Chase Freedom Unlimited
Everyday spenders who want simple cash back and pair it with Chase points
Annual feeNone
Who qualifiesGood (690+)
MarketUSA
By need · 17 cards ranked
Best Cash Back Credit Cards in the United States 2026
The cash back cards that pay the most on real spending — flat-rate, category and rotating — ranked by net return after fees, with the maths that decides which type fits you.
Flat-rate benchmark2% on everything
Category cardsUp to 5–6% (capped)
Typical annual fee$0 – $95
Best forPeople who pay in full
Advertiser disclosure: we may earn a commission when you apply through links on this page. Rankings are editorial and not influenced by compensation. How we make money · How we rank
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
Families with high grocery and streaming spend
Annual fee$95/yr
Who qualifiesGood to Excellent (700…
MarketUSA
Chase Freedom Flex
People who can track and activate rotating 5% categories
Annual feeNone
Who qualifiesGood (690+)
MarketUSA
Ranked 1–10 at a glance
| Rank | Card | Annual fee | Rewards | Welcome offer | Foreign fee | Who qualifies | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CChaseFreedom UnlimitedNo annual fee · US Chase Freedom UnlimitedEveryday spenders who want simple cash back and pair it with Chase points |
None | 5% travel via Chase, 3% dining & drugstores, 1.5% all other purchases | Extra cash back in the first year on bonus spend | 3% | Good (690+) | |
| 2 | AEAmerican ExpressBlue Cash Preferred$95/yr · US Blue Cash Preferred Card from American ExpressFamilies with high grocery and streaming spend |
$95/yr | 6% U.S. supermarkets (up to $6k/yr), 6% select U.S. streaming, 3% transit & U.S.… | Statement-credit welcome offer | 2.7% | Good to Excellent (700+) | |
| 3 | CChaseFreedom FlexNo annual fee · US Chase Freedom FlexPeople who can track and activate rotating 5% categories |
None | 5% rotating quarterly categories (activation required), 5% travel via Chase, 3%… | Cash bonus after the minimum spend | 3% | Good (690+) | |
| 4 | CCitiDouble CashNo annual fee · US Citi Double Cash CardFlat-rate maximizers and debt payoff |
None | 1% when you buy + 1% when you pay = up to 2% on all purchases | Cash back welcome offer | 3% | Good (690+) | |
| 5 | DDiscoverit Cash BackNo annual fee · US Discover it Cash BackFirst-year value seekers and category optimizers |
None | 5% rotating categories on up to $1,500/quarter (activation), 1% other; all cash… | Unlimited Cashback Match for the entire first year | None | Good (670+) | |
| 6 | WFWells FargoActive CashNo annual fee · US Wells Fargo Active Cash CardSimple 2% on everything with cell phone protection |
None | 2% unlimited cash rewards on all purchases | Cash rewards welcome offer | 3% | Good (690+) | |
| 7 | COCapital OneSavorOne Cash RewardsNo annual fee · US Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit CardEveryday dining, grocery and streaming with no annual fee |
None | 3% on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores, 8… | $200+ cash bonus after meeting the minimum spend | None | Good (690+) | |
| 8 | CCitiCustom CashNo annual fee · US Citi Custom Cash CardPeople with one dominant spending category |
None | 5% on your highest eligible category each cycle (up to $500), 1% after | Cash bonus after minimum spend | 3% | Good (690+) | |
| 9 | C/Costco / CitiCostco Anywhere Visa by CitiNo annual fee · US Costco Anywhere Visa Card by CitiCostco members with high fuel spend |
None | 4% on eligible gas (up to $7k/yr), 3% dining & travel, 2% at Costco, 1% other | None | None | Good to Excellent (700+) | |
| 10 | A/Apple / Goldman SachsAppleNo annual fee · US Apple CardiPhone users who want simple, fee-free cash back |
None | 3% at Apple & select partners, 2% with Apple Pay, 1% with the titanium card | Occasional Daily Cash promos | None | Fair to Good (660+) |
The full list: 17 cards
Ranked by editorial score. Scroll the table on smaller screens.
| Rank | Card | Annual fee | Rewards | Welcome offer | Foreign fee | Who qualifies | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | ABank of AmericaCustomized Cash RewardsNo annual fee · US Bank of America Customized Cash RewardsBank of America customers who can earn Preferred Rewards boosts |
None | 3% in a chosen category, 2% groceries & wholesale clubs (up to $2,500/quarter co… | Online cash rewards bonus | 3% | Good (690+) | |
| 12 | AEAmerican ExpressBlue Cash EverydayNo annual fee · US Blue Cash Everyday Card from American ExpressFamilies wanting grocery and online shopping cash back with no fee |
None | 3% at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retail and U.S. gas stations (each on the f… | Cash back welcome offer after meeting the minimum spend | 2.7% | Good to Excellent (700+) | |
| 13 | COCapital OneQuicksilver Cash RewardsNo annual fee · US Capital One Quicksilver Cash RewardsAnyone who wants simple flat-rate cash back with no fee |
None | 1.5% on all purchases, 5% on hotels & cars via Capital One Travel | One-time cash bonus after minimum spend | None | Good (690+) | |
| 14 | UU.S. BankCash+ Visa SignatureNo annual fee · US U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature CardPeople who want to customize their 5% cash back |
None | 5% on two chosen categories (first $2,000 combined per quarter), 2% on one every… | Cash back bonus after meeting the minimum spend | 3% | Good to Excellent (700+) | |
| 15 | UU.S. BankSmartly Visa SignatureNo annual fee · US U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature CardU.S. Bank customers wanting a high flat cash back rate |
None | 2% cash back on all purchases, boosted up to 4% when you hold qualifying U.S. Ba… | Cash back bonus after meeting the minimum spend for new card… | None | Good to Excellent (700+) | |
| 16 | SSynchronyPayPal Cashback MastercardNo annual fee · US PayPal Cashback MastercardHeavy PayPal users wanting simple cash back |
None | 3% cash back on purchases made through PayPal, 1.5% cash back on all other purch… | Cash back bonus after meeting the minimum spend for new card… | None | Good (690+) | |
| 17 | UU.S. BankCash+ 2026 Category RefreshNo annual fee · US U.S. Bank Cash+ (2026 Category Refresh)Cash+ fans watching for updated category options |
None | Expected to keep choose-your-own 5% categories with possible list and cap change… | To be announced | 3% | Good to Excellent (700+) | — |
The guide
How to choose: Cash Back Credit Cards
Cash back is the reward that needs no explaining: spend, get a percentage back, done. The ranking above scores every cash back card we cover on what a typical household actually keeps after the annual fee. Three structures compete, and which wins for you depends on how much of your spending lands in bonus categories.
Flat-rate cards: the default
A flat 1.5%–2% on everything, no categories, no caps. On $24,000 of annual spend a 2% card returns $480 with zero effort. Citi Double Cash and Wells Fargo Active Cash define this tier in the US; Amex SimplyCash in Canada; Amex Platinum Cashback Everyday in the UK. If you want one card and no thinking, start here.
Category cards: higher rates, more management
3%–6% on groceries, dining, gas or streaming, usually capped ($6,000 a year on the Blue Cash Preferred's 6%, for example), and 1% elsewhere. They beat flat-rate cards only if your bonus-category spend is large. A household spending $800 a month on groceries earns $576 at 6% versus $192 at 2% — but the fee and the cap decide whether the gap survives.
Rotating-category cards: for optimisers
5% on categories that change each quarter (Chase Freedom Flex, Discover it), capped at $1,500 of spend per quarter, with activation required. Maximum possible return is $300 a year plus the 1% base. Strong as a second card; frustrating as an only card.
The pairing that wins most often
A flat 2% card for everything plus one category card for your single largest spend. It captures 80% of the available cash back with two cards and no spreadsheet.
What drags a cash back card down our list
- Cash back paid only annually, or only in large lump sums.
- Foreign transaction fees of 3% — a cash back card is not a travel card.
- Caps set so low the headline rate is unreachable.
- High purchase APRs that erase a year of rewards with one carried balance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best cash back credit card right now?
For most people a no-fee flat 2% card — Citi Double Cash or Wells Fargo Active Cash in the US — is the best default. Households with heavy grocery spend do better with a category card such as the Blue Cash Preferred, and the ranking above shows the current order.
Is 2% cash back good?
Yes. 2% is the ceiling for uncapped, no-fee flat-rate cards and beats the realistic blended return of most category cards for people with average spending patterns.
Do cash back rewards expire?
On most major issuers cash back does not expire while the account is open and in good standing. Closing the account can forfeit an unredeemed balance, so redeem before you cancel.