Best 2% cash back credit cards

Not everything in life has to be complicated, especially when it comes to finance. While rewards credit cards that earn points or miles and offer rewards in different bonus categories can be lucrative, flat-rate cash back cards can be a better choice if you prefer consistency and simplicity.

Flat-rate credit cards are great if you like to keep earning rewards simple, if most of your purchases fall outside the typical credit card bonus categories or you’re tired of trying to remember which card rewards what type of purchase.

There are many flat-rate cards available at various credit levels, but the best cards offer 2% cash back instead of the typical 1.5% back. Some cards also have additional benefits, including travel perks and shopping protections.

Here are some of the best 2% cash back credit cards on the market.

Top 2% cash back cards

Best everyday card

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Learn more in Bankrate's review

• Bankrate’s view

  The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card can be an excellent choice if you want to carry a single credit card. It has nearly all the key features you’d hope for on a no-annual-fee cash rewards card. You’ll earn an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases and it comes with a generous welcome offer for a reasonable spending requirement. Sign-up bonuses can be hard to find on flat-rate cards, so this feature is especially impressive.

  On top of that, the Active Cash includes an intro APR on both qualifying balance transfers and new purchases — a rare feature for cash back cards.

  All that said, it’s not the best card for you if you’re an avid traveler. You won’t be able to transfer your rewards to airline or hotel partners, and international charges incur a foreign transaction fee.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • This card earns one of the highest flat cash back rates available.
  • You can take advantage of a welcome offer with a terrific rate of return.

  

  Cons

  • You can’t transfer rewards to airline or hotel partners to get more value out of them.
  • This card charges a foreign transaction fee, so we don’t recommend using it abroad.

Best for pairing

Citi Double Cash® Card

Learn more in Bankrate's review

• Bankrate’s view

  The Citi Double Cash helps you earn rewards in the most responsible way. You only receive the full 2% cash back when you pay off your purchases, which encourages you to keep a low or no balance. This does wonders for your overall debt and your credit score.

  The card also stands out for its terrific pairing potential with other Citi cards. You can further maximize rewards and pool points to use for travel or transfer to popular airlines and hotels.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • Earn up to 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you buy, plus 1% when you pay off purchases).
  • You’ll have six months to meet the spending requirement for this card’s welcome offer.

  

  Cons

  • The full amount of your cash back rewards is gated behind a payment caveat, which can make accessing rewards a hassle when carrying a balance.
  • The spending requirement for its welcome offer is three times as high as the one available on this card’s direct competitor.

Best for retirement savers

Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card

Learn more in Bankrate's review

• Bankrate’s view

  If your biggest financial goal at the moment is to beef up your retirement savings, the Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card* can help with that. It earns 2% cash back on general spending that you redeem directly into a qualifying Fidelity retirement account.

  As a nice add-on, the Fidelity Rewards Visa offers up car rental coverage and up to $100 in rewards when you apply for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Such perks are pretty rare to see on cash back cards. If you travel a lot, you’ll probably enjoy them.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • This card comes with Visa Signature perks and has no foreign transaction fees.
  • It can add a modest amount of rewards directly to your retirement accounts.

  

  Cons

  • You have to redeem rewards into a qualifying account to get the full 2% cash back rate.
  • There is no sign-up bonus for new cardholders, making this card’s first-year value lower than many other 2% cash back cards.

Best for Apple fans

Apple Card

Learn more in Bankrate's review

• Bankrate’s view

  Despite its caveats regarding rewards, the Apple Card* offers a decent flat rate for Apple customers who use Apple Pay. It earns 2% cash back when you use Apple Pay, so you’ll want to make sure vendors you shop with accept this payment service. And you can earn up to 3% cash back when you shop at Apple and select retailers (using Apple Pay).

  If you’re loyal to Apple and often shop with vendors that take Apple Pay, this card is worth considering. However, it lacks value for anyone outside of the Apple ecosystem.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • Earn a fair cash back rate on just about any purchase using Apple Pay, with boosted rates for Apple purchases.
  • Your purchases every day will add to your cash back balance, as opposed to lump-sum earnings at the end of each billing cycle.

  

  Cons

  • Its best cash back rates are reserved for when you shop with Apple and use Apple Pay.
  • This card is not particularly useful for people who own non-Apple devices or don’t shop at Apple.

Comparing the best 2% cash back cards

When to get a 2% cash back card

While many cards offer higher cash back rates on various categories, having a 2% card can be the missing piece to your cash back and rewards credit card strategies. Getting a 2% cash back back card makes sense if you:

• Already have cards that reward your biggest spending areas with higher rates
• Spend variably across categories and retailers with no clear-cut, favored categories
• Want a simple cash back card that rewards all your purchases
• Don’t want to juggle multiple credit cards to maximize rewards

How to choose the best 2% cash back card for you

While the rewards rates on these cards may be similar, each of these 2% flat-rate cards comes with unique perks, advantages and disadvantages. Here are some questions to keep in mind when comparing cards and planning how to maximize your flat-rate cash back card:

• Consider the welcome bonus. They can be hard to come by on 2% cash back cards, so cards that offer them are at a distinct advantage. While the presence of a bonus shouldn’t be the only reason you pick one card over another, keep in mind the outsized value of these offers: You can typically earn around $200 as part of a sign-up bonus after only a $500 to $1,500 spend. That said, make sure it’s achievable in the given time limit and you don’t have to stretch your budget to fulfill it. A welcome bonus isn’t worth going into debt for.
• Compare the perks. Cash back cards aren’t famous for offering extra benefits, but some might. And if it’s a perk you know you’d use regularly, the card might be a good pick for you.
• Check redemption options. While some 2% cash back cards only let you opt for cash back redemptions in the form of statement credits or direct deposits, others give you the flexibility to redeem for travel, gift cards, online shopping and more. Decide how you want to redeem your rewards and see how your redemption choice affects the value. For example, your rewards may lose a lot of value if you opt for gift card or online shopping redemptions instead of cash back.

What’s next?

Use these Bankrate tools to help you find a card that suits your needs best.

The bottom line

If you’re looking for a simple way to earn a high rewards rate on all your purchases, you have more options than ever, including cards that carry sign-up bonuses, intro APR offers or low fees. Just be sure to consider all the details to find the right one for you.

When choosing the best 2% cash back card for you, consider factors such as welcome bonuses, perks and redemption options. With the increasing popularity of these cards, it’s important to carefully compare all the details to find the right one for your financial needs.

Frequently asked questions

• Is 2% cash back the best?

  No single rewards structure is the best. That said, a 2% cash back card fits many types of cardholders. For instance, if you’d rather keep it simple and carry one card, a 2% cash back card is an easy choice. But if you don’t mind putting effort into your credit card strategy and have several cards, a 2% card can help you ensure you never earn less than 2% back outside of bonus categories on your other cards.

• Is a 2% cash back card worth it?

  A 2% cash back card is worth it if you use it for everyday purchases and pay off the balance each month. The rewards can accumulate over time, but no amount of cash back can offset the interest charges. If you know you’ll need to carry a balance, focus on finding a 0% intro APR or a card with a lower-than-average APR.

• Is there a credit card that gives you 5% cash back?

  Several credit cards offer 5% cash back in select categories. You’ll want to review the options that reward 5% back because many of them have different rewards categories, perks and benefits. The right one for you will reward its highest cash back rate in a category you already include in your regular spending.

*All information about the Apple Card and Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.