The best 2% cash-back credit cards

27.08.2024 - 13:46 / thepointsguy.com

While we love earning travel rewards here at TPG, there's also some real value in using a cash-back credit card to earn cold, hard cash back in your pocket. There are several cards that will give you a solid 2% cash back on every single purchase you make — with hardly any effort.

With these fixed 2% cash-back credit cards, there's no need to pay attention to category bonuses, activate an increased earning rate or even select a category of your choice. The cash back is yours, regardless of the purchase you make. It's truly as simple as it looks.

Best of all, these cards have no — or extremely high — caps to the amount of cash back you can earn.

Here are five of our top picks for the best 2% cash-back cards.

The information for the Synchrony Premier World Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuers.

Annual fee: $0

Welcome offer: Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.

Why we like it: The Citi Double Cash Card is one of the simplest and most valuable credit cards available. With 2% cash back — 1% when you make a purchase, plus 1% when you pay that purchase off — your rewards are very simple every time you swipe it.

Best of all, if at a future time, you decide that you'd prefer to redeem your cash-back rewards for travel instead, you'll have that opportunity as well — if you pair this card with a premium Citi ThankYou product, such as the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees).

While this card has a $0 annual fee, the card doesn't offer many perks in the way of purchase or travel protection. It's also not an ideal card for international travel due to its 3% foreign transaction fee.

For more details, read our full review of the Citi Double Cash.

Apply here: Citi Double Cash Card

Annual fee: $0

Welcome offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus when you spend $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

Why we like it: The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card is one of the few unlimited 2% cash rewards cards with no annual fee that also comes with a welcome bonus. With this card, you'll earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months.

Additionally, the card offers cellphone protection that covers against theft or damage as long as you pay for your entire bill with the card. With this benefit, you'll be covered up to $600 per claim (with a $25 deductible), though you are capped at two claims per 12-month period.

You'll get your 2% cash rewards in the form of a statement credit, which makes it incredibly easy to receive your rewards. There's also no cap on the amount of cash back you can receive.

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