Credit Cards Cash Back Credit Cards

Best Credit Cards with High Cashback Rates [2025]: Earn Big on Groceries, Gas, and More

Cashback cards offer earnings on a range of purchases — with some outpacing others. There’s bound to be a high-rate card out there that lines up with your spending habits.

Updated Jan. 23, 2025
Fact checked

In the world of credit card rewards, there are those who dream of free airfare to far off locales, racking up miles as they spend. Then there are those who just want to trim a little off their statement every month with cashback they get on spending.

Personally, I’m of the former sort — but even I have a cashback card in my wallet for use when I’m not earning toward my next vacation.

And why not? There are literally hundreds of cashback cards on the market that allow you to earn money back on every transaction you make. Many of these cards don’t even have an annual fee, so they’re free to use and have little downside.

If you’re going to carry a cashback card, though, it makes sense to optimize the amount you’ll be able to earn based on your spending habits. For example, if you’re feeding and entertaining a family of five, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express could be a good choice due to the 6% that you’ll get on spending at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services.

Others, are great for loyalists of specific retailers. The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card, for example, gets you 6% at your choice of two retailers (on the first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases each quarter).

How we evaluate products

Credit cards with the highest cashback offers

Card comparison

Card name Rewards rate Annual fee Excellent for
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

5.0
info

6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on eligible transit, and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter Groceries
Citi Custom Cash® Card Citi Custom Cash® Card

4.7
info

5% cash back in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent, then 1% cash back), plus unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases; plus, as a special travel offer, earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026 $0 Flexible spending categories
Chase Freedom Flex® Chase Freedom Flex®

4.7
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5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories you activate (on up to $1,500 spent) and travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery service); and 1% cash back on all other purchases $0 Rotating bonus categories
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Chase Freedom Unlimited®

4.7
info

6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and 3% cash back on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases $0 Travel
Prime Visa Prime Visa

4.9
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Unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership, unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and unlimited 1% on all other purchases $0 Shopping at Amazon and Whole Foods Market
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card

4.7
info

6% cash back on first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases each quarter with your choice of two retailers; 5.5% cash back on prepaid hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center; 3% cash back on the first $1,500 in eligible purchases in one everyday category; and 1.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases $95 (waived first year) Shopping at Walmart and Target
Citi Double Cash® Card Citi Double Cash® Card

5.0
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2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; 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 $0 Flat-rate cashback
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

4.9
info

3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services; 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply); 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; and 1% cash back on all other purchases $0 Dining and entertainment

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Excellent for groceries

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Card details

Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter

Rewards: 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on eligible transit, and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases

Welcome offer: $250 statement credit

If you spend a lot of money on groceries, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express can help you earn significant rewards. It has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter, but you can earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on eligible transit, and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases.

To put that in perspective, let’s say you spend $6,000 per year at U.S. supermarkets. In one year, you’d earn $360 in cashback rewards in Reward Dollars (which you can redeem for statement credits). That alone readily outweighs the burden of the annual fee. In fact, you would only have to spend $1,584 at U.S. supermarkets per year to have the card pay for itself.

Read our full Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express review

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Excellent for flexible spending categories

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Card details

Annual fee: $0

Rewards: 5% cash back in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent, then 1% cash back), plus unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases; plus, as a special travel offer, earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026

Welcome offer: $200 cash back

The Citi Custom Cash® Card allows cardmembers to earn 5% cash back in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent, then 1% cash back), plus unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases; plus, as a special travel offer, earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026.

Eligible spending categories include groceries, restaurants, gas stations, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment.

Given the range of bonus cashback categories, there's a good chance they'll align with your everyday purchases.

If you spent the maximum $1,500 each quarter and qualified for the 5% cash back rate, you’d earn $300 in cash back rewards in a year — well over the annual fee.

To learn more, read our full Citi Custom Cash review.

Chase Freedom Flex®

Excellent for rotating bonus categories

Chase Freedom Flex®

Card details

Annual fee: $0

Rewards: 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories you activate (on up to $1,500 spent) and travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery service); and 1% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome offer: $200

Rotating bonus category cards generally allow you to activate categories — typically every quarter — and earn bonus rewards in those categories. If you appreciate the flexibility of earning bonus rewards in a category of your choice, the Chase Freedom Flex® might be a good option for you. Afterall, “Flex” is in the name.

With the $0-annual-fee Freedom Flex, you can earn 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories you activate (on up to $1,500 spent) and travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery service); and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Read our Chase Freedom Flex review

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Excellent for travel

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Card details

Annual fee: $0

Rewards: 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and 3% cash back on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome offer: Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year)

If you want to earn bonus rewards on travel purchases, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® could be a good addition to your wallet. This card offers a generous sign-up bonus: Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).

Plus, it has a $0 annual fee, and you can earn 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and 3% cash back on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

While the Chase Freedom Unlimited is marketed as a cashback credit card, it technically earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, making it particularly useful for redeeming your cash back for travel through Chase’s portal. As someone who’s booked travel through Chase before, I can tell you, the benefits are many.

Beyond that, cardholders enjoy flexible redemption options in general, including the opportunity to redeem rewards for statement credits, gift cards, or online shopping on Amazon.

Read our full Chase Freedom Unlimited review

Prime Visa

Excellent for shopping at Amazon and Whole Foods Market

Prime Visa

Card details

Annual fee: $0

Rewards: Unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership, unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and unlimited 1% on all other purchases

Welcome offer: $100 Amazon gift card

The Prime Visa is an excellent option if you shop online at Amazon.com or like to do your grocery shopping at Whole Foods Market. It has no annual fee, and you can earn 5% cash back on Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership and 2% cash back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare).

You can also earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Read our full Prime Visa review

U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card

Excellent for shopping at Walmart and Target

U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card

Card details

Annual fee: $95 (waived first year)

Rewards: 6% cash back on first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases each quarter with your choice of two retailers; 5.5% cash back on prepaid hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center; 3% cash back on the first $1,500 in eligible purchases in one everyday category; and 1.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases

Welcome offer: $250

The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card allows you to earn 6% cash back on first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases each quarter with your choice of two retailers; 5.5% cash back on prepaid hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center; 3% cash back on the first $1,500 in eligible purchases in one everyday category; and 1.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

If you’re one of countless Americans who shops at Walmart and Target on a regular basis, you can choose them as your retailers to get the 6% cash back rate on any variety of items.

This card also allows you to earn $250 after spending $2,000 on eligible purchases in the first 120 days.

Read our full U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards review.

Citi Double Cash® Card

Best flat-rate cashback card

Citi Double Cash® Card

Card details

Annual fee: $0

Rewards: 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; 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 offer: $200 cash back

If you don’t want to worry about spending categories, the Citi Double Cash® Card can be a solid choice. It has a $0 annual fee and you can earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; 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.

That’s an above-average offer for a flat-rate card with no annual fee, and it also offers another perk: an introductory APR.

Cardmembers get 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months (then 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)). This could be useful if you want to transfer debt from a card with a higher interest rate and pay it off over time.

Read our full Citi Double Cash Card review

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Excellent for dining and entertainment

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Card details

Annual fee: $0

Rewards: 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services; 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply); 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; and 1% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome offer: $200 cash bonus

With the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, you can earn 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services; 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply); 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

What makes this card really stand out is that there’s no spending cap on how much cash back you can earn in each category. With other cards, you’d only earn the higher rate of return on the first $1,500 or $2,500 spent per quarter. This card doesn’t have a limit, so if you spend a significant amount of money dining out or on entertainment, this credit card offers a large amount of rewards.

Read our full Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card review

What is considered a high cashback rate?

When you’re looking for a cashback rewards card, the rewards you can earn will be dependent on the card’s structure.

For example, flat-rate rewards cards offer one cashback rate on all purchases. With these cards, there are no spending categories to remember, and they often have no limit on how much you can earn in rewards.

An average flat-rate rewards credit card typically offers around 1.5% cash back on every purchase, so anything higher than that would be considered a high cashback rate.

Your other option is a card with spending categories. These cards offer higher levels of cash back — such as 3% to 5% — on certain purchases, like groceries or gas. They also usually have spending limits, so you’ll only earn the higher rate on some of your spending.

For example, you may be able to earn 3% back on groceries but only on up to $2,500 in purchases per quarter. So these cards in general take a bit more attention.

How to pick the best cashback credit card for you

To choose the best cashback credit card for you, review your bank and current credit card statements to get an idea of your spending habits. Identify the categories where you spend the most money. That will help you find the credit card that will allow you to earn the most rewards in those areas.

For instance, if you spend a lot at the supermarket, you might benefit from one of the best credit cards for groceries. Or if you have a long commute, you might get the most value from one of the best credit cards for gas.

Other factors to consider include:

  • Types of cashback credit cards: Are you interested in rotating categories, certain bonus categories, or flat-rate cash back?
  • Credit history: Do you know your credit score? Many of the top cashback cards require a good to excellent credit score.
  • Redemption options: Are you simply interested in redeeming your rewards for cash back? Or do you want more flexible redemptions?
  • Bonus offer: Is a bonus offer important to you? Choosing a card with a generous bonus offer could help you maximize your cashback earnings.
  • Annual fee: Do you want a no-annual-fee card? Or are you OK with paying an annual fee?

Bottom line

With an abundance of options, it’s important to make sure you’re choosing a cashback card that aligns with your spending habits. The best cashback credit cards give you the chance to earn an elevated rate on your normal spending.

Aim for 5% or higher on bonus categories that align with your recurring expenses. If you pay off your balance in full each month, you’ll avoid costly interest fees, so it’s basically like getting free money back.

Unlimited Cash Back

4.7
info

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Current Offer

Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and 3% cash back on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details