A smart consumer knows how to use different credit cards strategically across different spending categories to maximize value. Today, let’s look at which cash back cards are best for everyday spending categories. This article lists credit cards with especially strong cash back in twelve categories. Beginners can choose the card that best fits their spending habits, while those with many cards can use this as a guide for deciding which card to use for each purchase category. This article will be updated from time to time.
- To make comparisons easier, we need to account for the value of points from different banks. Regarding the TPG valuations commonly used online, I personally think they are somewhat inflated, and most people cannot realistically redeem points at such high values (one of the goals of this blog is also to teach readers how to get strong value from their points). So I use my own point valuation estimates:
1 UR (Chase Ultimate Rewards) = 1.8 cent
1 MR (AMEX Membership Rewards) = 1.8 cent
1 TYP (Citi ThankYou Points) = 1.6 cent
I value PenFed points (PFP) at $250/29600 = 0.84 cent
This is only my personal valuation standard. Everyone may value points differently, so please use this article for reference only.
- This article only includes credit cards that earn more than 3% back in a category. If anything is missing, readers are welcome to add it.
- The supermarket category on AMEX cards does not include Target or Walmart.
- The cash back on the Discover it card does not include the Double Cash Promotion. If you enrolled in that promotion, your cash back would be doubled, making the return even better. Existing cardholders can no longer register for it, but newly approved applicants can still enroll. If you do not yet have a Discover it card, you can apply for this great everyday cash back card through this blog’s application link.
- For hotel cash back, I only use general hotel category standards and do not consider rewards from co-branded cards tied to specific hotel brands.
- The US Bank Cash+ Visa Signature is a special case. Each quarter, you can choose two 5% categories (up to $2,000) and one 2% category; see here for the specific eligible categories. This card is not included in the comparisons in this article.
- The tables are sortable, making comparisons easier.
| Credit Card |
Cash Back |
Annual Fee |
Notes |
Apply |
| Citi Strata Elite |
4.5%-9% (3x-6x TYP) |
$595 |
3x on everyday dining; Citi Nights earns 6x on Friday and Saturday nights. Up to $700 in annual Hotel, Splurge, and Blacklane credits |
Apply |
| AMEX Gold |
6.4% (4x MR) |
$325 |
Restaurants worldwide earn 4x on the first $50,000 in purchases per year, then 1x; up to $424 in annual Dining, Uber, Resy, and Dunkin credits |
Apply |
| AMEX Green |
4.8% (3x MR) |
$150 |
Restaurants worldwide, travel, and transit all earn 3x; also includes a CLEAR+ Credit |
Apply |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred |
4.8% (3x UR) |
$95 |
Restaurants worldwide earn 3x; up to $100 in annual Chase Travel hotel reimbursement |
Apply |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve |
4.8% (3x UR) |
$795 |
Restaurants worldwide earn 3x; up to $300 in annual Sapphire Exclusive Tables dining credit, plus lots of travel benefits |
Apply |
| US Bank Altitude Go |
4% |
$0 |
Dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery earn 4x on the first $2,000 in purchases each quarter, then 1x |
Apply |
| Citi Strata Premier |
4.5% (3x TYP) |
$95 |
Restaurants earn 3x with no cap, and supermarkets, gas/EV charging, airfare, and hotels also earn 3x; includes a $100 annual Citi Travel hotel benefit |
Apply |
| Capital One Savor |
3% |
$0 |
Dining earns 3% with no cap, and supermarkets, entertainment, and popular streaming services also earn 3% |
Apply |
| BofA Customized Cash Rewards |
6% first year, then 3%-5.25% |
$0 |
Select the Dining category; combined custom category and supermarket/Wholesale Club spending is capped at $2,500 per quarter. BofA Rewards can boost the base cash back by an additional 10%-75% |
Apply |
| Wells Fargo Autograph |
About 3.6% (3x) |
$0 |
Restaurants earn 3x with no cap, and travel, gas/EV charging, transit, streaming, and phone bills also earn 3x |
Apply |
| Citi Costco |
3% |
$0 |
Restaurants earn 3% with no cap; the card has no annual fee, but you need a valid Costco membership. Gold Star membership is currently $65/year |
Apply |
| Credit Card |
Cash Back |
Annual Fee |
Notes |
Apply |
| AMEX Gold Card |
Approx. 6.4% (4x MR) |
$325 |
4x at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per year, then 1x; a good fit for people who spend heavily at supermarkets and also use MR points |
Link |
| AMEX Blue Cash Preferred |
6% |
$0 for the first year, then $95 |
6% at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1%; if you spend a lot on groceries each month, this card offers outstanding value |
Link |
| Citi Strata Premier |
Approx. 4.5% (3x TYP) |
$95 |
3x at supermarkets with no cap, and also 3x on restaurants, gas/charging, airfare, and hotels; a good choice for people who want one card to cover several everyday categories |
Link |
| AMEX Blue Cash Everyday |
3% |
$0 |
3% at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1%; no annual fee, and it also earns 3% cash back on U.S. online shopping and at U.S. gas stations |
Link |
| Capital One Savor |
3% |
$0 |
3% on grocery purchases with no cap, and also 3% on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services; a good fit for people who do not want to track complicated spending categories |
Link |
| Credit Card |
Cash Back |
Annual Fee |
Notes |
Apply |
| AMEX Business Gold |
About 6% (4x MR, excluding EV) |
$375 |
U.S. gas stations need to be one of the top two spending categories in each Billing Cycle to earn 4x; up to $150,000 in combined spending in designated categories per year earns 4x |
Apply |
| Sam's Club Mastercard |
5% (including EV) |
$0 |
Gas and EV Charging earn 5% on the first $6,000 in combined purchases per year, then 1%; requires an active Sam's Club membership and the Mastercard version |
Apply |
| US Bank Altitude Connect |
4% (including EV) |
$0 |
Gas and EV Charging earn 4x on the first $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1x |
Apply |
| Citi Costco |
Costco gas 5%; other gas and EV 4% |
$0 |
Costco Gas 5%; other eligible gas and EV Charging 4%; combined spending in both categories earns 1% after the first $7,000 per year; requires an active Costco membership |
Apply |
| Citi Strata Premier |
About 4.5% (3x TYP, including EV) |
$95 |
Gas and EV Charging are both 3x, with no spending cap; dining, supermarkets, airfare, and hotels are also 3x |
Apply |
| Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa (formerly Alaska Visa) |
About 3.2% (2x, including EV) |
$95 |
Gas, EV Charging, Cable, Streaming, and Local Transit are all 2x; a qualifying BofA account also gets an extra 10% Points Bonus |
Apply |
| BofA Customized Cash Rewards |
6% in year one, then 3%-5.25% (including EV) |
$0 |
Select the Gas & EV Charging category; 6% in year one, then back to 3%. Combined spending in your chosen category and supermarkets/Wholesale Club is capped at $2,500 per quarter; BofA Rewards can be boosted to as much as 5.25% long term |
Apply |
| Wells Fargo Autograph |
About 3.6% (3x, including EV) |
$0 |
Gas and EV Charging earn 3x, with no annual fee; dining, travel, transit, streaming, and phone bills are also 3x |
Apply |
| AMEX Blue Cash Everyday |
3% (excluding EV) |
$0 |
U.S. gas stations earn 3% on the first $6,000 in spending per year, then 1%; supermarkets and U.S. online shopping each also have separate $6,000 annual caps |
Apply |
| AMEX Blue Cash Preferred |
3% (excluding EV) |
First year $0, then $95 |
U.S. gas stations earn 3%, and Transit is also 3%; gas 3% has no separate $6,000 annual cap |
Apply |
| Barclays AARP Essential |
3% (excluding EV) |
$0 |
Gas stations and drugstores earn 3% with no cap; eligible medical spending earns 2% |
Apply |
| Detailed analysis: Best Credit Cards for Gas Stations and EV Charging |
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Entertainment
| Credit Card |
Cash Back |
Annual Fee |
Notes |
| Discover it |
5% |
$0 |
Movie theaters only, Q2 in 2015; 1% in other quarters; easy to get approved for |
| Citi ThankYou Preferred |
3.2% (2TYP/$) |
$0 |
|
| Citi ThankYou Premier |
3.2% (2TYP/$) |
$95 |
|
| Citi Prestige |
3.2% (2TYP/$) |
$450 |
A $350 annual fee version is available when applying at a branch |
| Citi Forward |
8% (5TYP/$) |
$0 |
No longer available for application |
Bookstores (including Amazon):
Drugstores:
| Credit Card |
Cash Back |
Annual Fee |
Notes |
| Old Blue Cash |
5% |
$0 |
5% only after spending exceeds $6,500 each year; annual spending cap of $50,000 |
| Wells Fargo Visa Signature |
5% |
$0 |
Only during the first 6 months after account opening; if redeemed for airfare, the return is 7.5% |
Airfare
Hotels
Other Travel
Department Stores
| Credit Card |
Cash Back |
Annual Fee |
Notes |
| Discover it |
5% |
$0 |
Only for 7/1-9/30; 1% in other quarters; easy to get approved for |
| Chase Freedom |
9% (5UR/$) |
$0 |
Q4 in 2015; 1.8% (1UR/$) in other quarters |
| Citi Dividend |
5% |
$0 |
Q4 in 2015; no longer open to new applications, but available via product change from another Citi card |
Office Supplies / Cell Phone Bills
