The best cash-back credit cards of May 2025

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When it comes to cash-back credit cards, it literally pays to do your homework.

Using the right cash-back card strategically can earn you hundreds of dollars a year and thousands of dollars over time. But the best choice isn't always obvious.

Cash-back cards earn rewards at different rates, and the fees and benefits vary wildly. Some cash-back cards have no annual fee and others offer bonus spending categories that reward you for specific types of purchases.

When you're trying to pick a cash-back card, you'll want to pay attention to:

• The different types of cash-back cards
• The annual fee and benefits
• Your own spending habits and credit card needs

CNBC Select analyzed 50 of the most popular cash-back cards to determine the best cash-back credit cards in a variety of categories (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best cards).

Who's this for? The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is ideal if you're looking for a cash rewards card that offers a long intro APR for purchases and balance transfers.

Standout benefits: You won't need to juggle specific or limited bonus categories with this card because it earns 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Introductory APR: The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers new members a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.

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Who's this for? The Citi Double Cash® Card is a solid choice if you're looking to maximize your money without having to worry about rotating reward categories. Earn 1% cash back on purchases and 1% when you pay off your bill. That makes the card's appeal almost universal, as you won't have to miss out on reward opportunities.

Standout benefits: There's no annual fee and an easy-to-use rewards program with no activation required and no limit to how much cash back you can earn.

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Who's this for? The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is ideal for anyone who wants a robust rewards card with no annual fee. It's also excellent for those with another Ultimate Rewards® card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (See rates and fees), as they'll be able to convert their cashback into fully transferrable Ultimate Rewards® points.

Standout benefits: Cardholders can enjoy discounts and special perks with Lyft and more — all for no annual fee.

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Who's this for? Many of the best cash-back cards require good or excellent credit, but there are some cards for people with fair/average credit that offer good cash-back rates. Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card gives consumers a competitive 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no limit on the amount of cash back you can earn.

Standout benefits: The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card charges no foreign transaction fees and comes with access to CreditWise.

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Who's this for? A student card, like the Discover it® Student Cash Back, can help you build credit while also earning cash back. To qualify, you need to meet a few requirements: attend a two- or four-year college, be over 18 and a U.S. citizen.

Standout benefits: The Discover it® Student Cash Back has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, which makes it a good choice for students studying abroad.

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Who's this for? If you're looking to maximize rewards, consider a rotating bonus category card like the Chase Freedom Flex®. The cash-back calendar changes every quarter. (Learn more about how Chase classifies bonus category purchases.)

Standout benefits: In addition to rotating rewards, you can get discounts and special perks with partners like Lyft.

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Who's this for? The Prime Visa could be a great fit for you if you like to do most of your shopping at Amazon as it offers 5% cash back on all purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods and Chase Travel^SM.

Standout benefits: While the card is only available to Amazon Prime members, you receive a $100 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval.

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Who's this for? The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards allows you to choose from six different spending categories to earn your 3% cash back. If you like choice, this is a good card for you.

Standout benefits: Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase, depending on the reward tier.

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Who's this for? If you're someone who does their online shopping at several different stores, the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express can earn you 3% cash back on U.S. Online Retail Purchases up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.

Standout benefits: Fans of streaming will likely use the $84 Disney Bundle Credit, which comes in the form of $7 monthly statement credits.

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The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a no-annual-fee card that can help you pay less interest onyour credit card debt and earn cash rewards at the same time.

Rewards

• 2% cash rewards back on purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

When you pay your wireless phone bill with your Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, you can qualify for cell phone protection. This insurance covers damage, theft and loss of a cell phone and has a $25 deductible. You can be reimbursed for up to two claims per 12 months and up to $600 per claim.

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The Citi Double Cash Card is CNBC Select's choice for the best flat-rate cash-back card because it earns an unlimited 2% back on all purchases.

Rewards

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.

Welcome bonus

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.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

Cardholders can redeem cash back for checks, direct deposits, statement credits, gift cards and more. You can also transfer rewards to three of Citi's travel partners: Wyndham, JetBlue and Choice Privileges.

The rewards you earn with the Citi Double Cash are more valuable when you pair this card with the Citi Strata Premier^℠ Card (see rates and fees). If you have both cards, you can transfer the points you earn with the Citi Double Cash card to all of Citi's partner travel programs, including Turkish Airlines, Avianca and Singapore Airlines.

In addition to the rewards, there are several special cardmember programs, including Citi Entertainment℠, which gives cardholders first access to purchase tickets for thousands of concerts and events. The card also provides access to Citi® Identity Theft Solutions, a service that will help you if you're a victim of identity theft.

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The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is a top cash-back card because of its solid earning rate on all purchases, generous welcome offer and the way it compliments other Chase credit cards.

Rewards

• 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
• 3% back at drugstores
• 3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
• 1.5% on all other purchases.

Welcome bonus

Limited Time Intro Offer: Earn a $250 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

Although the Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns cash back, it can be paired with other cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points. If you have certain Chase credit cards such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees), you can transfer your cash-back rewards to those cards. This greatly expands the options you have for redeeming your rewards because you'll be able to transfer those points to all of Chase's airline and hotel partners.

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The Capital One QuicksilverOne card is a solid choice if you're working on improving your credit score and are interested in earning cash-back rewards at the same time.

Rewards

• 1.5% cash back on every purchase

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

**$39

Notable perks

The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card has no foreign transaction fees and comes with access to CreditWise, a service that monitors your TransUnion and Experian credit reports.

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Student credit cards aren't known for being rewarding, and being able to earn 5% back on certain purchases makes the Discover it® Student Cash Back a stand out.

Rewards

• 5% back for up to $1,500 in purchases in rotating quarterly bonus categories you activate (then 1%)
• 1% back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Discover will match the cash back you earn during the first year with no minimum spending requirement or cap on the match.

Annual fee

$0

Notableperks

The Discover it® Student Cash Back card has few useful benefits outside its cash-back earnings. But it doesn't have foreign transaction fees, which comes in handy if you're planning to study abroad or take a spring break trip.

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Depending on your spending habits, the Chase Freedom Flex could be the most rewarding cash-back card because of its valuable rotating bonus categories and easy-to-earn welcome bonus.

Rewards

• 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in rotating bonus categories you activate each quarter
• 5% back on Lyft rides (through September 2027)
• 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• 3% back at drugstores
• 3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
• 1% back on all other purchases.

Welcome bonus

Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Annualfee

$0

Notableperks

Earn 5% cash back on Lyft rides through September 2027.

If you maximize the Freedom Flex card's rotating quarterly bonus categories you'd earn an extra $300 cash back throughout the year. But if you have a Chase card that enables Ultimate Rewards points transfers (like the Chase Sapphire Preferred), you can pool your rewards onto that card and have the potential to dramatically increase their value.

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In addition to the valuable rewards on Amazon purchases, the Prime Visa also earns an unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)

Rewards

• 5% back on your Amazon.com purchases with an eligible Prime membership
• 5% back at Whole Foods Market online or in-store
• 5% back on your purchases at Audible.com with an eligible Prime membership
• 5% back on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
• 2% back at gas stations
• 2% back at restaurants for dine-in or take-out
• 2% back on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
• 1% back all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn an instant $100 Amazon gift card loaded onto your account upon approval.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

The Prime Visa comes with some potentially lesser-known travel benefits like baggage delay insurance and travel and emergency assistance, plus it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. While it won't replace a more traditional travel card, it comes with a handful of perks that could make your trip a little easier.

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The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card earns you 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in your choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs.

Rewards

• 3% cash back in the category of your choice
• 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

In addition to the more traditional ways of redeeming your cash back rewards, like a direct deposit into an eligible Bank of America deposit account, an eligible Merrill account, or as a check (minimum $25), this card gives you a more unusual option — you can contribute to a 529 savings plan with Merrill (minimum $25), which is a nice way to save for future education.

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The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns its cash back in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.

Rewards

• 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%
• 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%

Welcome bonus

Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months (see rates and fees)

Annual fee

$0 (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

One nice benefit that the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express offers is purchase protection. This can help protect covered purchases made with your card against accidental damage and theft for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

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There are many types of credit cards that offer a range of perks and rewards programs, especially when it comes to cash-back credit cards. The three main types are flat-rate, bonus rewards and rotating category.

• Flat-rate cash-back cards offer the same amount of cash back on all purchases.
• Bonus rewards cash-back cards offer extra rewards on select purchases, such as gas, groceries, dining and travel.
• Rotating category cash-back cards offer higher cash-back rates on certain categories that change every month or quarter.

Depending on your spending habits, you can benefit from having one or more cash-back cards.

It can be hard to select just one cash-back card since there are so many to choose from. To choose the best card for your needs, you'll need to consider several factors. Here are some tips on how to choose a credit card:

1. Consider the annual fee: While many cash-back cards have no, or low annual, fees, consider if you're willing to pay for your credit card.

2. Do you want to take advantage of a 0% APR: Many cash-back cards provide an introductory 0% APR period that can save you money on interest charges. If you have large purchases coming up, or debt to refinance, consider a card with no interest for over a year, such as the Freedom Flex card with an intro 0% APR for the first 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (then 18.99% - 28.49% variable APR).

3. Review your spending habits: Taking the time to consider how you use your card, canhelp you narrow down the type of cash back you want to earn. If you spend a lot at the supermarket, consider a grocery rewards card. But if your spending habits are unclear, stick with a flat-rate cash-back card, like the Citi Double Cash.

If you're having trouble narrowing down the best cash-back card for you, it can be helpful to compare credit cards. You should first list the benefits you're looking for and any deal breakers, such as an annual fee. Then make a list of cards that offer those benefits so you can do a side-by-side comparison.

For instance, if you want a simple cash-back card that doesn't require bonus activation, consider the flat-rate Citi Double Cash. But if you don't mind activating new categories every quarter and want to maximize rewards, opt for the Chase Freedom Flex.

To make the most of your cash-back card, you should familiarize yourself with the various credit card benefits and fees. Review the annual fee, foreign transaction fees and the APR. Plus consider the cash-back rates and redemption options.

Once you're familiar with the terms of your card, you can begin to optimize them. Set up autopay to ensure payments are made on time and consider how you want to redeem cash back. If there's an automatic redemption option, that can be a simple way to cash out your rewards.

And if you have multiple credit cards, make sure you know the best time to use each card. Let's say you have the Citi Double Cash Card and the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card. Use the Freedom Unlimited card for all your Chase Ultimate Rewards travel purchases (5% cash back), dining (3% cash back) and drugstore (3% cash back) expenses, then use the Double Cash for all your other purchases to earn an effective 2% cash back.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best cash-back credit cards.

To determine which cash-back credit cards will put the most money back in your pocket, CNBC Select evaluated over 50 cash-back credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.  

We compared each card on a range of features, including cash-back rewards, annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem your rewards (e.g., is there a minimum redemption requirement).

We considered consumer spending data forecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. Since the value of a point or mile varies based on what they can be redeemed for, we also considered things like transferability and the ability to redeem for cash-back. 
 
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.  

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For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Student Cash Back, click here.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Information about the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card has been collected independently by CNBC and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.