The 11 Best Cash Back Credit Cards for Travelers in 2024

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Cash back credit cards can be a valuable addition to any traveler's wallet. You might not want to make all your monthly purchases on a cash back card, but they can certainly work into a larger points and miles strategy.

Seasoned travelers know the importance of using the right card at the right time. You need to maximize the amount you earn per dollar. For example, I will always use my Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express to book flights on Delta. As a frequent traveler, I use my Citi Premier card at restaurants and supermarkets to earn 3x points per dollar spent, but I’ll take out my Capital One Venture X to book hotels through Capital One Travel, which will give me 10x miles for each dollar I spend.

A cash back card can be the icing on the cake to your points and miles strategy, giving you money back in your wallet to put toward future trips and filling in any gaps within your existing travel cards. For instance, if you don’t have a card that gives you bonus points for transit and you commute every day, you could use the Blue Cash Preferred from American Express, which will give you three percent cash back.

These cards give you an immense opportunity to earn, often while avoiding an annual fee, acting as a balance to the premium cards you may already have in your wallet. For those new to cash back cards, here's how they work: Most will allow you to redeem your cash back for a statement credit, check, or direct deposit, or for gift cards. When you are ready to redeem, you can log into your account and select your preferred method. (Note that some cards have a minimum redemption amount.)

Read on for the top cash back credit cards for travelers in 2024, or jump straight to the card that fits your spending habits or priorities:

• Best overall: Chase Freedom Flex℠
• Best for travel portal redemptions: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
• Best for road trippers: Blue Cash Preferred® from American Express
• Best for foodies: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Best for simplicity: Citi Custom Cash Card
• Best for customization: Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards
• Best for cash back matching: Discover It Cash Back
• Best for big spenders: Alliant Cash Back Visa Signature
• Best for fair credit: Credit One Bank Platinum X5 Visa
• Best for flexibility: U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
• Best for unlimited two percent back: Wells Fargo Active Cash Credit Card

Best overall

The Chase Freedom Flex is one of the most popular cash back credit cards on the market, and for a good reason. There is no annual fee and a pretty lucrative rewards system. Currently, you can earn a $200 bonus after spending just $500 on purchases in the first three months after account opening, plus five percent cash back on up to $12,000 in gas station and grocery store purchases in your first year.

Cardholders earn five percent cash back on quarterly rotating categories for up to $1,500 spent. These categories can include grocery stores, gas stations, or online merchants. You then earn three percent back on dining and drugstore purchases and one percent on all other purchases.

What makes this card so great for travelers is the additional five percent cash back on travel purchases made through Chase Ultimate Rewards. This is fantastic news for frequent travelers looking to save some money. You can book flights, car rentals, and hotels through the online portal, which can quickly add up.

Annual fee: $0

Best for travel portal redemptions

Chase certainly knows how to make an excellent cash back credit card. The Chase Freedom Unlimited is much more straightforward–earn five percent back on travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, three percent on dining and drugstore purchases, and an unlimited 1.5 percent on all other purchases. The Freedom Unlimited offers the same sign-up bonus and intro APR as the Freedom Flex. There is no annual fee, which is great for travelers who already have a few premium credit card fees in their budget.

Annual fee: $0

Best for road trippers

If you like going on road trips, the Blue Cash Preferred will be your new best friend. Cardholders will enjoy three percent cash back on transit, which covers taxis, rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, and buses, and at gas stations. The perks do not end while you’re on the road–you will also get a whopping six percent cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then one percent) (terms apply).

Not only will you get money back when you fill up the tank, but you can also rest assured with the car rental loss and damage insurance offered as perks of the card. This lets you save money on the collision damage waiver at the counter while still staying protected.

You can earn $250 back after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months after account opening.

Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (see rates and fees)

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage is Offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

Best for foodies

If you do not want to cook while on vacation, you can use your SavorOne Cash Rewards card to earn an unlimited three percent back on dining purchases. Also, enjoy three percent back on grocery stores (excluding some superstores like Walmart and Target), streaming services, and entertainment. Earn one percent back on all other purchases.

Currently, you can earn an additional $200 back after spending $500 in purchases within the first three months of account opening. Long term, cardholders can enjoy making reservations all across the country with the SavorOne card, knowing you will automatically get some cash back every single time with no annual fee.

Annual fee: $0

Best for simplicity

If you do not want to worry about activating categories for higher earning potentials, the Citi Custom Cash Card does it for you. You will automatically earn five percent cash back on up to $500 in your highest spend category each billing cycle. This could include travel, meaning you could earn $25 back on travel purchases each billing cycle or $300 per year. Although it does not have other premium benefits that come with cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, getting $300 back each year on travel purchases is nothing to scoff at.

There is no annual fee for this card, and you can earn a $200 welcome bonus after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.

Annual fee: $0

Best for customization

If you want to be able to choose your highest cash back category, the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards is the best option. Earn three percent back in the category of your choice and two percent back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs on up to $2,500 in combined spending each quarter.

You could use this card to earn the most back on travel purchases or use a different card for travel expenses and this card for dining while on the road.

Annual fee: $0

Best for cash back matching

The Discover It Cash Back is similar to the Chase Freedom Flex, where you earn five percent back on everyday card purchases at different places each quarter, up to a maximum amount. For quarter one of 2024, January to March, the category is restaurants and drug stores on up to $1,500 in purchases. After that, earn one percent cash back on all other purchases. The other quarterly bonus categories are announced the month prior. So, the bonus category for April to June will be announced on March 1, and so on.

Where this card shines is the unlimited dollar-for-dollar cash back match at the end of your first year. Let’s say you only use your card for purchases in the five percent back category each quarter. If you max that out, you will earn $75 per quarter or $300 by the end of the year. Discover would then match that $300, giving you another $300, for a total of $600. More money in your pocket at the end of the year may give you extra incentive to book that dream trip—or splurge on a last-minute one.

Annual fee: $0

Best for big spenders

The Alliant Cash Back Visa Signature has a tiered earning system. Tier 1 gives you 2.5 percent back on up to $10,000 in purchases each billing cycle. You earn an unlimited 1.5 percent back on all other purchases if you go over that. To qualify for Tier 1, you must meet the Alliant High-Rate Checking Account requirements.

If you do not meet the requirements, you are in Tier 2, which gives you unlimited 1.5 percent back on all purchases. This is an excellent cash back card for travelers with large budgets, as there is no cap on how much cash back you can earn and no foreign transaction or annual fees.

Annual fee: $0

Best for fair credit

If you have fair credit, you’ll enjoy the perks of the Credit One Bank Platinum X5 Visa. You’ll earn five percent cash back on the first $5,000 of eligible gas, grocery, internet, cable, satellite TV, and mobile phone service purchases each year. All other purchases earn one percent cash back. Although there’s an annual fee of $95 and a high variable APR of 29.24%, it’s worthwhile for those who might not get approved for the other cards on this list. Most credit-building cards do not offer any rewards; if they do, the rates are meager. The opportunity to earn five percent cash back, even with a reasonably low spending limit, is enticing. There’s no welcome offer, but applicants can get pre-approved without impacting their credit score.

Annual fee: $95

Best for flexibility

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is another great card for flexibility. Cardholders earn five percent cash back on prepaid travel booked through the Rewards Travel Center. You can also earn five percent back on your first $2,000 in combined purchases each quarter in two categories you choose out of 12 different categories. Then, earn two percent cash back on one everyday category—you can choose between grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations. Earn one percent cash back on all other purchases. To redeem your earnings, you can choose between a statement credit, rewards card, or direct deposit into your U.S. Bank checking or savings account.

Annual fee: $0

Best for unlimited two percent back

Another ultra-popular cash back card is the Wells Fargo Active Cash. This is the perfect card for someone who is looking for a simple, no-fuss, and no-annual-fee card. Earn unlimited two percent cash back on all purchases, plus a bonus $200 back after spending just $500 on your card within three months of account opening. You can redeem your cash back as a statement credit, at an ATM, or for gift cards. Your rewards never expire, and you can take advantage of an introductory 0% APR period for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (after that, the variable APR is 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% based on credit worthiness). If you already bank with Wells Fargo, adding this card to your wallet could be a no-brainer.

Annual fee: $0

Condé Nast Traveler has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Condé Nast Traveler and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

See rates and fees for the American Express cards listed: Delta SkyMiles Platinum, Blue Cash Preferred