Best Cash Back Credit Cards 2024 | Over 5% Cash Back

The best cash back credit cards for active duty US military servicemembers can put up to 6% back in your bank account. Cash back cards are great if you do not travel frequently or you just want to be rewarded for your everyday purchases.

Cash back cards offer the simplicity of just getting cold hard cash for your normal spending. Some of them offer extra cash back bonuses in specific categories like gas stations, groceries, supermarkets, or pharmacies.

The AAFES or NEX gas stations on base or post qualify for the gas category. The Commissary rings up as a supermarket (usually) and the Shoppette usually qualifies as a gas purchase.

All the cards listed below also have a welcome bonus, which you will receive after spending the minimum amount required in the time required. These are often low threshold minimums ($500-$1000) with plenty of time to meet the spend.

Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express

Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express
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• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95* See more details about American Express protections for you and your spouse 
• Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• 6% cash back on US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year (then 1%), including most OCONUS Commissaries
• 6% cash back on select US streaming services, including Apple Music, Netflix, Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Prime Video (full list here)
• 3% cash back on transit like taxis, Uber, Lyft, parking, tolls, trains, buses, etc
• 3% cash back on US gas stations (including OCONUS NEX or AAFES)
• 1% back on other eligible purchases
• Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
• Get $84 Disney Bundle Credit! With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
• Terms Apply

The American Express Blue Cash Preferred is my #1 recommended cash back card for military.

The 6% cash back at US supermarkets, including the DECA Commissary on base/post, is the best cash back offer available on any category. This cash back works overseas on US military bases, as Commissary transactions process like you are in the States.

Amex Blue Cash Preferred also offers 6% cash back on many US streaming services, including:

Amazon Music, Apple Music, Audible, CBS All Access, Direct TV Now, ESPN+, Fubo TV, HBO Now, Hulu, iHeartRadio, Kindle Unlimited, MLB.TV, NBA League Pass, Netflix, NHL.TV, Pandora, Amazon Prime Video Unlimited, Showtime, Sling TV, SiriusXM Streaming and Satellite, Spotify, YouTube Music Premium, YouTube Premium, YouTube TV

A 3% category has also been added for transit including taxi/rideshares (like Uber and Lyft), parking, tolls, trains, and buses.

The 3% cash back on US gas stations also works on OCONUS and CONUS bases, at the NEX and AAFES gas stations.

The Blue Cash Preferred is an excellent choice for military servicemembers and spouses. Read the full Amex Blue Cash Preferred military review.

Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express

Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express
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• Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• No Annual Fee.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1% after that.
• 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1% after
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
• Get $7 back each month in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Everyday^® Card. Enrollment required.
• Terms Apply
• Compare to the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express with 6% cash back at US supermarkets up to $6,000 per year

Chase Freedom Unlimited^® Credit Card

Chase Freedom Unlimited^® Credit Card
Learn how to apply on our partner's secure site

• INTRO OFFER: Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
• Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, the premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
• No annual fee
• Compare the Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Chase Freedom Flex
• Member FDIC

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is my go to card when I’m CONUS.

The cash back is earned as Chase Ultimate Reward Points. You can transfer them to your Chase Sapphire Reserve to maximize the value of the points and get more than 1 cent per point.

The card offers 5% back on travel bought through the Chase Travel℠ portal, 3% back on dining and drugstores, 1.5% cash back on all other purchases, and no annual fee. Great to use for online purchases or anything other than travel and dining which you should get 3% back on with your Sapphire Reserve.

This is my default card when I’m back in the States. If you can get 5% back on rotating categories like gas or groceries with the Chase Freedom Flex℠ card above do that. Otherwise use this card to get 1.5% cash back on every purchase. Compare the Freedom Flex vs the Freedom Unlimited in this article.

Chase Freedom Flex℠ Credit Card

Chase Freedom Flex^℠ Credit Card
Learn how to apply on our partner's secure site

• Earn $200 cash back (20,000 Ultimate Reward points) when you spend $500 in 3 months
• 5% cash back on travel purchased through the Chase Travel℠ portal
• 3% on dining at restaurants, takeout, and delivery
• 3% back on drugstore purchases
• 1% back on all other purchases
• 5% on up to $1,500 of purchases in specific bonus categories each quarter
• No annual fee
• Compare the Chase Freedom Flex vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited

The Chase Freedom Flex card offers 5% back on rotating categories and no annual fee. It also has great points earning on travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on everything else.

The welcome bonus is paid in Ultimate Reward points worth 50% more if you transfer them to your Chase Sapphire Reserve with no annual fee for military.

I have had this card since I joined the military over a decade ago. I keep it open to age my credit history with no annual fee.

Gasoline is usually one of the categories for half the year, making this a great card to use to fill the car up. I usually put whatever the 5% category is on the Chase Freedom Flex, then travel and dining on my Chase Sapphire Reserve, and then everything else on my Chase Freedom Unlimited.

Citi® Double Cash Card

The Citi® Double Cash Card offers 2% cash back on all purchases: 1% when you make the purchase and 1% when you pay off the purchase.

American Express Cash Magnet Card

• Learn how to apply for the American Express Cash Magnet^® Card
• Earn $200 Back after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You will receive the $200 back in the form of a statement credit.†
• 1.5% cash back unlimited
• No annual fee
• *All information about American Express Cash Magnet^® Card has been collected independently by MilitaryMoneyManual.com

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

• Learn how to apply for the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
• $200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
• Earn Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases including gas, BX, PX, AAFES, and Shoppette
• Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, Terms apply
• No limit to how much you can earn, points never expire, no rotating categories
• No annual fee
• No foreign transaction fees (rare for no annual fee cards)

Cash back cards offer US military members an easy way to earn cash for the day to day spending of life.

My first credit card was a cash back American Express. A cash back card is a great way to start building your credit history so you can qualify for the best military credit cards, like the Amex Platinum (read my full American Express military Platinum review). Or check out my full list of credit cards that waive annual fees for military.

Are you are more of the travelling type? Does the idea of flying business class to New Zealand and Australia for New Year's Eve sound like a dream vacation? Then check out my step by step guide of no annual fee luxury travel cards for military servicemembers. Or sign up for my complete beginner's course for military credit cards, the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course.

Cash Back Credit Cards for Military FAQ