Best Credit Cards for Cash Back in the USA for 2025

by

Cash-back credit cards remain one of the most rewarding tools for everyday spending in the United States. They allow consumers to earn a percentage of their purchases back as cash, which can be redeemed for statement credits, bank deposits, or even checks. With inflation impacting budgets, using the right cash-back card can add hundreds of dollars to your annual savings without changing your shopping habits.

In 2025, competition among card issuers has driven rewards higher and introduced new bonus categories, flexible redemption options, and bigger welcome bonuses. Whether you’re looking for a no-annual-fee option, a flat-rate card, or one with rotating categories, there’s a card that fits your needs.

This guide breaks down the best cash-back credit cards for U.S. consumers in 2025, their reward structures, perks, and drawbacks to help you find the perfect match.

How Cash-Back Credit Cards Work

Cash-back cards give you a percentage of your purchases back as a reward. The most common formats are:

  • Flat-rate cash back: Earn the same rate (e.g., 2%) on every purchase.
  • Tiered cash back: Earn higher percentages in certain categories like groceries or gas, and lower rates elsewhere.
  • Rotating categories: Earn higher rates in categories that change each quarter (must be activated).
  • Customizable rewards: Choose your own categories for bonus cash back.

Redemptions usually include statement credits, direct deposits, or checks. Some cards even let you convert cash back to travel points.

Top Cash-Back Credit Cards in the USA for 2025

1. Citi® Double Cash Card

  • Rewards:
    • 2% total cash back on all purchases (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay it off)
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Welcome Offer: $200 after $1,500 spend in first 6 months
  • Pros:
    • Simple, flat-rate structure
    • No cap on rewards
  • Cons:
    • No bonus categories
  • Best For: People who want consistent rewards without tracking categories.

2. Chase Freedom Unlimited®

  • Rewards:
    • 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
    • 3% on dining and drugstores
    • 1.5% on all other purchases
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Welcome Offer: $200 bonus after $500 spend in first 3 months
  • Pros:
    • Strong rates on dining and travel
    • Flexible point transfers if paired with a premium Chase card
  • Cons:
    • Travel bonus only applies through Chase’s portal
  • Best For: Everyday spenders who dine out often.

3. American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card

  • Rewards:
    • 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year)
    • 6% on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
    • 3% at U.S. gas stations and transit
    • 1% on other purchases
  • Annual Fee: $95
  • Welcome Offer: $250 after $3,000 spend in first 6 months
  • Pros:
    • One of the highest grocery cash-back rates available
    • Strong on streaming and gas
  • Cons:
    • Annual fee
    • Grocery cap at $6,000 per year
  • Best For: Families with high grocery and streaming expenses.

4. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

  • Rewards:
    • 2% cash rewards on all purchases
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Welcome Offer: $200 after $500 spend in first 3 months
  • Pros:
    • Unlimited flat-rate rewards
    • Cell phone protection when paying bill with the card
  • Cons:
    • No category bonuses
  • Best For: People who want a no-fuss card with extra protections.

5. Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card

  • Rewards:
    • 3% in category of your choice (gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores, or home improvement/furnishings)
    • 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs
    • 1% on all other purchases
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Welcome Offer: $200 online cash rewards bonus after $1,000 spend in first 90 days
  • Pros:
    • Flexible 3% category
    • Extra rewards for Bank of America Preferred Rewards members
  • Cons:
    • Quarterly cap on bonus categories ($2,500 combined spend in 3% and 2% categories)
  • Best For: Bank of America customers or people who want to choose their bonus category.

6. Discover it® Cash Back

  • Rewards:
    • 5% cash back in rotating categories each quarter (on up to $1,500 in purchases, must activate)
    • 1% on all other purchases
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Intro Offer: Cashback Match™ – all the cash back you earn in the first year is matched
  • Pros:
    • Huge first-year bonus potential
    • Strong rotating category rewards
  • Cons:
    • Must track and activate categories
  • Best For: Maximizers who don’t mind a little effort to get high rewards.

7. Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

  • Rewards:
    • 3% on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery stores
    • 1% on other purchases
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Welcome Offer: $200 after $500 spend in first 3 months
  • Pros:
    • Strong dining and entertainment rewards
    • No foreign transaction fees
  • Cons:
    • Base rate only 1% on non-bonus categories
  • Best For: People who go out often or stream regularly.

8. U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

  • Rewards:
    • 5% cash back on two categories of your choice (up to $2,000 combined each quarter)
    • 2% on one everyday category (gas stations, grocery stores, or restaurants)
    • 1% on all other purchases
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Welcome Offer: $200 after $1,000 spend in first 120 days
  • Pros:
    • Highly customizable rewards
    • Good for people with specific spending patterns
  • Cons:
    • Requires quarterly activation
  • Best For: Shoppers who like tailoring their rewards.

9. PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card

  • Rewards:
    • 2% cash back for PenFed Honors Advantage members (1.5% otherwise)
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Pros:
    • Strong rewards for military and credit union members
    • Simple structure
  • Cons:
    • Best rewards require PenFed membership with a checking account
  • Best For: Military families or PenFed members.

10. Chase Freedom Flex®

  • Rewards:
    • 5% in rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500 per quarter)
    • 5% on travel booked through Chase
    • 3% on dining and drugstores
    • 1% on all other purchases
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Welcome Offer: $200 after $500 spend in first 3 months
  • Pros:
    • Excellent for maximizing multiple categories
    • Pairs well with Chase Sapphire cards for travel points
  • Cons:
    • Requires category activation
  • Best For: People who like managing rewards for higher payouts.

How to Choose the Right Cash-Back Card

  1. Evaluate your spending habits – Look at your top spending categories.
  2. Decide on simplicity vs. strategy – Flat-rate cards are easy; category cards require more planning.
  3. Consider fees – Make sure annual fees don’t outweigh rewards.
  4. Look for welcome bonuses – A good intro offer can be worth hundreds in the first year.
  5. Think about redemption flexibility – Some cards allow transfers to travel partners for even more value.

Tips to Maximize Cash-Back Rewards

  • Use the right card for the right purchase category.
  • Combine multiple cash-back cards to cover different spending areas.
  • Pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges.
  • Activate quarterly categories on rotating-category cards.
  • Keep an eye out for limited-time offers from your issuer.

Final Thoughts

Cash-back credit cards remain one of the most effective ways to get value from your everyday spending in 2025. Whether you want the simplicity of a flat 2% card or the boosted earnings of a category-based card, the right choice depends on your habits and financial goals. By strategically selecting and using your cards, you can turn ordinary purchases into hundreds of dollars in annual savings.

Leave a Comment