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One of the highest rewards rates on the market, you can earn 5 percent cash back on rotating or handpicked categories with the cards below. Plus, you might earn 2 to 3 percent on additional categories and 1 percent on everything else.
Take a look at the card’s welcome bonus, spending caps and other terms before applying. And if the 5 percent category isn’t comprehensive enough for you, a high flat rate cash back card might be a great addition.
The Discover cash back card offers a high cash back rate in rotating quarterly bonus categories. There’s no annual fee, and Discover will match all the rewards you earn after the first year with its unique Cashback Match program.
The Discover cash back calendar reveals bonus categories like restaurants, home improvement, streaming services, grocery stores and wholesale clubs, online shopping, public transit and gas stations. But no one knows the exact categories until about a month before they start. Keep in mind you have to manually activate the category each quarter to reap boosted cash back.
Pros
Get your cash back matched with Discover’s unique welcome offer, raising the bar for first-year value.
Earn one of the highest rewards rates on a wide range of everyday purchases.
Cons
Discover doesn’t announce bonus categories until the month before they start, so it can be hard to plan purchases ahead of time.
The 5 percent rate is capped at $1,500 in quarterly bonus category spending before dropping to 1 percent, limiting value for big spenders.
The Chase Freedom Flex card is similar to the Discover cash back card above, but with an added 3 percent rewards rate on dining and drugstores. There’s no annual fee, and Chase sweetens the pot with a decent welcome offer.
The Chase Freedom Flex bonus categories are announced on a quarterly basis, historically including grocery stores, fitness clubs, aesthetic services, streaming services, fast food, pet care, charities, gas stations, entertainment, dining and more. While you don’t know the bonus categories more than a month ahead, they’re similar from one year to the next. You must activate the category each quarter.
Pros
In addition to earning a top rewards rate on rotating everyday categories, you’ll also earn decent rewards on dining and drugstores, making it a strong standalone card.
If you also have a Chase travel card, you can transfer your cash back to travel points for a potentially higher value.
Cons
Chase only reveals its 5 percent bonus categories one quarter at a time, so it’s difficult to plan ahead.
That rate is capped at $1,500 in spending before dropping to 1 percent, and you have to remember to activate the category each quarter.
Instead of requiring manual activation of quarterly bonus rewards like the two cards above, the Citi Custom Cash card automatically rewards your top eligible spending category each billing cycle with 5 percent cash back on up to $500, then 1 percent. Those categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, travel, public transit, streaming services, drugstores, home improvement, fitness clubs and entertainment.
You can also earn 4 percent by booking travel through the issuer’s portal. Overall, the card’s flexibility makes it great for pairing with a more robust rewards card.
Pros
This low-maintenance card automatically rewards your top eligible category each billing cycle, with no need to activate it.
Earn a $200 welcome offer after spending $1,500 in the first six months.
Cons
The bonus rewards category is capped at $500 in spending each billing cycle, which limits earning potential.
You’ll only earn 5 percent on one eligible category, while other cards may offer rewards on multiple categories of purchases you make often.
The U.S. Bank Cash+ card works a little differently than the other cards on this list. You get to choose two 5 percent bonus categories each quarter on up to $2,000 in combined purchases, as well as a 2 percent everyday category. Bonus categories include fast food, streaming services, cell phone or utility bills, department or electronic stores and more. 2 percent everyday categories include grocery stores and delivery, restaurants and gas and EV stations.
Enjoy no annual fee and a $200 welcome offer after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. This customizable rewards card could make it a one-hit wonder or valuable complement in your wallet.
Pros
You get to pick your 5 percent categories each quarter, as well as 2 percent back on one everyday spending category.
Earn a decent welcome offer and an extra 5 percent on travel booked through the issuer portal.
Cons
Bonus category spending is capped at $2,000 per quarter, limiting rewards potential.
The card has a foreign transaction fee, so it’s not the best card for traveling abroad.
5% cash back on up to a combined $2,000 in two eligible categories of your choice, then 1%
5% on prepaid airfare, hotel stays and car rentals through the Rewards Travel Center
2% on one category of your choice
1% on all other purchases
5 percent cash back cards typically require a good-to-excellent credit score. If you have bad or fair credit, consider our top picks for cards for bad credit.
How to choose a 5% cash back card
You’ll notice similarities across cards that offer this high rewards rate, but there are a few deciding factors to compare.
Look at the rewards calendar. Cards with rotating category rewards often don’t announce the next category until a month before, but you can check out past years’ calendars for category examples. If the card offers 5 percent on your automatic or chosen top category, check out the full list of available categories. In a nutshell, you want to make sure your big ticket expenses will reap the card’s 5 percent.
Compare welcome bonuses and other perks. The cards above all come with welcome offers, but they vary in terms of size and spending requirements. Make sure you can earn the bonus in time and are satisfied with the offer terms. Also look for card perks like purchase protection and access to issuer travel or entertainment booking, as some cards offer more than others.
Check for any spending caps. These 5 percent cards often come with spending caps on the bonus categories, ranging from $500 per billing cycle to $2,000 per quarter. If you’re a big spender in a certain category, you can calculate the rewards you’d earn with one of these cards with a cap versus a card that earns unlimited 3 percent rewards on the same category, for example.
Tips for maximizing rewards with a 5% cash back card
You can make the most of that hefty rewards rate with the right moves. Here’s how to maximize your cash back.
Activate your bonus category every billing cycle or quarter. Except for the Citi Custom Cash’s automatic rewards, other 5 percent cards often require you to activate a rotating category or choose your preferred bonus category. If you forget, you’ll miss out on elevated rewards.
Pair multiple cards with different bonus categories. Consider using more than one card to cover as many bonus categories as possible. You can use a different card to maximize rewards in its respective 5 percent categories throughout the year, and most cards in this niche do not charge annual fees.
Pair a 5 percent cash back card with a flat-rate cash back card. Most 5 percent back credit cards only give you 1 percent back on regular purchases, so consider pairing it with a flat-rate rewards credit card that rewards you with 1.5 or 2 percent back on regular spending.
Pay your credit card bill in full each month. If possible, try not to carry a balance on your card — the interest accrued will wipe out any rewards value. If you’re not able to pay on time and in full, stop making purchases with the card and adding to the balance until you’ve repaid it.
5 percent is one of the best rewards rates out there, and a 5 percent cash back card can be a great addition to your wallet if you strategize your spending. Keep an eye on bonus categories and remember to activate them, if needed. But these cards often come with spending caps and may only reward one category. Other cash back cards offer unlimited rewards on multiple categories, albeit at a slightly lower rate. The best card for you is the one that aligns with your spending habits, not just the one with the highest rewards rate.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the cards above are our picks for the best 5 percent cash back cards, offering a high rate on rotating or customizable categories. Note that the 5 percent rate may come with spending caps before dropping to 1 percent. But for no annual fee, one of these cards is helpful to pair with another rewards card.
You generally can’t earn 5 percent cash back on all purchases. But if you pair multiple credit cards that offer 5 percent back in different categories, you can cover a lot of ground. Potential pairings include the Citi Custom Cash Card, the Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it Cash Back for their quarterly categories, and even the Amazon Prime Visa for Amazon and Whole Foods purchases.
Choosing between points and cash back hinges on personal preference and habits. Frequent travelers may favor points or miles for potentially higher redemption value, while others who value simplicity may prefer 5 percent cash back.
*Information about the Chase Freedom Flex®, Citi Custom Cash® Card and U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Bankrate. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
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APA:
Kelton, K., & Dyer, B. (2025, June 06). Best 5% cash back credit cards. Bankrate. Retrieved September 15, 2025, from https://venture-ascend.live/credit-cards/cash-back/best-5-percent-cash-back-cards/
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Kelton, Katie & Brendan Dyer. "Best 5% cash back credit cards." Bankrate. 06 June 2025, https://venture-ascend.live/credit-cards/cash-back/best-5-percent-cash-back-cards/.
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Kelton, Katie & Brendan Dyer. "Best 5% cash back credit cards." Bankrate. June 06, 2025. https://venture-ascend.live/credit-cards/cash-back/best-5-percent-cash-back-cards/.
