11 Best Cash-Back Credit Cards of March 2024

Cash-back credit cards are popular because they provide tangible, easy-to-understand benefits. Who doesn’t like getting a credit on their monthly credit card statement or — better yet — actual cash deposited into the account of their choice? Cash-back credit cards can be even more popular than our top-rated gas credit cards and travel rewards cards.

But not all cash-back credit cards are created equal.

Some offer the same cash-back rate on all purchases. Others offer higher rates on certain spending categories, such as groceries or gas, and lower rates on everything else. Still others provide bonus cash back on rotating spending categories every quarter. A few accrue cash back on both purchases and monthly payments.

And some cash back cards even offer hybrid models, with cash back on certain spending categories and different types of rewards (such as airline miles) on others.

Best Cash-Back Credit Cards

Each of the cards on this list does at least one thing really well, whether it’s offering a particularly high cash-back rate or providing an exceptional interest-free balance transfer promotion. Our best overall pick is the one we think offers the most value to the greatest number of potential users.

Best Overall: Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Chase Freedom Unlimited is the best overall cash-back credit card due to its varied cash-back rewards program, long 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, and generous sign-up bonus.

Cash back accrues as Chase Ultimate Rewards points. If you have another eligible Chase credit card, including the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, you can transfer points earned through Freedom Unlimited to those accounts. That could boost your redemption rate by up to 20% and open up potential transfers to over 10 Chase Travel℠ loyalty partners with loyalty currencies that could be worth even more.

• Sign-up Bonus: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

• Earning Rewards: After the first year, earn 5% cash back on eligible Chase Travel℠ purchases, 3% back on eligible drugstore and restaurant purchases (including delivery), and 1.5% back on all other eligible purchases.
• Redeeming Rewards: Redeem for statement credits, bank account deposits, gift cards, general merchandise, Amazon.com purchases, travel, and more through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
• Introductory APR: 0% introductory purchase and balance transfer APR for 15 months after account opening. Then variable regular APR applies, currently 20.49% - 29.24%.
• Annual Fee: $0

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Best Rotating Cash-Back Card: U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

Of all the cards on this list, the U.S. Bank Cash+^® Visa Signature^® Card has the best rotating cash-back rewards program.

You earn 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories you choose. Your options may change over time, but current categories include gyms and fitness centers, department stores, fast-food restaurants, and movie theaters.

See rates and fees for more information.

• Sign-up Bonus: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend at least $1,000 in eligible purchases within 120 days of account opening.
• Earning Rewards: In addition to 5% cash back in the two rotating categories of your choosing, you’ll earn 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center. You’ll also earn 2% cash back on purchases in one everyday category of your choosing, like Gas Stations/EV Charging Stations, Grocery Stores, or Restaurants, and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
• Redeeming Rewards: Redeem for statement credits, deposits into a connected U.S. Bank account, or good-as-cash gift cards.
• Introductory APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles. Then variable regular APR applies, currently 19.74% - 29.74%. Balance transfers must complete within the first 60 days.
• Annual Fee: $0

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Best Flat-Rate Cash-Back Card: Citi® Double Cash Card

The Citi^® Double Cash Card has the best flat-rate cash-back program on the market. But getting its full value means paying your bill in full each month.

As long as you’re a cardholder in good standing, you’re guaranteed to earn 1% cash back on all eligible purchases. You earn another 1% back on balance payments, provided you make the minimum payment each month. So to achieve the effective 2% cash-back rate, you must pay your balance in full, which is advisable anyway.

• Sign-up Bonus: None
• Earning Rewards: Earn 1% cash back on all eligible purchases and 1% cash back on all balances paid by your statement due date. That’s 2% cash back when you pay your bill in full each month.
• Redeeming Rewards: Redeem for statement credits or direct deposit to a linked bank account, beginning at $25 in accrued rewards.
• Introductory APR: 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 18 months from account opening, then variable regular APR applies (currently 18.99% to 28.99%). The purchase APR is 18.99% to 28.99% from day one.
• Annual Fee: $0

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Best for Supermarket Purchases: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express is the best cash-back credit card for people with moderate to heavy grocery budgets.

It earns 6% cash back on all U.S. supermarket transactions, up to a $6,000 annual spending limit. Once you hit $6,000, you still get 1% back on U.S. supermarket purchases.

• Welcome Bonus: Earn $250 back after you spend at least $3,000 on purchases within the first 6 months. Cash back accrues as Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits.
• Earning Rewards: Earn 6% cash back on eligible purchases with digital media and streaming providers such as Netflix and HBO (terms apply). Earn 3% cash back on every $1 spent at U.S. gas stations and transit operators, including rideshare operators such as Lyft and Uber. All other purchases earn 1% cash back.
• Redeeming Rewards: Redeem accumulated Reward Dollars for statement credits against purchases or at Amazon.com checkout.
• Introductory APR: 0% APR on purchases for 12 months, then variable regular APR applies (currently 19.24% to 29.99%).
• Annual Fee: $0 intro annual fee in year one, then $95 (see rates and fees)

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Best for Simplicity: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

As cash-back credit cards go, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card couldn’t be simpler. All eligible purchases made with this card earn 1.5% cash back, with just one exception: 5% cash back on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through Capital One Travel.

Plus, there’s no limit on how much cash back you can earn and no minimum threshold to redeem your rewards.

• Early Spend Bonus: When you spend at least $500 within 3 months of opening your account, you'll earn a $200 cash bonus.
• Earning Rewards: Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on most purchases. Eligible hotel and rental car bookings made through Capital One Travel earn unlimited 5% back. Terms apply.
• Redeeming Rewards: Redeem in any amount for statement credits against prior purchases.
• Introductory APR: 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then variable regular APR applies (currently 19.99% to 29.99%.
• Annual Fee: $0

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Best for Grocery Delivery: Instacart Mastercard®

The Instacart Mastercard^® is the best card for those days when you just don’t want to deal with the grocery store. It might not be your everyday, all-the-time credit card, but if you’re like me, you’ll use it more often than you’d expect.

The value is certainly there. The Instacart Mastercard earns 5% cash back on Instacart app and Instacart.com purchases, and you get a free year of Instacart+ when you sign up. Instacart+ benefits include free delivery on orders over $35 and another 5% back when you pick up in-store.

• Sign-up Bonus: Get a free year of delivery and a $100 Instacart credit automatically upon approval. Membership auto-renews; terms apply.
• Earning Rewards: In addition to 5% back on eligible Instacart purchases, earn 5% cash back on eligible travel purchased through the Chase Travel℠ Center, plus 2% back on restaurant, gas station, and select streaming service purchases. All other purchases earn 1% cash back.
• Redeeming Rewards: Redeem for statement credits, bank account deposits, gift cards, online purchases, and travel booked through the Chase Travel℠ portal.
• Instacart Membership Fee: $99 after the first year. Membership auto-renews unless you cancel.
• Annual Fee: $0

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Best for Customizable Cash Back: Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

The Citi Custom Cash^℠ Card allows you to effortlessly customize your cash-back earnings based on your spending habits, with no manual activation required.

Just spend as you normally would and you’ll automatically earn 5% cash back on the first $500 in purchases in your top eligible spending category each month. Categories include restaurants, gas stations, select transit, select travel, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, and live entertainment.

• Sign-up Bonus: Earn $200 bonus cash, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou points, after spending $1,500 in eligible purchases during the first 6 months your account is open.
• Earning Rewards: In addition to 5% back on the first $500 spent in your top eligible spending category each month, you’ll earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
• Redeeming Rewards: Cash-back rewards accrue as as ThankYou points redeemable for statement credits, bank account deposits, gift cards, and more.
• Introductory APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then variable regular APR applies (currently 18.99% to 28.99%).
• Annual Fee: $0

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Best for Restaurant & Entertainment: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the most potent cash-back credit cards on the market for folks who love both going out and cooking in.

That’s because it earns 3% cash back on all eligible dining and entertainment purchases. It gets better: Eligible Uber and Uber Eats purchases earn 10% cash back (through November 14, 2024), and eligible Capital One Entertainment purchases earn 8% cash back. There’s no cap on how much you can earn in any of these categories.

• Early Spend Bonus: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
• Earning Rewards: On top of up to 10% back on select food and entertainment purchases, SavorOne Rewards earns unlimited 5% back on eligible Capital One Travel purchases and 1% back on all other eligible purchases.
• Redeeming Rewards: Redeem in any amount for statement credits, gift cards, and other cashlike items.
• Introductory APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months from account opening, then variable regular APR applies (currently 19.99% to 29.99%).
• Annual Fee: $0

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Best for Flexible Cash Back: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card gives you total control over your 3% cash-back category. Each quarter, you can choose your favorite option from one of six broad categories: gas, dining, online shopping, home furnishings/improvements, and travel.

You can earn 3% back on up to $2,500 in purchases each quarter. But purchases in two fixed 2% categories — grocery stores and warehouse stores — also count toward the cap. So you have to customize your spending as you see fit.

• Sign-up Bonus: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
• Earning Rewards: Other than purchases in the 3% and 2% cash-back categories, you’ll earn 1% cash back on all eligible purchases. This includes purchases in the 3% and 2% categories above the $2,500 quarterly spending cap.
• Redeeming Rewards: Redeem in any amount for statement credits or Bank of America bank account deposits. Other redemption options have a $25 minimum.
• Introductory APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 18 statement closing dates after account opening. Then variable regular APR applies. Make qualifying balance transfers within 60 days of account opening.
• Annual Fee: $0

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Best for Buying in Bulk: Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

The Costco Anywhere Card is a premium cash-back card exclusive to Costco members. If you’re already spending $60 per year on a Costco membership (or $120 if you’re springing for the Executive Membership), and you’re able to meet Citi’s stringent underwriting requirements, this card is a no-brainer because all eligible Costco purchases earn 2% bonus cash back. If you’re an Executive member, you earn an additional 2% back on Costco and Costco.com purchases, boosting your return to 4%.

The biggest drawback is that the redemption framework is a little wonky. You have to redeem in person at Costco, and you only get your rewards once per year, after your February billing statement closes. But if you’re even interested in this card, you probably shop at Costco often enough that it won’t matter.

• Sign-up Bonus: None
• Earning Rewards: In addition to 2% back on eligible Costco purchases, earn 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases at Costco and qualifying gas stations (up to the first $7,000 in eligible purchases per year), unlimited 3% back on eligible restaurant and travel purchases, and unlimited 1% back on all other eligible purchases.
• Redeeming Rewards: Each year after your February billing cycle closes, you’ll get a rewards certificate for the balance of your rewards earned during the previous calendar year. You must redeem it in person at Costco by the end of the current calendar year.
• Costco Membership Fee: $60 per year for a standard membership and $120 per year for an Executive membership, which entitles you to an additional 2% off on all Costco and Costco.com purchases.
• Annual Fee: $0

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Methodology: How We Choose the Best Cash-Back Credit Cards

We use several important factors to assess cash-back card quality and build this list. 

Most relate directly to the cards’ cash-back programs. Examples include earning rate, rewards categories, and spending caps. We also pay close attention to welcome offers (sign-up bonuses) since those magnify early spending and significantly increase (or decrease) a card’s appeal.

Cash-Back Rate

On a flat-rate cash-back card, the cash-back rate is easy to determine. It’s the rate at which cash back accrues on any eligible purchase.

Cards with tiered or rotating rewards categories still have easy-to-understand cash-back rates. For example, a card might have 3% back on groceries, 2% back on gas, and 1% back on everything else. The actual cash-back rate depends on how much you spend in each category, but only you can calculate that because only you know exactly how your spending breaks down.

Regardless, the higher the potential rate, the better the cash-back card.

Cash-Back Categories

Flat-rate credit cards win out on this point for sheer simplicity. There’s never any suspense about how much you can earn on a particular purchase.

For all other cards, we look for broad purchase categories that appeal to a wide range of potential users: think groceries, gas, and dining. The more categories, the better.

Spending Caps & Other Restrictions on Rewards

The best cash-back credit cards earn unlimited rewards, at least in some of their purchase categories. We don’t totally rule out cards with spending caps or other restrictions on earning potential, but those cards must have other things going for them to make the cut.

Redemption Options & Minimums

“Cash back” implies, well, cash back, but the details matter. The best cash-back cards let you redeem for statement credits or bank account deposits in any amount whenever you feel like it. We’re not fans of cards with high redemption minimums.

Welcome Offers

Most cash-back credit cards offer some sort of welcome incentive for new cardholders. We prefer incentives that are both generous and easy to attain, requiring minimal spending spread over several months. 

0% APR Promotions

No-APR purchase and balance transfer promotions are equally enticing for new cardholders planning major purchases or debt payoffs. 

Surprisingly, some of the best balance transfer credit cards and 0% APR purchase credit cards are also among the best cash-back credit cards.

Card Fees

Cash-back credit cards tend to go easier on fees than premium travel rewards cards, but that doesn’t mean the category is totally free of annual fee options. We give preference to low-fee cards . Cash-back cards with annual fees must demonstrate serious value to be included on this list.

Cash-Back Credit Card FAQs

Not quite sure you have a handle on the wooly world of cash-back credit cards? Get the answers to some of the most common questions asked by your fellow cash-back novices.

Do You Need a Good Credit Score to Get a Cash-Back Credit Card?

Often but not always. 

The best cash-back credit cards generally require applicants to have good to excellent credit — usually indicated by a FICO credit score above 700, and sometimes even higher. If you don’t meet that threshold, work on building your credit before applying for these premium products.

But several cards on this list accept applications from people with fair or even impaired credit. Students, in particular, have more rewards credit card options than ever — and they’re a group that’s not known for having great credit.

How Much Can You Earn With a Cash-Back Credit Card?

Even the most generous cash-back credit cards rarely offer more than 5% cash back on eligible purchases. Cards that offer more than 2% or 3% cash back typically require holders to keep track of specific spending categories or respect purchase limits.

That said, some cards have partnerships with specific retailers that allow them to offer eye-popping returns on eligible purchases — sometimes 10% or more. Be on the lookout for those deals and activate them quickly when they’re available since they usually don’t last long.

Should You Pay Off Your Cash-Back Card Balance in Full?

Yes. Some offer 0% APR promotions for new cardholders, but regular cash-back credit card APRs usually range from somewhere north of 10% to more than 20% in some cases. 

At those rates, carrying a balance for even a single month can seriously eat into your cash-back earnings. And habitually carrying a balance from month to month more than negates your cash-back earnings, adding to the actual cost of your purchases.

In other words, don’t let the promise of cash back lull you into letting your card balances grow over time. It’s almost never worth it. If you need to carry a credit card balance from month to month, opt for a low-APR credit card instead.

And if you worry about your ability to keep your credit card spending to a level that allows for in-full payments each month, choose a credit card with a low spending limit or a secured credit card that requires you to make an upfront cash deposit.

How Much Do Cash-Back Credit Cards Cost?

Ideally, nothing. Most of the cards on this list don’t charge annual fees, and more than a few waive foreign transaction fees too. If you pay your bills in full and on time, you might never pay more than your actual charges.

Take the time to review the fine print, though. Otherwise, you might be blindsided by fees you didn’t realize the card issuers could charge.

Final Word

Stuck between a few really solid cash-back credit cards, unable to choose the one that’s best for your needs?

Time for some perspective. Yes, it’s true that you’d do fine with many if not all the cash-back cards on this list, but that doesn’t mean you should settle for a product you don’t absolutely love.

To find the best fit, ask yourself a few questions:

• Where do I spend the most money?
• How do I want to be able to redeem my cash-back rewards?
• Am I willing to pay an annual fee if it means earning at a higher rate or earning more cash back overall?
• Am I planning to make a major purchase or balance transfer that I need 0% APR financing for?
• How important is a generous welcome offer to me?

Use your answers to chart the course forward. Chances are they’ll help you narrow your list further and perhaps point you to the ideal card. 

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please visit this rates and fees page.

For rates and fees of the American Express Cash Magnet® Card, please visit this rates and fees page.

1Offer is exclusive to Bread Cashback American Express Credit Card holders enrolled in the Bread Cashback program. Cash back can be redeemed as statement credit or direct deposit. This rewards program is provided by Comenity Capital Bank and its terms may change at any time. For full Rewards Terms and Conditions, please see comenity.net/breadcashback/termsandconditions. 

2Review important rate, fee, and other cost information. 

3Certain terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. For more details, visit https://www.americanexpress.com/us/network/breadfinancial/breadcashback 

Credit card offers are subject to credit approval. 

American Express is a registered trademark of American Express. This Card is issued by Comenity Capital Bank pursuant to a license from American Express.