Cash back cards return a percentage of your spending directly. The best cards offer 2%+ unlimited or higher on specific categories.
Top Cash Back Cards
Unlimited Cash Back
- 2% unlimited cash back
- $0 annual fee (business)
- Best for: Small business owners
- 3% dining/travel, 1.5% other
- $0 annual fee
- Best for: Diners and travelers
- 3% dining/entertainment, 1% other
- $0 annual fee
- Best for: Restaurant enthusiasts
Rotating Categories
- 5% rotating + 1% other
- $0 annual fee
- Best for: Category optimizers
- 5% rotating + 1.5% other
- $0 annual fee
- Best for: Quarterly category hunters
Cash Back Comparison Table
| Card | Base | Category | Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spark | 2% | None | $0 | Business |
| Freedom Unlimited | 1.5% | 3% dining/travel | $0 | Diners |
| Savor | 1% | 3% dining/entertainment | $0 | Restaurants |
| Discover | 1% | 5% rotating | $0 | Rotators |
| Freedom Flex | 1.5% | 5% rotating | $0 | Optimizers |
Strategy: Maximum Rewards
- Primary card: Unlimited 1.5-2% for everything
- Secondary card: 3%+ on your spending category
- Rotating card: Activate 5% quarterly categories
- Pay in full: Zero interest = free rewards
Example: Optimized Strategy
Annual spend: $30,000
- $6,000 dining: Savor 3% = $180
- $4,000 categories: Discover 5% = $200
- $20,000 other: Spark 2% = $400
- Total: $780 cash back
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