Finder’s credit card experts spent more than 400 hours reviewing and comparing cashback credit cards to narrow down the best cashback credit cards across 10 categories. We considered factors such as cashback limitations, earning categories, redemption flexibility and welcome offers. Unlike our competitors, Finder’s experts provide unbiased, trustworthy evaluations of all cashback credit cards and providers, not just those we partner with on the site.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | moderate spending on supermarkets | |
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | intro rates on purchases and balance transfers | |
Chase Freedom Unlimited® | pairing with Chase cards | |
Chase Freedom Flex℠ | earning 5% cash back | |
Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card | building credit | |
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | supermarkets | |
Citi® Double Cash Card | earning unlimited cash back and ongoing rewards after a balance transfer | |
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi | gas | |
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card | ease of use | |
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | dining and entertainment | |
Discover it® Cash Back | earning a cashback match after your first year | |
Quick look at the best cashback credit cards
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
For smaller families who like to keep overall costs low, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is the ideal choice for grocery rewards. The combination of no annual fee, a solid rewards rate on groceries from U.S. supermarkets, and a welcome offer makes this card perfect for easy cashback returns with little effort or cost.
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Pros
- Intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers. The intro APR on purchases and balance transfers can help with holiday spending or other family needs. Get a 0% intro APR period for 15 months following your account opening. After that, your rate reverts to 19.24% to 29.99% variable.
- Earn cash back. Earn 3% cash back on U.S. supermarkets 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%. Plus 3% on U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 per year, then 1% after that.
- Welcome offers. You'll earn $200 as statement credit when you use your card to make $2,000 in purchases in the first 6 months.
Cons
- Cap on 3% cashback categories. Your accelerated rates in these categories only last until you spend $6,000 in each category, each year.
- Foreign transaction fees. You'll pay a 2.7% fee on purchases made abroad.
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Annual fee | $0 |
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Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 19.24% to 29.99% variable) |
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Balance transfer APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 19.24% to 29.99% variable) Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
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Welcome Offer | Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months. |
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Rewards | Up to 3% cash back |
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Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a comparatively straightforward card with low intro rates on purchases and balance transfers. Combined with its $0 annual fee and $0 foreign transaction fees, the no-frills Quicksilver is perfect for people looking to get ahead by consolidating balances from other accounts.
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Pros
- Signup bonus. Earn $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 within the first 3 months after opening your account.
- Cash back. Earn flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- Intro APR periods. Get 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months after account opening. After that, your APR will be 19.99% to 29.99% variable. You’ll pay a balance transfer fee of 3% on balance transfers performed in the first 15 months.
Cons
- Potentially high APR. Look out for the ongoing APR on purchases and balance transfers after the intro APR periods expire.
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Annual fee | $0 |
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Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 19.99% - 29.99% variable) |
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Balance transfer APR | 19.99% to 29.99% variable Balance transfer fee applies (3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time) |
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Welcome Offer | $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening |
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Rewards | Up to 1.5% cash back |
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Of all of Chase's Ultimate Rewards cards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is the must-have card for those who want unlimited cash back on purchases, as well as Chase Ultimate Rewards enthusiasts. The flat earning rate on all purchases lets you steadily build your points without needing to worry about quarterly categories and the new accelerated categories bolster those points even further. The end result is a card that can outstrip the common 2% cashback card in value.
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Pros
- Earn cash back. Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back, 3% cash back on dining at restaurants including takeout and eligible delivery service, on drugstore purchases, as well as 5% cash back on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® where you can redeem rewards for travel, gift cards and more.
- Intro APR on purchases. Enjoy 15 months of 0% intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers. After that, a variable APR of 20.49% to 29.24% applies.
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- Special Offer. Earn unlimited matched cash back. At the end of your first year, Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned. There is no limit to how much you can earn.
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Cons
- Foreign transaction fee. All purchases made abroad or online with foreign merchants cost 3% of the amount.
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Annual fee | $0 |
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Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 20.49% to 29.24% variable) |
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Balance transfer APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 20.49% to 29.24% variable) $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days |
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Welcome Offer | Earn unlimited matched cash back. At the end of your first year, Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned. There is no limit to how much you can earn. |
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Estimated welcome offer value | $300 based on Finder's valuation |
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Rewards | Up to 5% cash back |
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Welcome Offer | $300 |
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Rewards | Up to 5% cash back |
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Annual fee | $0 |
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Minimum credit score | 670 |
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Read review
In all of Finder's card comparisons in 2022, few cards have come up on top as often as the Chase Freedom Flex℠. That's because it offers a huge variety of 5% cashback categories, and Chase added several new flat-rate earning categories to the mix, including 5% on select travel and 3% on dining and drug stores. It's tough to go wrong with this card.
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Pros
- Cash back. Earn 5% cash back in select rotating categories on up to $1,500 each quarter you activate, then 1%. You'll also earn 5% back on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards and on Lyft through March 2022, 3% back at restaurants and drugstores and 1% back on all other purchases.
- Signup bonus. Earn $200 cash back after you make $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
- Intro APR. Get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months from account opening, then 20.49% to 29.24% variable.
Cons
- You'll need to keep track of rotating categories. You won't get the 5% cashback rate on the same categories each quarter. Also, you'll need to activate your cashback categories, or you won't receive the bonus rate.
- Categories not always known. Often, Chase won't reveal the whole year's rotating categories until they're close to launching.
- Foreign transaction fees. You'll pay a 3% fee on transactions made abroad.
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Annual fee | $0 |
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Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 20.49% to 29.24% variable) |
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Balance transfer APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 20.49% to 29.24% variable) $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days |
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Welcome Offer | $200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months |
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Estimated welcome offer value | $200 based on Finder's valuation |
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Rewards | Up to 5% cash back |
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Welcome Offer | $200 |
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Rewards | Up to 5% cash back |
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Annual fee | $0 |
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Minimum credit score | 670 |
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Read review
Best for gas
Other gas cards typically offer a lower rewards rate than the Sam's Club® Mastercard®, but some may have a higher annual cap. For pure gas rewards, though, this card is unmatched. Aside from earning one of the highest cashback rates on gas, you earn cash back at Sam's Club and on dining. What's more, you get to enjoy these benefits without paying an annual fee. Although, you need a Sam's Club membership to apply for the card.
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Pros
- Cash back. Earn up to 5% cash back on eligible Sam’s Club purchases (3% with Sam's Club® Mastercard® in addition to the 2% you earn with Plus membership), 5% back on gas purchases on up to $6,000 annually (reverting to 1% after), 3% back on dining and takeout, and 1% back on all other purchases.
- No annual fee. The Sam's Club® Mastercard® doesn’t carry an annual fee, though you’ll need to be a Sam’s Club member to apply. Basic membership is $45 and Plus membership is $100.
- Cash advance at register. Request up to $100 as a cash advance at checkout. You should generally stay away from cash advances, but this can prove useful in an emergency.
Cons
- One annual redemption. You can only redeem your rewards in February of each year for that prior year’s earnings. Redeem your rewards online at SamsClub.com or at any Sam’s location.
- No intro APR. You won’t find an intro APR on purchases or balance transfers with this card.
- Tied to Plus membership. If you don’t have a Sam’s Club Plus membership, you can only earn 1% back on your Sam’s Club purchases with this card.
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Annual fee | $0 |
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Purchase APR | 20.4% to 28.4% variable |
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Balance transfer APR | 20.4% to 28.4% variable |
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Welcome Offer | Get a $30 statement credit when you open a new account and make $30 in Sam's Club purchases within 30 days. |
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Rewards | Up to 5% cash back |
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Welcome Offer | $30 |
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Rewards | Up to 5% cash back |
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Annual fee | $0 |
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Minimum credit score | 670 |
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Terms apply, see rates & fees
Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card
Those who don't have a credit history and want to jump right into cashback cards should look no further. Unlike standard cards where the credit score is determining factor of credit card approval, Petal 2 checks your overall finances, including income, savings and spending. The Petal 2 also features no fees whatsoever, which is highly unusual for a rewards card.
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Pros
- Cashback rewards. You’ll earn 1% cash back on all eligible purchases. To reward responsible spending, that cashback value will be bumped to 1.25% after six on-time payments and 1.5 after 12 on-time monthly payments. The Petal 2 also earns 2% to 10% back at select retailers, including Gap, Old Navy, Casper and more.
- No credit history required. If you have no credit score or limited credit history, your income and financial records, including your checking accounts and bill payments, may be analyzed to determine your eligibility. You can still apply if you already have a good credit history and you want to take advantage of the card’s generous fee structure.
- No fees. There’s no annual, foreign transaction, overlimit or even late fees.
Cons
- No intro APR period. Most cashback cards come with a 0% intro APR period on purchases, balance transfers or both. Unfortunately, that’s one perk you won’t get with the Petal 2.
- No signup bonus. Unlike many of its competitors that offer signup bonuses or introductory offers, Petal has no such offer.
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Annual fee | $0 |
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Purchase APR | 18.24% to 32.24% variable |
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Balance transfer APR | N/A |
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Welcome Offer | N/A |
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Rewards | Up to 10% cash back |
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Welcome Offer | n/a |
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Rewards | Up to 10% cash back |
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Annual fee | $0 |
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Minimum credit score | New / limited credit |
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Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
The Blue Cash Preferred continues to serve as the de facto leader when it comes to grocery rewards in the industry. Those who spend at least $500 on groceries each month would earn $360 cash back annually on this category alone. No other card can match this rewards rate.
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Pros
- Welcome offer. Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases during your first 6 months of card membership.
- Earn cash back. Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year. After that, you'll earn 1% back. You'll also earn 6% on select U.S. streaming services and 3% on transit purchases. At U.S. gas stations, you'll earn 3% back. For all other eligible purchases, you'll get 1% back.
- Intro APR period. Enjoy a 0% intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months of account opening. After that, a variable APR of 19.24% to 29.99% applies.
Cons
- Annual fee. The card comes with a $95 annual fee after the first year intro.
- Cashback cap on groceries. Your 6% cashback rate at U.S. supermarkets is capped on up to $6,000 each year, and 1% after that.
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Annual fee | $0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter) |
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Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 12 months (then 19.24% to 29.99% variable) |
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Balance transfer APR | 0% intro for the first 12 months (then 19.24% to 29.99% variable) Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater |
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Welcome Offer | $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months |
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Rewards | Up to 6% cash back |
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Credit cards with a flat cashback rate typically offer 1.5% back on all purchases. But this card offers 1% back when you make the purchase and another 1% back when you pay it off. That gives you a total of 2% cash back on all purchases. While this has been outclassed by the Chase Freedom cards recently, the Citi® Double Cash Card has the longest balance transfer offer of any cashback card, so it maintains a key spot on our list.
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Pros
- Earn cash back. Earn cash back twice on everything you buy — 1% when you make the purchase and 1% when you pay your balance. Similar cards let you earn 1.5% back. That's up to a $100 difference if you spend $20,000 a year with your card.
- Intro APR on balance transfers. Enjoy 18 months of a 0% intro APR period for balance transfers. Compared to similar cards, this is one of the longest intro periods you can get. After that, a variable APR of 19.24% to 29.24% applies.
- Citi Entertainment℠. Get special access when buying presale tickets or VIP packages for concerts, sports events, dining and more.
Cons
- Foreign transaction fee. All purchases made abroad or online with foreign merchants cost 3% of the amount.
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Annual fee | $0 |
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Purchase APR | 19.24% to 29.24% variable |
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Balance transfer APR | 0% intro for the first 18 months (then 19.24% to 29.24% variable) 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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Welcome Offer | N/A |
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Rewards | Up to 2% cash back |
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Welcome Offer | n/a |
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Rewards | Up to 2% cash back |
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Annual fee | $0 |
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Minimum credit score | 670 |
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Read review
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card leans into the flexibility added to many cards during the pandemic, offering up to 5% cash back on your top eligible spending category on up to $500 spent total each billing cycle. This is comparable to the earning caps on cards like the Chase Freedom Flex, but without the need to adjust your spending based on a rotating category.
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Pros
- Flexible rewards. The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card earns 5% back on your highest eligible spending category each billing cycle, on up to $500 that cycle. After meeting the cap you’ll earn 1% back until the next billing cycle. Eligible categories are grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, drugstores, live entertainment, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, travel, transit and streaming services.
- Signup bonus. The card’s $200 bonus after spending $1,500 in the first 6 months is higher than the average you’d find on a 5% cashback card.
- No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee to use this card.
Cons
- High penalty APR. Missing payments on this card can result in a hefty penalty APR of up to 29.99% variable.
- Foreign transaction fees. This card isn’t great for travelers abroad. You’ll pay 3% on transactions made outside of the US.
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Annual fee | $0 |
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Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 18.99% to 28.99% variable) |
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Balance transfer APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 18.99% to 28.99% variable) Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
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Welcome Offer | $200 cash back after spending $1,500 in the first 6 months. Fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back |
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Rewards | Up to 5% cash back |
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Welcome Offer | $200 |
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Rewards | Up to 5% cash back |
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Annual fee | $0 |
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Minimum credit score | 670 |
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Terms apply, see rates & fees
Read review
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
This no-annual-fee card offers impressive cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and more.
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Pros
- Annual fee. None.
- APR. 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then a normal purchase and balance transfer APR of 19.99% to 29.99% variable. You’ll pay a balance transfer fee of 3% on balance transfers performed in the first 15 months.
- 3% cash back on dining and entertainment. 3% cash back on dining and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), 3% cash back on popular streaming services and entertainment, 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Plus 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats through 11/14/2024.
- Welcome offer. $200 cash bonus after you make $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Cons
- Potentially high ongoing APR. Your APR mostly depends on your creditworthiness. Avoid paying the high interest by paying your balance when due.
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Annual fee | $0 |
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Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 19.99% to 29.99% variable) |
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Balance transfer APR | 19.99% to 29.99% variable Balance transfer fee applies (3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time) |
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Welcome Offer | Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening |
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Rewards | Up to 10% cash back |
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Most no-annual-fee cashback cards offer a signup bonus worth between $50 and $250 when you meet the spend requirements. This card offers something more unique: an unlimited cashback match. Depending on how much you spend during your first year, you could easily make more than the average welcome offer value. Plus you get all the value offered by a 5% rotating category card.
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Pros
- Rewards. Great cash back in rotating categories. Earn 5% cash back on the first $1,500 you spend on purchases each quarter in eligible rotating categories, such as at gas stations, restaurants, Amazon.com, grocery stores and wholesale clubs. Earn 1% cash back after you've hit the spending cap each quarter, and on all other purchases.
- Intro APR. 0% for 15 months following your account opening on purchases and balance transfers. After that, your purchase and balance transfer APR will be between 16.99% to 27.99% variable. This is an above-average intro APR when compared to its competitors.
- Cashback match. Discover will match all the cash back you have earned at the end of your first year.
Cons
- Balance transfer limitations. You must complete your balance transfers until a specific date to use the 0% intro APR period.
- Cashback categories. You don't know what the 5% cashback categories will be until the start of each year.
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Annual fee | $0 |
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Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 16.99% to 27.99% variable) |
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Balance transfer APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 16.99% to 27.99% variable) Intro fee of 3% of the amount of each transfer for transfers that post to your account by August 10, 2022 with the 0% intro APR balance transfer offer described above. After that, 5% of the amount of each transfer. |
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Welcome Offer | Discover will match cash back earned at the end of your first card year |
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Rewards | Up to 5% cash back |
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Welcome Offer | Other |
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Rewards | Up to 5% cash back |
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Annual fee | $0 |
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Minimum credit score | 670 |
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Back to topCompare cashback credit cards
Though we’ve highlighted some of the top-performing cashback credit cards, there are plenty of great options available not on our list. You can compare all cashback credit cards to find one that best suits your reward preferences.
You’ll want to take stock of your financial needs and preferences as you search for the right cashback card for you. Here are the most important steps to take.
- Consider the annual fee. Consider. If you choose a card with an annual fee, make sure you can earn enough rewards within a year to offset the fee.
- Review your spending habits and needs. Think about the areas you spend the most and pick a card that earns more cash back in those areas.
- Compare each card’s signup bonus. Cashback cards commonly offer signup bonuses to new cardholders. If a card has a bonus, consider whether you can meet the spending requirement in time.
- Look at your average spending amounts. Some cashback cards cap the amount of rewards you can earn within a certain time period.
- Think about your reward preferences. Cashback cards typically only offer cash back as an option. If you want to convert your earnings into travel opportunities for example, a cashback card is likely inferior to a travel card.
- Additional features. Some cashback cards might come with intro APRs or forgo foreign transaction fees.
Ann Martin, director of operations at CreditDonkey, tell Finder: “If you’re not sure what type of credit card is best for you, you generally can’t go wrong with cash back. Here are some of the main things to look for in a cashback card.
No or low annual fees. Cashback cards tend to have $0 or low annual fees, so there’s no reason to pay a lot of money for one.
High rewards rate. Look for at least 2%. Cash back on streaming services. Some programs, including Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, now offer this perk.
Signup bonus. Many cashback cards offer a signup bonus at select times. With some planning, you can score some cash right off the bat.
As an overall rule, it’s best to find a cashback card that gives high rewards for the type of purchases you make most often. So if you’re a homebody with a big family, look for a card that rewards grocery purchases. If you’re a jetsetter who likes dining out, look for a card that rewards restaurant and travel bookings.”
Pros and cons of cashback credit cards
Pros
- Earn cash on your everyday spending. Rewards are the foundational benefit of a credit card and cash back is the simplest way to earn those rewards.
- Different types for different spending. With three types of cashback cards to choose from, you can create a robust earning strategy based on your spending habits.
- Widely available. There are plentiful cashback credit cards on the market, meaning you’re sure to find one that fits your needs.
Cons
- Rewards inflexible. Unlike points or miles earned with a rewards card, you typically can’t transfer your cashback rewards into other loyalty programs. Your only option is a statement credit.
- Lacking in perks. Cashback credit cards can lack the bells and whistles you’d find on a travel or rewards card (such as concierge service or travel insurance).
Cash back on purchases sounds straightforward, but there can be a few caveats. Here are the five most common questions we receive on the subject.
- Do cashback cards actually give cash? No. Instead, you’ll receive a statement credit on your card account.
- How many cashback cards should I have? There’s no “correct” number of cashback cards to have. However, there are effective earning strategies you can create by pairing cashback credit cards.
- Do I owe taxes on cash back? No. Cash back is treated as a discount for the purpose of taxes.
- Which is better: cash back or reward points? This depends on what you ultimately want to use your rewards points on. While you can potentially get more value out of reward points, cash back is also worth it if you personally find it valuable.
- What types of cashback cards are there? Cashback cards fall into three earning categories: flat rate, tiered and rotating categories.
Cashback cards are pretty easy to understand and a great way to dip your toes into earning rewards with a credit card.
Consider your spending to figure out which kind of card might reward you most. Then, compare your cashback options to find the best product for you.
Credit card ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
Our team evaluates credit cards to determine their value against similar cards on the market.
We rank card types — travel, cash back, business — on a set of factors that are most relevant to that type of card. We create these rankings to help you narrow down a credit card that best suits your spending and budget.
Learn the details of our methodology and scoring.