5 Credit Cards to Earn More Cash Back in November 2024
KEY POINTS
- The Chase Freedom Flex® and Discover it® Cash Back can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate.
- For an unlimited 2% cash rewards on all purchases, look no further than the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card.
- The Citi Custom Cash® Card earns 5% cash back in a unique way, while the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express can help you save on groceries and gas.
Cash back credit cards save you money on everyday expenses by giving you a percentage of your spending as a reward. Many of these cards have no annual fees and offer one-time sign-up bonuses ranging from $200 to $300. With cash back rates up to 5% back, these cards can play a vital role in saving you money during the upcoming holiday season.
If you're not using cash back credit cards right now -- or you haven't gotten a new one in quite some time -- here are five top credit cards with huge earning potential.
1. Chase Freedom Flex
On Chase's Secure Website.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months
Regular APR
19.74% - 28.49% Variable
Rewards 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.
5% cash back offer
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening!
$200 bonus
-
This Chase card is one of our favorites, and with good reason. You earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate, alongside other standout perks (and at least 1% on all purchases). Plus, this one comes without an annual fee and with a generous welcome bonus. Read Full Review
-
- Big sign-up bonus
- Lucrative cash back program
- Long 0% intro APR
- No annual fee
- Purchase and travel protections
- Foreign transaction fee
-
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 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, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.74%-28.49%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
The Chase Freedom Flex® is one of the best cash back credit cards out there. It earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Currently, those spending categories are McDonald's, PayPal, pet shops and vet services, and select charities.
The card also earns cash back in the following ways:
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025
- 3% cash back at dining and drugstores
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Finally, the Chase Freedom Flex® offers a $200 bonuswhen you spend $500 in the first 3 months.
2. Discover it® Cash Back
The Discover it® Cash Back (see rates and fees) is another credit card that can turn your wallet into a high-performing cash back machine. Like the Chase Freedom Flex®, this card earns 5% cash back, up to a quarterly maximum of $1,500, on rotating categories. These categories must be activated quarterly and may include popular spending like grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations.
But don't get the wrong idea -- this card isn't a replica of the Chase Freedom Flex®. Not only do the cards rarely offer the same rotating categories within the same quarter, but the Discover it® Cash Back's welcome bonus is structured differently. For new cardholders, Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. If you earn $300 in cash back, Discover will give you another $300 as a bonus.
This bonus only applies for your card's first year, but its unlimited potential could give you a sizable bonus that no other card can match.
3. Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening
Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
Regular APR
19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
Rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
2% cash rewards
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
$200 cash rewards
-
This card’s unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases is the highest we’ve seen for a flat-rate rewards card with no annual fee. It also has an incredibly easy-to-earn $200 welcome bonus and a decent intro APR offer. We simply haven’t come across this combination of top perks in one card before. Read Full Review
-
- Unlimited 2% cash rewards
- Long 0% intro APR offer
- Generous cash rewards welcome bonus
- No annual fee
- Cellphone protections
- No bonus categories
- Foreign transaction fees
- Balance transfer fee
-
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (see rates and fees) is a utility card that earns an unlimited 2% cash rewards on all purchases. This makes it an excellent companion to other credit cards. Since most cards earn only 1% on everyday spending, this card could double your rewards.
The card also offers an easy-to-earn $200 cash rewards welcome bonus when you spend $500 in the first 3 months. That breaks down to $167 in spending per month. Since this card is issued by Visa, it can also make an excellent Costco credit card.
4. Citi Custom Cash Card
Only a few credit cards will earn 5% back on popular spending categories; even fewer will let you choose those spending categories yourself.
That, in a nutshell, is the Citi Custom Cash® Card's secret sauce: It earns 5% cash back on your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent) from a list of 10 (see ). Some of these categories include popular options like restaurants, gas stations, and grocery stores. If you max out the spending categories each billing cycle, you can earn $300 each year.
The card also earns a 20,000 ThankYou® Points sign-up bonus after you spend $1,500 in purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. If you hit that spending threshold and max out your monthly 5% category, this card could yield $500 in the first year.
5. Amex Blue Cash Everyday
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months
APR
18.24%-29.24% Variable
Rewards 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
1%-3% cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
$200
-
If gas and groceries are big line items in your budget, don't miss this card. You won't pay an annual fee, and you can earn a generous 3% cash back at supermarkets, online retail purchases, and gas stations in the U.S., on up to $6,000 per year, per category. A 0% APR intro offer lasting 15 months and a $200 welcome bonus for a $2,000 spend inside of 6 months (terms apply) round out the perks on this Amex. Read Full Review
-
- U.S. supermarkets and online retail rewards
- U.S. gas stations cash back
- Big welcome offer
- No annual fee (see rates and fees)
- Foreign transaction fee
- High spend requirement for welcome offer
-
- Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- No Annual Fee.
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 18.24% to 29.24% variable APR.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
- 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
- Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Everyday® Card. Enrollment required.
- Enjoy up to $15 back per month when you purchase a Home Chef meal kit subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a must-have for big-time grocery spenders and online shoppers.
The card earns 3% cash back at supermarkets, online retail purchases, and gas stations in the U.S., on up to $6,000 per year, per category. Terms apply, see rates and fees.
These cash back rates make it one of the best cards for groceries and gas. It also offers cardholders $84 in Disney Bundle credits (comes in $7 monthly statement credits) after you use your Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express to spend $9.99 or more on a Disney Bundle subscription. Terms apply.
These five cash back cards can help you generate some much-needed savings on your everyday purchases. For more cards like these, check out our curated list of best cash back credit cards.
Our Research Expert
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, click here