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With so many rewards cards strategies to consider — like bonus categories, travel points and miles valuations and more — some cardholders opt to go the simpler route. A flat-rate cash back card lets you earn a consistent, unlimited rewards rate for every purchase you make. Redemption options are simple, too, usually in the form of a statement credit, direct deposit or gift card.
Other cardholders pair a flat-rate cash back card with another bonus category rewards card. Their bonus category card might only offer 1 percent on non-bonus purchases, so they use a flat-rate card for those purchases instead to earn 1.5 or 2 percent. Here are a few of the best flat rates you’ll find.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is one of the highest-earning flat-rate cash rewards cards on the market, letting you earn 2 percent on purchases without having to track or activate categories. The card also comes with generous benefits for no annual fee, including cellphone protection, auto rental collision damage waiver, roadside assistance and Visa Signature perks.
Pros
You can earn cash rewards on general purchases or as a supplement for your non-bonus category purchases.
It has a generous intro APR period for a cash rewards card that you could use to pay off a large purchase.
Cons
The travel options with Wells Fargo are more limited than with other issuers, so you won’t get as much bang for your buck by transferring points.
It charges a foreign transaction fee, making it a poor choice for spending abroad.
Card Details
Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
$0 annual fee.
No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
2%Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
5%Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
Bankrate’s view
The Citi Double Cash® Card offers 2 percent cash back on every purchase. But you’ll get 1 percent when you make the purchase and the other 1 percent when you pay it off, making this card a good option if you consistently pay your balance on time.
With a lengthy intro APR offer on balance transfers, you could also use this card to consolidate any other credit card debt while earning rewards. Just keep in mind there’s a balance transfer fee.
Pros
This card is great for everyday spending or for pairing with a bonus category card.
The card has a better rewards rate than some other cards that offer a balance transfer option.
Cons
If you don’t pay off the balance, you won’t get the other half of your cash rewards.
It doesn’t have an intro APR period for purchases, just balance transfers.
Card Details
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.
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% – 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
5%Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
1.5%Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
Bankrate’s view
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a solid rewards rate, welcome bonus, balance transfer option and intro APR for cardholders who may want to stick with Capital One. You’ll earn 1.5 percent cash back with no strategizing required, and you can redeem that cash back as a check, statement credit, gift card or online purchase or convert it to miles if you have a Capital One travel card.
Pros
It has a solid welcome offer and no annual fee to offset your rewards.
If you have a travel card in the Capital One family, you can convert your cash back into miles that are redeemable with Capital One Travel or transfer partners.
Cons
This card’s rewards rate isn’t as high as leading flat-rate cash back cards.
It has few perks and benefits to offer to cardholders.
Card Details
Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
$0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how much you can earn
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.24% – 29.24% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Reward Details
2%Earn 2% cash back on all purchases for the first year from account opening
1.5%Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases after the first year from account opening
Bankrate’s view
For everyday cardholders, Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card’s 1.5 percent cash back rewards rate is on par with other flat-rate cards. But Preferred Rewards members with qualifying Merrill and Bank of America balances can earn up to 2.62 percent cash back.
Plus, Bank of America recently updated this card for new cardholders: In the first year from account opening, you can earn a total of 2 percent flat-rate cash back on purchases.
Pros
You can earn a decent rewards rate and welcome bonus for no annual fee, and even more rewards if you currently bank and save with Bank of America.
It’s one of the few cash back cards with solid intro APR periods on both purchases and balance transfers.
Cons
The spending requirement for the welcome bonus and account balance minimum for Preferred Rewards status tier are both steep.
After the first year, the cash back rate drops to 1.5 percent.
Card Details
$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
New Offer! Earn 2% cash back on purchases for the first year from account opening, with no limit to the amount of cash back you can earn.
Thereafter, you’ll earn unlimited 1.5% on all purchases, with no expiration on rewards as long as your account remains open.
With the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program, members can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 1.87%-2.62% cash back with Preferred Rewards. The Preferred Rewards bonus does not apply to the .5% first-year bonus.
No annual fee.
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% – 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
Contactless Cards – The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
If you need to make a large purchase and want to pay lower-interest installments over a longer period of time — all while earning a flat 1.5 percent cash back on purchases — the Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® is an option. It offers up to a $25,000 credit limit and offers fixed repayments in a set timeframe like a personal loan.
Pros
It earns standard, flat-rate cash rewards on every purchase and comes with a welcome bonus for no annual fee.
With excellent credit, you could secure a lower interest rate and plenty of time to pay off a large purchase, similar to a personal loan.
Cons
The rewards redemption option is limited to statement credits.
You can’t carry a balance with this card — it’s automatically converted to an installment loan at the end of the billing cycle.
Card Details
$200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking Plus account and making 3 debit card transactions*
1.5% unlimited cash back on every purchase
No annual fee
See if you qualify in seconds with no impact to your credit score
Combine the flexibility of a card with the predictability of a personal loan
Enjoy Visa Signature benefits, like Roadside Dispatch, Price Protection, Extended Warranty Protection, and more
Shop smarter with Upgrade Shopping! Get exclusive savings at stores, restaurants, and more
Contactless payments with Apple Pay® and Google Wallet™
Mobile app to access your account anytime, anywhere
Use your card anywhere Visa is accepted
Relax knowing that you are protected in case of unauthorized transactions with Visa’s Zero Liability Policy
State Exclusions: DC, GA, IA, MA, WV, WI
Welcome Bonus: *To qualify for the welcome bonus, you must open and fund a new Rewards Checking Plus account through Upgrade and make 3 qualifying debit card transactions from your Rewards Checking Plus account within 60 days of the date the Rewards Checking Plus account is opened. If you have previously opened a checking account through Upgrade or do not open a Rewards Checking Plus account as part of this application process, you are not eligible for this welcome bonus offer. Your Upgrade Card and Rewards Checking Plus account must be open and in good standing to receive a bonus. To qualify, debit card transactions must have settled and exclude ATM transactions. Please refer to the applicable Upgrade Visa® Debit Card Agreement and Disclosures for more information.
Welcome Bonus (continued): Welcome bonus offers cannot be combined, substituted, or applied retroactively. The bonus will be applied to your Rewards Checking Plus account as a one-time payout credit within 60 days after meeting the conditions. This one-time bonus is available through this Upgrade Card offer and may not be available for other Upgrade Card offers.
5%Enjoy 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%3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service.
1.5%1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
Bankrate’s view
While the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is technically a bonus category cash back card, it offers a competitive catch-all rate of 1.5 percent on non-bonus categories. Plus, you’ll earn 5 percent on Chase Travel℠, 3 percent on dining and drugstore purchases and 2 percent total cash back on Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027). For credit card minimalists, this card could be the only one you keep in your wallet, or you could pair it with a Chase travel card.
Pros
Earn as much cash back on everyday purchases as you would with some flat-rate cards, while also reaping extra rewards on bonus categories.
You can redeem your rewards with Chase Travel purchases or a transfer partner, or as a statement credit, gift card or other cash back option.
Cons
This card has a foreign transaction fee, so it’s not ideal for spending overseas.
Its ongoing APR is a bit high compared to other cash back cards.
Card Details
Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
Enjoy 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 1.5% 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!
Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% – 28.49%.
No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
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.
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Enjoy 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.
1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
How to choose a flat-rate cash back card
Before getting pre-approved or applying for a flat-rate cash back card, consider these factors to pick the right one.
Rewards rate: If you’re simply trying to earn the highest possible flat rate, one of the 2 percent cards is the way to go — unless you happen to have $50,000 or more in Bank of America accounts, which can earn you at least 2.25 percent with the Unlimited Cash Rewards card. With the highest flat-rate cards, you don’t have to pay attention to spending categories, redemption options or other card perks. As long as you pay your balance on time, you’ll get easy cash back for every purchase.
Welcome bonus spending requirement: While the cards above offer similar amounts of cash back as a welcome bonus ($200-$300), the spending requirements range from $500 to $1,500 in a set timeframe. You’ll want to make sure you can reach the requirement for the card you want so you don’t miss out on free money.
Redemption options: Some cash back cards only offer redemption options like statement credits, direct deposit or gift cards. And notably, half of rewards cardholders (50 percent) prefer cash back rewards, according to Bankrate’s 2024 Credit Card Rewards Survey. But travel points or miles tend to be worth more. If you choose a cash back card from the same issuer as your travel card, you may be able to convert cash back to points or miles.
Financing needs: A perk of several cards on this list is a 0 percent intro APR offer or the Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa’s low-interest installment option. If you need to finance a large purchase for 12 months or more without paying interest, look for a card with that type of offer.
Comparing rewards earned with a flat-rate card vs. bonus category card
Let’s crunch the numbers on the cash back you can earn with a flat-rate cash back card, like the Wells Fargo Active Cash card, compared to a cash back offering bonus rewards on certain categories, like the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express.
Note that the Wells Fargo Active Cash card offers 2 percent cash rewards on purchases, while the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card offers 3 percent cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per year in each category, then 1 percent back) and 1 percent cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Neither card charges an annual fee to subtract from your earnings.
Spending category
Annual spending
Cash rewards earned with the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Cash back earned with the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
For responsible credit cardholders, it makes sense to earn cash back rewards on everyday spending. If you’re too busy for a complicated rewards strategy, a flat-rate cash back card can be just right for your wallet. Or you can swipe it for those non-bonus categories that your other rewards cards earn less for. With no annual fee, you’ll have little to lose and much to gain with one of the cards above — as long as you pay your balance on time to avoid accruing interest.
Frequently asked questions
You typically have a number of redemption options for your cash back. Some cardholders apply it directly to their balance as a statement credit — a straightforward, albeit less exciting, option.
You may also be able to get your cash as a check or direct deposit, or use it to cover a purchase with certain online retailers. If your card issuer partners with your favorite retailers, you can secure a gift card.
Finally, some issuers let you use your cash back to book travel through their travel portal.
The best way to maximize a flat-rate cash back card is by using it to pay for everyday spending categories that don’t typically earn boosted rewards with other bonus category cards. That might include utility bills, daycare or medical procedures.
You can also use it to shop with a cash back app or issuer shopping portal, reaping extra rewards.
If you also have a bonus category cash back or travel rewards card, you can swipe that card on the flashier, high-earning categories like dining out and flights. But those cards tend to offer a lower rate on everything else, making a flat-rate card the perfect complement.
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