This list of top cash-back cards list will give you some insight if you’re getting ready to add a cash-back card to your wallet.
Today we’ll go over cash-back credit cards. Many of my friends know I’m a personal finance blogger and ask me about which credit cards have the best cash back programs or which offer the best rewards. Fortunately, many different credit cards offer reward systems and this makes the competition fierce and is better for consumers, i.e. you.
The top cash-back credit card list below is compiled of cards that offer the best bang for your buck. If you are going to sign up for a new credit card, make sure it is one that offers cash back for your purchases for starters. We want to get you the best maximum value for that plastic card you’ll use on a daily basis.
Best Cash-Back Credit Cards of 2021:
- Discover It: 1% cash back on everything, 5% cash back on rotating categories (this quarter is Uber/Lyft/etc).
- Chase Freedom: The categories are usually different than the ones for Discover, they work great together.
- Bank of America Cash Rewards: 1% cash back on every purchase, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and 3% on gas for the first $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale club/gas purchases each quarter. The advantage of a card like this is if you put a recurring payment like Netflix, Apple Music, etc on it and just auto-pay each month
- Citi Double Cash: 2% cash back on everything. This is my daily driver. 1% cash back when you spend + 1% cash back when you pay your bill.
If cash back is your goal, you’re going to generally want to stay away from cards with annual fees.
None of the ones I listed have an annual fee.
The Amex Blue Cash Everyday seems like a good card as well, you may want to look into that one to save more at the grocery store and gas stations, but it has as an annual fee as others in this thread have stated. Let’s dive deep in these cards.
1. Discover ItEarn 5% cash back at different places each quarter like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, Amazon.com and more, up to the quarterly maximum, each time you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases — automatically.
Welcome bonus: Enjoy a $50 statement credit. Click here to view the bonus. |
2. Chase FreedomEarn unlimited cash back Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase – it’s automatic. No minimum to redeem for cash back.
Welcome bonus: $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. |
3. Bank of America Better Balance Rewards Card1% cash back on every purchase, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and 3% on gas for the first $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale club/gas purchases each quarter.
Welcome bonus: Online $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $500 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening. |
4. Citi Double CashEarn cash back on your purchases with one of Citi’s best cash back credit cards. The Citi® Double Cash card lets you earn 2% cash back — 1% on purchases and an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
Welcome bonus: N/A |
Compare Credit Cards
Here is a review of the best cash-back credit cards with full details of Bonus rates, cash back rates, and annual Fee.
| Card | Bonus Rates | Flat Cash-Back Rate | Annual Fee |
| Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card | 4% on dining and entertainment and 2% at grocery stores | 1% | $95 (waived the first year) |
| Wells Fargo Propel Amex | 3x points on dining, travel and select streaming services and 1x on everything else; points are worth 1 cent apiece | 1% | $0 |
| Ink Business Cash Credit Card | 5% at office supply stores*; 2% on gas and restaurants** | 1% | $0 |
| Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express | 6% cash back on purchases at US supermarkets (on up to $6,000 of spending each reward year, then 1%) plus 3% cash back at US gas stations, and 1% cash back everywhere else | 1% | $95 |
| Chase Freedom | 5% quarterly bonus on up to $1,500 | 1% | $0 |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | 1.5% on all purchases | 1.5% | $0 |
| Capital One Quicksilver Card | 1.5% on all purchases | 1.5% | $0 |
| Citi Double Cash Card | 1% when you make purchases, 1% when you pay your bill | 1% | $0 |
| Discover it® Cash Back | With the Discover it card, you can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases made in accordance with Discover’s 2018 Cashback Calendar after enrollment.; Discover will match cash-back for first year. | 1% | $0 |
| Bank of America Cash Rewards credit card | 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and 3% on gas for the first $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale/gas purchases each quarter | 1% | $0 |
Best Cash Back Cards Summary
Hopefully, this list has given you some insight if you’re getting ready to add a cash-back card to your wallet.
To summarize:
- Discover It: 1% cash back on everything, 5% cash back on rotating categories (this quarter is Uber/Lyft/etc).
- Chase Freedom: The categories are usually different than the ones for Discover, they work great together.
- Bank of America Cash Rewards: 1% cash back on every purchase, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and 3% on gas for the first $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale club/gas purchases each quarter. The advantage of a card like this is if you put a recurring payment like Netflix, Apple Music, etc on it and just auto-pay each month
- Citi Double Cash: 2% cash back on everything. This is my daily driver. 1% cash back when you spend + 1% cash back when you pay your bill.