10 Best Cash Back Credit Cards for Personal and Business Spending

Earning Structure:

• 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
• 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
• 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations
• 3% cash back on transit (taxis, rideshare, parking, tolls, buses, and trains)
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $95
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Yes (not ideal for international use)
• Contactless Payment: Enabled
• Issuer: American Express

Key Benefits:

• High cash back on everyday categories
• Cash back applies automatically, no points to track
• Purchase protection and extended warranty

Redemption Options:

Cash back rewards can be redeemed as statement credits, gift cards, or merchandise.

Credit Requirements:

Good to excellent credit is typically required, usually a FICO score of 670 or higher.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

The 6% cash back is capped at $6,000 in supermarket purchases yearly. After that, the rate drops to 1%. The $95 annual fee may not be worth it for low spenders.

Why it Works for Beginners:

The card offers a simple cash back system and strong rewards on common expenses. This makes it easy to earn and redeem rewards without dealing with complex points programs.

Earning Structure:

• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM
• 3% cash back on dining (restaurants, takeout, delivery)
• 3% cash back at drugstores
• 1.5% cash back on all purchases

Welcome Bonus:

New cardholders can earn $200 bonus cash back after spending $500 in the first 3 months.

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $0
• Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then 18.99%–28.49% variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Key Benefits:

• Easy to earn cash back without category restrictions
• Bonus rates on common everyday spending
• No expiration on cash back as long as the account is open

Redemption Options:

Cash back can be redeemed as statement credits, direct deposits, gift cards, or travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Points value varies by redemption method.

Credit Requirements:

Approval typically requires good to excellent credit, with a recommended FICO score of around 670–850.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

There are no special rewards for significant or specific business spending categories. Better cards might offer higher rates for certain purchases but usually come with annual fees.

Why it Works for Beginners:

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is straightforward and flexible, making it easy for new card users to earn rewards without managing complex rules. The no-fee structure helps avoid extra costs while building credit and rewards habits.

Earning Structure:

• 2% unlimited cash back on every purchase
• 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One’s travel site

Welcome Bonus:

Earn a one‑time cash bonus of $2,000 after spending $30,000 in the first 3 months, plus an additional $2,000 for each $500,000 spent during your first year (you can earn multiple bonuses).

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $150 (refundable if you spend $150,000 or more annually)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None
• Employee/Authorized User Cards: No additional fee; they earn the same cash back
• No Preset Spending Limit: Purchasing power adjusts based on credit profile and spending behavior

Key Benefits:

• Simple, flat-rate cash back makes it easy to earn rewards
• Charge card allows higher spending without hitting a credit limit
• Annual fee refund option for high spenders

Redemption Options:

Cash back can be redeemed as statement credits, checks, or gift cards. Rewards do not expire as long as the account is open.

Credit Requirements:

Approval requires excellent credit, typically a FICO score above 720.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

Annual fee may not be worth it for small spenders and charge card structure means full balance must be paid monthly.

Why it Works for Beginners:

Offers a clear, simple rewards system without category tracking. This makes it a good fit for those new to business credit cards who want to earn consistent cash back.

Earning Structure:

• 2% unlimited cash back on all purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Earn $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months.

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $0
• Intro APR: 0% on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 12 months; thereafter 19.24%–29.24% variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% on foreign purchases

Key Benefits:

• Unlimited 2% cash back on everything
• No annual fee
• 0% introductory APR on purchases
• Easy to use cash rewards

Redemption Options:

Cash back can be redeemed as statement credits, direct deposits, or gift cards. There are no restrictions on how or when to redeem rewards.

Credit Requirements:

Applicants typically need good to excellent credit—usually a FICO score around 670 or higher—to qualify.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

There is a 3% foreign transaction fee, which may be costly for international travelers.

Why it Works for Beginners:

This card is great for beginners because it has no annual fee, straightforward rewards, and fewer restrictions on earning or redeeming cash back. It helps build credit while offering steady rewards.

Earning Structure:

• Earn 5% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel (limited-time offer)
• 1% cash back on every purchase
• 1% cash back on every payment made toward those purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Earn $200 cash back (in the form of 20,000 ThankYou® Points) after spending $1,500 within the first 6 months of card membership.

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $0
• Intro APR for Balance Transfers: 0% for 18 months (fee applies)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% on international purchases

Key Benefits:

• Simple, flat-rate 2% cash back without category restrictions
• No annual fee reduces the cost of holding the card
• Flexible cash back redemption options

Redemption Options:

Rewards are earned as Citi ThankYou® Points and can be redeemed at a rate of 1¢ per point for statement credit, direct deposit, or check. When paired with a Citi Premier or similar card, points can be transferred to airline and hotel partners for higher-value redemptions.

Credit Requirements:

Applicants need fair to excellent credit, typically requiring a FICO score of 640 or higher, with better chances at 700+.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

There are no category bonuses and it charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, so it may be less ideal for international use or travelers seeking elevated rewards on specific purchase categories. Additionally, carrying a balance negates the value of cash back due to the high APR.

Why it Works for Beginners:

The Citi Double Cash® Card is easy to use and understand. Its straightforward rewards and no annual fee make it ideal for those new to cash back credit cards. Users only have to worry about paying their bills to get the full 2% rewards.

Earning Structure:

• 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery stores (excluding Walmart®, Target®, and other superstores)
• 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
• 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases made via the issuer’s entertainment portal
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months.

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $0
• Intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then variable 19.24%–29.24% (balance transfer fee applies)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Key Benefits:

• High cash back on dining and entertainment
• Rewards on streaming services included
• No annual fee saves money yearly
• Simple cash back system

Redemption Options:

Rewards can be redeemed as statement credits, checks, or gift cards. There is no minimum redemption amount. Rewards do not expire as long as the account is open.

Credit Requirements:

This card requires good to excellent credit. Applicants usually need a credit score above 700.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

Cash back rates are best on dining and entertainment, so it may not be ideal for those who spend less in these areas. The $3,000 minimum spend for the bonus is moderately high.

Why it Works for Beginners:

The Capital One Savor card is easy to use and understand. It has no annual fee and offers solid rewards on common expenses. Beginners can earn cash back without worrying about points or complex rules.

Earning Structure:

• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in quarterly rotating bonus categories (must activate each quarter)
• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ (no cap)
• 3% cash back on dining and drugstores
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Earn $200 bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months.

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $0
• Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; then 18.99%–28.49% variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% on purchases made outside the U.S.

Key Benefits:

• Rotating categories offer higher cash back potential
• 3% cash back bonus categories cover common spending areas
• No fee to maintain the card

Redemption Options:

Redeem cash back as statement credits, direct deposit, or gift cards. Use points toward travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Credit Requirements:

Requires good to excellent credit to qualify, generally a FICO score of 670–850.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

You must activate the 5% categories each quarter, and spending is capped at $1,500 per quarter. Foreign transaction fees apply for international use, and base rate drops to 1% outside bonus categories, limiting its universal earning power.

Why it Works for Beginners:

The card is simple to use and requires no annual fee. Rotating categories encourage regular engagement without complex rules. Its multiple cash back rates allow earning on all purchases, making it a strong choice for new cardholders.

Earning Structure:

• 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
• Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase

Welcome Bonus:

Earn $1,500 cash back after spending $15,000 within the first 3 months of account opening (limited-time offer).

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $0 the first year; $95 thereafter
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None
• Authorized User Cards: Free employee cards available; earn rewards on all spending from each cardholder

Key Benefits:

• Simple flat-rate rewards
• No category tracking needed
• Can be used internationally
• Flexible cash back redemption options

Redemption Options:

Cash back can be redeemed as statement credit, direct deposit, checks, or applied to Capital One travel bookings; there’s no redemption minimum. Rewards can also be converted into Capital One miles if linked with a compatible travel card.

Credit Requirements:

Approval typically requires excellent credit (recommended FICO score of 740 or higher).

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

After the first year, a $95 fee applies—meaning you must spend at least ~$4,750 annually to break even. There are no travel protections or premium perks, and no APR promotions or balance transfer offers are provided.

Why it Works for Beginners:

This card is a good choice for beginners because it has a simple rewards system without complicated rules. It is also helpful for businesses that want consistent rewards without tracking spending categories.

Earning Structure:

• 1.5% unlimited cash back on all purchases
• Earns Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) points, valued at about 1.5 to 1.6 cents each

Welcome Bonus

Earn $750 cash back after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months.

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $0
• Intro APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months, then 17.49%–23.49% variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3%
• Authorized User Cards: Free employee cards with spending limit controls

Key Benefits:

• No annual fee
• Simple, flat-rate cash back
• Long 0% APR period on purchases and balance transfers
• Earns Ultimate Rewards points that can be used flexibly

Redemption Options:

Points can be redeemed for cash back, statement credits, gift cards, travel, or transferred to Chase travel partners for better value.

Credit Requirements:

Approval typically requires good to excellent credit, generally a FICO score of 670 or higher.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

The spending requirement for the welcome bonus is relatively high at $6,000 in 3 months. Flat-rate rewards might be less rewarding than tiered cards for specific spending categories.

Why it Works for Beginners:

This card is easy to use with no complicated categories to track. It has no annual fee, making it low risk for new business credit users. The flat-rate rewards help beginners earn cash back without managing bonus categories.

Earning Structure:

• 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
• 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

Welcome Bonus

Earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months.

Card Details:

• Annual Fee: $0
• Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; variable thereafter (fee applies)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Key Benefits:

• Simple cash-back earning with no rotating categories
• Easy redemption for statement credits or gift cards
• Ability to convert cash back to miles if you have other Capital One cards

Redemption Options:

Users can redeem cash back as a statement credit, check, or gift card. Those with Capital One miles cards can also transfer earnings to airline and hotel partners.

Credit Requirements:

Approval generally requires good to excellent credit, typically a FICO score between 670 and 850.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

There is no bonus category for higher cash back on common spending categories outside of Capital One Travel. The flat 1.5% rate may be lower than some competitors’ tiered rewards.

Why it Works for Beginners:

It is easy to use and understand. The flat cash back rate removes the need to track categories or activate bonuses, making it a good choice for people new to credit cards or rewards programs.