We Compared 100+ Credit Cards -- This Is the Best Cash Back Card for February 2026

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

Joel O'Leary

By: Joel O'Leary

Full-Time Personal Finance Writer

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation.

My team looks at credit cards all day -- perks, promos, hidden fees, all the fine print. After reviewing 100+ options for 2026, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) got chosen as our top pick for cash back.

It has no annual fee, and a rare mix of generous cash back, easy redemptions, and a light-lift welcome offer.

Here's everything you need to know.

Why this card topped our 2026 rankings

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® was recently crowned Best Overall Cash Back Card for 2026 in the Motley Fool Money annual awards.

Here's a quick look at what it offers:

  • Easy welcome offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
  • 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
  • 3% cash back on drugstores, restaurants, takeout, and eligible food delivery
  • 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
  • Intro APR offer: 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers (then a 18.24% - 27.74% Variable APR)
  • $0 annual fee

That's a pretty impressive package, with features that fit a wide range of households.

Award Icon 2026 Award Winner

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®

On Chase's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Chase Freedom Unlimited®
4.80/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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4.80/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®

On Chase's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months

Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months

Regular APR

18.24% - 27.74% Variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases

1.5% - 5% cash back

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening

Earn $200 cash back

  • The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is the ideal all-in-one card, offering both big upfront value and long-term rewards. New cardholders can earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months. Plus, enjoy unlimited 3% back on dining and drugstores, 5% on travel booked through Chase Travel, and 1.5% on all other purchases. With the added benefit of 0% intro APR for 15 months, this card is perfect for a one-card wallet.

    Read Full Review
    • Innovative sign-up bonus
    • Purchase and travel protections
    • Robust rewards program
    • Great intro APR
    • No annual fee
    • Limited bonus opportunities on everyday spending
    • Foreign transaction fee
    • Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
    • Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
    • No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
    • Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 27.74%.
    • No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
    • Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
    • Member FDIC

How much cash back can you earn?

Here's a simple spending scenario to illustrate what a typical family could earn in cash back over a year.

If you spend:

  • $2,000 on travel through Chase Travel at 5% = $100 back
  • $2,000 on dining and drugstores at 3% = $60 back
  • $24,000 in general spending (about $2,000/month) at 1.5% = $360 back
  • Plus the welcome offer = $200 back (after spending $500 in the first 3 months)

That's $720 in total cash back in the first year, without really trying too hard.

And this is just a baseline example. If you lean more heavily into travel or dining, those boosted rewards can add up much faster.

How to redeem your cash back

The best thing about cash back cards is how simple redemptions are. There's no confusing points programs to remember or online portals you have to use to claim rewards.

With the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you can simply get all your cash back as a statement credit, or deposit it right into your checking or savings account.

There are options to trade rewards for travel, gift cards, or other perks through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, but that's optional.

And since rewards never expire as long as your account stays open, you can stack them up at your own pace.

Don't miss the welcome offer

Right now, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is offering $200 cash back when you spend just $500 in your first 3 months.

That's a pretty easy threshold, even for low spenders. You could hit it with regular grocery trips, utility bills, and shopping.

And since there's no annual fee, every dollar you earn is pure upside. That's exactly why it earned our top spot for February 2026.

Read the full Chase Freedom Unlimited® review here to learn more and apply.

Our Research Expert

Joel O'Leary
Joel O'Leary icon-button-linkedin-2x

Joel O’Leary is a full-time Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money, covering credit cards, bank accounts, investing, mortgages, and other personal finance topics. Joel has been writing about personal finance since 2018, previously leading editorial content for the How To Money podcast and serving as a resident writer at Budgets Are Sexy. He bought his first rental property at age 18, funding the down payment with savings from his high school job at McDonald’s -- a testament to his lifelong passion for smart money decisions. His work aims to make personal finance accessible and actionable for everyday readers. When he’s not writing, Joel enjoys surfing and spending time with his family.