Deal of the Day: Get a $50 cash bonus with the Chase Freedom credit card. Chase Freedom offers cash back rewards up to 3%, a 0% APR for up to 12 months, and no annual fee. Check out our Chase Freedom review or get more details from Chase at www.chase.com/freedom.

List of the Best Cash Reward Credit Card Offers

by DR

Updated list of some of the best cash back credit cards

Cash back credit cards put money in your pocket. Some cash rewards cards pay out money after an initial purchase or minimum purchase amount. Other cash back cards pay out a percentage rebate based on annual purchases. Either way, these cards reward cardholders with cash or gift cards just for using the credit card. Below is a list of some of the best cash back credit cards available, along with some details about each card.

Cash Back Credit Cards--Editor's Pick

Our pick for the best cash back card (and the one I carry), is the Discover More card:


0% balance transfer
Discover More Card
0% BT and purchases
for up to 6 months +
Up to 5% Cash Back!
applytoday_button_blue

There are several reasons why the Discover More Card is in our opinion the best cash back credit card. First, The Discover card pays up to 5% cash back. Every three months, Discover pays 5% cash back on several categories of purchases. They pick the categories based on the time of year. For example, during the summer Discover pays 5% cash back on travel purchases like hotels and airlines. This past summer, my family and I earned about nearly $200 in cash rewards just for using the Discover More Card on our vacations.

Second, in addition to cash rewards, the Discover card also offers a 0% balance transfer deal good for six months. We took advantage of the transfer offer when we first applied for the card. Once the 6 month introductory period was over, we paid off the balance transfer and began using the card for daily purchases to take advantage of the cash back.

Finally, Discover has one of the best websites I've ever seen for credit cards. It's extremely easy to use, whether you are paying your bill or looking up your cash back balance. It also offers a spend analyzer that shows you exactly where you've spent your money. Discover's spend analyzer is a great way to track budgeting.

For these reasons, the Discover More card is the best of all cash back credit cards in our experience. Here are the card's details, and you can get more information or apply for the card online at www.discover.com:

Discover® More(SM) Card
Discover® More(SM) Card
Discover® More(SM) Card
  • 5% to 20% Cashback Bonus® at Top Online Retailers*
  • Up to 1% Unlimited Cashback Bonus® on All Other Purchases Automatically
  • Increase, Even Double, Your Rewards When You Redeem for Gift Cards from Our 100 Cashback Bonus® Partners
  • No Annual Fee
  • Online Account Access
  • Online Bill Payment
Intro APR Intro APR
Period
Regular
APR
Annual
Fee
Balance
Transfer
Credit
Needed
0% APR for 6 Months 6 Months as low as 11.99% $0 Yes Very Good

Of course, there are several good cash reward credit cards beyond the Discover More card. So if you are looking for something else, here's a list of some of the best cash back credit cards available.

Cash Rewards Credit Card Offers

TrueEarnings Card from Costco and American Express--Up to 3% Cash Back

If we were awarding a second place for cash back cards, it would definitely go to the True Earnings card from Costco and American Express. With the card, you can earn cash back virtually everywhere you go:

  • 3% for annual gasoline purchases of up to $3,000 (1% thereafter)
  • 3% for restaurants
  • 2% for travel
  • 1% everywhere else, including Costco

On top of that, you earn a $25 statement credit with your first purchase, and there is no annual fee. If you shop at Costco regularly, it's the only way to get cash back (you can use the Discover Card at Costco). But even if you don't shop at Costco, the Amex True Earnings card is a rewarding cash back option, particularly for gas purchases.

You can get more information about the True Earnings card and apply online by visiting www.americanexpress.com/TrueEarnings. Here are more details about the card:

TrueEarnings(R) Card from Costco and American Express
TrueEarnings(R) Card from Costco and American Express
TrueEarnings(R) Card from Costco and American Express
  • Earn cash back on gas and a $25 statement credit with your first purchase made with the Card.
  • Earn cash back virtually everywhere you go - 3% for annual gasoline purchases of up to $3,000 (1% thereafter), 3% for restaurants, 2% for travel, 1% everywhere else, including Costco
  • No Annual Fee with your paid Costco Membership
  • The TrueEarnings Card serves as both your American Express Credit Card and your Costco Membership Card
  • No Limit on the Cash Back earned
Intro APR Intro APR
Period
Regular
APR
Annual
Fee
Balance
Transfer
Credit
Needed
N/A N/A 15.24% No Annual Fee with your paid Costco Membership No N/A

Motiva Card by Discover Offers 1% Cash Back + Interest Bonus

The Motiva Card by Discover is one of the most unique cash back credit cards available. For starters, the card pays 1% cash back on purchases. For certain online purchases, cardholders also get 5% to 20% cash rewards. And here's the unique part. Make 6 on-time payments in a row, and Discover will pay you a full month's interest back as a Pay-On-Time Bonus. The Motiva card also offers a 3.99% balance transfer good for six months, and there is no annual fee for the card.

You can get more information about the Motiva card and apply online by visiting www.discover.com/motiva. Here are the card's details:

Discover® Motiva(SM) Card
Discover® Motiva(SM) Card
Discover® Motiva(SM) Card
  • 5% to 20% Cashback Bonus® at Top Online Retailers*
  • Up to 1% Unlimited Cashback Bonus® on All Other Purchases Automatically
  • Increase, Even Double Your Rewards When You Redeem for Gift Cards from Our 100 Cashback Bonus® Partners
  • Free Payment by Phone or Online - Even on Your Payment Due Date
  • Choose a Payment Due Date That Meets Your Needs
  • No Annual Fee
  • *View Discover® Card Rates, Fees, Rewards, and Other Important Information
Intro APR Intro APR
Period
Regular
APR
Annual
Fee
Balance
Transfer
Credit
Needed
3.99% APR for 6 Months* 6 Months as low as 11.99% $0 Yes N/A

Discover More Card Special Editions

Discover offers the More card in special edition versions. Each special edition card offers the same 5% cash back and 0% balance transfer offer as the standard Discover More card. The American Flag edition is my personal favorite, but the wildlife and sealife editions are a close second.

Discover® More(SM) Card - American Flag
Discover® More(SM) Card - American Flag
Discover® More(SM) Card - American Flag
  • 5% to 20% Cashback Bonus® at Top Online Retailers*
  • Up to 1% Unlimited Cashback Bonus® on All Other Purchases Automatically
  • Increase, Even Double, Your Rewards When You Redeem for Gift Cards from Our 100 Cashback Bonus® Partners
  • No Annual Fee
  • Online Account Access
  • Online Bill Payment
Intro APR Intro APR
Period
Regular
APR
Annual
Fee
Balance
Transfer
Credit
Needed
0% APR for 12 Months 12 Months as low as 11.99% $0 Yes Very Good

Discover® More(SM) Card - Monogram
Discover® More(SM) Card - Monogram
Discover® More(SM) Card - Monogram
  • Earn More Cash in More Ways Than Anyone Else(SM)*
  • Unlimited Cash Rewards, Automatically
  • Up to 20% Cashback Bonus® When You Shop Online*
  • Double Rewards With More than 80 Cashback Bonus® Partners*
  • 0% Intro APR*
  • Choose Your Personalized Design
Intro APR Intro APR
Period
Regular
APR
Annual
Fee
Balance
Transfer
Credit
Needed
0% APR for 6 Months* 6 Months as low as 11.99% $0 No Very Good

Discover® More(SM) Card - Clear
Discover® More(SM) Card - Clear
Discover® More(SM) Card - Clear
  • 5% to 20% Cashback Bonus® at Top Online Retailers*
  • Up to 1% Unlimited Cashback Bonus® on All Other Purchases Automatically
  • Increase, Even Double, Your Rewards When You Redeem for Gift Cards from Our 100 Cashback Bonus® Partners
  • No Annual Fee
  • Online Account Access
  • Online Bill Payment
Intro APR Intro APR
Period
Regular
APR
Annual
Fee
Balance
Transfer
Credit
Needed
0% APR for 6 Months 6 Months as low as 11.99% $0 Yes Very Good

Discover® More(SM) Card - Sealife Collection
Discover® More(SM) Card - Sealife Collection
Discover® More(SM) Card - Sealife Collection
  • 5% to 20% Cashback Bonus® at Top Online Retailers*
  • Up to 1% Unlimited Cashback Bonus® on All Other Purchases Automatically
  • Increase, Even Double, Your Rewards When You Redeem for Gift Cards from Our 100 Cashback Bonus® Partners
  • No Annual Fee
  • Online Account Access
  • Online Bill Payment
Intro APR Intro APR
Period
Regular
APR
Annual
Fee
Balance
Transfer
Credit
Needed
0% APR for 6 Months 6 Months as low as 11.99% $0 Yes Very Good

Discover® More(SM) Card - Wildlife Collection
Discover® More(SM) Card - Wildlife Collection
Discover® More(SM) Card - Wildlife Collection
  • 5% to 20% Cashback Bonus® at Top Online Retailers*
  • Up to 1% Unlimited Cashback Bonus® on All Other Purchases Automatically
  • Increase, Even Double, Your Rewards When You Redeem for Gift Cards from Our 100 Cashback Bonus® Partners
  • No Annual Fee
  • Online Account Access
  • Online Bill Payment
Intro APR Intro APR
Period
Regular
APR
Annual
Fee
Balance
Transfer
Credit
Needed
0% APR for 6 Months 6 Months as low as 11.99% $0 Yes Very Good

*We do our best to accurately reflect the terms and conditions of credit card offers on this site. But please recognize that these terms and conditions can and do change from time to time. When you are evaluating credit card offers, please make sure to read the terms and conditions on the credit card issuer's website, as they may have changed since the information was last updated on this site.


{ 15 trackbacks }

Weekly Roundup - Texas Prayers Edition | Cash Money Life
September 14, 2008 at 10:05 am
Credit Card Reform Act of 2008–Congress to the Rescue
September 15, 2008 at 6:25 am
How to Become a Millionaire | Building Wealth from Sound Money Management
September 23, 2008 at 10:12 pm
How to Survive a Recession | 9 Tips on Surviving a Financial Meltdown
October 12, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Credit Card Legislation | Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act of 2008
October 19, 2008 at 7:09 am
Save Money | 97 Frugal Living Tips
November 15, 2008 at 10:06 pm
5 Credit Cards That Will Save You Money On Holiday Purchases | WealthBoy
December 2, 2008 at 12:14 pm
0 APR Credit Card Ratings | The Balance Transfer Index&#0153
January 13, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Earn $100 Cash Back with the Discover Business Card
January 27, 2009 at 5:58 am
Chase PerfectCard MasterCard | Credit Card Offers IQ
February 25, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Credit Card Debt >> 10 Lies That Cause Us To Charge It
March 12, 2009 at 8:55 am
Chase Freedom Triple Miles Card | Credit Card Offers IQ
March 15, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Citi Forward Card Review | Bonus ThankYou Points | 5% Rewards
April 24, 2009 at 5:05 pm
0% Balance Transfer Offers | A Big List of 0 APR Balance Transfers
October 11, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Chase Freedom Credit Card 3% Cash Back Bonus
October 29, 2009 at 10:30 am

{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

foglifter September 15, 2008 at 2:53 pm

I would include one more card into the list: Countrywide Rewards Platinum Visa, issued by FirstUSA. Every time you collect 2,500 points, you are eligible to receive a $50 deposit to your Countrywide Bank, FSB Savings, Money Market, or SavingsLink account. Or, a $50 payment towards the balance on an existing Countrywide® mortgage loan.

Basically it means 2% cash back on everything!

I’m using the card for any purchases that don’t get 5% on my Chase Cash rewards card. Chase reduced the cash back rate to 3% and turned the card to Freedom Card later, but kept the original terms for existing customers.

Reply

Connie Brooks September 16, 2008 at 1:05 pm

Make sure that you completely read the terms on these credit cards before applying – they are not all created equal, and some of them may be better for certain people than others.

For example some pay bigger rebates for certain activities, and lesser percentages for others. As long as you read and understand the fine print, then you can truly use these cards to your advantage.

The most important thing to remember about cash back cards is that you should never, ever carry a monthly balance on them. Otherwise the interest rate is going to more than cancel out the cash back rebate.

Reply

Laura September 16, 2008 at 1:58 pm

Great reference page and some good deals!

Reply

Web Designer India March 11, 2009 at 2:22 pm

Thanks for sharing the great deals. Good way to save money.

Reply

kat March 16, 2009 at 11:42 am

FYI, I have a Discover More card, and I just got a letter in the mail from them stating that they’re changing the terms of their rewards program. Instead of 1% cash back on everything, we will now only get 0.25% cash back until we spend $3000 that year. After the first $3000 spent, we will get 1% cash back. The 3% cash back on bonus categories will remain the same.

(I found this article searching for comparison sites, as I am now shopping for a new rewards card.)

Reply

Leave a Comment

Previous post: An Incredibly Simple, Free and Easy Way to Improve Your Finances

Next post: Are You a Millionaire in the Making?