Best 2% Cash Back Credit Cards of 2024

Best for 0% APR on purchases
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card Learn More On Wells Fargo’s secure site Rewards Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Welcome bonus Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual fee $0
Intro APR 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% 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.
Regular APR 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR
Balance transfer fee Intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
Foreign transaction fee 3%
Credit needed Excellent/Good See rates and fees, terms apply. Pros Unlimited cash rewards
$200 cash rewards welcome bonus
No annual fee
Introductory APR period for first 12 months
Access to Visa Signature® Concierge
Get up to $600 cell phone protection (subject to a $25 deductible) Cons 3% fee charged on foreign transactions Learn More View More
Who’s this for? The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a great fit if you need to finance a large purchase and want to earn rewards simultaneously. Standout benefits: With a new Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card you’ll get an intro 0% APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 12 months from account opening. After that, a variable 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% APR applies. Balance transfers made within 120 days from account opening qualify for the intro APR. There’s an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount transferred ($5 minimum). The standard balance transfer fee of 5% of the amount transferred ($5 minimum) applies to transfers you make after 120 days. [ Jump to more details ]
Best for balance transfers
Citi Double Cash® Card Learn More On Citi’s secure site Rewards 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, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.
Welcome bonus 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.
Annual fee $0
Intro APR 0% for the first 18 months on balance transfers; N/A for purchases
Regular APR 18.74% – 28.74% variable
Balance transfer fee For balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening, an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies; after that, a balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies
Foreign transaction fee 3%
Credit needed Fair/Good/Excellent
See rates and fees, terms apply. Read our Citi Double Cash® Card review. Pros 2% cash back on all eligible purchases
Simple cash-back program that doesn’t require activation or spending caps
One of the longest intro periods for balance transfers at 18 months Cons 3% fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S. Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $443
$443 Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,213 Learn More View More
Who’s this for? The Citi Double Cash® Card is a good option if you want a card that has a little bit of everything, including a welcome bonus, excellent return on all purchases and access to transfer partners. Standout benefits: The Citi Double Cash Card gives new account holders a 0% intro APR for the first 18 months on balance transfers you complete within the first four months of account opening. When the intro APR expires, a 18.74% – 28.74%, variable APR applies based on your creditworthiness. An intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of the transfer ($5 minimum) applies for the first four months, then the transfer fee increases to 5% of the amount of each transfer ($5 minimum). [ Jump to more details ]
Best for side hustles
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card Learn More On the American Express secure site Rewards Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement
Welcome bonus Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
Annual fee $0
Intro APR 0% for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening
Regular APR 17.99% – 25.99% Variable; APRs will not exceed 29.99%
Balance transfer fee
Foreign transaction fee 2.7%
Credit needed Excellent See rates and fees, terms apply. Pros No annual fee
Straightforward rewards program
Spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power Cons 2.7% foreign transaction fee Learn More View More
Who’s this for? The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card has valuable features for anyone with a small business, side hustle or freelance gig, such as an intro APR, intro bonus and shopping protections. Standout benefits: New Amex Blue Business Cash accounts receive a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, after that a variable APR of 17.99% to 25.99% applies (see rates and fees) based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%. [ Jump to more details ]
Best for investing
Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Card Learn More Information about the Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by CNBC and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication. Rewards 2% cash back on every eligible net purchase
Welcome bonus None
Annual fee $0
Intro APR None
Regular APR 18.74% variable
Balance transfer fee Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee None
Excellent/Good Terms apply. Pros Straight-forward cash-back program
You can deposit your rewards in up to five qualifying accounts at a time
Visa Signature® perks and benefits Cons No welcome bonus Learn More View More
Best for businesses
Signify Business Cash℠ Card by Wells Fargo Learn More Rewards 2% cash rewards on all purchases
Welcome bonus Earn a $500 cash rewards bonus after spending $5,000 in the first three months.
Annual fee $0
Intro APR 0% for the first 12 months on purchases
Regular APR 17.99% to 25.99% variable
Balance transfer fee N/A
Foreign transaction fee 3% Terms apply. Pros No annual fee
Solid welcome offer
Exceptional cash-back rate Cons Lounge access requires a per visit fee
3% fee charged on foreign transactions Information about the Signify Business Cash℠ Card by Wells Fargo has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication. Learn More View More
Who’s this for? The Signify Business Cash℠ Card by Wells Fargo is great for business owners looking to save money and maximize their returns with no annual fee and an unlimited 2% cash back everywhere. Standout benefits: You can take advantage of an introductory APR of 0% on purchases for 12 months from the date you open the account. After that, a variable 17.99% to 25.99% APR applies. [ Jump to more details ]
Best for easy redemptions
Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® Learn More Rewards Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase
Welcome bonus None
Annual fee $0
Intro APR None
Regular APR 19.24%, 28.24%, or 34.99% Variable APR
Balance transfer fee 4% fee with a $10 minimum
Foreign transaction fee 3%
Credit needed Excellent Pros High flat-rate rewards with no limits
No annual fee Cons No welcome bonus
Potentially high APR Learn More View More
Who’s this for? The Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® is a perfect no-non-sense card that’s ideal if you don’t want to think about redemptions. Standout benefits: The cash back you earn is automatically applied to your account as a statement credit (within two billing cycles), so you don’t have to navigate a list of options or worry about accidentally redeeming your rewards for subpar value. [ Jump to more details ]
More on our top 2% cash-back credit cards
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers above-average rewards, especially for a card with intro-APR offers. Rewards 2% cash rewards on eligible purchases Welcome bonus Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Annual fee $0 Notable perks You can get cell phone protection when you pay your monthly wireless phone bill with the card. This coverage has a $25 deductible and you are covered for up to $600 per claim for theft, loss and damage of a cell phone (up to two claims maximum per 12 months). The card also comes with roadside dispatch, travel and emergency assistance services and rental car insurance. [ Return to card summary ]
Citi Double Cash® Card
The Citi Double Cash Card earns cash back as Citi ThankYou® points, which gives you access to additional redemption options. Rewards 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25
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. Welcome bonus Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. Annual fee $0 Notable perks You can redeem the cash back/Citi ThankYou® points you earn for direct deposits, statement credits, gift cards, travel and more. You also have access to three of Citi’s travel partners: Wyndham Rewards, JetBlue TrueBlue and Choice Privileges. [ Return to card summary ] Check out CNBC Select’s best welcome bonuses currently available.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is extra rewarding for businesses that have credit card spend of $50,000 or less per year. Rewards 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each calendar year, then 1% cash back
1% back on all other purchases
Terms apply Welcome bonus Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your card in your first three months. Annual fee $0 (see rates and fees) Notable perks With this card, eligible purchases are covered by purchase protection, extended warranty coverage and rental car insurance. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. [ Return to card summary ] Check out CNBC Select’s best rewards credit cards and best travel credit cards.
Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Card
Signify Business Cash℠ Card by Wells Fargo
Synchrony Premier World Mastercard®
Pros and cons of 2% cash-back credit cards
It’s hard to go wrong with a flat-rate cash-back credit card that earns 2% back or better. Many of these cards have no annual fee, so the rewards you earn are profit from day one. However, for all the advantages of cash back, other types of credit card rewards can be more valuable, such as flexible travel rewards. If you want premium protections and perks (like airport lounge access), you’ll want a good travel credit card or a premium rewards credit card.
Pros 2% cash-back credit cards provide a high rate of return on purchases that fall outside of the bonus categories other cards offer
Most 2% cash-back cards have no annual fee
Cons Travel rewards can be more valuable than cash back, so a good travel card can be more lucrative even if it has a lower rate of return
2% cash-back cards typically don’t offer premium benefits and perks
FAQs Do any credit cards offer more than 2% cash back? There are credit cards that have cash-back rates of over 2%, but they come with caveats. Higher rates of return typically are either capped, apply only to specific purchases or both. In other cases, you can earn a better cash-back rate on your credit card when you have large balances in your bank or investment account with the issuer. Is a 2% cash back card worth it? Credit cards that earn 2% cash back are some of the most straightforward and rewarding options. You don’t have to think about limited bonus categories and you’ll still earn an above-average return on every purchase. Does Capital One have a 2% cash back credit card? Capital One has a 2% cash back business credit card (the Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus), but the best flat-rate cash-back personal card (the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card) only earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best 2% cash-back credit cards.
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Our methodology
To determine which 2%-cash-back credit cards will put the most money back in your pocket, CNBC Select evaluated over cash-back credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S. We compared each card on a range of features, including cash-back rewards, annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem your rewards (e.g., is there a minimum redemption requirement). We considered consumer spending data forecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools. Catch up on CNBC Select’s in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.
For rates and fees of the American Express Blue Business Cash Card, click here.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.