Best Cash Back Credit Cards – Editors Choice 2010

Updated: December 28th, 2009

With cash back credit cards you can earn up to 5% cash back on every day purchases such as groceries, drug store purchases, fuel and even money spent at restaurants. All of these every day purchases add up and by using a cash back credit card you can save a substantial amount of money. There are quite a few cash back credit cards out there, but there are a few that really stand out.

You also may want to check out our Cash Back Credit Card Calculator, which will automatically calculate which cash back credit card is best for you.

1. Discover® More® Card
Discover® More(SM) Card

The Discover® More® Card is the best cash back credit card and overall it’s definitely one of the best credit cards out there. The Discover® More® Card allows you to get up to 5% cash back on your every day purchases. You can get 5% cash back on purchases at various stores including: department stores, grocery stores, and even restaurants. With the Discover® More® Card you also get 1% cash back on all other purchases.

The Discover® More® Card has no annual fee and also has a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. If you shop through the online ShopDiscover store you can also earn a 5% – 20% cash back bonus.

To increase your chances of being approved for this card, do not do a balance transfer when you apply. Wait and see what credit limit you are given, Discover gives you up to 2 months once you are accepted to do a balance transfer.

Advantages
  • Earn up to 5% cash back on every day purchases.
  • Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • No Annual Fee.
  • 0% intro APR for 6 months.
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2. TrueEarnings Card from Costco and American Express
TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express

The TrueEarnings Card from Costco and American Express is another great cash back credit card. This card offers rebates of 3% on gasoline, 3% at restaurants, and 2% on travel. You also earn 1% cash back on all other purchases and there is no limit on the amount of cash back earned. The TrueEarnings Card also doubles as a Costco Membership Card.

There is no “real” annual fee for this card. however to get the TrueEarnings Card you do need to sign up for a Costco Membership which is 50$ a year. There is a link to sign up for a membership on the TrueEarnings Card application page, signing up only takes a few minutes and this card is worth it.

Advantages
  • Earn 3% cash back for gasoline, 3% for restaurants, 2% for travel and 1% everywhere else.
  • No “Real” Annual Fee.
  • Doubles as a Costco Membership Card.
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What Makes a Good Cash Back Credit Card?

There are quite a few things to look for when trying to choose a cash back credit card. Here are a few things that you will definitly want to take into account, this will help you choose the right card for you.

Find a Card That Compliments Your Daily Spending Habits

The rewards structure for cash back credit cards can vary greatly. Some cards may give you 3% cash back on groceries while others give you 5% cash back on gas. Recently, because of the credit crunch card companies have been scaling down their rewards. However you can still get a good cash back card if you know what to look for.

The key to finding a great cash back credit card is to choose a card that that complements your spending habits. To put it simply – find a card that gives you more cash back for items that you spend the most on each month. For example: If you spend a lot on gas and groceries the Discover® More® Card is a great card because it offers 5% back on both of those spending categories which is much higher than most cards. In addition most cash back credit cards will give you 1% back on all other purchases by default.

What About an Annual Fee?

Many people often ask if they should apply for a card that has an annual fee. There are quite a few cards with benefits that completely outweigh a small annual fee every year. For example, although the TrueEarnings Card from Costco and American Express doesn’t have a traditional annual fee, it does require that you are a Costco member, which is $50 per year. Even if you’ll never shop at Costco I still recommend becoming a member just to get this card, the amount of money you’ll save with this card over the course of a year outweighs the $50 annual Costco membership fee.

Further Reading on Cash Back Credit Cards:

How to Choose a Cash Back Credit Card
Get The Most From Your Rewards Card
A Complete Guide to Credit Card Terminology