If you’ve spent any amount of time looking for a rewards credit card, you’ve quickly noticed that many of the best offers are for frequent travelers. But the good news is that there are plenty of rewards credit cards designed for those who like to stay closer to home. Rewards credit cards that don’t focus on travel benefits can offer ways to stretch your budget further in the form of cash back.
Picking out the right credit card rewards opportunity as someone who doesn’t travel often comes down to your spending categories. You’ll want to find a credit card that offers the most bang for your buck in terms of how you spend your money.
5 Best Rewards Credit Cards for People Who Don’t Travel
Here’s a quick guide to the best credit card rewards for people who don’t travel.
| Card | Annual Fee | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| American Express® Blue Cash Preferred Credit Card | Earn $300 after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months. | |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | $0 | Unlimited matched cash back at the end of the first year |
| Capital One SavorOne Rewards Credit Card | $0 | Earn $200 after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months. |
| Discover it Cash Back Credit Card | $0 | None |
| Citi Double Cash Card | $0 | Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months. |
Best for: Groceries and streaming
The American Express® Blue Cash Preferred Card comes with an annual fee after the first year. But even with the fee, the card opens the door to worthwhile credit card rewards. For starters, you can earn 6% cash back on up to $6,000 in purchases at U.S. supermarkets, then 1% thereafter. Although this category doesn’t include warehouse stores or superstores, you could still rack up plenty of rewards. All of your cash back can be redeemed as a statement credit.
- Features: Earn 6% cash back on up to $6,000 in grocery purchases at U.S. supermarkets, then 1% after; earn 6% cash back on select streaming services; earn 3% cash back on transit costs; earn 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Redemption options: You receive this cash back in the form of Reward Dollars, which can be redeemed as a statement credit.
- Bonus: Earn $300 after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months.
- APR: 0% APR for 12 months; APR of after the intro period.
- Annual fee:
Best for: Everyday spending
The Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card is a popular option among those looking for a rewards credit card that doesn’t focus on travel perks. The card’s benefits kick off with unlimited matched cash back for the first year. From there, the cash-back rewards continue with rewards of 5% cash back on Chase travel. Plus, there’s no annual fee to keep up with.
- Features: Earn 3% cash back on dining, earn 3% cash back on drugstore purchases, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, earn 1.5% cash back on all other purchases; cash-back rewards don’t expire as long as your account is open.
- Redemption options: You can redeem these rewards as a statement credit, direct deposit, shopping with Points on Amazon, gift cards and Chase Ultimate Rewards travel purchases.
- Bonus: Unlimited Matched Cash Back. Use your card for all your purchases and at the end of your first year, Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned! There is no limit to how much you can earn. Every dollar in cash back rewards you earn is a dollar Chase will match.
- APR: 0% APR for 15 months; APR of after the intro period.
- Annual fee: $0
Capital One SavorOne Rewards Credit Card
Best for: Dining and entertainment
The Capital One SavorOne Rewards Credit Card is an ideal option for those who enjoy dining out closer to home. You’ll earn unlimited 3% cash back on all of your dining purchases. With that, you can stretch your dining dollars farther. A $0 annual fee is the icing on this impressive cake.
- Features: Earn 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, select streaming services and grocery purchases; earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Redemption options: You can redeem these rewards, which won’t expire as long as your account is open, through PayPal purchases, check, gift card or a statement credit.
- Bonus: Earn $200 after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months.
- APR: 0% APR for 15 months; APR of after the intro period.
- Annual fee: $0
Credit Card
Best for: Rotating cash-back categories
The Discover it Cash Back Credit Card offers a flexible cash-back rewards experience. Each quarter, you’ll find a different category to earn 5% cash back in. For example, you could earn 5% back on up to $1,500 in purchases on Amazon and through digital wallets in the last quarter of 2022.
- Features: Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 purchases in rotating categories; earn 1% cash back on all other purchases; get an unlimited cash back match at the end of your first year, which effectively doubles your cash back rewards.
- Redemption options: You can redeem this cash back through direct deposit, a statement credit or purchases through Amazon.com or Paypal.
- Bonus: None
- APR: 0% APR for 15 months; APR of after the intro period.
- Annual fee: $0
Best for: Straightforward rewards
The Citi Double Cash Credit Card offers a somewhat interesting way to get your cash-back rewards. First, you’ll earn 1% cash back on all purchases made with the credit card. But you’ll double your cash back when you make pay off the purchase. In order to get the second 1% cash back, you’ll need to make at least your minimum payment on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
- Features: Earn 1% cash back on all purchases; earn an additional 1% cash back with you pay off the purchase.
- Redemption options: You can redeem this cash back as a statement credit, direct deposit, check, gift card, travel or points on Amazon.
- Bonus: $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening
- APR: 0% APR on balance transfers for 18 months; APR of on balance transfers after the intro period and on purchases
- Annual fee: $0
Which Card Is Right For You?
When selecting a rewards credit card, the first choice people tend to make is between a cash-back rewards credit card and a travel rewards credit card. If you don’t travel on a regular basis, then staying away from travel rewards credit cards is a no-brainer. However, there are still other considerations to keep in mind.
First, you’ll need to keep a close eye on the annual fees. If you don’t spend enough the justify an annual fee, then it’s best to stick to a card that doesn’t have one of these fees attached. Also, take a look at how your spending stacks up to the rewards opportunities. If a particular credit card doesn’t offer rewards for your most frequent purchases, then it’s likely not the best fit.
Additionally, consider your goals for the credit card. If you are planning to make a major purchase, then consider credit cards with a 0% introductory APR to avoid overpaying in interest. And finally, make sure to read the fine print about your redemption options. Some credit cards only offer rewards in the form of statement credits, but others will send you a check.
Ultimately, you have plenty of excellent options. But take a close look at your choices before moving forward with any one option.
FAQ
If you're weighing the pros and cons of getting a travel rewards card, consider the answers to these common questions.- Are travel credit cards worth it if you don't spend much?
- Whether a travel card is worth it depends on the card. If you don't travel much but want to earn points when you do, consider a card that offers a variety of rewards categories or a travel-specific card that doesn't have an annual fee.
- What credit card can be used globally?
- Many cards are accepted worldwide, especially Visa and Mastercard. For the best cards to use internationally, look for one with no foreign transaction fees, like the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card or Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card.
- Which airline credit card does not have an annual fee?
- Most airline credit cards do have an annual fee, but the Chase United Gateway card and Delta Skymiles Gold from American Express® are both solid airline cards with no annual fee.
- Which Capital One credit card is the best for international travel?
- Capital One has four solid travel rewards cards. If you can earn enough rewards to justify the annual fee, the Venture X offers the most perks and rewards, but if you'd rather not pay an annual fee, the VentureOne Rewards card is also an excellent choice.
Rates are subject to change; unless otherwise noted, rates are updated periodically. All other information on accounts is accurate as of Oct. 18, 2022.
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