Cash back perks are a common reward among today’s credit card selections, and it remains popular with users as well. In this article, we’ll provide a rundown of the best 5% cash back credit cards available today.
Many of life’s most basic concepts are the most reliant on relativity. Take percentages, for example. Whether a certain percentage is good or bad depends entirely on what it’s a percentage of in the first place.
If you were offered 5% of a pizza, for instance, you’d likely find the portion a bit lacking. Should someone threaten to break 5% of your bones, however, you’d probably feel that to be an excessive amount.
When it comes to credit card rewards, where the typical card offers 1.5% cash back, cards offering 5% cash back rewards are about as good as it gets — more than three times as good, in fact. A variety of cards offer 5% cash back rewards, including options from several major banks, as well as store cards and credit unions for a more tailored choice.
Discover | Chase | Amex | U.S. Bank | Store Cards | Credit Unions
Best 5% Cash Back “Discover” Cards
Similar to Amex, Discover is both a credit card processing network and a credit card issuer — one of the largest in the world. Discover is unique in that all of its credit cards come with some sort of rewards, including the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, and the bulk of the Discover it® line offers bonus cash back rewards in rotating categories.
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This card is perfect for those who don’t want fixed rewards for one type of purchase, but rather want the option to earn max rewards at max places. Thanks to rotating categories that change every three months, you’ll always have somewhere new to use your Discover card and earn bonus cash back. Categories must be activated each quarter, and the bonus cash back is subject to a purchase limit.
This card is currently not available. Additional Disclosure: The Discover it® Balance Transfer is no longer available and the offer details may be outdated.2. Discover it® Balance Transfer
The Discover it® Balance Transfer pairs two great credit card perks: cash back rewards and an intro-APR deal. Balance transfer offers can be a great way to make credit card debt more affordable by reducing or eliminating your interest rate for the entire introductory period.
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The bonus categories offered by the Discover it® Student Cash Back provide some of the highest cash back rewards of any student card. You can keep up-to-date on the latest (and upcoming) bonus categories by checking out the Discover it® rewards calendar. Don’t forget to activate your bonus category each quarter. Just like the Discover it® Cash Back card, bonus rewards are subject to a purchase limit.
Best 5% Cash Back “Chase” Cards
, formally JPMorgan Chase, is one of the largest credit card issuers worldwide, boasting more than 93 million cardholders. With more than 20 options for consumers and small businesses, Chase’s selection of rewards cards is sure to appeal to just about any cardholder.
This card is currently not available. Additional Disclosure: The information related to Chase Freedom Flex℠ credit card has been collected by CardRates.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.4. Chase Freedom Flex℠
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ operates with rotating bonus categories, meaning you’ll earn extra cash back in a new category each quarter. You’ll need to activate your bonus category each quarter to earn rewards. Check out the rewards calendar to keep track of the current — and upcoming — bonus categories.
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The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card from Chase offers big rewards in common business-related categories, like office supplies and communication services. You can also earn on everyday necessities, including dining and gas. The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card also comes with a few extra perks, including an introductory APR offer and employee cards at no extra cost. To top it off, your Ink Business Cash® Credit Card won’t charge you an annual fee.
Best 5% Cash Back “American Express” Cards
Originally founded as an express mail service more than 160 years ago, today’s American Express is a multinational financial company functioning as both a credit card processing network and one of the top five credit card issuers in the world. Amex offers a wide range of credit card products, including both consumer and business credit and charge cards.
6. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of the few cards on the market to top the 5% point, offering unbeatable 6% cash back on grocery store purchases and 6% back on select streaming services. The card’s other category bonuses are still highly competitive, and you’ll receive unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6k a year) & on select U.S. streaming services
- Earn 3% cash back on U.S. gas station and transit purchases
- Pay a $95 annual fee
Make sure you spend about $31 a week (or more) on eligible grocery purchases with your Blue Cash Preferred card to ensure you at least break even on the $95 annual fee.
7. SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card
The SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card from American Express is designed for small business owners, providing 5% cash back at US office supply stores and wireless service providers.
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases at US office supply stores and with wireless service providers
- Earn 3% cash back on purchases in a category of your choice
- Pay no annual fee, ever
In addition to your main bonus category, the SimplyCash® Plus card also provides 3% cash back in a bonus category you can select. The available choices include US gas stations, restaurants, and more.
Best 5% Cash Back “U.S. Bank” Cards
U.S. Bank’s parent company, U.S. Bancorp, can trace its ancestry back nearly 150 years. The modern U.S. Bank is a popular consumer bank and credit card issuer, with both branded and co-branded credit card options, including several cards available only to U.S. Bank customers.
8. U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card
The U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card is available to everyone (member or not), and it is one of the few rewards cards that allows you to select your own bonus categories, giving you more control over the rewards you earn. You can choose two 5% cash back categories, as well as an extra 2% bonus category.
- Earn 5% cash back in two categories of your choosing, plus 2% cash back in an additional category you select
- Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Pay no annual fee, ever
You can choose new cash back categories each quarter, allowing you to customize your rewards to your needs throughout the year. Cash back earnings are limited to the first $2,000 in combined purchases each quarter.
Best 5% Cash Back “Store” Cards
The modern world is becoming increasingly reliant upon customization, with niche options available in almost every industry — including credit cards. In this case, you can often earn bonus rewards or receive exclusive offers for the brands you shop with most often by obtaining a store-branded credit card. That said, the majority of store cards are closed-loop, meaning you can only use them for branded purchases.
9. Amazon.com Store Card
The Amazon.com Store Card is ideal for regular Amazon shoppers, particularly those who already have an Amazon Prime membership, as membership unlocks the 5% bonus cash back rewards.
- Amazon Prime members earn 5% cash back rewards on eligible Amazon purchases
- Receive special financing on orders $149+
- Pay no annual card fee, ever
While the best perks are reserved for Amazon Prime members, non-members can still enjoy the special financing offers available to eligible Amazon orders of $149 or more made with your Amazon.com Store Card.
10. Target REDcard
The Target REDcard is a great option for shoppers who spend a lot of time — and money — in their local Target. Rather than cash back that you redeem later, the Target REDcard provides instant gratification via a 5% discount at checkout.
- Get 5% off your total purchase at checkout for eligible in-store or online Target purchases
- Receive exclusive deals & discounts
- Pay no annual fee, ever
Perhaps the best part of the Target REDcard’s 5% discount is that you can stack it with both manufacturer coupons and Target coupons to really compound your savings.
11. Lowe’s Advantage Credit Card
The Lowe’s Advantage Credit Card gives you a choice of rewards, depending on the size of your purchase. For purchases less than $299, you simply receive a 5% discount at the register. For purchases of $299 or more, you can choose the 5% discount or a special financing offer.
- Get 5% off at checkout for eligible in-store or online Lowe’s purchases
- Receive special financing on purchases $299+
- Pay no annual fee, ever
If you choose to receive special financing, remember to pay off your entire purchase before the end of your financing terms. If any of your balance remains when your special financing expires, you’ll be on the hook for interest for the entire purchase amount.
Best 5% Cash Back “Credit Union” Cards
A local staple in many communities, credit unions aren’t like your typical bank. Instead of a board of directors or investors who must be satisfied, credit unions are owned by their members, with a member-elected council who makes the important decisions. As such, credit unions often offer better terms and interest rates than larger banks. At the same time, most credit unions require that you become a member to use their services.
12. Nusenda Credit Union Visa® Platinum Cash Rewards Card
The Nusenda Credit Union is based out of New Mexico, with 19 locations across the state, but the organization has more than 5,000 shared branches around the country. The Nusenda Credit Union Visa® Platinum Cash Rewards Card provides 5% cash back in quarterly rotating categories, which include popular categories like gas and restaurants.
- Earn 5% cash back in quarterly rotating categories, including gas, groceries, movies, and restaurants
- Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Pay no annual fee, ever
New cardholders can also enjoy 2% cash back on all purchases for the first 90 days. Other great features of the Nusenda Platinum card are its lack of an annual fee and the fact that it charges no balance transfer fee.
13. Fort Knox Visa® Platinum Card
Fort Knox Credit Union is a Kentucky-based organization with more than a dozen branches around the greater Louisville area. The Fort Knox Visa Platinum Card offers 5% cash back on gas purchases and 1% cash back on all other retail purchases.
- Earn 5% cash back on eligible gas station purchases made with your Platinum card
- Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all retail purchases
- Pay no annual fee, ever
In addition to offering cash back rewards, the Fort Knox Platinum card won’t charge an annual fee. You can also enjoy fee-free balance transfers and interest rates as low as 10.25% APR (for qualified applicants).
Turn Everyday Buys Into Big Rewards
Certain things in life are entirely a matter of perspective, and few things exemplify this better than the process of qualifying a particular amount. For instance, 5% of something can be a lot, or a little. You’d probably be quite cramped perched on 5% of a bus sea — but 5% of a 747 airliner would likely provide you with ample leg room.
For credit card rewards, 5% is very much the cream of the cash back crop, and the ideal that most reward-seekers are, well, seeking. Thankfully, whether you want to choose your 5% bonus categories or have them rotate each quarter, you can likely find a quality 5% cash back card that suits your spending lifestyle.
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