Which are the best cards for everyday spend? Many credit cards are great for spend within certain categories, but not great for spend everywhere else. For example, the Citi Prestige card offers 5X ThankYou Rewards for airfare, dining, and most travel agencies, and 3X for hotels and cruise lines. That’s great. But, I don’t recommend using the card for spend outside of those categories where it only earns 1 point per dollar. You can do better.
Separately we posted: Best Category Bonuses: Which card to use where? There, you’ll find the best cards to use for many different types of purchases: grocery, dining, travel, etc.
Here, you’ll find the cards to turn to for spending everyday, everywhere else.
Special Mention: Altitude Reserve
The US Bank Altitude Reserve card deserves special mention. This card offers two 3X categories and then offers just 1 point per dollar everywhere else. Points are worth 1.5 cents each towards travel. So, as a pure “everywhere else” card, the Altitude Reserve is actually not great at all. You can do much better than 1.5 cents per dollar value. The reason I’m highlighting it here though is that one of its 3X categories is “mobile wallet payments” (travel is the other 3X category). Mobile wallet payments include all payments made with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay. That’s an incredibly broad category.
Mobile Wallet payments, such as Apple Pay, are accepted at a huge number of stores around the world. And, everywhere you use the Altitude Reserve in this way, you get the equivalent of 4.5% back towards travel. That’s awesome! Within the US, you can use mobile payments at most big-box stores, most supermarkets, most warehouse stores (such as Costco), and much more. Those with certain Samsung devices (with MST technology) can even use Samsung Pay at terminals not equipped for mobile payments. Nick previously wrote about using his Samsung watch in this way. Caution: US Bank has been known to shut down accounts of those who buy large value gift cards (e.g. $500) or large numbers of gift cards via mobile wallet payments with their Altitude Reserve card.
Now, back to the show…
The Best Cards for Everyday Spend
| Card Info Name and Earning Rate (no offer) |
|---|
The Blue Business℠ Plus Credit Card Base 2X (3.1%) |
Discover it Miles (First Year) Base 3% |
Citi Double Cash Card Base 2X (2.9%) |
Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card Base 2.5% |
Spirit Airlines World Mastercard® Base 2X (2.4%) |
The Amex EveryDay Preferred Card (with 30 purchases per billing cycle) Earning rate: Earn 50% more points: Use your Card 30 or more times on purchases in a billing period and get 50% more points on those purchases less returns and credits. With 30 or more purchases, earn: 4.5x points at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1.5x) ⚬ 3x points at US gas stations ⚬ 1.5x points on other purchases. |
Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card Base 1.5X (2.25%) |
Hotels.com Rewards Visa Credit Card Base 0.002X (2.2%) |
The Blue for Business® Credit Card from American Express Base 1.3X (2.02%) |
Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard® Base 2X (2%) |
PNC Premier Traveler® Visa Signature Credit Card Base 2X (2%) |
Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® Base 2X (2%) |
Paypal Cashback Mastercard Base 2% |
Fidelity Rewards Visa Base 2% |
Capital One Spark Cash Business Credit Card Base 2% |
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card Base 2% |
UBS Cash Rewards Visa Business Base 2% |
Citizens Bank Cash Back Plus® World Mastercard® Base 1.8% Dine 10% Grocery 10% |
Major League Baseball BankAmericard Cash Rewards card (with Platinum Honors Preferred Rewards) Base 1.75% Travel 5.25% Dine 5.25% Gas 5.25% Grocery 3.5% Shop 5.25% Other 5.25% |
Bank of America Cash Rewards (with Platinum Honors Preferred Rewards) Base 1.75% Travel 5.25% Dine 5.25% Gas 5.25% Grocery 3.5% Shop 5.25% Other 5.25% |
Bank of America Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard (with Platinum Honors Preferred Rewards for Business) Base 1.75% Travel 5.25% Dine 3.5% Gas 5.25% Phone 5.25% Office 5.25% Biz 5.25% |
American Express® Gold Card Earning rate: 3X points for flights booked with airlines or on amextravel.com ⚬ 4x points at US Supermarkets (up to $25K in purchases, then 1x) ⚬ 4x at restaurants worldwide ⚬ 1X points on other purchases. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees) |
American Express® Business Gold Card Earning rate: Earn 4X on the two categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle from the following categories: ⚬ US purchases at restaurants ⚬ Airfare purchased directly from airlines ⚬ U.S. purchases for advertising in select media ⚬ U.S. purchases at gas stations ⚬ U.S. purchases for shipping ⚬ U.S. computer hardware, software, and cloud computing purchases made directly from select providers. 4X applies to first $150,000 in combined purchases in your two categories each calendar year, 1X point per dollar thereafter and on other purchases. Terms apply. |
The Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express Earning rate: Earn 3X on one of your choice, 2X on rest. [3X choices: ⚬ Airfare purchased directly from airlines ⚬ U.S. purchases for advertising in select media ⚬ U.S. purchases at gas stations ⚬ U.S. purchases for shipping ⚬ U.S. computer hardware, software, and cloud computing purchases made directly from select providers. 3X and 2X apply to first $100,000 in purchases in each of the 5 categories per year, 1X point per dollar thereafter. |
UBS Visa Signature Base 1X (1.5%) |
UBS Visa Signature Business Base 1X (1.5%) |
Chase Freedom Flex Earning rate: 5x travel booked through Chase ⚬ 5X Lyft ⚬ 3x dining ⚬ 3x drugstores ⚬ 5X in rotating categories on up to $1,500 spend per quarter. Q1 2021: 5X Wholesale Clubs; Internet, Cable, and Phone; Select Streaming Services |
Wells Fargo Rewards Visa® card Base 1X (1.5%) |
Wells Fargo Visa Signature Card Base 1X (1.5%) |
Discover it Business - Double cash back your first year Base 1.5X (1.5%) |
Capital One Quicksilver Base 1.5% |
Santander® Ultimate Cash Back® credit card Base 1.5% |
Capital One Spark Cash Select Business Credit Card Base 1.5% |
Bank of America Premium Rewards Base 1.5% Travel 2% Dine 2% |
American Express Cash Magnet® Card Base 1.5% |
Wells Fargo Business Platinum Visa® card Base 1.5% |
The Plum Card® from American Express Base 1.5% |
Schwab Investor Card® from American Express Base 1.5% |
Discover it Miles - Double Miles your first year Base 1.5% |
Barclaycard CashForward Base 1.5% |
Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card Earning rate: 6x at Marriott Bonvoy properties ⚬ 4x U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased from U.S. suppliers and on U.S. purchases for shipping ⚬ 2x on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply. (Rates & Fees) |
Hilton Honors American Express Business Card Earning rate: ⚬ 12X Hilton spend ⚬ 6X on Select Business & Travel Purchases (flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel; car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies; US restaurants; US gas stations; wireless telephone services purchased directly from US service provider; US shipping purchases) ⚬ 3X on all other eligible purchases |
Citi® AAdvantage® Gold MasterCard® Base 1X (1.3%) |
JAL USA CARD Base 1X (1.3%) |
Upromise World MasterCard® issued by Barclays Base 1.25% |
BB&T Spectrum Rewards Base 1.05X (1.05%) |
BBVA ClearPoints Credit Card Base 1X (1%) |
BOA WorldPoints® Rewards for Business Visa® Card Base 1X (1%) |
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Base 1% Travel 3% Gas 3% Grocery 6% Shop 3% Other 6% |
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express Base 1% Gas 2% Grocery 3% Shop 2% |
“Old” Blue Cash Card from American Express Base 1% Grocery 5% Other 5% |
Ducks Unlimited Visa from First Bankcard Base 1% |
Amazon Business American Express Card Base 1% Dine 2% Gas 2% Grocery 5% Shop 5% Phone 2% Brand 5% Other 2% |
SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card from American Express Base 1% Travel 3% Gas 3% Phone 5% Office 5% Biz 3% |
Affinity Cash Rewards Visa® Signature Credit Card Base 1% Dine 7% Gas 2% Grocery 2% Other 5% |
AARP Credit Card from Chase Base 1% Dine 3% Gas 3% |
TD Business Solutions Visa Base 1% Dine 2% Gas 2% Phone 3% |
U.S. Bank Business Leverage® Visa Signature® Card Base 1% Other 2% |
Marvel MasterCard from Synchrony Base 1% Brand 3% Other 3% (Select entertainment = Movie Theatres, Video Rental and Game Stores, Theatrical and Concert Promoters, Amusement Parks, Digital Entertainment, Games and Software, Music, Books and Newsstands, Toys and Hobby Stores) |
U.S. Bank Cash+ Base 1% Travel 5% Dine 2% Gas 2% Grocery 2% Shop 5% Phone 5% Other 5% |
Huntington Voice Base 1% Travel 3% Dine 3% Gas 3% Grocery 3% Shop 3% Office 3% Biz 3% Other 3% |
U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World EliteTM Mastercard Base 1% Gas 3% Phone 3% Office 3% |
AAA Member Rewards Visa Signature Card Base 1% Travel 3% Gas 2% Grocery 2% Shop 2% Brand 3% Other 2% |
Disney Visa Card Base 1% |
TD Cash Visa Credit Card Base 1% Dine 3% Grocery 2% |
Bank of America Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard Base 1% Travel 3% Dine 2% Gas 3% Phone 3% Office 3% Biz 3% |
Capital One Savor Base 1% Dine 4% Grocery 2% Other 4% |
ABOC Platinum Rewards Base 1% Grocery 5% Shop 5% Other 5% |
Bank of America Cash Rewards Base 1% Travel 3% Dine 3% Gas 3% Grocery 2% Shop 3% Other 3% |
SEFCU Lightning Credit Card® Base 1% Grocery 3% Shop 5% |
Vantage West Connect Rewards Base 1% Gas 3% Grocery 2% Other 5% |
Costco Anywhere Visa Base 1% Travel 3% Dine 3% Gas 4% |
Costco Anywhere Business Visa Base 1% Travel 3% Dine 3% Gas 4% Brand 2% |
Citi Dividend Platinum Select Base 1% Other 5% |
Ridgewood Savings Bank World Mastercard Base 1% Travel 2% Dine 3% |
BBVA Compass Select Base 1% Travel 2% Dine 3% Other 4% |
BBVA Compass NBA American Express Card Base 1% Gas 2% Grocery 2% Brand 3% Other 5% |
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Base 1% Dine 3% Grocery 2% Other 3% |
Rakuten (formerly Ebates) Cash Back Visa issued by Synchrony Bank Base 1% Brand 3% |
Major League Baseball® BankAmericard Cash Rewards™ MasterCard® credit card Base 1% Travel 3% Dine 3% Gas 3% Grocery 2% Shop 3% Other 3% |
BOA Platinum Business Visa Base 0% |
The above cards (at least the top 25 or so in the list) offer great rewards regardless of where they’re used. Our entire database of credit cards is contained above, shown 10 cards at a time, and sorted with the best everyday everywhere-else rewards on top. For the purposes of this post, please train your eyes on the boxes titled “Base”. These show the base earning rate (aka “everywhere else” earning rate) for each card.
For cards that earn points instead of cash back, we’ve listed the “X” which is the number of points per dollar earned. For example, “2X” means that the card earns 2 points per dollar.
Cards are sorted by the value of the “Base” rebate in descending order based on our Reasonable Redemption Values (RRVs), or by their fixed redemption value with cash back cards.
As we analyze the best cards for everyday spend, it’s worth noting that transferable points are assigned higher Reasonable Redemption Values since they make it possible to cherry pick the best value awards. In some cases this will be unintuitive:
- Fixed Value Cards: Capital One Venture and Spark Miles cards earn Capital One “miles” that are worth exactly 1 cent each when redeemed for travel. So, when you look at a card that earns 2 “miles” per dollar you would expect to see 2% as the base rewards rate. Instead, you’ll find a higher percentage because Capital One Miles are transferable to airline miles at a rate up to 2 Capital One Miles to 1.5 airline miles.
- Cash Back Cards: Some cards are advertised as cash back cards, but actually earn points that can be converted to airline miles or hotel points. For example, the Chase Freedom card is advertised as a cash back card where points are worth 1 cent each. However, if you (or another household member) has a premium Chase card (Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, Ink Business Plus, etc.), you can move points from the Freedom card to the other card and then transfer those points to airline or hotel programs as needed.
