Earn cash back on everyday purchases. Compare 12 top-rated cards side by side.
#1
Annual Fee$0
APR20.49%-29.24%
Sign-Up Bonus$200 after $500 in 3 months
Credit ScoreGood (670+)
Rewards: 6.5% drugstores (yr 1), 4.5% dining (yr 1), 3% dining/drugstores, 1.5% everything
Intro APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months
Balance Transfer: 0% intro APR for 15 months
Cash BackNo Annual Fee
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR for 15 months
- Great companion to Sapphire cards
- Earn Ultimate Rewards points
#2
Annual Fee$0
APR20.49%-29.24%
Sign-Up Bonus$200 after $500 in 3 months
Credit ScoreGood (670+)
Rewards: 5% rotating categories (up to $1,500/quarter), 3% dining/drugstores, 1% everything
Intro APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months
Balance Transfer: 0% intro APR for 15 months
Cash BackNo Annual Fee
- 5% rotating quarterly categories
- No annual fee
- Cell phone protection
- 0% intro APR for 15 months
#3
Annual Fee$95
APR19.24%-29.99%
Sign-Up Bonus$250 after $3,000 in 6 months
Credit ScoreGood (670+)
Rewards: 6% US supermarkets (up to $6k/yr), 6% streaming, 3% transit/gas, 1% everything
Intro APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months
Balance Transfer: 0% intro APR for 12 months
Cash Back
- 6% back on groceries
- 6% on streaming subscriptions
- 0% intro APR
- Great for families
#4
Annual Fee$0
APR19.24%-29.99%
Sign-Up Bonus$200 after $2,000 in 6 months
Credit ScoreGood (670+)
Rewards: 3% US supermarkets (up to $6k/yr), 3% US online retail, 3% gas, 1% everything
Intro APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months
Balance Transfer: 0% intro APR for 15 months
Cash BackNo Annual Fee
- No annual fee
- 3% on groceries, gas & online
- 0% intro APR for 15 months
- Solid everyday card
#5
Annual Fee$0
APR19.24%-29.24%
Sign-Up Bonus$200 after $1,500 in 6 months
Credit ScoreGood (670+)
Rewards: 2% on everything (1% when you buy + 1% when you pay)
Balance Transfer: 0% intro APR for 18 months
Cash BackBalance TransferNo Annual Fee
- Flat 2% on everything
- No annual fee
- 18-month 0% balance transfer APR
- No category tracking needed
#6
Annual Fee$0
APR19.24%-29.24%
Sign-Up Bonus$200 after $1,500 in 6 months
Credit ScoreGood (670+)
Rewards: 5% on your top eligible spend category (up to $500/cycle), 1% everything else
Intro APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months
Balance Transfer: 0% intro APR for 15 months
Cash BackNo Annual Fee
- Auto 5% in your top category
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR
- Categories: restaurants, gas, groceries, travel, transit, streaming, drugstores, home improvement, fitness, entertainment
#7
Annual Fee$0
APR19.99%-29.99%
Sign-Up Bonus$200 after $500 in 3 months
Credit ScoreGood (670+)
Rewards: 3% dining/entertainment/streaming/groceries, 5% hotels/car via Capital One Travel, 1% everything
Intro APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months
Balance Transfer: 0% intro APR for 15 months
Cash BackNo Annual Fee
- No annual fee
- 3% on dining, entertainment & groceries
- No foreign transaction fees
- 0% intro APR for 15 months
#8
Annual Fee$0
APR19.99%-29.99%
Sign-Up Bonus$200 after $500 in 3 months
Credit ScoreGood (670+)
Rewards: 1.5% unlimited cash back on every purchase
Intro APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months
Balance Transfer: 0% intro APR for 15 months
Cash BackNo Annual Fee
- Flat 1.5% on everything
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- 0% intro APR for 15 months
#9
Annual Fee$0
APR17.24%-28.24%
Sign-Up BonusCashback Match (all cash back matched end of first year)
Credit ScoreGood (670+)
Rewards: 5% rotating categories (up to $1,500/quarter), 1% everything else
Intro APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months
Balance Transfer: 0% intro APR for 15 months
Cash BackStudent & StarterNo Annual Fee
- Cashback Match doubles first-year rewards
- 5% rotating categories
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free FICO score
#10
Annual Fee$0
APR20.24%-29.99%
Sign-Up Bonus$200 after $500 in 3 months
Credit ScoreGood (670+)
Rewards: 2% unlimited cash rewards on purchases
Intro APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months
Balance Transfer: 0% intro APR for 15 months
Cash BackBalance TransferNo Annual Fee
- Flat 2% on everything
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR for 15 months
- Cell phone protection
#11
Annual Fee$0
APR19.24%-29.49%
Sign-Up BonusNone
Credit ScoreGood (670+)
Rewards: 3% Apple/select merchants, 2% Apple Pay, 1% everything else
Cash BackNo Annual Fee
- Daily Cash rewards
- No fees whatsoever
- Titanium card
- Built into Apple Wallet
- No foreign transaction fees
#12
Annual Fee$0
APR20.49%-28.49%
Sign-Up Bonus$200 Amazon Gift Card upon approval
Credit ScoreGood (670+)
Rewards: 5% Amazon/Whole Foods (with Prime), 2% restaurants/gas/transit, 1% everything
Cash BackNo Annual Fee
- 5% back at Amazon & Whole Foods
- No annual fee (requires Prime)
- No foreign transaction fees
- Great for Amazon shoppers
How to Maximize Cash Back Rewards in 2026
Cash back credit cards remain the simplest way to earn rewards on everyday spending. Unlike travel points that require transfer knowledge and booking strategies, cash back goes straight to your statement or bank account. The key to maximizing returns is matching your card to your spending patterns.
For grocery shoppers, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred offers an industry-leading 6% back at US supermarkets. If you prefer simplicity, flat-rate cards like the Citi Double Cash (2% on everything) or Wells Fargo Active Cash (2% on everything) eliminate the need to track categories. The Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it offer 5% in rotating quarterly categories for those willing to stay engaged.
Stacking multiple cards is the expert strategy: use a category card for your top spending areas and a flat-rate card for everything else. This approach can yield an effective 3-5% return across all purchases.
