I’m delighted by the Chase Freedom Flex® for a few quarters throughout the year when its rotating 5% bonus categories align with my top spending habits, making it super valuable.

Why We Like It

On top of the rotating categories, earning 3% on restaurants all year long is a great return for a no annual fee card. The card also offers purchase protection, extended warranty protection, select travel protections and cellphone protection when making eligible charges. It’s also noteworthy that new cardholders can get a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Some other offers require twice as much spending or more for the same bonus amount.

This card is a winner already, but it can be even better when paired with a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. That’s because you can transfer the points earned on your Freedom Flex to one of these premium cards where they can be redeemed for 25% to 50% more value through Chase Travel℠ or Pay Yourself Back. When combined with one of these cards, points can also be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to Chase’s airline and hotel partners, including United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt.

What We Don’t Like

There’s a cap on the 5% earning categories—plus, you have to remember to activate them each quarter.

Who It’s Best For

The Freedom Flex is fantastic for anyone willing to stay on top of the details to maximize the quarterly 5% categories and boost their earnings of valuable Ultimate Rewards®.

Unlimited flat-rate rewards and no annual fee make the Citi Double Cash® Card one of those cards you will appreciate forever, earning 1% when the purchase is made and 1% when the purchase is paid off. But its introductory balance transfer offer is what sets it apart from other 2% cash-back cards and provides an opportunity to get your debt back on track.

Why We Like It

Simple rewards at a high rate mean this card can fit anyone’s lifestyle, but that’s just the beginning. The card technically earns ThankYou® Points—redeemable toward cash back at 1 cent each—which offer extra versatility compared to standard cash rewards. Cardholders can optionally choose to redeem these toward travel, gift cards and more at potentially advantageous rates.

The card also comes with two big selling points in the first year: a welcome bonus offer and an introductory APR offer with a long runway: 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the standard variable APR will be 18.24% to 28.24%, based on creditworthiness. An intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies to transfers completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

What We Don’t Like

Though there’s no annual fee, you’ll still be subject to foreign transaction fees. Someone who travels or shops abroad could inadvertently see those costs stack up. Since the intro APR only applies to balance transfers, you’ll want to hold back on using the card for purchases while you’re paying down a transferred balance; otherwise, you’ll void your grace period (unless you pay your entire balance, including balance transfers, by the due date each month).

Who It’s Best For

We recommend this card to anyone who wants a simple 2% cash-back card (after purchases are paid off).

New cardholders can make out like bandits with the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, thanks to a welcome offer, intro APR on both new purchases and balance transfers and noteworthy cash back.

Why We Like It

Every purchase earns a minimum of 1.5% cash back, which is above average for a card that also includes a few bonus categories. Like the Chase Freedom Flex®, the Freedom Unlimited offers purchase protection and extended warranty protection. It also offers some travel benefits, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, travel and emergency assistance services and secondary auto rental coverage.

It can be paired with an eligible premium Chase Ultimate Rewards® card to amp up the value of eligible redemptions.

What We Don’t Like

To earn the most cash back on travel, you’re forced to book your trips through the Chase Travel℠ portal.

Who It’s Best For

This card should be considered by those who appreciate the combination of an elevated base earnings rate and valuable fixed bonus categories.

If you’re a simple shopper, a simple card might do the trick. The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (Terms apply, see rates & fees) rewards common daily expenses without charging an annual fee—freeing up your mental capacity for other things.

Why We Like It

The rewards category for “U.S. online retail purchases” allows you to earn 3% cash back (on up to $6,000 in spending per year, then 1%) on just about any type of purchase, given the ubiquity of online stores these days. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

The card also bundles several statement credit-earning opportunities, which is a terrific way to unlock additional value from purchases you might make anyway. You can earn up to $84 per year ($7 per month after spending $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription, subject to auto-renewal) through the Disney Bundle Credit and a Home Chef Credit of up to $180 per year ($15 per month, subject to auto-renewal). Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Should you need it, the card also includes an introductory APR offer: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and on balance transfers requested within 60 days of account opening, followed by a variable APR of 18.24% to 29.24%. A balance transfer fee of $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies.

What We Don’t Like

The elevated earning categories are capped at a relatively low amount and all other purchases beyond that will only earn 1% cash back, which is an underwhelming rate.

Who It’s Best For

This card is best for someone who doesn’t expect to spend significantly more than the rewards cap on bonus categories (or who can pull out a second card for purchases beyond those limits).

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a unique take on cash-back rewards, making it ideal for anyone whose lifestyle includes going out.

Why We Like It

Despite perks and benefits being light on this card, the Savor has a lot going for it. Its bonus earning categories span a variety of different categories, giving you ample opportunity to boost your balance.

There’s also no foreign transaction fee (rates & fees) on this card, making it a great choice for travel, especially since typical vacation expenses like hotels and rental cars (booked through Capital One Travel), dining and entertainment all earn extra cash back.

New card members are treated especially nice, with a one-two punch of a welcome offer and an introductory APR: get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, a 19.24% to 29.24% variable APR applies after that; 3% balance transfer fee for the first 15 months, 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you.

What We Don’t Like

Like many no-annual-fee cards, this card’s cash back drops to just 1% for spending outside its bonus categories.

Who It’s Best For

Since earning elevated cash back on entertainment purchases is relatively rare, this card could provide uncommon value for people who spend a lot in this category.

Set it and forget it with the Citi Custom Cash® Card*. I appreciate that I automatically earn 5% in my top eligible spending category, even if that changes from one month to the next.

Why We Like It

There are several eligible 5% categories that cover everything from restaurants to groceries to home improvement. The Citi Custom Cash® Card* also offers free access to your FICO Score and comes with an introductory APR offer: 0% introductory APR for 15 months from date of account opening on purchases and from date of first transfer for balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% to 28.24%, based on creditworthiness. There is also a balance transfer fee of 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.

What We Don’t Like

Other than your top eligible spending category and eligible Citi Travel℠ bookings, you’ll earn a meager 1% on everything else. And watch out for the $500 spending cap each billing cycle. After that, earnings will drop to 1% for purchases within your top eligible spending category too.

Who It’s Best For

Since this card’s earning rates are hot and cold, it makes more sense for someone with at least one other credit card to pair with it.

It’s all about choice with the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card*. Not only can you choose three bonus categories that fit your spending patterns, but you can change them every quarter as your needs change.

Why We Like It

The customization on this card is fantastic and lines up well for making large purchases, with optional bonus categories including furniture stores, electronic stores and other buckets not ordinarily seen. Cardholders can also pick from one everyday spending category like groceries, gas or restaurants. Together, this can lead to outsized earning potential.

The card also has no annual fee, a welcome offer and an intro APR—all things we love to see.

What We Don’t Like

This card forces you to stay on top of your game. Bonus earnings require manual selection every quarter and there are spending limits. Additionally, travel bonus earnings only apply to prepaid reservations made through the U.S. Bank Rewards Center.

Who It’s Best For

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card* is best for someone who appreciates the ability to mix and match different bonus category options quarterly.

Choosing the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (rates & fees) is like pressing the easy button. You’ll earn generous flat-rate rewards with essentially no details to worry about or keep track of.

Why We Like It

This is one instance where taking the most straightforward solution isn’t leaving anything on the table. With the no annual fee Active Cash, every purchase earns 2% cash rewards on purchases with no category requirements, spending caps or expiration dates as long as your account remains open.

In addition to a welcome offer, this card throws in an intro APR offer, albeit not the longest one on the market: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable APR applies. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% (min. $5) then a fee of up to 5% (min. $5) applies.

What We Don’t Like

It’s possible that someone with specialized expenses and a commitment to optimize their earnings could get higher rewards on a different card.

Who It’s Best For

Anyone looking for a flat-rate card, either for exclusive use or in tandem with another credit card, will appreciate the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card.

I cook a lot, which means I get extra excited about the industry-leading 6% cash back (received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit) on your first $6,000 in U.S. supermarket purchases per year (then 1%) available on the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (Terms apply, see rates & fees).

Why We Like It

Elevated cash returns also extend to U.S. gas stations, select streaming subscriptions and transit, making it a relevant option for the average household. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express also offers return protection¹ and secondary car rental loss and damage coverage².

One unique benefit of the card is its up to $84 Disney Bundle credit. After spending $9.99 or more on the card, you can get $7 back each month with an eligible auto-renewing subscription (enrollment required).

What We Don’t Like

I feel like it’s far too easy to hit the $6,000 U.S. supermarket spending cap each year, and American Express hasn’t raised the limit in years to account for inflation.

Who It’s Best For

Customers who fill their carts at the grocery store will be thankful for this card.

The Discover it® Cash Back will match exactly what you earn in the first year. Depending on your spending, this match can easily exceed the bonuses you can earn from other cards. Even after the first year, it offers solid rewards. Time it with an expensive year, and that could lead to a large bonus.

Why We Like It

This card features rotating bonus categories every quarter, which is a good way to earn even more on select purchases. Discover’s bonus categories have typically been high-value spending areas such as groceries, gas stations and restaurants.

This card also offers an introductory APR, making it a cost-saving option if you have a big purchase coming up or want to consolidate high-interest debt: 0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and eligible balance transfers. Then, a standard rate of 18.24% to 27.24% variable applies. A balance transfer fee of up to 5% of the amount transferred applies.

What We Don’t Like

The biggest downside to the Discover it® Cash Back is that you must remember to activate the bonus category each quarter, or you won’t earn the higher cash-back rate. You can opt-in for Discover to remind you when the bonus category changes.

For everyday spending after the first year, you’ll be better off with a 2% cash-back card. Keep in mind that Discover is not as widely accepted outside of the U.S. as other card networks.

Who It’s Best For

The Discover it® Cash Back is perfect for someone who gets excited about strategizing to maximize bonus categories.