All credit cards on this list are researched and handpicked by the CNET editorial staff. We regularly consult with personal finance experts to ensure our advice is accurate and informed, but those experts are not involved in our selection process.
One of the best uses for a rewards credit card is to earn a return on everyday expenses. It means money back in your pocket for regular purchases and can help cut back on some of your monthly expenses.
It’s important to match the card to how you spend. If you spend often on rideshares and restaurants, choose a credit card with those bonus categories. You want the credit card to work for you, rather than vice versa. Here are some of the best for all types of spending.
The best everyday credit card
Intro Offer
$200 cash rewards
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card will help you maximize cash rewards on purchases across the board. It’s got one of the highest flat rates on the market, with 2% cash rewards on your purchases. While you can find higher reward rates for specific spending categories elsewhere, you won’t have to switch between different cards to get a good overall return. Your everyday spending may earn you the welcome bonus, as well.
For more details and benefits, see our full review of the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card.
Pros
-
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
-
Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
-
No annual fee
-
Introductory APR offer on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
-
Up to $600 in cell phone damage or theft protection subject to a $25 deductible
Cons
-
No outstanding cardholder perks or statement credits
-
3% foreign currency conversion fee
-
Rewards must be redeemed in $20 or $25 increments for some redemption options
Rating Breakdown
4.4
We rate credit cards using our Rewards / Travel methodology for cards tailored to earning rewards. We focus on each card’s reward potential, the value you get compared to the card’s cost, the benefits and the card’s rates and fees. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%, min: $5
2%
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card will help you maximize cash rewards on purchases across the board. It’s got one of the highest flat rates on the market, with 2% cash rewards on your purchases. While you can find higher reward rates for specific spending categories elsewhere, you won’t have to switch between different cards to get a good overall return. Your everyday spending may earn you the welcome bonus, as well.
For more details and benefits, see our full review of the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card.
Pros
-
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
-
Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
-
No annual fee
-
Introductory APR offer on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
-
Up to $600 in cell phone damage or theft protection subject to a $25 deductible
Cons
-
No outstanding cardholder perks or statement credits
-
3% foreign currency conversion fee
-
Rewards must be redeemed in $20 or $25 increments for some redemption options
Rating Breakdown
4.4
We rate credit cards using our Rewards / Travel methodology for cards tailored to earning rewards. We focus on each card’s reward potential, the value you get compared to the card’s cost, the benefits and the card’s rates and fees. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%, min: $5
2%
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Best for essential purchases
Intro Offer
Earn $250
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
The upgraded form of the Blue Cash Everyday, the Blue Cash Preferred offers greater rewards at the cost of an annual fee ($0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95). Despite the fee, it could end up being more rewarding than its no-annual-fee version.
So long as you use the card for all of your U.S. supermarket and U.S. gas station purchases, you’ll likely offset the cost of the annual fee. Outside of its rewards, it comes with an introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers to help you avoid interest charges, for a time.
You can learn more in our Blue Cash Preferred review.
Rating Breakdown
4.1
We rate credit cards using our Rewards / Travel methodology for cards tailored to earning rewards. We focus on each card’s reward potential, the value you get compared to the card’s cost, the benefits and the card’s rates and fees. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% on balance transfers for 12 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% on purchases for 12 months
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
6%
6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)
6%
6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
3%
3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more
3%
3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
1%
1% Cash Back on other purchases
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more
The upgraded form of the Blue Cash Everyday, the Blue Cash Preferred offers greater rewards at the cost of an annual fee ($0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95). Despite the fee, it could end up being more rewarding than its no-annual-fee version.
So long as you use the card for all of your U.S. supermarket and U.S. gas station purchases, you’ll likely offset the cost of the annual fee. Outside of its rewards, it comes with an introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers to help you avoid interest charges, for a time.
You can learn more in our Blue Cash Preferred review.
Rating Breakdown
4.1
We rate credit cards using our Rewards / Travel methodology for cards tailored to earning rewards. We focus on each card’s reward potential, the value you get compared to the card’s cost, the benefits and the card’s rates and fees. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% on balance transfers for 12 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% on purchases for 12 months
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
6%
6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)
6%
6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
3%
3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more
3%
3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
1%
1% Cash Back on other purchases
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more
Best for cash back and extra perks
Intro Offer
$200
Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
The Chase Freedom Flex®* claims many rewards categories in an eclectic fashion. There is a rotating 5% category that changes every quarter. It typically covers common everyday spending categories — like grocery stores, gas stations and retailers like Walmart — but it only applies to your first $1,500 in spending per quarter (then 1%). You’ll also have to manually activate this benefit each quarter to use it.
Besides the other cash-back rates, you’ll also get benefits for Lyft and DoorDash. Through March 2025, you can earn 5% cash back on all Lyft rides when you use the Chase Freedom Flex to pay. You also get three complimentary months of DashPass, DoorDash’s subscription service (activate by Dec. 31, 2024). This service provides unlimited deliveries for a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders of $12 or more on DoorDash and Caviar. You’ll then automatically be enrolled in DashPass at half off for the next nine months, but you can opt out if you decide not to keep the service.
For more details on this card’s other offerings, check out our full review of the Chase Freedom Flex.
Rating Breakdown
4.1
We rate credit cards using our Rewards / Travel methodology for cards tailored to earning rewards. We focus on each card’s reward potential, the value you get compared to the card’s cost, the benefits and the card’s rates and fees. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 20.49% – 29.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
5%
5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
5%
5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
3%
3% cash back on dining and drugstores.
1%
1% cash back on all other purchases.
The Chase Freedom Flex®* claims many rewards categories in an eclectic fashion. There is a rotating 5% category that changes every quarter. It typically covers common everyday spending categories — like grocery stores, gas stations and retailers like Walmart — but it only applies to your first $1,500 in spending per quarter (then 1%). You’ll also have to manually activate this benefit each quarter to use it.
Besides the other cash-back rates, you’ll also get benefits for Lyft and DoorDash. Through March 2025, you can earn 5% cash back on all Lyft rides when you use the Chase Freedom Flex to pay. You also get three complimentary months of DashPass, DoorDash’s subscription service (activate by Dec. 31, 2024). This service provides unlimited deliveries for a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders of $12 or more on DoorDash and Caviar. You’ll then automatically be enrolled in DashPass at half off for the next nine months, but you can opt out if you decide not to keep the service.
For more details on this card’s other offerings, check out our full review of the Chase Freedom Flex.
Rating Breakdown
4.1
We rate credit cards using our Rewards / Travel methodology for cards tailored to earning rewards. We focus on each card’s reward potential, the value you get compared to the card’s cost, the benefits and the card’s rates and fees. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 20.49% – 29.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
5%
5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
5%
5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
3%
3% cash back on dining and drugstores.
1%
1% cash back on all other purchases.
Best for restaurants and takeout
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
Intro Offer
25,000 points
Earn 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in eligible Net Purchases in the first 90 days.
Food away from home is one of the biggest everyday spending categories for Americans, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you love grabbing takeout or dining out, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card earns 4x points on dining, takeout and restaurant delivery. At a redemption rate of 1 cent per point, you earn 4% back. The other rewards rates and the welcome bonus aren’t as competitive but they’re a nice bonus.
Rating Breakdown
3.6
We rate credit cards using our Rewards / Travel methodology for cards tailored to earning rewards. We focus on each card’s reward potential, the value you get compared to the card’s cost, the benefits and the card’s rates and fees. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 billing cycles on balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 billing cycles on purchases
- Regular APR
- 18.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater
4x
4X points on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery.
2x
2X points on streaming services and at grocery stores (excludes discount stores and wholesale clubs effective September 9, 2024).
2x
2X points at gas stations and EV charging stations (excludes discount stores and wholesale clubs effective September 9, 2024).
1x
1X point on all other eligible purchases.
Food away from home is one of the biggest everyday spending categories for Americans, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you love grabbing takeout or dining out, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card earns 4x points on dining, takeout and restaurant delivery. At a redemption rate of 1 cent per point, you earn 4% back. The other rewards rates and the welcome bonus aren’t as competitive but they’re a nice bonus.
Rating Breakdown
3.6
We rate credit cards using our Rewards / Travel methodology for cards tailored to earning rewards. We focus on each card’s reward potential, the value you get compared to the card’s cost, the benefits and the card’s rates and fees. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 billing cycles on balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 billing cycles on purchases
- Regular APR
- 18.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater
4x
4X points on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery.
2x
2X points on streaming services and at grocery stores (excludes discount stores and wholesale clubs effective September 9, 2024).
2x
2X points at gas stations and EV charging stations (excludes discount stores and wholesale clubs effective September 9, 2024).
1x
1X point on all other eligible purchases.
Best for fluid spending habits
Intro Offer
$200
Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 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.
If you find yourself going through different phases of spending from month to month — maybe you primarily use groceries at home for a few weeks and then turn to takeout the following weeks — the Citi Custom Cash® Card card allows you to optimize your cash-back rewards automatically.
This card earns you 5% cash back on your highest eligible spending category each billing cycle (on up to $500 spent, then 1%), calculated by Citi without any work required on your end. Eligible spending categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment.
You’ll earn 1% on all other purchases, and you can take advantage of the welcome bonus, too. To learn more about this card and its benefits, see our full review of the Citi Custom Cash card.
Rating Breakdown
3.7
We rate credit cards using our Rewards / Travel methodology for cards tailored to earning rewards. We focus on each card’s reward potential, the value you get compared to the card’s cost, the benefits and the card’s rates and fees. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% for 15 months on balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% for 15 months on purchases
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
5%
Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter.
4%
Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.
1%
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
If you find yourself going through different phases of spending from month to month — maybe you primarily use groceries at home for a few weeks and then turn to takeout the following weeks — the Citi Custom Cash® Card card allows you to optimize your cash-back rewards automatically.
This card earns you 5% cash back on your highest eligible spending category each billing cycle (on up to $500 spent, then 1%), calculated by Citi without any work required on your end. Eligible spending categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment.
You’ll earn 1% on all other purchases, and you can take advantage of the welcome bonus, too. To learn more about this card and its benefits, see our full review of the Citi Custom Cash card.
Rating Breakdown
3.7
We rate credit cards using our Rewards / Travel methodology for cards tailored to earning rewards. We focus on each card’s reward potential, the value you get compared to the card’s cost, the benefits and the card’s rates and fees. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% for 15 months on balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% for 15 months on purchases
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
5%
Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter.
4%
Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.
1%
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Best for everyday spending with an annual fee
Intro Offer
70,000 bonus points
Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
The $95 annual fee for the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is well worth it for most people when you can get 3x points per dollar spent on everyday spending like restaurants, supermarkets, and gas and EV charging stations as well as big-ticket travel costs like air travel and general hotel purchases. It also earns an impressive 10x points for hotels, rental cars and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com.
If you redeem these points for a statement credit on Thankyou.com, travel or gift cards, you can get 1 cent per point — essentially a 3% return rate on the 3x rewards categories. This is the closest many households will get to earning a flat 3% return rate on their spending, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
For more information, see our full review of the Citi Strata Premier Card.
Rating Breakdown
3.7
We rate credit cards using our Rewards / Travel methodology for cards tailored to earning rewards. We focus on each card’s reward potential, the value you get compared to the card’s cost, the benefits and the card’s rates and fees. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 21.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
10x
Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
3x
Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
1x
Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
The $95 annual fee for the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is well worth it for most people when you can get 3x points per dollar spent on everyday spending like restaurants, supermarkets, and gas and EV charging stations as well as big-ticket travel costs like air travel and general hotel purchases. It also earns an impressive 10x points for hotels, rental cars and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com.
If you redeem these points for a statement credit on Thankyou.com, travel or gift cards, you can get 1 cent per point — essentially a 3% return rate on the 3x rewards categories. This is the closest many households will get to earning a flat 3% return rate on their spending, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
For more information, see our full review of the Citi Strata Premier Card.
Rating Breakdown
3.7
We rate credit cards using our Rewards / Travel methodology for cards tailored to earning rewards. We focus on each card’s reward potential, the value you get compared to the card’s cost, the benefits and the card’s rates and fees. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 21.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
10x
Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
3x
Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
1x
Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Best for everyday spending without an annual fee
Intro Offer
Earn $200
Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
The Blue Cash Everyday, as you might’ve guessed, is designed to reward you for purchases you have to make all the time. For no annual fee, you can earn a return on your essential spending. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
In addition to its strong rewards at U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets, it’s a great credit card for online shopping with its rewards for U.S. online retail purchases. It also features an intro 0% APR offer for new purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening (then 19.24% to 29.99% variable). That means you can pay off new purchases or an existing balance on another credit card at no interest, making it a good option for an emergency credit card, too.
Read more about the Everyday in our Blue Cash Everyday review.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Rating Breakdown
3.6
We rate credit cards using our Rewards / Travel methodology for cards tailored to earning rewards. We focus on each card’s reward potential, the value you get compared to the card’s cost, the benefits and the card’s rates and fees. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% on Purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
3%
3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
3%
3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
3%
3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
1%
1% Cash Back on other purchases
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more
The Blue Cash Everyday, as you might’ve guessed, is designed to reward you for purchases you have to make all the time. For no annual fee, you can earn a return on your essential spending. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
In addition to its strong rewards at U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets, it’s a great credit card for online shopping with its rewards for U.S. online retail purchases. It also features an intro 0% APR offer for new purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening (then 19.24% to 29.99% variable). That means you can pay off new purchases or an existing balance on another credit card at no interest, making it a good option for an emergency credit card, too.
Read more about the Everyday in our Blue Cash Everyday review.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Rating Breakdown
3.6
We rate credit cards using our Rewards / Travel methodology for cards tailored to earning rewards. We focus on each card’s reward potential, the value you get compared to the card’s cost, the benefits and the card’s rates and fees. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% on Purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
3%
3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
3%
3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
3%
3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
1%
1% Cash Back on other purchases
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more
What is an everyday credit card?
As the term suggests, an everyday credit card is designed to reward you for purchases you make regularly. These cards typically reward you for purchases like gas, groceries, dining or other frequent expenses.
Pros
-
Earn rewards for purchases you make frequently
-
Build credit by paying on time
-
Gain perks like purchase protection
Who should get an everyday credit card?
“Everyday” credit cards are great for anyone who regularly spends on necessities like gas and groceries. They’re meant to reward you for your most common purchases. An everyday credit card can also consolidate your spending into a single bill, making it easier to manage.
If you don’t have a credit card that provides rewards on your regular spending, you may be leaving reward money on the table. The card might also feature perks that make shopping and traveling more secure via extra protections like purchase protection and travel insurance.
How to choose the best everyday credit card
You’ll want to consider a card’s reward categories and rates in terms of your spending patterns, but that’s not all.
Spend categories
You’ll want to bolster your normal spending, without having to adjust your habits to match the card. Everyday credit cards typically provide rewards for gas, groceries, dining out and entertainment purchases. Choose the card that best fits your needs.
Flat-rate cards
A flat-rate card offers the same rewards no matter what you’re buying. They provide a good deal of flexibility for a varied budget. For example, some credit cards provide 1%, 1.5% or 2.0% cash back based on all of your purchases. These cards can be good if you don’t want to have more than one.
Other reward cards may offer higher reward rates but only for specific purchases. Sometimes the categories that are eligible for higher rewards rotate monthly or quarterly, like the Chase Freedom Flex or Discover it® Cash Back*.
Reward redemption
How you use your points can be just as important as how you earn them.
Cash-back credit cards usually have fewer redemption options, and 1% cash back will typically equate to 1 cent no matter how it’s redeemed, except if you’re using rewards at checkout.
If your rewards credit card earns points, however, you’ll likely have more redemption choices. With these types of cards, the value that you get out of your points can vary. For example, a card might provide a greater per-point value for gift card redemption than statement credits. Most issuers will tell you how much the points are worth for each redemption option in the card terms.
Welcome bonus
A welcome bonus — as the name suggests — is a bonus new cardholders can earn by spending a certain amount on their new card. Usually, a higher annual fee equates to a better welcome bonus. While welcome bonuses are great ways to earn extra rewards, you’ll want to make sure you aren’t making extra or unnecessary purchases just to reach the bonus.
A good strategy is to make sure that before you open a card, you have the amount equal to the minimum spend required for the welcome bonus ready to go. This way, you can pay off the minimum spend without paying interest. The interest charges on these credit cards can be high, and welcome bonus spending requirements are often thousands of dollars.
Annual fee
Cards with an annual fee typically offer better rewards and perks. However, you’ll want to make sure an annual fee fits into your budget. If you can’t generate enough rewards through your normal spending habits to cover the fee while also earning a profit, it’s likely not the card for you.
Compare credit cards by calculating the cash value of its annual rewards with your budget. Include the welcome bonus and subtract the cost of the annual fee. The card with the highest net value is worth the most during the first year. After the first year, ignore the value of the welcome bonus when comparing the cards.
Card benefits
Credit cards designed with general spending in mind don’t usually provide the most impressive additional benefits, but they could help protect your purchases more than if you were to use cash or a debit card. For example, some rewards cards offer purchase protection, which covers your new purchases against damage or theft, or an extended warranty.
How to maximize your everyday credit card rewards
The simplest way to make sure you’re getting the most from your everyday credit card is by picking the right credit cards and using them properly. Be careful to redeem your rewards in the most lucrative way, and make all of your payments on time and in full to avoid interest charges.
Alternatives to everyday credit cards
Rather than adding another credit card to your wallet, you could check if your preferred gas station or grocery store has a membership program. They’re often not as rewarding as a credit card, but they could offer points or extra savings if you don’t want to open a credit card account.
How to apply for an everyday credit card
Follow these steps to apply for an everyday credit card:
- Select a credit card that best fits your needs.
- Apply securely on the credit card issuer’s website.
- Fill out the application with the required personal and financial information. This will include your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, income and monthly rent or mortgage payment.
- You should hear back instantly with the credit card company’s decision. If not, it may reach out for more information or clarification.
FAQs
The industry standard rate for a flat-rate cash-back card is 2%. There are a number of credit cards that provide this rate, but two of the best are the Wells Fargo Active Cash card (2% cash rewards on purchases) and the Citi Double Cash® Card (1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% cash back when you pay for those purchases). Both of these cards have no annual fee.
The better the benefits, the more hoops you’ll need to jump through to be eligible for certain credit cards. Credit cards with attractive rewards programs or cash-back rewards require better credit than more basic credit card varieties.
If you have poor or fair credit, you might only qualify for credit builder or secured credit cards. If you have good to excellent credit, you may easily qualify for any credit card you want. But if you don’t have the right score, you can always work to improve your credit for better odds of approval.
The best credit card for beginners is one that will help you build credit, so make sure to get a card that reports to the three credit bureaus. You’ll also want to determine how you plan to use a credit card. Are you expecting to carry a balance from month to month, or can you reliably pay the credit issuer off? Are you a student who needs to finance a bunch of back-to-school purchases? Depending on what you need, one credit card might be better than another.
Other credit cards we researched
Our methodology
CNET reviews credit cards by exhaustively comparing them across set criteria developed for each major category, including cash back, welcome bonus, travel rewards and balance transfer. We take into consideration the typical spending behavior of a range of consumer profiles — with the understanding that everyone’s financial situation is different — and the designated function of a card.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express, click here.
*All information about the Chase Freedom Flex, Citi Custom Cash Card and the Discover it® Cash Back has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
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