Written by investor.com
What’s your rewards earning potential? This credit card rewards calculator makes it easy to find the cashback credit card that pays the highest kickback based on how much you actually spend each month.
If you're looking for a cashback credit card for your small business, great — we've got a finder for that, too. Hop on over to our Business Credit Card Rewards Calculator.
A straight-up 2.5% rewards rate — versus the standard 1.5% — is on offer for Alliant Cashback Visa cardholders who maintain a checking account at the credit union. Plus, Alliant makes it easy to become a member.
The basics: Tier One Rewards: 2.5% cash back on the first $10,000 of qualifying eligible purchases per billing cycle, unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other qualifying eligible purchases if you maintain an Alliant checking account. Tier Two Rewards (no checking account required): Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all qualifying eligible purchases.
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The Ally Everyday Cash Back card — currently available by invitation only — has the bones of a decent tiered-rate rewards card. But it lacks meatier perks (like sign-up goodies) and charges a $0-$39 annual fee based on your credit score.
The basics: The Ally Everyday Cash Back Mastercard pays 3% cash back at gas stations, grocery stores and drugstores, with 1% cash back on everything else. The card is available only to those who have received an offer from Ally online or by mail.
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The newest Ally rewards card joins the growing lineup of no-annual-fee cards offering an easy-peasy 2% cash back on all purchases. However, the Unlimited Cash Back Mastercard lacks extra perks we like to see. Plus, it currently requires an invitation to apply. (Ouch.)
The basics: With the Ally Unlimited Cash Back Mastercard earn unlimited 2% cash back on all your purchases, with no exceptions or expirations. Also available is the Ally Unlimited Cash Back Mastercard for Nurses and Educators.
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The Prime Visa from Amazon is essentially a store credit card on steroids, offering the most attractive cashback reward terms to those willing to pay the annual Amazon Prime membership fee.
The basics: Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases. Earn unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare). Earn unlimited 1% back on all other purchases. Amazon Prime membership required.
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Earning 3% cash back on Amazon purchases — no annual fee or Amazon Prime membership required — is nice if you’re only an occasional Amazon shopper. However, the Amazon Visa lacks the versatility (and higher earning potential) you can get from other tiered reward rate cards.
The basics: Earn unlimited 3% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases. Earn unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare). Earn unlimited 1% back on all other purchases.
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A flat, category-agnostic, unlimited 1.5% reward rate? Although less rewarding than other flat-rate cash-back cards, Amex Cash Magnet offers preapproval (handy if your credit score is on the fence) and installment payment plans for purchases you can't pay off in full right away.
The basics: The American Express Cash Magnet card offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases. Welcome offer: 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months from the date of account opening. Earn $200 back after you spend $2,000 or more on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
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Instant cash back is cool. Limited rewards opportunities and just so-so cash back rates, not so much. Bottom line: The Apple Card is most worthwhile for frequent Apply Pay users and Apple product loyalists who need a 0% interest financing option.
The basics: Earn an unlimited 3% cash back on purchases from Apple and at select merchants when you use Apple Pay. Get 2% cash back when you use Apple Card at merchants that accept Apple Pay, and 1% on all other purchases. Cash back deposited daily (after purchases clear) into your account.
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The Customized Cash Rewards Card lets you change up your 3% cash back category monthly, making it ideal for rewards category commitment-phobes. But big spenders beware: There's a $2,500 quarterly rewards spending cap that can limit a cardholder's overall rewards earning potential.
The basics: Earn 3% on the category of your choice each month. Choose between gas and EV charging, online shopping (including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming), dining, travel, drug stores and pharmacies, or home improvement/furnishings. Earn an automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (including those with supermarkets inside) and an unlimited 1% on all else. The 3% and 2% cashback rates apply to the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter. Introductory 0% APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers made within 60 days of opening an account. $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
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How does a ho-hum 1.5% flat-rate credit card earn the title of Best Bank Loyalty Rewards Card? By offering qualified B of A/Merrill Edge customers a 25%-75% rewards boost, which turns the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Card into a much more competitive 1.87%-2.62% cash back card.
The basics: Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Earn $200 online cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening. Introductory 0% APR for first 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within 60 days of account opening. A 3% fee applies to balance transfers.
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The no-annual-fee Blue Cash Everyday card includes all the Amex perks while paying a competitive 3% cash back on common, everyday purchases (groceries, gas and online retail therapy). Glow-up features include preapproval (no dings to your credit to see if you qualify) and a Buy Now, Pay Later program offering a dramatically lower interest rate than traditional credit cards charge.
The basics: Earn 3% cash back on groceries, gas, and U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 a year in purchases in each separate bonus category, and then 1% thereafter. All other purchases earn 1% unlimited cash back. 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from date of account opening. In the first six months earn $200 back after spending $2,000 in purchases.
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Survivalist essentials: Groceries, streaming services and a credit card that pays you 6% in cash back on both. ✅, ✅ and ✅. The all-star cashback rates — and unlimited 3% rewards on gas and transit — are free for the first year. After that, you're on the hook for the $95 annual fee.
The basics: Earn 6% cash back on up to $6,000 in purchases at U.S. supermarkets. Earn an unlimited 6% cash back on select streaming subscriptions, 3% on gas and transit (includes taxis, rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more) and 1% on everything else. $95 annual card membership fee waived for the first 12 months. 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from date of account opening. Earn $250 back after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership.
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For couch potatoes (raises hand), the BMO Harris Bank Cash Back Mastercard's 5% rewards rate on streaming, cable TV and satellite services feels like enough justification to add even more subscription channels to your viewing lineup.
The basics: Get 5% cash back on eligible streaming, cable TV and satellite services, 3% cash back on eligible gas and grocery purchases (up to $2,500 in combined spend each calendar quarter), and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. Get a $200 cash back bonus when you spend $2,000 within three months of opening your account. 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 12 months from date of first transfer when transfers are completed within 90 days from date of account opening.
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The only thing missing from the no-annual-fee unlimited 2% Bread Cashback Amex card is a welcome offer for new cardholders. However, perks are plentiful (the card includes access to Amex extras) and you don't have to worry about foreign transaction fees or reward redemption minimums.
The basics: Earn 2% unlimited cash back on purchases with the Bread Cashback American Express Credit Card. Enjoy all the benefits of an American Express card with no annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
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This is the top-of-the-line among Capital One's Quicksilver Rewards card portfolio, which means it offers a welcome bonus and introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers to applicants with excellent credit. Pity about the 1.5% cash back rate, though.
The basics: Earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on every purchase and 5% cashback on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 within three months from account opening. 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.
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This is the Quicksilver Rewards card's less attractive suitor for those with “good,” but not “excellent” credit — which also describes the terms on offer: Just 1.5% cash back minus any sign-up goodies.
The basics: Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, and 5% cashback on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel . Requires “good credit” (as in no late payments in the past year or defaults in the past five) to qualify, according to Capital One.
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If you've got some baggage in your credit history, a $39 annual fee buys access to a 1.5% cash back card with no sign-up incentives. It’ll do … for now.
The basics: Earn 1.5% unlimited cashback on all purchases and 5% cashback on hotels and rental cards booked through Capital One Travel. $39 annual fee. Requires “fair credit” to qualify.
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The unlimited 4% cashback rate on dining and 3% on groceries adds a nice zing to Capital One's perk-rich Savor Rewards card, if you can stomach the annual fee.
The basics: Earn unlimited 4% cash back on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, 3% at grocery stores, and 1% on all other purchases. New cardmembers can earn a one-time $300 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within three months from account opening.
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Although the SavorOne Rewards card pays a slightly less palatable cash back rate on dining, groceries and entertainment than Capital One's other Savor rewards card (3% vs. 4%), it makes up for it by charging no annual fee and tossing in a 0% APR offer.
The basics: Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores, plus 1% on all other purchases. Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus when you spend $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.
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Managing the Chase Freedom Flex card requires putting in a little elbow grease. In exchange, you'll earn a killer 5% cash back on a rotating quarterly roster of bonus categories and 3% on dining and drugstore purchases.
The basics: Earn 5% cash back on different Chase-selected bonus categories (like gas stations, grocery stores and select online merchants) on up to $1,500 in total combined purchases each quarter you activate. Earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3% on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and drugstores, earn 1% on all other purchases. New cardmember offer: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Oh, and there's a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. And, no, we don’t get paid by the word around here.
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If you've been eyeing Chase’s coveted Sapphire card but can't justify paying an annual fee, Chase Freedom Unlimited is a good gateway card. It comes with travel perks, competitive cash back rates, and the chance to upgrade to one of the bank's rewardier cards.
The basics: Earn an unlimited 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 3% on drugstore purchases, and 1.5% on all other purchases. Welcome offer: Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Also, 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.
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The Citi Custom Cash card automatically pays a whopping 5% cash back on up to $500 in purchases within your biggest eligible monthly spending category each month ... and a meh 1% on everything else.
The basics: Earn 5% cash back on up to $500 of spending within your biggest eligible purchase category each billing cycle and unlimited 1% cash back thereafter. (Eligible spending categories are: Restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, live entertainment.) Welcome offer: Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.
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The Citi Double Cash Card rewards goody-two-shoes cardholders who pay down balances by doubling the cash back rate to 2%.
The basics: Earn 2% cash back on everything — 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay off your balance, no caps on cash back earned. 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. Limited time offer: Earn 5% total cash back on hotel and car rentals booked on the Citi Travel portal through 12/31/24. Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of your Citi Double Cash card account opening
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The Costco Anywhere Visa is definitely not your average store credit card. It offers competitive reward rates on practically everything on your shopping list — gas, dining, travel — on top of 2% cash back on Costco/Costco.com purchases.
The basics: Earn 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging worldwide for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter; 3% on restaurant and eligible travel purchases worldwide; 2% on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
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Like its peers (Credit One's Platinum Visa, X5 Visa, and the no-annual-fee Platinum Rewards Visa), the Credit One Bank American Express Card is best considered as a pit stop on your way to building your credit in order to qualify for a more rewarding rewards card. Here you’ll settle for a bare minimum 1%, though access to Amex perks is a nice extra.
The basics: Earn unlimited 1% cash back rewards on all purchases — no categories to choose or points to redeem — and earned rewards are credit to your account automatically.
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This is the sadder version of Credit One’s no-fee Platinum Visa, with a low (1%) and limited rewards rate (applies only to certain spending categories) and a high APR on unpaid balances, which reflects the target audience: those with "average" credit. The only reason to pay a $39 annual fee in exchange for not a lot of upside is, um … we’ll get back to you if we come up with something compelling.
The basics: Earn 1% cash back rewards on eligible purchases (gas, groceries, mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services) and up to 10% more cashback rewards from participating merchants via the More Cash Back Rewards Program.
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Credit One’s 2% rewards rate on gas, groceries and cell/’net/cable bills comes thisclose to making you forget about the card’s limitations, the biggest of which is earning 0% cash back on purchases outside of the bonus categories.
The basics: Earn 2% cash back rewards on eligible purchases of gas, grocery, and internet, cable, satellite TV and mobile phone services. Automatically get up to 10% More Cash Back Rewards from participating merchants. Free online access to your Experian credit score. (Enrollment required.)
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A 5% cash back rate normally sets our hearts aflutter. Then we saw the $95 annual fee, $5,000 annual bonus spending cap on a limited number of eligible spending categories, and 1% default rewards rate on everything else. FYI: Better terms can be had with other 5% cash back cards.
The basics: Earn 5% cash back rewards on the first $5,000 of eligible gas, grocery, internet, cable, satellite TV and mobile phone service purchases each year, and 1% thereafter. Earn unlimited 1% cash back rewards on all other purchases.
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The Discover it Year One incentive is 🔥. (You'll earn double the cash back on every dollar you earn for your anniversary.) But the $1,500 quarterly spending cap is a wet blanket.
The basics: Earn 5% cash back at select places (changes quarterly), such as grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, wholesale clubs, select streaming services, Amazon.com, PayPal purchases, etc., and 1% cash back on all other purchases. New cardmember offers: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. Plus, get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year, automatically.
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For the first year of card ownership Discover it Chrome effectively pays 4% cash back on gas and grocery purchases by matching your earned rewards dollar-for-dollar. Beyond the honeymoon period, we think there are better cards if you're looking for a long-term rewards card relationship.
The basics: Earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. New cardholder offers: Get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year, automatically. Plus, 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers and 3% balance transfer fee (versus 5%) for a limited time.
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The Fidelity Rewards Visa is best for those with long-term savings goals, not short-term cash needs. Every swipe gives you the opportunity to nudge your investment account balances higher, as long as you redeem the cash back in a Fidelity-owned account.
The basics: Earn unlimited 2% cash back on everyday spending when points are redeemed for a deposit into an eligible Fidelity account. Earn up to an additional 1% as a participant in the Fidelity Rewards+ program for Wealth Management clients.
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The Navy Federal cashRewards card is a good choice if you have average credit, don’t always pay your balance in full, and have an existing Navy Federal Credit Union account that qualifies you for 1.75% cash back instead of 1.5%.
The basics: Navy Federal’s cashRewards Credit Card pays an unlimited 1.75% cash back on purchases for customers enrolled in direct deposit with Navy Federal. The cashback rate without direct deposit is 1.5%. Welcome bonus: From July 1, 2024 to Oct. 9, 2024, earn $300 cash back when you spend $3,000 within 90 days of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, get a one-time $98 statement credit when you pay $49 or more for an annual Walmart+ membership using your cashRewards card.
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With its 2% cashback rate on everything, no restrictions, PayPal’s Mastercard is worth buddying up to, as long as you’re not looking for a friend with benefits.
The basics: Earn 3% unlimited cash back on PayPal purchases and 2% unlimited on all other purchases.
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PenFed's flat-rate cash back Visa Signature card requires a lot for non-Honors Advantage Members to raise the 1.5% base rewards rate to 2%. Current/former military (active duty, reserve, honorably discharged, retired), however, automatically earn the higher rate.
The basics: PenFed Honors Advantage Members earn 2% cash back on all purchases. Non-members earn 1.5% cash back. Introductory 0% balance transfer APR for 12 months on balance transfers made within the first 90 days after account opening. (Subject to credit approval; 3% transfer fee applies.) Earn a $100 bonus statement credit when you spend $1,500 in the first 90 days.
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The road to approval for a better rewards card starts somewhere — specifically with a 1% cash back, low-credit-line/few-perks card. At least Petal doesn't charge an annual fee like some other starter cards.
The basics: Get 1% cash back on all qualified purchases right away; earn 1.25% after six on-time payments and 1.5% after 12. Cardholders can earn 2% to 10% cash back at select local merchants.
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The PNC Cash Rewards Visa is engineered with drivers in mind, offering a standout 4% cash back on gas, plus 3% and 2% on dining and groceries. But big spenders risk bumping up against the annual bonus spending cap.
The basics: Earn 4% cash back on gas station purchases, 3% on dining purchases at restaurants and 2% on grocery store purchases for the first $8,000 in combined purchases in these categories annually. Earn an unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Earn a $200 bonus after making $1,000 or more in purchases during the first three billing cycles. 0% intro APR on balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles. 3% balance transfer fee for the first 90 days following account opening, and 4% after that.
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The 5% cashback on gas and EV charging is a standout in the rewards card realm, and the 3% rewards rate on dining is tasty. But if you’re not a Sam’s Club “Plus” member, your “Sam’s Cash” earning potential is limited with this warehouser’s Mastercard.
The basics: Earn 5% back on gas and EV charging stations on the first $6,000 per year, then 1% after. Earn 3% back on dining and 1% on everything else. Basic Club members earn 1% back on Sam’s Club shopping. “Plus” members can earn up to 5% on eligible Sam’s Club purchases. Total cash back is limited to $5,000 per year. For a limited time get a $30 statement credit when you open a new account and use it to make $30 in Sam’s Club purchases within 30 days.
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The SoFi Unlimited 2% Credit Card offers exactly what the name promises: 2% cash back on all purchases when rewards are redeemed as a statement credit or deposit into a SoFi savings, checking, money market, investing or loan account.
The basics: Earn 2 reward points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases, and 3 points for every dollar spent on the SoFi Travel Portal. Points can be redeemed as a statement credit or into a cardholder's SoFi Checking or Savings account, SoFi Money account, SoFi Active Invest account, or SoFi Personal, Private Student, or Student Loan Refinance.
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The TD Cash Credit Card is a step up from your average tiered-rate rewards card. It offers flexibility — your choice of five everyday bonus categories, which you can swap out each quarter — and pays an unlimited 3% and 2% cash back on whichever two you choose.
The basics: Choose your top two spend categories to earn unlimited 3% and 2% cash back. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special offer: Earn $200 cash back when you spend $500 within 90 days of account opening. 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for first 15 billing cycles after account opening.
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There's one thing that makes Truist Enjoy Cash outshine other cash back cards with similar so-so rewards programs: The 10%-50% cash back boost customers can earn by depositing earnings into a Truist bank account.
The basics: Choose how you earn rewards when you apply for the Truist Enjoy Cash credit card: Earn 3% cash back on gas and EV charging and 2% on utilities and groceries (with a combined $1,000 monthly spend cap) — and 1% on all other eligible purchases. Or choose to earn 1.5% on all eligible purchases. New cardholder offer: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months after account opening.
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The 5% cash back rate on multiple spending categories makes a great headline. The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa rewards program rules, however — oof.
The basics: Earn 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 (gas/EV charging stations, grocery stores or restaurants) and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. New cardholder offer: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles. Earn a $200 rewards bonus after you apply online and spend $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.
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The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa’s 6% cash back rate on purchases from a long list of big-name retailers (including Amazon, Target and Walmart) got my attention. So did the $1,500 quarterly rewards spending cap (oof) and $95 annual fee that kicks in starting in year two.
The basics: Earn 6% cash back on your first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases each quarter with two retailers you choose and 3% cash back on your first $1,500 in eligible purchases on your choice of one everyday category. Earn 1.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases. $0 annual fee the first year ($95/year thereafter). Get a $250 bonus after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.
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Calling this a “cash back credit card” is a loose interpretation of the genre. The Upgrade Cash Rewards card is basically a no-grace-period personal loan packaged in plastic, offering rewards that can only be used for one thing — paying down your balance.
The basics: Use the Upgrade Card at retail locations and online and earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases when you pay them back. Funds from your line of credit are also available to be sent to your bank account. Welcome offer: Get a $200 bonus when you also open a Rewards Checking account and make three qualifying debit card transactions within 60 days.
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Cash back credit card? Fixed-rate loan on plastic? The Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa is basically a reward-you-to-pay-off-your-debt card focused on three spending categories: Home, auto and health.
The basics: Use the Upgrade Card at retail locations and online and earn 3% cash back on home, auto and health purchases and 1% cash back on everything else. All cash back rewards are earned when you pay eligible purchases back. Welcome bonus: Earn $200 when you also open a Rewards Checking Plus account and make three qualifying debit card transactions within 60 days.
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This USAA card's 5% cash back rate on gas and commissary purchases (and a much less exciting 2% on groceries) are fine if you're looking for a second card to ride shotgun. But reward spending caps and membership requirements limit its utility for civilian cardholders.
The basics: Earn 5% cash back on your first $3,000 in combined gas station and military base purchases yearly, 2% cash back on your first $3,000 in grocery purchases yearly, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other qualifying purchases.
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This USAA members-only card has a few niche perks for servicemembers. Otherwise, it’s an average 1.5% cash back card with minimal sign-up incentives.
The basics: The USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card pays 1.5% cash back on purchases, no category restrictions. Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases.
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The Venmo Visa may be the card for you if you simply can’t be bothered with things like picking monthly bonus categories … or lifting a finger to redeem your rewards. No judgment! Just facts.
The basics: With the Venmo Credit Card automatically earn 3% cash back on your eligible top spend category, 2% on the next, and 1% on all other eligible purchases.
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The competition among 2% cash-back-on-everything credit cards is fierce, but a welcome bonus, 0% intro APR promotion, and multiple reward redemption options help the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card rise above its peers.
The basics: Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus when you spend $500 in purchases in the first three months. 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and qualified balance transfers (subject to either $5 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater).
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Compare cash back credit cards
Select and compare two credit cards head to head to see which offers the most bang for your buck.
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0 of 2The inputs: The “Monthly Spend” amount is the only required input to generate a list of results. Expanding the “Spend Categories” menu lets you tailor the results even further by entering your monthly credit card spending amounts in key categories (such as Dining, Entertainment, Gas, Groceries, Pharmacy, Travel, Online Shopping, Utilities, Transit, Streaming Services and more). We strongly urge you to do so, since a lot of cards pay elevated rewards rates on purchases in certain categories which can affect how much cash back you’ll really earn. "Filter Results" lets you hand-pick the cards you see.
The math: When you tap in how much you spend per month for each of the spending categories, we apply each provider's rewards rate for that spend type to calculate the “Cash Back Per Year” amount. To ensure the most accurate results, we factor in rewards program spending category bonus rates, rewards spending caps and default rewards rates, when applicable. If a card charges an annual fee, that amount is backed out of the total annual rewards figure.
The extras: Clicking “Apply Now” will take you to that credit card’s application page. But before that, you might want to take a gander at our homework. Click “Dayana’s Take” for a high-level overview of each card’s reward program and our likes and dislikes.
Note: The results include all of the rewards cards in our database, listed in descending order of the amount each card is expected to pay out annually based on the spending inputs. Click "View More" to see the full list of results. (See “Methodology” below for more.)
Our top picks for cashback cards
Want some help deciding? See which cards rose to the top in our analysis of cashback credit cards for personal use.
Not all credit card rewards are created equal. Points or percentage cash back earned can vary from card to card depending on each loyalty program's rules. But a few mathematical shortcuts make it easy to calculate and compare reward rates.
Calculating cashback credit card rewards
Cashback credit cards that pay a percentage of each purchase back to you are the easiest reward rates to calculate.
To convert a 1.5%, 3%, or 5% cashback rate into dollar terms, divide the cashback percentage number by 100. For example, a card that pays 1.5% cash back on all qualifying purchases has a rewards rate of $0.015 (1.5 divided by 100) per $1 spent. A card offering 3% cash back pays you $0.03 for each dollar you spend; 5% nets you $0.05, and so on.
The above math works for a card that offers the same rewards rate for all purchases. But there are other reward structures that aren’t as straightforward and require a bit of reverse engineering to calculate.
Here’s how to calculate the rewards rate per $1 spent on cards with different bonus tiers or caps on how much you can earn: Divide the total amount you earned in rewards by the amount you spent to earn it.
Calculating points-based credit card rewards
To figure out the reward rate on a credit card that rewards you points on your spending, you need to know 1) how many points you get per $1 spent and 2) the cost of the item your points can buy.
Here’s the math: divide the value of the reward (what it would cost to purchase the item outright) by the number of points required to redeem it to calculate the point value.
Calculating the rewards rate on a points-based credit card gets tricky quickly depending on a card’s setup and your redemption options. Cards may award the same number of points on all purchases (e.g., one point for each $1 spent), or have a category-based points system (e.g., four points for each dollar spent at hotels, three points for airfare, two for gas, etc.). Check your rewards card agreement for details. Similarly, points can be worth different amounts based on what you redeem them for.
The goal is to redeem points for the highest-value reward, which may require putting in some elbow grease to manage your options. But if points math makes your head spin, a straight-up cashback credit card is a straightforward — and still highly rewarding — option to consider.
All things credit cards
Explore investor.com's full coverage of credit cards, including in-depth, expert reviews of popular cards and head-to-head comparisons of the cards that will give you the best cashback rewards, based on your actual spending.
If you like free money, a 2% cashback credit card is worth your while. Spend $1,000 a month on such a card, and you’ll earn $240 in genuine spendable cash (or a statement credit) per year.
Here’s what else is worthwhile about a credit card offering 2% cash back on purchases:
There are times, however, when a 2% cash back card isn’t worth it:
The best way to use a rewards credit card is to choose the most profitable card for your spending habits, put all your purchases on it, and pay off the balance in full each month.
Let’s unpack this advice point by point:
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Here are some additional tips to elevate your rewards card game:
Our mission at investor.com is simple: provide thorough and unbiased reviews of financial products and service providers. But, boy, do we have opinions. And those opinions are based on unparalleled research and reams of data.
We spent forever and a day (including some weekends and a minor holiday or two) gathering dozens of data points on the rewards cards that power the investor.com Credit Card Rewards Calculator comparison tool. Based on the monthly spending amounts you enter, we calculate how much each credit card’s reward program would pay out per year. (See how under “About the results,” below.)
Here’s what we don’t do: We don’t let any credit card company pay for higher placement in the results list. We don’t let providers buy additional links to their card sign-up page. We don’t make any money through affiliate relationships if you apply for a rewards card via one of our pages. When we say something nice about a credit card, it’s because the data led us to that conclusion.
That’s the TL;DR of it. Read on for more about the behind-the-scenes machinations that power our best rewards credit card recommendations.
The investor.com credit card rewards calculator results are listed in descending order of the value of the annual rewards you can expect to receive based on your inputs. All of the credit card providers in our database are included in the results list, even if the “Cash Back Per Year” payout is weak sauce. (Click “View More” to see the full list of credit cards. And please email us if there’s a card you want to see in the list.)
The calculator results are based on the monthly spending amounts you enter and the annual dollar value of the rewards each credit card program pays per $1 spent. Credit card companies often express this payout amount as a percentage (e.g., 1.5% of every dollar spent) or on a points basis (e.g., 1.5 points for every dollar spent). We converted all of them to a dollar amount (“Cash Back Per Year”) to make comparing offers easier.
To calculate the amount of cash back you could earn per year, we factored in:
What’s not included in the “Cashback Per Year” total is the cash value of any sign-up/welcome bonus. We highlight any welcome bonus separately. While sign-up bonuses can be the most lucrative part of getting a new cashback rewards credit card, not everyone will want or be able to do what it takes to earn the extra cash. (It usually requires spending a certain amount in a specified time period after the card is activated.)
Other data points we collect on each rewards card include: Fees (annual, balance transfer, cash advance, late/returned payment, foreign transactions), reward redemption options, introductory APRs for purchases and/or balance transfers, perks, quirks, and our own take on the merits of each card.
Expand the results for more information to help you pick the best cashback credit card for your needs.
Note: We strive for perfection on these pages and conduct regular data audits to ensure accuracy. However, credit card issuers occasionally deign to update their offerings and card terms without giving us a courtesy heads-up. To prevent outdated information from ruining your day, we include links to each credit card’s disclosures and terms and conditions sheets for the latest and greatest in lawyered-up fine print.
Drop us a line: We regularly add new cards to our database. Let us know if there’s a credit card rewards program you’d like to see included by emailing us.
Investor.com is your trustworthy guide to the world of personal finance. Founded in 2018 as an unbiased resource empowering consumers to research and compare financial advisory firms, investor.com today gives consumers the tools to make smart money decisions about credit, investing, retirement planning, and more.
