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17 Best cash back credit cards for November 2024

Updated November 10, 2024

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Showing 17 results

Best for dining

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Bankrate score

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5.0
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Capital One's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

$250 Cash Back

Rewards rate

1% - 8%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)

Why you'll like this: It offers boosted rewards at restaurants and grocery stores, making it a great choice for foodies at home and on the go.

Best for everyday spending

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Bankrate score

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4.8
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Chase's secure site

Intro offer

Up to $300 cash back

Rewards rate

1.5% - 5%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

19.99% - 28.74% Variable

Why you'll like this: You’ll earn valuable, flexible points in everyday categories.

Best for flat-rate rewards

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

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4.3
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Wells Fargo's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

$200 cash rewards

Rewards rate

2%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR

Why you'll like this: It offers one of the highest flat cash rewards rates out there, an excellent intro APR offer and a solid welcome bonus.

Best for groceries

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Bankrate score

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4.4
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on American Express's secure site

See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply

Intro offer

Earn $250

Rewards rate

1% - 6%

Annual fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

APR

18.74%-29.74% Variable

Why you'll like this: It boasts one of the best cash back rates at U.S. supermarkets, making it more valuable than many no-annual-fee cards.

Best for Amazon Prime members

Prime Visa

Bankrate score

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4.1
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock

on Amazon's secure site

Intro offer

Get a $200 Amazon Gift Card

Rewards rate

1% - 10%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

19.99% - 28.74% Variable

Why you'll like this: The Prime Visa rewards loyal Prime members with great cash back rates on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases.

Best for stacking

Citi Custom Cash® Card

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4.4
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Citi's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

$200

Rewards rate

1% - 5%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)

Why you'll like this: Its top-rate customizable bonus category makes it a uniquely versatile option.

Best for cash back beginners

Synchrony Premier World Mastercard®

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3.0
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Synchrony's secure site

Intro offer

N/A

Rewards rate

2%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

18.74% - 34.49% Variable APR as of October 1, 2024

Why you'll like this: It keeps things ultra simple, making it easy to earn cash back without worrying about bonus categories or complex redemption.

Best for online shopping

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Bankrate score

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4.6
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on American Express's secure site

See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply

Intro offer

Earn $200

Rewards rate

1% - 3%

Annual fee

$0

APR

18.74%-29.74% Variable

Why you'll like this: Its cash back rates in everyday spending categories are among the best available on a no-annual-fee card.

Best for category variety

Discover it® Cash Back

Bankrate score

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4.4
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Discover's secure site

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Intro offer

Cashback Match

Rewards rate

1% - 5%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

18.74% - 27.74% Variable APR

Why you'll like this: You can earn a massive sum of cash back on various purchases with Discover’s rotating categories and Cashback Match.

Best for flexibility

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Bankrate score

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4.3
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock

on Bank of America's secure site

Intro offer

$200

Rewards rate

1% - 3%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

18.74% - 28.74% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Why you'll like this: Earn a high rewards rate in one category of your choice without sacrificing rewards on everyday spending.

Best for balance transfers

Citi Double Cash® Card

Bankrate score

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4.2
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Citi's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

$200 cash back

Rewards rate

1% - 5%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)

Why you'll like this: Its flat cash back rate makes it easy to maximize rewards on nearly any purchase.

Best for simplicity

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Bankrate score

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3.8
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Capital One's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

$200

Rewards rate

1.5% - 5%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)

Why you'll like this: It’s a great starter card thanks to its streamlined rewards and easy-to-earn welcome bonus.

Best for low APR

USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Credit Card

Bankrate score

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3.1
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on USAA's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

Earn a $200 reward bonus

Rewards rate

1.5% cash back

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

16.65% to 28.65% variable

Why you'll like this: Simple and easy card for USAA members to earn rewards on everyday spending while minimizing interest.

Best for Bank of America customers

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card

Bankrate score

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3.8
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock

on Bank of America's secure site

Intro offer

$200

Rewards rate

1.5%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

18.74% - 28.74% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Why you'll like this: This card can offer perhaps the highest flat cash back rate on the market through the issuer’s loyalty banking program.

Only Available in 15 East Coast States and D.C.

Best for quarterly customizable categories

TD Cash Credit Card

TD Cash Credit Card

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4.0
Bankrate review
See Terms

Intro offer

$200 Cash Back

Rewards rate

1% Cash Back - 3% and 2% Cash Back

Annual fee

None

Regular APR

19.74%, 24.74% or 29.74% variable APR based on your creditworthiness.

Why you'll like this: It’s more flexible than the average cash back card since it lets you pick the two everyday bonus categories that fit you best.

Only Available in 15 East Coast States and D.C.

Best for TD Bank customers

TD Double Up Credit Card

TD Double Up Credit Card

Bankrate score

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4.0
Bankrate review
See Terms

Intro offer

$150 Cash Back

Rewards rate

2% Cash Back

Annual fee

None

Regular APR

19.74%, 24.74% or 29.74% variable APR based on your creditworthiness.

Why you'll like this: You’ll unlock both a solid flat rewards rate and a chance to chip away at debt with an intro APR.

Best for personal loan alternative

Upgrade Cash Rewards Elite Visa®

Bankrate score

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4.2
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Upgrade's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

$200

Rewards rate

2.2%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

14.99% - 29.99%

Why you'll like this: It carries a relatively low APR and can help you save on everyday spending with its better-than-average flat rewards rate.

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Compare Bankrate's top cash back credit cards

Card name Best for Cash back highlights Welcome offer
Annual fee
Bankrate review score

Dining

3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming service and grocery store purchases (excluding Walmart® and Target®)

Intro Offer: $250 Cash Back
Info Icon
Regular APR: 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
$0

5.0 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Capital One's secure site

Everyday spending

5% cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 2025) 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: Up to $300 cash back
Info Icon
Regular APR: 19.99% - 28.74% Variable
$0

4.8 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Chase's secure site

Flat-rate rewards

2% cash rewards on purchases

Intro Offer: $200 cash rewards
Info Icon
Regular APR: 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR
$0

4.3 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Wells Fargo's secure site
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
Info Icon
Regular APR: 18.74%-29.74% Variable
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

4.4 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

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 $200 Amazon Gift Card
Info Icon
Regular APR: 19.99% - 28.74% Variable
$0

4.1 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Amazon's secure site

Stacking

5% cash back on your top eligible category purchases each billing cycle (up to $500, then 1% cash back)

Intro Offer: $200
Info Icon
Regular APR: 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
$0

4.4 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Citi's secure site

Cash back beginners

2% cash back on eligible purchases

Intro Offer: N/A
Regular APR: 18.74% - 34.49% Variable APR as of October 1, 2024
$0

3.0 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Synchrony's secure site
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
Info Icon
Regular APR: 18.74%-29.74% Variable
$0

4.6 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
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
Info Icon
Regular APR: 18.74% - 27.74% Variable APR
$0

4.4 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Discover'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
Info Icon
Regular APR: 18.74% - 28.74% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
$0

4.3 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Bank of America's secure site
Balance transfers
Up to 2% cash back on purchases (1% when you purchase and 1% when you pay)
Intro Offer: $200 cash back
Info Icon
Regular APR: 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
$0

4.2 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Citi's secure site
Simplicity
1.5% cash back on purchases
Intro Offer: $200
Info Icon
Regular APR: 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
$0

3.8 / 5

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(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Capital One's secure site
Low APR
1.5% cash back on purchases
Intro Offer: Earn a $200 reward bonus
Info Icon
Regular APR: 16.65% to 28.65% variable
$0

3.1 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on USAA's secure site

Bank of America customers

1.5% cash back on eligible purchases

1.87% to 2.62% cash back for Preferred Rewards members

Intro Offer: $200
Info Icon
Regular APR: 18.74% - 28.74% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
$0

3.8 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Bank of America's secure site
Image of TD Cash Credit Card
TD Cash Credit Card

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
Info Icon
Regular APR: 19.74%, 24.74% or 29.74% variable APR based on your creditworthiness.
None
Image of TD Double Up Credit Card
TD Double Up Credit Card

TD Bank customers

2% cash back on all eligible purchases

Intro Offer: $150 Cash Back
Info Icon
Regular APR: 19.74%, 24.74% or 29.74% variable APR based on your creditworthiness.
None
Personal loan alternative
2.2% cash back on purchases upon card payment
Intro Offer: $200
Info Icon
Regular APR: 14.99% - 29.99%
$0

4.2 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Upgrade's secure site

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 carry a mix of travel and cash back cards to help me travel and beef up my savings. Here’s what that 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.
  • Travel purchases: I charge all non-award travel purchases to my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card; whether it’s parking, public transportation or vacations I don’t have enough points or miles to cover. Sometimes I also charge dining to this card when I feel that I have enough Capital One Miles for the next couple of flights. As for Chase Ultimate Rewards points, I let them accumulate to book hotel stays. I earn roughly 20,000 points with this card annually — that’s $250 when redeemed through the Chase Travel℠ portal.
  • Everything else: The rest of my spending goes on the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, thanks to its 2X rewards rate on all purchases. That’s about $18,600 per year, meaning I earn 37,200 miles annually, which I combine with the rewards I transfer from the Savor card (18,000 miles). That’s 55,200 miles per year — or $552 or more worth of travel.

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

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.

Here’s what I focus on with my current credit card stack:

  • 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 missing from the Blue Cash Preferred’s categories. Online shopping is another key category for me, so this card is quite versatile.
  • Dining: The Capital One SavorOne 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 that fall 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.

Is my stack perfect? Definitely not. I still have a co-branded airline card, a rotating category card and a specific online retailer card sitting around, and using them could help me squeeze a little more earnings out of my purchases. But for now, five cards is plenty to juggle.

Nouri Zarrugh, Senior Editor

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.

There are two primary reasons why:

  • It’s my oldest card, so I keep it open to extend the length of my credit history and benefit my credit score.
  • 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. I use my Bank of America card often because of its high cash back rate for online purchases. 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. But even if I hit the spending cap, I use my Capital One Venture X Rewards Card to earn a decent rewards rate.

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

Our data: Which cash back cards are the most popular?

Based on our data on how many Bankrate visitors applied for cards on our site, these are the top five most popular cash back card offers from October 2023 through September 2024:

  1. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
  2. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
  3. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
  4. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
  5. Discover it® Cash Back

Although all the cards featured on this page are some of the best offers currently on the market, one card stood out. The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card had almost 30 percent more people apply for it than the second-most popular card. Based on this data, our readers prefer cards that earn up to 2 percent cash rewards on general purchases, which makes sense, considering these cards can fit into almost any rewards strategy.

Regardless of how a card earns cash rewards, people often pick low-cost cards (often with no annual fee and well-rounded intro APR offers) that focus on rewarding various day-to-day purchases — especially groceries and dining. Based on our data, people seem to lean toward catch-all cards that don’t have category spending restrictions. 

However, these rankings shift based on the time of year. Here’s how card popularity on our site changed throughout the year: 

  • Fall and holidays: Cards with bonus categories are popular picks to reward gifts and potential expenses in the upcoming year. 
  • January and February: Cards rewarding necessities like gas, dining, and groceries surge to help make up for post-holiday spending.
  • Spring and summer: One-size-fits-all cards are popular since they pair with other cards and can often reward travel-related expenses.

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