13 Best Cash Back Credit Cards of 2022

Cash-back bank cards are in style as a result of they supply tangible, easy-to-understand advantages. Who doesn’t like getting a credit score on their per month bank card remark – or, higher but, precise coins deposited into the account in their selection? Cash-back bank cards may also be much more in style than our top-rated fuel bank cards and go back and forth rewards playing cards.
But no longer all cash-back bank cards are created similarly.
Some be offering the similar cash-back price on all purchases. Others be offering upper cash-back charges on sure spending classes, corresponding to groceries or fuel, and decrease charges on the whole lot else. Still others be offering bonus coins again on spending classes that rotate each and every quarter. A couple of accrue coins again on purchases and per month bills.
And some coins again playing cards even hew to hybrid fashions, with coins again on sure spending classes and several types of rewards (corresponding to airline miles) on others.
Best Cash-Back Credit Cards
You’ll to find every form of card in this listing of the most efficient cash-back playing cards to be had to U.S. customers these days.
Each of the playing cards in this listing does a minimum of something truly neatly, whether or not it’s providing a specifically prime combined cash-back price or offering an outstanding interest-free stability switch promotion. Our highest general select gives essentially the most worth to the best choice of doable customers, in our opinion.
Best Overall: Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card
Chase Freedom Unlimited is the most efficient general cash-back bank card on our listing due to an odd constellation of strengths. First and primary is its cash-back program — which delivers limitless 1.5% on maximum purchases, with some exceptions:
- Travel purchases made via Chase Ultimate Rewards go back and forth earn 5% coins again
- Drugstore and eating purchases (together with takeout and eligible supply) earn 3% coins again
- All different eligible purchases earn 1.5% coins again
Then there’s the sign-up bonus. During the primary yr your account is open, earn an extra 1.5% coins again on all eligible purchases (as much as the primary $20,000 spent). That’s:
- 6.5% coins again on go back and forth bought via Chase Ultimate Rewards, go back and forth, reward playing cards and extra
- 4.5% coins again on drugstore purchases and eating at eating places, together with takeout and eligible supply carrier
- 3% on all different purchases, on as much as $20,000 spent within the first yr
You can redeem for just about anything else, in any quantity, on the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal — together with coins equivalents, products, and go back and forth.
Additional options:
- If you’ve got an eligible Chase bank card, together with the Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95 annual commission) or Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550 annual commission) top rate go back and forth rewards playing cards, you’ll be able to switch issues earned via Freedom Unlimited to these accounts and earn a better efficient redemption price or eligibility to switch issues directly to greater than a dozen go back and forth loyalty companions
- Enjoy 0% introductory acquire and stability switch APR for 15 months after account opening — thereafter, variable common APR applies, recently 18.74% to 27.49% APR
- No annual commission
- Get a unfastened DoorDash DashPass subscription for 3 months from account opening, then 50% off for the following 9 months — activation is needed
Apply Now for the Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card
Best Rotating Cash-Back Card: U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Signature Card
The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Signature Card is a cash-back bank card that rewards eligible go back and forth spending and on a regular basis spending alike.
Of the entire playing cards in this listing, it has the most efficient rotating cash-back program — incomes 5% coins again to your first $2,000 in blended eligible purchases every quarter on two classes you select.
Additional options:
- Earn a $200 bonus after you spend a minimum of $1,000 in eligible purchases inside of 120 days of account opening
- Earn 5% coins again on pay as you go air, resort and automotive reservations booked at once within the Rewards Travel Center
- Earn 2% coins again on purchases in a single on a regular basis class of your opting for, like Gas Stations/EV Charging Stations, Grocery Stores, or Restaurants
- Earn 1% coins again on all different eligible purchases
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and stability transfers for the primary 15 billing cycles — after that, variable APR applies (recently 18.74% to twenty-eight.74%)
- No annual commission.
- Terms and prerequisites observe: See charges and costs for more info.
Apply Now for the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Signature Card
Best Flat-Rate Cash-Back Card: Citi® Double Cash Card
Citi Double Cash’s two-tiered, flat-rate cash-back program rewards cardholders who pay their balances in complete every month. It’s the most efficient flat-rate cash-back program available on the market, in truth.
As lengthy as you’re a cardholder in just right status, you’re assured to earn 1% coins again on all eligible purchases that publish in your Double Cash account. But you’ll best reach the cardboard’s efficient 2% cash-back price while you repay your stability in complete – as you will have to, underneath commonplace instances.
Additional options:
- Limited Time Offer: Through 11/14/22, earn $200 coins again after spending $1,500 on purchases within the first 6 months of account opening.
- Redeem after amassing $25 coins again
- Enjoy 0% APR on stability transfers for 18 months — then variable common APR applies (recently 18.24% to twenty-eight.24%, relying on creditworthiness and prevailing charges)
- No annual commission
- Balance transfers price the better of $5 or 3% of the transferred quantity
Learn More About the Citi Double Cash Card
Best for Drugstore Purchases: Chase Freedom Flex℠ Card
All purchases made with Chase Freedom Flex earn 1% coins again, with out a caps or restrictions. But there’s a lot more to the tale. Freedom Flex has a number of alternatives to earn bonus coins on a regimen foundation:
- 5% coins again on eligible purchases as much as $1,500 in quarterly rotating classes
- 5% coins again on go back and forth purchases made in the course of the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
- 3% coins again on drugstore and eating purchases at eating places, together with takeout and supply
It’s that drugstore class that’s the headline right here. Other than Freedom Flex’s stablemate, Freedom Unlimited, few playing cards be offering 3% again at drugstores. And that issues should you incessantly to find your self surfing the aisles at Walgreens, CVS, or your native unbiased drugstore.
Additional options:
- No minimal to redeem
- Redeem for coins again (with every level being price $0.01), deliverable as a remark credit score, checking account deposit, reward card, and direct purchases at make a selection outlets (corresponding to Amazon)
- Earn a $200 bonus cash-back credit score while you spend a minimum of $500 on eligible purchases inside of 3 months of opening your account.
- Enjoy 0% APR on purchases and stability transfers for 15 months — then variable common APR applies, recently 18.74% to 27.49% APR
- No annual commission
- Get a complimentary subscription to DoorDash’s DashPass carrier for three months from account opening, then 50% off for the following 9 months
Apply Now for the Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card
Best for Supermarket Purchases: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
If you’re keen on the grocery store, you’ll love the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express. You get 6% coins again on all U.S. grocery store transactions, as much as a $6,000 annual spending restrict.
Once you hit $6,000, you get 1% again on U.S. grocery store purchases. Cash again accrues as Reward Dollars that may be redeemed for remark credit. Terms observe.
One small downside of the Blue Cash Preferred card is American Express’s restrictive definition of “grocery store.” Superstores like Walmart, wholesale golf equipment like Costco, and alcohol outlets aren’t thought to be as supermarkets for this card’s functions.
Additional options:
- Earn 6% coins again on eligible purchases with virtual media and streaming suppliers corresponding to Netflix and HBO (phrases observe)
- Earn 3% coins again on each and every $1 spent at U.S. fuel stations and transit operators, together with rideshare operators corresponding to Lyft and Uber
- Earn 1% coins again on all different purchases, with out a limits
- Cash again accrues as Reward Dollars that may be redeemed for remark credit; phrases observe
- $95 annual commission — see charges and costs
- Earn $350 again as a welcome be offering after you spend a minimum of $3,000 on purchases throughout the first 6 months — phrases observe
- Redeem Reward Dollars for remark credit
- Enjoy 0% APR on purchases and stability transfers for three hundred and sixty five days
- Following the top of the introductory duration, the common APR is variable (recently 18.24% to 29.24%), relying on prevailing charges and your own creditworthiness
- Terms observe — see charges and costs
Learn More About the American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card
Best Intro 0% APR Offer: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card couldn’t be more practical. All eligible purchases made with this card earn 1.5% coins again, with out a restrictions on how a lot you’ll be able to earn, and you’ll be able to redeem in any quantity for a remark credit score or paper take a look at.
Even higher? An strangely lengthy 0% APR introductory promotion for purchases and a cast early spend bonus supply an ideal one-two worth punch for potential cardholders.
Additional options:
- Earn a one-time $200 coins bonus after you spend $500 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months
- Eligible resort and automotive apartment bookings earn limitless 5% coins again when made via Capital One Travel
- Redeem amassed cash-back rewards in any quantity for a remark credit score in opposition to prior purchases or a paper take a look at mailed in your deal with on report
- After the introductory APR duration ends, variable common APR applies (recently 17.99% to 27.99% variable)
- 3% commission at the quantities transferred throughout the first 15 months
- No annual commission or overseas transaction commission
Learn More About the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card
Best for Exclusive Cardholder Offers: Bread Cashback American Express Credit Card
The Bread Cashback American Express Credit Card earns 2% limitless coins again while you use the cardboard.1
That’s just the start. When you utilize your Bread Cashback card, you’ll revel in:
- No rewards caps
- No annual commission and no overseas transaction fees2
- No rewards classes to control
- AMEX gives, go back and forth and eating advantages, and top rate coverage benefits3
- Apply now for main points
Learn More About the Bread Cashback Card
Best for Customizable Cash Back: Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is a no-annual-fee card that routinely will pay 5% coins again at the first $500 in purchases for your height eligible spending class every month with out a activation required.
Simply spend as you in most cases would and also you’ll earn your bonus coins again as ThankYou issues redeemable for remark credit, checking account deposits, reward playing cards, and extra.
Eligible bonus spending classes come with:
- Restaurants
- Gas stations
- Select transit
- Select go back and forth
- Select streaming products and services
- Drugstores
- Home growth retail outlets
- Live leisure
Additional options:
- Earn $200 bonus coins, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou issues, after spending $1,500 in eligible purchases right through the primary 6 months your account is open.
- All different eligible purchases, together with height eligible spending class purchases above the $500 cap, earn 1% coins again as ThankYou issues
- Redeem your ThankYou issues for coins again as remark credit, checking account deposits, reward playing cards, Amazon purchases, and different pieces
- Enjoy 0% APR on purchases and stability transfers for 15 months — thereafter, variable common APR applies (recently 18.24% to twenty-eight.24%), relying to your creditworthiness and prevailing charges
- No annual commission
Learn More About the Citi Custom Cash Card
Best for Valued-Added Benefits: American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold card is a top rate rewards card that earns a 4% go back on eligible eating place and grocery store purchases (as much as $25,000 in annual U.S. grocery store spending) and a three% go back on eligible airfare spending.
But its actual worth lies in its noncash advantages, corresponding to:
- A $100 annual airline commission credit score
- $10 in eating credit every month (as much as $120 according to yr) with taking part chains and apps, together with Grubhub
- No overseas transaction commission (see phrases and prerequisites)
Additional options:
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards issues as a welcome be offering after spending $4,000 in purchases to your card throughout the first 6 months of card club
- Earn 3 issues according to $1 spent on eligible airfare bought at once with the airline and at amextravel.com
- All different eligible purchases earn 1 level according to $1 spent.
- Redeem for go back and forth bookings, Uber rides, reward playing cards, remark credit, and normal products on the American Express club rewards portal
- Redemption minimums start at 1,000 issues and the most efficient choices worth issues at $0.01 apiece.
- $250 annual commission
Learn More About the American Express Gold Card
Best for Restaurant & Entertainment: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is among the maximum potent cash-back bank cards available on the market for other folks who love going out and cooking in.
Most particularly, it earns 3% coins again on all eligible eating and leisure purchases. There’s no restrict to how a lot you’ll be able to earn in those classes, making SavorOne the most efficient bank card for individuals who just like the finer issues in existence.
Additional options:
- Earn a one-time $200 coins bonus after you spend $500 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months
- Earn limitless 5% coins again on eligible resort and automotive apartment purchases via Capital One Travel
- Earn limitless 3% coins again on qualifying grocery retailer purchases (excluding purchases at superstores like Walmart and Target)
- Earn limitless 3% coins again on eligible streaming purchases
- Rewards by no means expire
- Redeem in any quantity
- Enjoy 0% APR on purchases and stability transfers for the primary 15 months from account opening — thereafter, variable common APR applies (recently 17.99% to 27.99% variable
- 3% commission at the quantities transferred throughout the first 15 months
- No annual commission or overseas transaction commission
Learn More About the Capital One SavorOne Card
Best for Students: Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is nearly a carbon reproduction of the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. Other than the truth that it’s designed for college kids in two- or four-year stage systems and likely different qualifying upper schooling scenarios, it’s just about similar.
Which makes it the most efficient cash-back card for college kids, bar none.
Additional options:
- For a restricted time, earn $50 while you spend $100 within the first 3 months.
- Earn limitless 5% coins again on motels and apartment automobiles booked via Capital One Travel
- Earn limitless 3% coins again on qualifying grocery retailer purchases (except purchases at superstores like Walmart and Target), eating purchases, leisure purchases, and purchases of in style streaming products and services
- Earn limitless 1% coins again on all different eligible purchases
- No annual commission or overseas transaction commission
- With accountable card use and well timed bills, Capital One may imagine you for a credit score line building up in as low as 6 months after account opening.
Learn More About the Capital One SavorOne Student Card
Best for Buying in Bulk: Costco Anywhere Visa® Card via Citi
The Costco Anywhere Card is a top rate cash-back product unique to Costco contributors. If you’re already spending $60 according to yr (or $120, should you’re springing for the Executive club) on a Costco club, and also you’re ready to satisfy Citi’s stringent underwriting necessities, this card is a no brainer as a result of all eligible Costco purchases earn 2% bonus coins again.
Yes, the redemption framework is a little bit wonky — you need to redeem in individual at Costco, and also you best get your rewards as soon as according to yr, after your February billing remark closes. But you almost certainly store Costco ceaselessly sufficient that you just received’t have to attend lengthy to redeem.
Additional options:
- Earn 4% coins again on eligible fuel and EV charging purchases at Costco and qualifying fuel stations, as much as the primary $7,000 in eligible purchases according to yr
- Earn limitless 3% again on eligible eating place and go back and forth purchases
- Earn limitless 1% coins again on all different eligible non-Costco purchases, together with fuel purchases above the $7,000 annual spending cap
- No overseas transaction commission or further annual commission
Learn More About the Costco Anywhere Visa Card via Citi
Best for Grocery Delivery: Instacart Mastercard®
The Instacart Mastercard® is the most efficient card for other folks preferring to have their groceries dropped at them — which is maximum folks, at times.
This card earns 5% coins again on Instacart app and Instacart.com purchases. Plus, join and get licensed to immediately earn a $100 Instacart credit score plus 1 unfastened yr of Instacart+.
Membership auto-renews. Terms observe.
Additional options:
- Earn 5% coins again on go back and forth bought in the course of the Chase Travel Center, together with flights, motels and extra
- Earn 2% coins again at eating places, fuel stations and on make a selection streaming products and services
- Earn 1% coins again on all different purchases
- No annual card commission
Learn More About the Instacart Mastercard®
Methodology: How We Choose the Best Cash-Back Credit Cards
We use a number of vital components to evaluate cash-back card high quality and construct this listing.
Most relate at once to the playing cards’ cash-back systems: incomes price, rewards classes, spending caps, and the like. We additionally pay shut consideration to welcome gives (sign-up bonuses) since the ones amplify early spending and considerably building up (or lower) playing cards’ attraction.
Cash-Back Rate
On a flat-rate cash-back card, the cash-back price is simple to decide. It’s the velocity at which coins again accrues on any eligible acquire.
Cards with tiered or rotating rewards classes nonetheless have easy-to-understand cash-back charges: 3% again on groceries, 2% again on fuel, 1% again on the whole lot else, or regardless of the case could also be. The precise combined cash-back price will depend on how a lot you spend in every class, however best you’ll be able to calculate that as a result of best you understand precisely how your spending breaks down.
Regardless, the upper the flat or doable combined price, the easier the cash-back card. We’ve ordered this listing accordingly.
Cash-Back Categories
Flat-rate bank cards win out in this level for sheer simplicity. There’s by no means any suspense round how a lot you’ll earn on a selected acquire.
For all different playing cards, we search for large acquire classes that attraction to a variety of doable customers: suppose groceries, fuel, eating, go back and forth, and so forth. The extra classes, the easier.
Spending Caps and Other Restrictions on Rewards
The highest cash-back bank cards earn limitless rewards, a minimum of in a few of their acquire classes. We don’t completely rule out playing cards with spending caps or different restrictions on incomes doable, however the ones playing cards want to produce other issues going for them to make the lower.
Redemption Options and Minimums
“Cash again” implies, neatly, coins again, however the main points do subject. The highest cash-back playing cards mean you can redeem for remark credit or checking account deposits in any quantity, each time you’re feeling love it. We’re no longer fanatics of playing cards with prime redemption minimums.
Welcome Offers
Most cash-back bank cards be offering some type of welcome incentive for brand new cardholders. We want incentives which might be each beneficiant and smooth to score, requiring at least spending unfold over a number of months.
0% APR Promotions
0% APR acquire and stability switch promotions are similarly engaging for brand new cardholders making plans primary purchases or debt payoffs.
Surprisingly, one of the highest stability switch bank cards and nil% APR acquire bank cards also are among the finest cash-back bank cards. You’ll to find them in this listing.
Card Fees
Cash-back bank cards generally tend to head more straightforward on charges than top rate go back and forth rewards playing cards, however that doesn’t imply the class is without cost of annual commission choices. We give choice to low-fee playing cards and wish cash-back playing cards with annual charges to show severe worth in the event that they wish to be incorporated in this listing.
Cash-Back Credit Card FAQs
Not moderately positive you’ve got a maintain at the wooly international of cash-back bank cards? Here are one of the maximum not unusual questions requested via your fellow cash-back beginners.
Do You Need a Good Credit Score to Get a Cash-Back Credit Card?
Often however no longer at all times.
The highest cash-back bank cards usually do require candidates to have just right to very good credit score — generally indicated via a FICO credit score ranking above 700, and now and again even upper. If you don’t meet that threshold, paintings on construction your credit score sooner than making use of for those top rate merchandise.
But a number of playing cards in this listing settle for programs from other people with honest and even impaired credit score. Students, specifically, have extra rewards bank card choices than ever — they usually’re a gaggle that’s no longer identified for having nice credit score.
How Much Can You Earn With a Cash-Back Credit Card?
Even essentially the most beneficiant cash-back bank cards hardly ever be offering greater than 5% coins again on eligible purchases. Cards that supply greater than 2% or 3% coins again usually require holders to stay observe of particular spending classes or admire acquire limits.
That mentioned, some playing cards have partnerships with particular outlets that permit them to supply eye-popping returns on eligible purchases — now and again 10% or extra. Be searching for the ones offers and turn on them briefly once they’re to be had, since they generally don’t ultimate lengthy.
Should You Pay Off Your Cash-Back Card Balance in Full?
Yes. Some be offering 0% APR promotions for brand new cardholders, however common cash-back bank card APRs generally vary from someplace north of 10% to greater than 20% in some circumstances.
At the ones charges, sporting a stability for even a unmarried month can severely consume into your cash-back profits. And habitually sporting a stability from month to month greater than negates your coins again profits, including to the real price of your purchases.
In different phrases, don’t let the promise of money again lull you into letting your card balances develop over the years. It’s nearly by no means price it. If you want to hold a bank card stability from month to month, go for a low-APR bank card as a substitute.
And should you concern about your talent to stay your bank card spending to a degree that permits for in-full bills every month, make a choice a bank card with a low spending restrict, or a secured bank card that calls for you to make an in advance coins deposit.
How Much Do Cash-Back Credit Cards Cost?
Ideally, not anything. Most of the playing cards in this listing don’t rate annual charges, and various waive overseas transaction charges too. If you pay your expenses in complete and on time, you may by no means pay greater than your precise fees.
Do make an effort to check candidate playing cards’ nice print even though. Otherwise, you could be blindsided via charges you didn’t understand the cardboard issuers may rate.
How to Select the Best Cash-Back Credit Card
Stuck between a couple of truly cast cash-back bank cards, not able to select the person who’s highest on your wishes?
Time for some point of view. Yes, it’s true that you just’d do nice with many if no longer all the cash-back playing cards in this listing, however that doesn’t imply you will have to accept a product you don’t completely love.
To to find the most efficient are compatible, ask your self a couple of questions:
- Where do I spend essentially the most cash?
- How do I would like in an effort to redeem my cash-back rewards?
- Am I keen to pay an annual commission if it approach incomes at a better price or incomes extra money again general?
- Am I making plans to make a big acquire or stability switch that I want 0% APR financing for?
- How vital is a beneficiant welcome be offering to me?
Use your solutions to chart the path ahead. Chances are, they’ll will let you slender down your listing additional and most likely level you to the perfect card.
For charges and costs of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please consult with this charges and costs web page.
For charges and costs of the American Express Cash Magnet® Card, please consult with this charges and costs web page.
1Offer is unique to Bread Cashback American Express Credit Card holders enrolled within the Bread Cashback program. Cash again may also be redeemed as remark credit score or direct deposit. This rewards program is equipped via Comenity Capital Bank and its phrases would possibly trade at any time. For complete Rewards Terms and Conditions, please see comenity.web/breadcashback/termsandconditions.
2Review vital price, commission, and different price knowledge.
3Certain phrases, stipulations, and exclusions observe. For extra main points, consult with https://www.americanexpress.com/us/community/breadfinancial/breadcashback
Credit card gives are matter to credit score approval.
American Express is a registered trademark of American Express. This Card is issued via Comenity Capital Bank pursuant to a license from American Express.