Cashback Credit Card Calculator
Enter your monthly spending by category and instantly see which US cashback credit card earns you the most — net of annual fees. All calculations run locally in your browser; your data never leaves your device.
Your monthly spending
Enter what you spend per month in each category. We'll rank every card by net annual cashback.
All cards ranked
| Card | Gross/yr | Annual fee | Net/yr | Eff. rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cash Everyday · American Express | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0.00% |
| SavorOne Cash Rewards · Capital One | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Double Cash · Citi | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Freedom Unlimited · Chase | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Active Cash · Wells Fargo | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Customized Cash Rewards · Bank of America | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Discover it Cash Back · Discover | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Blue Cash Preferred · American Express | $0 | -$95 | $-95 | 0.00% |
Enter your monthly spending above to see ranked results.
Rates are approximate based on publicly published terms as of July 2026. Cashback caps, rotating categories, and Preferred Rewards tier bonuses are simplified — always verify current terms on the issuer's website. This tool is for planning only.
How cashback credit cards work
A cashback credit card returns a percentage of what you spend as a statement credit or deposit. Flat-rate cards (like Citi Double Cash and Wells Fargo Active Cash) earn the same rate on every purchase, while bonus-category cards (like Amex Blue Cash Preferred and Capital One SavorOne) earn elevated rates on specific categories such as dining, groceries, or gas.
The right card depends on where your money goes each month. A household that spends $800 on groceries will benefit from a 6% grocery bonus even after a $95 annual fee, while someone who spends evenly across categories may do better with a simple 2% flat card.
Understanding the categories
- Dining includes restaurants, cafes, bars, and food delivery services.
- Groceries covers US supermarkets. Warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam\u2019s Club are often classified separately.
- Gas & transit covers fuel purchases and public transportation.
- Streaming includes select online streaming services (Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, etc.).
- Travel covers flights, hotels, and car rentals booked directly or through travel portals.
- Everything else is any spend that doesn\u2019t fit a bonus category.
Annual fees and net cashback
A card with a $95 annual fee needs to earn at least $95 more in cashback than a no-fee alternative to be worthwhile. The calculator subtracts the annual fee automatically, so the “Net/yr” column shows your true take-home. If a fee card doesn\u2019t beat a no-fee card in the net column, it\u2019s not the right choice for your spending profile.
Caps, limits, and rotating categories
Some cards cap their highest bonus rate after a certain spend threshold. For example, Amex Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% on groceries only up to $6,000 per year, then drops to 1%. Discover it Cash Back rotates its 5% category every quarter with a $1,500 quarterly cap. The calculator simplifies these rules; if your spending in a single category is very high, check the card\u2019s terms for exact cap details.
Frequently asked questions
How is net annual cashback calculated?
For each card, we multiply your monthly spend in each category by that card’s rate, sum the results, and multiply by 12 to get gross annual cashback. We then subtract the card’s annual fee to arrive at net annual cashback. The effective rate is net annual cashback divided by your total annual spend.
Why does the calculator ignore cashback caps?
Most cashback caps apply only to the highest bonus category (for example, Amex Blue Cash Preferred’s 6% grocery rate only applies to the first $6,000 of supermarket spend per year). To keep the comparison simple, the calculator assumes your spend is within those caps. If you spend heavily in one category, your actual earnings may be lower.
Does the Discover it Cash Back rate stay constant?
No. Discover it Cash Back offers 5% on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500 per quarter) and 1% on everything else. The calculator uses a blended rate assuming you align your spending with the bonus categories, but your real-world earnings depend on which categories rotate in each quarter.
What about sign-up bonuses?
Sign-up bonuses are not included in the annual cashback figure because they’re one-time perks. A typical bonus ($200–$300) can substantially boost your first-year return, so factor it into your decision separately.
Should I always pick the card with the highest net cashback?
Not necessarily. If the top card charges an annual fee, consider whether you’ll maintain the same spending level in future years. A no-annual-fee card that earns slightly less may be the better long-term hold. Also consider perks like purchase protection, extended warranties, and travel insurance that don’t show up in a cashback number.