Many top credit card benefits are tailored toward frequent travelers. TSA PreCheck fee reimbursements, airport lounge access, hotel room upgrades and free checked bags have become standard perks for travel cards. A growing list of cards, meanwhile, are becoming coupon books, offering massive lists of monthly statement credits for purchases with specific merchants, some of which only have locations in select major cities.
If you don’t travel often and won’t make use of those complicated credits, odds are a cash-back card is more your speed. You don’t have to settle for something barebones, because there are cash-back cards with plenty to offer. Plus, when it comes to actually using the rewards you earn, you can’t get more flexible than cash. (If you do want to redeem for travel, that’s possible with some of these options.)
Better yet, many of these cash-back cards come with no annual fee, or at least a waived one in the first year, which could be music to the ears of many shoppers. A NerdWallet survey, conducted online by The Harris Poll, asked Americans which credit card benefits would be most important to them if they were applying for a new credit card. The top perks? Nearly 3 in 5 Americans (57%) say no annual fee, and the same proportion (57%) say cash back rewards.
If you fall into that camp, here are some cards that may suit you.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit, including taxis, ridesharing services, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more.
1% cash back on all other purchases.
There’s a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. But if you spend around $31 a week on groceries, you’ll offset it. (See rates and fees.)
The benefits of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express go beyond those evelryday purchases. Here’s what makes it fancier:
A generous welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Terms Apply. That’s one of the largest bonuses you can find among cash-back cards.
Disney Bundle credit: Get up to $84 per year in statement credits (in the form of monthly $7 credits) when you spend $9.99 per month or more on a Disney Bundle subscription. Enrollment required; terms apply.
Events with Amex: Get access to event ticket presales, and special ticket access, for live events including sports, music and theater.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
3% back on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
5% back on travel booked through Chase.
1.5% back on everything else.
Through Sept. 30, 2027, 2% back on qualifying Lyft services purchased through the Lyft app.
But the card’s other offerings take it up a notch:
A solid welcome offer: Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
Travel protections: You may not travel often, but when you do, you might benefit from trip cancellation or interruption coverage. You can get reimbursed up to $1,500 per covered traveler, and up to $6,000 per trip, for prepaid or nonrefundable travel that goes awry due to a covered reason, such as illness or severe weather.
Transfer points to Chase’s travel cards: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® actually earns cash back in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which you can redeem for a penny each. Alternately, though, you can transfer those points to a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® card. From there, you can redeem for travel through Chase or transfer the points to one of Chase’s airline or hotel partners.
Full list of Chase transfer partners
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card likes to go out, but also appreciates a night in. While other cards earn higher rewards rates, 3% back in a broad range of categories is impressive for a card with a $0 annual fee. Here’s what you can earn:
3% cash back on dining and entertainment, which includes movie theaters, professional sporting events, tourist attractions, aquariums, zoos, dance halls, record stores, pool halls or bowling alleys.
3% cash back on purchases at grocery stores and on popular streaming services.
5% cash back on hotel stays and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
A welcome bonus: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
The ability to combine rewards: You can move your points over to one of Capital One’s travel cards, such as the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. From there, you can redeem rewards for a statement credit to cover travel purchases, book travel through Capital One, or transfer them to one of Capital One’s airline or hotel partners.
Full list of Capital One transfer partners
Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card
Considering its $0 annual fee, the Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card earns 4% cash back on a shockingly wide variety of purchases. That lengthy list includes:
Self-care. Beauty and barbershops; gym memberships and fitness studios; health and beauty spas; and massage parlors.
Good for the planet. EV stations; public transportation; and secondhand and vintage stores.
Sports, recreation and entertainment. Gardening and floral stores; campgrounds; sports supplies; movie theaters; live shows and sporting events; amusement parks; tourist attractions; pet supplies, boarding and grooming; and streaming.
List of Wells Fargo Attune categories that earn 4% back
A sign-up bonus: It’s not as robust an offer as you’ll find with the other cards listed here, but here it is: Earn a $100 cash rewards bonus when you spend $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Rewards you can transfer: You earn points in the form of Wells Fargo Rewards, giving you flexibility in how you use them. For example, you can combine points with one of Wells Fargo’s travel cards, like the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card, and then transfer them to one of the issuer’s travel partners.
Full list of Wells Fargo transfer partners
Information related to the Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product.
