Best cashback credit cards with no annual fee — February 2019

Earn unlimited cash back on all purchases, rotating categories or specific categories.

Getting a cashback credit card could be one of the most rewarding choices you can make. Depending on where you spend the most, you can earn accelerated cash back on specific categories or on everything you buy. But know that this type of cards usually comes with potentially high APRs. Make sure you pay your balance on time to avoid offsetting your rewards.

Our pick for no annual fee

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

• 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 17.24-25.99%. Balance transfer fee is 3% of the amount transferred, $5 minimum
• Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase - it's automatic
• Earn a $150 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
• No minimum to redeem for cash back
• Cash back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
• Free credit score, updated weekly with Credit Journey℠
• No annual fee

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Find a cashback credit card with no annual fee

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  Best cashback credit cards
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  How to compare
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  Bottom line
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  FAQ

Best cashback credit cards with no annual fee

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• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best cashback credit card for rewards on groceries.
• Discover it® Cash Back: Best cashback credit card with highest signup bonus.
• Uber Visa Card: Best cashback credit card for dining and travel.
• U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card: Best for accelerated cashback flexibility.
• Citi® Double Cash Card: Best for flat cash back on all purchases.

Best cashback credit card for rewards on groceries: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

• $150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 3 months.
• 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% back on other purchases.
• Low intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable rate, currently 15.24% to 26.24%.
• Over 1.5 million more places in the U.S. started accepting American Express® Cards in 2017.
• Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be easily redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise.
• No annual fee.
• Terms apply.

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The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express could be an ideal choice for families that spend heavily on groceries and gas. On these two categories, plus at select US department stores, you’ll earn accelerated cash back. In addition, you can earn a solid welcome offer and a long intro APR period on balance transfers and purchases.

• The perks

  • Cash back.

    Earn 3% cash back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases annually. After that, the rate reverts to 1%. Earn 2% back at US gas stations and select US department stores. On everything else you buy, earn 1% cash back.

  • Welcome offer.

    Spend $1,000 within your first 3 months of card membership and earn $150 bonus as statement credit.

  • Intro APR period.

    Get a 0% intro APR period on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months following your account opening. After that, your rate reverts to variable 15.24% to 26.24%.

• What to watch out for

  • Foreign transaction fee.

    Avoid using this card abroad or you’ll pay a fee equal to 2.7% of each transaction.

  • Penalty APR.

    A single late or returned payment will incur a penalty APR of 29.99%. To revert the rate, you’ll need to make timely payments of at least the minimum amount for six consecutive months.

  • Balance transfer limits.

    Request your balance transfers within 60 days from your account opening. Otherwise, you won’t get the 0% intro APR.

Best cashback credit card with highest signup bonus: Discover it® Cash Back

Discover it® Cash Back

• Earn accelerated cash back in rotating categories
• First year cashback match
• Free FICO credit score
• Ability to freeze your account

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The Discover it® Cash Back card offers accelerated rewards on rotating categories each quarter. Depending on how much you spend within your first year — you can get the highest signup bonus that any no-annual-fee card offers.

Furthermore, the card comes with a long intro APR period on balance transfers and purchases, free FICO® score tracking, also there’s no penalty APR if you make late payments and more.

• The perks

  • Cashback match.

    Instead of the standard signup bonus, you get something better — a cashback match of the entire cash back you earned during your first year. This means that if you earn $400 in cash back within your first 12 months, Discover doubles it for a total of $800.

  • Cash back.

    Get 5% cash back on rotating categories every three months. Categories can include purchases made at US grocery stores, gas stations, some ride sharing companies, restaurants and Amazon. You’re limited to $1,500 per quarter on the 5% categories. After that, and on all other purchases, you earn cash back.

  • Intro APR period.

    Use 14 months following your account opening of interest-free period on balance transfers and purchases. After the intro period passes, your rate reverts to variable 14.24% to 25.24%.

  • Free FICO® credit score.

    Keep track of your credit score on your monthly statements or online at any time for free.

  • Card freeze.

    In case you lose your card, freeze your account on the Discover mobile app or website to stop anyone from using it. When you find your card, simply unfreeze it.

• What to watch out for

  • Balance transfer limits.

    To use the intro APR period on balance transfers, make your transfers until March 10, 2019. For balance transfer requests that exceed your credit line, Discover may process only a partial amount.

  • Low minimum credit line.

    You can’t choose the credit line you receive and it usually depends on multiple factors including your creditworthiness. But know that with this card, you won’t get a credit line lower than $500.

Best cashback credit card for dining and travel: Uber Visa Card

Uber Visa Card

• Rewards you for spending on dining and travel
• Easy-to-earn signup bonus
• No annual fee

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If you frequently dine out and travel, the Uber Visa Card is worth considering. It offers accelerated cash back in these two categories and on online subscription services. Also, there’s no foreign transaction fee, which saves you money when traveling abroad.

• The perks

  • Cash back.

    Earn 4% cash back at restaurants, bars, takeout and UberEATS; earn 3% back on hotels, airfare and vacation home rentals; earn 2% back on video and music streaming services, Uber rides and online shopping. All other purchases earn 1% back.

  • Signup bonus.

    Spend $500 in your first 90 days of card membership and earn $100 bonus.

  • Online subscription credit.

    Spend $5,000 within a year and earn $50 online credit to use on subscription services like Apple Music, Spotify, Google Music, Pandora, Amazon Music, Netflix, HBO NOW, Amazon Prime and more.

  • No foreign transaction fees.

    When using this card abroad, you won’t pay fees for foreign transactions.

  • Phone protection.

    Pay your mobile phone bill and get coverage against damage, theft or loss. You have a maximum of two claims per year. The claims are limited to $600 each, with a $25 deductible.

• What to watch out for

  • No intro APR period.

    If you’re looking to consolidate your debt or make a large purchase and carry your balance interest-free, this may not be the best card for you.

Best for accelerated cashback flexibility: U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card

U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card

• Easy-to-earn signup bonus
• Accelerated cash back in categories you choose
• No annual fee

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If you’re looking to maximize your cash back, the U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card could help you achieve that. The card offers accelerated cash back on two categories of your choice each quarter. That way, you can rotate the categories to those you expect to spend the most money on every three months.

A long intro APR period on balance transfers and no penalty APR for late or returned payments round out the card.

• The perks

  • Cash back.

    Earn 5% cash back on two categories of your choice — including electronics stores, furniture stores and department stores — up to $2,000 in combined purchases each quarter, and 1% thereafter. Earn back on one category, such as gas or groceries, and earn back on everything else you buy.

  • Signup bonus.

    Spend $500 in the first 90 days of card membership and get $150 bonus.

  • Intro APR on balance transfers.

    Use a 0% intro APR period on balance transfers for 12 billing cycles following your account opening. After that, a variable APR of 16.24% to 25.74% applies.

  • Digital wallet.

    Simplify your credit card payments by using Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay, Microsoft Wallet, Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay and Visa Checkout with a touch, tap or click.

• What to watch out for

  • Foreign transaction fee.

    For purchases or ATM withdrawals made abroad in US dollars, you’ll pay a fee of 2% of the transaction. If the transaction is made in foreign currency, you’ll pay a fee equal to 3% of the transaction.

  • Balance transfer limits.

    To use the intro APR period, complete your balance transfers within 60 days of your account opening.

  • You must enroll each quarter.

    Enroll 45 days before the beginning of or during each quarter to earn the 5% and 2% cashback rates in your selected categories. Otherwise, you’ll earn 1% back.

Best for flat cash back on all purchases: Citi® Double Cash Card

Citi® Double Cash Card

• Earn cash back when you make purchases
• Earn additional cash back when you pay off your card
• Intro APR on balance transfers
• No annual fee

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The Citi® Double Cash Card can be a great choice for those who don’t spend much on any particular category. It can help you earn accelerated cash back on all of your purchases, which could pay off in the long run. You can also benefit from 18 months of 0% — one of the longest intro APR periods on balance transfers.

• The perks

  • Cash back.

    Earn 1% back when you make the purchase and an additional 1% back when you pay it off, for a total of 2% back on everything you buy.

  • Intro APR period.

    Receive a 0% intro APR period on balance transfers for 18 months from your account opening. After the intro period passes, your rate reverts to 15.74% to 25.74% variable.

  • Citi® Private Pass®.

    Get special access to presale tickets or VIP packages for concerts, sports events, dining and more.

  • Apple Pay.

    Use your Apple device to pay at more than 200,000 stores or in-app with mobile retailers.

• What to watch out for

  • No signup bonus.

    If you’re looking for a signup bonus, you won’t find one with this card.

  • Foreign transaction fee.

    When you use your card outside of the US, you’ll pay a fee of 3% of each transaction.

  • Balance transfer limits.

    The 0% intro APR period is only available for balance transfers made within the first 4 months of your account opening.

  • Penalty APR.

    If you make a single late or returned payment, aside from paying a fee, you’ll incur a penalty APR of up to 29.99%. You’ll also lose your intro APR period. Once applied, the penalty APR lasts indefinitely.

How to compare cashback credit cards with no annual fee

To find the best cashback credit card for your needs, ask yourself:

• Do you want unlimited cash back on everything you buy? The Citi® Double Cash Card is one of the rare cards that lets you earn high cash back on all of your purchases, without limitations. As additional perk, you get a long intro APR period on balance transfers.
• Do you spend a lot on groceries? Consider the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. With this card, you earn accelerated cash back on groceries, gas and at select US department stores. You also get a long intro APR period on balance transfers and purchases, and a solid welcome offer.
• Do you spend a lot on dining? To earn the most rewards, consider the Uber Visa Card. It lets you earn accelerated cash back on dining, travel purchases and on streaming services — and you get to earn a decent welcome offer and an online streaming services credit.
• Do you want a high signup bonus? The Discover it® Cash Back has the highest signup bonus potential as it matches all the cash back you earned during your first year. This can also be a solid choice if you want to earn accelerated cash back on rotating categories every three months.
• Do you want flexibility on cashback categories? The U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card is one of the rare cards that lets you choose two categories to earn accelerated cash back during each quarter. Aside from cash back, you can earn a solid signup bonus, and you get a long intro APR period on balance transfers.

Bottom line

When it comes to the best cashback credit cards with no annual fee, there are choices for almost any lifestyle. Examining how you can earn the most from your next credit card — either through travel, dining, groceries or gas.

However, if none of these cards look enticing to you, consider comparing other no-annual-fee credit card options.

Frequently asked questions

• Which of these cards is best for international travel?

  The Uber Visa Card could be the right choice as you’ll earn cash back on travel purchases like hotels, airfare and vacation home rentals — and you won’t pay foreign transaction fees.

• Which credit card gives the most cash back?

  This mostly depends on your spending habits. Consider on which categories you spend most and look for an appropriate card.

• Is there a minimum to redeem cash back?

  In general, cashback cards have either no minimum threshold or a $25 minimum.

• How can I earn most cash back?

  Spending money on the accelerated cashback categories is the obvious way to go. However, paying your balance on time is just as important because this type of card usually has higher APRs.