Best cash-back credit cards of November 2023
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BLUEPRINT
Updated 2:42 p.m. UTC Nov. 28, 2023
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Cash-back credit cards are the gift that keeps on giving. Like an automatic coupon, when you pay for something with a cash-back card, you’ll get a percentage back on your spending every time. But choosing the right cash-back card for your particular needs is not as clear-cut.
The best cash-back card for you typically will depend on a combination of where you spend the most money, how much you typically spend on a credit card and what other perks and benefits might be of value to you.
We analyzed a broad swath of cash-back credit cards from a variety of issuers, to curate a list of the very best. Here’s how we ranked the best cash-back cards across several categories for all types of card-seekers.
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Chase Freedom Unlimited®
: Best for big welcome bonus
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Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
: Best for grocery shopping at U.S. supermarkets
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Chase Freedom Flex℠ *
The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best cash-back credit card
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U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card *
The information for the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best for customized rewards
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Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card *
The information for the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best for Walmart shoppers
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Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card *
The information for the Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best cash back for big spenders and best credit union card
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Prime Visa *
The information for the Prime Visa has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: Best for Amazon shoppers
Why trust our credit card experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 50+ cards analyzed.
- 6 data points considered.
- 5-step fact-checking process.
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Blueprint receives compensation from our partners for featured offers, which impacts how and where the placement is displayed.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Best cash-back credit cards of November 2023
Best for big welcome bonus
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Best for simple flat-rate cash back
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Best for grocery shopping at U.S. supermarkets
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Best cash-back credit card
Chase Freedom Flex℠
*The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best for customized rewards
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card
*The information for the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best for Walmart shoppers
Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card
*The information for the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best cash back for big spenders and best credit union card
Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card
*The information for the Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best for Amazon shoppers
Prime Visa
*The information for the Prime Visa has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Compare the best credit cards for cash back:
Credit Card
Credit score
Best For
Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
SPECIAL OFFER: Unlimited Matched Cash Back. Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned at the end of your first year! There is no limit to how much cash back you can earn.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
Chase Freedom Flex℠
Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening,
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card
Get a $250 bonus after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening
Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card
Earn 5% back in Walmart stores for the first 12 months when you use your Capital One Walmart Rewards Card with Walmart Pay – the quick and secure way to pay with your phone at Walmart
Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card
N/A
Prime Visa
As a Prime member, get a $200 Amazon Gift Card instantly loaded into your Amazon account’s Gift Card Balance upon approval of your credit card application.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstore purchases and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: Chase will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first cardmember year.
- Foreign transaction fee: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
- Other benefits and drawbacks: For a no-annual-fee card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® comes with a slew of money-saving insurances and protections including auto collision damage waiver coverage, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, extended warranty and purchase protection. But outside of the bonus categories, the ongoing rewards rate of 1.5% can easily be bested by other cards.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- Welcome bonus: $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
- Other benefits and drawbacks: The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card easy-to-earn, easy-to-redeem rewards structure make it a great cash-back card. Perks like an intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers, and Wells Fargo’s cell phone protection when you pay your bill with the card, make it even better.
- Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (terms apply).
- Rewards: 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, 3% cash back on transit and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
- Welcome bonus: Earn $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first six months of card membership.
- Foreign transaction fee: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
- Other benefits and drawbacks: Although it has an annual fee after the first year, the card is ideal for households who spend a good chunk of their budget at the supermarket and on getting around.
The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fee: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
- Other benefits and drawbacks: This workhorse of a card earns elevated rewards across a broad swath of categories and without an annual fee, making it a fit for nearly anyone who wants a cash-back credit card. One exception, however, is for use abroad as the card carries a 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars foreign transaction fee.
The information for the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
- Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Rewards: 6% cash back each quarter on combined purchases from two retailers of choice ($1,500 limit), 5.5% cash back on prepaid car and hotel reservations booked through the Rewards Center, 3% cash back each quarter in one everyday category of choice ($1,500 limit) and 1.5% cash back on everything else.
- Welcome bonus: $250 bonus after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases in the first 120 days of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fee: 3% of each foreign transaction.
- Other benefits and drawbacks: Although the card offers exceptional rewards potential at several retailers like Walmart and Target, the earning structure and bonus earning caps can be confusing. And the card’s $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 means you’d have to spend about $1,590 in the 6% categories annually to break even with the card’s carrying cost.
The information for the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 5% cash back on Walmart.com & in the Walmart app, 2% cash back on restaurants and travel, and at Walmart Stores, Walmart & Murphy USA fuel stations and 1% cash back everywhere else.
- Welcome bonus: 5% cash back at Walmart stores for the first 12 months when using the card with Walmart Pay.
- Foreign transaction fee: $0.
- Other benefits and drawbacks: Those who tend to shop online can score big savings at the big-box retailer which is already known for its everyday low prices. But the rewards become lackluster when you shop in the physical store.
The information for the Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 2.5% cash back on up to $10,000 spent each billing cycle with qualifying accounts and all other purchases earn 1.5%.
- Welcome bonus: None.
- Foreign transaction fee: None.
- Other benefits and drawbacks: The terms to earn up the elevated cash back require some effort, but for those who routinely spend in the vicinity of $10,000 a month on a credit card, the rewards are stellar.
The information for the Prime Visa has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
- Annual fee: $0 with Prime membership.
- Rewards: 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership, 5% back on travel booked through Chase, 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and 1% back on all other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: $200 Amazon gift card for Prime members upon approval.
- Foreign transaction fee: None.
- Other benefits and drawbacks: Anyone with an Amazon Prime membership who regularly shops with the online retailer can find benefit in owning the Amazon Prime Rewards card. It offers an unlimited 5% back on purchases on Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market spending and solid rewards in several other everyday categories. But an Amazon Prime membership is required to apply, which starts at $139 a year ($69 for students). You’d have to spend at least $2,800 a year on purchases earning 5% to make it worth the full Prime membership fee.
Methodology
Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. When creating our rankings for cash0back cards we looked at annual fees, rewards rate, ease of earning and redeeming rewards and any other additional cardholder benefits.
Should you get a cash-back credit card?
“Cash-back cards are fantastic because the reward, cash, is something that everyone understands. There is no need to worry about understanding how points or miles are converted into a reward,” says John Ulzheimer, consumer credit expert, founder of CreditExpertWitness.com
Cash-back credit cards can be a great way to score savings on your everyday spending. But there is a catch. If you tend to carry a balance, the amount you’ll pay in interest will likely be greater than the value of any cash-back rewards you earn. For those who can and do pay off their balance each month, using a cash-back credit card is like getting a discount every time you shop.
For example, consider one of our top picks for cash-back cards: the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. It earns an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. If a household spends $25,000 a year on this card, they’ll earn $500 in cash-back rewards just for spending the way they normally would.
When it comes to cash-back cards with different earnings in different categories, you’ll have to determine if you’re willing to put in the work to track different categories as well as any limits on an earning rate. For example, if you spend significantly less than $6,000 a year—which breaks down to $500 a month—at the supermarket, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express may not be the best choice for you, given that the card carries an annual fee of $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 and caps the earnings on U.S. supermarket spending at $6,000 annually.
If you currently are using a credit card that doesn’t offer any rewards, a cash-back credit card can be a straightforward way to get started earning a percentage back on your spending. We’ve done the work and selected the top cash-back cards in a variety of categories to help you narrow down which one might be right for you.
What is a cash-back card?
A cash-back card is a credit card that earns a percentage back on your spending. If you spend $100 on a cash-back card that earns 2%, you’ll “earn” $2 back on your spending. This is different from a rewards card that earns, say, 2 points per dollar spent as the value of a point will vary wildly between various loyalty programs.
Common cash-back categories
Cards that earn high rates of cash-back in certain categories of spending tend to be geared towards busy households or those who spend in typical everyday areas. For example, groceries, dining and gas are common cash-back categories, but you’re far less likely to find a card that offers high rewards on auto repairs, dentist appointments or artwork.
Types of cash-back cards
Cash-back credit cards generally come in one of three varieties: Flat-rate, rotating categories and tiered rewards. Here’s how each type works:
Flat-rate cash-back cards
A flat-rate cash-back card is one that earns the same rate on every purchase. For example, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. earns 1.5% cash back on every purchase and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, so there’s no change in what you earn whether it’s spending on groceries, dining or matching pajamas for you and your pet.
Rotating category cash-back cards
Cards with rotating categories can be a great way to score maximum cash-back in certain areas of spending. Typically, these cards will offer 5% cash back up to a quarterly maximum, and then once that spending cap is reached, the rewards will drop down to 1% cash back. An example of a card like this is the Chase Freedom Flex℠ * The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , which earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
The challenge with rotating categories is remembering to “activate” the bonus (which just means logging in to your account and selecting to earn the extra rewards) and tracking when you’ve hit the spending cap in a particular quarter. However, those with the patience to do so can enjoy high rewards in the quarterly categories beyond what a flat-rate card might earn them.
These types of cards can also be terrific when paired with another flat-rate cash back card to earn maximum rewards on all your spending. But, you’ll have to keep track of which card to use and when.
Tiered rewards cash-back cards
Cash-back cards that earn tiered rewards also can provide generous returns in exchange for a little work. For example, the Prime Visa * The information for the Prime Visa has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. earns rewards in different “tiers”—earning 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership, 5% back on travel booked through Chase, 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and 1% back on all other purchases.
These types of cards can also be terrific when paired with another flat-rate cash back card to earn maximum rewards on all your spending. But, you’ll have to keep track of which card to use and when. Those with the tolerance for tracking more than one card and spending category may also find that pairing a tiered rewards cash-back card with a flat-rate rewards card can help them squeeze maximum earnings out of their credit card spending.
Pros & cons of cash-back cards
Pros:
The main benefit to cash-back cards is that they can help you save money on your spending by earning a little something back on purchases you’d have to make anyway. Cash-back cards often don’t carry annual fees and, depending on the particular card, can come with other valuable perks as well like travel or purchase protections. In addition, some of the best cash-back cards come with generous welcome bonuses if you spend a certain amount in the first few months after opening the account.
Cons:
Knowing which cash-back card is a fit for your spending patterns can be tricky, as there’s no one-size-fits-all solution and you’ll have to anticipate how you might spend in the months ahead. Also, be aware that many cash-back cards have foreign transaction fees, making them a poor choice for use abroad.
What to think about when choosing a cash-back card
There are a few considerations to keep in mind when choosing a cash-back card:
1. Do you plan on carrying a balance? Most cash-back cards earn between 1% and 6% on purchases. But carrying a balance on these cards typically comes with an interest in the double digits, which means you’ll pay more interest to carry a balance than you’ll earn back on your spending.
2. Does the card’s rewards structure match up with your spending habits? There’s no point in getting a card that earns high rewards on grocery spending if you rarely use your kitchen. Choose a card that aligns with where you tend to spend the most money.
3. If you’re comparing two near-identical cards, does one have additional features you can benefit from? Two competing cards may have the same rewards structure but one may offer you useful perks like cell phone insurance or extended warranty protections if you pay with the card.
How to make the most of your cash-back card
To maximize the value of your cash-back card, aim to do the following:
- Choose the right card for your spending habits. Pick a card that aligns with the way you spend your money.
- Try not to carry a balance. Interest charges will eat away at the value of any cash-back earnings.
- Make sure you redeem your rewards. There’s no point in earning rewards if you aren’t going to use them.
- Consider pairing your card with another. There’s no such thing as one perfect card for all your spending needs and it may make sense to own more than one card to extract the maximum value on every dollar you spend.
How to pick the best cash back card for you
Choosing the best cash-back card for you typically will depend on a combination of where you spend the most money, how much you typically spend on a credit card, and what other perks and benefits might be of value to you.
Cash-back credit cards earn a percentage back on your spending, typically 1% to 5% depending on the card. For example, if you have a card that earns a flat-rate 2% cash back and you spend $100, you’ll “earn” $2 back on that purchase. Earning rewards is automatic, but redeeming rewards generally requires you to log into your account and take action. You can typically apply your cash-back as a statement credit to your balance or, if your card offers it, redeem your rewards in other ways like a check mailed to you, a gift card or to book travel.
The IRS generally considers cash-back earnings from a credit card to be similar to a rebate and therefore not subject to income tax. Similar to how you wouldn’t have to pay income tax on using coupons or using a store rebate for a purchase, your cash-back rewards are typically considered not taxable.
Each card and issuing bank has their own policies when it comes to the expiration date of any accumulated cash-back earnings. Check the fine print to see what your card’s policy is.
The only way to get cash back on your credit card is by first using a card that offers cash-back rewards. Once you’ve accumulated rewards, you’ll likely need to take action to redeem them. Every card’s policy is different so be sure to understand both how to redeem your cash-back and if there are any minimum redemption amounts you’ll need to hit before you can take your earnings.
Editor’s Note: This article contains updated information from previously published stories:
*The information for the Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card, Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card, Chase Freedom Flex℠, Prime Visa and U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
