Best Cash Back Credit Cards 2021

THE KING'S CHOICE

CapitalOne QuicksilverOne

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Pros & Cons

Available to people without a great credit score

1.5% cashback is very good for a midrange card

Good for building credit to get a better card

Has a (fairly low) annual fee

High APR

Cashback Rates

1.5% on all transactions

Introductory APR

0% for 15 months

Regular APR

26.99%

Introductory Offers

None

Annual Fees

$39

Recommended Credit Score

Limited to fair

CapitalOne QuicksilverOne Full Review

Chase Freedom Unlimited

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Pros & Cons

New cardholders can earn $200 cash back after their first $500 worth of purchases

Good introductory APR

Bonus rewards for booking travel through Chase

Highest cashbacks are on travel expenses, but it has a 3% fee for international charges

Need a great credit score to qualify

Cashback Rates

5% for travel, 3% for dining and drugstores, 1.5% everywhere else

Introductory APR

0% for 15 months

Regular APR

14.99% to 23.74%

Introductory Offers

$200 cash after the first $500 in purchases in the first three months

Annual Fees

None

Recommended Credit Score

Good to excellent

Chase Freedom Unlimited Full Review

Bank Of America Cash Rewards

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Pros & Cons

Can change what purchase category the 3% cashback applies to once per month

Careful planning can maximize the cashback available with this card far above flat rate cards

Cashback amount is capped

Prolific spenders will be better off with a flat-rate card

Cashback Rates

3% for any one category, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, 1% everywhere else

Introductory APR

0% for 15 months

Regular APR

13.99% to 23.99%

Introductory Offers

$200 cash after the first $1,000 in purchases in the first three months

Annual Fees

None

Recommended Credit Score

Good to excellent

Bank Of America Cash Rewards Full Review

Discover it Cash Back

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Pros & Cons

Up to 5% cash back on rotating categories

Rewards can be applied to a bank account, credit statement, or used to shop online

Low APR

5% category changes every quarter, and must opt in every time

Flat rate card might be simpler

Cashback Rates

5% on rotating categories, 1% everywhere else

Introductory APR

0% for 14 months

Regular APR

11.99% to 22.99%

Introductory Offers

Cash back is doubled for the first year

Annual Fees

None

Recommended Credit Score

Good to excellent

Discover it Cash Back Full Review

Petal 2 Visa

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Pros & Cons

Open to those with poor, limited, or even no credit

High credit limits

Cashback rate increases over time

Acceptance process isn't very transparent

Can only receive cashback as statement credits unless the whole amount is cashed out

Cashback Rates

Starts at 1%, goes up to 1.25% after six months of on-time payments, and then up to 1.5% after a year

Introductory APR

None

Regular APR

12.99% to 26.99%

Introductory Offers

None

Annual Fees

None

Recommended Credit Score

Any

Petal 2 Visa Full Review

CapitalOne SavorOne

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Pros & Cons

Boosted cashback rewards for dining and entertainment

Good for those that like to go out a lot

Good introductory offers

Lower than average cashback in most other categories

Not great for use as a primary card

Cashback Rates

3% for dining and entertainment, 2% for grocery, 1% for everything else

Introductory APR

0% for 15 months

Regular APR

15.49% to 25.49%

Introductory Offers

$200 cash after the first $500 in purchases in the first three months

Annual Fees

None

Recommended Credit Score

Good to excellent

CapitalOne SavorOne Full Review