What is the best 5% cash back credit card?

The best 5% cash back credit card is Discover it – Cashback Match, but there are several other notable choices including Chase Freedom and some store credit cards. Discover it and Chase Freedom both offer 5% cash back in specified bonus categories, which change every three months, plus 1% on everything else. Store cards can only be used at the retailers they’re tied to, but if you shop there often, why not get 5% cash back? Let’s take a closer look at your choices.

Here are the best 5% cash back credit cards:

• Discover it – Cashback Match: 5% cash back on the first $1,500 spent in the quarter’s purchase categories, 1% on everything else. No annual fee. First year’s cash back matched at the end of the year. Requires good credit.
  
• Chase Freedom: 5% cash back on the first $1,500 spent in the quarter’s purchase categories, 1% on everything else. $150 initial bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months. Requires excellent credit.
  
• Amex Cashback Rewards Plus: 5% cash back on $5,000 in gas and military purchases each year, 2% on the first $3,000 at supermarkets per year, unlimited 1% on everything else. Requires good credit.
  
• Amazon Store Card: 5% cash back on all Amazon purchases for Amazon Prime members only. No annual fee. Requires fair credit.
  
• Target REDcard: 5% cash back at Target and Target.com. No annual fee. Requires fair credit.
  
• Lowe’s Store Card: 5% cash back at Lowe’s. No annual fee. Requires fair credit.
  
• Staples Credit Card: 5% cash back at Staples. No annual fee. Requires fair credit.

There are even more store cards that offer 5% cash back rates, so it’s worth looking into what your favorite retailers bring to the table. Pretty much all store credit cards only require fair credit to get, too. But for overall value, Discover it – Cashback Match is your best bet for a 5% cash back credit card because it actually gives you up to 10% back the first year. You need good credit, though. 

Chase Freedom and Discover it - Cashback Match are your best options. I love these cards & really, you can't get anything better than that.

Kind of depends on what you're looking for, there are quite a few 5% cash back cards. My personal favorite is Chase Freedom, with the changing categories.

Definitely depends on your spending habits. For me it's the Chase Freedom, but you have to keep track of the changing bonus categories every quarter.