What’s the highest paying cash back card?

Every cash back card is different and the highest-paying one will depend on what you buy and where you spend the most. For example, suppose you want to buy a new couch from your nearest furniture store and it costs $1,000. The Wells Fargo Active Cash card earns a flat rate of 2 percent back for a total of $20 back. However, if you use the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature card for that same purchase, you can earn $50 back because it earns 5 percent back at furniture stores (when you enroll, up to $2,000 in spending per quarter).

Should I get a cash back card or a travel card?

The right credit card for you will depend on your spending habits and the perks that matter most to you. Travel cards are great for people who know they want to redeem rewards for travel expenses or want perks like elite status, free checked bags, free hotel stays or airport lounge access.Cash back cards can be simpler to use and offer more flexibility than travel cards. If you don’t travel often enough to justify an annual fee on a travel card, a cash back card may be better for travel.

Do cash back cards actually give you cash?

You may not receive cold, hard cash, but issuers offer redemption options like a direct deposit into a checking account, mailed checks, statement credits or gift cards. Perhaps the closest you can get to redeeming rewards for physical cash is through a Wells Fargo card that allows you to redeem for cash withdrawals at eligible ATMs.

Is cash back from a credit card taxable?

Generally, cash back earned with a credit card is not considered taxable income. Learn more about what credit card rewards can be considered taxable.

Does cash back expire?

Many cash back cards offer rewards that never expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing. However, it’s best to check the terms and conditions before applying since not every issuer has this policy.

11 Best Cash Back Credit Cards - May 2025

Compare Bankrate's top cash back credit cards

	Best for	Cash back highlights	Welcome offer		Learn more
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card Apply now on Wells Fargo's secure site See Rates & Fees	Flat-rate rewards	2% cash rewards on purchases	Intro Offer: $200 cash rewards Regular APR: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR	$0	Apply now on Wells Fargo's secure site See Rates & Fees
Citi Double Cash® Card Apply now on Citi's secure site See Rates & Fees	Balance transfers	Up to 2% cash back on purchases (1% when you purchase and 1% when you pay)	Intro Offer: $200 cash back Regular APR: 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)	$0	Apply now on Citi's secure site See Rates & Fees
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees	Everyday spending	5% cash back on Lyft purchases (through September 30, 2027) and travel booked through Chase Travel 3% cash back on dining at restaurants and drugstore purchases 1.5% cash back on all other purchases	Intro Offer: Earn $200 cash back Regular APR: 18.99% - 28.49% Variable	$0	Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees	Dining	3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming service and grocery store purchases (excluding Walmart® and Target®)	Intro Offer: Earn $200 Cash Back Regular APR: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)	$0	Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply	Online shopping	3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, gas stations and online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per calendar year in each category, then 1%)	Intro Offer: Earn $200 Regular APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable	$0	Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply	Groceries	6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, 1% after) and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis, rideshares, parking and more)	Intro Offer: Earn $250 Regular APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable	$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.	Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply
Discover it® Cash Back Apply now on Discover's secure site See Rates & Fees	Category variety	5% cash back on rotating categories (on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter, then 1% back, activation required)	Intro Offer: Cashback Match Regular APR: 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR	$0	Apply now on Discover's secure site See Rates & Fees
Prime Visa Apply now on Amazon's secure site See Rates & Fees	Amazon Prime members	10% cash back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership 5% cash back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership 2% cash back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)	Intro Offer: Get a $150 Amazon Gift Card Regular APR: 19.49% - 28.24% Variable	$0	Apply now on Amazon's secure site See Rates & Fees
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card Apply now on Bank of America's secure site	Flexibility	3% cash back in one of six choice categories (category can be changed monthly) 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined 2% and 3% purchases each quarter, then 1%) 25% to 75% rewards rate boost for Preferred Rewards members	Intro Offer: $200 Regular APR: 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers	$0	Apply now on Bank of America's secure site
TD Cash Credit Card Apply now on TD Bank's secure site See Rates & Fees	Quarterly customizable categories	Unlimited 3% and 2% cash back in two categories: dining, entertainment, gas, grocery stores and travel 1% cash back on all other purchases	Intro Offer: $200 Cash Back Regular APR: 19.24%, 24.24% or 29.24% variable APR based on your creditworthiness.	None	Apply now on TD Bank's secure site See Rates & Fees
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees	Simplicity	1.5% cash back on purchases	Intro Offer: Earn $200 Regular APR: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)	$0	Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees

Researching the best cash back credit cards

We thoroughly rate and research the best cash back credit cards based on key criteria to help you make confident decisions when choosing your next credit card. Learn more about our methodology below.

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What to know about cash back credit cards

Cash back cards are among the most flexible and rewarding cards you can get. They’re a great fit if you want to access valuable, simplistic rewards. Although some cash back can be more complicated than others, they’re a great way to maximize your credit card rewards.

To make an informed decision about which cash back card fits your wallet best, you’ll need to consider each type of cash back card. Here are your options:

Flat-rate rewards

Flat-rate rewards are the simplest form of credit card rewards and are the best fit for people who don’t want to spend too much time deciding which card to use. You’ll earn the same amount of cash back on every purchase you make. This rewards style is also perfect for making large purchases that don’t typically fall under a specific rewards category.

Fixed bonus categories

Fixed bonus category cash back cards are a perfect match for people who plan every purchase and seek ways to maximize their credit card rewards. You can use multiple cards to maximize your earnings where you spend the most money. For instance, rewards maximizers will often have a dedicated grocery card and a dedicated restaurant card — unless they find a card that rewards generously in both categories.

Rotating bonus categories

Rewards strategists who are really good at forecasting their annual spending use rotating bonus category credit cards. These cards offer quarterly boosted rewards rates in a handful of spending categories. They are ideal for supplementing a multi-card rewards strategy that revolves around a fixed bonus category card because they frequently boost rewards in categories that are seldom offered on other cards.

Customizable categories

Customizable cash back or rewards credit cards are the most flexible cards available because you can use them to choose an eligible category to earn boosted cash back. You’ll want one if you have a fixed bonus category card that doesn’t boost rewards in one of your most frequent spending categories or plan to temporarily spend heavily or make a large purchase in a specific category.

How Bankrate experts use cash back cards

Our team of credit card experts is no stranger to the top cash back cards, and many of Bankrate’s writers and editors have strategies of their own to maximize credit card rewards. We look at and research credit cards every day, so we know which options are best for us. Although what works for our experts may not necessarily be a great fit for you, here are a few different, well-crafted cash back strategies to learn from:

Funding travel with cash back

"I’ve been a credit card nerd for five years now — but it doesn’t mean I like an overly complicated credit card strategy. On the contrary, the less work I do with my cards, the better. “Get the most value with the least effort” is my motto here.

I have a couple of other cash back cards I barely use but keep open because they’re my oldest cards. Overall, I find that a fat stack of credit cards doesn’t necessarily mean more rewards. If anything, it’s harder to spread your spending effectively. So I’m happy with the four cards I do use and all the value I get out of them."

— Ana Staples, Lead Writer

Here’s what Ana’s spending looks like:

Dining and groceries: The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers generous cash back rates at restaurants and grocery stores, especially considering it doesn’t charge an annual fee (See Rates & Fees). I spend around $6,000 per year with the Savor and earn $180 in annual cash back. I convert these earnings into Capital One Miles (18,000 miles) to spend on airfare.
Amazon purchases: The Affinity Cash Rewards Visa Signature is a no-annual-fee card that offers 5 percent cash back rate (on up to $1,000 in purchases per month) at Amazon — where I shop for essentials. It also rewards purchases at bookstores, where I usually spend more than I intend to. On average, I spend around $3,000 annually with my Affinity card and earn $150 in cash back. I send this money to the savings account that holds my emergency fund.

Maximizing each cash back spending category

"I’ve been writing about cash back and credit card rewards for several years now, so I understand the benefit of carrying multiple cards and using them strategically to maximize my earnings. But I also know that sometimes juggling so many cards to earn a little more cash back can be more trouble than it’s worth.

When I first got into rewards strategy, I went a little overboard, carrying a card for every spending category I could think of, constantly switching based on where I was shopping or which bonus category was available in a given quarter. I even had a spreadsheet I used to track my purchases and cash back earnings. It eventually became a headache, though. Now I take a more streamlined approach, focusing on a few key spending categories as I try to strike a balance between high earnings and low maintenance. Is my stack perfect? Definitely not. But for now, five cards is plenty to juggle."

— Nouri Zarrugh, Senior Editor

Here’s how Nouri focuses his spending:

Groceries: The Citi Custom Cash® Card. This card automatically rewards your top spending category each billing cycle, and I only use it for groceries, making that my top category by default.
Gas and online shopping: The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. Since I use the Custom Cash for groceries, it made sense for me to use the no-annual-fee Blue Cash Everyday to get a solid rewards rate on gas. As an added bonus, this card comes with an online shopping category — another key category for me, so this card is quite versatile.
Dining: The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card. This card offers one of the best rates you can get at restaurants without paying an annual fee (See Rates & Fees).
Everything else: The Citi Double Cash. I use this card for all purchases outside of groceries, gas, dining, travel and online shopping. A flat rate of up to 2 percent back (1 percent when you buy, 1 percent when you pay off purchases) is hard to beat.

Dig Deeper: How to maximize your cash back strategy

Offsetting expenses with cash back

When I opened my Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card, I never dreamed of someday becoming a credit cards content editor or managing over a dozen credit cards between my husband and me. These days, earning travel rewards for family trips forms the foundation of my credit card rewards strategy, but my Customized Cash Rewards card has continued to earn a spot in my credit card rotation. It’s my oldest card, so I keep it open to extend the length of my credit history and benefit my credit score, and it’s hard to beat its boosted cash back for online purchases.

I strive to use the card that earns the most rewards for each purchase. Plus, I’m a Preferred Rewards member with Bank of America, so my rewards rate is even higher than the card’s standard rate. I’m careful only to use the card for online purchases, and given how much you can buy online these days, I rarely have trouble hitting the card’s $2,500 spending cap.

When I max out the Bank of America spending cap each quarter, it adds up to $93.75 in cash back, which I'm perfectly happy with.

I usually let that cash back accumulate and then redeem it after a trip to offset expenses — food, an experience or a rental car — that my travel rewards didn’t cover. I love the feeling when that $200 or $300 hits my checking account and I know I didn’t do anything special to earn it. So you could say that the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card does have a place in my travel rewards strategy, even if not directly.

— Brooklyn Lowery, Senior Editor

Cash back cards news & views

According to results from a 2024 J.D. Power survey, 58 percent of cardholders use cash back cards, making them the leading financial product for purchases among credit cardholders. The survey indicates that more people are turning to cash back cards to retain value without paying an annual fee.

There is a lot of overlap between what J.D. Power finds in its survey results and what we find in our data — which informs the cards we bring forward for you to choose from. Although the best card for you will depend on your spending habits, we have data for the most popular cash back cards on our site from the last six months.

Here are our readers’ top picks:

Both the Upgrade Elite and the USAA Preferred have generous flat rates, making them great picks for people who want a simple rewards experience. The TD Cash Credit Card has a customizable tiered rewards program, which makes it a great pick for flexible spending.

It comes as no surprise that no-annual-fee, flat rate cash back cards are topping the list of most popular cash back cards. Most people, like J.D. Power found, want a simple rewards experience that doesn’t sacrifice value and has no annual fee — cash back cards can be the best way to achieve that. Annual fees are worth it in some cases, but if the benefits don’t outweigh the cost, cash back cards are a great way to make the most of your spending. J.D. Power also found that 21 percent of cash back cardholders redeem their points for statement credits over points/miles, so cash back cards might just be the way to go, especially for low spenders.

Inquiring whether annual fees are worth it, a user on the r/CreditCards subreddit was looking for card recommendations. They have a low spending profile (about $400 per month), and several people in the comments pointed them toward cash back cards, arguing that the original poster doesn’t “spend a whole lot and there are a lot of very solid no annual fee cards” they could get. Other comments echoed the same sentiments, recommending cards like the Wells Fargo Active Cash, the Citi Double Cash Card and The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express.

There are a lot of cash back cards available, so what works for one person may not work for everyone. Our most popular cash back cards are generally great options for just about anyone though, because they’re either flat-rate or highly customizable to your spending strategy.

What makes a great cash back card

Choosing a great cash back card typically comes down to how you want to earn rewards, but there are some features you should also always consider. A great cash back card will have the following:

Welcome offer
Intro APR offer(s)
No annual fee
Best-in-class rewards

The first step to choosing the best cash back card for you is deciding how you want to earn rewards, and from there you can narrow your options to a specific card that matches your spending.

Great flat-rate cash back cards

You’ll typically see cash back cards that offer a flat rate of 1 percent, 1.5 percent or 2 percent cash back on all purchases. However, 1 or 1.5 percent cash back is on the low end of this range, which makes them less than ideal options. To really be considered great, a flat-rate cash back card should offer at least 2 percent cash back along with the staple features of a great card: no annual fee, a welcome offer and intro APRs. For instance, the Wells Fargo Active Cash card is a great flat-rate cash rewards card because it has a welcome offer, intro APR offers and no annual fee while offering a best-in-class flat rate on all purchases.

Great tiered cash back cards

The greatest tiered cash back cards offer 3 percent or more cash back in a handful of different categories that match most peoples’ everyday spending habits. These cards may have fixed categories, like the Blue Cash Preferred Card and the Chase Freedom Unlimited, or they’ll have customizable categories like the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card. Again, the greatest tiered cash back cards will also include a welcome offer and an intro APR without charging an annual fee.

Great rotating bonus category cards

Cards with rotating bonus categories, like the Discover it® Cash Back card, appeal to people who can adjust their spending habits based on what their card’s highest rewards rate is for that quarter. Great rotating bonus category cash back cards will offer elevated rewards in a broad range of seasonally relevant categories, but will also include a solid base rewards rate for when the bonus categories don’t match your quarterly spending needs.

BANKRATE EXPERT FAQ

Ask the experts: How do you maximize flat-rate and rotating category cash back cards?

Erica Sandberg

Contributor, Credit Cards

Flat-rate cards do not require any pre-planning, which is great. You buy what you buy and earn cash back at the same rate for everything. To make the most of cash back cards that have rotating categories, however, you have to pay a bit more attention. Quite a few cards offer 5 percent back when you make purchases at places like grocery stores, gas stations, big box retailers, and more, but you’ll need to plan out where and when to shop to take full advantage. For example, if a card offers 5 percent cash back at Amazon in Q4, you may consider doing most of your holiday shopping through that site.

Expert take: Should you have a 2% cash back card?

Frequently asked questions about cash back credit cards

Up next:

Young couple look at good news on smartphone

Best cash back credit card bonus offers

How to choose a cash back credit card

Flat-rate cash back cards vs. bonus category cash back cards

Best rotating category credit cards

a person with blue painted nails is pulling out a credit card from their wallet

Are credit cards that automatically reward your top spending categories a good deal?

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How does cash back work?

How we assess the best cash back credit cards

When evaluating the best cash back cards, we consider a mix of factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether cards offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders, from earning rewards in popular categories to scoring a large sign-up bonus or high-value perks. Whenever possible, we also feature cards that are available at various credit levels and price points.

We analyzed over 150 of the most popular cards and scored each based on its rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, welcome bonus value, APR, fees, perks and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup of the best cash back cards.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the key factors in our cash back card scoring methodology and details we considered when putting together our list of the best cash back cards.

Overall Score

Value 65%
Flexibility 15%
Perks 15%
Customer experience 5%

The primary criteria for a rewards-earning card’s rating is its rewards value. This includes the card’s average rewards rate, estimated annual rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value and reward redemption value.

To estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings, we first calculate its average rewards rate based on how much it earns in different bonus categories and how closely its categories align with the average person’s spending habits. In other words, we assess whether the card earns rewards at a high rate in the most popular spending categories.

We use consumer spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to get a reliable third-party measure of people’s spending habits. The most recent BLS data estimates average total spending in 2023 was $77,280 per consumer. We then narrow our focus to which purchases are likely to be put on a credit card and earn rewards, subtracting expenditures like housing, vehicle purchases and education. This gives us a total “chargeable” annual spend of around $22,500.

Some of the major spending categories that contribute towards the annual spend include:
- Groceries: $6,000
- Dining out: $3,900
- Entertainment: $2,500
- Gas: $2,400
- Apparel and services: $2,000
Using this data, we assign a weighting to each of a card’s bonus categories. For example, a card’s grocery rewards rate receives a 26 percent weighting based on how much of the average person’s budget is spent on groceries. We also estimate the redemption value of points or miles from various issuer, airline and hotel rewards programs.

This weighting and rewards valuation allows us to estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings — how many points or miles you’d earn with a given card if your spending was about average and you used the card for all of your purchases — as well as what those points are worth. We also use point valuations to determine a card’s sign-up bonus value

With these calculations complete, we assign each card a score based on how its average rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value, rewards rate and redemption value stack up against other rewards cards.

The better these values, the higher its score will be, making it more worthy of inclusion in our list and increasing its potential ranking.

Here’s a deeper look at the factors considered as part of a rewards card’s “Value” rating:
Overall rating
Pie chart with 5 slices.
End of interactive chart.

5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Overall Score
- Ongoing rewards value 50%
- Annual fee & average APR 20%
- Rewards rate 15%
- Sign-up bonus value 15%
We also score each card’s set of features – its perks and benefits — against five tiers of features to provide a rating.

We break down these tiers as follows:

Tier 1 includes fewer features than even standard credit cards (for example, an ultra-streamlined card that offers basic utility and next to nothing in the way of ancillary benefits).

Tier 2 includes the benefits you’d expect on standard Visa or Mastercard credit cards, such as free access to your credit score, car rental insurance and $0 liability for fraudulent charges.

Tier 3 includes “prime card” or better-than-average card features like cellphone insurance, lost luggage insurance, concierge services and purchase protection.

Tier 4 includes luxury features such as airport lounge access, elite status with an airline or hotel and credits for expedited security screening membership programs.

Tier 5 includes the sort of exemplary benefits you’ll find on top-tier luxury cards, such as high-value travel credits, cardholder memberships and other unique and valuable perks.

In evaluating the best cards, we tend to favor cards that offer at least Tier 3 benefits, unless they include other unique features that could make up for less-impressive perks.

Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.

*For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

*The information about the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Card and the Citi Custom Cash® Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

We use primary sources to support our work. Bankrate’s authors, reporters and editors are subject-matter experts who thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate, timely and relevant.
1. Consumer Expenditures 2023. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed on Mar. 3, 2025.
2. Show Me the Money! J.D. Power. Accessed on Mar. 3, 2025.

Brendan Dyer Writer, credit cards

Brendan Dyer is a Bankrate editor who writes and edits content for rewards, travel, cash back and business credit cards. He’s passionate about informing readers about the most…

Steve Dashiell Editor, Credit cards

Steven Dashiell is an editor for Bankrate and CreditCards.com with expertise in rewards credit cards, financial literacy, and helping consumers build and maintain their credit.

* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.

11 Best cash back credit cards for May 2025

+ Show Summary

Compare Bankrate's top cash back credit cards

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Citi Double Cash® Card

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Discover it® Cash Back

Prime Visa

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

TD Cash Credit Card

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card