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I carry many types of credit cards in my wallet. I have several travel rewards credit cards for when I need to book a flight or rent a car. And I use one balance transfer credit card that I got to make a large transfer a few years ago. And I also have a few cash back credit cards that I use for just about everything else.
To say that I know my way around a cash back rewards program would be an understatement. Which is why I wanted to put together a list of the best cash back cards I’ve come across in my rewards-earning ventures.
You can find the best cash back credit cards listed below. They come from a variety of issuers. They also include a variety of cash back rates and other perks.
These perks make each card somewhat unique. So you need to consider them when deciding which one is right for you. I use a combination of half of the cards on this list — and I rack up hundreds of dollars in annual cash back savings!
Whether you’re a big spender or a casual spender, it’s financially responsible to own at least one of the cards on this list. (After seeing how much I got back last year, I would even argue more than one.)
The Best Cash Back Credit Cards
Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer – The Citi® Double Cash Card offers 1% cash back on every purchase and another 1% cash back when you pay your monthly credit card bill. Add it up, and you’ll earn 2% cash back on every purchase.
It also includes a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months (no intro offer on purchases). The standard APR after the intro period expires is 17.74% – 27.74% variable.
There is no annual fee to own the Citi® Double Cash Card.
- Biggest PRO: 2% cash back on all purchases, the highest rate on this list
- Biggest CON: No 0% intro APR on purchases
- Includes free access to your FICO® score
Chase Freedom Unlimited – The Chase Freedom Unlimited opens up with a $150 cash back bonus after you spend $500 in purchases during the first three months of account ownership. The everyday cashback rate is 1.5% on all purchases. It has no categories or tier levels to worry about.
New cardholders will earn a 0% intro APR on both purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months. Then a 19.49% – 28.24% Variable interest rate kicks in.
There’s also no annual fee for the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
- Biggest PRO: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 full months
- Biggest CON: A high ongoing APR after the intro rate expires
- Includes free access to your FICO® score
Please read our Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Review here.
Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card – The Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card provides a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
The everyday cashback rate is 1.5%. It applies to all purchases without tier levels or spending limits. All cardholders will receive a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 9 months. Then the APR reverts to the standard 19.24% – 29.24% variable. If you transfer a balance, the fee is 3%.
There is no annual fee to own the Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card.
- Biggest PRO: An added perk of 50% cashback savings on your monthly Spotify premium (expires April 2018)
- Biggest CON: 1.5% cash back is one of the lower rates on our list
- Includes free access to your FICO® score
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express – The baby brother of the card above, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is the no-fee version with a slightly reduced rewards program.
Cardholders will earn a $100 cash bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases during the first three months. You’ll earn 3% cash back at the grocery store (up to $6,000 spent annually), 2% cash back at gas stations and select department stores, and 1% cash back everywhere else.
Cardholders also receive a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. The ongoing APR is 18.74% – 29.74% variable. As mentioned, there is no annual fee for this version.
- Biggest PRO: 3% cash back at the grocery store
- Biggest CON: Low 1% cashback rate on most everyday purchases
- Includes free access to your FICO® score
Discover it® – Cashback Match™ – The title says it all.
Discover it® – Cashback Match™ will match the cashback you earn for the first full year of card ownership. The regular cashback rate is 1% on all purchases with 5% cashback on select categories every quarter (like gas, restaurants, and Amazon.com). This means that for the first year, your effective cashback rate will be 2% and 10%.
The card includes a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 14 months. Then the standard APR is 11.74% – 23.74%, variable.
The Discover it® – Cashback Match™ does not have an annual fee.
- Biggest PRO: Up to 10% cash back for the first year
- Biggest CON: 1% cash back on most purchases beyond year one, the lowest on our list
- Includes free access to your FICO® score
Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card – Wells Fargo is kind enough to give all new cardholders of the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card a $200 cash bonus after spending $1,000 in the first three months.
Cardmembers will earn a flat 1.5% cash back on every purchase. You’ll earn an extra 20% bonus cash back on purchases made with Apple Pay or Android Pay in the first 12 months of account opening.
There is a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months. After that, the variable APR is 13.99% – 25.99%. As a nice little bonus, cardholders also receive up to $600 protection on their cell phones ($25 deductible).
The card carries no annual fee.
- Biggest PRO: $200 up front cash bonus
- Biggest CON: A potential 25.99% interest rate is highest on our list
- Includes free access to your FICO® score
