Best Reward / Cash Back Credit Cards

This thread is for best Reward and Cash Back credit cards. Cards that only offer sign-up bonuses or balance transfer offers should be discussed in a separate thread. Signup bonuses change frequently and are not included below.

This post is a Wiki. Please contribute and keep updated.

Abbreviations (click to unhide)
  • % - usually means cash back
  • AF - Annual Fee
  • FTF - Foreign Transaction Fee
  • MR - AMEX Membership Rewards points
  • TYP - Citi ThankYou Points
  • UR - Chase Ultimate Rewards points
Related Threads

Everything

  • 4.5% US Bank Altitude Reserve Visa. 3x points on travel and mobile wallet spending (incl. Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay). One point is worth 1c when redeemed for statement credit and 1.5c when redeemed for travel. $400 AF. $325 annual credit that can be used for travel and dining out. No FTF.
  • 3% Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature with Rewards+. Earn up to 3% cash back on everyday purchases. 2% cash back, plus up to an extra 1% with Fidelity Rewards+. Must have $2M in qualifying assets in Managed assets to hit full 3% is less. No AF.
  • 2.625% (Non-travel or Dining charges) and 3.5% (Travel or Dining charges) Bank of America Premium Rewards Visa with Platinum Honors. No FTF. $100 annual credit against airline seat upgrades, baggage fees, in-flight services and additional $100 credit every four years for TSA pre-check or Global Entry fee. Must have $100k in qualifying assets with Merrill and/or BoA combined or reward % is less. $95 AF. As of 11/12/2021, all new customers, and existing customers as of their next account review (done on enrollment anniversary date) must have an active (definition of active is uncertain) Bank of America checking account in addition to everything else to maintain Preferred Rewards Membership. Certain other lesser-known benefits being removed from Platinum Honors tier, but not 75% point bonus.
  • 2.625% Bank of America Travel Rewards Visa. 1.5% for all purchases and with Platinum Honors 75% bonus = 2.625% when points are redeemed for travel or dining. Must have $100k in qualifying assets with Merrill and/or BoA combined for Platinum Honors status, otherwise bonus is 10%, 25% or 50% instead of 75%. No FTF. No AF. As of 11/12/2021, all new customers, and existing customers as of their next account review (done on enrollment anniversary date) must have an active (definition of active is uncertain) Bank of America checking account in addition to everything else to maintain Preferred Rewards Membership. Certain other lesser-known benefits being removed from Platinum Honors tier, but not 75% point bonus.
  • 2.625% Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Visa or MasterCard. 1.5% for all purchases and with Platinum Honors 75% bonus = 2.625%. Must have $100k in qualifying assets with Merrill and/or BoA combined for Platinum Honors status, otherwise bonus is 10%, 25% or 50% instead of 75%. 3% FTF. No AF. As of 11/12/2021, all new customers, and existing customers as of their next account review (done on enrollment anniversary date) must have an active (definition of active is uncertain) Bank of America checking account in addition to everything else to maintain Preferred Rewards Membership. Certain other lesser-known benefits being removed from Platinum Honors tier, but not 75% point bonus.
  • 2.5% on up to $10K/mo Alliant Credit Union Cashback Visa Signature. 1.5% for all other purchases. No FTF. No AF. Must have $1k in checking account to get 2.5%.
  • 2.22% Citi Double Cash Mastercard - 2% cash back: earn 1% when you buy + 1% when you pay. Convert cash back to TYPs and pair with Citi Rewards+ to get 10% back in TYP up to 100k point redemptions in a year. Unlimited Cash Back. No AF. 3% FTF. When you have $25+ in rewards, you can redeem for a check, statement credit, or direct deposit. Pair with Citi Custom Cash to to cash out of TYPs at 1cpp.
  • 2% Apple Card MasterCard - 2% on Apple Pay, 1% everything else. No FTF or AF.

Grocery

  • 6% AMEX Blue Cash Preferred - 6% on US groceries (on up to $6K/yr), 3% on gas and transit, 6% on streaming, and 1% on everything else. $95 AF. 2.7% FTF.
  • 5.55% Citi Custom Cash Mastercard - 5% on top category spend per month up to $500 per month. Categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment. 1% on everything else. Pair with Citi Rewards+ to get 10% back in TYP up to 100k point redemptions per year. No AF, 3% FTF.
  • 3.875% Chase Sapphire Preferred - 3x UR points on dining, online groceries, and streaming, 2x on travel and 1x everything else. 10% anniversary bonus on base points earned. No FTF. $95 AF. $50 annual hotel credit when booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards and 5% on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards when $50 annual credit not used. 25% more value when UR points are redeemed for travel through the UR portal.
  • 3.5% Bank of America AAA Member Rewards Visa with Platinum Honors. 3% on travel and 2% on gas, groceries, and drug stores increases to 5.25% and 3.5% with Preferred Honors. Must have $100k in qualifying assets with Merrill and BoA combined. No FTF or AF.
  • 3.5% Bank of America Cash Rewards Visa or MasterCard with Platinum Honors. 2% on groceries and 3% on selectable category increases to 3.5% and 5.25% with Platinum Honors. Selectable categories are gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings. Must have $100k in qualifying assets with Merrill and BOA combined. $2,500 quarterly limit on bonus category spend, 3% FTF and no AF.
  • 3.33% Citi Premier MasterCard - 3% on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels. Redeem TY points for statement credit at 1cpp. Pair with Citi Rewards+ to get 10% back in TYP up to 100k point redemptions in a year. No FTF, $95 AF.
  • 3% AMEX Blue Cash Everyday - 3% on groceries, 2% on gas and department stores, 1% on everything else. No AF, 2.7% FTF.

Gasoline

  • 5.55% Citi Custom Cash Mastercard - 5% on top category spend per month up to $500 per month. Categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment. 1% on everything else. Pair with Citi Rewards+ to get 10% back in TYP up to 100k point redemptions per year. No AF, 3% FTF.
  • 5.25% Bank of America Cash Rewards Visa or MasterCard with Platinum Honors. 2% on groceries and 3% on selectable category increases to 3.5% and 5.25% with Platinum Honors. Selectable categories are gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings. Must have $100k in qualifying assets with Merrill and BoA combined. $2,500 quarterly limit on bonus category spend, 3% FTF and no AF.
  • 5% Abound Credit Union Visa - 1% on everything else. (join CU for free but $10 initial membership fee, Card application process is complicated, Recommended that you avoid opening a checking account with them unless you plan to use them, there are dormancy fees associated with the checking product).
  • 5% USAA Cashback Rewards Plus AMEX - 5% on gas and military base purchases up to $3k/yr, 2% on groceries up to $3k/yr, 1% on everything else (military connection required unless you got a membership when they let anyone in).
  • 4% (on up to $7K/yr) Costco Anywhere Visa (Citi) - 4% gas (on up to $7K/yr), 3% restaurants and travel, 2% Costco, 1% elsewhere. No FTF.
  • 3.5% Bank of America AAA Member Rewards Visa with Platinum Honors. 3% on travel and 2% on gas, groceries, and drug stores increases to 5.25% and 3.5% with Preferred honors. Must have $100k in qualifying assets with Merrill and BoA combined. No FTF or AF.
  • 3.33% Citi Premier MasterCard - 3% on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels. Redeem TYP for statement credit at 1cpp. Pair with Citi Rewards+ to get 10% back in TYP up to 100k point redemptions in a year. No FTF, $95 AF.
  • 3% AMEX Blue Cash Preferred - 6% on US groceries (on up to $6K/yr), 3% on gas and transit, 6% on streaming, and 1% on everything else. $95 AF. 2.7% FTF.

Dining

  • 5.55% Citi Custom Cash Mastercard - 5% on top category spend per month up to $500 per month. Categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment. 1% on everything else. Pair with Citi Rewards+ to get 10% back in TYP up to 100k point redemptions per year. No AF, 3% FTF.
  • 5.25% Bank of America Cash Rewards Visa or MasterCard with Platinum Honors. 2% on groceries and 3% on selectable category increases to 3.5% and 5.25% with Platinum Honors. Selectable categories are gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings. Must have $100k in qualifying assets with Merrill and BoA combined. $2,500 quarterly limit on bonus category spend, 3% FTF and no AF.
  • 4.5% Chase Sapphire Reserve - 3x UR points on travel and dining. No FTF. $450 AF. $300 annual travel credit. 5x on flights and 10x on hotels and car rentals after $300 travel credit is used and booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards. 50% more value when UR points are redeemed for travel through the UR portal.
  • 4% US Bank Altitude Go Visa - 4% on takeout, food delivery and dining, 2% on grocery stores, grocery delivery, streaming services and gas stations. $15 annual credit towards streaming services. No FTF or AF.
  • 4% Capital One Savor Rewards - No FTF. $95 AF.
  • 3.875% Chase Sapphire Preferred - 3x UR points on dining, online groceries, and streaming, 2x on travel and 1x everything else. 10% anniversary bonus on base points earned. No FTF. $95 AF. $50 annual hotel credit when booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards and 5% on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards when $50 annual credit not used. 25% more value when UR points are redeemed for travel through the UR portal.
  • 3.5% BofA Premium Rewards with Platinum Honors - No FTF. Must have $100k in qualifying assets with Merrill and/or BoA combined. $95 AF.
  • 3% Citi Premier MasterCard - 3% on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels. Redeem TY points for statement credit at 1cpp. No FTF, $95 AF.
  • 3% Costco Anywhere Visa (Citi) - 4% gas (on up to $7K/yr), 3% restaurants and travel, 2% Costco, 1% elsewhere. No FTF.
  • 3% Capital One Savor One Rewards - 3% on dining and entertainment, 2% at grocery stores and 1% elsewhere. No FTF.

Airfare

  • A note about airline-specific cards:
    All airlines have their own credit cards that earn miles for purchases. An airline will almost always have an exclusive agreement with just one bank to issue all of that airline’s credit cards (with a notable exception of American Airlines, who has cards from Citi and Barclaycard). Thus, the choice of “the best card” is a choice between various annual fees and benefits. In other words, there is no best United card, no best Southwest card, and no best JetBlue card. For this reason, those cards are omitted from the wiki.
  • 5.55% Citi Custom Cash Mastercard - 5% on top category spend per month up to $500 per month. Categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment. 1% on everything else. Pair with Citi Rewards+ to get 10% back in TYP up to 100k point redemptions per year. No AF, 3% FTF.
  • 5.25% AAA Member Rewards with Platinum Honors - 5.25% on travel related purchases. Must have $100k in qualifying assets with Merrill/BoA combined
  • 5.25% Bank of America Cash Rewards Visa with Platinum Honors. 2% on groceries and 3% on selectable category increases to 3.5% and 5.25% with Platinum Honors. Selectable categories are gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings. Must have $100k in qualifying assets with Merrill and BoA combined. $2,500 quarterly limit on bonus category spend, 3% FTF and no AF.
  • 4.5% US Bank Altitude Reserve. 3x points on travel and mobile wallet spending (incl. Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay). One point is worth 1.5c when redeemed for travel. $400 AF. $325 annual travel credit.
  • 4.5% Chase Sapphire Reserve - 3x UR points on travel and dining. No FTF. $450 AF. $300 annual travel credit. 5x on flights and 10x on hotels and car rentals after $300 travel credit is used and booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards. 50% more value when UR points are redeemed for travel through the UR portal.
  • 3.5% BofA Premium Rewards with Platinum Honors - No FTF. Must have $100k in qualifying assets with Merrill and/or BoA combined. $95 AF.
  • 3.33% Citi Premier MasterCard - 3% on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels. Redeem TY points for statement credit at 1cpp. Pair with Citi Rewards+ to get 10% back in TYP up to 100k point redemptions in a year. No FTF, $95 AF.
  • 3% Costco Anywhere Visa (Citi) - 4% gas (on up to $7K/yr), 3% restaurants and travel, 2% Costco, 1% elsewhere. No FTF.

Hotels

  • 5.55% Citi Custom Cash Mastercard - 5% on top category spend per month up to $500 per month. Categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment. 1% on everything else. Pair with Citi Rewards+ to get 10% back in TYP up to 100k point redemptions per year. No AF, 3% FTF.
  • 5.25% AAA Member Rewards with Platinum Honors - 5.25% on travel related purchases. Must have $100k in qualifying assets with Merrill/BoA combined.
  • 5.25% Bank of America Cash Rewards Visa with Platinum Honors. 2% on groceries and 3% on selectable category increases to 3.5% and 5.25% with Platinum Honors. Selectable categories are gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings. Must have $100k in qualifying assets with Merrill and BoA combined. $2,500 quarterly limit on bonus category spend, 3% FTF and no AF.
  • 4.5% US Bank Altitude Reserve. 3x points on travel and mobile wallet spending (incl. Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay). One point is worth 1.5c when redeemed for travel. $400 AF. $325 annual travel credit.
  • 4.5% Chase Sapphire Reserve - 3x UR points on travel and dining. No FTF. $450 AF. $300 annual travel credit. 5x on flights and 10x on hotels and car rentals after $300 travel credit is used and booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards. 50% more value when UR points are redeemed for travel through the UR portal.
  • 3.33% Citi Prestige MasterCard - 5% on dining out, air travel, and travel agencies, 3% on hotels and cruise lines. Redeem TY points for statement credit at 1cpp. Pair with Citi Rewards+ to get 10% back in TYP up to 100k point redemptions in a year.
    $250 annual travel credit. No FTF. $495 AF
  • 3% Costco Anywhere Visa (Citi) - 4% gas (on up to $7K/yr), 3% restaurants and travel, 2% Costco, 1% elsewhere. No FTF.

Office Supplies & Wireless

  • 5% Chase Ink - 5x on office supplies, cellular/landline/cable, 2x on gas and hotels, 1x elsewhere. $95 AF. No FTF.

Advertising

  • 3% Chase Ink Business Preferred - 3x UR points on ad spend (Google, FB, ect)

Rotating Categories – see this thread for details.

  • 5% - Discover It - 5% cash-back for first $1500 in select quarterly categories, 1% otherwise. Double Cash Back for the first 12 months.
  • 5x UR - Chase Freedom - 5x UR points for first $1500 in select quarterly categories, 1 otherwise.
  • 5% - Citi Dividend - 5% on quarterly categories, 1% otherwise, up to $300 in rewards per year.
  • 5% - USBank Cash Plus - 5% on two categories per quarter, including Sporting Good Stores, Cell Phone, Bookstores, Department Stores, Fast Food, Electronics Stores, Furniture Stores, Hotels, Car Rental, Charity, and Movie Theaters as possible categories, plus 2% on one category (chosen from groceries, gasoline, or restaurants), 1% otherwise. Categories offered should not change every quarter. Once per year bonus of $25 prepaid card with a $100 redemption.
  • 3% Huntington Voice Mastercard - 3% in one category of your choice that can be changed quarterly -grocery stores - including Super Walmart, gas stations, travel & entertainment, restaurants, discount & warehouse stores, utilities & office supply stores, electronics, computer & camera stores, department, apparel & sporting goods stores, auto parts & service stores, home improvement stores - categories accurate as of 10/09/2018). 1% otherwise. No AF. No FTF. May have to apply at a branch if not currently a Huntington Bank customer. 3% category does not have to be selected each quarter if satisfied with current selection.

Retailer co-branded credit cards (MC/Visa/Amex)

  • Amazon.com Rewards Visa (Chase) - 5% cash-back for Prime members and 3% for the rest at Amazon.com. No FTF.
  • Brooks Brothers MC (Citi) - 4% rewards for BB purchases, 1% elsewhere, redeemed as BB credits in $20 increments.
  • Costco Anywhere Visa (Citi) - 4% gas (on up to $7K/yr), 3% restaurants and travel, 2% Costco, 1% elsewhere. No FTF.
  • Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic Visa cards (Synchrony Bank) - 5% at Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic, 1% elsewhere. Each store’s card works at all the stores.
  • Gymboree Visa (US Bank) - Save 5% at Gymboree (Kid’s Clothing) and 1% elsewhere.
  • REI Visa (US Bank) - 5% back at REI, 1% elsewhere.
  • Sears/Kmart Shop Your Way Mastercard (Citi) - all rewards are in Shop Your Way Rewards (SYWR) points - 5% gas, 3% groceries and restaurants, 2% Sears and Kmart, 1% elsewhere. Warning: you must know how SYWR works before applying and consider the risk of collecting these points given SHLD’s ongoing financial struggle.
  • Toyota Rewards Visa (Comenity Bank) - 5% off Services, Parts, Accessories at a Toyota Dealer, 1% elsewhere. Use point balance towards future Toyota services or towards Toyota vehicle purchase or lease.

Retailer-specific, non-generic credit cards (not MC/Visa/Amex)

  • Home Depot Consumer Credit Card - Periodic 10% off coupons on purchases with some exclusions, $25 credit on sign up (YMMV).
  • Lowe’s Advantage Card - 5% off Lowe’s purchases. Combine with MyLowe’s Card for free parcel shipping and 10% discount for military/veterans on eligible purchases.
  • Target REDcard - 5% off Target purchases, free shipping on most Target.com purchases. Debit card and credit card available. No credit check to apply for the debit card.

Foreign Transactions

  • Many cards above have no FTF, we won’t list them again in this section.
  • All Capital One cards have no FTF. Quicksilver and Spark Cash have the best rewards.
  • All Discover cards have no FTF, but it’s not accepted everywhere and is less popular.
  • Some Barclaycard cards support Chip+PIN (e.g., Arrival), good for use at unattended kiosks and gas stations and countries where chip+PIN (i.e., offline PIN used instead of your signature – and not online/debit PIN even if the numbers are the same) are standard. Almost all other US-issued cards only support Chip+Signature and may not work at those kiosks, machines and cause confusion at non-tourist-focused merchants that cater to a more local-focused customer base.
  • If you do travel off the tourist path, then Chip and (offline) PIN for purchases cards available from: Andrews AFB CU (VISA), State Department CU (VISA), United Nations CU (VISA), First Tech CU (MC).
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GGD: AmEx OBC (5% after $6500 spend, and since you can obtain multiples)

Amazon: either the Synchrony or the Chase cards, since they both offer 5% automatic CB.

Newegg: Syncrhony for electronics purchases, since they always have 0% financing (if you need it) and constantly have competitive prices. Tax free in some states too.

Everyday: PenFed 2% Power Cash Rewards (because rewards post when transactions post)

I am open to suggestions on how to improve though.

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Excellent posting etiquette! Someone read the instructions.

EDITS – I used this post to test some copy/paste, so there are likely many edits that you can view. I took most of the quick summary from FW and formatted it for this forum. The links were not easy to carry over, so that still remains to be done. Additional cleanup is also needed.

Here’s what I keep in my wallet/binder:

  • Gas: Penfed 5% Gas Card [maybe not available anymore]

  • All spending: BoA Travel Rewards 1.5% + Preferred Rewards bonus = up to 2.625%

  • Grocery/Warehouse Club: BoA 3/2/1 card: 2% + Preferred Rewards bonus = up to 3.5%

  • Target: Redcard 5% off

  • Amazon: Amazon Store Card: 5% rebate

  • Delta Skymiles Platinum Amex: Churn $25k through for MQM bonus and MQD waiver to keep status. Awards 10k bonus miles.

There is an existing thread on FW that’s pretty good. This is where most of the Wiki came from.
https://www.fatwallet.com/forums/finance/711457

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For the Amazon Card, keep in mind to receive 5% you need to have a “Prime” membership.

How about the Chase Amazon card? We have both, but have been using the Synchrony just because it was already there, automatically, from when I applied years ago.

Also, the Ally card I believe is 2% on Gas & Groceries only. 1% everything else.

CapOne QuickSilver is 1.5% on everything.

You didn’t want to just copy the quick summary from there? I’m not sure if it’s entirely up to date, but it’s a better start than a short list.

Yes I was probably going to go back and do that, maybe paring out anything that I know is old.

EDIT: I’m doing this in the next 25 minutes.

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AMEX Blue Cash Everyday is 3% on groceries. My wife and I each have one of these, got them with significant sign-up bonuses, and only use them for this category. Redeeming the cash back is a pain though (delay by a month, $25 increments, etc.).

1 Like

I say list the card multiple times if it’s good for multiple categories.

Maybe also include a list of 5 or 10, overall best cards (and explain why they’re good). Emphasis should be on spend bonuses, not signup bonuses (probably should be another topic).

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How come Citi 2% cash back card didn’t make it to the list?
Am I missing something here?

Only that it’s a work in progress :slight_smile:. First post is a wiki, but you might have to level up (fairly easy) before it lets you edit.

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I think the anchor HTML tags work here, so the easiest thing to do might be to copy the HTML source of the QS. That might preserve both, the format and the links.

Once you’ve paid your entire balance off wait a day and then chat with a rep and ask to “accelerate my rewards.” No more 1-month delay.

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I found a card that gives 3% off anything. It’s called the Marukai Premium JCB Card. It’s a Japanese card that uses the discover network. They issue the card to people in the USA, but only certain states like California and Hawaii.

“Earn up to 3% Cash Back Points on all purchases including spending at Marukai with no limit on how much you can earn.”

https://www.jcbusa.com/for_consumers/marukai-premium-jcb-card/

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I’m not sure why we’ve kept it off the list at FWF. Maybe because it is only available in 5 states, they’re stingy with approvals and credit limits, and it’s not accepted everywhere. Or maybe because it’s … fragile?

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IIRC, it also processes over Discover network, which limits acceptability.

No Alliant Credit Union on here?

3% for the first year, then 2.5%:

No forex fees. $59 annual, but waived the first year.

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