Forbes compared dozens of options to find and rank the best 5% cash-back credit cards. Factors considered include:
- Purchase categories earning 5% cash back (or more)
- Earning caps, limits or other restrictions
- Earning rates on other categories
- Annual fees
- Introductory APR offers on purchases and/or balance transfers
- Welcome bonuses
- Statement credits
- Other ongoing card benefits
Forbes Advisor rates cards both as stand-alone products (the card rating on the review) and compared to others in a specific use case. Sometimes, cards with average stand-alone ratings may still rank highly on a particular list, depending on how a person looking for a card in that category values certain card features.
For instance, a card that might be considered mediocre overall could be the top card on a list of rewards cards with no annual fee. That’s because the card might offer limited features compared to other rewards cards, but after we remove cards that charge an annual fee, it’s the best card that remains.
Forbes Advisor re-evaluates each credit card list at least every 12 months to determine if any cards need to be added and/or removed. However, a list could be updated sooner if significant changes are made to the mentioned cards or if a new credit card is announced that’s likely to impact the category.
To learn more about our rating and review methodology and editorial process, check out our guide on how Forbes Advisor rates credit cards.