Best Cash Back Credit Cards Of August 2026
Flexible rewards and zero learning curve: My simple strategy for getting the highest cash back on every purchase.
How it works
- I include a range of travel & rewards cards on this page that I find useful in a specific category, but don’t intend to list every potential credit card out there
- Compare cards using the filter to find the right benefit or feature for your household spending
- Find my category specific recommendations under the filter options on each category page
Compare Cash Back Credit Cards
Drugstores
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Earn a $200 Bonus
Drugstores
- Earn 3% Cash Back on Dining
- Earn 3% Cash Back at Drugstores
- Earn 1.5% Cash Back On All Other Purchases
The Freedom Unlimited is the credit card that I’ve spent the most money on over the past few years. It’s a vital card as part of an overall strategy for earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points, especially in conjunction with the Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve.
Let me make my advice as concise as possible here: if you have the Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve, then you absolutely should have the Freedom Unlimited so you’re maximizing your return on everyday, non-bonused spending. Earning 1.5x Ultimate Rewards points per dollar is excellent.
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
Learn more from these OMAAT posts:
Foreign Transaction Fee:
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Annual Fee:
$0
Intro Purchase APR:
Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 27.74%.
Intro Balance Transfer APR:
Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 27.74%.
- 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 use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the United States!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 27.74%.
- 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.
- Member FDIC
Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
Cash Back
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
60,000 ONLINE BONUS POINTS OFFER
Cash Back
- Unlimited 2 points per $1 spent on travel and dining purchases
- Unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on purchases made everywhere else
- Up to $100 in Airline incidental and up to $100 in Airport Security Statement credits
On the surface, the Bank of America Premium Rewards Card is a pretty average mid-range card, offering 2x points on travel and dining and 1.5x on everything else. But it becomes a best-in-class option when combined with Bank of America's BofA Rewards™ program, where those maintaining qualifying balances unlock a rewards bonus that can push the card as high as 3.5% back on travel and dining and 2.625% back on all other spending at the top Premier tier ($1,000,000+ in combined balances). At the more attainable Preferred Honors tier ($100,000+), that's 3% and 2.25% respectively — still an excellent flat rate, just not the headline number. The $100 annual airline incidental credit is enough to offset the annual fee on its own, and a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit sweetens the deal further. It's best for those who have, or are willing to consolidate, significant assets with Bank of America or Merrill, and want the highest possible flat-rate cash back on everyday spending.
Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. No limit to the points you can earn and your points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
Foreign Transaction Fee:
None
Annual Fee:
$95
Intro Purchase APR:
N/A
Intro Balance Transfer APR:
N/A
- Low $95 annual fee.
- Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. No limit to the points you can earn and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- Turn daily purchases into everyday wins. Simply use your Premium Rewards credit card for the things you already buy - from gifts to getaways - BofA Rewards™ members earn more points.
- Redeem for cash back as a statement credit, deposit into eligible Bank of America® accounts, credit to eligible Merrill® accounts, or gift cards or purchases at BofA Travel.
- Get up to $100 in Airline Incidental Statement Credits annually and TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry Statement Credits of up to $100, every four years.
- Travel Insurance protections to assist with trip delays, cancellations and interruptions, baggage delays and lost luggage.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Receive 60,000 online bonus points – a $600 value – after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
As High As $300 cash back*
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. Supermarkets
- 6% Cash Back On U.S. Streaming
- 3% Cash Back On Transit
If you spend a lot on groceries and want to earn cash back, then the Blue Cash Preferred is for you. Personally, I don’t have this card because I value earning rewards towards travel, but for those who don’t want to get involved in the complexities of miles & points, this is an excellent card.
Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases.
Learn more from these OMAAT posts:
Foreign Transaction Fee:
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Annual Fee:
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95
Intro Purchase APR:
0% for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 19.49% - 28.49%
Intro Balance Transfer APR:
0% for 12 months on balance transfers from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 19.49% - 28.49%
- Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $300 cash back* after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $3,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.49%-28.49%.
- Plan It®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don't have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express® App to see your plan options. Plus, you'll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.
- Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
- Terms Apply.
Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $300 cash back* after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $3,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
As High As $200 cash back*
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. Supermarkets*
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations*
- 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases*
If you’re looking for a no annual fee personal American Express cash back card, the Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card is as good as it gets. The card offers 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) and a solid welcome offer, plus it gives you access to Amex Offers.
Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on eligible purchases for each category on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
Learn more from these OMAAT posts:
Foreign Transaction Fee:
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Annual Fee:
$0
Intro Purchase APR:
Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 19.49% to 28.49% variable APR.
Intro Balance Transfer APR:
Enjoy 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 19.49% to 28.49% variable APR.
- Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $200 cash back* after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $2,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- No Annual Fee.
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.49%-28.49%.
- Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on eligible purchases for each category on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $7 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
- Terms Apply.
Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $200 cash back* after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $2,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.