Best Cash Back Credit Cards for December 2024

The Citi Custom Cash® Card is hands down the easiest to use 5% back credit card on the market. Here’s how it works.

You’ll get 5% cash back on up to $500 spent in your top spending category per billing cycle, then 1% thereafter. Eligible spending categories are:

• Drugstores
• Fitness clubs
• Gas stations
• Grocery stores
• Home improvement stores
• Live entertainment
• Restaurants
• Select streaming services (including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Spotify, YouTube TV, and many more)
• Select transit
• Select travel

You’ll earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

This takes much of the strategy away from earning a boatload of credit card rewards. Simply spend as you normally would, and whichever above category you use the most will receive a 5% bonus. Five hundred dollars in eligible spending per billing cycle means you could earn a potential $300 back each year with virtually no effort.

This card earns Citi ThankYou points, which you can redeem for 1 cent each. If you’ve got either the >Citi Strata Premier℠ Card or Citi Prestige® Card (not available to new applicants), you can move those points to airline and hotel partners for free travel—and potentially get a value far greater than 1 cent per point.

• Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  
  Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026.
• No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
• No Annual Fee
• Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.

The best flat-rate cash back is the Citi Double Cash® Card. There are two ways you can use it to reward yourself when spending.

First, the card earns 1% back when you make a purchase and 1% back when you pay off that purchase. Expenses are usually wide-ranging, with very few falling into common bonus categories. The Citi Double Cash® Card will effectively earn 2% back on everything. If you funnel your expenses through this card, you’re guaranteed to get a respectable return.

Second, the card offers balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration (followed by an reg_apr,reg_apr_type rate). This is notably more generous than other cash back credit cards.

For those planning a big event, a wise strategy is to open a couple of credit cards offering juicy welcome bonuses. You could quite easily earn more than $1,000 in rewards. You could then transfer those balances to the Citi Double Cash® Card and have 18 months to pay off your expenses before any interest kicks in.

• Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.
• Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
• If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
• There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

You won’t find a larger welcome bonus from a no-annual-fee credit card than the card_name. In fact, this bonus is even larger than most cards that charge annual fees.

This card also earns:

• 5% cash back (5x points) at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services
• 2% cash back (2x points) at gas stations and restaurants
• 1% cash back (1x points) on all other purchases

For the 5% and 2% categories, you’ll only earn bonus cash on up to $25,000 in combined spending, then 1%.

Instead of earning cash, this card actually earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which can be redeemed for 1 cent each. Or, if you have a card such as the card_name, card_name, or card_name, you can transfer those points to travel partners, such as Hyatt and Southwest, for free travel.

Plus, those with a Chase Business Checking account will receive a one-time 10% bonus on all the cash back earned during the first cardmember year. For example, If you earn a total of $1,000 in cash back during the first year, you’ll get another $100 at the end of your anniversary year. (Note that this bonus is just for cards opened between March and November 2024.)

Introductory Offer:

• Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months, and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.
• 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases

Card Rewards:

• Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services each account anniversary year.
• Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year.
• Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Additional Benefits:

• Zero Liability: You won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• Annual Fee: None.
• Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel, and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Member FDIC

• Balance transfer fee: balance_transfer_fees
• Cash advance fee: cash_advance_fee
• Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee

The card_name was engineered for food purchases. Not only will you receive a whopping 4% back at restaurants (and even some food delivery services), but you’ll get 3% back at grocery stores for when you prefer to make your own culinary masterpiece.

The card is no slouch in other common categories as well:

• 8% back via Capital One Entertainment
• 5% back for hotels and car rentals reserved through Capital One Travel
• 4% back on entertainment
• 4% back on popular streaming services
• 1% back on all other purchases

Just remember the card’s annual_fees annual fee. You may be earning significantly more cash back for your everyday purchases than other no-annual-fee credit cards, but the annual fee may negate a lot of your cash back.

Also of note is that this card gives you access to Capital One Dining, a platform that helps you to book reservations at restaurants that are otherwise extremely difficult to get.

Even though this card earns cash back, you can turn your rewards into Capital One miles if you also have a Capital One miles-earning card, such as the card_name. From there you can transfer them to airline and hotel partners for free travel.

Card Rewards:

• Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases.
• Enjoy 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases.
• Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll find the best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply.
• No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards. Your cash back won’t expire for the life of the account, and there’s no limit to how much you can earn.

Additional Benefits:

• No foreign transaction fees.
• No annual fee.
• You’re protected by $0 Fraud Liability for unauthorized charges.

Member FDIC

• Balance transfer fee: balance_transfer_fees
• Cash advance fee: cash_advance_fee
• Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee

The card_name is the best small business cash back credit card for most businesses because it earns a flat 1.5% back for all purchases. That makes it useful for all types of businesses instead of just those with spending that falls into what are often niche bonus categories.

This card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points—not cash. You can redeem your points for 1 cent each. Or, if you also hold an Ultimate Rewards–earning card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can turn your rewards into airline miles or hotel points for free travel.

Because this is a small business credit card, you’ll need to own a small business to qualify. But even a side gig as simple as delivering food with DoorDash, freelance writing, or tutoring is considered a small business.

Introductory Offer:

• Earn $750 bonus cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
• 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases.

Card Rewards:

• Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business.
• No Annual Fee.

Additional Benefits:

• Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel, and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
• Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
• Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases.
• Zero Liability: You won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.

Member FDIC

• Balance transfer fee: balance_transfer_fees
• Cash advance fee: cash_advance_fee
• Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is a choose-your-own-adventure card. Each quarter you can select two eligible categories with which you want to earn bonus rewards. Eligible categories are:

• Cellphone providers
• Department stores
• Electronic stores
• Fast food
• Furniture stores
• Ground transportation
• Gyms and fitness centers
• Home utilities
• Movie theaters
• Sporting goods stores
• Select clothing stores
• TV/internet/streaming purchases

The option to earn up to 5% bonus rewards on home utilities is extremely rare among rewards credit cards.

The card also earns unlimited 5% back for any travel reserved through the U.S. Bank Rewards Travel Center. You'll earn 1% cash back on all other purchases. Additionally, you can choose one category for which you’d like to earn 2% back: gas/EV charging stations, grocery stores (including delivery), or restaurants.

• Earn a $200 rewards bonus after you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
• 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories you choose.
• 2% cash back on one everyday category, like gas stations and EV charging stations, grocery stores or restaurants.
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
• $0 annual fee.
• Get your cash back as a statement credit, a rewards card or directly deposited into your U.S. Bank checking or savings account. Enjoy flexible options designed to fit your needs.
• Receive a new cardmember $0 fee offer* on ExtendPay Plans opened in the first 60 days after account opening.
• Balance transfer fee: 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5, whichever is greater.
• Cash advance fee: 29.99% Variable.
• Foreign transaction fee: 3% of each foreign purchase transaction or foreign ATM advance transaction in U.S. Dollars. 3% of each foreign purchase transaction or foreign ATM advance transaction in a Foreign Currency.

The card_name is, per Capital One, only for those with excellent credit. The card earns:

• 5% back on hotels and car rentals reserved through Capital One Travel
• 1.5% back on all other eligible purchases

No personal Capital One–branded cash back credit card offers a higher flat rate for all spending. It’s a great option if your spending doesn’t conform to standard bonus categories.

Similar to other Capital One credit cards, you can turn these rewards into Capital One miles. All you need is a Capital One miles-earning card, such as the card_name, and you’re free to transfer your rewards to partners such as Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Wyndham, and more.

This card also offers a few travel and purchase insurances and no foreign transaction fees

Introductory Offer:

• Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
• 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.49% - 29.49% variable APR after that balance transfer fee applies

Card Rewards:

• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options (terms apply)
• No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how much you can earn

Member FDIC

• Balance transfer fee: balance_transfer_fees
• Cash advance fee: cash_advance_fee
• Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee

The annual fee is annual_fees annual fees card_name vanquishes all challengers in a couple of popular spending categories. Here’s what you’ll get.

• 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in spending per year, then 1% (Amex does not consider superstores, convenience stores, warehouse clubs, and meal-kit delivery services to be supermarkets)
• 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
• 3% back at U.S. gas stations (1% back at superstores, supermarkets, and warehouse clubs that sell gasoline)
• 3% back on transit
• 1% back on all other purchases

Earning 6% back on groceries makes this one of the best Amex credit cards for families. With a $6,000 cap, your potential bonus earnings amount to $360 per year. Even a household of moderate size should be able to achieve that by spending $500 per month on groceries.

This card even comes with two monthly statement credits:

• $7 credit to reimburse a subscription to the Disney Bundle costing $12.99 or more per month (enrollment required).
• $10 credit to offset Equinox+, an online workout subscription that costs $40 per month (enrollment required).

You can also take advantage of a intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration (then reg_apr,reg_apr_type).

Introductory Offer:

• Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
• Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
• 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 18.24% to 29.24%.

Card 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 (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
• 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
• Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

Additional Benefits:

• Get up to $120 in statement credits annually when you pay for an auto-renewing subscription to Equinox+ at equinoxplus.com with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. That's $10 in statement credits each month. Enrollment required.
• Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. Enrollment required.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Fees:

• Balance transfer fee: balance_transfer_fees
• Cash advance fee: cash_advance_fee
• Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee

The card_name offers a high return for filling up your vehicle. You’ll earn 4% back on gas and EV charging stations worldwide (up to $7,000 in spending per year, then 1%).

While you don’t have to fill up at Costco to get a 4% return, there are some stipulations: Any gas purchased at a supermarket, superstore, convenience store, or warehouse club (with the exception of Costco) will only earn 1% back.

This card also earns:

• 3% cash back with restaurants
• 3% cash back for eligible travel purchases worldwide
• 2% cash back for all other purchases from Costco (in-store and online)
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

The big annoyance with this card’s cash back is that you can only redeem it once per year after your February billing statement closes. You can use it for cash or for merchandise at Costco warehouses in the U.S. In other words, you can’t redeem your cash back throughout the year as you can with other cash back cards.

• Discover one of Citi's best cash back rewards cards designed exclusively for Costco members
• 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter
• 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases
• 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• No annual fee with your paid Costco membership and enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases
• Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico

There are a handful of credit cards that specifically pair bonus spending with online retailers. However, the fact that the Prime Visa offers 5% back with Amazon—a place where you can get just about anything—makes this card the superior choice for most online shoppers. Here’s a full rundown of what the card earns.

• 5% back at Amazon and Whole Foods
• 5% back on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal
• 2% back with restaurants, gas stations, and local transit and commuting (such as Uber)
• 1% back on all other eligible purchases

This card also unlocks a limited-time 10% return (and sometimes more) for select products.

There’s one big caveat with the card_name: While it technically doesn’t charge an annual fee, you’ll only receive 5% back on Amazon and Whole Foods if you’ve got Amazon Prime, which costs $139 per year. If you aren’t a Prime member, you’ll earn 3% in these categories.

Introductory Offer:

• Receive a $200 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval, exclusively for Prime members.

Card Rewards:

• Earn unlimited 5% back on purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and Chase Travel for Prime members (or 3% for non-Prime members). These points can be redeemed for future Amazon.com purchases, cash back, gift cards, or travel via Chase.
• Get unlimited 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshares).
• Enjoy unlimited 1% back on all other purchases.

Additional Details:

• No annual fee.
• Balance transfer fee: balance_transfer_fees
• Cash advance fee: cash_advance_fee
• Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is one of the most versatile cash back credit cards in the industry for multiple reasons. The fact that it doesn’t charge an annual fee is an additional plus.

First, there are the card’s earning rates. You’ll earn 5% back in rotating bonus categories (for up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter, then 1%) after you activate.

You’ll also earn:

• 5% back for travel reserved through the Chase Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• 3% back for dining and drugstore purchases
• 1% back on all other purchases

Even better, the card technically earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points—not cash back. You’re free to redeem your rewards for cash at a rate of 1 cent per point, but if you also hold an annual fee-incurring Ultimate Rewards card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can convert those rewards into airline miles and hotel points with Chase transfer partners for free travel. This potentially gives you far more value than just 1 cent per point.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a great way to accrue travel rewards if you’re not quite ready to spring for a credit card with an annual fee. Then, when you’re ready to open a travel credit card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you’ll already have a stockpile of points at your disposal.

• Earn 5% cash back on grocery store purchases (excluding Target® and Walmart®)*Opens offer details overlay on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.
• Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 on combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3% on dining including takeout and drug stores, and 1% on all other purchases.
• 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers.†Opens pricing and terms in new window After the intro period, a variable APR of 19.74%–28.49%.†Opens pricing and terms in new window Balance transfer fee applies, see pricing and terms for more details.
• $0 annual fee.
• Balance transfer fee: Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
• Cash advance fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.
• Foreign transaction fee: 3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars.

Firstcard is a debit card-esque flavor of student credit card. It can give those with bad (or no) credit history a chance to exhibit healthy credit behavior and produce a good credit score.

When you open the Firstcard, you’ll also open a linked bank account. The amount of money you deposit into your bank account will be the size of your credit limit—that’s how it makes sure you don’t spend more than you’ve got. You can instantly change the size of your credit limit by withdrawing or depositing money into your linked account.

When you spend on the card, you’ll earn up to 15% cash back at participating merchants. You’ll also earn cash back for all other purchases. After each purchase, you’ll have the opportunity to spin a virtual wheel within the Firstcard app to earn between 0.1% and 10%.

Firstcard doesn’t run your credit, so anyone (even international students) can open the card. It also doesn’t charge an annual fee, late payments, or interest.

• Earn up to 15% Merchant Cashback at 29,000 partner merchants around your campus.
• Play the spinning wheel in the app to earn up to 10% bonus cashback after every purchase. Yes, you heard it right—you get bonus cashback on every purchase.
• When you upgrade to Firstcard+, we want to offer more cashback for you! You will get an additional unlimited 1% cashback when you swipe with Firstcard.
• Get 5% cashback on 12 most-loved educational platforms.
• When you open an account with Firstcard, you will get a bank account and a credit card to help you start building your credit.
• Firstcard+ members can monitor their credit scores directly in the Firstcard app.
• Grow your money faster and earn more interest on your money with up to 4.00% APY when you use Firstcard.
• We accept international students without an SSN.
• Balance transfer fee: N/A
• Cash advance fee: N/A
• Foreign transaction fee: $0