Several credit cards offering cash back rewards have been identified for January 2026. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card was noted as the best overall option. It features a $0 annual fee and a welcome offer of a $200 bonus after spending $500 in the first three months. The card provides a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 15 months, with an ongoing variable APR of 18.24% to 27.74%.
Rewards rates include 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel, 3% on drugstore purchases and dining, and 1.5% on all other purchases. Benefits listed are the ability to receive rewards as a statement credit or direct deposit and access to Chase Credit Journey. Potential drawbacks mentioned are that it requires good to excellent credit and the highest travel rewards require using the issuer's portal.
The American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card was highlighted as best for groceries. It has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. The welcome offer is a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in the first six months. It offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months, with a variable ongoing APR of 19.49% to 28.49%.
This card earns 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 annually, then 1%. It also earns 6% on select U.S. streaming subscriptions and 3% at U.S. gas stations and on transit. All other purchases earn 1%. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars redeemable as a statement credit or at Amazon.com. A potential drawback is the $6,000 annual cap on grocery earnings.
The American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card was selected as best for online shopping. It has no annual fee. The welcome offer is a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 in the first six months. It provides a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 15 months.
Rewards include 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, on U.S. online retail purchases, and at U.S. gas stations, each on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. All other purchases earn 1%. A noted drawback is that cash back can only be redeemed on Amazon or as a statement credit.
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card was named best for dining out. It has no annual fee. The welcome offer is a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first three months. It offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months.
This card earns 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, 5% on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 3% on dining, entertainment, streaming, and grocery stores. All other purchases earn 1%. A potential drawback is it limits which grocery stores qualify for rewards.
The Citi Custom Cash® Card was identified as best for variable spending. It has no annual fee. The welcome offer is $200 cash back after spending $1,500 in the first six months. It offers a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 18 months.
It earns 5% cash back on purchases in the top spending category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent. It also earns 4% cash back on hotels and car rentals booked through Citi Travel and 1% on all other purchases. A drawback mentioned is the monthly spending cap in the 5% category.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Credit Card was noted as best for flat-rate rewards. It has no annual fee. The welcome offer is a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in the first three months. It provides a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months.
This card earns a flat 2% cash rewards on purchases. A benefit listed is cell phone protection up to $600. A drawback is it charges a foreign transaction fee.
The Discover it® Cash Back card was highlighted as best for rotating categories. It has no annual fee. Its welcome offer is a match of all cash back earned at the end of the first year. It offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months.
It earns 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories up to a quarterly maximum and 1% on all other purchases. A potential drawback is that the rotating categories require manual activation each quarter.
Other cards mentioned for consideration include the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card, the Chase Freedom Flex®, and the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card.