2025 Cashback Credit Cards

by LeExistentialist

Was travelling a lot for work the last 2 years, so I’ve been rotating through the bonus cards and now probably need to take a long break from bonuses (I think I’m probably 7/12 or 12/24) and figured I’d try and review my overall cashback cards. The new Smartly 2/4% card probably makes most of this somewhat moot and just picking up pennies, but want to take this opportunity to review – cancel anything I don’t need, and hopefully get informed about anything I am missing. I’m lucky in that I have a partner that we can have multiple of some of the cards so the list might need some tweaking if that’s not an option for you.

Rotating Categories – 5% – 1500 Per Quarter

• Chase Freedom (V)
• Chase Freedom (MC) Flex (2x)
• Citi Dividend (MC)
• Discover IT (D) (2x)

Selectable Categories – 5% – 2000 Per Quarter

•  US Bank Cash+ (V) –  Utilities + Electronic stores
•  US Bank Cash+ (V)-  Utilities (need 2x utilities as we go over 2k per quarter) + Furniture Stores

Selectable Categories – 6% – 1500 Per Quarter

• US Bank Shopper Card (V)- Target Walmart
• US Bank Shopper Card (V) – Amazon Home Depot

Set Category –

• US Bank Ralphs (MC) – 5% digital Wallet 3000 per calendar year (2x)
• PenFed (V) – 5% Gas (Unlimited?)
• Ink Business Cash Credit Card 5% (V) – Internet Cable Phone and Office Supply Stores 25000 Per Calendar Year
• Citi Custom Cash (2x) (MC) – 500 Per Month
• Autograph Journeys Card (V)- 5% Hotels 4% Airlines [95$ Yearly Fee – Not worth it now with Smartly?]
• Paypal Debit Card (MC) – 5% Groceries
• Paypal Debit Card (MC) – 5% Restaurants
• Schwab Debit (V) – All ATM Transaction Fees Refunded

General Cashback

• Smartly Credit Card (V) – 4% – new General Purpose Card and specifically Costco
• Various 2% Card (Citi Double, WellsFargo, PNC Bank – maybe worth it with the bonus but not day to day since Smartly came out – still potentially want to hold on to one as Smarty has foreign transaction fees)
• Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards – now probably not worth it?
• American Express Blue –  3% Groceries Now probably not worth it
• Cash App Debit – Used to be worth it for the rotating categories (used to have 10% on groceries) no real reason to cancel or have now
• Venmo Debit Card – Have it, never really use it

Is there anything I’m missing? Currently we are using a Venture X for Lounge and Priority pass access, but I think Amex Plat/Chase Sapphire/Venture X we’ll just churn through for the big bonus and to keep access.