Christie Matherne, Credit Card Writer
@christie_matherne
The average cash back rate on credit cards is 1.18% cash back on qualifying purchases, according to WalletHub's latest Credit Card Landscape Report, which tracks 1,500+ credit card offers. The average initial bonus is $272.5 cash back.
Ongoing cash back rewards rates have steadily increased over the past 10 years, rising by about 21% during that time. The average bonus has increased by nearly 160% during that same time frame.
Average Cash Back Rate by Year
| Year | Cash Back Rate |
| 2024 | 1.15% |
| 2023 | 1.14% |
| 2022 | 1.11% |
| 2021 | 1.08% |
| 2020 | 1.07% |
| 2019 | 1.06% |
| 2018 | 1.04% |
| 2017 | 1.02% |
| 2016 | 1.0% |
| 2015 | 0.98% |
| 2014 | 0.95% |
Note: Cash back rates reflect the average as of Q1 each year.
Best Cash Back Credit Cards
- Rates & Fees
- Rates & Fees Terms Apply
- Rates & Fees
- Details, Rates & Fees
For even more options, check out WalletHub’s editors’ full list of picks for the best cash back credit cards.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Popular Cash Back Credit Cards from Our Partners
-
Everyday Cash Back
-
Bonus Rewards
-
No Annual Fee
-
Fair Credit
People also ask
Is 5% cash back on a credit card good?
Getting 5% cash back on a credit card is very good. When you earn 5% cash back on a credit card, you're getting around five times more rewards value than you'd get from the average cash back credit card, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars.
Popular 5% Cash Back Credit Cards
- High Rewards Rate:
- High Rewards Rate:
- High Rewards Rate:
- Rates & Fees Bonus Categories:
- Rates & Fees Bonus Categories:
- Bonus Categories:
- Rates & Fees Big-Spenders:
- Rates & Fees Big-Spenders:
- Big-Spenders:
- High Rewards Rate:
- Bonus Categories:
- Big-Spenders:
These cards give 5% cash back on certain purchases, along with $0 annual fees, initial bonus offers, or...
read full answer by Maria Adams, Credit Cards ModeratorIs 1.5% cash back good?
Yes, 1.5% cash back is good when it comes to a credit card’s rewards rate as it is higher than the average cash back rewards rate among credit cards. So, it should be the starting point for anyone in the market for a flat-rate cash back card.
Notable 1.5% Flat-Rate Cash Back Credit Cards in 2026
- Details, Rates & Fees Initial Bonus:
- Details, Rates & Fees Initial Bonus:
- Initial Bonus:
- Rates & Fees Intro APR:
- Rates & Fees Intro APR:
- Intro APR:
- Fair Credit:
- Fair Credit:
- Fair Credit:
- Details, Rates & Fees Business:
- Details, Rates & Fees Business:
- Business:
- Initial Bonus:
- Intro APR:
- Fair Credit:
- Business:
These cards give at least 1.5% cash back on purchases, along with $0 annual fees, initial bonus offers, or...
read full answer by Maria Adams, Credit Cards ModeratorDid we answer your question?
Important Disclosures
Ad Disclosure: Certain offers that appear on this site originate from paying advertisers. For full transparency, here is a list of our current advertisers.
Advertisers compensate WalletHub when you click on a link, or your application is approved, or your account is opened. Advertising impacts how and where offers appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear and their prevalence). At WalletHub we try to present a wide array of offers, but our offers do not represent all financial services companies or products.
Advertising enables WalletHub to provide you proprietary tools, services, and content at no charge. Advertising does not impact WalletHub's editorial content including our best picks, reviews, ratings and opinions. Those are completely independent and not provided, commissioned, or endorsed by any company, as our editors follow a strict editorial policy.