Best 5% cash-back cards of July 2024

Robin Saks Frankel

BLUEPRINT

Updated 5:00 a.m. UTC July 1, 2024

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If you want to get rewarded for spending you’re doing anyway, credit cards with 5% cash-back categories have a lot of rewards potential. The best 5% cash-back cards offer boosted cash-back rates on a range of categories that change quarterly, making them ideal if you have varied spending or want to maximize specific categories. While typically subject to spending caps, most offer lucrative welcome bonuses and many come with no annual fee.

We’ve done the research for you to pick the top cards earning you a fat 5% back in eligible categories. Here are the best 5% cash-back cards for 2024:

Best 5% cash-back cards

Chase Freedom Flex®*: Best 5% cash-back card.
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card *: Best for those who spend the most at select retailers.
Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card *: Best for frequent Walmart shoppers.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card *: Best for choosing your high reward categories.
Target RedCard™ Mastercard *: Best for frequent Target shoppers.
Prime Visa *: Best for frequent Amazon shoppers.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for cash back on groceries at U.S. supermarkets.
Discover it® Cash Back: Best for cash-back match.
Discover it® Student Cash Back: Best for students.

Why trust our credit card experts

Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.

25+ cards considered.
5+ data points considered.
5-step fact-checking process.

Best 5% cash-back card

Chase Freedom Flex®

BLUEPRINT RATING

Earn 5% cash back in categories that rotate quarterly on up to $1,500 when enrolled, 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstores and 1% on all other purchases.

Editor’s take

Pros

Generous cash-back potential if you maximize rotating categories.
Can pool rewards with a premium Ultimate Rewards®-earning card.
Low intro APR periods on purchases and balance transfers.

Cons

Rotating categories must be activated quarterly.
Not all rotating categories will be a good fit for every cardholder.
Takes work to track the various rewards categories.

The Chase Freedom Flex charges no annual fee, earns cash back in a wide variety of categories and offers a generous welcome bonus. It also comes with low intro APR periods on purchases and balance transfers. Last, but not least, Chase lets you redeem rewards in a variety of ways — including transferring them to a premium Ultimate Rewards®-earning card and enjoying 25% to 50% more value for travel bookings via Chase’s portal.

Card details

Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus: Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
APR: 0% intro APR for the first 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% to 29.24%. There is an intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of each transfer, whichever is greater, in the first 60 days. Then the fee is the greater of $5 or 5% of each transfer.
Perks and benefits: Cellphone protection of up to $800 per claim with a $50 deductible, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, travel and emergency services, purchase protection and extended warranty.

Best for those who spend the most at select retailers

U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card

BLUEPRINT RATING

Earn 6% cash back each quarter on combined eligible purchases from two retailers of choice ($1,500 limit); Earn 3% cash back each quarter in one everyday category of choice ($1,500 limit); Earn 1.5% cash back on everything else; Plus, earn 5.5% cash back on prepaid car and hotel reservations booked through the Rewards Center

Editor’s take

Pros

6% cash back often beats what several retailer’s own co-branded credit cards earn.
Wide selection of merchants to choose from for the 6% categories.
The annual fee is waived your first year with the card.

Cons

After the first year, $95 annual fee.
Quarterly caps on 6% and 3% cash-back earnings.
No intro APR period.

The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Card is a rewards powerhouse. It lets you choose two retailers from a long list of popular names to earn those big rewards, including companies like as Amazon.com, Chewy.com and Walmart.

Card details

Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Rewards: 6% cash back each quarter on combined purchases from two retailers of choice ($1,500 limit), 5.5% cash back on prepaid car and hotel reservations booked through the Rewards Center, 3% cash back each quarter in one everyday category of choice ($1,500 limit) and 1.5% cash back on everything else.
Welcome bonus: $250 bonus after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases in the first 120 days of account opening.
APR: 19.74% to 29.74% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either 3% of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, applies.
Foreign transaction fees: 3% of each foreign transaction.
Perks and benefits: Visa Signature Concierge, purchase security, return protection and extended warranty.

Best for frequent Walmart shoppers

Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card

BLUEPRINT RATING

Earn 5% back on Walmart.com & in the Walmart app, including Grocery Pickup and Delivery; Earn 2% back on restaurants and travel, and at Walmart Stores, Walmart & Murphy USA Fuel Stations; Earn 1% back everywhere else Mastercard® is accepted

Editor’s take

Pros

No annual fee.
High reward potential for purchases at Walmart.
No foreign transaction fees.

Cons

Requires good to excellent credit.
Low reward potential outside of bonus categories.

The Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card offers excellent rewards for those who shop regularly at Walmart, especially online. But after the first-year welcome offer, in-store rewards are just-ok.

Card details

Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: 5% cash back on Walmart.com & in the Walmart app, 2% cash back on restaurants and travel, and at Walmart Stores, Walmart & Murphy USA fuel stations and 1% cash back everywhere else.
Welcome bonus: 5% cash back at Walmart stores for the first 12 months when using the card with Walmart Pay.
APR: 19.48% or 29.99% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers.
Foreign transaction fees: $0.
Perks and benefits: Rewards don’t expire as long as your card account is open, the issuer offers a pre-approval tool.

Best for choosing your high reward categories

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

BLUEPRINT RATING

Earn 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center, 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories you choose, 2% cash back on one everyday category such as gas stations, grocery stores or restaurants, and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

Editor’s take

Pros

No annual fee.
Introductory APR on both purchases and balance transfers.
High reward potential on selected bonus categories.

Cons

$25 minimum for cash back redemption.
Cash-back rewards expire.
Charges a balance transfer fee.

The U.S. Bank Cash+ credit card lets you choose your own bonus categories from a long list of options. Plus, it comes with a solid welcome bonus and low intro APR offer. Be sure to pay attention to the fine print for details about redemption minimums and reward expiration.

Card details

Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center, 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories of choice, 2% cash back on one everyday category (like gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants) and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Welcome bonus: $200 rewards bonus after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles, then a variable APR of 19.49% to 29.74%. A balance transfer fee of 3% ($5 minimum) applies and balances transferred must be completed within 60 days.
Foreign transaction fees: 3% of each foreign transaction.
Perks and benefits: Earn more cash back through the Rewards Center Earn Mall, $25 minimum on cash back redemption, Cash back rewards expire at the end of the calendar month 36 months after the billing cycle in which they were earned.

Best for frequent Target shoppers

Target RedCard™ Mastercard

BLUEPRINT RATING

Get 5% off qualifying purchases at Target stores and Target.com; Earn 2% rewards on dining and gas purchases and 1% rewards on all other purchases outside of Target which can be redeemed as a Target GiftCard.

Editor’s take

Pros

No annual fee.
Free two-day shipping on most Target.com purchases.
High reward potential on purchases at Target and Target.com.

Cons

No introductory APR period.
No welcome bonus.
Low reward potential outside of bonus categories.

The Target RedCard Mastercard offers fantastic rewards with Target and store-specific perks like free 2-day shipping, extra value days and more.

Card details

Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: 5% off qualifying purchases at Target stores and Target.com, 2% rewards on dining and gas purchases and 1% rewards on all other purchases outside of Target. Rewards are redeemable as a Target GiftCard.
Welcome bonus: None.
APR: 29.95% variable APR on purchases.
Perks and benefits: Free 2-day shipping on qualifying items at Target.com, RedCard Exclusives, additional 30 days for returns and exchanges, rewards towards a Target GiftCard, $10 minimum for rewards redemption.

Best for frequent Amazon shoppers

Prime Visa

BLUEPRINT RATING

Earn 5% Back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership, 5% back on travel booked through Chase, 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and 1% back on all other purchases.

Editor’s take

Pros

Generous rewards rate on Amazon purchases.
No minimum redemption for cash back.
Doesn’t charge an annual fee or foreign transaction fee.

Cons

Requires an Amazon Prime membership.
Rewards are just OK for purchases outside Amazon and Whole Foods.
Welcome bonus is low compared to some competing cards.

If packages from Amazon.com flow to your door faster than the Amazon River itself moves, this might be the right rewards credit card for you. It does require a Prime membership, but for those who are already avid Prime shoppers, this card’s generous cash-back program makes it worth adding to your wallet.

Card details

Annual fee: $0 with Prime membership.
Rewards: 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership, 5% back on travel booked through Chase, 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and 1% back on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus: $200 Amazon gift card for Prime members upon approval.
APR: This card does not offer traditional 0% intro APR periods. However, cardholders may be eligible to choose a 0% APR period where they make equal monthly payments ranging from six to 18 months on qualifying purchases of $50 or more. After that a variable APR of 20.49% to 29.24% applies. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 4% of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies.
Foreign transaction fees: None.
Perks and benefits: Visa Signature Concierge, extended warranty, purchase protection, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, travel accident insurance and the option for promotional financing (without rewards) on purchases of $50 or more.

Best for cash back on groceries at U.S. supermarkets

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Partner Offer

BLUEPRINT RATING

Rates & fees / Terms apply

Apply Now

On American Express’s secure website

BLUEPRINT RATING

Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%); Earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions; Earn 3% cash back on transit (e.g., taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) and at U.S. gas stations; Earn 1% cash back on other eligible purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or for eligible items at Amazon.com checkout.

Editor’s take

Pros

Earns generous cash back in numerous categories.
Intro APR periods on purchases and balance transfers.
Generous welcome bonus.

Cons

Ongoing annual fee.
Annual spending cap on elevated earnings at U.S. supermarkets.
Redemptions are only in the form of statement credits.

The Blue Cash Preferred Card offers one of the highest cash-back rates for groceries at U.S. supermarkets you’ll find (subject to an annual spending cap). You’ll earn strong rewards rates on select streaming services, at U.S. gas stations and on other transit purchases. Heavy spenders can easily recoup the card’s annual fee.

Card details

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 on Amazon.com at 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.

Best for cash-back match

Discover it® Cash Back

BLUEPRINT RATING

Rates & fees / Terms apply

Apply Now

On Discover’s secure website

BLUEPRINT RATING

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.

Editor’s take

Pros

Low intro APR offer on both new purchases and balance transfers.
Generous rewards in quarterly rotating categories.
Automatic cash-back match at the end of your first cardmember year.

Cons

No travel insurance or purchase protection benefits.
Highest rewards are capped at $1,500 per quarter.
There’s a balance transfer fee.

This no-annual-fee card offers a low intro APR on both new purchases and balance transfers, plus it features a unique first-year welcome bonus: New applicants get a 100% cash-back match of all the rewards they’ve earned in their first year of card membership. The card is useful after the intro offer expires too, since it earns rewards on spending.

Card details

INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
No annual fee.
Terms and conditions apply.

Best for students

Discover it® Student Cash Back

BLUEPRINT RATING

Rates & fees / Terms apply

Apply Now

On Discover’s secure website

BLUEPRINT RATING

Welcome bonus

Cashback Match

Editor’s take

Pros

No credit score required to apply.
Elevated cash back in rotating categories (upon activation, up to the quarterly maximum).
Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first cardmember year.

Cons

Elevated cash back limited to a quarterly cap of $1,500 in spending.
Must activate bonus categories each quarter to earn the elevated rewards rate.
Other purchases earn minimal rewards.

Students looking to build their credit history while earning rewards on their spending should consider the Discover it® Student Cash Back. It offers generous rewards and no credit score is needed to apply.

Card details

INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
No credit score required to apply.
Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 18.24% – 27.24% applies.
Terms and conditions apply.

Compare the best credit cards for 5% cash-back

Credit Card

Credit score

Best For

Annual Fee

Welcome Bonus

Chase Freedom Flex®

Good, Excellent (700 – 749)

Best 5% cash-back card

$200 bonus

U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card

Good, Excellent (700 – 749)

Best for those who spend the most at select retailers

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95

$250

Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card

Fair (650 – 699)

Best for frequent Walmart shoppers

Earn 5% cash back for the first 12 months

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

Good, Excellent (700 – 749)

Best for choosing your high reward categories

$200 bonus

Target RedCard™ Mastercard

Good, Excellent (700 – 749)

Best for frequent Target shoppers

N/A

Prime Visa

Good, Excellent (700 – 749)

Best for frequent Amazon shoppers

$0 with Prime membership

$200 Amazon Gift Card

Rates & Fees

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Good, Excellent (700 – 749)

Best for cash back on groceries at U.S. supermarkets

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95

Earn $250

Rates & Fees

Discover it® Cash Back

Good, Excellent (700 – 749)

Best for cash-back match

Cashback Match

Rates & Fees

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Fair, New to Credit

Best for students

Cashback Match

Best 5% cash-back cards of July 2024

Best 5% cash-back card: Chase Freedom Flex®

The Chase Freedom Flex® * The information for the Chase Freedom Flex® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. offers savvy travelers a high-yield rewards rate and a focus on travel benefits that sets it apart from many other 5% cash-back cards. That said, you don’t need to be a frequent international flyer to reap the benefits, which encompass services like DashPass and Lyft that can be used anywhere.

Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus: Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Foreign transaction fee: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
Other benefits and drawbacks: Cash-back rewards earned with the Chase Freedom Flex do not expire and there’s no minimum redemption amount. Cardholders can benefit from purchase protection and extended warranty coverage on qualifying purchases made with the card, plus the card offers trip cancellation/interruption insurance and auto rental collision damage waiver as well as cell phone protection in case of damage or theft.

Best for those who spend the most at select retailers: U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card

The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card * The information for the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. offers an excellent way to maximize your cash back-rewards at select retailers. Though the higher cash back is limited to a list of retailers, cardholders can choose two and the cap is relatively high. Additional travel rewards and a welcome bonus enhance the card’s offer, but it still lacks major extra benefits and does charge an annual fee.

Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Rewards: Earn 6% cash back each quarter on combined purchases from two retailers of choice ($1,500 limit), 5.5% cash back on prepaid car and hotel reservations booked through the Rewards Center, 3% cash back each quarter in one everyday category of choice ($1,500 limit) and 1.5% cash back on everything else.
Welcome bonus: Earn a $250 bonus after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases in the first 120 days of account opening.
Foreign transaction fees: 3% of each foreign transaction.
Other benefits and drawbacks: The rewards earned with the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards do not expire, so cardholders don’t have to worry about losing their rewards, but there is a $25 minimum to redeem rewards. The card lacks other major benefits, but does feature basic convenience and digital benefits such as tap to pay.

Best for frequent Walmart shoppers: Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card

The Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card * The information for the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. earns an excellent reward on Walmart.com purchases, but the in-store rewards rate after the first year is just so-so.

Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on Walmart.com & in the Walmart app, 2% cash back on restaurants and travel, and at Walmart Stores, Walmart & Murphy USA fuel stations and 1% cash back everywhere else.
Welcome bonus: Earn 5% cash back at Walmart stores for the first 12 months when using the card with Walmart Pay.
Foreign transaction fee: $0.
Other benefits and drawbacks: The Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card * The information for the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. offers cardholders only a handful of extra convenience and fraud protection benefits but its rewards don’t expire.

Best for choosing your high reward categories: U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card * The information for the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. also allows users to choose their own bonus reward categories, but with much higher reward caps. With a generous welcome bonus and medium-length intro APR, the card’s main drawback is a lack of additional major perks. Extra travel categories also help this card stand out.

Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center, 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories of choice, 2% cash back on one everyday category (like gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants) and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Welcome bonus: Earn a $200 rewards bonus after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Foreign transaction fee: 3% of each foreign transaction.
Other benefits and drawbacks: The U.S. Bank Cash+ offers convenience features and digital benefits such as contactless payments, but there is a minimum of $25 on cash-back redemptions and rewards expire 36 months after the billing cycle in which they were earned.

Best for frequent Target shoppers: Target RedCard™ Mastercard

The Target RedCard™ Mastercard * The information for the Target RedCard™ Mastercard has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. makes an excellent return for those who shop regularly at Target. Its store-focused benefits such as free 2-day shipping and extended return period provide the card with extra value—but only for use at Target and Target.com.

Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: Earn 5% off qualifying purchases at Target stores and Target.com, 2% rewards on dining and gas purchases and 1% rewards on all other purchases outside of Target. Rewards are redeemable as a Target GiftCard.
Welcome bonus: None.
Foreign transaction fee: N/A.
Other benefits and drawbacks: The Target RedCard™ Mastercard * The information for the Target RedCard™ Mastercard has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. offers cardholders several, mostly Target-related benefits. Customers can enjoy no-extra-charge 2-day shipping on qualifying items when they make a purchase on Target.com, as well as exclusive offers and discounts available only to RedCard holders. Cardholders also benefit from an additional 30 days for returns and exchanges, plus cash-back rewards towards purchases of Target GiftCards. The card does include a minimum reward redemption amount of $10.

Best for frequent Amazon shoppers: Prime Visa

The Prime Visa * The information for the Prime Visa has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. offers Amazon aficionados, cash-back rewards on Amazon.com and at Amazon stores or Whole Foods Market, but a Prime Membership is required. The additional rewards, intro APR and welcome bonus make this a much better all-around card than most other store cards on our list.

Annual fee: $0 with Prime membership.
Rewards: Earn 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership, 5% back on travel booked through Chase, 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and 1% back on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus: Earn a $200 Amazon gift card for Prime members upon approval.
Foreign transaction fee: None.
Other benefits and drawbacks: The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card offers a truckload of benefits to cardholders, including travel and emergency assistance, lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, travel accident insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, purchase protection, extended warranty protection. The card also includes a handful of other minor convenience benefits.

Best for cash back on groceries at U.S. supermarkets: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (terms apply, rates & fees) offers excellent rewards for the home-theater-going home cook — its rewards feature an industry-leading supermarket and select streaming service bonus as well as excellent rewards at gas stations and transit (applies to supermarkets, gas stations and select streaming services in the U.S.). Extra features include streaming statement credits and more.

Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Rewards: Earn 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 and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Rewards Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or for eligible items at Amazon.com checkout.
Welcome bonus: Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership.
Foreign transaction fee: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Other benefits and drawbacks: The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express offers up to $7 back in monthly statement credits for the Disney streaming bundle after spending $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto-renewal), secondary auto rental collision damage waiver coverage¹ and purchase protection². Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Best for cash-back match: Discover it® Cash Back

The Discover it® Cash Back offers a similar rotating quarterly category bonus reward with caps but doesn’t provide the travel benefits and perks other cards do. Instead, it offers primarily convenience and security benefits. The card’s welcome bonus makes for an appealing option, however, matching all of the cash back earned in the first year.

Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on purchases at different places each quarter up to $1,500 spent each quarter when activated and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus: Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first cardmember year.
Foreign transaction fee: None.
Other benefits and drawbacks: The Discover it® Cash Back offers security and convenience benefits such as free Social Security number (SSN) monitoring that can alert users to potential fraud or identity theft. Discover’s Freeze it® feature allows users to quickly and easily disable their credit card with the touch of a button to prevent fraud. Discover’s major benefits come in its rewards structure. The card isn’t accepted as widely internationally, so its lack of foreign transaction fees doesn’t mean quite as much.

Best for students: Discover it® Student Cash Back

The Discover it® Student Cash Back offers incredible-for-a-student-card rewards with an introductory APR on purchases and Discover’s generous Cashback Match in lieu of a welcome bonus. Though light on the extra benefits, the Discover it® Student Cash Back offers an excellent credit-building opportunity.

Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: Earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter up to the quarterly maximum once activated and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus: Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first cardmember year.
Foreign transaction fee: None.
Other benefits and drawbacks: The Discover it® Student Cash Back offers a small range of convenience and educational benefits to students looking for an easy and rewarding way to manage their finances and build credit, including fraud alerts and $0 fraud liability. Students can also select their own card design.

Methodology

Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. We looked at the various 5% cash-back credit card options and weighed the various attributes of each card to determine the rankings in this list. Factors we considered include:

Annual fees.
Flexibility of rewards and redemption options
Whether there are any strings attached on earning rewards or spending caps
How accessible the issuing institution is
Foreign transaction fees
Intro APR periods.
Any benefits such as cellphone protection and purchase protections.

What does 5% cash back mean?

Cash-back credit cards are a type of rewards card that gives users a percentage of cash back on purchases made with the card. A 5% cash-back card is one of the most lucrative rewards cards available, offering 5% cash back on certain purchases. Unlike flat-rate cash back, a 5% cash-back card earns elevated rewards on purchases in a specific category. At its most complex, a 5% cash-back card offers this premium reward only in specific, quarterly-rotating categories up to a quarterly maximum.

How to choose the best 5% cash-back credit card

When choosing a 5% cash-back credit card, consider first the card’s regulation of the 5% cash-back feature, then consider other features and benefits. Some cards offer 5% cash back in specific categories with an annual cap on those elevated rewards. If you don’t spend much in the 5% category, however, the card may not be particularly valuable, since all other rewards are typically earned at a below-average rate.

While some credit cards may offer additional perks such as travel or purchase protections, entertainment access benefits and other incentives, it’s just as important to consider a card’s annual fee, interest rate and any other fees. Make sure to read the fine print to understand fully the limitations and restrictions on the card before applying.

How to get approved for a 5% cash-back credit card

To receive approval for the best 5% cash- back credit cards, you’ll likely need a good to excellent credit score. This means maintaining a credit score above around 670 on the FICO scale. You may also need to earn a certain amount of income. To increase your chances of being approved, make sure to pay all of your bills on time and keep your credit card balances low. Ensure you report as much of your earnings as you can — including from any investments and side hustles.

How to maximize your cash back

Maximizing your cash-back rewards starts with choosing the right card for your financial situation. Ensure the card earns rewards on the purchases you actually make on a regular basis. Matching a card’s reward structure to your spending is the best way to maximize your reward earnings.

With such specific guidelines around how 5% cash back is earned, many may prefer to opt for 2% cash-back cards, which typically offer the best flat-rate rewards. Others still may prefer to pair the two together to ensure all purchases earn a minimum of 2% cash back and all eligible purchases earn the maximum of 5% cash back.

One surefire way to ruin the value of earning rewards is to carry a balance and accrue interest charges. Interest is nearly guaranteed to exceed the value of rewards, so be sure to pay your credit card bill on time and in full every cycle.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Yes, 5% cash back is an excellent reward compared to other reward cards, as it’s higher than the average cash-back rate. Typically, 5% cash back only extends to certain qualified purchases and only offers rewards on a maximum amount of purchases each quarter or year.

5% cash-back cards typically offer 5% cash back on select categories only. These categories may rotate each quarter and rewards may also be capped. Typically, purchases that do not earn 5% cash back will instead earn 1%.

In general, you’ll need good to excellent credit to qualify for a 5% cash-back card. A good credit score is considered 670 or higher on the FICO scale.

^{For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express please visit this page.}

^{¹Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.}

^{²Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.}

*The information for the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card, Chase Freedom Flex®, Prime Visa, Target RedCard™ Mastercard, U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card and U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

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Robin Saks Frankel

BLUEPRINT

Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint. Previously, she was a credit cards and personal finance deputy editor for Forbes Advisor. She has also covered credit cards and related content for other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney. She's been featured as a personal finance expert in outlets including CNBC, Business Insider, CBS Marketplace, NASDAQ's Trade Talks and has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC and CBS TV affiliates nationwide. She holds an M.S. in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University. Follow her on Twitter at @robinsaks.

Meghan Hunter

BLUEPRINT

Meghan Hunter is a personal finance and travel expert with over a decade of experience. She specializes in credit cards, travel rewards, insurance, and real estate investing. She is also deeply committed to promoting women's financial independence. In addition to USA TODAY Blueprint, you can find Meghan's work in major media publications, including The Points Guy, Million Mile Secrets, and Business Insider.