Best Cash back Credit Cards
We think cashback credit cards are a great option for travelers who want to make a purchase, without spending a lot of time, effort, and gas money. Cashback credit cards are a major best-kept secret for travelers. Most people associate rewards with travel credit cards, but cashback credit cards are just as powerful. Cashback credit cards pay you a percentage of the cashback you earn – a percentage that varies depending on your credit card issuer. Let’s look Best Cash back Credit Cards:
Some credit card issuers offer a higher percentage of cashback to new cardholders, while others have a flat cashback amount for each credit card account. The percentage is a fixed amount of money you are credited back each time you use the card. These cash-back credit cards are a powerful way to maximize your purchases while getting the maximum value back for the least amount of effort.
This type of credit card offers many benefits over a traditional rewards credit card, including:
- Savings on gas and groceries
- Vacations to local attractions
- More rewards and cashback
- Free travel insurance
- No foreign transaction fees
- Purchase protection
- No annual fees
- Security features like EMV chip cards
If you have a few extra dollars to spend, we think these cash-back credit cards are the way to go. These are the best cashback credit cards you can get:
1. Citi Double Cash Card
Why we like it:
Citi Double Cash Card pays you 1% cashback on every purchase made with it. The card has no annual fee. Citi Double Cash Card is designed to help you earn rewards and get the most value back for your cashback. The card has no foreign transaction fees.
The Citi Double Cash Card earns 2% cashback at U.S. gas stations, convenience stores, and supermarkets, 2% cashback at U.S. restaurants, as well as 1% back on everything else.
- It offers a nice variety of ways to earn cashback with no annual fee:
- Buy groceries at grocery stores – you get 1% cashback
- Buy food at supermarkets – you get 2% cashback
- Buy fuel at U.S. gas stations – you get 1% cashback
- Purchase flights with ticketing and baggage fees – you get 2% cashback
- Buy airfare – you get 1% cashback
Cashback and card statement statements are delivered electronically so you don’t need to carry around a pile of paper. You can even track your purchases with online account tracking.
Key Takeaway
The Citi Double Cash Card makes shopping at grocery stores and filling up your gas tank feel like it’s free money. It is a great way to use the points you earn on your credit card statement for something you already do.
2. Amex Blue Cash Preferred
Why we like it:
You can earn a 1.5% cashback at U.S. gas stations, up to a $200 annual fee. The Amex Blue Cash Preferred is an exceptional cash-back credit card with no annual fee. It comes with a $0 balance transfer fee, as well as up to 3% cashback at U.S. gas stations, up to a $200 annual fee.
Other perks include:
- Free travel insurance
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fees
- Cashback is not limited to purchases.
- You can use your rewards to pay for eligible purchases like Amazon.com and Netflix subscriptions.
Key Takeaway
While the 1.5% cashback at U.S. gas stations can’t compete with the 1.5% cashback you can get at Walmart’s gas stations, it still beats the free 3% cashback on Amazon.com that many people who get a Walmart AMZN, -0.15% gas card pay for each year.
3. Amex Diamond Preferred
Why we like it:
Amex Diamond Preferred cardholders can earn 1.5% cashback on all purchases, with a $0 annual fee. The Amex Diamond Preferred is a big step up from the Amex Blue Cash Preferred. Signing up for this card also comes with a $0 balance transfer fee, and you can earn up to 5% cashback at U.S. gas stations, 3% cashback at U.S. supermarkets, and 3% cashback on everything else.
If you spend over $7,500 each year on the Amex Blue Cash Preferred, the 1.5% cashback will go a long way towards covering the annual fee. If you spend less than $6,750 per year, the $0 annual fee is well worth it.
Key Takeaway
As we stated above, the 1.5% cashback at U.S. gas stations is no match for the 1.5% cashback you can earn at Walmart’s gas stations. If you use the Amex Diamond Preferred to make frequent purchases at gas stations, supermarket chains, and online retailers, then the $0 balance transfer fee is nothing to worry about.
4. Citibank Premier Plus Cash Rewards
Why we like it:
The Citibank Premier Plus Cash Rewards card earns 2% cashback on gas and dining, 2% back at U.S. supermarkets, and 1% back on everything else. The annual fee is $49, but you can qualify for a 25% cashback bonus if you spend $6,000 or more in the first 3 months. You can also get up to 3% cashback on dining and travel.
Key Takeaway
The 2% cashback on gas and dining and 2% cashback at U.S. supermarkets can go a long way towards covering the annual fee of the Premier Plus Cash Rewards card.
5. Chase Freedom Unlimited
Why we like it:
You can earn 2% cashback on gas and dining, as well as at U.S. supermarkets and select online retailers with no annual fee. The card also comes with a $0 balance transfer fee, and you can earn up to 5% cashback on dining and travel.
Key Takeaway
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is another great card with no annual fee. You can easily earn 2% back on gas and dining, as well as at U.S. supermarkets and select online retailers.
6. Chase Sapphire Preferred
Why we like it:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has no annual fee, and it can earn you 1.5% cashback at U.S. gas stations, and 1.5% back on U.S. supermarkets and select online retailers with no annual fee. You can also earn up to 4% cashback on dining and travel with this card.
Key Takeaway
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has no annual fee and earns 1.5% cashback at U.S. gas stations and 1.5% back at U.S. supermarkets and select online retailers with no annual fee.
7. Barclays Emerald Rewards
Why we like it:
The Barclays Emerald Rewards card offers a generous sign-up bonus of 25,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 within the first 3 months of opening an account. This card can earn you 1% cashback on all purchases, and you can earn up to 4% cashback on dining and travel. It’s a decent card for spending around the city if you want to earn at least a little bit of cashback each time you spend.
Key Takeaway
The Barclays Emerald Rewards card offers a decent sign-up bonus, and you can earn up to 4% cashback on dining and travel.
8. Discover it® Cashback Match®
Why we like it:
The Discover it® Cashback Match® earns 0% on all Discover cards, as well as on American Express® cards. The Discover it® Cashback Match® card also offers 0% on both Discover and American Express cards, which can be handy if you travel a lot, or if you are an American Express customer.
Key Takeaway
The Discover it® Cashback Match card earns 0% on all Discover cards, as well as on American Express cards.
9. The Costco Cash+ Visa
Why we like it:
The Costco Cash+ Visa earns 1% back on gas and 1% on all other purchases. The card also offers 0% on the balance transfer fee, which means that you can transfer up to $3,000 or more in credit card debt without paying an annual fee. The annual fee is $89, but there is no balance transfer fee for the first 12 months, so it’s not bad to pay an annual fee upfront in exchange for a 0% balance transfer fee.
Key Takeaway
The Costco Cash+ Visa offers 1% back on gas and 1% back on everything else. You can also earn 1% cashback at U.S. gas stations, and 1% back on Costco-owned brands and select online retailers with no annual fee.
10. The JetBlue Blue
Why we like it:
JetBlue Blue is one of the few cards that can earn you 3% cashback on all purchases, and 2% back at U.S. supermarkets and select online retailers with no annual fee. The card also comes with a $0 balance transfer fee, so you can transfer up to $10,000 or more in credit card debt without paying an annual fee.
Key Takeaway
JetBlue Blue earns 3% back on all purchases, and 2% back at U.S. supermarkets and select online retailers with no annual fee.
11. The Citi ThankYou® Cashback MasterCard
Why we like it:
The Citi ThankYou® Cashback MasterCard earns 3% cashback on all purchases and 2% back at U.S. supermarkets and select online retailers with no annual fee. The card also comes with a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 18 months.
Key Takeaway
The Citi ThankYou® Cashback MasterCard earns 3% cashback on all purchases and 2% back at U.S. supermarkets and select online retailers with no annual fee.
12. The AmEx Platinum Card®
Why we like it:
The AmEx Platinum Card earns 2% cashback on all dining and entertainment spending and 1% cashback on all other purchases. The card also comes with a generous $200 travel credit each calendar year that can be used for hotels, airfare, ground transportation, parking, and international airfare, as well as the purchase of any products or services from AmEx.
Key Takeaway
The AmEx Platinum Card offers 2% cashback on dining and entertainment spending. It also comes with a generous $200 travel credit each calendar year that can be used for hotels, airfare, ground transportation, parking, and international airfare, as well as the purchase of any products or services from AmEx.
13. The American Express Centurion Card®
Why we like it:
The American Express Centurion Card earns 1% cashback on all dining and entertainment spending, and 0% on all other purchases. The card also offers a $200 annual travel credit, which can be used for hotels, airfare, ground transportation, parking, and international airfare, as well as the purchase of any products or services from American Express.
Key Takeaway
The American Express Centurion Card earns 1% cashback on dining and entertainment spending. It also offers a $200 annual travel credit, which can be used for hotels, airfare, ground transportation, parking, and international airfare, as well as the purchase of any products or services from American Express.
14. The Diners Club Classic Plus
Why we like it:
The Diners Club Classic Plus earns 1% cashback on all dining and entertainment spending, and 0% on all other purchases. The card also offers a $100 dining credit that can be used on purchases from Diners Club International restaurants, but there is an annual fee of $24.95, which is waived for the first year.
Key Takeaway
The Diners Club Classic Plus earns 1% cashback on all dining and entertainment spending, and 0% on all other purchases. It also offers a $100 dining credit that can be used on purchases from Diners Club International restaurants, but there is an annual fee of $24.95, which is waived for the first year.
Conclusion
Fortunately for the penny pinchers out there, there are plenty of excellent cash-back credit cards out there for all your spending needs. Use our handy cheat sheet and savvy card-matching features to reduce the number of cards you have to juggle to find one that fits your spending needs.
If you’re looking to get started on the path to spending your whole paycheck in a single day, our review of the best cash-back credit cards can help you choose one that pays you the most. Regardless of whether you have questions about credit card rewards or how to earn more cashback, we’re here to help.
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