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Best rewards credit cards of December 2023

Updated December 06, 2023

Rewards credit cards are a great way to make the most of your everyday expenses, allowing you to earn bonus miles, points or cash back on your purchases. While cash back is one of the simplest forms of rewards, miles or points may offer even more value for frequent travelers and shoppers.

These card offers from our partners carry some of the best rewards value and perks out there, with each issuer offering a variety of programs to suit your unique spending habits. Whether you need a flat-rate card to cover any purchase, a bonus or rotating category card for specialized spending or even a choice category card for ultimate flexibility, we’ll help you find the credit card that helps you reach your rewards goals.

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Best for flat-rate cash rewards
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3
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Apply now Lock
on Wells Fargo's secure site

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
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Recommended Credit
chance of approval
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Intro offer

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2%

Rewards rate

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Annual fee

Regular APR

Info
Best starter travel card
Rating: 4.9 stars out of 5
4.9
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Apply now Lock
on Chase's secure site

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
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Recommended Credit
chance of approval
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Intro offer

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$1200

Offer valuation

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2x - 5x

Rewards rate

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Annual fee

Regular APR

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Best for food and entertainment
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
5.0
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Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
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Recommended Credit
chance of approval
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Intro offer

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1% - 8%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Limited Time Offer
BEST FOR EVERYDAY TRAVEL
Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
4.2
Info
Apply now Lock
on Wells Fargo's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
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Recommended Credit

Intro offer

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$300

Offer valuation

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1X - 3X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

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Best for affordable travel perks
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
5.0
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Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site

Excellent (740 – 850)
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Recommended Credit
chance of approval
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Intro offer

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$1275

Offer valuation

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2 Miles - 10 Miles

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

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Best starter rewards card
Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5
3.8
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Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
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Recommended Credit
chance of approval
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Intro offer

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1.5% - 5%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

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Best for groceries
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4
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Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
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Recommended Credit
chance of approval
Info

Intro offer

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1% - 6%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Best for category variety
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4
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Apply now Lock
on Discover's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit

Intro offer

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1% - 5%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

BEST FOR SAVERS
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4
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Apply now Lock
on Bank of America's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
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Recommended Credit

Intro offer

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$600

Offer valuation

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1.5X - 2X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

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Best for gas
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4
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Apply now Lock
on Citi's secure site

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
chance of approval
Info

Intro offer

Info

1% - 5%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Best no annual fee travel card
Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5
4.1
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Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit

Intro offer

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$340

Offer valuation

Info

1.25 Miles - 5 Miles

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Info
Best for occasional travel
Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
4.7
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Apply now Lock
on Citi's secure site

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
chance of approval
Info

Intro offer

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$960

Offer valuation

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1X - 3X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

BEST FOR PAYING RENT
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
4.0
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Apply now Lock
on Wells Fargo's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
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Recommended Credit

N/A

Intro offer

Info

N/A

Offer valuation

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1X Points - 3X Points

Rewards rate

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Annual fee

Regular APR

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Best for for flat-rate travel rewards
Rating: 4.9 stars out of 5
4.9
Info
Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
chance of approval
Info

Intro offer

Info

$1275

Offer valuation

Info

2 Miles - 5 Miles

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Info
Best for food and travel
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
5.0
Info
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
chance of approval
Info

Intro offer

Info

$1200

Offer valuation

Info

3X - 4X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Info
Best rewards value
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3
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Apply now Lock
on Chase's secure site

Excellent (740 – 850)
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Recommended Credit
chance of approval
Info

Intro offer

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$1200

Offer valuation

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1x - 10x

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

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Best for luxury travel
Rating: 4.8 stars out of 5
4.8
Info
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
chance of approval
Info

Intro offer

Info

$1600

Offer valuation

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5X - 5X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

BEST FOR SMALL-BUSINESS OWNERS
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
5.0
Info
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit

Intro offer

Info

1X - 4X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

BEST FOR GM PAYMENTS & LEASES
Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5
4.1
Info
Apply now Lock
on Goldman Sachs Bank USA's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
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Recommended Credit

Intro offer

Info

N/A

Offer valuation

Info

4X - 7X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

BEST FOR ONLINE SHOPPING
Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5
4.1
Info
Apply now Lock
on Amazon's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit

Intro offer

Info

1% - 10%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Compare Bankrate’s top rewards credit cards

Card name Our pick for Rewards highlights Annual fee Bankrate review score
Flat-rate cash rewards
2% cash rewards on purchases
 
$0
Apply now Lock
on Wells Fargo's secure site

4.3 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

Starter travel card

5X points on Chase Ultimate Rewards travel and Lyft rides (Lyft offer through March 31, 2025)
 
3X points on dining (including eligible delivery services), select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs)
 
2X points on all other travel purchases
 
25% increased redemption value toward travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards 
 
Bankrate’s rewards value: 2.0 cents per point*
 
$95
Apply now Lock
on Chase's secure site

4.9 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

Food and entertainment
10% cash back on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders (through Nov. 14, 2024)
 
8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
 
5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
 
3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®)
 
$0
Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site

5.0 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

Everyday travel
3X points on restaurant, travel, transit, gas station, phone plan and popular streaming service purchases
 
1X points on all other purchases
 
Bankrate’s rewards value: 1.0 cents per point*
 
$0
Apply now Lock
on Wells Fargo's secure site

4.2 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

Affordable travel perks
10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
 
5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
 
2X miles on all other purchases
 
Bankrate’s rewards value: 1.7 cents per mile*
 
$395
Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site

5.0 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

Starter rewards card

5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
 
1.5% cash back on all purchases
 
$0
Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site

3.8 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

Groceries

6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions and at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in supermarket purchases, then 1%)

3% cash back on U.S. gas station and transit purchases

 
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site

4.4 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

Category variety

5% cash back on rotating bonus categories after activation (on up to $1,500 in combined purchases per quarter, then 1%)
 
$0
Apply now Lock
on Discover's secure site

4.4 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

Savers
2X points on travel and dining
 
1.5X points on all other purchases
 
Bankrate’s rewards value: 1.0 cents per point* (Bank of America Preferred Rewards members can receive boosted rates of up to 3.5X points on travel and dining, and 2.62X points on all other purchases)
 
$95
Apply now Lock
on Bank of America's secure site

4.4 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

Gas
5% cash back on purchases on the top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent each cycle, 1% cash back thereafter)
 
1% cash back on all other purchases
 
$0
Apply now Lock
on Citi's secure site

4.4 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

No-annual-fee travel card
5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
 
1.25X miles on all other purchases
 
Bankrate’s rewards value: 1.7 cents per mile*
 
$0
Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site

4.1 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

Occasional travel
10X points on hotel and car rentals booked through the Citi Travel portal (through June 30, 2024) 
 
3X points on restaurant, supermarket, gas station, hotel and air travel purchases.  
 
Bankrate’s rewards value: 1.6 cents per point*
 
$95
Apply now Lock
on Citi's secure site

4.7 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

Paying rent
3X points on dining
 
2X points on travel
 
1X points on rent payments (up to a maximum 100,000 points per year) and other purchases 
 
(Bilt Rent Day doubles all rewards rates on the first day of each month for 2X points to 6X points on non-rent purchases, up to 10,000 points.)
 
None
Apply now Lock
on Wells Fargo's secure site

4.0 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

Flat-rate travel rewards
5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
 
2X miles on every purchase
 
Bankrate’s rewards value: 1.7 cents per mile*
 
$95
Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site

4.9 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

Food and travel

4X points on restaurants, eligible delivery service and U.S. supermarket purchases (supermarket rate on up to $25,000 of purchases per year, then 1X points)
 
3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or via American Express Travel
 
Bankrate’s rewards value: 2.0 cents per point*
 
$250
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site

5.0 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Rewards value
10X points on hotels, car rentals and Chase Dining purchases via Chase Ultimate Rewards, and on Lyft rides (Lyft offer through March 31, 2025)
 
5X points on air travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards
 
3X points on dining and other travel
 
50% increased redemption value toward travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
 
Bankrate’s rewards value: 2.0 cents per point* (Points on travel purchases only earned after the first $300, which is covered by the annual travel credit)
 
$550
Apply now Lock
on Chase's secure site

4.3 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

Luxury travel
5X points on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year) 
 
1X points on all other purchases 
 
Bankrate’s rewards value: 2.0 cents per point*
 
$695
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site

4.8 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

Small-business owners

4X points on up to $150,000 per calendar year in your top two of six eligible categories (then 1X thereafter; only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count toward the $150,000 cap)
 
3X points on eligible travel purchases 
 
Bankrate’s rewards value: 2.0 cents per point*
$295 ($375 if application is received on or after 2/1/24)
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site

5.0 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
GM payments and leases
7X points on eligible GM purchases
 
4X points on all other purchases 
 
Baseline rewards value: 1 cent per point (toward eligible GM purchases)
 
$0
Apply now Lock
on Goldman Sachs Bank USA's secure site

4.1 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

Online shopping

3X points on travel and transit and at restaurants worldwide 

Bankrate’s rewards value: 2.1 cents per point*

$0
Apply now Lock
on Amazon's secure site

4.1 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

*Bankrate’s points and miles valuations are based on an average of the issuer’s five highest-value transfer partners (if available).

A closer look at the best rewards credit cards

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Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Best for flat-rate cash rewards

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It offers one of the highest flat cash rewards rates you can get, with no need to track categories or jump through additional hoops. The card also comes with features like a solid intro APR and a welcome offer.

Cash rewards seekers who prefer a simple, valuable earning structure — especially big spenders and those with purchases that fall outside typical bonus categories

The Citi Double Cash® Card may be a better option if you’re looking for a flat-rate card with a longer intro APR balance transfer offer. Meanwhile, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® could be more valuable for some cardholders thanks to its additional 3 percent cash back categories.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

BEST STARTER TRAVEL CARD

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It carries impressive travel protections and rewards rates on both travel and everyday purchases for a relatively low annual fee. Plus, the generous sign-up bonus, high point value and stellar transfer partners give it great short- and long-term value for a starter travel card.

Occasional-to-frequent travelers who want great value without the annual fee of a luxury travel card — especially if they plan on getting more Chase rewards cards in the future
The Citi Premier® Card could be a worthwhile second choice if you want to earn rewards in more categories (like gas). A flat-rate travel card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card could also make it easier to earn miles on purchases that fall outside of typical travel card bonus categories.
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Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Best for food and entertainment

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It offers incredible bonus category coverage. Along with rewards at grocery stores and restaurants, you’ll earn boosted cash back on many entertainment purchases that generally don’t earn rewards, like tickets to movies, sporting events and more.

On-the-go foodies and thrill-seekers that want an all-in-one everyday rewards option to feed their next experience
If you don’t spend much at the grocery store or on entertainment, then the Chase Freedom Unlimited may be a better option. You'll have plenty of chances to earn cash back in multiple bonus categories (including dining) and a fair flat rate for all other eligible purchases.
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Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Best for everyday travel

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It offers a terrific mix of practical everyday rewards categories, like gas, general travel, dining and transit purchases. It’s rare to find this many high-value categories on a single no-annual-fee card.
Commuters, families and occasional travelers can squeeze a lot of value out of this card thanks to its broad category coverage.

Despite its modest annual fee ($0 intro fee for the first year, then $95), the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express could be even more rewarding thanks to its best-in-class cash back rate on U.S. supermarket purchases. It also features many of the same categories as the Autograph card.

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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Best for affordable travel perks

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This card's yearly perks, like $300 in annual credit for Capital One travel bookings, could offset the annual fee and make the Venture X easier to justify. All these perks and boosted rewards rates for Capital One Travel combine to make the Venture X worth it for moderate and frequent travelers alike.

Travelers who want complimentary lounge access and other benefits that typically come with luxury travel rewards cards without having to spend upwards of $500

If you don't think you'll use Venture X’s features, consider a $95 annual fee-tier travel rewards card instead. The standard Venture card has an equal 2X miles flat rate, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred lets you rack up points in bonus categories that go beyond travel and can often be redeemed for a higher value.

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Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Best starter rewards card

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If you prioritize a simple, easygoing rewards experience, you’ll appreciate this flat-rate card. You can take advantage of its intro APR on new purchases for extra savings and set up automatic redemption either at a yearly date or rewards balance threshold to make it truly no hassle.

Cardholders learning the rewards ropes and anyone who wants to avoid chasing specific bonus categories and activation dates — or even using the redemption portal regularly

A few flat-rate rewards cards easily beat the Quicksilver due to its low rewards rate, including the Wells Fargo Active Cash (unlimited 2 percent cash rewards) and the Chase Freedom Unlimited (bonus rewards on dining and drugstore purchases as well as a flat 1.5 percent rewards rate on general purchases).

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Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Best for groceries

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This is perhaps the most rewarding card for groceries — especially if you want consistent, year-round cash back. And the elevated rates for other everyday expenses like transit, select U.S. streaming services and U.S. gas station purchases make it a more well-rounded card.
Families and households with large grocery and gas station bills as well as commuters who may want to maximize the Blue Cash Preferred thanks to its comprehensive transit category that includes parking, rideshares, tolls, and train tickets

A flat-rate card like the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card could provide better value at superstores (like Target and Walmart) or wholesale clubs (like Costco or Sam’s Club). And if the annual fee is a deal-breaker, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express or the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card may