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Best Cash Back Credit Cards of July 2026

Written by

Jae Bratton

Reviewed by

Caitlin Mims

Edited by

Paul Soucy

Last updated on June 22, 2026

Fact Checked

Written by

Jae Bratton

+ 2 more

Last updated on June 22, 2026

Reviewed by

Caitlin Mims

Edited by

Paul Soucy

Fact Checked

The best cash back credit card is one you can 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.

What matters most in a cash back credit card

The most important question when it comes to choosing cash back credit cards is probably this: What’s your appetite for complexity? If you keep it simple, with a single card you use everywhere, you can still get decent rewards. But the more complexity you can handle, the more cash back you’ll be able to squeeze out of your cards.

Some cards pay the same rate on every purchase. Others pay higher rates in bonus categories. Some even require you to manage your bonus categories yourself. When choosing a card, don’t just look at the cash back rates advertised in big type. Look at the spending categories those rates apply to, check whether there are limits to how much spending earns those rates, and see how much work is required on your part. Be realistic about how much you actually spend in a given category, and whether it’s worth getting a card for just that category. And be realistic about how many cards you can juggle. Some people have patience to manage only one card; others use dozens of cards regularly.

Cash back credit cards work best for people who put all their spending on a card or cards and then pay the bill in full each month. Even the highest-paying cash back cards return only pennies on the dollar, so it can take a relatively high volume of spending to generate meaningful cash back. And if you carry debt month to month, the interest you pay will effectively wipe out the rewards you earn.

How NerdWallet chose these cash back cards

Everyone’s spending patterns are different, and everyone has their own threshold for how much work they’re willing to do to maximize their cash back. So there is no single “best” cash back card for everyone. For this page, we chose cards with rewards structures that appeal to a broad segment of consumers. We looked at rewards rates and rewards categories, as well as bonus offers, introductory APR periods and (where applicable) annual fees. Learn more about our picks or see more about our methodology.

Expert tip: Choosing a cash back credit card

Paul Soucy, content director: “If you’re new to cash back cards, I recommend starting with a 2% flat-rate card and putting all your spending on it. If one card is all you feel like managing, that’s all you need. If you’re comfortable adding another card, identify the category where you spend the most money. That could be groceries, restaurants, gas, even something like Amazon. Get a card with a higher rewards rate in that category, use the new card in that category, and use the 2% card everywhere else. Add cards one by one to cover other categories. The 'right' number of cards for you is the number you can manage without running into problems, like losing track of categories or, worse, due dates. For me, that’s about 10 cards in regular use. For you, it’s whatever you’re comfortable with.”

Compare the Best Cash Back Credit Cards

Credit card	Rating	Annual fee	Rewards rate	Intro offer	Learn more
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Apply Nowon Chase's website on Chase's website Rates & Fees	5.0/5 Best for All-around cash back	$0	1.5%-5% Cashback	$200	Apply Nowon Chase's website on Chase's website Rates & Fees
Citi Double Cash® Card Apply Nowon Citibank's application on Citibank's application Rates & Fees	4.9/5 Best for Simplicity + high rate	$0	2%-5% Cashback	$200	Apply Nowon Citibank's application on Citibank's application Rates & Fees
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card Apply Nowon Bank of America's website on Bank of America's website	4.2/5 Best for Adjustable 3%/6% categories	$0	1%-6% Cashback	$200	Apply Nowon Bank of America's website on Bank of America's website
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express Apply Nowon American Express' website on American Express' website Rates & Fees	4.9/5 Best for Popular 3% categories	$0	1%-3% Cashback	As High as $200 cash back. Find Out Your Offer.	Apply Nowon American Express' website on American Express' website Rates & Fees
Chase Freedom Flex® Apply Nowon Chase's website on Chase's website Rates & Fees	5.0/5 Best for Quarterly categories + cash bonus	$0	1%-5% Cashback	$200	Apply Nowon Chase's website on Chase's website Rates & Fees
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card Apply Nowon Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website Rates & Fees	5.0/5 Best for Flat-rate cash back	$0	2% Cashback	$200	Apply Nowon Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website Rates & Fees
Discover it® Cash Back Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website Rates & Fees	4.9/5 Best for Quarterly categories + matching bonus	$0	1%-5% Cashback	Cashback Match™	Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website Rates & Fees
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Apply Nowon American Express' website on American Express' website Rates & Fees	5.0/5 Best for Families & households	$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.	1%-6% Cashback	As High as $300 cash back. Find Out Your Offer.	Apply Nowon American Express' website on American Express' website Rates & Fees
Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® Apply Nowon Synchrony Bank's website on Synchrony Bank's website	4.5/5 Best for High rate + hassle-free redemption	$0	2% Cashback	None	Apply Nowon Synchrony Bank's website on Synchrony Bank's website
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website Rates & Fees	5.0/5 Best for Going out & staying in	$0	1%-8% Cashback	$250	Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website Rates & Fees
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website Rates & Fees	4.6/5 Best for Simplicity + 0% APR offer	$0	1.5%-5% Cashback	$200	Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website Rates & Fees
Apple Card Apply Nowon Apple's website on Apple's website Rates & Fees	4.5/5 Best for Apple Pay users	No Fees*	1%-3% Cashback	N/A	Apply Nowon Apple's website on Apple's website Rates & Fees
PayPal Cashback Mastercard® Read Review	4.3/5 Best for Regular PayPal users	$0	1.5%-3% Cashback	N/A	Read Review

More about our picks: Best cash back credit cards

Different people have different priorities when shopping for a cash back credit card. For some people, simplicity is paramount. For others, it's all about the rewards rate in a specific category, like groceries, gas or travel. Still others are motivated by bonus offers or long 0% APR periods. No single card is going to be the best for everyone. But each of the cards on this page is, in our opinion, the best option for a specific kind of consumer. This page is not a ranked list ordered from best to worst; it's a roundup of all the best options.

Below, we dive a little deeper on the cards featured on this page — what makes them stand out and what kind of cardholder would benefit most from them. If you're still unsure about your decision, this additional context may help.

BEST CASH BACK CREDIT CARDS OF JULY 2026

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Our pick for flat-rate cash back
Citi Double Cash® Card: Our pick for simplicity + high rate
Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Our pick for all-around cash back
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Our pick for families & households
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Our pick for going out & staying in
Discover it® Cash Back: Our pick for quarterly categories + matching bonus
Chase Freedom Flex®: Our pick for quarterly categories + cash bonus
Synchrony Premier World Mastercard®: Our pick for high rate + hassle-free redemption
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Our pick for simplicity + intro APR offer
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Our pick for popular 3% categories
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: Our pick for Adjustable 3%/6% categories
PayPal Cashback Mastercard®: Our pick for regular PayPal users
Prime Visa: Our pick for Amazon Prime shoppers
Apple Card: Our pick for Apple Pay power users

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Our pick for: Flat-rate cash back

There's a reason the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has been the NerdWallet Best-Of Award winner as the best card for simple cash back every year from 2022 to 2026 (in other words, every year it's been eligible). The uncapped 2% cash back on every purchase is as good as it gets for a $0-annual-fee card with no membership requirements. Add to that the excellent sign-up bonus, an intro APR period and cell phone insurance, and there just isn't much to complain about. As is always the case with any flat-rate card, the simplicity comes with an opportunity cost: Other cards can earn higher rewards in specific categories. And if you need a long time to pay down a major purchase, other cash back cards offer a longer 0% intro APR period. But those are relatively minor quibbles. Read our review of the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card.

» For higher rewards in everyday categories: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card.

Citi Double Cash® Card

Our pick for: Simplicity + high rate

Because the Citi Double Cash® Card earns an unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases, it’s an ideal card for both everyday spending and one-off big expenses. The 2% rate is actually earned in two stages: You get 1% when you make a purchase and another 1% when you pay it off. This unique structure can serve as an incentive to pay your credit card bill in full every month — or it can be a minor nuisance since 50% of your rewards won’t be credited to your account until you make a payment. (Also, when you redeem your cash back for credit on your statement, you don't get the second 1% for that amount.) The cash back is technically earned as points, which you can transfer to select Citi travel cards and then move to the issuer's airline or hotel partners. One big drawback of this card: It lacks an introductory 0% APR period for purchases, which is a relatively common benefit on cash back cards. There is a promo period for balance-transfers, however, and it's a good one, with a relatively low transfer fee. But because there's no matching period for purchases, it's best not to put spending on this card until you've paid down any transferred balance. Read our review of the Citi Double Cash® Card.

» For near-instant rewards: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Simplicity + intro APR offer

With a simple, flat 1.5% cash back rate on all purchases and a ubiquitous ad campaign to make people aware of it, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card blazed a trail that the rest of the credit cards industry followed. That industry has effectively caught up with Quicksilver, and there are other $0-annual-fee cards that offer 1.5% cash back with a sign-up bonus and an introductory APR period (see rates and fees). In terms of rewards, some cards now pay a flat 2% cash back. But this card's combination of benefits remains strong, and it has some unique features in its favor. Notably, it earns 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals, and car rentals booked through Capital One. If you’re happy to book through a travel portal, it’s an opportunity to get more value. Read our review of the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card.

» For 2% back on all purchases: Citi Double Cash® Card

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Our pick for: All-around cash back

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® isn't all things to all people, but it is a lot of things to a lot of people, which is why it's so popular — and why it appears on so many of NerdWallet's roundups for the best credit cards in a particular category. It's the rare card that pays uncapped bonus cash back in common spending categories and earns more than 1% cash back on all other spending. (Usually you get one or the other.) It's a good fit for someone looking for one card they can use everywhere. Flexible rewards also make it a good pairing with one of Chase's Sapphire-branded travel cards, and the lengthy 0% introductory APR period gives you a decent option for managing debt. There aren't a lot of drawbacks, but if you don't spend much in the card's bonus categories (restaurants, drugstores, travel booked through Chase), you'd be better off with a flat-rate 2% cash back card. Read our review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

» For a simpler rewards structure: Citi Double Cash® Card

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Our pick for: Families & households

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express stands out for its high rewards rates across a range of common household spending categories. NerdWallet has dubbed it the "ultimate family card" for that very reason. The rates it pays at U.S. supermarkets and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions are among the richest of any card on the market, and you also get strong cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit. If you spend a lot of money in these categories — whether you have a family or not — the card merits serious consideration. Note the key phrase there: "a lot of money." Unlike most cash back cards, this one charges an annual fee, so it's not for those who intend to use it for a few purchases here and there. But if you do have big grocery, commuting or streaming bills, you can break even quickly and start racking up serious cash back. Terms apply. Read our review of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.

» For an alternative with no annual fee (terms apply): Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Going out & staying in

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is a perfect fit for many modern families’ spending habits, earning 3% cash back at grocery stores, at restaurants and on popular streaming services and entertainment. It's the rare card with high rewards for both going out (dining and entertainment) and staying in (groceries and streaming). That versatility makes it a solid top-of-wallet card and gives busy young professionals or harried parents one less thing to juggle. The card also pairs well with Capital One's Venture-branded travel cards, as you can transfer your rewards and combine them with Venture miles for greater flexibility in redemption. This is the rare card without a glaring drawback — it has a bonus offer and an introductory APR period, too — but it's worth noting that there are cards with higher rewards on groceries and cards with higher rewards at restaurants. If the bulk of your food spending is at one or the other, rather than both, you might be able to generate more cash back with a different card (see rates and fees). Read our review of the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card.

» For higher grocery and dining rewards (but at a cost): American Express® Gold Card.

Discover it® Cash Back

Our pick for: Quarterly categories + matching bonus

The Discover it® Cash Back requires a little more work than other credit cards, but the rewards can justify the extra effort. The card earns 5% cash back in quarterly categories that you activate, on up to $1,500 per quarter in spending, and 1% on other purchases. The "work" comes in tracking and manually opting into the categories online. But those categories have proved to be an excellent fit for a typical household, including major spending areas like grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations, without the super-niche one-offs that sometimes pop up on competing cards (looking at you, Chase Freedom Flex®). Discover also structures its bonus offer differently from other cards. The more you use the card, the bigger your bonus will be, although you do have to wait a year to collect that bonus. Finally, the introductory APR period makes this a good option for financing a large purchase. Read our review of the Discover it® Cash Back.

» For the same rewards but a longer balance-transfer offer: Discover it® Cash Back - 18 Month Intro Balance Transfer Offer

Chase Freedom Flex®

Our pick for: Quarterly categories + cash bonus

If simplicity is your top priority in a cash back credit card, then the Chase Freedom Flex® isn't for you. But few other cards offer quite as many ways to earn cash back. Its signature feature is its rotating 5% categories, which change every three months and often include major household budget items, such as grocery stores, gas stations and Amazon. Many people carry it just to use when the 5% categories align with their needs. On top of the rotating categories, though, are "permanent" bonus categories earning 3% to 5% at restaurants, at drugstores and on travel booked through Chase. You also have access to bonus cash back through Chase Offers. The sign-up bonus and introductory APR period make this a strong choice for financing a big purchase, too. And the flexible rewards can be transferred to Chase's Sapphire-branded travel cards for more redemption options. But the card does require some work. There are quarterly categories to keep track of and manage (including activating them online every quarter), there's a limit on how much spending is eligible for the quarterly 5% cash back, and the rotating categories might not always be a good fit for your spending habits. Read our review of the Chase Freedom Flex®.

» For a different set of rotating categories: Discover it® Cash Back

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Our pick for: Popular 3% categories

True, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express doesn't have the industry-leading rewards rates boasted by its more expensive sibling, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. But households that spend a lot of money in its bonus categories can still earn hundreds of dollars a year in cash back. The card earns 3% at U.S. supermarkets, at U.S. gas stations and on U.S. online retail purchases. Those categories are each capped at $6,000 in annual spending (after which you earn 1%), and some households will undoubtedly exceed those limits, especially for groceries and online purchases. But it's not as if the Preferred gives you a higher spending cap for U.S. supermarkets, even with its annual fee, and that card doesn't offer bonus rewards on online purchases. The Everyday card also has a good introductory APR period, which pairs nicely with its bonus cash back on online retail. Say you have a large purchase coming up but want to finance it to maintain a positive cash flow. You could make the purchase online, put it on this card and effectively get a 3% discount (and maybe also earn the card's new cardholder bonus offer), then use the APR promotion to pay it off over time without interest. Terms apply. Read our review of theBlue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express.

» For bigger rewards on groceries: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Our pick for: Customizable 3%/6% categories

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card appears on a lot of our best-credit-cards roundups because of the do-it-yourself nature of its rewards. The ability to choose which eligible category (from a list of six) earns the highest cash back rate makes it a contender for lists like "best credit cards for restaurants" and "best credit cards for online shopping" and "best credit cards for home improvement," among others. But keep in mind that the rewards structure also means it can be the best credit card for only one of those things at any one time, since you can change your selection just once a month. This card also stands out for its $2,500 quarterly cap on spending eligible for bonus rewards; that's the equivalent of $833 a month. Many comparable cash back cards carry monthly, quarterly or annual limits that average out to $500 a month. That higher cap, the customizable categories, the bonus offer and the good introductory APR period make this card especially valuable for a big purchase right after you open the account. Downsides? Choosing your category can be a bit of a hassle. But unlike cards that require you to periodically "activate" your categories, once you make a choice with this one, it's locked in until you change it. Read our review of the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card.

» For uncapped restaurant and grocery rewards: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Synchrony Premier World Mastercard®

Our pick for: High rate + hassle-free redemption

The Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® has either one or two big things going for it, depending on your perspective. The one everyone can agree on is the rewards rate: It earns an unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases. That's pretty much the gold standard in flat-rate rewards cards nowadays. (You can find higher rates in specific categories, but no mass-market card does better than 2% on everything.) The second is automatic redemption. The rewards you earn are applied as a statement credit to your account within two billing periods. That reduces friction for people with no interest in managing their rewards. Of course, it also means you can't "save up" your rewards for a targeted redemption, as some people like to do. Also, this card has neither a sign-up bonus nor a 0% introductory APR offer, so it slides in with a lower rating than competing 2% cash back cards. But for strong rewards and utter simplicity, it's a winner. Read our review of the Synchrony Premier World Mastercard®.

» For a 2% card with a bonus and APR offer: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Apple Card

Our pick for: Apple Pay power users

Despite the hype that surrounded its debut, the Apple Card didn’t upend the credit card industry in the same way the iPhone completely changed, well, everything. But for people who are deeply committed to using Apple's digital wallet for every purchase they can, it makes a great everyday card. The card earns a respectable 2% cash back on all purchases through Apple Pay, rising to 3% at specific merchants. If you use the physical card, though, you'll just earn 1% back. And for all the inroads that Apple Pay has made in both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar retail over the past decade-plus, it still falls short of universal acceptance, so the specter of 1% is ever-present. Where this card stands out is in how your rewards show up once earned. Typically, you have to wait until a billing cycle ends to see your rewards balance increase, but the Apple Card pays out earned rewards daily, so you can use them faster. There’s no bonus offer or 0% APR promotion for new cardholders, though, and the list of 3% merchants is limited. Read our review of the Apple Card .

» For 2% cash back on all purchases, no matter how you pay: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Prime Visa

Our pick for: Amazon Prime shoppers

If you're already a member of Amazon Prime — meaning you spend enough with the mega-retailer to justify paying for a Prime subscription — there aren't a lot of reasons not to get the Prime Visa. The card earns 5% back on purchases at Amazon and at Amazon-owned Whole Foods Market. With the sheer breadth of product offerings from those stores, that means you could get 5% back on the bulk of your everyday spending. You also get 2% at restaurants and gas stations and on transit and commuting, so there's a compelling case for making it your one card for everything. There are a few ways to redeem rewards, but you can put them toward Amazon purchases as soon as you earn them. The card has no annual fee. However, you must be a Prime member to get it, which carries a subscription cost that's higher than most credit card annual fees. In the end, the question of whether this card makes financial sense for you might actually be a question of whether a Prime membership makes financial sense for you. Read our review of the Prime Visa. (The information related to Prime Visa credit card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.)

» For rewards for all online shopping, not just Amazon: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

PayPal Cashback Mastercard®

Our pick for: Regular PayPal users

The PayPal Cashback Mastercard® is a standout for those who run as much of their spending through PayPal as they can, as it earns a strong 3% cash back on such purchases. If that's you, then give it a good, long look. If that's not you, then you might want to pass. You earn 1.5% on everything outside of PayPal, so whether this card will deliver more value than a flat 2% cash back card boils down to a simple math problem. If you do at least one-third of your spending through PayPal, you'll come out ahead; if you do less than one-third of your spending through PayPal, the 2% card is better. Or you could just skip the math, get the card and use it only when you're spending through PayPal. Considering how ubiquitous the PayPal button has become at checkout, that could be quite often. There's no bonus offer or 0% intro APR period. You'll need a PayPal account, but if you're the sort of person this card appeals to, you probably already have one. Read our review of the PayPal Cashback Mastercard®.

» For a straight 2% cash back card: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

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.

Learn more about how NerdWallet rates credit cards here.

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.

How ratings are set
What the stars mean
Rewards structure
Bonus categories
Fees, perks and more

Learn more about how NerdWallet rates credit cards here.

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 & Content Strategist

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

Managing Editor

Funto Omojola
Claire Tsosie

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 & Content Strategist

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

Managing Editor

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:

"Depends on where you spend your cash & how much it is. One card doesn't fit everyone's needs or wants."
— Reddit user Eli-Had-A-Book-

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:

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.

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.

How we choose the best credit cards

Our team of credit card experts has developed a rigorous methodology to determine how much value a card delivers and how it stacks up against its competitors.

400+

Cards reviewed

NerdWallet’s experts have reviewed more than 400 cards, from the most popular options at the biggest banks to store cards to niche cards from startups and small issuers.

Categories scored

Credit cards are so diverse that properly rating them with a single formula is impossible. We’ve built eight rubrics, plus variations, so we can score each card on what matters.

50+

Data points analyzed

Our ratings consider not just a card’s rates, fees, rewards and perks, but also how easy or hard it is to get that card, manage it and enjoy its advertised benefits.

Star rating categories

What you want out of, say, a cash back credit card is fundamentally different from what you’re looking for in a balance transfer card or a card for building credit. That’s why we have different scoring models that put weight on different features.

Cash back cards

Our formula looks at how much cash back you could expect to earn from typical household spending. We consider rewards rates and categories, bonus offers and the cash value of other benefits, as well as any annual fee. The rating is also influenced by the complexity of the rewards structure.

General travel cards

We consider how many points you could expect to earn from typical household spending, along with per-point values and redemption options. We add in the cash value of bonus offers and other benefits, subtract annual fees and other costs, and take into account the complexity of the rewards structure.

Balance transfer cards

Our balance transfer rubric calculates how much money a card could save you with a low or 0% interest rate. Primary factors include the length and structure of the introductory APR period and the balance transfer fee. We also consider long-term value, such as whether the card offers rewards.

Branded airline cards

We calculate how many miles you could expect to earn from typical household spending and what those miles are worth based on our valuations. We add in the cash value of bonus offers and perks such as free checked bags and lounge access, and we subtract annual fees and other costs.

Branded hotel cards

We calculate how many points you could expect to earn from typical household spending and what those points are worth based on our valuations. We add in the cash value of bonus offers and perks such as free nights and automatic elite status, and we subtract annual fees and other costs

Credit builder cards

Our rubric focuses on accessibility (such as whether a credit check is required), out-of-pocket costs (such as annual fees or minimum security deposits), credit-building features (such as bureau reporting and access to a free credit score) and upgrade options when you’re ready to move on.

College student cards

Our formula calculates the rewards you could expect to earn on spending typical for a college student and takes into account the cash value of bonus offers and other benefits. Accessibility to students without established credit is a key consideration, as is the effort required to manage the card.

Small business cards

Our star ratings criteria for small business credit cards are similar to those for consumer cards, although they account for potentially higher spending levels and higher credit limits, as well as rewards structures and bonus categories tailored specifically to entrepreneurs and business operators.

Cash back cards

General travel cards

Balance transfer cards

Branded airline cards

Branded hotel cards

Credit builder cards

College student cards

Small business cards

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. Because different consumers can have markedly different needs, preferences and spending habits, we recognize that there is rarely a single credit card that is "best" for everyone. That's why this page includes a variety of options to suit an array of circumstances. Also, a single card is eligible to be chosen as among the "best" in multiple categories.

Our star ratings provide a quick way to compare credit cards. We assess the features of a card, score those features according to how they compare with other options on the market, and assign the card a rating of 1 to 5 stars based on those features. In general, a card that rates 4.5 stars will be a better value for more people than a card that rates 4.0 stars. However, the 4.0 card might be better than the 4.5 card for an individual consumer depending on that person’s circumstances. Further, ratings are only comparable within categories. If you're looking for rewards, for example, a 3.5-star cash back card will be of greater value than a 5.0-star balance transfer card or a 4.5-star credit-builder card. Star ratings are an important consideration in which cards appear on our "best" pages, but they are not the sole determining factor. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

About the author

Jae Bratton

Lead Writer & Content Strategist

Jae is a writer for the credit cards team at NerdWallet. Her writing has been published in newspapers, blogs and an academic journal.

Published in:

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About the reviewer

Caitlin Mims

Editor & Content Strategist

Caitlin Mims is an editor at NerdWallet covering credit cards. Previously, she was an editor at CreditCards.com.

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About the editor

Paul Soucy

Director of Content

Twitter

Paul has been the lead editor for NerdWallet's credit cards team since 2015 and for the travel rewards team since 2023. Previously, he worked at USA Today and the Des Moines Register, then built a freelance writing and editing business focused on personal finance topics. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and an MBA.

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Best Cash Back Credit Cards of July 2026

What matters most in a cash back credit card

How NerdWallet chose these cash back cards

Expert tip: Choosing a cash back credit card

Our pick for: All-around cash back

Our pick for: Simplicity + high rate

Our pick for: Adjustable 3%/6% categories

Our pick for: Popular 3% categories

Our pick for: Quarterly categories + cash bonus

Our pick for: Flat-rate cash back

Our pick for: Quarterly categories + matching bonus

Our pick for: Families & households

Our pick for: High rate + hassle-free redemption

Our pick for: Going out & staying in

Our pick for: Simplicity + 0% APR offer

Our pick for: Apple Pay users

Our pick for: Regular PayPal users

Compare the Best Cash Back Credit Cards

More about our picks: Best cash back credit cards

BEST CASH BACK CREDIT CARDS OF JULY 2026

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Citi Double Cash® Card

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Discover it® Cash Back

Chase Freedom Flex®

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Synchrony Premier World Mastercard®

Apple Card

Prime Visa

PayPal Cashback Mastercard®

How NerdWallet rates cash back credit cards

Ask our credit card experts

Ask Reddit: What's the best cash back card?

Most popular cash back credit cards

Frequently asked questions

How we choose the best credit cards