10 Best Cash-Back Credit Cards for Everyday Spending

Earning Structure:

• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in quarterly rotating bonus categories (activation required)
• 5% cash back on travel purchases through Chase Travel℠
• 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

Card Details:

• Annual fee: $0
• Foreign transaction fees: Not specified
• APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 18.99%–28.49% variable
• Mastercard World Elite benefits
• Contactless and chip-enabled
• Access to Chase Credit Journey and free credit score

Key Benefits:

• High cash back rates in popular categories
• Flexible quarterly bonus categories keep rewards fresh
• Travel perks through Chase’s travel portal
• No fees to lower the cost of usage

Redemption Options:

Points earned on this card can be redeemed for cash back, travel, gift cards, or transferred to other Chase Ultimate Rewards programs.

Credit Requirements:

Applicants typically need good to excellent credit (670–739) to qualify.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

The 5% categories are capped at $1,500 per quarter and require quarterly activation.

Why it Works for Beginners:

Its simple structure and no annual fee make it easy for new credit card users to start earning meaningful rewards right away.

Earning Structure:

• 2% cash back on all purchases: 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay
• 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel
• Must pay at least the minimum due on time to earn cash back points

Welcome Bonus:

Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 in the first 6 months (awarded as 20,000 ThankYou® Points).

Card Details:

• Annual fee: $0
• Foreign transaction fees: Applies (exact fee not specified)
• APR: 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 18.24%–28.24% variable
• Balance transfers have a 3% fee (first 4 months), then 5% thereafter
• No intro APR on purchases

Key Benefits:

• Simple, flat 2% cash back on all purchases
• No category restrictions or enrollment needed
• Ability to earn cash back as payments are made
• Useful for balance transfers with a competitive offer

Redemption Options:

Rewards are earned as ThankYou® Points and can be redeemed for cash back at 1 cent per point, or used for other Citi reward options.

Credit Requirements:

Applicants typically qualify with fair to excellent credit (580–669+).

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

Foreign transaction fees and no purchase intro APR may limit appeal for travelers or big upfront spenders.

Why it Works for Beginners:

Its simple cash back system and no annual fee make it an easy choice for those new to credit cards or who want low-maintenance rewards.

Earning Structure:

• 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel
• 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases
• 1.5% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

Card Details:

• Annual fee: $0
• Foreign transaction fees: Applies (exact fee not specified)
• APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 18.99%–28.49% variable
• Contactless and chip-enabled
• Includes Chase Credit Journey with free credit score access

Key Benefits:

• Flat-rate cash back on all purchases
• Higher rewards on everyday categories
• Combines well with Chase Sapphire cards for increased redemption value
• Flexible redemption options with no expiration on rewards

Redemption Options:

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

Credit Requirements:

Applicants generally need good to excellent credit (670–739) to qualify.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

You must book travel through Chase Travel℠ to earn the 5% rate.

Why it Works for Beginners:

It provides straightforward rewards and no annual fee, making it easy to use and manage for those new to credit cards.

Earning Structure:

• 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
• 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
• 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• Cash back is issued as Reward Dollars, redeemable as statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout

Welcome Bonus:

Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.

Card Details:

• Annual fee: $0
• Foreign transaction fees: Not specified
• APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 20.24%–29.24% variable
• Eligibility checker with no credit score impact when applying
• Disney Bundle credit: $7/month back after spending $9.99 or more monthly (enrollment required)

Key Benefits:

• Solid 3% cash back in key categories
• No annual fee keeps costs low
• Easy to earn rewards on everyday spending
• Includes some streaming service credits occasionally

Redemption Options:

Cash back can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout using Reward Dollars.

Credit Requirements:

Applicants typically need good to excellent credit to qualify.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

Bonus categories are capped at $6,000 annually; all other spending earns just 1% cash back.

Why it Works for Beginners:

It has no annual fee and straightforward rewards, making it easy for new cardholders to start earning cash back right away.

Earning Structure:

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

Welcome Bonus:

Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months of account opening.

Card Details:

• Annual fee: $0
• Foreign transaction fees: None
• APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 19.24%–29.24% variable
• Balance transfer fee applies (exact fee not specified)
• No rotating categories or activation required

Key Benefits:

• Unlimited, flat-rate cash back rewards
• No rotating categories to remember
• Access to free credit score monitoring
• Travel-friendly benefits like no foreign transaction fees

Redemption Options:

Cash back can be redeemed at any time for statement credits, direct deposits, or other flexible options. Rewards do not expire for the life of the account.

Credit Requirements:

This card is typically available to applicants with good to excellent credit (670–739).

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

Other cards may offer higher flat-rate cash back (such as 2%) on all purchases, which could be more rewarding overall.

Why it Works for Beginners:

Its simple cash back system and lack of fees make it easy for new card users to understand and manage rewards.

Earning Structure:

• Unlimited 3% cash back on dining, grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), entertainment, and popular streaming services
• 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus:

Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

Card Details:

• Annual fee: $0
• Foreign transaction fees: None
• APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 19.24%–29.24% variable
• Balance transfer fee applies (exact amount not specified)
• No category activation required

Key Benefits:

• High cash back on food and entertainment
• Bonus rewards on streaming services
• No annual fee makes it affordable
• Ability to convert cash back into Capital One miles

Redemption Options:

Cash back rewards can be redeemed as statement credits, checks, gift cards, or to cover recent purchases.

Credit Requirements:

Applicants typically need good to excellent credit (670–739) to qualify.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

Cash back drops to 1% outside of bonus categories, and superstore grocery purchases do not qualify for the 3% rate.

Why it Works for Beginners:

Its straightforward rewards and no annual fee make it easy to use and understand for people new to credit cards.

Earning Structure:

• 5% cash back on purchases up to the first $500 spent in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle
• 1% cash back on all other purchases, and after the $500 monthly cap
• Categories include restaurants, groceries, gas stations, home improvement stores, and more

Welcome Bonus:

Earn $200 cash back (fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points) after spending $1,500 in the first 6 months of account opening.

Card Details:

• Annual fee: $0
• Foreign transaction fees: High (exact fee not specified)
• APR: Introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for a limited time, then 18.24%–28.24% variable
• Free access to your FICO® Score
• No registration required to earn 5% rewards

Key Benefits:

• Automatic category adjustment each month
• Simple cash back structure
• Broad range of eligible bonus categories
• No rotating category sign-ups or calendar to track

Redemption Options:

Rewards are earned as ThankYou® Points and can be redeemed for $200 cash back, statement credits, or other rewards.

Credit Requirements:

Applicants typically need good to excellent credit (670–739) to qualify.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

The 5% category is capped at $500 per billing cycle; all other spending earns only 1%. Foreign transaction fees apply.

Why it Works for Beginners:

Its simple, flexible rewards system makes it easy to earn cash back without tracking rotating categories or category enrollment.

Earning Structure:

• 5% cash back on the first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter in two categories you choose
• 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel, and car rentals booked through the Rewards Travel Center
• 2% cash back on one everyday category like gas stations, EV charging, or grocery stores (excluding discount stores and wholesale clubs)
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

Welcome Bonus:

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

Card Details:

• Annual fee: $0
• Foreign transaction fees: Applies (exact fee not specified)
• APR: Introductory APR on purchases for 15 billing cycles, then 18.49%–28.74% variable
• Bonus categories must be manually selected each quarter
• Requires booking through Rewards Travel Center for 5% travel bonus

Key Benefits:

• Customizable 5% cash-back categories
• No annual fee reduces overall cost
• Offers 2% cash back on an everyday spending category
• Supports adding bonus cash back on categories that match spending habits

Redemption Options:

Cash back is automatically applied as a statement credit or can be redeemed for rewards through the U.S. Bank Rewards Center.

Credit Requirements:

Applicants typically need good to excellent credit (670–739) to qualify.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

You must choose bonus categories each quarter, and the 5% rate is capped at $2,000 per quarter. Travel rewards only apply to prepaid bookings through the Rewards Center.

Why it Works for Beginners:

It is simple to use and allows new cardholders to tailor rewards easily without complicated rules.

Earning Structure:

• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in quarterly rotating categories
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• Cashback Match™ doubles all cash back earned in the first year

Welcome Bonus:

Unlimited Cashback Match—Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, with no minimum spending or maximum rewards.

Card Details:

• Annual fee: $0
• Foreign transaction fees: Applies (exact fee not specified)
• APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases, then 18.24%–27.24% variable
• Instant decision and virtual card access available for eligible users
• Redeem cash back for any amount at any time

Key Benefits:

• Cashback Match™ boosts first-year rewards
• No penalty APR for late payments
• No foreign transaction fees
• Good customer service and fraud protection

Redemption Options:

Cash back can be redeemed for any amount as statement credits, direct deposits, gift cards, or at select retailers.

Credit Requirements:

Applicants generally need good to excellent credit to qualify.

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

The 5% bonus rate is capped at $1,500 in spending per quarter and requires quarterly activation. Discover may not be widely accepted outside the U.S.

Why it Works for Beginners:

The first-year Cashback Match™ offers a simple way for new card users to boost rewards without extra effort.

Earning Structure:

• Unlimited 2% cash rewards on all purchases
• No spending caps or categories to activate
• Rewards never expire as long as the account remains open

Welcome Bonus:

Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first 3 months.

Card Details:

• Annual fee: $0
• Foreign transaction fees: Applies (exact fee not specified)
• APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable
• Balance transfers within 120 days qualify for intro APR and a 3% fee; after that, up to 5% ($5 minimum)

Key Benefits:

• Easy, flat-rate cash back rewards
• No annual fee makes it affordable
• Intro APR period helps with new purchases or balance transfers
• Fraud monitoring and account alerts

Redemption Options:

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

Credit Requirements:

This card is typically available to applicants with good to excellent credit (670–739).

Spending Limitations / Potential Drawbacks:

No elevated rewards for specific spending categories; foreign transaction fees apply, and the intro APR is shorter than some competing cards.

Why it Works for Beginners:

Its simple rewards, no annual fee, and easy-to-understand structure make it an ideal first cash back credit card.