Cash Back Cards guides

A cash back credit card returns a percentage of what you spend as cash, usually as a statement credit or deposit, and it is for you if you want rewards that are simple to earn and use without learning a points program. Cash back cards come in three main types: flat-rate cards that pay the same rate on everything, tiered cards that pay more in set categories such as groceries or gas, and rotating-category cards that change their bonus categories during the year.

To compare them, estimate your yearly spending in each category and work out what each card would actually pay. Check the annual fee, any cap on bonus-category earnings, how and when you can redeem, and the regular APR, since interest quickly cancels out rewards if you carry a balance.

Read how to choose a cash back card for the US, or the best cash back cards in Canada. For examples of no-annual-fee options, see the Citi Double Cash in the US and the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card in Canada.