One of our most preferred cash back cards, the Chase Freedom® stands out for a number of reasons:

• It offers 5% cash back in bonus categories that change quarterly, up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter.

• It offers an unlimited 1% cash back everywhere else.

• It has a $0 annual fee, making it accessible to most people.

• It gives you access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall, which earns you 2-20% extra rewards on preferred retailers.

Overview: The Chase Freedom is one of the best

We consider the Chase Freedom® to be the best $0-fee cash back credit card. It offers a really good rewards rate - 5% on bonus categories (up to $1,500), 1% elsewhere - that works out on average to 2% in all the bonus categories year-round, and 1% everywhere else. So, on balance:

Chase Freedom®'s "2%" bonus categories: Groceries, drugstores, home improvement and furnishings, lawn and garden, gas, hotels, airfare, dining, department stores, movies, and charitable donations

There's also the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall. From the mall's website, you click through to a retailer's online storefront, and can shop to your heart's content. As long as you start off from the UR site, you'll earn 2-20% cash back on top of what you'd normally earn. The best part is that you get the full selection: rather than offering 5% back on Macy's sweaters, you get 5% back on everything at Macy's.com. Popular retailers include Kohl's and Macy's with 10% extra rewards; Lord & Taylor and Barnes & Noble with 8%; and Peet's Coffee, Overstock.com and Target, each with 5% back (current as of 12/28/11).