Best gas rewards credit cards of September 2023

The Bonus: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in the first six months. 

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Foreign Transaction Fee: foreign_fee

The Rewards: If you know you spend plenty at U.S. supermarkets and gas stations to offset an annual fee, this card is likely a better option than its no-annual-fee cousin, CardName. You earn 6% cash back on the first $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each year (then, 1%) and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions; 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit like taxis, bus fares, tolls, parking and more; and 1% back on your other purchases.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• This card offers a whopping 6% cash back on grocery purchases at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 spent per year. That works out to a maximum of $360 in cash back if you just max out that opportunity. You can also earn unlimited 3% cash back on transit and gas purchases at U.S. gas stations, among other rewards.
• There is a nice introductory offer of 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, the rate is RegAPR, based on your creditworthiness.
• The welcome bonus is attractive and can be earned with even moderate spending.

CONS:

• There is an annual fee to consider. If you don't plan to use the card regularly, it may be hard to offset this.
• This isn't the best card to travel abroad with as it charges a fee on foreign transactions.

Read our full CardName.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: New cardholders can earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – a bonus worth as much as $300 cash back.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Foreign Transaction Fee: foreign_fee

The Rewards: Earn 5% back on travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases and 1.5% back on all other purchases.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• This card has a stunningly lucrative rewards program that offers at least 1.5% cash back on every purchase and as much as 5% cash back on some of your purchases. Furthermore, you can combine rewards earned with this card with rewards earned through other Ultimate Rewards earning cards, which makes these rewards quite flexible.
• There is a welcome bonus worth up to $300 cash back – each purchase made during your first year (up to $20,000 spent) earns an extra 1.5% cash back.
• New cardholders receive an intro 0% APR for purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (then RegAPR).

CONS:

• There are a bunch of categories to keep up with if you want to maximize your rewards earning. Great for top rewards, not so great if you're just looking for something simple. That said, earning at least 1.5% cash back on every purchase certainly isn't bad.
• To max out the welcome bonus opportunity, you need to spend $20,000 in the first year, which isn't possible for a lot of people.
• There is a foreign transaction fee on this card, which is a drawback for anyone who travels internationally or makes purchases in a foreign currency regularly.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: Earn 60,000 Citi ThankYou Points – worth up to $600 in gift cards or travel rewards when redeemed through thankyou.com – after you spend $4,000 in the first three months. Plus, for a limited time, earn 10 points per $1 on hotels, car rentals and attractions (excluding air travel) booked via the Citi Travel portal through June 30, 2024.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Rewards Rate: Earn three points per $1 at gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, on air travel and hotels. Earn one point per $1 on other purchases.

Credit Score Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• You can receive a $100 statement credit in hotel savings every year on a single stay of more than $500. That more than offsets your annual fee.
• Many everyday-type purchases earn three points per $1 spent, making this card an excellent choice for regular use.
• You'll save money when using this card while abroad as it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.

CONS:

• While there are a lot of everyday categories in which to earn top rewards, this rewards card doesn't always offer the best value when you redeem your rewards. There are is no extra value for redeeming through the proprietary portal, for instance, and the travel partners aren't really the most popular ones out there.
• Keep in mind that there is an annual fee to consider; it's reasonable, but it isn't worth it if you aren't going to more than offset it with your rewards and features. The annual hotel bonus, discussed in the above Pros, would more than do it if you can take advantage of that.

Read our full review of the CardName card.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

Bonus: If you need a few extra months to pay off an existing balance from another card, take advantage of an introductory 18 months of no interest on balance transfers (then, RegAPR).

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Foreign Transaction Fees: foreign_fee

The Rewards: Earn 1% cash back when you make your purchases and another 1% cash back when you pay for your purchases by paying your credit card bill. That effectively means you can earn a 2% cash back on all your purchases. Not too shabby for a no-annual-fee credit card.

PROS:

• At 18 months the intro 0% APR period for balance transfers is one of the better offers on the market. After the intro a RegAPR APR applies.
• A $0 annual fee is always a good place to start a relationship with any card.
• Citi® Double Cash Card offers a delightfully simple 2% cash on all purchases. You get 1% when you make the purchase and another 1% when you pay for them (be sure to make the minimum payment due on time to earn that second 1% back).

CONS:

• This card doesn't offer an introductory interest rate for purchases.
• To qualify for the bonus cash-back rewards, you need to make at least the minimum payment, on time each month. We actually like this as it encourages good credit card habits, but if you can't make your payments on time you'll want to keep it in mind.

Read our full CardName.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within your first 90 days as a cardholder.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Rewards Rate: Earn 4x points on dining (including takeout and delivery); 2x points on streaming services as well as at gas stations and EV charging stations, grocery stores and grocery deliver, and one point per $1 spent on your other eligible purchases.

Credit Score Needed:  CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• Take advantage of an intro 0% APR for 12 billing cycles balance transfers made in the first 60 days as well as on purchases. After the intro period, the APR becomes RegAPR.
• Look at those rewards on everyday purchases! Perhaps the best part is that there aren't spending caps on even the highest rewards categories. That means the sky's the limit for rewards you can earn.
• Enjoy an annual $15 statement credit for select streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, Apply Music, Spotify and more.

CONS:

• The rewards for your gas station purchases and EV charging station purchases are solid, but they are about the only "travel" type purchases that earns accelerated rewards. This card is really designed for the person who wants big earning on the things they purchase every day rather than the big trips they take a few times a year.
• There is a nice 0% intro APR on balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles on transfers made in the first 60 days, but there's also a balance transfer fee to consider: BalanceTransferFees.

Read our full CardName

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: Earn 15,000 points after you spend $1,500 in the first 90 days of account opening.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Foreign Transaction Fee: foreign_fee

The Rewards: Rake in five points per $1 spent (the equivalent of 5% back) on gas purchases paid at the pump at electric vehicle charging stations as well as three points per $1 on supermarket; restaurant/dining; and cable, satellite, and other tv/radio/streaming services. Earn one point per $1 on your other purchases.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• When it comes to rewards on gas purchases, very few cards can match this one. You earn five points (5%) on every $1 spent on gas at the pump (fuel for airplanes and boats and made in store via attendant earn one point per dollar spent). For what it's worth, you also earn 5x points on purchases at electric vehicle charging stations.
• This card has a has a good ongoing interest rate, from RegAPR, depending on credit worthiness.
• On top of everything else, PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® has no annual fee.

CONS:

• The welcome bonus is not something that will generate much excitement. You can earn a modest 15,000 points after you spend $1,500 in the first 90 days of account opening.
• Access to this card is not easy. You need an excellent credit rating to be approved.

Read our full CardName.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: There isn't a traditional bonus with this card, but that isn't unusual in for cards available to those with Fair/Average credit.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Rewards Rate: Earn 1.5% cash back on all your purchases, including those at gas stations.

Credit Score Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• We like things nice and simple. This card offers a flat 1.5% cash back on every purchase. No caps, no categories, no expiration.
• There are no foreign transaction fees to worry about, so feel free to take this card along when you travel abroad or just use it when making online purchases in foreign currency from the comfort of your own home.
• Using the card responsibly could qualify you for a higher credit limit in as little as six months; plus, responsible use will help improve your credit score so you can work toward achieving a number in the good/excellent range.

CONS:

• There's no welcome bonus offer on this card; that's not unusual for a card available to people with fair/average credit, but it could still be disappointing.
• The annual fee isn't high, but it's there and something to consider. Rewards cards for people in the fair/average credit score range aren't easy to come by, though, so the annual fee could very well be worth it.

Read our full CardName.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

PROS:

• When it comes to rewards, cards available to those with limited credit aren't commonly going to offer them. This one, however, offers you 2% cash back on gas station and restaurant purchases up to $1,000 spent quarterly in combined purchases (then, 1%).
• As unusual as rewards are on cards for low/no credit, welcome bonus offers are even more rare. Once again, this Discover card rises to the occasion. Discover will match all the cash back you earn during your first year as a cardholder.
• With responsible use, this card can help you build or rebuild your credit score.

CONS:

• To establish your line of credit, you need to make a minimum $200 security deposit. That's a healthy chunk of money to come up with up front. If that's going to be a problem, there are other secured cards out there that offer lower security deposit opportunities.
• Discover cards are becoming more widely accepted all the time, but they still lack the reach of a Visa or Mastercard. It's just something to think about, but may not be an issue at all depending on where you normally make purchases.

Read our full CardName.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

PROS:

• Student cards aren't necessarily known for great welcome bonus opportunities, but this one has it. Matching cash back for new cardholders is what sets Discover cards apart. The card will match, dollar for dollar, all the cash back you've earned during the first year you have the card.
• Another unusual student card feature: an intro 0% APR on purchases for six months (then, RegAPR)

CONS:

• The $1,000 combined quarterly spending cap on the 2% cash back category of dining and gas isn't terribly high. If you tend to spend more in those categories, another card might be a better choice.
• While their reach is growing, Discover cards are still not as widely accepted as Visa and Mastercard cards. This is especially true outside of the United States.

Read our full review of the CardName.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: There's no traditional bonus, but you can save on interest with a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; after that your APR will be RegAPR.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Foreign Transaction Fee: foreign_fee

The Rewards: Cash back rewards are offered at a flat 2% cash back on eligible purchases up to $50,000 spent in a calendar year, then 1%. Your cash-back earned is automatically credited to your statement.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• This card offers a beautifully simple cash-back rewards program. You earn 2% cash back on your first $50,000 in eligible spending each year, then 1% on everything after that.
• A very nice intro 0% APR on purchases for 12 months, then RegAPR. No interest for a year can have a big impact on your business' bottom line.
• It should also be noted that this card offers "expanded buying power." This gives you the ability to spend beyond your credit limit. This is not an unlimited feature but if you have a major expense or an unforeseen emergency expense comes up, this could come in very handy.

CONS:

• Getting approved for this card is not a slam dunk. You need good to excellent credit for approval.
• The is a fee on all foreign transactions or transactions in foreign currency. It's less than some cards but can still take a bite out your bottom line if you do a lot of traveling overseas for business.

Read our full review of CardName.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.