Best Cash Back Credit Cards
Chase Freedom Unlimited is the default pick for most people: one flat rate, no annual fee, nothing to activate. Citi Double Cash suits anyone who wants a rewards structure that lines up with actually paying the bill in full. Choose Discover it only if you will reliably activate the rotating categories every quarter, and Blue Cash Everyday if groceries and gas make up a large share of your spending.
Best Cash Back Credit Cards
Nothing we can price
None of these carry the figures needed to rank them for your situation yet.
Compared side by side
4 compared on the 3 things that decide it. A blank cell means we could not confirm the answer, not that the answer is no.
| Provider | Annual fee | Reward structure | Redemption options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Freedom Unlimited Best overall | — | — | — |
| Citi Double Cash Best for people who pay in full | — | — | — |
| Discover it Cash Back Best for engaged spenders | — | — | — |
| Blue Cash Everyday Card Best for groceries and gas | — | — | — |
Every offer, priced the same way
Ranked by what it costs you over a year. The arithmetic behind each figure is shown so you can check it. Offers we could not price are listed at the bottom with the reason.
1. Chase Freedom Unlimited — Chase
Best overall
One flat cash back rate on everything, so there is nothing to activate and nothing to forget.
No APR or annual fee on file, so this one is not ranked.
Priced from national figures.
2. Citi Double Cash — Citi
Best for people who pay in full
Rewards arrive in two stages, which nudges you toward paying down the balance rather than carrying it.
No APR or annual fee on file, so this one is not ranked.
Priced from national figures.
3. Discover it Cash Back — Discover
Best for engaged spenders
Higher rewards in rotating categories, but only if you remember to activate them each quarter.
No APR or annual fee on file, so this one is not ranked.
Priced from national figures.
4. Blue Cash Everyday Card — American Express
Best for groceries and gas
No annual fee, with rewards weighted toward the categories most households spend the most in.
No APR or annual fee on file, so this one is not ranked.
Priced from national figures.
How we ranked these
We rank on whether the card charges an annual fee, whether rewards are flat-rate or require category activation, how redemption works (cash, statement credit, or points that can lose value), and any restriction on how or when rewards can be redeemed. We do not rank on the size of a sign-up bonus, since bonus offers change too often to compare fairly.