Best Cash Back Credit Cards for September 2024

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Updated: September 27, 2024

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The Best Cash Back Cards

Whether you seek flat-rate rewards or category-specific cash back, MoneyGeek's picks for the best cash back cards stand out for the cash back they deliver. MoneyGeek's experts collected 32 data points for each of the 60 cash back cards in our data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, card issuer websites and our various partners to build our ratings. We assessed each card based on the cash back you earn on purchases as well as for other factors, including annual fees, issuer satisfaction, acceptance rates, penalties and fees and 0% APR introductory periods.

Best All Around: Wells Fargo Active Cash

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Credit Card logo for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
MoneyGeek Rating
5/ of 5
On Issuer's Site

Rewards
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards
Welcome Offer
Earn $200 Cash Back
Regular APR
19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Recommended Credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)

Runner Up: Citi Double Cash

Citi Double Cash® Card
Credit Card logo for Citi Double Cash® Card
MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ of 5
On Issuer's Site

Rewards
Earn 1%–5% cash back
Welcome Offer
Earn $200 Cash Back
Regular APR
18.74% - 28.74% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Recommended Credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)

Best Cash Back on Dining and Groceries Combined: Capital One SavorOne

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Credit Card logo for Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ of 5
On Issuer's Site

Rewards
Earn 1% to 8% cash back
Welcome Offer
Earn $200 Cash Back
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Recommended Credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)

Best Cash Back With Zero APR Offer: Capital One Quicksilver

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Credit Card logo for Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
MoneyGeek Rating
4.6/ of 5
On Issuer's Site

Rewards
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back
Welcome Offer
Earn $200 Cash Back
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Recommended Credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)

Best for High Flat Cash Rate and Dining: Chase Freedom Unlimited

Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Credit Card logo for Chase Freedom Unlimited®
MoneyGeek Rating
4.6/ of 5
On Issuer's Site

Rewards
Earn 1.5%–6.5% cash back
Welcome Offer
Earn an additional 1.5% cash back
Regular APR
20.49%–29.24% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Recommended Credit
670–850 (good to excellent)

Best 5 Percent Cash Back: Citi Custom Cash

Citi Custom Cash® Card
Credit Card logo for Citi Custom Cash® Card
MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ of 5
On Issuer's Site

Rewards
Earn 1%–5% cash back
Welcome Offer
Earn $200 Cash Back
Regular APR
18.74% - 28.74% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Recommended Credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)

Best Grocery Cash Back: Amex Blue Cash Preferred

Blue Cash Preferred® Card From American Express
Credit Card logo for Blue Cash Preferred® Card From American Express
MoneyGeek Rating
4.3/ of 5
On Issuer's Site

Rewards
Earn 1% – 6% cash back
Welcome Offer
Earn $250 statement credit
Regular APR
18.74%–29.74% variable
Annual Fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95*
Recommended Credit
670–850 (Good to Excellent)

Best Custom Cash Back: Bank of America Customized Cash

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
Credit Card logo for Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ of 5
On Issuer's Site

Rewards
Earn 1%–3% cash back
Welcome Offer
Earn $200 online cash rewards
Regular APR
19.24%–29.24% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Recommended Credit
670–850 (Good to Excellent)

Best Rotating 5 Percent Category Card: Discover it Cash Back

Discover it® Cash Back Card
Credit Card logo for Discover it® Cash Back Card
MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ of 5
On Issuer's Site

Rewards
Earn 1%–5% cash back
Welcome Offer
Matches cash back at the end of your first year
Regular APR
18.24%–28.24% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Recommended Credit
670–850 (good to excellent)

Best Fair Credit Cash Back Card: Upgrade Cash Rewards

Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
Credit Card logo for Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ of 5
On Issuer's Site

Rewards
Earn 1.5% cash back
Welcome Offer
N/A
Regular APR
14.99%–29.99%
Annual Fee
$0
Recommended Credit
580–740 (Fair to Good)

Best Cash Back For Target or Walmart: U.S. Bank Shopper

U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card
Credit Card logo for U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card
MoneyGeek Rating
4.0/ of 5
On Issuer's Site

Rewards
Earn 1.5%–6% cash back
Welcome Offer
Earn a $250 bonus
Regular APR
19.74%–29.74% variable
Annual Fee
$95
Recommended Credit
670–850 (Good to Excellent)

Best Warehouse Club Cash Back Card: Costco Anywhere

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Credit Card logo for Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
MoneyGeek Rating
4.0/ of 5
On Issuer's Site

Rewards
Earn 1%–4% cash back
Welcome Offer
No current offer
Regular APR
19.99% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Recommended Credit
740-850 (Excellent)

How To Compare and Choose the Best Cash Back Card

Choosing a cash back card depends on your spending habits and making smart comparisons. If you prefer simplicity, a flat-rate card might be best. If you spend heavily in certain categories, a bonus category card could offer more rewards. If you're willing to adapt to changing categories, a rotating category card might provide the highest rewards. The steps below outline how to compare cards.

1
Understand your spending habits

Do you spend more on groceries, dining out or travel? Knowing where you spend the most can help you choose a card that maximizes your rewards.

2
Know your credit score

Most cash back cards require good to excellent credit scores, but there are options for those with lower scores.

3
Compare rewards rates

Some cards offer flat-rate cash back on all purchases, while others provide higher rates in specific categories. Depending on how you spend will make certain cards more or less appealing. Using a cash back calculator can help you estimate your cash back.

4
Consider additional benefits

Look beyond the cash back rates and consider additional benefits like introductory 0% APR offers, welcome bonuses and other perks.

5
Check fees and rates

Consider the fees and interest rates associated with each card. Some cards have annual fees that can offset the rewards earned, while others might have penalty APRs and late fees that kick in if you miss a payment. Liz Frazier Peck, financial planner and author of Beyond Piggy Banks and Lemonade Stands: How to Teach Young Kids About Finance, advises, "Make sure the amount you pay in interest and fees is worth the cash or rewards you are receiving."

What is a Good Cash Back Card?

Every cash back card rewards you with a percentage of your purchases back in cash. The best cash back cards have high cash back rates, low or no fees, introductory offers like 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers, offer sign-up bonuses, good acceptance rates for applications and are issued by companies with a reputation for good customer service. In fact, that's how we scored all of the cards on our list.

What is a Good Cash Back Rate?

In a study of cash back rates of all cash back cards in our database, we found that the average cash back rate is 1.48% across all cash back cards regardless of whether it had flat cash, bonus categories or even rotating 5% cards. For this calculation, we calculated the effective rewards rate for each card using a median Amercian spending profile based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Types of Cash Back Credit Cards

There are three main types of cash back credit cards to consider: flat-rate, bonus category, rotating category, and custom category cards. Each type has its own set of benefits and potential drawbacks.

    flatRate icon

    Flat-Rate Cash Back Cards

    Flat-rate cash back cards offer a consistent cash back percentage on all purchases. These cards are straightforward and easy to use, making them ideal for those who prefer simplicity. The main advantage is that you don't have to worry about tracking spending categories. However, they might not offer the highest rewards for specific spending categories. Look for cash back rates at 1.5% or higher to make sure you've got a good rate.

    rewards icon

    Bonus Category Cash Back Cards

    Bonus category cards provide higher cash back rates on specific categories like groceries, dining or gas. For instance, the SavorOne Cash offers 3% cash back on dining, entertainment and grocery stores.

    These cards can be very rewarding if your spending aligns with the bonus categories. However, they often come with spending caps and may exclude certain stores — Walmart and Target, for instance, are often excluded for grocery purchases. Look for bonus category cash back rates of at least 3%, and make sure you're getting higher rates if the card has annual fees or spending caps.

    refound icon

    Rotating Category Cash Back Cards

    Rotating category cards or 5% cards offer high cash back rates on categories that change every quarter. The Freedom Flex is a good example, offering 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories that rotate every three months.

    These cards can be lucrative if you adapt your spending to maximize your cash back rewards. However, they require more effort to track and activate the categories each quarter.

    shoppingBag icon

    Custom Category Cards

    Similar to bonus and rotating categories, some issuers provide high rewards rates on spending in custom categories. You're typically only allowed to pick one at a time and the categories may be narrower, such as fast food but not all restaurants. For these cards, pay close attention to what the custom categories and spending caps are both as you sign up and then as you use them.

    Look for cash back rates near or above 5%. One exception is the BofA Customized Cash card which pays a 3% cash back rate, but the categories are quite broad such as dining and groceries and there's no spending cap. In this case, it's more like a bonus category card.

mglogo icon
MAKE YOUR FIRST CASH BACK CREDIT CARD A FLAT RATE CARD

Flat rate cash back credit cards are simply more rewarding and should be your first cash back card. Coming in at rates between 1% and 2%, they make up for their seemingly lower rates, by earning cash back on everything. There aren't bonus category cash back rates for car repairs, for example. Make a high flat rate cash back credit card your first priority and then pair it up with cards that offer higher rates on your highest spend categories.

Cash Back Card Categories

Cash back credit cards often feature bonus categories that allow cardholders to earn extra rewards on specific purchases. Knowing these common categories can help you choose a card that best aligns with your spending habits.

    grocery icon

    Groceries

    Many cash back cards offer additional rewards for grocery store purchases. This category is particularly beneficial for families or individuals who spend a significant portion of their budget on food and household items.

    gasCard icon

    Gas and Transit

    For those who commute or travel frequently, some cards provide higher cash back rates on gas and transit expenses, including public transportation, rideshares and parking fees.

    niceMeal icon

    Dining and Entertainment

    If you enjoy dining out or spending on entertainment, look for dining credit cards that offer extra cash back in these categories. This can include restaurants, bars, movie theaters and concert venues.

    travel icon

    Travel

    Travel-related purchases — including hotel stays and airline tickets — often earn higher rewards with certain cash back cards, making them ideal for regular travelers.

    laptop icon

    Online Shopping

    As online shopping becomes more prevalent, some cards offer additional cash back for purchases made through specific online retailers or e-commerce platforms.

Expert Advice on Maximizing Your Cash Back Cards

Once you've selected the cash back card that's best for you, using it responsibly will help you maximize your rewards and avoid common pitfalls of cash back credit cards. Here are some expert tips to help you manage your cash back cards effectively.

Purchase what you need, not what your bonus categories tell you to When it comes to cash back cards, match the card bonuses to your spending and not the other way around. "The pursuit of points can lead to unmanageable debt, and so can the process of redeeming rewards," cautions Bruce McClary, the vice president of communications at the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. To help make sure you can pay off your balance, don't treat your credit cards as free money or get so caught up in the game of earning rewards that you overspend. Callie Renner, a wealth advisor at Beacon Pointe Advisors, recommends that you "only use credit cards on purchases you can afford."

Pay for everything with your card, and pay it off each month. If you put everything on your cards, you'll earn rewards on everything, but you have to pay it off each month. With typical credit card interest rates currently between 19% and 29%, interest charges on a month of spending can easily wipe out the 1% to 5% of cash back rewards you’ve earned. Missing a payment is even worse — some cards charge late fees and levy a penalty APR if you miss a payment. McClary warns, "A trap cash back cardholders often fall into is carrying a balance on their card. That's not the ideal situation with any credit card, but because cash back cards often have a higher APR than non-rewards-based credit cards, it's a really bad idea."

Pair a flat cash card with a bonus category card. By focusing on a few cards that offer the best cash back for your spending habits, you can maximize your cash back without complicating your finances. "For my household, that means using two primary cards," says Ethan Pew, Ph.D., assistant professor of marketing at the University of Texas at Austin, "One of them is a flat-rate card, while the other one has restaurant bonus categories."

Keep track of your bonus and rotating categories. If you do opt for cards with more complex cash back schemes, make sure you know what you're getting and when. These cards usually pay below average cash back rates of 1% on non-bonused categories. One notable exception is the Chase Freedom Unlimited which offers a base rate of 1.5%.

Read the full article: How To Maximize Your Cash Back Rewards

Are Cash Back Cards Better Than Other Cards?

Cash back cards come with trade-offs for their rewarding simplicity. They often have shorter introductory 0% APR periods than the best balance transfer cards, which are designed to help you work down existing balances. And although cash back cards are more straightforward, points cards can sometimes be worth more when you redeem points for travel or transfer to loyalty programs.

Many people ask whether cash back or points are better when it comes to rewards. The short answer is that you should pick the rewards system based on how it makes you feel and how much work you want to put into managing your credit cards. Cash back is simpler to manage, but it lacks the thrill of the deal that a points redemption can provide.

Cash Back Credit Card FAQs

MoneyGeek answers some of the most common questions about the best cash back credit cards, to aid you in making an informed decision.

What are the best cash back credit cards?
Which of these cash back cards is best for me?
Do any of these cash back cards actually give you cash?
Are the best cash back credit cards different for low-spenders?
Can I use cash back to pay my credit card bill?

Ask an Expert

  1. What mistakes do people make with credit cards, and specifically rewards programs?
  2. What are the "gotchas" about credit cards and rewards or cash back programs that are not well understood by consumers?
  3. What advice can you give consumers about managing their cash back rewards cards?
Tenpao Lee
Tenpao LeeProfessor Emeritus of Economics at Niagara University

Methodology

Comparing cash back credit cards apples-to-apples can be tricky due to the variety of rewards schemes available. One card might offer 2% cash back on all purchases, whereas another offers 5% on groceries but only 1% on everything else.

To cut through the noise, we estimated the effective rewards rate for each card and made it the core of our scoring system. This rate estimates the cash back you can earn from a card based on its rewards structure and the spending profile of the median American household. By calculating this rate, we were able to compare cards more objectively.

MoneyGeek then collected and reviewed 32 data points for the top 60 cash back credit cards. We scored each card based on several factors, with the following weights applied:

  • Effective Rewards Rate (50%): Measures the estimated cash back from the card based on its rewards structure and the spending profile of the median American household.
  • Annual Fee (10%): Evaluates the cost of the card. The highest rating goes to cards with no annual fees.
  • Offer ROI (10%): Measures the return on investment from the card's introductory offer.
  • Balance Transfer Offer (5%): Evaluates the attractiveness of the balance transfer offer.
  • Introductory Purchase APR (5%): Measures the appeal of the introductory APR on purchases.
  • Recommended Credit (5%): Assesses the accessibility of the card based on recommended credit scores. A higher rating was given if the card is available to almost all credit scores.
  • Issuer Satisfaction (5%): Measures customer satisfaction with the card issuer based on J.D. Power studies.
  • Penalties (5%): Evaluates the penalty rates and fees, giving the highest rating to cards with none.
  • Regular APR (5%): Measures the regular APR of the card, with higher ratings for lower APRs.
  • Foreign Transaction Fees (5%): A high rating indicates no foreign transaction fees.

We follow this methodology to ensure our ratings are objective, comprehensive and trustworthy. In the end, you should match a card with your spending habits to determine which will provide the most value for you.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card From American Express, please click here.

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
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