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Best for flat-rate cash rewards: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

• Best features: The Active Cash card goes further than other flat-rate credit cards that earn a high 2% cash rewards on purchases, offering a welcome bonus and additional perks like concierge service, hotel benefits at Visa Signature Hotel collection properties worldwide and up to $600 in cellphone protection ($25 deductible applies) when you pay with your eligible Wells Fargo card.
• Biggest drawbacks: credit card that earns rewards at a higher rate in your biggest spending categories could prove more valuable overall. You also can’t pool rewards across multiple Wells Fargo cards the way you can with other issuers’ cards, limiting your redemption options and value.
• Alternatives: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a slightly lower base cash back rewards rate than the Active Cash Card (just 1.5% back on general purchases), but it comes with additional bonus categories that could easily make up the difference if you spend more on travel and dining. The Citi Double Cash® Card is also a solid alternative to the Active Cash if you want a slightly longer balance transfer offer or the ability to transfer your points (in this case, to the Citi Premier card).
• Bottom line: This is one of the best credit cards for anyone looking for a straightforward way to earn cash rewards on purchases.

Read our full Wells Fargo Active Cash Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for category variety: Discover it® Cash Back

• Best features: Most cards earn rewards in only a handful of fixed categories, but this card earns a stellar cash back rate on a wide variety of popular rotating categories – often ten or more categories per year. Discover’s rotating rewards program is especially valuable for new cardholders since the issuer matches all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
• Biggest drawbacks: Enrollment is required for bonus categories so you’ll need to keep an eye on Discover’s quarterly category schedule. If you’re not up for planning in advance, you may miss out on the potential value of the card. Discover also lacks a dedicated rewards program similar to Amex or Chase, so you won’t have the opportunity to transfer your rewards to travel partners.
• Alternatives: If bonus categories aren’t your bag, the Citi Double Cash Card is an excellent flat-rate cash back card that charges no annual fee. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card may also be more lucrative since it earns rewards year-round on staples like groceries, dining and entertainment.
• Bottom line: This card’s high rewards rate is sure to please anyone willing to plot out rotating categories in advance, and big spenders will certainly get the most out of this card’s opportunity to have all your earnings matched at the end of your first year.

Read our full Discover it® Cash Back review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for travel value: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

• Best features: The Sapphire Preferred card’s travel perks, transfer partners and rewards are exceptional for its relatively low annual fee. Along with high rewards rates on travel and everyday purchases, you’ll get a 25% boost in point value when you redeem for travel with Chase. This makes the card a terific pairing option with no-annual-fee Chase rewards cards.
• Biggest drawbacks: You’ll get the best value from this card if you redeem rewards for travel and take advantage of its perks. If you only travel occasionally, the card’s annual fee may be harder to justify.
• Alternatives: If you want premium perks like annual travel credits and complimentary lounge access, consider upgrading to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card or Capital One Venture X.
• Bottom line: Frequent travelers who aren’t loyal to one airline or hotel brand can get a lot of value out of this general-purpose travel card. It offers stellar rewards value, flexibility, perks and card combination opportunities for a low annual fee making it a worthy choice for most wallets.

Read our full Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.