Best Cash Back Credit Cards of 2018

The Chase Freedom® requires you to opt in to the bonus category each quarter. You can opt in at any time and get the bonus for the entire quarter — but if you forget, you won’t get 5% cash back. If you don’t spend enough to maximize the bonus categories each quarter, you might earn more rewards with another card.

The Chase Freedom® has one of the best rewards rates out there without an annual fee or a complicated redemption process. If you spend a lot on the 5% bonus categories — and most people do — you’ll easily earn substantial cash back with this card.

Activating the bonus categories each quarter can be a hassle. If you forget, you don't get your 5% rewards. If you don’t spend enough to maximize the bonus categories each quarter, you might earn more rewards with another card.

It's pretty hard to beat 5% cash back, and the Discover it® - Cashback Match™ has historically offered bonus categories where many of us spend a lot. With a $0 annual fee, this card does well as either an everyday card or a backup.

You can't redeem your cash back rewards until you've earned at least $25 for online redemptions, or $20 at a Wells Fargo ATM. Flat-rate cash back is hassle-free, but you'll miss out on the extra rewards offered by cards with bonus categories.

The Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card offers unique benefits, a great bonus and solid rewards, although maximizers may want to pair it with one or more cards that offer bonus rewards.

The annual fee is high for a cash back card, but if you spend at least $31 a week at the supermarket, the cash back will offset it. Because this card is an American Express, you may have trouble using it in some places.

If you spend at least $61 a week at the supermarket and are a regular at the gas pump, this is a great card. If you spend less than that, consider an alternative version of this card — the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. It has a $0 annual fee, but the cash back rates are lower.

This offer does not include a sign-up bonus, nor does the card have any bonus categories. Higher cash back percentages can be had on different cards for specific categories. There’s a minimum cash back redemption of $25.

The Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer is one of the best rewards cards on the market, partly because it’s so simple: straight cash back — no points, no bonus categories to keep track of. Cardholders can shop as they normally would and get a fantastic rewards rate.

Rotating category cards involve more work than flat-rate cards, and this one adds an extra layer of effort because you have to pick your categories each quarter. Forget to do so, and you'll earn only 1%.

The unique rewards system on the U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card makes it worth considering for people who don't mind (or who even enjoy) actively managing their credit card accounts.

As with all flat-rate cards, there's no opportunity to earn extra rewards on certain purchases.

With solid rewards, annual bonuses and no annual fee, the HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card is a good option for people with good credit.

There's an annual fee of $0 the first year, then $59. After the first year, you'll have to spend $2,360 a year to make up for it. Also, you must be a member of Alliant Credit Union, although anyone can join with a $10 donation to Foster Care to Success.

The annual fee may be a turn-off for many, but this card was specifically designed for bigger spenders. If you spend more than $5,900 a year, it's a better deal than a 1.5% card with no annual fee; spend more than $11,800, and it's better than a no-fee 2% card.

The annual fee of $39 isn’t very high, but it will still cost you something to have this card. The ongoing APR is high, so you should plan on paying your balance in full each month; otherwise, the interest will wipe out your rewards.

The reality is that not everyone has a credit score above 800. The Nerds appreciate that Capital One offers a credit card with an extremely competitive 1.5% rewards rate for people still building their credit scores.