Finding the right credit card can feel like a full-time job. You want a card that has all the features, but who wants to pay an annual fee?
Fortunately, there are many options for cash back credit cards with no annual fees. The key is determining what you want from your credit card to make the right decision. For example, the Discover it® Cash Back(Rates and fees) has rotating categories quarterly. Is that something you can handle, or would you prefer a card with a rate that never changes, like the Citi Double Cash® Card?
Keep reading to learn all about the top cash back credit cards with no fees and how they compare so you can determine which is best for you.
How we evaluate products
To identify the best no-annual-fee cash back credit cards, we considered various credit cards based on their cashback rewards, benefits, and perks for everyday purchases.
We made sure that these credit cards have no annual fees while offering elevated cashback rewards rates. We selected a number of credit cards that cater to different needs and preferences, but keep in mind that our list doesn’t include all available options. Our goal is to provide a variety of options that can help individuals research their options and find ways to earn cashback rewards on their everyday expenses.
8 of the highest cash back credit cards with no annual fee
- Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
- Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
- Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Chase Freedom Flex®
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Citi Double Cash® Card
- Discover it® Cash Back
Compare cash back credit cards with no annual fee
Credit card | Great for someone who... | Rewards type | FinanceBuzz value calculation1 |
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card(Rates and fees)
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Wants to earn easy, but generous rewards for everyday spending | Flat-rate | Year one earnings: $950
Year two earnings: $750 |
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
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Has predictable monthly spending | Choose your bonus categories | Year one earnings: $705
Year two earnings: $505 |
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
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Wants effortless cashback on all of their purchases | Flat-rate | Year one earnings: $763
Year two earnings: $563 |
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
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Enjoys spending on dining and entertainment | Tiered categories | Year one earnings: $1,155
Year two earnings: $905 |
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Has varied spending throughout the year and can maximize the quarterly spending categories | Rotating bonus categories | Year one earnings: $855
Year two earnings: $655 |
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Wants a powerful rate for everyday spending, plus bonus categories for travel and dining | Tiered categories | Year one earnings: $953
Year two earnings: $653 |
Citi Double Cash® Card(Rates and fees)
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Wants effortless cash back on all of their purchases | Flat-rate | Year one earnings: $950
Year two earnings: $750 |
Discover it® Cash Back(Rates and fees)
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Has varied spending throughout the year and can maximize the quarterly spending categories | Rotating bonus categories | Year one earnings: $1,070
Year two earnings: $535 |
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
- Rewards rate: Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
- Welcome offer: $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
- APR: 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable
The flat rate the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers is a nice break from tracking categories and worrying about which credit card to use. In addition, it comes with a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers (then 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable), so if you have balances to transfer, you can get them paid off without interest.
Despite not having an annual fee, you can still enjoy many benefits including:
- Cell phone protection up to $600 against theft or damage (subject to a $25 deductible)
- Auto rental collision damage waiver
- Travel emergency assistance services
- Roadside dispatch
However, keep in mind that this card doesn’t offer any bonus categories with higher rewards rates. This can be a major downside for someone who travels frequently, as the travel benefits are also limited.
- Simple rewards structure
- Provides access to exclusive deals
- Multiple ways to redeem rewards
- Charges a balance transfer fee
- Charges a foreign transaction fee
Apply now or find more details in our Wells Fargo Active Cash Card review.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
- Rewards rate: 3% cash back in the category of your choice and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and 1% on all other purchases
- Welcome offer: Earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
- APR: 18.74% - 28.74% Variable
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card is a great choice for someone with spending that’s predictable from month to month because you can change your bonus category monthly or leave it the same if it’s your highest spend category. I like the flexibility of being able to earn more on purchases you know you’ll make.
The card offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 billing cycles (then 18.74% - 28.74% Variable). You also get a 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (then 18.74% - 28.74% Variable).
The downside is there’s a cap on how much you can earn in the top two bonus categories. Once you spend $2,500 in a quarter, your rewards default to 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Enhanced cash back in a popular spending category of your choice
- Long intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- Quarterly spending caps
Apply now or get more details in our Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card review.
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Rewards rate: 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day; and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
- Welcome offer: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- APR: 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
If you want an easy-going card that doesn’t require you to worry about categories or spending caps, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great option. Even though this cash back credit card has a $0 annual fee, it also has intro APR offers:
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers, then 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable). Balance transfer fee applies
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases, then 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
These introductory rates can come in handy if you need time to pay off a new purchase.
I like this card for its travel benefits that are unique for a $0 annual fee credit cards. Not only can you earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply), but you also get travel accident insurance, complimentary concierge service, and more.2
- No rotating categories
- No foreign transaction fee
- Includes an extended warranty on purchases2
- Not the highest rewards rate
- Charges a balance transfer fee
Learn more by checking out our Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards review.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Rewards rate: 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: Earn a limited-time $250 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- APR: 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
If a majority of your spending is on dining or entertainment, you can earn a decent amount of cash back with the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, including 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. The best news is that the cashback is unlimited, so you don’t have to worry about hitting spending limits on your favorite categories.
I also like this card for its travel benefits without categorizing itself as a “travel credit card.” Earning 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply) is a great perk.
While these are great perks, since this is a Mastercard, the basic benefits are limited and don’t include things like auto rental collision damage waivers, roadside assistance, or luxury hotel benefits.
- Rewards never expire as long as your card is active
- Use your rewards to checkout on PayPal or Amazon
- Access to exclusive dining experiences through Capital One Dining
- Limited travel benefits
- No extra rewards on airfare (just 1%)
Learn more in our Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards review.
Chase Freedom Flex®
- Rewards rate: 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: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- APR: 19.99% - 28.74% Variable
If you are a flexible spender, you may enjoy the Chase Freedom Flex® with its rotating categories quarterly. You can check out the cashback calendar on its website so you can plan your purchases.
It’s important to know that you must activate the rewards to get them, and the cap is $1,500 on combined purchases quarterly, so I’d use this card only for the bonus categories to get the extra cash, but then use another card when you max out the reward.
Since the card pays a healthy bonus on travel purchases, it makes sense that they offer trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waivers, and travel and emergency assistance services.
- Includes complimentary 3 months of DashPass (DoorDash)
- Can activate Chase Pay Over Time to minimize interest costs
- Includes a free credit score with Chase Credit Journey
- Low spending cap on bonus categories
- No bonus when redeeming points in Chase travel portal
Check out more details in our Chase Freedom Flex review.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- 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
- Welcome offer: Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year)
- APR: 19.99% - 28.74% Variable
While earning 1.5% cash back isn’t anything to write home about, there’s no cap on your spending, so you can earn unlimited rewards. I also like that there are bonus categories allowing you to earn 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
The card also has intro APR periods:
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (then 19.99% - 28.74% Variable)
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (then 19.99% - 28.74% Variable)
This gives you time to pay off large purchases or those pesky credit card balances. While the card doesn’t include many travel benefits, you do get a complimentary 3-month DoorDash DashPass when you activate by January 31, 2025 and can earn 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025.
- No limit on rewards
- Rewards do not expire if your card is active
- Many options to redeem rewards
- 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars foreign transaction fee
- Cashback percentage is low for some categories
Apply now or learn more in our Chase Freedom Unlimited review.
Citi Double Cash® Card
- Rewards rate: 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: Earn $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
- APR: 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
The Citi Double Cash® Card is a popular cash back card for its consistent reward rate on all purchases. It’s a good option if you frequently make purchases that don’t fall into typical cashback categories, such as groceries, gas, or restaurants.
The Citi Double Cash card is simple — 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. I like it for the motivation to pay the balance off since you get cash back after paying the amount charged. This makes you more likely to pay your bill off faster so you can earn rewards.
The card also offers a healthy introductory offer of 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable). This gives you a little more time to pay off those high credit card balances.
- Offers a unique bonus structure
- Eliminates impulse purchases without categories with special bonuses
- Has a 3% foreign transaction fee
- No intro APR offer on purchases, only balance transfers
Apply now or get more information in our Citi Double Cash® Card(Rates and fees) review.
Discover it® Cash Back
- Rewards rate: Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Welcome offer: Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
- APR: 18.74% - 27.74% Variable
The Discover it® Cash Back requires plenty of tracking as its bonus categories change quarterly, but it might be worth it since you can earn a healthy 5% cash back on those categories when you activate. The downside is the limit is $1,500 combined in all bonus categories per quarter.
The Discover it Cash Back card also offers intro APR offers:
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (then 18.74% - 27.74% Variable)
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (then 18.74% - 27.74% Variable)
There is a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*, so keep that in mind.
There is a $0 annual fee. Plus, Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. This card could be very helpful, especially if you focus on the bonus categories. However, I wouldn’t use it for large purchases or travel because it doesn’t include travel or extended warranty benefits like the other cards on the list.
- High rewards rate on bonus categories
- Exceptional cash back bonus offer
- Discover is not as widely accepted as some other payment networks
- Cap on spending in bonus categories
Apply now or get more info in our Discover it® Cash Back(Rates and fees) review.
What to consider before you choose a cash back card
When considering a cash back card, there are many factors to consider:
- What type of cash back will benefit you the most? Do you prefer a flat rate so you don’t have to think about it or do you like bonus offers and rotating categories? Look at your previous expenses to see if the rotating categories would benefit you.
- Will you use the rewards? Most cards offer a cash redemption option, but they may offer more value for other options. Consider if you’ll use those options or if you strictly want cash back to find the highest redemption options.
- What features do you need? Some of the no-annual-fee cash back credit cards have limited benefits outside of earning cash back, but others are chock full of benefits. Think about what you need and/or would use when finding the right credit card.
FAQs
Are cash back cards worth it?
Generally, yes. If you get a credit card with no annual fee that offers rewards on the things you buy all the time, then it’s very easy for a cash back card to be worth it. Used properly, cash back cards are a valuable way to get some money back on things like gas, groceries, and dining.
Is it worth it to pay a fee for a cash back credit card?
If the amount you expect to earn in rewards is worth more than the credit card's annual fee, then it might be worth it. But don't forget to make the same calculation for a fee-free card to see which one would be most valuable for you overall. Whether or not a card will work best for you comes down to your personal spending habits in combination with the credit card's benefits and rewards.
Is cash back on credit cards free?
No, you don’t get cashback rewards for free — you earn them by buying things with your credit card and getting rewards on those purchases. Different cash back cards offer rewards on different kinds of purchases, but you always have to spend money before you can get rewards.
Is there a 5% cash back card?
Yes, there are cash back cards that offer 5% on various kinds of purchases. Many 5%-back cards charge annual fees, but you can find some without annual fees. Typically these cards give you 5% back on one or more specific bonus categories and have a spending limit. After you hit the spending limit, your rewards rate drops until the next quarter or year.
Products that didn’t make our list
This list of the best cash back credit cards with no annual fee is not exhaustive. There are a few cards that didn’t make the list, but deserve an honorable mention:
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: This card earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year on purchases in each category, then 1%); and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases. It didn't make our list because the welcome offer is lower than other cards. But it's a good choice if you are looking for an Amex card.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: This is a good option if you want a high cashback rate at U.S. supermarkets, but it is capped. You can earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases. It also does come with an annual fee of $95.
Bottom line
Earning cash back on a credit card is great, but make sure you’ll use the rest of the card’s features and that it has no annual fee, or at least an affordable one. The best credit card is the one that fits your spending habits and goals the best. The suggestions provided should help you start your journey in finding the perfect cash back card.