18 Best Cash Back Credit Cards of December 2024
Updated: Dec 12, 2024+ 2 more+ 2 more
The best cash back credit card is one you will use regularly. Some cards pay a single rate on every purchase, with no work required on your part. Others pay higher rewards in specific categories (up to 6% in some cases) and a lower rate elsewhere. Choose one card for everything, or carry several to maximize your cash back.
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NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
The best cash back credit card is one you will use regularly. Some cards pay a single rate on every purchase, with no work required on your part. Others pay higher rewards in specific categories (up to 6% in some cases) and a lower rate elsewhere. Choose one card for everything, or carry several to maximize your cash back.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards.
Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today,
The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America"
and many other national, regional and local media outlets.
Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
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The best cash back credit card is one you will use regularly. Some cards pay a single rate on every purchase, with no work required on your part. Others pay higher rewards in specific categories (up to 6% in some cases) and a lower rate elsewhere. Choose one card for everything, or carry several to maximize your cash back.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
The best cash back credit card is one you will use regularly. Some cards pay a single rate on every purchase, with no work required on your part. Others pay higher rewards in specific categories (up to 6% in some cases) and a lower rate elsewhere. Choose one card for everything, or carry several to maximize your cash back.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
NerdWallet's Best Cash Back Credit Cards of December 2024
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Best for Flat-rate cash back
Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best for All-around cash back
Discover it® Cash Back: Best for Quarterly categories + matching bonus
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Going out & staying in
Citi Double Cash® Card: Best for Simplicity + high rate
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for Families & households
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card: Best for Wide selection of categories
Citi Custom Cash® Card: Best for Automatic 5% rewards
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card: Best for Simplicity + relationship rewards
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best for Popular 3% categories
Chase Freedom Flex®: Best for Quarterly categories + cash bonus
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Simplicity + 0% APR offer
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: Best for Adjustable 3% categories
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card: Best for Big box shoppers
PayPal Cashback Mastercard®: Best for Regular PayPal users
Prime Visa: Best for Amazon Prime shoppers
Apple Card: Best for Apple Pay users
Synchrony Premier World Mastercard®: Best for High rate + hassle-free redemption
Show SummaryHide Summary
Best Cash Back Credit Cards
Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Flat-rate cash back
Families & households
All-around cash back
Popular 3% categories
Simplicity + high rate
Quarterly categories + matching bonus
Wide selection of categories
Automatic 5% rewards
High rate + hassle-free redemption
Going out & staying in
Simplicity + 0% APR offer
Simplicity + relationship rewards
Big box shoppers
Quarterly categories + cash bonus
Adjustable 3% categories
Amazon Prime shoppers
Apple Pay users
Regular PayPal users
HOW NERDWALLET RATES CASH BACK CREDIT CARDS
NerdWallet assigns star ratings to cash back credit cards based on how much value they provide to a typical consumer. Our scale goes from 1.0 at the bottom to 5.0 at the top and is incremented in tenths of a star — such as 2.5, 3.7 or 5.0.
How ratings are set
Ratings for cash back cards are determined by a proprietary formula developed by NerdWallet’s credit card experts. The formula calculates how much cash back a typical consumer might expect to earn by using the card as their primary payment method, as well as how much the card would cost the user in fees. The formula also takes into account the value of additional card perks, how easy it is to earn and redeem rewards, the simplicity of the cash back structure, and other factors.
What the stars mean
Generally speaking, a 5.0 rating indicates that this is a best-in-class card that would provide substantial value to just about anyone, while a 1.0 rating indicates that this card would be a poor value for just about anyone. In the middle, a 3.0 rating represents decent value — most people will come out ahead, but they might be able to do better with a different card.
A five-star cash back card is not a “perfect” card, however, because an objectively perfect card doesn’t exist. Every consumer has different needs, and each cash back credit card delivers value to consumers through a unique combination of features. Depending on your situation, a card that earns an overall rating of, say, 4.0 or 3.5 might actually be the perfect card for you.
Rewards structure
The single biggest consideration for most people looking for a cash back credit card is how much cash back they can earn. Also important, though, is how much work they have to do to earn that cash back.
Some cards pay a single “flat” rate on all purchases. Others pay higher rates in select bonus categories. Further, some cards with bonus categories change them up periodically, let you choose your own categories, or even adjust rewards rates automatically based on your spending. The simplicity (or complexity) of the rewards structure is a factor in NerdWallet’s ratings.
Bonus categories
Most people spend far more money at grocery stores than they do at, say, drugstores, so earning 3% at supermarkets will usually be worth more to a consumer than earning 3% (or even higher) at the drugstore. Our ratings formula takes these kinds of differences into account, drawing on federal consumer spending data to assess the relative value of bonus categories.
Keep in mind, though, that what really matters is how you spend money. All other things being equal, a card that earns 5% at the supermarket will get a higher star rating than one that earns 5% at the drugstore — but if you’re looking for a card to use at the drugstore, then the latter card might be your personal five-star option.
Fees, perks and more
Our formula weighs the rewards you earn on a credit card against the costs of carrying that card. Most cash back cards don’t charge an annual fee, but for those that do, you should be getting outsized value that more than makes up for the fee.
We also assess the value of any perks that come with the card, such as a sign-up bonus, automatic credits for certain spending or a 0% introductory APR offer that can save you interest on a big purchase. And we consider such things as the issuer’s customer service record and how hard it is to qualify for the card.
Ratings for cash back cards are determined by a proprietary formula developed by NerdWallet’s credit card experts. The formula calculates how much cash back a typical consumer might expect to earn by using the card as their primary payment method, as well as how much the card would cost the user in fees. The formula also takes into account the value of additional card perks, how easy it is to earn and redeem rewards, the simplicity of the cash back structure, and other factors.
Generally speaking, a 5.0 rating indicates that this is a best-in-class card that would provide substantial value to just about anyone, while a 1.0 rating indicates that this card would be a poor value for just about anyone. In the middle, a 3.0 rating represents decent value — most people will come out ahead, but they might be able to do better with a different card.
A five-star cash back card is not a “perfect” card, however, because an objectively perfect card doesn’t exist. Every consumer has different needs, and each cash back credit card delivers value to consumers through a unique combination of features. Depending on your situation, a card that earns an overall rating of, say, 4.0 or 3.5 might actually be the perfect card for you.
The single biggest consideration for most people looking for a cash back credit card is how much cash back they can earn. Also important, though, is how much work they have to do to earn that cash back.
Some cards pay a single “flat” rate on all purchases. Others pay higher rates in select bonus categories. Further, some cards with bonus categories change them up periodically, let you choose your own categories, or even adjust rewards rates automatically based on your spending. The simplicity (or complexity) of the rewards structure is a factor in NerdWallet’s ratings.
Most people spend far more money at grocery stores than they do at, say, drugstores, so earning 3% at supermarkets will usually be worth more to a consumer than earning 3% (or even higher) at the drugstore. Our ratings formula takes these kinds of differences into account, drawing on federal consumer spending data to assess the relative value of bonus categories.
Keep in mind, though, that what really matters is how you spend money. All other things being equal, a card that earns 5% at the supermarket will get a higher star rating than one that earns 5% at the drugstore — but if you’re looking for a card to use at the drugstore, then the latter card might be your personal five-star option.
Our formula weighs the rewards you earn on a credit card against the costs of carrying that card. Most cash back cards don’t charge an annual fee, but for those that do, you should be getting outsized value that more than makes up for the fee.
We also assess the value of any perks that come with the card, such as a sign-up bonus, automatic credits for certain spending or a 0% introductory APR offer that can save you interest on a big purchase. And we consider such things as the issuer’s customer service record and how hard it is to qualify for the card.
ASK OUR CREDIT CARD EXPERTS
Funto Omojola
WHAT'S YOUR CASH BACK CREDIT CARD STRATEGY?
The best cash back card for me is one that earns a high flat rate for all my spending, so I don't have to juggle many cards or keep track of multiple bonus rewards categories. I use a credit card for nearly every purchase, so it gives me the peace of mind knowing I can pull out one card and earn rewards regardless of what I use it for.
Funto Omojola
Lead writer
Claire Tsosie
WHAT'S YOUR CASH BACK CREDIT CARD STRATEGY?
I use the Citi Double Cash® Card, which I got in 2015, for almost all of my purchases. When it came out, I remember wondering if it would stick around for long because the rewards rate seemed too high (and at the time, higher than all the other offers). It changed some details but it's basically the same as when I got it. It's helped me earned thousands in rewards over the years without any fancy strategies. At times, I've juggled dozens of credit cards and been a super-optimizer, but this is a card that I come back to when I don't want to deal with all that.
Claire Tsosie
Assigning editor
Sara Rathner
WHAT'S YOUR CASH BACK CREDIT CARD STRATEGY?
I use both cash back and travel rewards cards. I always pay attention to the 5% categories for the original Chase Freedom® since I can transfer those points over to my Chase Sapphire Reserve® and redeem them at a rate of 1.5 cents each for travel later on. I also carry a Citi Double Cash® Card for those "everything else" purchases that aren't the usual rewards categories - things like co-pays at the doctor, or vet bills. I also have a Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card (no longer available), which is my go-to dining card because it earns 4% cash back at restaurants.
Sara Rathner
Senior writer/spokesperson
WHAT'S YOUR CASH BACK CREDIT CARD STRATEGY?
I carry about a half-dozen cash-back credit cards, and each has a specific use case. Groceries are a major line item for our family of four, so the Citi Custom Cash® Card is our designated card for supermarket sweeps. Dining out is a close second, and those expenses typically go on the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. If either grocery stores or restaurants happens to be in the quarterly bonus categories for Chase or Discover, then I reach for my Chase Freedom Flex® or my Discover it® Cash Back. For "all else," it's usually my Citi Double Cash® Card.
Kenley Young
Assigning editor
WHAT'S YOUR CASH BACK CREDIT CARD STRATEGY?
The best cash back card for me is one that earns a high flat rate for all my spending, so I don't have to juggle many cards or keep track of multiple bonus rewards categories. I use a credit card for nearly every purchase, so it gives me the peace of mind knowing I can pull out one card and earn rewards regardless of what I use it for.
Funto Omojola
Lead writer
WHAT'S YOUR CASH BACK CREDIT CARD STRATEGY?
I use the Citi Double Cash® Card, which I got in 2015, for almost all of my purchases. When it came out, I remember wondering if it would stick around for long because the rewards rate seemed too high (and at the time, higher than all the other offers). It changed some details but it's basically the same as when I got it. It's helped me earned thousands in rewards over the years without any fancy strategies. At times, I've juggled dozens of credit cards and been a super-optimizer, but this is a card that I come back to when I don't want to deal with all that.
Claire Tsosie
Assigning editor
WHAT'S YOUR CASH BACK CREDIT CARD STRATEGY?
I use both cash back and travel rewards cards. I always pay attention to the 5% categories for the original Chase Freedom® since I can transfer those points over to my Chase Sapphire Reserve® and redeem them at a rate of 1.5 cents each for travel later on. I also carry a Citi Double Cash® Card for those "everything else" purchases that aren't the usual rewards categories - things like co-pays at the doctor, or vet bills. I also have a Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card (no longer available), which is my go-to dining card because it earns 4% cash back at restaurants.
Sara Rathner
Senior writer/spokesperson
ASK REDDIT: WHAT’S THE BEST CASH BACK CARD?
Reddit users who frequent the site's personal finance forums, particularly r/CreditCards, know that requests for credit card recommendations come up on a daily if not hourly basis. These requests are so common that r/CreditCards asks users to fill out a detailed template with enough information to help other redditors make an appropriate recommendation.
The credit cards subreddit has scores of threads asking some variation of the question "What's the best cash back credit card?" The answers tend to be all over the map — as they should be, since the "best" cash back credit card for you (or anyone) is very much dependent on your individual circumstances. In one of these discussions, a user summed up the point pretty much the same way NerdWallet does:
— Reddit user Eli-Had-A-Book-"Depends on where you spend your cash & how much it is. One card doesn't fit everyone's needs or wants."
For example, in a post from spring 2024 (the source of the comment shown above), a redditor asked for the "best cash back card in 2024," with their only parameters being no "hoops" to jump through and no rotating categories. The thread attracted 208 comments before being archived, and those comments touched on more than 30 distinct cards. Some were cited more than others, but the sheer variety of the suggestions reflects the many ways in which people use cash back cards. For example:
For those who value simplicity, multiple users suggested getting a good flat-rate card like the Citi Double Cash® Card (the card that came up most frequently in that discussion), the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, the Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Card or the PayPal Cashback Mastercard® and then putting all spending on that card.
Other redditors recommended cards that offer supercharged rewards when used in specific ways. For example, the Kroger Rewards World Elite Mastercard, from the Kroger supermarket conglomerate, pays 5% cash back on purchases made with mobile wallets. With so many merchants now able to take mobile wallet payments, some users view this card as giving them 5% on everything. The amount of spending eligible for 5% has an annual cap, though, so some users said they have more than one account, giving them a higher cap.
Users who are members of the Bank of America® Preferred Rewards program rave about the high cash back rates they're able to earn on that issuer's cards thanks to rewards bonuses of up to 75%.
A separate discussion in fall 2024 started with a question, "What is the BEST cash back card for EVERYTHING?" After 117 comments, users had tossed around more than 30 options there, too. And looking back at similar threads over the years, the pattern is the same.
Worth noting: The r/CreditCards subreddit is popular with card hackers who might carry a dozen or more cards and excel at squeezing maximum rewards out of them all, so it's common to see suggestions that point to fairly obscure cash back cards or even travel rewards credit cards whose points can be turned into cash with strategic redemption. A post asking for recommendations for a single cash back card that someone can use for every purchase will commonly draw responses encouraging the user to expand their horizons and combine two or more options to enhance their earning.
So what's Reddit's favorite cash back credit card? It doesn't have one. While r/CreditCards maintains comprehensive lists of cards that earn good cash back in common categories, it isn't going to pick a "winner." Reddit is a huge community of individuals. The r/CreditCards subreddit had 1.4 million members as of September 2024, while r/personalfinance had 20 million. You're never going to get a single definitive answer, because every response is coming from a different individual who has found what works for them. But because so many people are participating, Reddit users offer up a lot of different scenarios that might match your situation, which means the recommendations that accompany those scenarios may have value to you.
Here are threads that Reddit's algorithm has highlighted for discussions about the "best" cash back cards in popular categories:
Groceries (or see more discussions).
Gas (or see more discussions).
Restaurants (or see more discussions).
Travel (or see more discussions).
"Everything" (or see more discussions).
MOST POPULAR CASH BACK CREDIT CARDS
NerdWallet’s credit card experts have reviewed hundreds of credit cards. These are the most visited review pages for cash back credit cards.
METHODOLOGY
NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best cash-back credit cards based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of consumers. Factors in our evaluation include each card's cash-back earning rates, rewards structure (such as flat-rate or tiered categories), annual fee, redemption options (including minimum redemption amounts), promotional APR period for purchases, bonus offers for new cardholders, and noteworthy features such as loyalty bonuses or the ability to choose one's own rewards categories. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do cash-back credit cards work?
Every time you use a cash-back credit card, the card issuer "pays you back" a certain percentage of the purchase amount. For example, if your card earns 2% cash back on all purchases, and you buy something for $80, then you would earn $1.60 in cash back. Or say your card earns 5% at the gas station; in that case, a $42 fill-up would earn $2.10.
With most cash-back cards, you can see your accumulated earnings on your monthly statement or through your online account portal, and you can decide when and how to redeem your cash back. Some cards automatically apply your cash back to your account as a credit.
Do cash-back cards actually give you cash?
"Cash back" doesn't mean the card issuer sends you an envelope full of dollar bills. But the rewards do ultimately leave you with more cash in your pocket. The simplest way to redeem cash back is to take it as a credit that reduces your account balance: Redeem $50 worth of cash back, and a $325 balance becomes $275. Many cards also allow you to redeem cash back as a direct deposit into a bank account, and some will even mail you a paper check if you request it.
Every card issuer has its own rules for how you can redeem cash back. Some have a minimum redemption requirement — you might not be able to cash in your rewards until you have accumulated at least $20 or $25. Others let you redeem any amount at any time.
What kinds of cash-back credit cards are there?
There are two basic kinds of cash-back credit cards:
Flat-rate cards pay the same cash-back rate no matter what you buy. Flat-rate cards typically pay 1.5% to 2% on everything.
Bonus category cards pay higher rates (as much as 5% or 6%) at specific types of merchants, such as grocery stores or restaurants, and a lower rate (usually 1%) everywhere else.
Bonus categories themselves come in different flavors. On a lot of cards, the bonus categories never change. For example, you might always earn 3% at restaurants or 5% at gas stations. Some cards have rotating categories that change every three months, and you need to "activate" the categories online to qualify for the higher rate. And some cards have customizable bonus categories — you can choose which purchases earn higher rewards, or the card automatically adjusts to give you higher rewards in the category where you spend the most money.
It's common (though by no means universal) for bonus category cards to cap the amount of spending that qualifies for their highest rates; once you hit the cap, any spending in those categories reverts to the card's lower "everywhere else" rate. In general, cash back cards don't limit the total amount of cash back you can earn, although there are some exceptions.
What's the highest-paying cash-back card?
Everyone's spending patterns are different, so the card that earns you the most cash back depends on your individual situation. If you spend far more money eating out than at home, for example, a card that pays 3% at restaurants would likely be a better fit than one that pays 6% at supermarkets.
Is cash back from a credit card taxable?
Legally speaking, credit card rewards are treated as discounts on purchases rather than as income. That means you don't owe any taxes on your cash back.
Does cash back expire?
Cash back rewards typically do not expire as long as your account remains open and active. (Exceptions may apply, so check your card agreement.) Some cards may automatically apply your cash back as a credit against purchases on your next statement; others let you save it up and use it when you want.
Should I save up cash back rewards?
From a purely financial standpoint, the best way to use cash back is to redeem it as soon as it is received. Cash back doesn't earn interest, so inflation erodes its value as it sits unredeemed. If you want to put the money into savings, redeem it as a direct deposit into a bank account rather than let it build up. If that's not an option, redeem for statement credit and then put an equal amount into savings.
That said, it's not a catastrophic error to let your rewards balance build toward a goal — a big purchase, a trip, whatever. Just have a goal in mind, and don't let it sit for years on end.
Why do credit cards give cash back?
Credit card issuers give you cash back because doing so encourages you to use their cards. Credit card issuers make money from three main sources:
Fees paid by cardholders, including annual fees, late fees, balance transfer fees and so on.
Interest.
Transaction fees paid by merchants who accept credit cards, often referred to as "interchange."
Most cash back cards don't charge annual fees. So in most cases, the only way the card issuer is going to make money off a cash back card is if the cardholder uses the card — and uses it enough that the fees and interest collected by the issuer outweigh the rewards it pays out. Cardholders can make the math work in their favor by paying their bill in full and on time each month. When you do that, you don't incur interest on purchases and you never pay late fees.