Earn a Whopping 5% Cash Back With This Card

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Start 2022 off expecting more for yourself — more cash back for what you’re already doing, for instance.

The Citi Custom Cash credit card offers a truly impressive 5% cash-back rate on whatever your biggest spending category is. (There are nine categories: restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment.)

In a way, it’s a card that tailors itself to your spending and makes sure you get rewarded for it. And it does that without asking much in return: There’s no annual fee.

It’s a card that works great alone or paired with another cash-back rewards card. Take a look at the details below, along with some other great cards of this type.

Citi Custom Cash

Why we like it: You get 5% cash back in the category you spend the most on, which can vary from month to month without any effort on your part — no rotating categories or card juggling required. Eligible categories include restaurants, grocery stores, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, live entertainment and certain travel and transit.

What to know:

• Get $200 in cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months.
• Earn 5% cash back in your top eligible spending category on up to $500 each month, with 1% cash back after.
• Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• 0% introductory APR on purchases for 15 months.
• 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 15 months.
• No annual fee.

Note: Cash back appears as ThankYou Points, which can be redeemed for cash, gift cards, Amazon purchases or travel rewards.

Chase Freedom Flex

Why we like it: The Chase Freedom Flex card offers strong cash-back rewards in several categories and turbo-charges your rewards in seasonal bonus categories. You get a 0% introductory APR offer on purchases for 15 months, plus earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months with the card. It’s a solid card on its own, but also pairs well with the rewards of Chase Freedom Unlimited.

What to know:

• 5% cash back on travel-related purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, including hotels, flights, car rentals and cruises.
• 5% cash back on purchases in seasonal bonus categories, up to $1,500 each quarter.
• 3% cash back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery).
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases.
• 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• No annual fee.

Chase Freedom Unlimited

Why we like it: With no annual fee to worry about, the Chase Freedom Unlimited card is a top-tier choice for grocery or general cash-back rewards, offering at least 1.5% cash back on every purchase and more in certain categories. You also earn an extra 1.5% cash back on every purchase on up to $20,000 spent in the first year. For example, that extra 1.5% would boost the 5% cash back normally available for travel up to 6.5%.

What to know:

• 5% cash back on travel-related purchases through Chase.
• 3% cash back on dining at restaurants and on drugstore purchases.
• 1.5% cash back on every other purchase.
• No expiration on cash-back rewards.
• 0% introductory APR on purchases for 15 months, then a variable rate of 17.24% to 25.99%.
• No annual fee.

Note: This card has a foreign transaction fee, so plan accordingly for international travel.

Citi Double Cash

Why we like it: We’ve called this “The Best Cash-Back Credit Card for Everyday Use” since it earns 1% cash back on every purchase, then earns another 1% cash back when you pay for those purchases. If you want the peace of mind that you’re earning good cash-back rewards on everything, with no gimmicks or expiration dates, this is your card.

Plus, for a limited time, you can earn points worth $200 in cash back when you make $1,500 in purchases in your first six months as a cardmember.

What to know:

• $200 cash back when you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months from account opening.
• Get a total of 2% cash back on every purchase.
• No limits or caps on cash back.
• No confusing categories; everything earns cash back.
• No annual fee.

Note: This card offers 18 months of 0% introductory APR on balance transfers.

Blue Cash Preferred from American Express

Why we like it: For a low annual fee, the Blue Cash from American Express Card offers an easily attainable introductory offer worth $350, plus as much as $360 back on groceries each year. And that’s before you start racking up rewards from your travel, entertainment and every thing else.

What to know:

• Earn a $350 statement credit when you make $3,000 in purchases during your first six months.
• Earn 6% back on up to $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each year.
• Earn 6% back on select streaming subscriptions.
• Earn 3% back on transit purchases and gas.
• Earn 1% back on other purchases.
• $95 annual fee. (See rates and fees)

Note: This card has a 2.7% foreign transaction fee (after converting to U.S. dollars).

Whatever you need in a credit card — whether it’s a balance transfer, reward points, cash back or a low interest rate — you can find it with our credit card search tool. Click here to search for the plastic that best fits your needs.