required.
  • Terms Apply.

Geek Point Of View:

The Blue Cash Everyday Card offered by American Express has a variety of perks that’s makes it one of the best rewards credit cards around. The card comes with a $0 annual fee, an intro APR of 0% (for 15 months) on purchases and balance transfers, and a initial bonus of $150 if you spend $1,000 on the card within the first three months. This card is best suited for those with a good to excellent credit score (700+ score). This card offers big benefits to cardholders who spend a lot of gas and groceries.

Blue Cash Everyday Review Highlights:

  • Intro Bonus of $150: The AMEX Blue Cash Everyday Card will give you a $150 bonus for spending at least $1,000 in the first three months. Sure, its not the biggest bonus available, but it’s definitely a perk.
  • Best for spending cash at gas stations, grocery stores and department-store purchases: This card will give you 3% cash back on purchases at U.S. supermarkets each year (up to $6,000 per year in purchases), 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and also certain U.S. department stores (see list here), and everything else is 1% back on purchases.
  • 0% intro APR always helps: AMEX’s Blue Cash Everyday offers 0% intro rates on both new purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months. But the offer is better for purchases because Blue Cash also charges a 3% (min $5) balance-transfer fee. If you decide to take advantage of this card’s 0% APR, make sure you pay off your balance before the card’s regular APR takes effect.
  • No Annual Fee: No annual fees always help. As long as you pay your bill on time and in full each month, you can completely avoid having to pay anything extra for this card.

The bottom line: The Blue Cash Everyday from American Express offers a lot of perks for those who want to avoid an annual fee. If you spend a lot at the grocery store and gas pump you can reap in great rewards. Have a 0% intro APR for 15 months is a perk that might be appealing to many. This card offers cardholders multiple options and can be a great addition to most wallets.

Rewards credit cards: How They Work

How do rewards credit cards work?

A rewards credit card will earn you points or cash back credits for every dollar that you spend. When you earn those points, you will be able to redeem them for “rewards” like travel, cash back, gift cards and other options. With travel you will usually be able to use your points for hotels or airfare, while cash back rewards usually come in a form of statement credit. Cash back rewards may also come to you by check or direct deposit – it just depends on the card issuer.

What kind of rewards credit cards are there?

A savings account presents quite a few perks:

1. Cash back

2. Travel/Hotel

3. Retail

4. Gasoline