Best cash-back credit cards – The Points Guy

We love travel rewards here at TPG, but sometimes cash back is king.

With a cash-back card, you don’t have to worry about maximizing redemption value or limitations on how you can use your rewards. You can simply use them for anything at almost any time — and sometimes, that freedom is the most valuable option around.

I’ve been in the points and miles world for more than 15 years and could write all day about the travel I’ve been able to experience thanks to the credit cards in my wallet. But eventually, I realized I wanted my rewards to help cover things like moving boxes and late-night pizza runs instead of plane tickets and swanky hotel stays. Cash-back cards to the rescue.

If you’re in a similar season where flexibility is the name of the game, there’s a cash-back card (or two or three) in this list for you. And even if you’re focused on travel rewards, some of these cash-back cards can become travel rewards with the right card combinations.

Here are our top picks for cash-back credit cards.

The best cash-back credit cards

Comparing the best cash-back credit cards

Pointers from The Points Guy

Here’s why TPG’s Brian Kelly recommends cash-back credit cards.

Amex Blue Cash Preferred

Welcome offer: Find out your offer and see if you’re eligible for as high as $300 cash back after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.)

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.

Standout benefits: The Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back), 6% cash back on select streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit and at U.S. gas stations, and 1% back on all other purchases. (Cash back is received in the form of Rewards Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.)

Plus, this card comes with up to $120 per calendar year in statement credits for Disney streaming purchases, making it a solid option for cash-back fans who also pay for streaming platforms like Hulu and Disney+. You’ll get up to $10 back each month on an eligible, automatically renewing subscription with your card (valid at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites; enrollment required).

Think about it like this: If you’re able to use this perk fully, it covers the card’s entire annual fee.

The Blue Cash Preferred offers a fantastic return on a wide range of bonus categories. When I’m focused on earning cash back, it’s my go-to for U.S. supermarket, U.S. gas station, U.S. streaming and transit purchases. Pair it with a solid flat-rate-earning card, like one mentioned in this guide, for a simple overall cash-back strategy.

Note that, unlike many of our favorite cash-back cards, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred has an annual fee ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95). Make sure you’ll earn enough rewards on this card to justify the annual fee before adding it to your wallet.

To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Blue Cash Preferred.

Apply here: Amex Blue Cash Preferred

Chase Freedom Unlimited

Welcome offer: Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $0

Standout benefits: The Freedom Unlimited earns 5% cash back on Chase Travel℠ purchases, 3% cash back on dining and at drugstores, and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

And if you have a more premium Chase card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) or Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees), you can combine your rewards to unlock Chase’s full range of hotel and airline partners.

Often, cards will either offer bonus categories with just 1% back on other purchases or a solid flat earning rate across the board. The Freedom Unlimited offers the best of both worlds: some great bonus categories and a higher-than-1% earning rate on all other purchases.

This earning structure makes it a great card on its own, but an even better part of a strategic card pairing or trifecta. When I’m focused on earning Ultimate Rewards points, I use my Freedom Unlimited alongside my Sapphire Reserve to ensure I earn at least 1.5 points per dollar on every purchase.

And when I’m focused on a cash-back strategy, the Freedom Unlimited is an important player thanks to its bonus earnings on dining and at drugstores.

To learn more, check out our full review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

Apply here: Chase Freedom Unlimited

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

Welcome offer: Earn a one-time cash bonus of $2,000 and, for a limited time, a $500 Capital One Business Travel credit after spending $30,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500,000 spent during the first year.

Annual fee: $150.

Standout benefits: The Spark Cash Plus earns 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel and 2% cash back on all other purchases. Plus, if you spend at least $150,000 annually, you’ll get your $150 annual fee refunded.

The Spark Cash Plus is a solid option for small businesses that want a good return on all purchases. With this card, you won’t have to keep track of bonus spending categories or worry about earning caps — just a 2% return on all your business expenses.

To learn more, check out our full review of the Spark Cash Plus.

Learn more: Capital One Spark Cash Plus

Wells Fargo Active Cash

Welcome offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $0

Standout benefits: The Wells Fargo Active Cash earns unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. With this card, you’ll also get up to $600 in cellphone protection (subject to a $25 deductible) — an excellent perk for a card with no annual fee.

This is the card for ultimate simplicity and flexibility. With it, you won’t have any earning caps or bonus categories to keep track of. No matter what you’re buying, you’ll earn a solid 2% return, making it easy to put cash right back in your pocket.

To learn more, check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Active Cash.

Apply here: Wells Fargo Active Cash

Citi Double Cash

Welcome offer: Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months from account opening.

Annual fee: $0

Standout benefits: The Citi Double Cash earns unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay).

Unlike most cash-back cards, the Double Cash allows cardholders to transfer their rewards to travel partners, in addition to redeeming them for cash back. Just note that your rewards will transfer at a worse ratio than if you had a more premium Citi card, such as the Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees).

If you’re looking for simplicity and flexibility, the Double Cash is a perfect choice. Like other cards with a solid flat earning rate, you’ll earn a good return on all your purchases (assuming you pay your balance off each month) without having to worry about bonus categories or spending caps.

When I was new to the world of points and miles and overwhelmed with bonus categories and annual fees to keep track of, I added the Double Cash to my wallet — and it remains a go-to for me. When I’m focused on cash-back rewards, I reach for my Double Cash for any purchase that won’t earn bonus rewards on any of my other cards. No matter what I’m buying, I know I’ll get at least a 2% return thanks to this card (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay).

And while some other cards offer a similar earning rate, the option to transfer rewards to travel partners makes the Double Cash stand out above the rest.

To learn more, check out our full review of the Citi Double Cash.

Apply here: Citi Double Cash

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards

Welcome offer: Earn $200 cash back after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $0

Standout benefits: The Capital One Savor earns 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target) and on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, and 1% back on everything else.

The Savor is an excellent option for those who want to earn more in common spending categories without paying an annual fee.

Thanks to its bonus categories, you’ll earn bonus rewards whether you’re cooking at home and streaming a movie or headed out to dinner and a show.

Even better, if you also have a card that earns Capital One miles, such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you can combine your rewards and unlock Capital One’s full range of 15-plus hotel and airline travel partners.

To learn more, check out our full review of the Capital One Savor.

Learn more: Capital One Savor

Chase Freedom Flex

Welcome offer: Earn $200 cash back after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $0

Standout benefits: The Freedom Flex earns 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories after activating (on up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1% back) as well as 5% cash back on Chase Travel purchases and 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases.

And if you have a more premium Chase card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can combine your rewards to unlock Chase’s full range of hotel and airline partners.

The Freedom Flex allows you to earn an impressive 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories after activation (up to $1,500 in combined spending each quarter; then 1% back). While there’s no way to know what future categories will be, past quarters have offered bonus earnings on popular categories like Amazon, grocery stores, spa services and home improvement stores.

I love using my Freedom Flex alongside my Freedom Unlimited. With this pairing, I can earn 5% back on the Flex’s categories (subject to the above terms) and 1.5% back on all my other purchases. Even better — since I also have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, I can combine my rewards and turn these bonus earnings into travel rewards.

To learn more, check out our full review of the Freedom Flex.

Apply here: Chase Freedom Flex

Capital One Spark Cash

Welcome offer: Earn a $1,000 cash bonus and, for a limited time, a $250 Capital One Business Travel credit after spending $10,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95

Standout benefits: Similar to the Spark Cash Plus, the Capital One Spark Cash earns unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases.

If you own a small business with lower operating expenses, prioritize cash-back earnings over other credit card reward currencies and do not want to track bonus categories to maximize your spending, the Spark Cash is likely a good fit for your needs.

To learn more, check out our full review of the Capital One Spark Cash.

Learn more: Capital One Spark Cash

Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card

Welcome offer: Earn $1,000 cash back after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first four months from account opening.

Annual fee: $0.

Standout benefits: The Ink Business Unlimited earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

And if you have a more premium Chase card, like the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees), you can combine your rewards to unlock Chase’s full range of hotel and airline partners. This is a solid cash-back option for businesses that want to earn a solid return on purchases without paying an annual fee.

To learn more, check out our full review of the Ink Business Unlimited.

Apply here: Ink Business Unlimited

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards

Welcome offer: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $0

Standout benefits: The Capital One Quicksilver earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, plus 5% back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

This card is a solid choice for those wanting to avoid annual fees and earn above the standard 1% on nonbonus spending. Whether you’re getting the tab at dinner or ordering a bespoke gift, you’ll earn 1.5% cash back thanks to this card.

To learn more, check out our full review of the Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card.

Learn more: Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

What to consider when choosing a cash-back credit card

Spending habits

When it comes to cash-back credit cards, the biggest difference is which — if any — purchases earn bonus cash back. If dining out is a major part of your budget, you’ll want to opt for a card like the Chase Freedom Flex or the Capital One Savor to earn 3% cash back on those purchases. But if you spend more on transit and groceries, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred may be a better option.

And if your spending doesn’t fit neatly into any card’s bonus categories, you’ll want to go with a good flat-rate-earning card, like the Citi Double Cash or Wells Fargo Active Cash, to ensure you’re earning a solid return on your purchases.

Related: Amex vs. Chase cash-back cards

Welcome bonus

Cash-back cards aren’t known for having lucrative welcome offers, but most offer something. If you can’t decide between a few cards, considering the value you can get from each card’s welcome offer can help you decide which to go with.

Annual fee

There are plenty of great cash-back credit card options that don’t charge an annual fee. If you’re considering a card that has one, be sure to crunch the numbers and determine whether the rewards you earn will make that fee worth paying.

Rewards potential

Even though we’re focused on cash-back cards here, several cards can earn travel rewards as part of the right card pairing. If you know you plan to get the Chase Sapphire Preferred down the line, for instance, it makes sense to opt for the Chase Freedom Unlimited now — so you’re already halfway to that great card pairing when the time comes.

Related: Capital One Savor vs. Capital One Quicksilver: Supercharge your leisure spending, or earn flat cash back?

How we chose the best cash-back credit cards

We rated the best cash-back credit cards based on several factors, including reward-earning rates, perks and the overall value each card delivers to you, the consumer.

To learn about how TPG evaluates and chooses cards for our roundups, check out our methodology.

Redemption options for cash-back credit cards

The beauty of having a cash-back credit card is the simplicity of redeeming your rewards for cash. I love saving up my cash-back rewards throughout the year and using them for holiday shopping (and the deals I find for myself) in December.

But my favorite use of my cash-back rewards is often to complement my travel rewards cards. I love using points and miles to cover my hotel and airfare, and then I use cash-back rewards to cover everything else, like airport snacks and tickets to local attractions.

And even though these cards are labeled cash-back cards, they often offer other redemption options as well. Most cards on this list allow you to redeem rewards for gift cards or, in many cases, use them to book travel through the issuer’s travel portal.

Bottom line

Travel rewards credit cards are great, but sometimes the simplicity and flexibility of a cash-back credit card win out. Before adding one to your wallet, consider your current spending habits and whether you’re willing to pay an annual fee on your cash-back credit card.

With any of these options, you’ll be well on your way to covering any kind of purchase with your rewards in no time.

Related: Are cash-back credit cards worth it?

For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card, click here.