Cash back keeps the math simple. The strongest no-fee options earn a flat 2% on everything. The category cards stack 5% or 6% on dining, groceries, or rotating quarterly bonuses for people willing to manage their wallet.
The best no-fee sidekick in the Chase system. Standalone it is a fine 1.5% card. Paired with a Sapphire it becomes a transfer-partner earning machine.
The simplest good card in the market. 2% on everything with no fee. The 3% foreign transaction fee makes it a poor pick abroad.
The best no-fee card for households that eat out and stream a lot. The grocery bonus is a meaningful upgrade over flat 2% cards.
The grocery card to beat for families that hit the $6,000 cap. At $360 in supermarket cash back alone, the math works for almost any household with a full kitchen.
The grocery card to beat for families that hit the $6,000 cap. At $360 in supermarket cash back alone, the math works for almost any household with a full kitchen.
A no-fee cash-back card that punches well above its weight, especially when paired with a Sapphire to unlock transfer partners.
The Active Cash alternative for households that already hold a Citi Premier. Pairing the Double Cash with a Premier turns your 2% into transferable ThankYou Points.
The set-it-and-forget-it answer for category cash back. The 5% picks itself based on where you actually spent.
A fine starter card. The 1.5% rate trails the 2% flat cards, but no foreign transaction fee makes it the better no-fee pick for travel abroad.
The best no-fee category card for BofA banking customers. Preferred Rewards turns 3% into 5.25% on the category you spend the most on.
The best student card year one because of the Cashback Match. After graduation, it converts to a regular Discover it.
The clearest path from a secured card to an unsecured one. Real rewards on a card most people use for one purpose.
