Top 10 · updated October 29, 2026

Best cash back credit cards

Cards that pay you in cash, ranked by what they return each year after the annual fee.

1
Wells Fargo
Active Cash Credit Card
2% cash rewards on purchases with no categories to track or quarterly activations
Worth about $624 every year on typical spending — rewards and credits minus the $0 fee.
$624/ yearAnnual fee $0
2
Citi
Citi Double Cash Credit Card
2% cash back on purchases: 1% when you buy · 1% as you pay, with no category enrollment, caps, or annual fee
Worth about $624 every year on typical spending — rewards and credits minus the $0 fee.
$624/ yearAnnual fee $0
3
U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card
2% cash back on every purchase with no caps, and up to an additional 2% cash back when paired with qualifying U.S. Bank accounts
Worth about $624 every year on typical spending — rewards and credits minus the $0 fee.
$624/ yearAnnual fee $0
4
American Express
Blue Cash Preferred Card
6% cash back on eligible purchases at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%) · 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
Worth about $607 every year on typical spending — rewards and credits minus the $95 fee.
$607/ yearAnnual fee $95
5
Chase
Chase Freedom Unlimited
1.5% cash back · 3% on dining and drugstore purchases
Worth about $540 every year on typical spending — rewards and credits minus the $0 fee.
$540/ yearAnnual fee $0
6
Capital One
Savor Rewards for Good Credit
3% cash back at grocery stores, on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services · 1% cash back on all other purchases
Worth about $528 every year on typical spending — rewards and credits minus the $0 fee.
$528/ yearAnnual fee $0
7
Chase
DoorDash Rewards Mastercard
4% cash back on DoorDash and Caviar orders · 3% cash back on dining
Worth about $502 every year on typical spending — rewards and credits minus the $0 fee.
$502/ yearAnnual fee $0
8
Capital One
SavorOne Rewards
3% cash back at grocery stores, on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services · 1% cash back on all other purchases
Worth about $489 every year on typical spending — rewards and credits minus the $39 fee.
$489/ yearAnnual fee $39
9
American Express
Blue Cash Everyday Card
3% cash back on eligible purchases at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retail purchases, and gas at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)
Worth about $480 every year on typical spending — rewards and credits minus the $0 fee.
$480/ yearAnnual fee $0
10
Bank of America
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
1.5% cash back on all purchases
Worth about $468 every year on typical spending — rewards and credits minus the $0 fee.
$468/ yearAnnual fee $0

Yearly value is rewards plus credits you'd realistically use, minus the annual fee, on $2,600/month: $500 groceries, $400 dining, $200 gas, $300 travel, $1,200 everything else. Points use conservative cash values; store-only rewards count at half. How we rank · Use your own spending

Questions people ask

What is the best cash back credit card?

As of October 29, 2026, the Wells Fargo Active Cash Credit Card ranks first worth about $624 a year after its $0 annual fee on typical spending. The Citi Double Cash Credit Card and U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card come second and third.

How are these cash back cards ranked?

Cards that pay you in cash, ranked by what they return each year after the annual fee. Each card's value is its rewards plus the credits a typical cardholder uses, minus its annual fee; points are converted at conservative cash values. No issuer pays for placement.

Is a card with an annual fee ever worth it?

Only if its extra rewards and credits beat the fee on your own spending. In this list the fee is already subtracted, so a $0-fee card and a $95 card are compared on what they actually leave you with.

Ranked for an average spender.

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More rankings

Card details are collected from issuer websites and were last refreshed October 29, 2026. Terms change often; confirm them with the issuer before you apply.