Highest Paying Cash Back Cards


Competition in the cash back credit card space is heating up with compelling cards entering the market while veteran cards are stepping up their benefits to win your business too. If your credit score falls in the good to excellent range (670 – 850*) and you have not applied for a credit card recently, then it is a fantastic time to apply for a new card and start increasing your cash back returns. We have rounded up the top options from our partners below so whether you prefer flat-rate cash back or higher cash back rates on specific categories, our critics have you covered.

Unlimited 2% Cash Back Rewards Plus a Bonus

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

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on Wells Fargo’s secure site
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent/Good
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Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

This card from Wells Fargo is a top contender in the cash back category. You’ll earn an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases which means there are no activation requirements for special categories or monthly caps to worry about. Earning 2% rewards on all of your purchases is tough to beat and makes this $0 annual fee card a stand out option for anyone looking for a low maintenance cash rewards card that will allow you to accumulate cash rewards really quickly. There is also a sign-up bonus worth $200 in cash rewards that can be earned by spending at least $500 in purchases in the first three months after you are approved.

Best For Balance Transfers and Cash Back

Discover it® Balance Transfer

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on Discover’s secure site
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent/Good
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Discover it® Balance Transfer

The Discover it® Balance Transfer card is tailored to those who are looking to pay down debt with a balance transfer who also want to earn cash back rewards. New card members will benefit from a 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months followed by a 16.99% – 27.99% Variable APR. As for rewards, you will earn 5% back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations (up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter you activate, then you earn 1%) and 1% back on all of your other purchases. To top it off, all of the cash back you earn your first year is matched and you’ll pay no annual fee.

3% Back On Groceries, Dining & More

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

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on Capital One’s secure site
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
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Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

If you spend regularly on dining, entertainment, groceries and online streaming services, then the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card would be a great addition to your wallet as cardholders earn unlimited 3% cash back in those categories. You will also earn 1% back on all of your other purchases. There is no annual fee and new cardmembers can also benefit from a 0% intro on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then 19.74% – 29.74% (Variable). There is a 3% balance transfer fee but that fee is likely worth it if you are paying interest each month on another card. You can also kick off your cash back earnings with a $200 welcome bonus that can be earned by spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months. That’s an additional 20% back on your first $1,000 spent!

Unlimited 3X Rewards on Restaurants, Travel, Gas & More

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

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on Wells Fargo’s secure site
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent/Good
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Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

This $0 annual fee credit card is not technically a cash back credit card (it is classified as a rewards card), but since you can redeem your rewards for cash we think it’s worth including here. It offers unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. There are no caps to worry about and no rewards calendars to keep track of. Plus you will also earn 1X on all of your other purchases. New card members can also earn a massive 20,000-point welcome bonus after spending $1,000 in the first three months. This bonus has a $200 cash redemption value! In addition to the cash redemption option you can also redeem your rewards for travel, gift cards, and more. There is also a generous intro APR on purchases and many other premium benefits.

Quick and Simple Rewards

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

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on Capital One’s secure site
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
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Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card stacks up very well against other top-tier cash back cards as it offers an unlimited 1.5% cash back on everyday purchases and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. As a welcome offer, new card members can earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 within the first 3 months. This is a lower spending requirement than most cash back cards which means you can easily achieve this bonus with everyday purchases. You will also get 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership (through 11/14/24) and access to exclusive reservations and dining experiences through Capital One Dining. You will also benefit from a 0% intro on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then 19.74% – 29.74% (Variable) APR will apply. There is a 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months but this fee is usually worth it if you’re currently carrying a balance on another card that charges interest. That’s an extensive list of benefits, especially for a card that does not charge an annual fee.

Choose Your Bonus Category

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

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on Bank of America’s secure site
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent/Good
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Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

You will be hard-pressed to find another card without an annual fee that offers better flexibility in the cash back department than the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card. You get to decide which category you’ll earn 3% back in each month while also earning 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. The bonus cash back earned in these combined categories (your choice, grocery and wholesale clubs) is capped at $2,500 in purchases each quarter. You’ll earn 1% after that cap is hit and on all of your other purchases. This cash back card also has a longer than average intro APR on both purchases and balance transfers. To sweeten the deal, you’ll also earn a $200 online cash back rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases on your card within the first 90 days of your account opening. That’s an additional 20% back on your first $1,000 spent!

Great For Everyday Spending – Especially Groceries

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

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on American Express’ secure site
Recommended Credit Score
Good – Excellent
Rates and Fees| Terms Apply
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Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

It is important to understand that when it comes to credit cards the only way to really take your earning potential to the next level is to choose a card with an annual fee. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (a CardCritics advertiser) is an excellent example since the ongoing perks and rewards quickly justify the $95 annual fee which is waived your first year. You will earn a massive 6% back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%), 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, and 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit. All of your other eligible purchases will earn you 1% back. To sweeten the deal, you can earn a $250 welcome bonus after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months.

Bonus Categories Made Easy

Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

Apply Now
on Citi®’s secure site
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent/Good
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Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is an extremely flexible cash back card that makes it easy to rack up big-time rewards. You will earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent). The great thing is that you don’t have to choose your bonus category ahead of time because your earn adjusts automatically based on your spending. Eligible spending categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment. You will earn 1% on all other purchases, and can earn $200 in 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.

With incredible welcome offers and lucrative ongoing rewards, it is easy to see why now is a great time to apply for a new card. You can also save money by taking advantage of the 0% intro APRs on purchases and balance transfers that many of these cards offer. Simply click the ‘Show Card Details’ buttons above to view that information. If saving money on interest is your number one goal then you should check out our round-up of cards that will allow you to pay no interest until 2024.


Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.