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In a world with so many rewards card strategies to consider, some cardholders opt to go the simpler route. A flat-rate cash back card lets you earn a consistent, unlimited rewards for every purchase you make without the travel hacking hassle. Redemption options are simple and usually in the form of a statement credit, direct deposit or gift card.
For those who prefer a no-frills rewards structure, we’ve compiled the best credit cards on the market that earn 1.5% or 2% cash back on all purchases. Here are a few of the best flat rates you’ll find.
Top cards for flat-rate cash back
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The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is one of the highest-earning flat-rate cash rewards cards on the market, letting you earn 2% on every purchase without having to track or activate categories. The card also comes with generous benefits for no annual fee, including cellphone protection, auto rental collision damage waiver, roadside assistance and Visa Signature perks.
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Pros
- You can earn cash rewards on general purchases or as a supplement for your non-bonus category purchases.
- It has a generous intro APR period for a cash rewards card that you could use to pay off a large purchase.
Cons
- The travel options with Wells Fargo are more limited than with other issuers, so you won’t get as much bang for your buck by transferring points.
- It charges a foreign transaction fee, making it a poor choice for spending abroad.
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Comparable to the Wells Fargo Active Cash card, the Citi Double Cash® Card offers 2% cash back on every purchase: 1% when you make the purchase and the other 1% when you pay it off, making this card a good option if you consistently pay your balance on time.
With a lengthy intro APR offer on balance transfers, you could also use this card to consolidate any other credit card debt while earning rewards. Just keep in mind there’s a balance transfer fee.
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Pros
- This card is great for everyday spending or for pairing with a bonus category card.
- The card has a better rewards rate than some other cards that offer a balance transfer option.
Cons
- If you don’t pay off the balance, you won’t get the other half of your cash rewards.
- It doesn’t have an intro APR period for purchases, just balance transfers.
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The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a solid rewards rate, welcome bonus, balance transfer option and intro APR for cardholders who may want to stick with Capital One. You’ll earn 1.5% cash back with no strategizing required, and you can redeem that cash back as a check, statement credit, gift card or online purchase or convert it to miles if you have a Capital One travel card.
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Pros
- It has a solid welcome offer and no annual fee to offset your rewards.
- If you have a travel card in the Capital One family, you can convert your cash back into miles that are redeemable with Capital One Travel or transfer partners.
Cons
- This card’s general rewards rate isn’t as high as leading flat-rate cash back cards.
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For everyday cardholders, Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card‘s 1.5% cash back rewards rate is on par with other flat-rate cards. But Preferred Rewards members with qualifying Merrill and Bank of America balances can earn up to 2.62% cash back.
Plus, Bank of America boosts the rewards rate for new cardholders: In the first year from account opening, you can earn a total of 2% flat-rate cash back on purchases.
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Pros
- You can earn a decent rewards rate and welcome bonus for no annual fee, and even more rewards if you currently bank and save with Bank of America.
- It’s one of the few cash back cards with solid intro APR periods on both purchases and balance transfers.
Cons
- The spending requirement for the welcome bonus and account balance minimum for Preferred Rewards status tier are both steep.
- After the first year, the cash back rate drops to 1.5%.
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If you need to make a large purchase and want to pay lower-interest installments over a longer period of time — all while earning a flat 1.5% cash back on purchases — the Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® is a solid option. It offers up to a $25,000 credit limit and offers fixed repayments in a set timeframe like a personal loan.
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Pros
- It earns standard, flat-rate cash rewards on every purchase and comes with a welcome bonus for no annual fee.
- With excellent credit, you could secure a lower interest rate and plenty of time to pay off a large purchase, similar to a personal loan.
Cons
- The rewards redemption option is limited to statement credits.
- You can’t carry a balance with this card — it’s automatically converted to an installment loan at the end of the billing cycle.
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The Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card* may seem like an odd choice at first, but not for those who prioritize savings investment. This card earns an unlimited flat rate of 2% cash back earnings — but with a catch. The cash back must be deposited into your eligible Fidelity account. So, although it’s not a standard cash back credit card, this option still holds great value for those looking to contribute to their retirement savings, rather than redeem their rewards right away.
Although there’s not much else to offer, this card also comes with Visa Concierge services, Roadside Dispatch® and no foreign transaction fee.
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Pros
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back when you deposit your earnings into an eligible Fidelity account, making saving for retirement easy.
- This card comes with no foreign transaction fees that might cut into rewards.
Cons
- This card is only available to those with excellent credit.
- If you don’t deposit your earnings into a Fidelity account, you’ll only earn a flat rate of 1% cash back.
Comparing the best cards for flat-rate cash back
| Card name | Best for | Annual fee | Recommended credit score | Flat rewards rate |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | Highest flat-rate with an intro APR | $0 |
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| Citi Double Cash® Card | Positive credit habits | $0 |
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| Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | Flexible rewards redemption | $0 |
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| Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card | Current Bank of America savers | $0 |
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| Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® | Financing over time | $0 |
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| Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card* | Savings investment | None |
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How to choose a flat-rate cash back card
Before getting pre-approved or applying for a flat-rate cash back card, consider these factors:
- Welcome bonus spending requirement: While the cards above offer similar amounts of cash back as a welcome bonus ($200-$300), the spending requirements range from $500 to $1,500 in a set timeframe. You’ll want to make sure you can reach the requirement for the card without risking going into any debt.
- Redemption options: Some cash back cards only offer redemption options like statement credits, direct deposit or gift cards. However, if you choose a cash back card from the same issuer as your travel card, you may be able to convert cash back to points or miles.
- Financing needs: Several cards on this list include a 0% intro APR offer on either balance transfers or purchases. If you need to finance a large purchase for 12 months or more without paying interest, look for a card with that type of offer.
Comparing rewards earned with a flat-rate card vs. bonus category card
Let’s crunch the numbers on the cash back you can earn with a flat-rate cash back card, like the Wells Fargo Active Cash card, compared to a cash back offering bonus rewards on certain categories, like the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express.
Note that the Wells Fargo Active Cash card offers 2% cash rewards on purchases, while the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card offers 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per year in each category, then 1% back) and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. Neither card charges an annual fee to subtract from your earnings.
| Spending category | Annual spending | Wells Fargo Active Cash Card rewards | Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groceries | $6,000 | $120 | $180 |
| Dining | $2,500 | $50 | $25 |
| Gas stations | $2,000 | $40 | $60 |
| Transportation and rideshare | $800 | $16 | $8 |
| Travel | $2,000 | $40 | $20 |
| Entertainment | $1,500 | $30 | $15 |
| Online shopping | $2,400 | $48 | $72 |
| Household utilities | $4,000 | $80 | $40 |
| Drugstores | $1,200 | $24 | $12 |
| Total | $22,400 | $448 | $432 |
What’s next?
The bottom line
For responsible credit cardholders, it makes sense to earn cash back rewards on everyday spending. If you’re too busy to deal with a complicated rewards strategy, a flat-rate cash back card can be just right for your wallet. With no annual fee, you’ll have little to lose and much to gain with one of the cards above — as long as you pay your balance on time to avoid accruing interest.
*The information about the Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.
The Bank of America content in this post was last updated on March 17, 2026.
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