Some cash back credit cards from Chase

Many people find that cash back credit cards are their go-to card for several key reasons, the main one usually being simplicity of use. Cash back cards usually offer a straightforward rewards structure, an easy way to redeem rewards and little-to-no restrictions on how you use your cash rewards.

In addition, some cash back cards also come with a generous welcome bonus offer, low APRs for an introductory period or low annual fees.

In this article, we’ll go over some popular cash back credit cards from Chase, ways to redeem your cash rewards and a breakdown of the different types of cash back cards you may encounter.

Personal cash back credit cards to look for

Chase offers many cash back credit cards, each with its own features and benefits. Here are a few you may want to consider:

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

This card offers a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases, making it a straightforward option for consistent cash back earnings. Additional features include:

• Earn a welcome bonus after you spend a minimum amount within a certain period of time
• Low annual fee 
• 5% cash back on travel purchases through Chase Travel
• 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases
• Cash back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open

Chase Freedom Flex^®

Though similar to Freedom Unlimited, the Chase Freedom Flex credit card has one key difference – apart from the fixed bonus categories, it also has rotating bonus categories that you activate each quarter to earn the rewards. Once you activate the categories, you’ll earn 5% cash back on those specific spending bonus categories, and they change every three months. This enables you to maximize cash back in different areas throughout the year.

• Low annual fee
• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories like gas stations, grocery stores (excluding Target^® and Walmart^®) and select online merchants, each quarter you activate
• 5% cash back on travel purchases through Chase Travel
• 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

DoorDash Rewards Mastercard^®

The DoorDash Rewards Mastercard is specifically designed for food delivery enthusiasts, even offering a complimentary DashPass subscription when you get approved for the credit card.

• Complimentary DashPass for a year upon opening your account.
• 4% cash back on DoorDash and Caviar orders including restaurants, grocery stores, pet supplies, retail items and more
• 3% cash back on dining when purchased directly from a restaurant
• 2% cash back on grocery stores online or in-store
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• Receive a complimentary DashPass membership every year with $10,000 in annual card spend

Instacart Mastercard^®

Instacart offers delivery or pickup from the world’s best selection of retailers and brands across grocery and more. Fans may love the Instacart Mastercard, which offers lots of opportunities to earn cash back.

• Get a free year of Instacart and a $100 Instacart credit upon approval of your credit card application
• 5% cash back on Instacart.com and Instacart app purchases on over 1,400 retailers delivering from more than 80,000 stores
• 5% cash back on Chase Travel purchases over the phone including flights, hotels and more
• 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations, and on select streaming services
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Types of cash back credit cards

There are three main types of cash back credit cards:

Flat-rate cash back

If a card says it offers a flat-rate cash back on all purchases, this means that regardless of the type of purchase you make, you will earn a consistent percentage cash back reward.

An example of this is a card that offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases. This may be ideal for people who don’t want to keep track of different rewards categories or percentages in order to earn rewards.

Tiered cash back

This type of credit card has a structure where different spending rewards categories offer varying cash back percentages.

For example, a card might offer 3% cash back at grocery stores, 2% cash back at drug stores and 1% cash back on all other purchases. It is up to the cardmember to keep track of their spending in order to maximize the highest earn categories. If you spend heavily in the categories that offer the highest percentage, you may be able to maximize the cash back rewards.

Rotating cash back

Rotating cash back cards offer higher cash back percentages on spending rewards categories that change generally every quarter. These cards may have a calendar that outlines the eligible categories and the cash back rates they will offer during each time period.

An example of this may be a card that offers 5% cash back on dining for three months, then switches to 5% cash back on grocery store purchases for the next three. Keep in mind that cardmembers may be required to activate the changing rewards categories each quarter so you’ll want to read the terms and conditions.

Common cash back rewards categories

Cash back spending rewards categories, also called bonus, will vary depending on the specific rewards program and credit card issuer. That said, there are several common categories you’ll find with most cash back credit cards.

• Gas stations
• Travel
• Grocery stores
• Dining at restaurants
• Drug stores
• Streaming services

Remember, if the type of cash back credit card you have is a rotating one, the eligible rewards categories may change over time, so you’ll want to pay close attention to those terms.

How to redeem your cash back with Chase

At Chase, you can stay flexible in the way you redeem your cash back rewards by choosing how you want to receive them. Here are some options you have when redeeming your cash back:

• Statement credit: You can use your cash back rewards to help pay down your credit card balance.
• Products and services: There may be opportunities to use your points for all or part of a payment for the purchase of eligible products or services directly through third-party merchants or service providers.
• Direct deposit: Cash back rewards can also be redeemed via a direct deposit into your preferred bank account.
• Gift cards: You may also be able to redeem cash back for gift cards. You’ll want to check back monthly for discounts on select gift cards.

Make sure that you read your credit card agreement to check what redemption options you have available for that specific card. There might be more options than the ones mentioned above, for example — travel purchases.

The bottom line

If you’re considering a cash back credit card, you may find they offer a simple and valuable way to earn rewards as well as redeem them. If you know your spending habits, you can try to find a credit card that offers a higher percentage of cash back for the categories you spend the most in.