Best Cash Back Cards for 2018

The Discover it® Cash Back is great if you’re looking for an easy-to-earn bonus because there’s no minimum spending requirement — for new cardmembers you’ll get a dollar-for-dollar match of your first-year earnings automatically. It’s also ideal if you have a big purchase in mind thanks to its 14-month 0% intro APR for purchases and balance transfers (then ongoing 13.74% – 24.74% Variable APR).

• Earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, Amazon.com, or wholesale clubs up to the quarterly maximum each time you activate.
• New cardmembers get a dollar-for-dollar match of all your earnings at the end of your first year.
• Use the above-average 14-month 0% intro-APR period to pay for larger purchases without incurring any interest and then the ongoing APR of 13.74% – 24.74% Variable APR.

If your spending habits don’t line up with rotating bonus categories, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® will help you maximize your earnings. It has a 1.5% rewards rate for all purchases and no annual fee. (It also offers a longer 15-month 0% intro APR for balance transfers and purchases.) Note: You’ll have to spend $500 in the first three months to earn the $150 signup bonus.

The Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card is a great entry-level card for Bank of America customers. Depending on your Bank of America® Preferred Rewards program status, your rewards rates could climb up to 75% higher.

• Earn 3% cash back on gasoline, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and 1% on all other purchases (for up to $2,500 in combined purchases every quarter)
• Spend $500 or more in the first 90 days of account opening to get a $200 cash back bonus.
• Redeem cash back rewards.

If you don’t bank with Bank of America, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is worth considering. Most notably, it earns a much higher reward rate at U.S. supermarkets than the Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card, but it does have a $95 annual fee.

If you have a large family, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is an excellent choice — spending just $60 a week at U.S. supermarkets could earn over $180 cash back per year. It also earns unlimited rewards at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores, which is also a big win for shoppers.

• Use this card when you’re grocery shopping and filling up your tank to maximize your earnings.
• Plan to spend at least $1,000 on purchases in the first three months to earn a $200 statement credit.
• Redeem your Rewards Dollars as statement credits that can be applied to any purchase you make.

If you don’t want to pay an annual fee but still want high-rate rewards for grocery shopping, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express can be a better fit. It earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and 2% at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores, all without an annual fee.

The Capital One® Quicksilver® Card is for those who love simplicity. It has a flat 1.5% rewards rate, no annual fee, and a $150 bonus if you spend $500 in the first three months on any type of purchase. And when you earn rewards, you can redeem them for any amount.

• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
• Spend $500 in the first three months to earn the $150 signup bonus.
• Take advantage of Visa Signature® Benefits like travel and emergency assistance, auto rental coverage, and fraud coverage.

The Discover it® Cash Back has a much higher rewards rate (5% on up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter each time you activate), though you’ll have to focus your spending on rotating bonus categories, like restaurants and gas stations. One perk: There’s no spending requirement to earn a bonus — Discover will award you a dollar-for-dollar match of your first year earnings automatically.

The Chase Freedom® rewards credit card makes it easy to maximize your earnings with rotating 5% bonus categories — one of the highest rewards rates out there. It’s also great if you want versatile redemption options. This is one of the few cards of its kind that gives you the option to redeem your points for travel rewards (via Chase Ultimate Rewards®).

• Earn 5% cash back in rotating bonus categories (on up to $1,500) and 1% cash back on everything else.
• Spend $500 within the first three months to get a $150 cash back bonus.
• Redeem your cash back reward points for statement credits, cash back, and travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards® — and there’s no minimum to redeem!

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card doesn’t have the same high-rate rewards, but it does earn unlimited 2X points on travel and dining worldwide. It also offers a signup bonus of 50,000 bonus points, worth $625 for travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards®. However, you will have to spend a lot more on purchases in the first three months ($4,000) to earn that more valuable reward.

Considering a balance transfer? Want unlimited flat-rate rewards without having to worry about rotating categories? The Chase Freedom Unlimited® excels in both categories, all with no annual fee. There’s also an easy-to-earn $150 bonus to smile about.

• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. No categories, no activations.
• Pay off large purchases or balance transfers during the 15-month 0% intro APR period to avoid interest.
• Redeem your rewards at any time, for any amount — there’s no minimum to redeem!
• Spend $500 in your first 3 months to earn $150 bonus.

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express gets unlimited 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores. Plus, you’ll can earn 6% back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 a year, and 1% thereafter. If you want high-rate rewards without rotating categories, this is the card for you.