Credit cards provide several benefits to the financially savvy person when handled correctly. While some prefer to rack up points for travel points to use for their next family vacay, there’s one type of reward that can be used anywhere—cold, hard cash.
Here’s our roundup of the 9 best cash back credit cards to help you earn your desired rewards.
Capital One Quicksilver: Best Card For Beginners
Annual Fee: None
Welcome Offer: $200 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months, Uber One membership through 11/2024
Ideal Credit Score: 690-850
APR: 0% intro APR available for the first 15 months; 19.74-28.49% after that
Spending Categories:
- 1.5% back on every purchase, every day
Overview: This card is a great beginner option for someone looking into building their credit and fine-tuning their spending habits. Quicksilver cardholders will enjoy 1.5% cash back on every purchase, eliminating complicated spending categories.
As an added bonus, Capital One makes it easy to redeem rewards. Cash-back earnings don’t expire and aren’t subject to a spending limit.
Pros:
- Straightforward rewards program with points that don’t expire
- No spending cap
- No minimum for redeeming rewards
- Don’t have to worry about eligible purchases—simple reward rate
Cons:
- Higher cash back options with other cards
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best Card For Social Butterflies
Annual Fee: None
Welcome Offer: $200 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months, Uber One membership through 11/2024
Ideal Credit Score: 700+
APR: 0% APR offer available for the first 15 months; 19.74-28.49% after that
Spending Categories:
- 8% on entertainment purchases through Capital One Entertainment
- 5% on hotels and rental cars that are booked through Capital One Travel
- 3% on dining, entertainment, and select streaming services
- 1% on all other purchases
Overview: This card from Capital One is great for cardmembers that love a night on the town and some good eats. In addition to a welcome bonus of an Uber One membership and 10% cash back at Uber Eats, card members will enjoy 3% back on dining and grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target superstores) and popular streaming subscriptions.
This card doesn’t complicate things with rotating reward categories—what you see is what you get. However, cardmembers will enjoy the straightforward redemption system when it comes time to redeem their points, with options to redeem through Paypal, Amazon, and gift cards.
Pros:
- 0% Introductory APR for 15 months
- Unlimited 3% back on entertainment and dining
- Rewards are easy to redeem and don’t expire
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons:
- Not as many cash back reward categories as other options
- High standard APR once the introductory period is over
- Can’t earn points at Walmart Superstores
US Bank Shopper Visa Signature Card: Best Customized Reward Options
Annual Fee: $0 for the first year, $95 after that
Welcome Offer: $250 after spending $2,000 on eligible purchases in the first 120 days
Ideal Credit Score: 690-850
APR: Variable APR of 18.74%-28.74% (no 0% APR offer)
Spending Categories:
- 6% on the first $1,500 combined eligible purchases from 2 retailers of your choice (Amazon, Walmart, Target, etc.)
- 5.5% on hotel and rental cars booked through the Rewards Center
- 3% on the first $1,500 each quarter for one category (gas stations, bills, wholesale clubs, etc.)
- 1.5% on all other eligible purchases
Overview: The US Bank Shopperr Visa Signature Card is a great option for those who regularly shop at a few select stores. Cardholders can customize their cash back categories to optimize the places they shop at the most, including Walmart and wholesale clubs.
If you are a US Bank member, this card offers easy reward redemption options, including direct deposit into your savings or checking account, a statement credit, or merchant gift cards. You can also opt for a US Bank Rewards card as long as you hit the $25 minimum.
Pros:
- No limit on cash back earned
- Access to US Bank Online Shopping portal and discounts
- Bonus categories
- Customized reward program
Cons:
- Unlike other options, this card has a 3% foreign transaction fee
- Rewards are complicated and lack the redemption options other cards offer
- $95 annual fee
- No intro APR perk
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best Flat-Rate Cash Back Card
Annual Fee: None
Welcome Offer: $200 cash reward after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
Ideal Credit Score:
APR: 0% APR offer for 18 billing cycles, variable 17.74%-27.74% after that
Spending Categories:
- 1.5% back on all purchases
- Preferred members earn 1.87%-2.62%
Overview: The Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Card is a solid addition to your cash back toolbelt. This flat-rate cash-back card offers a standard 1.5% cash back on everyday purchases, with additional rewards available for preferred members that have a bank account with Bank of America.
Cardholders will enjoy the generous introductory APR offer of 0% for 18 billing cycles and balance transfers made within the first 60 days of the account opening.
Rewards can be redeemed as a deposit to your Bank of America bank account, statement credit or as a credit to Merrill accounts.
Pros:
- No annual fee
- Sign-up bonus
- Unlimited cash back rewards
- Bonus rewards for preferred members
Cons:
- 3% balance transfer fee
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- No bonus cash back categories
- Best rewards are only for Bank of America customers
Chase Ultimate Rewards: Best Card For First-Year Purchases
Annual Fee: None
Welcome Offer: Additional 1.5% back on purchases made in the first year (up to $20,000)
Ideal Credit Score: 690-850
APR: 0% APR offer for 15 months, then 19.74%-28.49%
Spending Categories:
- 5% on travel purchases made through the Chase Ultimate Rewards platform (6.5% during the first year)
- 3% on drugstore and dining purchases, including takeout and delivery services (4.5% during the first year)
- 1.5% on all other purchases (3% during the first year)
Overview:
If you are looking for a card that provides a ton of sign-on perks, look no further than the Chase Ultimate Rewards Card. In addition to an introductory APR rate, card users will also enjoy additional cash back rewards for the first year. This card also offers a high reward rate for travel purchases that can stand against competing travel cards.
Rewards don’t expire and can be redeemed at statement credit or a direct deposit into most US bank accounts.
Pros:
- No minimum to redeem rewards
- Solid welcome offer
- Good travel reward rate
Cons:
- This card is great for booking your vacations but not so much once you get there, thanks to its 3% foreign transaction fee
Chase Freedom Flex: Best Card For Multiple Rewards
Annual Fee: $0
Welcome Offer: $200 after spending $500 during the first 3 months of use
Ideal Credit Score: 690-850
APR: 0% APR offer available for the first 15 months; 19.74-28.49% after that
Spending Categories:
- 5% in quarterly bonus categories up to $1,500
- 5% back on travel purchases booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards center
- 5% back on eligible Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
- 3% on dining (including delivery service and takeout) and drugstore purchases
- 1% on all other purchases
Overview: The Chase Freedom Flex is a great option for someone making regular purchases across multiple spending categories. Despite being more complicated to manage than other options, this credit card offers highly competitive reward rates, with travel rewards on the same level as some travel credit cards—something you wouldn’t expect from a card with no annual fees. Additionally, new cardholders can enjoy a $200 bonus after spending $500 within the first 3 months.
Rewards don’t expire and can be redeemed through a statement credit or direct deposit into most US bank accounts.
Want a card from Chase with the same reward categories but a little less confusing? Check out the Chase Freedom Unlimited, which does require quarterly category activation and
Pros:
- No annual fee
- Generous earning rates among multiple categories
- No minimum needed to redeem rewards
- Travel rewards compete with travel credit cards
- Reward direct deposit can be made into most bank accounts
Cons:
- Some people don’t like the rotating 5% bonus category
- Requires good/ excellent credit
Citi Double Cash Card: Best Flat Rate For Those That Don’t Want To Manage A Card
Annual Fee: None
Welcome Offer: None
Ideal Credit Score: 690-850
APR: 18.99%-28.99%
Spending Categories:
- 2% on all purchases—1% on all purchases + 1 when it’s paid off
Overview: The Citi Double Cash Credit Card is great for those that don’t want to deal with spending categories or confusing reward systems. With this card, you’ll earn a whopping 2% back on every single purchase—1% when you buy something and 1% when you pay it off.
Keep in mind that because this card is all about that flat rate, you won’t enjoy the same sign-up bonuses that other cards offer.
Pros:
- No annual fee
- 2% reward rate is one of the highest for a flat-rate card
- 0% balance transfer offer for 18 months
- Rewards don’t expire and there is no limit
Cons:
- No sign-on bonus or introductory APR rate is offered
- Higher rate rewards for specific categories are available for other cards
- Steep interest rates
Blue Cash Everyday American Express Card: Best Card For Household Spending
Annual Fee: None
Welcome Offer: $200 back as a statement credit after spending $2,000 within the first 6 months
Ideal Credit Score: 690-850
APR: 0% APR for 15 months, then 18.99%-29.99%
Spending Categories:
- 3% back at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 (1% after that)
- 3% at US online retailers up to $6,000 (1% after that)
- 3% at U.S. gas stations up to $6,000 (1% after that)
- 1% everywhere else
Overview: The Blue Cash Everyday American Express Card packs a lot of perks for a $0 annual fee card. In fact, the rewards for this credit card are some of the most lucrative—3% back at U.S. supermarkets, online retail purchases, and gas stations. Cardholders can also enjoy discounts on The Disney Bundle streaming subscription and the Home Chef meal delivery service.
Pros:
- No annual fee
- High reward percentages for everyday categories
- Additional perks through Disney and Home Chef
Cons:
- Cardholders are up against a reward cap
- Standard balance transfer fee and variable APR fee are steep
- American Express isn’t as widely accepted as other cards
- For families that spend more than $6,000 in groceries, the American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card would be better.
Discover It Cash Back Card: Best Pick For Someone That Doesn’t Mind Managing Their Card
Annual Fee: None
Welcome Offer: Unlimited cash back match for the first year, 3% introductory fee on your first balance transfer, 5% after that
Ideal Credit Score: 690-850
APR: 0% APR for 15 months, then 16.74%-27.74%
Spending Categories:
- 1% back on all purchases
- 5% back on purchases within rotating quarterly categories up to $1,500 (activation of category required each quarter)
Overview: This cash back card from Discover combines a year-round flat rate with a rotating quarterly bonus category for a well-rounded reward system. Cardholders will enjoy 1% cash back on all purchases with the addition of 5% back on the bonus category. Other benefits include access to Discover’s Social Security protection through a monitoring service and access to your FICO score.
Rewards can be redeemed through direct deposits, gift cards, statement credits, or donations to charity, among others.
Pros:
- High reward percentage for quarterly categories
- Rotating categories gives you diversity in spending
- Free access to your FICO score & Discover’s Social Security number monitoring service
- Diversified reward redemption options
Cons:
- Reward cap
- You have to activate the bonus categories each quarter
- Rotating bonus categories aren’t for everyone
- Steep balance transfer fees
There is no shortage of credit cards to choose from as you look to build your financial portfolio, with card issuers providing incentives ranging from travel perks to store discounts. However, there’s one thing that everyone can use—extra cash. These cards are some of the most lucrative cash back cards on the market today, with options for every kind of consumer.
Keep in mind that these cards all require pretty good credit and that terms apply for each option.
You might also be interested in: How Many Credit Cards Should I Have? And 6 Helpful Tips
