I've been writing about credit cards for nearly a decade now, and in that time, I've reviewed countless cards. It's a simple fact that some credit cards are better than others, and many cover a lot of the same categories.
I've found these three are all I need to cover my top spending habits -- travel, dining, essentials like gas and groceries, and everything else. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card*, Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express and the most recent addition, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card*.
I started with the Blue Cash Preferred and Active Cash cards
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Both cards provide two of the best rewards programs in their respective categories -- the Blue Cash Preferred is a tiered rewards card focused on select U.S. streaming subscriptions and purchases at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, while the Active Cash is a flat-rate card with no bonus categories.
The Blue Cash Preferred has one of the highest cash-back rates on the market. It does charge a $95 annual fee ($0 intro annual fee for the first year, see rate and fees), but its rewards quickly eclipse it -- something I can personally attest to.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express earns impressive rewards for some of your essential purchases.
I use it every time I need to restock my kitchen or fill up my gas tank and I've never once noticed its annual fee. It's also earning rewards in the background for my streaming subscriptions. I receive cash back in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Americans spent $6,053 per household on groceries in 2023, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%).
If you spend like the average American, you could earn $268.18 (($6,053 x 0.06) - $95) per year with the Blue Cash Preferred from grocery spending alone. And that's after subtracting the card's annual fee.
The no-annual-fee Wells Fargo Active Cash complements nearly every tiered rewards credit card with its flat 2% cash rewards for your purchases, regardless of spending category. It's a good option to consider if there are any purchases you're making that you aren't earning a high return on.
Both cards also feature introductory APR offers that can help you finance a large purchase and pay it down over time without interest.
I originally chose the Active Cash to help pay off my taxes without having to worry about interest for a number of months. At the time, the Active Cash featured an introductory 0% APR for purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 months from account opening (then 20.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% variable APR).
The card's current 0% introductory purchase APR lasts for 12 months from account opening (then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR). I didn't use the Active Cash for purchases until my balance from the tax bill was fully paid off.
The Blue Cash Preferred's introductory APR offer on purchases and balance transfers now matches the Active Cash's current offer -- 12 months from account opening (then 20.24% to 29.24% variable). You won't have to worry about interest charges during that time (see rates and fees).
Each card also features a welcome offer with reasonable spending thresholds. If you can earn the bonuses, your first year with both cards will be even more rewarding. But don't overspend just for the sake of a welcome bonus.
Using the cards together
Maximizing the rewards you get from both credit cards is simple:
- Use the Blue Cash Preferred to earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions and 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit.
- Use the Active Cash for other purchases to earn a flat 2% cash rewards.
I use the Blue Cash Preferred for my essential purchases and my Active Cash for everything not covered by the Blue Cash Preferred. Essentially, if I'm not at the grocery store or gas station, the Blue Cash Preferred sits snugly in my wallet while the Active Cash does all the work.
In 2024, I earned $226.58 back from my Blue Cash Preferred and I've earned $687.19 with the Active Cash since applying for it in 2022.
How to redeem your rewards
Redemption with both cards is straightforward. The best way to do so is to redeem your cash back or cash rewards for statement credits.
The Blue Cash Preferred has no minimum redemption amount, while the Active Cash lets you redeem your statement credits against purchases of as little as $1. Statement credits lower the overall balance of your account, but they don't go toward your minimum payment.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash also lets you redeem your rewards for gift cards in increments of $25, from an ATM with a $20 minimum, or into an eligible Wells Fargo checking or savings account.
You could also use them for purchases through PayPal. Redeeming your rewards as statement credits or into an eligible bank account will be your best bet.
This year's addition -- the Chase Sapphire Preferred
I added a third card to my wallet last April, one that covers two categories that were previously lacking: travel and dining.
The Sapphire Preferred earns 5x points for travel booked through Chase Travel℠, 3x points on dining and 2x points for all other travel. By using it whenever I eat out or travel, I earn enough rewards to cover some of the expense.
It also provides an annual $50 hotel credit for hotels booked through Chase (which helps to essentially lower its $95 annual fee to $45 yearly). It was a nice bonus when booking my hotel earlier this year.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns great travel rewards and features one of the best rewards programs available.
This card was especially rewarding on my recent trip to Europe, where I was able to use it for all of my purchases thanks to its lack of foreign transaction fees. I was also able to very nearly earn its welcome bonus with spending for this trip alone.
It's a great card to be sure, and I'm glad to have it, but it doesn't quite check all the boxes. I might end up upgrading to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, a more advanced Sapphire travel card.
More credit card pairings worth considering
The Goldilocks combo of the Blue Cash Preferred and Wells Fargo Active Cash isn't exactly a rare occurrence. Both cards pair well with other cards, too. Keep in mind, the Active Cash works well with pretty much any tiered rewards card.
- Blue Cash Preferred and the Chase Freedom Unlimited®*: The Freedom Unlimited earns 3% cash back for drugstore and dining purchases -- two categories the Blue Cash Preferred only earns 1% back on -- plus a 1.5% base rate for everything else. Employ a similar strategy as you would with the Active Cash: Use each card in its respective bonus categories, and the Freedom Unlimited as the catch-all card for its higher base rate.
- Blue Cash Preferred and the Citi Double Cash® Card*: The Double Cash is very similar to the Active Cash with its 2% flat cash-back rate (1% when you buy, plus an additional 1% when you pay for those purchases), although it offers fewer perks and doesn't have an intro 0% APR for new purchases. But if you already have a relationship with Citi or want to get into the Citi ThankYou Points ecosystem, it's still a good option.
- Blue Cash Preferred and the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card*: If you're looking to earn travel rewards with no annual fee, the VentureOne Rewards Card provides 1.25x miles for every purchase. That flat rate is less than the Active Cash, Double Cash or Freedom Unlimited, but the VentureOne's main benefit is that you can transfer your miles to 18 airline and hotel partners without needing a premium (read: annual fee-charging) credit card.
The strategy for these card pairings will be the same as it is for using the Active Cash with the Blue Cash Preferred. Use either card where it earns the most.
My favorite card trifecta
The Blue Cash Preferred, Wells Fargo Active Cash and Sapphire Preferred are three of the best credit cards you could choose. They all offer a great return on common purchases, have reasonable spending thresholds for their welcome offers and provide several useful perks.
The only downside is that they typically require good to excellent credit to qualify for. If your credit score isn't in great shape, you might want to improve your credit with a credit-builder or secured card before applying for any of them.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express, click here.
*All information about the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, the Citi Double Cash® Card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and the Chase Sapphire Preferred has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
