Good credit is where the credit card market opens up. Once your FICO score sits in the good range, you stop chasing approval and start choosing rewards: flat cash back on everything, bonus categories on what you already buy, and no annual fee to worry about. Approval still depends on the issuer’s review, but this is the tier where solid everyday cards become realistic.
We gathered the strongest cashback options for good credit below. Some pay a flat rate on every purchase, others reward specific categories more heavily. The right pick depends on whether you want simplicity or the highest return on where your money actually goes.
Cards for good credit
$0
2%
$200
690-850 (Good – Excellent)
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- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember, and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations, and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
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Pros:
- Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus*
- $0 annual fee
- Cell phone protection benefit
Cons:- There’s a balance transfer fee
- There’s a foreign transaction fee
- No travel transfer partners
$0
1%-5%
$200
Excellent, Good, Fair (630 – 850)
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- Earn a $200 cash back bonus after spending $1,500 in the first 6 months (fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points).
- 2% cash back on purchases: 1% when buying and 1% upon payment.
- Limited-time 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel℠ until 12/31/24.
- 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months, then variable APR of 19.24% – 29.24%.
- Balance transfers do not earn cash back, and intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- Intro balance transfer fee of 3% (min $5) in the first 4 months, then 5% (min $5).
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Pros:
- Up to 2% cash back – 1% when buying, 1% when paying
- No limit on cash back earnings
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period for balance transfers
Cons:- Foreign transaction fee
- Balance transfer fee
- Limited additional benefits
- No intro 0% APR on purchases
$0
1.5%-5%
$200
690-850 (Good – Excellent)
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- INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back!
- Earn 5% on Chase travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% – 29.24%.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back, options for statement credit or direct deposit into U.S. checking/savings accounts.
- No annual fee.
- Access to Chase Credit Journey for credit monitoring.
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Pros:
- Attractive welcome offer for a no-annual-fee card
- Minimum 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- No minimum redemption amount
Cons:- Foreign transaction fee
- High ongoing balance transfer fee
- Requires companion card for point transfers to travel partners
$0
1%-8%
$200
690-850 (Good – Excellent)
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- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy unlimited 3% cashback on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®). Plus, earn 1% on all other purchases.
- Get 10% cashback on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, along with complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024.
- Earn 8% cashback on Capital One Entertainment purchases and unlimited 5% cashback on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- No need for rotating categories or sign-ups to earn cash rewards, and cashback won’t expire for the life of the account with no limit on earnings.
- Benefit from a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, followed by a variable APR of 19.99% – 29.99% after that (3% fee on amounts transferred within the first 15 months).
- No foreign transaction fees and no annual fee, making it a cost-effective cashback card.
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Pros:
- No annual fee
- Increased cashback on dining and entertainment
- No foreign transaction fees
- Introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers
Cons:- High standard rate APR
- Limited cashback reward categories
$0
1%-5%
Cashback Match™
690-850 (Good – Excellent)
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- INTRO OFFER: New Discover cardmembers get a Cashback Match with no limits. Earned cash back in the first year doubles—$150 becomes $300, no caps or minimums.
- 5% cash back in different categories each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum upon activation.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases, then a variable APR of 17.24% to 28.24%.
- No annual fee.
- Redemption options for cash back rewards.
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Pros:
- Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases
- 5% cash back in rotating categories each quarter upon activation
- First-year cashback match
- No minimum for cashback redemption
Cons:- 5% rate capped at $1,500 per quarter
- Required quarterly activation for bonus categories
- 1% base reward rate on non-bonus categories
$0
1%-3%
$200
Good, Excellent (690 – 850)
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- $200 cash rewards bonus after $1,000 spend in first 90 days
- 3% cash back in chosen category, 2% at grocery/wholesale (up to $2,500/quarter), 1% on all else
- Options for 3% cash back: gas/EV, online shopping, cable/internet/phone/streaming, dining, travel, drug store, home improvement
- 25%-75% more cash back for Bank of America Preferred Rewards members
- No annual fee, cash rewards don’t expire with active account
- 0% Intro APR for 15 cycles on purchases/balance transfers in first 60 days, then 18.24%-28.24% Variable APR
- 3% Intro balance transfer fee for first 60 days, then 4%
- Contactless Cards for secure, convenient payments
- Online only offer, exclusive through this application page
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Pros:
- $200 bonus after $1,000 spend in first 90 days
- Up to 3% cash back in choice categories, 1% on all purchases
- 25%-75% extra cash back for Preferred Rewards members
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles, no annual fee
Cons:- High balance transfer fee
- Foreign transaction fee
$0
1.5%
$250
690-850 (Good – Excellent)
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- Earn a $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days.
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
- Enhanced cash back earnings for Preferred Rewards members (up to 2.62%).
- No annual fee and no expiration on cash rewards.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers made in the first 60 days, then a variable APR of 18.24% – 28.24%.
- Contactless card for convenient payments.
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Pros:
- Simple and consistent 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- No minimum cash-back redemption
- Potential for increased cash back for Preferred Rewards members
Cons:- Base cash back rate is not as competitive
- Cash back cannot be transferred to external bank accounts
$0
N/A
N/A
690-850 (Good – Excellent)
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- 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99%.
- Balance transfers must be made within 120 days to qualify for the intro rate.
- No annual fee.
- Cell phone protection against damage or theft, subject to a $25 deductible.
- Access to My Wells Fargo Deals for cash back on purchases with eligible Wells Fargo credit cards.
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Pros:
- Extended intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers
- $0 annual fee
- Cell phone protection
Cons:- No rewards program
- Balance transfer fee applies
- Foreign transaction fee
Flat rate or bonus categories: which fits you
A flat-rate card pays the same on everything you buy, with nothing to track and no calendar to watch. It is the simplest way to earn, and for most people the difference at the end of the year is small enough that convenience wins.
A category card pays more on specific spending, like groceries, dining or gas, and less everywhere else. If a large share of your budget lands in one or two categories, that higher rate can beat a flat card. The tradeoff is keeping track of what earns what.
Why no annual fee matters here
Every card in this group can be held with no annual fee, which changes the math. A rewards card that costs nothing to keep means every dollar of cash back is pure gain, and you can hold it for years without a renewal charge eating into what you earn.
It also makes these cards easy to keep open long term, and a long, healthy account history is one of the things that keeps your score strong.
A flat-rate cash back card is the simplest place to begin: one steady return on everything, nothing to track.
How to get the most from a cashback card
The rewards only work in your favor if you pay the statement in full every month. Cash back is a percentage of what you spend, and card interest is a much larger percentage of what you carry, so a balance wipes out the reward and then some.
Used well, a cashback card pays you to spend the way you already do. Put your regular bills on it, pay it off, and let the rewards accumulate in the background.
Keeping your good score, and growing it
Good credit is worth protecting. Keep paying on time, keep your balance low relative to your limit, and avoid opening several new accounts at once. These are the same habits that got you here, and they are what carry you toward the excellent range.
As your score climbs, more premium travel and rewards cards come within reach. When you are ready for that step, there is a full review waiting for it.
Choosing between two good cards
When two cards look similar, let your own spending decide. Look at where most of your money goes each month, then pick the card that rewards that spending best, whether that is a flat rate for simplicity or a category bonus for a specific habit.
There is no single best card here, only the one that fits how you spend. The details and the pros and cons for each are laid out above to help you compare.
How to Compare Two Cards Side by Side
When two cards for good credit look alike, compare them on the things you’ll feel every month. Start with where you spend most. If your money goes to many different places, a flat rate on everything is usually simpler. If a large share goes to dining, groceries or gas, a card that earns more there can come out ahead.
Then look at how easy the rewards are to use. Some cards let you redeem any amount as a statement credit or a deposit, while others work best inside a points program. Pick the one whose rewards you’ll actually use, not the one with the longest list of features.
Finally, check the extras that matter to you, like no fee on purchases abroad if you travel, or an app you find easy to use. Small differences add up over years of daily use. If two cards still look even, pick the one from a bank you already use, since managing everything in one app is easier.
Keeping Cash Back From Being Eaten by Interest
A cashback card only pays you when the bill is paid in full. Interest on a balance left unpaid is far larger than the rewards you earn, so one month of paying only part of the bill can erase many months of cash back. Automatic payment for the full statement balance is the simplest way to make sure that never happens.
If a large expense comes up and you can’t clear it in one month, look at your options before it lands on the card. A plan you understand upfront is usually cheaper than interest that builds quietly.
What Happens After You Apply
After you apply, the card company reviews your credit and income. Some decisions come right away, others take a little longer while details are checked. If you get a request for more information, answer it through the official site or app so the review can continue.
If the answer is no, you can usually ask why. The reasons often point to something you can work on, like a high balance or a recent late payment. Give it some time before applying again, and use that time to fix what was flagged.
Moving Up From Good to Excellent
Good credit is a strong place to be, and excellent credit is usually a matter of time and habit from here. Keep every payment on time, keep balances low compared with your limits and let your accounts age. The longer your record stays clean, the more doors open.
As your score climbs, cards with richer rewards, travel benefits and premium features become more realistic. You don’t need to rush. Many people keep a simple card with no yearly fee as their everyday card for years, and add a second card only when its benefits clearly fit how they spend.
Whatever card you choose, the best result comes from using it the same way every month: on purchases you’d make anyway, paid in full and on time.
A good score gives you options, and the smart move is matching the card to your real spending instead of chasing the flashiest offer. Pick the one that pays you back for the life you already live.
*Approval, credit line, rewards and terms are determined by each issuer based on their own review. Approval is not guaranteed.