Best 2% Cash Back Cards

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Not everything in life has to be complicated, especially when it comes to finance. While rewards credit cards that earn points or miles and offer rewards in different bonus categories can be lucrative, many people prefer the simplicity and consistency of flat-rate cash back cards.

Whether most of your purchases fall outside the typical credit card bonus categories or you’re tired of trying to remember which card rewards what, flat-rate credit cards are great for those who like to keep earning and redeeming rewards simple.

There are many flat-rate cards available at various credit levels, but the best cards offer 2 percent cash back instead of the typical 1.5 percent back. Some cards also have additional benefits, including travel perks and shopping protections.

Here are some of the best 2 percent cash back credit cards on the market.

Top 2% cash back cards

19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR

Reward Details

• 2%Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Bankrate’s view

The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card has nearly all the key features you’d hope for on a no-annual-fee cash rewards card. You’ll earn an unlimited 2 percent cash rewards on purchases and it comes with a generous welcome offer for a reasonable spending requirement. Sign-up bonuses can be hard to find on flat-rate cards, so this feature is especially impressive.

On top of that, the Active Cash includes an intro APR on both qualifying balance transfers and new purchases — a rare feature for cash back cards. This further solidifies the Active Cash card’s position as the best overall flat-rate card.

Pros

• This card earns one of the highest flat cash back rates available.
• You can take advantage of a welcome offer with a terrific rate of return.

Cons

• You can’t transfer rewards to airline or hotel partners to get more value out of them.
• This card charges a foreign transaction fee, so we don’t recommend using it abroad.

Card Details

• Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.

• Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

• Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

• 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.

• $0 annual fee.

• No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.

• Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.

• Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.

18.24% – 28.24% (Variable)

Reward Details

• 2%Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
• 5%Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.

Bankrate’s view

The Citi Double Cash helps you earn rewards in the most responsible way. You only receive the full 2 percent cash back when you pay off your purchases, which encourages you to keep a low or no balance. This does wonders for your overall debt and your credit score.

The card also stands out for its terrific pairing potential as part of the Citi Trifecta. With these three cards, you can earn rewards in nearly every major everyday spending category and pool points to use for travel or transfer to popular airlines and hotels.

Pros

• Earn up to 2 percent cash back on all purchases (1 percent when you buy, plus 1 percent when you pay off purchases).
• You’ll have six months to meet the spending requirement for this card’s welcome offer.

Cons

• The full amount of your cash back rewards is gated behind a payment caveat, which can make accessing rewards a hassle when carrying a balance.
• The spending requirement for its welcome offer is three times as high as the one available on this card’s direct competitor.

Card Details

• Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 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.

• Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.

• Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% – 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness.

• Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.

• If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.

• There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

Reward Details

• 2.2%2.2% unlimited cash back on every purchase

Bankrate’s view

The Upgrade Cash Rewards Elite Visa combines the features of a cash back credit card and a personal installment loan. It allows you to earn rewards on purchases as you pay them off in equal monthly installments. You can pay off purchases over installment periods as long as 60 months, making this card a good choice if you need a lot of time to chip away at expenses but still want to earn rewards.

Still, this card won’t necessarily appeal to everyone, especially if you only need a few months to pay off your purchases. The Upgrade Cash Reward Elite Visa requires you to pay at least some interest over 24 months or more if you carry a balance.

Pros

• It boosts your cash back rate to 2.2 percent after making a monthly payment.
• No minimum spending is required to earn this card’s welcome offer — you just need to make three deposits into a qualifying Rewards Checking account.

Cons

• There’s no intro APR offer, which undermines this card’s utility for paying off purchases over time.
• While Upgrade cards might be available to people with average credit, you’ll typically need at least good credit for the best odds to get this card.

Card Details

• $200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking Plus account and making 3 debit card transactions*

• 2.2% unlimited cash back on every purchase

• Pay no interest when you pay your full balance early**

• See if you qualify in seconds with no impact to your credit score

• No annual fee

• Combine the flexibility of a card with the predictability of a loan

• Enjoy Visa Signature benefits, like Roadside Dispatch, Price Protection, Extended Warranty Protection and more

• Shop smarter with Upgrade Shopping! Get exclusive savings at stores, restaurants, and more

• Contactless payments with Apple Pay® and Google Wallet™

• Mobile app to access your account anytime, anywhere

• Use your card anywhere Visa is accepted

• Relax knowing that you are protected in case of unauthorized transactions with Visa’s Zero Liability Policy

• State Exclusions: DC, GA, IA, MA, WV, WI

• Welcome Bonus: *To qualify for the welcome bonus, you must open and fund a new Rewards Checking Plus account through Upgrade and make 3 qualifying debit card transactions from your Rewards Checking Plus account within 60 days of the date the Rewards Checking Plus account is opened. If you have previously opened a checking account through Upgrade or do not open a Rewards Checking Plus account as part of this application process, you are not eligible for this welcome bonus offer. Your Upgrade Card and Rewards Checking Plus account must be open and in good standing to receive a bonus. To qualify, debit card transactions must have settled and exclude ATM transactions. Please refer to the applicable Upgrade Visa® Debit Card Agreement and Disclosures for more information.

• Welcome Bonus (continued): Welcome bonus offers cannot be combined, substituted, or applied retroactively. The bonus will be applied to your Rewards Checking Plus account as a one-time payout credit within 60 days after meeting the conditions. This one-time bonus is available through this Upgrade Card offer and may not be available for other Upgrade Card offers.

• **By paying off your statement balance in full by the EarlyPay payment date, which is two calendar days after your statement closing date, you will avoid daily interest on any new transactions until the following EarlyPay payment date. Refer to your Personal Credit Line Agreement for EarlyPay terms and information. If the balance is not paid in full by the EarlyPay payment date, daily interest will begin to accrue after the Early Pay payment date for past and new transactions. To maintain good standing on your account, you must make at least the required monthly payment by the monthly payment due date, which is 22 calendar days after the statement closing date. You may pay down your full balance at any time to stop further interest charges.

• See Rates & Fees

19.24%, 24.24% or 29.24% variable APR based on your creditworthiness.

Reward Details

• 2% Cash BackEarn unlimited 2% Cash Back on all eligible purchases – no rotating Spend Categories, no caps or limits as long as your credit card account is open and in good standing.

Bankrate’s view

As a slightly underrated card, the TD Double Up Credit Card offers 2 percent cash back on all purchases. It also carves out its own space in the cash back market with a competitive welcome offer, an intro APR period on balance transfers (along with a reasonable balance transfer fee) and a sprinkle of cardholder perks. If you live in one of the 15 states TD Bank services, this card is a top contender.

Pros

• It comes with Visa Signature perks (if you qualify), partner promotions and basic cellphone protection.
• This card doesn’t charge an annual fee.

Cons

• It’s geo-restricted, so you have to live in a state that TD Bank services to qualify for this card.
• The spending requirement for the welcome offer is a bit higher than competing cards.

Card Details

• Bonus Cash Back: Earn $200 Cash Back in the form of a statement credit when you spend $1,500 within the first 90 days after account opening

• Earn unlimited 2% Cash Back on all eligible purchases

• No reward categories, no caps, no worries.

• Get Visa benefits like cell phone protection when you pay your monthly mobile bill with your card

• No annual fee

• Contactless Payments/Digital Wallet

• Instant credit card replacement

• Must be a resident of CT, DC, DE, FL, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, VA or VT.

Best for retirement savers

Bankrate score

3.9

Bankrate review

Bankrate review

Recommended credit score:740 – 850

Reward Details

• 2%Earn unlimited 2% cash back when deposited into an eligible, Fidelity account.

Bankrate’s view

This card is a favorite among armchair and bonafide credit card experts because it earns 2 percent back on general spending that you redeem directly into a qualifying Fidelity retirement account.

On top of its cash back rate, it also has reasonable rates and fees, including a lower-than-average APR, no penalty fees and — most importantly — no annual fee.

Pros

• This card comes with Visa Signature perks and has no foreign transaction fees.
• It can add a modest amount of rewards directly to your retirement accounts.

Cons

• You have to redeem rewards into a qualifying account to get the full 2 percent cash back rate.
• There is no sign-up bonus for new cardholders, making this card’s first-year value lower than many other 2 percent cash back cards.

Best for Apple customers

Cardholder rating

4.2

Bankrate score

3.5

Bankrate review

Bankrate review

18.24% to 28.49% Variable

Reward Details

• 3%3% cash back with Apple and select merchants when you use Apple Card with Apple Pay.
• 2%2% cash back when you use Apple Pay.
• 1%1% cash back when you use the titanium card or ⁠your virtual card number wherever ⁠⁠Mastercard is accepted.

Bankrate’s view

Despite its caveats regarding rewards, the Apple Card offers a decent flat rate for Apple customers who use Apple Pay. It earns 2 percent cash back when you use Apple Pay, so you’ll want to make sure vendors you shop with accept this payment service. And you can earn up to 3 percent back when you shop at Apple and select retailers (using Apple Pay).

If you’re loyal to Apple and often shop with vendors that take Apple Pay, this card is a great choice. However, it lacks value for anyone outside of the Apple ecosystem.

Pros

• Earn a fair cash back rate on just about any purchase using Apple Pay, with boosted rates for Apple purchases.
• Your purchases every day will add to your cash back balance, as opposed to lump-sum earnings at the end of each billing cycle.

Cons

• Its best cash back rates are reserved for when you shop with Apple and use Apple Pay.
• This card is not particularly useful for people who own non-Apple devices or don’t shop at Apple.

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Comparing the best 2% cash back cards

When to get a 2% cash back card

While many cards offer higher cash back rates on various categories, having a 2 percent card can be the missing piece to your cash back and rewards credit card strategies. Getting a 2 percent back card makes sense if you:

• Already have cards that reward your biggest spending areas with higher rates
• Spend variably across categories and retailers with no clear-cut, favored categories
• Want a simple cash back card that rewards all your purchases
• Don’t want to juggle multiple credit cards to maximize rewards

How to choose the best 2% cash back card for you

While the rewards rates on these cards may be similar, each of these 2 percent flat-rate cards comes with unique perks, advantages and disadvantages. Here are some questions to keep in mind when comparing cards and planning how to maximize your flat-rate cash back card:

What’s the welcome bonus?

Welcome bonuses can be hard to come by on 2 percent cash back cards, so cards that offer them are at a distinct advantage. While the presence of a bonus shouldn’t be the only reason you pick one card over another, keep in mind the outsized value of these offers: You can typically earn around $200 as part of a sign-up bonus after only a $500 to $1,500 spend, which can be a great perk as long as you don’t overspend.

Since welcome bonuses are usually only available for the first two to four months, make sure it’s achievable in the given time limit and you don’t have to stretch your budget to fulfill it.

What are the perks?

This will probably be the most important part of choosing between flat-rate cards. Along with earning cash back, the best 2 percent cash back cards come with extra benefits and protections, including perks like purchase protection, food delivery subscription credits, cell phone insurance and more. As you’re considering which card is best for you, consider which perks would be most useful to you, whether they focus on travel, shopping, credit building and more.

How can I redeem rewards?

While you may earn cash back at the same rate, the potential value of your rewards can vary, especially when factoring in the different redemption methods. While some 2 percent cash back cards only let you opt for cash back redemptions in the form of statement credits or direct deposits, others give you the flexibility to redeem for travel, gift cards, online shopping and more. The key is how much value you get for your rewards with different redemption methods.

For example, your rewards may lose a lot of value if you opt for gift card or online shopping redemptions instead of cash back. On the other hand, you may get more value for your rewards if you pair your cash back card with a higher-tier rewards card and redeem for travel (as in the Chase Trifecta).

You may also face redemption limitations. Some cards only allow you to redeem for cash back after you’ve reached a certain rewards balance or only in certain increments. You’ll have to consider these restrictions to decide whether a card is worth it.

What’s next?

Use these Bankrate tools to help you find a card that suits your needs best.

The bottom line

If you’re looking for a simple way to earn a high rewards rate on all your purchases, you have more options than ever, including cards that carry sign-up bonuses, intro APR offers or low fees. Just be sure to consider all the details to find the right one for you.

When choosing the best 2 percent cash back card for you, consider factors such as welcome bonuses, perks and redemption options. With the increasing popularity of these cards, it’s important to carefully compare all the details to find the right one for your financial needs.

Frequently asked questions

• Is 2% cash back the best?
  

  A 2 percent cash back rate is a solid earning rate for credit card purchases, but not necessarily the best available. Some credit cards offer higher rates on all purchases or on specific spending categories. The best cash back card for you depends on your individual spending patterns and whether you’re willing to manage several cards or pay annual fees for greater rewards.

• Is a 2% cash back card worth it?
  

  A 2 percent cash back card can be valuable if you frequently use it for everyday purchases and pay off the balance each month, offsetting the higher APRs that these cards typically have. The rewards can accumulate over time, but it’s important to consider your spending habits and financial goals to determine if it’s the right choice for you.

• Is there a credit card that gives you 5% cash back?
  

  Several credit cards offer 5 percent cash back in select categories. You’ll want to review the options that reward 5 percent back because many of them have different rewards categories, perks and benefits. The right one for you will reward its highest cash back rate in a category you already include in your regular spending.

*All information about the Apple Card and Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.