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Whether it was Discover giving cash back on purchases in the mid-1980s, or Delta offering SkyMiles in the mid-1990s, rewards programs have become inextricably intertwined with credit cards. When consumers are looking for the best credit cards, the cards with the biggest rewards are usually at the top of the list.
The definition of rewards cards is in the name itself. These credit cards reward either certain types of spending — like at gas stations, supermarkets, restaurants or for travel — or offer a blanket-rate return on all spending in multiple categories. Used wisely, some rewards cards can give you hundreds or thousands of dollars in cash each year.
A 2021 GigaPoints/Ipsos survey found that about half of participants would switch credit cards if they could get better rewards. And more than half of Gen Z survey participants said they had difficulty knowing which credit cards or programs would give them the best rewards.
We break down the terms to help you find the best rewards credit card for your spending patterns. Review our top partner offers for the best rewards credit cards below.
Best overall cash-back rewards card
Intro OfferIntro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back!
APR15.24% to 23.99% Variable
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good
- Enjoy 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
- 1.5% on all other purchases
Annual Fee$0
Intro Purchase APR0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Balance Transfer APR15.24% to 23.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Penalty APR Up to 29.99%
- Enjoy 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
- 1.5% on all other purchases
Our Take
With the Chase Freedom Unlimited® credit card, you earn 5% cash back on travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on dining, 3% on drugstore purchases and 1.5% flat-rate cash back on all other purchases. The Chase Freedom Unlimited card offers all-around great rewards, with one of the highest flat credit card rewards rates out there.
New card members will also enjoy the welcome bonus, for which you earn an additional 1.5% cash back on up to $20,000 in purchases in your first year. This rewards credit card works well whether it’s the only card in your wallet or used to supplement a specific category card, which may offer higher bonuses for a particular type of purchase.
Rewards for dining and entertainment
Intro Offer$300 after you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
APR16.24% – 24.24% (Variable)
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 Purchase APRN/A
Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A
Balance Transfer Fee None for balances transferred at the Transfer APR.
Balance Transfer APR16.24% – 24.24% (Variable)
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.
Intro OfferEarn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
APR16.74% – 24.74% (Variable)
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
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Balance Transfer Fee Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Balance Transfer APR16.74% – 24.74% (Variable)
Late Payment Fee Up to $40
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, with gas stations being one of them. 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. This is one of the highest rewards rates for gas on the market, which is why this is our top pick of gas credit cards.
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.
International travel rewards and perks
Intro OfferEarn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
APR17.24% – 24.24% Variable
Recommended Credit Excellent
- Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn 5x total points on air travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn 3x points on other travel and dining.
- Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Annual Fee$550
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater
Balance Transfer APR17.24% – 24.24% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees $0
Penalty APR Up to 29.99%
- Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn 5x total points on air travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn 3x points on other travel and dining.
- Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Our Take
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a general travel rewards credit card, meaning you earn points on any travel or dining purchase, making it a great option for international travel. You earn great rewards rates on hotels and car rentals through Chase Ultimate Rewards (10x points), air travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards (5x points), other travel and dining purchases (3x points), and 1x points on all other purchases. You can earn elevated rewards on all travel purchases after earning the $300 annual travel credit. And through March 2025, you can earn 10x points on Lyft purchases. These points can be redeemed for $0.01 each when applied as a statement credit, but you get 50% more value when you redeem them for travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
While the $550 annual fee for this Chase credit card is on the high side, an annual statement credit of up to $300 for travel purchases essentially brings the yearly commitment down to $250. The signup bonus earns you 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months (worth $750 when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards). Chase Sapphire Reserve card holders also get a Priority Pass™ Select membership, giving them VIP lounge access at more than 1,300 airport lounges across the world for more comfortable traveling upon enrollment.
Check out more details in our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Intro OfferEarn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
APR15.74%, 20.74%, or 25.74% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Annual Fee$0
Intro Purchase APR0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
Balance Transfer Fee up to 5%; min: $5
Balance Transfer APR15.74%, 20.74%, or 25.74% Variable APR
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 (15.74%, 20.74%, or 25.74% variable APR thereafter).
Check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card for more details.
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 cash-back credit cards, for example, key factors include the annual fee, the “welcome bonus” and the cash-back rate (or rates, if they differ by spending category). For rewards and miles cards, we calculate and weigh the net monetary value of a card’s respective perks. And with balance transfer credit cards, we analyze specs such as the duration of the introductory 0% APR period and the balance transfer fee, while acknowledging secondary factors such as the standard APR and the length of time you have to make a balance transfer after you open the account.
*All information about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card and the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
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