10 Best 3% Cash-Back Credit Cards

Earning Structure:

• 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• 3x points on dining (including eligible delivery and takeout)
• 3x points on select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target)
• 2x points on all other travel purchases
• 1x point on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

Card Details:

• Annual fee: $95
• Foreign transaction fees: None
• APR: Variable, based on creditworthiness
• Payment tech: Contactless-enabled and chip-secure

Key Benefits:

• Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• Travel and purchase protections, including trip cancellation insurance
• Access to personalized travel and dining recommendations
• Ability to transfer points to airline and hotel partners

Redemption Options:

Points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, cash back, or transferred to travel partners for more value.

Credit Requirements:

Requires good to excellent credit, typically a score between 670 and 739.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

Not ideal if spending is mostly outside travel and dining, as bonus categories focus mainly there.

Why it Works for Beginners:

It offers straightforward points earning with strong travel perks, making it simple for new users to see rewards and benefits quickly.

Earning Structure:

• 3x points on dining, gas stations, transit, travel, popular streaming services, and phone plans
• 1x point on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within the first 3 months.

Card Details:

• Annual fee: $0
• Foreign transaction fees: None
• Intro APR: 0% for 12 months on purchases
• Ongoing APR: Variable after intro period
• Payment features: Contactless and chip-enabled

Key Benefits:

• Cellphone protection when you pay your phone bill with the card
• Flexible rewards redeemable for travel, gift cards, or cash
• Access to a variety of travel partners for point transfers
• No fee for adding authorized users

Redemption Options:

Points can be redeemed for travel, statement credits, gift cards, or cash back, giving cardholders flexible choices.

Credit Requirements:

Applicants typically need good to excellent credit, with a credit score between 670 and 739.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

No specific spending caps, but rewards apply only to select bonus categories; some may find the 1x point rate on other purchases less competitive.

Why it Works for Beginners:

It offers a simple rewards system without an annual fee, plus helpful benefits like credit score access, making it great for those new to rewards credit cards.

Earning Structure:

• 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel®, including The Edit®
• 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
• 3x points on dining worldwide
• 1x point on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Earn 100,000 bonus points plus a $500 Chase Travel promo credit after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

Card Details:

• Annual fee: $795 (effective June 23, 2025)
• Foreign transaction fees: None
• APR: Variable (typically ~20–28%)

Key Benefits:

• $300 travel credit applied automatically
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
• Primary rental car insurance
• Purchase protection and extended warranty

Redemption Options:

Points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, or cash back—worth 50% more through Chase Travel.

Credit Requirements:

Requires excellent credit, typically a score of 740 and above.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

The $795 annual fee is high and may not be worth it for those who don’t travel often or use the travel credits.

Why it Works for Beginners:

While it has premium features, beginners who travel regularly can benefit by learning to use the travel credits and rewards system effectively.

Earning Structure:

• 5× points per dollar on hotels
• 4× points per dollar on airlines
• 3× points per dollar on other travel and restaurant purchases
• 1× point per dollar on all other eligible purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

Card Details:

• Annual fee: $95
• Foreign transaction fees: None
• APR: Variable (typically around 20–29%)

Key Benefits:

• Bonus points on multiple spending categories
• Travel protections like trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• Cell phone protection when paid with the card
• Access to Wells Fargo’s online tools for managing rewards

Redemption Options:

Points can be redeemed for travel bookings, gift cards, cash back, or experiences through the Wells Fargo rewards portal.

Credit Requirements:

Typically requires a credit score in the range of 670 to 739 (Good to Excellent) for approval.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

Rewards drop to 1× on most everyday purchases outside travel and dining, and the limited number of transfer partners may restrict redemption flexibility.

Why it Works for Beginners:

The card is simple to use with clear rewards and benefits, making it easy for new cardholders to start earning points without complex rules.

Earning Structure:

• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate
• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel®
• 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases
• 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Earn $200 cash back after spending $500 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

Card Details:

• Annual fee: $0
• Foreign transaction fees: None
• APR: 0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers; then 18.99%–28.49% variable
• Chip-enabled and contactless; World Elite Mastercard® benefits included

Key Benefits:

• Flexible bonus categories that change quarterly
• Extra rewards on travel through Chase platform
• Good cash back rates on everyday spending like dining and drugstores
• No fee lets users earn without extra costs

Redemption Options:

Points earned can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, travel, or statement credits. If this is the only Chase Ultimate Rewards card owned, redemption value is typically 1 cent per point.

Credit Requirements:

Requires good to excellent credit, typically a credit score between 670 and 739.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

The 5% cash-back bonus on quarterly categories is capped at $1,500 per quarter, after which earnings drop to 1%.

Why it Works for Beginners:

It offers easy rewards without fees and simple redemption options, making it approachable for those new to rewards credit cards.

Earning Structure:

• 3% cash back on all eligible purchases with no spending cap
• 5% cash back when booking travel through Robinhood’s travel portal

Welcome Bonus:

There is no widely advertised welcome bonus for new cardholders at this time.

Card Details:

• Annual fee: $0 (Robinhood Gold subscription required: $5/month or $50/year)
• Foreign transaction fees: None
• Virtual cards with disposable numbers for added security
• Up to five authorized users allowed, no additional fees

Key Benefits:

• Simple flat 3% cash back on all eligible purchases
• Higher 5% cash back on travel booked via Robinhood travel portal
• No hidden fees such as foreign transaction fees
• Rewards automatically linked to Robinhood account for ease of use

Redemption Options:

Rewards can be redeemed as statement credits, deposits into Robinhood investment accounts, or for travel bookings through Robinhood’s portal.

Credit Requirements:

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

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

Eligibility depends on subscribing to Robinhood Gold, which has a monthly fee. There may be a waitlist before you can apply.

Why it Works for Beginners:

It is straightforward with a flat cash-back rate and no annual fee, making it easy to understand and use for people new to credit cards and cash-back rewards.

Earning Structure:

• 5% cash back on purchases in rotating categories each quarter (activation required)
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• Cash back match: Discover matches all cash back earned in the first year

Welcome Bonus:

Enjoy Discover’s Cashback Match automatically during your first year—no spending thresholds beyond regular usage.

Card Details:

• Annual fee: $0
• Foreign transaction fees: None
• Intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers; then variable APR applies
• Requires quarterly activation of bonus categories; complimentary FICO® score tracking and no penalty APR

Key Benefits:

• High 5% cash back rate on selected categories each quarter
• Simple 1% cash back on all other purchases
• Cash back match doubles first-year rewards
• No fees that often come with rewards cards

Redemption Options:

Cash back can be redeemed as a statement credit, direct deposit, gift cards, or merchandise.

Credit Requirements:

Typically requires good to excellent credit, generally a score between 670 and 739.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

The 5% cash back is limited to a spending cap each quarter, and cardholders must remember to activate categories to earn the bonus rate.

Why it Works for Beginners:

It offers an easy way to earn cash back without an annual fee and includes a strong first-year cash back match, making it valuable for those new to rewards cards.

Earning Structure:

• 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year)
• 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations
• 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Earn a $200 statement credit after making $2,000 in purchases within your first 6 months as a new cardholder.

Card Details:

• Annual fee: $0
• Foreign transaction fees: None
• Intro APR: 0% for a promotional period on purchases; then variable APR
• Contactless and chip-enabled; includes statement credits with certain streaming subscriptions

Key Benefits:

• No annual fee keeps costs low
• Useful cash back categories for everyday expenses
• Easy-to-understand rewards system
• Statement credits available for added value

Redemption Options:

Rewards can be redeemed as statement credits, which reduce your balance, or for other options through American Express’s rewards portal.

Credit Requirements:

Typically requires good to excellent credit, generally a score between 670 and 739.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

Cash back at 3% applies only up to $6,000 per category annually. It does not offer strong travel or insurance benefits.

Why it Works for Beginners:

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card has simple rewards and no fees, making it easy for new credit card users to earn cash back without worry.

Earning Structure:

• 5% cash back on up to $500 spent each billing cycle in the highest spending eligible category
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus:

New cardholders can earn $200 in cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases within the first six months.

Card Details:

• Annual fee: $0
• Foreign transaction fees: None
• APR: Variable (typically between 18% and 28%)
• Includes introductory APR offers on purchases and balance transfers (check current terms)
• Chip-enabled and contactless for secure payment

Key Benefits:

• No annual fee
• Automatic category adjustment each billing cycle
• Useful intro APR offer
• Simple cash-back rewards

Redemption Options:

Cash back can be redeemed as statement credits, direct deposits, or gift cards.

Credit Requirements:

Requires good to excellent credit, typically a FICO score between 670 and 739.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

The 5% cash back applies only to the first $500 spent in the top category each cycle. Spending above that earns 1%, which may limit rewards for big spenders.

Why it Works for Beginners:

Its automatic tracking of top spending categories and no annual fee make it easy to use for those new to cash back credit cards.

Earning Structure:

• 5% cash back on two categories selected each quarter (up to a spending limit)
• 2% cash back on one everyday category
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Earn a $200 cash back bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.

Card Details:

• Annual fee: $0
• Foreign transaction fees: None
• APR: Variable rate (typically around 18% to 28%)
• Unique feature: Choose your 5% categories each quarter to maximize earnings
• Chip-enabled for secure and contactless payments

Key Benefits:

• Customizable cash back categories
• No annual fee makes it cost-effective
• Bonus 5% cash back on categories that fit individual spending
• Additional benefits from Visa Signature

Redemption Options:

Cash back can be redeemed as a statement credit, direct deposit, or gift cards. There is flexibility in how rewards are used.

Credit Requirements:

Typically requires good to excellent credit, generally a score between 670 and 739.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

The 5% cash back categories have a quarterly spending cap. After that limit, cash back drops to 1%.

Why it Works for Beginners:

It offers straightforward cash back with no fee, making it easy for new credit users to earn rewards without complexity.