5 Credit Cards That Will Help You Earn 5% Back on Nearly Every Purchase
KEY POINTS
- The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express earns 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 spent each year).
- The Chase Freedom Flex® earns 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500).
- The Prime Visa earns 5% cash rewards on Amazon, AmazonFresh, and Whole Foods, and Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membershipv.
A few years back, I began to realize my suite of credit cards wasn't earning the most for my spending. My best credit card at the time earned 3% back on food, while my go-to card for every purchase earned 1.5%. When a friend told me that she was earning 5% back on nearly every purchase, I began to realize I was leaving money on the table -- a wake-up call that has helped me build the credit card arsenal I have today.
In my quest to earn 5% back on nearly every purchase, I've come across quite a few cards that deserve a permanent place in a 5%-earning wallet. While there are plenty of cards that might deserve mention, the following five are some of my favorites.
1. Amex Blue Cash Preferred
Good for: Grocery shopping
Let's start with a card that doesn't earn 5% back. Instead, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express earns 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year) and select U.S. streaming subscriptions, then 1% after (terms apply, see rates and fees). The card also earns 3% at U.S. gas stations and on transit, including ride hailing (terms apply; $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.).
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 12 months
APR
19.24%-29.99% Variable
Rewards 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. 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
1%-6% Cash Back
Annual Fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Welcome Offer Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
$250
-
This card offers market-leading cash back at U.S. supermarkets. The welcome bonus and intro APR offer sweeten the deal. Terms apply. If you spend a lot on groceries (excluding wholesale clubs and superstores like Costco and Walmart), this card is worth considering. Read Full Review
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- Big welcome offer
- U.S. supermarkets rewards
- U.S. gas stations rewards
- Streaming subscription rewards
- Travel and purchase protections
- Annual fee
- Foreign transaction fee
-
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
- Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.24% - 29.99%.
- 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.
- 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
- Terms Apply.
If you spend at least $6,000 at U.S. supermarkets each year, you would earn $360 in cash back, which becomes $265 after we subtract the annual fee. Meanwhile, a no-fee card that earns 3% back on groceries -- like the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) -- would have earned just $180 on the same spending.
2. Citi Custom Cash Card
Good for: Flexible spending categories
To earn 5% back on nearly every purchase, you need at least one credit card with a flexible cash back rate; that is, a card whose 5% categories you can choose from a list. This can help you fill in the gaps where other cards would earn less. A few cards have flexible rates, but the Citi Custom Cash® Card is one of the few whose categories include those that take up nearly every household budget.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards 5% cash back in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent), 1% cash back on other purchases. Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.
1% - 5% cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
20,000 ThankYou® Points
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We love this card’s easy-to-use yet lucrative cash back program. Each billing cycle, cardholders earn 5% cash back in their top spend category (up to $500 spent in eligible categories). Eligible categories include grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, select travel and more. The card automatically adjusts to your spending habits, which makes it easy to maximize your rewards. Read Full Review
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- Cash back rewards
- Sign-up bonus
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR offer
- Bonus cash back limits
- Foreign transaction fee
-
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025. - No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
- No Annual Fee
- Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.
The Citi Custom Cash® Card automatically applies the 5% cash back rate to your your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent). So if you were to max out the rate each billing cycle, you'd end up with $300 in total cash back. Categories include the following:
- Drugstores
- Gas stations
- Grocery stores
- Fitness clubs
- Home improvement stores
- Live entertainment
- Restaurants
- Select streaming services
- Select transit
- Select travel
3. U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
Good for: Walmart, Target, retail shopping
The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card earns 6% back on your first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases each quarter from two retailers that you choose. These retailers currently include:
- Ace Hardware
- Apple
- Amazon.com
- Anthropologie
- Bed, Bath, & Beyond
- Best Buy
- Chewy.com
- Crate & Barrel
- Disney
- Home Depot
- Ikea
- Kohl's
- Lowe's
- Lululemon
- Macy's
- Menards
- Nordstrom
- Pottery Barn
- QVC
- Restoration Hardware
- Target
- Walmart
- Wayfair.com
- Williams Sonoma
Since many grocery credit cards don't count Walmart or Target as supermarkets, this card could give you a way to earn 6% on those two stores. The card has a $95 annual fee, which is waived for its first year. If you spend $1,583 on any combination of the stores above, the card's cash back would pay for its fee.
4. Chase Freedom Flex
Good for: Rotating categories, travel
The Chase Freedom Flex® earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate, plus an unlimited 5% cash back on all travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
On Chase's Secure Website.
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
20.49%-29.24% 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 N/A
$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
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- Big sign-up bonus
- Lucrative cash back program
- Long 0% intro APR
- No annual fee
- Purchase and travel protections
- Foreign transaction fee
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- 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 20.49%-29.24%.
- 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
This gives you fresh ways to earn 5% cash back each quarter. If you max out the bonus categories, you can net $75 in cash back each quarter, or $300 annually. For 2024, the categories have included grocery stores, fitness clubs, gym memberships, hotel stays, restaurants, and qualifying Amazon purchases.
5. Prime Visa
Good for: General spending
For Prime members, the Prime Visa earns an unlimited 5% cash rewards on Amazon, AmazonFresh, and Whole Foods, and Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership. Since Amazon sells pretty much everything, this card can be an excellent way to earn 5% cash rewards on spending that doesn't fit neatly into other bonus categories. For example, you could use the card to buy electronics, games, books, clothing, sports equipment, and toys.
To be sure, no card earns a flat 5% back on every purchase. But when you put a few curated cards in the same wallet, you can earn that much on your biggest spending categories. If you're not earning 5% on (nearly) every purchase, add one or several of these rewards cards to your mix to generate rewards that you deserve to earn.
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. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow 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 Preferred® Card from American Express, click here
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