Eight cash back credit cards compared on the terms each issuer publishes: annual fee, APR, intro offers and cash back rates. Our score counts the base earning rate on everyday spending, while bonus categories are listed on each card because they depend on how you spend.
Key takeaways
- Wells Fargo Active Cash Card has the highest flat cash-back rate in this list, 2.00% on every purchase.
- Rewards only pay off if you pay the statement balance in full. Interest on a carried balance is usually larger than the cash back.
- Wells Fargo Active Cash Card ranks first in our scoring (4.2 out of 5). The score uses published terms only; payment plays no part.
Our top picks
$0Annual fee
People who want a flat 2% cash back rate and a 0% intro period on purchases
$0Annual fee
People who want simple cash back and no foreign transaction fees
$0Annual fee
People who want a flat rate on everything and a long 0% intro period
Compare all 8 credit cards
| # | Card | Annual fee | Purchase APR | Intro 0% APR | Rewards | Our rating | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Wells Fargo Active Cash CardWells Fargo | $0 | 18.74% to 28.74% | 12 months | Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases | 4.2 / 5 | View offer |
| 2 |  Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards CardCapital One | $0 | 18.74% to 28.74% | 15 months | Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase | 4.0 / 5 | View offer |
| 3 |  Chase Freedom UnlimitedChase | $0 | 18.49% to 27.99% | 15 months | Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases | 4.0 / 5 | View offer |
| 4 |  American Express Blue Cash Everyday CardAmerican Express National Bank | $0 | 19.74% to 28.74% | 18 months | 3% at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 a year, then 1%), 1% on other eligible purchases | 3.7 / 5 | View offer |
| 5 |  Discover it Cash BackDiscover | $0 | 18.74% to 28.74% | 15 months | 5% in rotating quarterly categories (up to the quarterly maximum, activation required) and 1% on all other purchases | 3.7 / 5 | View offer |
| 6 |  Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards CardBank of America | $0 | 17.74% to 27.74% | 15 months | 3% in a category you choose, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, 1% on all other purchases | 3.6 / 5 | View offer |
| 7 | Chase Freedom FlexChase | $0 | 18.49% to 27.99% | 15 months | 5% in quarterly bonus categories and 1% on all other purchases | 3.6 / 5 | View offer |
| 8 |  Citi Double Cash CardCiti | $0 | 18.49% to 28.74% | — | 2% cash back: 1% when you buy and 1% as you pay | 3.1 / 5 | View offer |
Details on each card
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Wells Fargo ·
- Annual fee
- $0
- Purchase APR
- 18.74% to 28.74%
- Intro 0% APR
- 12 months
- Rewards
- Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
People who want a flat 2% cash back rate and a 0% intro period on purchases
- Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
- 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card
Capital One ·
- Annual fee
- $0
- Purchase APR
- 18.74% to 28.74%
- Intro 0% APR
- 15 months
- Rewards
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
People who want simple cash back and no foreign transaction fees
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
- No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
- A balance transfer fee applies
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase ·
- Annual fee
- $0
- Purchase APR
- 18.49% to 27.99%
- Intro 0% APR
- 15 months
- Rewards
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
People who want a flat rate on everything and a long 0% intro period
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
- A balance transfer fee applies
American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card
American Express National Bank ·
- Annual fee
- $0
- Purchase APR
- 19.74% to 28.74%
- Intro 0% APR
- 18 months
- Rewards
- 3% at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 a year, then 1%), 1% on other eligible purchases
Households that spend a lot at U.S. supermarkets
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 a year, then 1%)
- 0% intro APR for up to 18 months on purchases and balance transfers
- Only 1% cash back on other eligible purchases
Discover it Cash Back
Discover ·
- Annual fee
- $0
- Purchase APR
- 18.74% to 28.74%
- Intro 0% APR
- 15 months
- Rewards
- 5% in rotating quarterly categories (up to the quarterly maximum, activation required) and 1% on all other purchases
People who will track quarterly bonus categories and want a first-year cash back match
- 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories when you activate
- Unlimited Cashback Match of all the cash back you earn in the first year
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
- Only 1% on other purchases
- Bonus categories change every quarter and need activation
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Card
Bank of America ·
- Annual fee
- $0
- Purchase APR
- 17.74% to 27.74%
- Intro 0% APR
- 15 months
- Rewards
- 3% in a category you choose, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, 1% on all other purchases
People who want to choose their own bonus category
- 3% cash back in the category of your choice, plus a 3% first-year bonus
- 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs
- 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases
- Bonus rates apply to the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter
- Only 1% on other purchases
Chase Freedom Flex
Chase ·
- Annual fee
- $0
- Purchase APR
- 18.49% to 27.99%
- Intro 0% APR
- 15 months
- Rewards
- 5% in quarterly bonus categories and 1% on all other purchases
People who want to earn more in rotating bonus categories
- 5% cash back in quarterly bonus categories
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
- Only 1% on purchases outside the bonus categories
- A balance transfer fee applies
Citi Double Cash Card
Citi ·
- Annual fee
- $0
- Purchase APR
- 18.49% to 28.74%
- Rewards
- 2% cash back: 1% when you buy and 1% as you pay
People who want a flat 2% cash back rate and a balance transfer offer
- 2% cash back: 1% when you buy and 1% as you pay, with no caps
- 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months
- 3% fee on foreign purchases
- The intro offer is for balance transfers, not purchases
How we picked
Each card gets a 0 to 100 score built from the terms its provider publishes, divided by 20 for the rating out of 5. The weights are fixed and public:
- We read every term from the provider’s own page and show the date. Terms older than 30 days are hidden until re-checked.
- Payment never enters the score. Links go straight to the provider and we have no commercial agreement with them.
- Missing information is never guessed. A product without enough published data is not ranked.
- Providers that block automated reading, or whose terms we could not verify, are not on the list.
Read the full method and our editorial policy.
How to choose a cash-back card
A cash-back card returns a percentage of what you spend. The simplest cards pay a flat rate on everything. Others pay more in bonus categories such as groceries or gas, often with a cap or a rotating schedule, and a lower rate elsewhere. A flat rate suits people who do not want to track categories; a category card can win if your spending matches it.
Rewards versus interest
This table compares what the base cash-back rate returns on $1,000 of spending with the interest one month of carrying a $3,000 balance costs at the card’s lowest purchase APR. Carrying a balance can cost more in a month than the rewards on $1,000 earn in a year.
| Card | Annual fee | Cash back on $1,000 (base rate) | Interest per month on $3,000 at lowest APR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo Active Cash Card | $0 | $20.00 | $46.85 |
| Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card | $0 | $15.00 | $46.85 |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | $0 | $15.00 | $46.23 |
| American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card | $0 | $10.00 | $49.35 |
| Discover it Cash Back | $0 | $10.00 | $46.85 |
| Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Card | $0 | $10.00 | $44.35 |
| Chase Freedom Flex | $0 | $10.00 | $46.23 |
| Citi Double Cash Card | $0 | $20.00 | $46.23 |
Computed from the base rate and the lowest advertised APR; your APR is set by the issuer and is usually higher than the lowest figure. Bonus categories are not included.
What to check before you apply
- Annual fee. A fee is worth it only if the extra rewards exceed it for your spending.
- APR. It matters only if you ever carry a balance. If you might, a low APR or an intro 0% period is worth more than rewards.
- Welcome offer. Bonuses usually require a minimum spend in the first months. Read the terms and the end date.
- Credit score. Issuers publish a range of APRs and approve by credit profile. Applying triggers a hard inquiry.
If you already carry card debt, the credit card payoff calculator shows how long it will take to clear.
Frequently asked questions
Which card pays the most flat cash back?
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card at 2.00% on every purchase, as published by the issuer.
Is a cash-back card worth it if I carry a balance?
Usually not. Interest on a carried balance is typically larger than the cash back. Pay the statement balance in full to keep the rewards.
Does the annual fee matter?
Yes. Several cards in this list have no annual fee; compare the fee with the extra rewards you would actually earn.
Will applying lower my credit score?
A full application usually causes a hard inquiry, which can lower your score slightly for a short time.
Related
Sources
- Wells Fargo Active Cash Card, read 11/03/2026
- Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card, read 11/03/2026
- Chase Freedom Unlimited, read 11/03/2026
- American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card, read 11/03/2026
- Discover it Cash Back, read 11/03/2026
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Card, read 11/03/2026
- Chase Freedom Flex, read 11/03/2026
- Citi Double Cash Card, read 11/03/2026
- FDIC national rates and rate caps
Terms and rates change; confirm them on the provider’s site before you apply. This page is for information and is not financial advice.