Match your wallet to your life: groceries, gas, dining, and streaming—no spreadsheet gymnastics required.
Below are our editor picks for steady, no-drama value, plus a couple of optional “boosters” if you want to squeeze a bit more.
Quick Picks (by how most people spend)
One-card simplicity (set-and-forget):
- Wells Fargo Active Cash® — Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases; no categories to track. Great as a primary card if you want easy earnings everywhere.
Everyday categories without juggling:
- Citi Custom Cash® — 5% cash back on your highest eligible category each billing cycle (up to $500, then 1%): restaurants, grocery stores, gas, select streaming, transit, drugstores, and more. It auto-targets your top category, so you don’t have to.
- Amex Blue Cash Preferred® — Heavy U.S. supermarket and streaming households win here: 6% back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6k/yr, then 1%) and 6% on select U.S. streaming services, plus 3% at U.S. gas stations and on transit. Terms apply.
Rotating categories (optional “bursts”):
- Chase Freedom Flex℠ — Activate 5% quarterly categories (on up to $1,500/quarter), 3% on dining and drugstores, and 5% on travel via Chase. Activate each quarter; otherwise maintenance is minimal.
- Discover it® Cash Back — 5% rotating categories (on up to $1,500/quarter with activation) and an end-of-year Cashback Match® for new card members.
Pick-your-own category (gas, online, or more):
- Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards — Choose one 3% category (like gas/EV, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement) and get 2% at grocery/wholesale clubs (quarterly cap applies). You can change the 3% category monthly.
Flat-rate backup / second card:
- Citi® Double Cash — Effective 2% back on everything (1% when you buy + 1% when you pay)—a perfect companion to any category card.
Build a no-drama wallet (2 simple setups)
Setup A — “Auto-optimize” (zero micromanagement):
- Primary: Citi Custom Cash for automatic 5% in your top category each month (often groceries or gas).
- Backup: Wells Fargo Active Cash (or Citi Double Cash) for a reliable 2% on everything else.
Setup B — “Family of four” (big groceries + streaming):
- Primary: Amex Blue Cash Preferred for 6% U.S. supermarkets and 6% select U.S. streaming; use it at the pump too (3% gas).
- Backup: Wells Fargo Active Cash (2%) wherever Amex isn’t accepted.
Want to chase quarterly deals? Layer in Chase Freedom Flex or Discover it for rotating 5% bursts.
Activate once each quarter; we’ll remind you in our newsletter.
Why these cards win
- Real-world categories: Groceries, gas, dining, drugstores, transit, and streaming are covered across the picks above.
- Simple redemptions: All highlighted cards redeem cleanly for statement credit/cash without hoops. (Issuer terms apply; see each card page.)
- Stackable without spreadsheets: One strong category earner + one flat-rate card is usually all you need.
Fine print you shouldn’t skip
- Rewards rates, caps, and eligible merchants change. Always check the issuer’s page today before applying. We link to official pages above.
- Annual fees, intro APRs, and sign-up bonuses vary and may not fit every situation.
WalletAware shares education, not individualized financial advice. Always confirm current terms on the issuer’s site before applying.