This offer is no longer available on our site: Chase Freedom Flex℠
The best cash back rewards card for you will be a natural fit for your spending habits and lifestyle. Do you spend a lot on gas? Order out often? Is most of your spending in one category or across several? These are just a few questions that could help you find your ideal card. To help you out, we share our top cash back picks in several key categories.
Best for simple cash back: Citi Double Cash® Card
Here’s why: Earning cash back couldn’t be any more straightforward than with the Citi Double Cash® Card.
You’ll earn 2% back on every purchase at a $0 annual fee. The rate includes 1% back when you make a purchase, plus another 1% back when you make your monthly payment.
Best for everyday spending: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Here’s why: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a great all-around cash back credit card, with a $0 annual fee and generous cash back in bonus categories that cover a wide range of everyday spending.
Cash back bonus categories include 5% on travel bookings made through Chase Travel and 3% back at restaurants and drugstores. For everything else, you’ll still get a strong 1.5% back.
Best for rotating bonus rewards: Chase Freedom Flex℠
Here’s why: The Chase Freedom Flex℠ takes the bonus categories of Chase Freedom Unlimited® and adds variety with a top category that changes every quarter.
You could earn 5% cash back on up to the first $1,500 you spend each quarter in combined purchases in a revolving series of bonus categories (that you must activate every time). These categories may include everything from groceries to popular online shopping destinations.
Within the consistent categories, you’ll get 5% back on travel purchases booked through Chase Travel and 3% back at restaurants and drugstores, plus 1% back on all other purchases. It also features a $0 annual fee.
Best for groceries: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Here’s why: The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express boasts the highest grocery rewards rate on the market.
You’ll earn a whopping 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 spent in purchases each year (then 1%).
Elsewhere, you’ll earn 6% cash back on certain popular U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, 3% back on various forms of transit, and 1% back on all other purchases.
You’ll just have to weigh all this potential cash back against the annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Best for dining and entertainment: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Here’s why: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card provides a decent cash back rate on purchases you might make during a night out, or to plan for a fun night at home.
You’ll earn in a number of bonus categories with a $0 annual fee.
- 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and groceries (except at superstores like Target and Walmart)
- 8% on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- 5% on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 1% on all other purchases
Best for gas: Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Here’s why: The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi offers you more cash back to fill up your tank at other gas stations than it does to shop inside a Costco store.
You’ll earn a whopping 4% cash back on gas and electric vehicle charging purchases (including at eligible non-Costco gas stations) on up to the first $7,000 you spend each year (then 1%).
You’ll also get 3% back on dining and travel (including purchases made from Costco), 2% cash back on all other Costco purchases, and 1% on all other purchases.
The annual fee is $0, but you must be a Costco member to apply.
Best for fair credit: Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Here’s why: The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card gives people with fair credit a chance to earn cash back while building credit.
You’ll earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make. Plus, Capital One will periodically review your account for a credit line increase.
Unfortunately, it also comes with a $39 annual fee that can eat into the cash back you earn. But if you’re prioritizing building credit, the cost could be worth it.