Rewards cards earn you cash back, points, miles or even cryptocurrencies on your spending, but you’re comparing apples to oranges when you consider the rewards rates in conjunction with their redemption values. The cards below offer the best rewards and redemption rates for most people, but you’ll want to compare the rewards to your own spending habits before choosing the best option for your wallet. Many of these cards also offer welcome bonuses, introductory APRs and other benefits.
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Intro OfferEarn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
APR16.99% – 27.99% Variable
Intro Purchase APR0% on purchases for 15 months
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
- New! 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
Annual Fee$0
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% on balance transfers for 15 months
Balance Transfer APR16.99% – 27.99% Variable
Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Late Payment Fee Up to $40
Foreign Transaction Fees 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Penalty APR 29.99% Variable
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
- New! 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
Our Take
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers particularly high cash-back rates across several major spending categories, particularly for a card with no annual fee. For groceries at U.S. supermarkets, clothes shopping at U.S. online retailers and gas at U.S. gas stations, the 3% cash-back rate is one of the best you’ll find regardless of annual fees (note that you’ll have a $6,000 spending cap per year for each of these rewards categories — after which you’ll earn only 1% cash back.) Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Besides the rewards, this card also offers a very competitive welcome offer and an introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers that can help spare you from interest charges.
For more details, see our full review of the Blue Cash Everyday card.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
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Best rewards program for a modest annual fee
Intro OfferFor a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
APR18.99% – 26.99% (Variable)
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Annual Fee$95
Balance Transfer APR18.99% – 26.99% (Variable)
Balance Transfer Fee Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Late Payment Fee Up to $41
Foreign Transaction Fees 0%
Penalty APR Up to 29.99% (Variable)
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Our Take
The Citi Premier Card is a points-earning card that encompasses boosted rewards for several popular spending categories for a $95 annual fee. You earn 3x points at gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, air travel and hotels, and 1x points on all other purchases. When redeemed through the ThankYou Rewards portal for a statement credit, points are worth $0.01 each, netting you 3% back at gas stations if redeemed properly.
But you need to be careful in redeeming these rewards, as there are other ways to redeem your rewards that may net a lesser value. Check out the details in our full review of the Citi Premier Card.
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Intro OfferEarn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
APR17.99%, 22.99%, or 27.99% Variable APR
Intro Purchase APR0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Annual Fee$0
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
Balance Transfer APR17.99%, 22.99%, or 27.99% Variable APR
Balance Transfer Fee up to 5%; min: $5
Foreign Transaction Fees 3%
Penalty APR None
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Our Take
With the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card, you don’t need to worry about activating rewards categories, rotating categories or which card gives you the most back. Things are kept simple via a 2% cash rewards rate on purchases — and no annual fee. Most credit cards offer only a 1% blanket cash rewards rate if at all, so you’re in good shape with this card.
If you spend at least $1,000 in purchases on the card within the first three months of account opening, you earn a $200 cash rewards introductory bonus. Yet another perk is 0% introductory APR for the first 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (17.99%, 22.99%, or 27.99% variable APR thereafter).
Check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card for more details.
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Best travel rewards card
Intro OfferEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
APR18.24% – 25.24% Variable
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good
- 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 3x on dining.
- 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
Annual Fee$95
Balance Transfer APR18.24% – 25.24% Variable
Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign Transaction Fees $0
Penalty APR Up to 29.99%
- 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 3x on dining.
- 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
Our Take
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers the best rewards program of travel credit cards at the $95 price point, particularly if you’re willing to redeem your rewards for travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Chase Ultimate Rewards is Chase’s online platform where you can book hotels, flights, car rentals, experiences and more. When you redeem your points for travel through this portal, you’ll get a 25% redemption boost. This means your points would be worth 1.25 cents each, versus 1 cent each if redeemed for a statement credit instead.
Effectively, you can net 6.25% on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards (5x points on travel booked through Chase), 3.75% for dining (3x points on dining), and at least 1.25% for other purchases (at least 1x points on other purchases) when redeeming for travel through the platform. You’ll also get other perks you can use for your travel like the welcome bonus, lack of foreign transaction fees and some travel insurance coverage.
For more details, see our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
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Rewards for dining and entertainment
Intro Offer$300 after you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
APR17.49% – 25.49% Variable
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good
- Earn unlimited 4% cash back on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services
- Earn 3% at grocery stores
- Earn 1% on all other purchases
Annual Fee$95
Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A
Balance Transfer APR17.49% – 25.49% Variable
Balance Transfer Fee None for balances transferred at the Transfer APR.
Late Payment Fee Up to $40
Foreign Transaction Fees None
Penalty APR None
- Earn unlimited 4% cash back on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services
- Earn 3% at grocery stores
- Earn 1% on all other purchases
Our Take
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card* boasts a headline rate of 4% cash back on dining and entertainment, which includes bars and restaurants, as well as tickets to movies, plays, concerts, sporting events, tourist attractions, theme parks, aquariums, zoos, dance clubs, pool halls and bowling alleys. But the rewards don’t end with dining and entertainment: You can pick up another 3% cash back on your grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), and 1% on everything else. And as long as you spend $3,000 in the first three months after opening your account, Capital One will give you a $300 welcome bonus.
Read more: Best Restaurant Credit Cards
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A rewarding travel card
Intro Offer: New Venture cardholders can earn 75,000 miles once they spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
APR: 18.99% – 26.99% (Variable)
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Recommended Credit: Excellent, Good
Reward Rates:
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
Annual Fee: $95
Intro Balance Transfer APR: N/A
Balance Transfer APR: 18.99% – 26.99% (Variable)
Balance Transfer Fee: $0 at this Transfer APR
Late Payment Fee: Up to $40
Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Penalty APR: None
Our take:
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers travelers the opportunity to earn a solid 2x miles per dollar for their purchases, in exchange for a $95 annual fee.
You can redeem your miles for past travel expenses or use them to fund airfare with Capital One’s travel partners. However, the credit card issuer isn’t partnered with many US airlines.
Along with its solid rewards rate and welcome bonus, the card features a number of good travel perks including an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, primary auto rental insurance** and travel accident insurance**. If you’re looking for a travel credit card to add to your wallet, the Venture Rewards is a great option.
**Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.
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A strong choice for eating out
Intro Offer: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
APR: 17.99% – 27.99% (Variable)
Intro Purchase APR: 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
Recommended Credit: Excellent, Good
Reward Rates:
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and tickets at Vivid Seats
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®).
- Earn 1% on all other purchases.
Annual Fee: $0
Intro Balance Transfer APR: 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
Balance Transfer APR: 17.99% – 27.99% (Variable)
Balance Transfer Fee: 3%
Late Payment Fee: Up to $40
Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Penalty APR: None
If you dine out often but don’t want to pay the Savor’s annual fee, consider the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. Cardholders earn 3% cash back for dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Target and Walmart) — making it a strong rewards card for people who like both going out and staying in.
It also features an introductory 0% APR offer for purchases and balance transfers for 15 months before the standard APR of 17.99% to 27.99% (variable) applies. That means you can earn rewards for your purchases and then pay off the balance while it accrues no interest, or use a balance transfer to get rid of some existing credit card debt.
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Intro OfferEarn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
APR16.99%-27.99% Variable
Intro Purchase APR0% on purchases for 12 months
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases
Annual Fee$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% on balance transfers for 12 months
Balance Transfer APR16.99%-27.99% Variable
Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Late Payment Fee Up to $40
Foreign Transaction Fees 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Penalty APR 29.99% Variable
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases
Our Take
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of the best cards to choose if you’re looking to earn a good return on your necessary spending. It provides one of the highest cash back rates at U.S. supermarkets and for select U.S. streaming subscriptions, while still offering strong rewards at U.S. gas stations and on transit. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
It does carry an annual fee of $95 ($0 intro annual fee for the first year), but if you use the card for all of your grocery spending, it shouldn’t be hard at all to cover it. Just $1,600 in U.S. supermarket spending spending annually would net you $96 in rewards. If you take the card’s other bonus categories into account, you’ll earn even more than that.
In addition to its lucrative rewards program, it has a solid welcome offer as well as an intro APR period.
Get all the details in our Blue Cash Preferred review.
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A versatile rewards card
Intro OfferEarn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
APR17.24% – 25.99% Variable
Intro Purchase APR0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
- 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service
- Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Annual Fee$0
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
Balance Transfer APR17.24% – 25.99% Variable
Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign Transaction Fees 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Penalty APR Up to 29.99%
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
- 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service
- Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Our Take
There are few cards on the market that offer the level of versatility of the Chase Freedom Flex. Its rewards cover plenty of ground, featuring both bonus categories that rotate quarterly and static reward categories.
Its earning potential is hard to match by other credit cards with no annual fee. Some past rotating categories include purchases at grocery stores, Amazon and streaming services. The static categories include restaurants, drug stores and travel booked directly through Chase Ultimate Rewards. It even has an introductory APR offer to help you avoid interest charges.
It’s hard not to see the potential value in the Freedom Flex, especially for a card without an annual fee. You can learn more about it in our Chase Freedom Flex review.
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Lucrative for your first year
Intro OfferIntro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
APR14.99% – 25.99% Variable
Intro Purchase APR0% for 15 months
Recommended Credit Good/Excellent
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
- Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
Annual Fee$0
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% for 15 months
Balance Transfer APR14.99% – 25.99% Variable
Balance Transfer Fee 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
Late Payment Fee None the first time you pay late. After that, up to $41.
Foreign Transaction Fees None
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
- Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
Our Take
The Discover it® Cash Back* has the potential to be highly rewarding, especially during your first year with the card. It offers 5% cash back (on up to $1,500 in purchases when you activate, then 1%) for categories that rotate quarterly, but Discover will essentially double the cash back you earn for your first year at the end of your first year with the card.
There’s an introductory APR offer and no foreign transaction fees to worry about. Combined with its strong 5% cash back rate and no annual fee, it’s easy to see why this is a good card to pick.
You can learn more in our Discover it Cash Back review.
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Intro OfferEarn 30,000 bonus points when you spend $1,500 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s a $300 cash redemption value
APR17.99%, 22.99%, or 27.99% Variable APR
Intro Purchase APR0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good
- Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases
- Earn 1X points on other purchases
Annual Fee$0
Balance Transfer APR17.99%, 22.99%, or 27.99% Variable APR
Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%; min: $5
Penalty APR None
- Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases
- Earn 1X points on other purchases
Our Take
If you’re looking for a general rewards cards with a $0 annual fee, consider the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card. It offers rewards for an impressive spread of purchases, including restaurants, travel, popular streaming services, gas stations and phone plans.
3x points per dollar is a hard rate to beat for a no annual fee card. It doesn’t offer the flexibility of a flat-rate credit card that earns rewards for every purchase, but if you spend a lot within its categories you’ll rake in the rewards. Cardholders can avoid interest charges thanks to its introductory APR offer on purchases, and there’s a few additional perks like auto rental collision damage waiver and cell phone protection.
Read more about it in our Wells Fargo Autograph review.
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A flexible rewards card
Intro OfferEarn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
APR16.99% – 26.99% (Variable)
Intro Purchase APR0% for 15 months on purchases
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter.
- Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Annual Fee$0
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% for 15 months on balance transfers
Balance Transfer APR16.99% – 26.99% (Variable)
Balance Transfer Fee Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Late Payment Fee Up to $41
Foreign Transaction Fees 3%
Penalty APR Up to 29.99% (Variable)
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter.
- Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Our Take
The Citi Custom Cash card offers more rewards flexibility than most credit cards, combined with one of the best cash-back rates for a credit card with no annual fee.
Cardholders can earn 5% cash back on up to the first $500 spent (then 1%) each billing cycle in your top eligible spend category. Eligible categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment. That means if your spending changes from month to month, you’ll still earn the most rewards.
Because of the spending cap, you can only earn $25 each month before the rewards rate drops to 1%. Consider combining it with another rewards card, like the Wells Fargo Active Cash, which earns 2% cash rewards for your purchases.
You can learn more in our Citi Custom Cash Card review.
FAQs
How do you value points and miles to compare cards?
To keep our comparisons accurate and consistent, all point valuations come directly from the issuer. Point valuations may fluctuate over time so past experiences may not necessarily equate to future point valuations.
Is cash back better than points?
While cash back is a more accessible concept, cash back and points both have their strengths and weaknesses. While cash back can be more universally applicable, points are often worth more in value than their cash-back equivalents. Depending on your shopping preferences and plans, you may find points or cash back to be more valuable to you.
Our methodology
CNET reviews credit cards by exhaustively comparing them across set criteria developed for each major category, including cash-back, welcome bonus, travel rewards and balance transfer. We take into consideration the typical spending behavior of a range of consumer profiles — with the understanding that everyone’s financial situation is different — and the designated function of a card.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express, click here.
*All information about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card and Discover it Cash Back has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
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