Cash back cards offer the simplest way to earn rewards — direct cash with no points to transfer or portals to navigate. We've ranked the best options based on signup bonus value and ease of earning it, ongoing cash back rates, and whether any annual fee is justified by the rewards you'll actually earn.
13 cards · live
Best Cash Back Credit Cards
The top cash back credit cards ranked by earning rates, bonus categories, and signup offers — all with no annual fee unless noted.
Updated · May 15, 2026·13 cards
Quick Comparison
| # | Card | Annual Fee | Signup Bonus | Top Category | Base Rate | Intro APR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |  Chase Freedom FlexBest Overall | $0 | $200 | 5% Rotating Categories | 1% | 0% for 15mo |
2 |  Discover it Cash BackBest First-Year Value | $0 | - | 5% Rotating Categories | 1% | 0% for 15mo |
3 |  Chase Freedom UnlimitedBest for Everyday Spending | $0 | $200 | 3% Dining | 1.5% | 0% for 15mo |
4 |  Wells Fargo Active CashBest Flat Rate | $0 | $200 | 2% Everything Else | 2% | 0% for 12mo |
5 | $0 | $200 | 2% Everything Else | 2% | 0% BT for 18mo | |
61 | $0 | $200 | 3% Groceries | 1% | 0% for 15mo | |
71 | $0 | $200 | 5% Top Spend Category | 1% | 0% for 15mo | |
8 | $0 | $150 | 5% Amazon.com | 1% | - | |
9 | $0 | 20,000 points (~$200) | 3x Dining | 1x | 0% for 12mo | |
10 | $0 | $100 | 4% Gyms/Fitness Centers | 1% | 0% for 12mo | |
11 | $39 | - | 3% Dining | 1% | 0% for 12mo | |
12 | $0 | $500 | 2% Everything Else | 2% | 0% for 12mo | |
13 | $0 | $200 | 1.5% Everything Else | 1.5% | 0% for 15mo |
Chase$0 / yrCash Back
Earn $200 after $500 in 3 months
5x rotating5x travel_portal3x dining
Earn $200 cash back after just $500 in spending, then enjoy 5% back on rotating quarterly categories and Chase Travel, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on everything else—all with no annual fee and a 15-month intro APR on purchases.
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Discover$0 / yrCash Back
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases & balance transfers
5x rotating1x everything_else
Earn 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories and 1% on everything else, with Discover matching all cash back earned in your first year to effectively double your rewards. No annual fee, no signup minimum, and 15-month intro APR on purchases.
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Chase$0 / yrCash Back
Earn $200 after $500 in 3 months
5x travel_portal3x dining3x drugstores
Earn $200 cash back after $500 in spending, then get 1.5% back on all purchases plus 3% on dining and drugstores and 5% on Chase Travel—with no annual fee and 15-month intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.
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Wells Fargo$0 / yrCash Back
Earn $200 after $500 in 3 months
2x everything_else
Get 2% cash back on every purchase with no annual fee, no spending caps, and no categories to track. Earn a $200 bonus after $500 in spending.
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Citi$0 / yrCash Back
Earn $200 after $1,500 in 6 months
5x travel_portal2x everything_else
Earn 2% cash back on all purchases through a unique 1%-on-purchase, 1%-on-payment structure, plus 5% on Chase Travel. Get a $200 bonus after $1,500 in 6 months with no annual fee and 18-month intro APR on balance transfers.
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American Express$0 / yrCash Back
Earn $200 after $2,000 in 6 months
3x groceries3x gas3x online_shopping
Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 yearly), 3% on gas, 3% on online shopping, and 1% elsewhere. Get a $200 bonus after $2,000 in 6 months with no annual fee.
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Citi$0 / yrCash Back
Earn $200 after $1,500 in 6 months
5x top_category4x hotels_car_portal1x everything_else
Earn 5% cash back on your highest spending category each month (from dining, gas, groceries, transit, streaming, and more, capped at $500/month) plus 1% elsewhere. Get a $200 bonus after $1,500 in 6 months with no annual fee.
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Chase$0 / yrCash Back
Earn $150 after $0 in 0 months
5x amazon2x dining2x gas
Earn 5% cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods (for Prime members), 5% on Chase Travel, 2% on dining, gas, and transit, and 1% elsewhere. Get a $150 bonus with no spending requirement.
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Wells Fargo$0 / yrPoints
Earn 20,000 points (~$200 est. value) after $1,000 in 3 months
3x dining3x travel3x gas
Earn 3% cash back on dining, travel, gas, transit, and streaming, plus 1% elsewhere. Get a $200 equivalent bonus (20,000 points) after $1,000 in 3 months with no annual fee.
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Wells Fargo$0 / yrCash Back
Earn $100 after $500 in 3 months
4x gyms_fitness4x entertainment4x transit
Earn 4% cash back on fitness, wellness, sports, live events, pet supplies, transit, and EV charging, plus 1% elsewhere. Get a $100 bonus after $500 in spending with no annual fee.
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Capital One$39 / yrCash Back
0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases & balance transfers
3x dining3x entertainment3x streaming
Earn 3% cash back on dining, groceries, entertainment, and streaming, plus 1% elsewhere. Get a $200 bonus after $500 in spending, but includes a $39 annual fee.
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Wells Fargo$0 / yrCash Back
Earn $500 after $5,000 in 3 months
2x everything_else
Earn 2% cash back on all business purchases with no annual fee and no spending caps. Get a $500 bonus after $5,000 in 3 months—the highest flat bonus available.
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Capital One$0 / yrCash Back
Earn $200 after $500 in 3 months
5x hotels_car_portal1.5x everything_else
1.5% cash back on everything with no annual fee, no rotating categories, and no spending caps. Earn a $200 bonus after $500 in spending.
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