Citibank is very widely used and accepted everywhere, making it one of the best choices for everyday credit cards compared to Amex, which usually caters to high-end customers.
Other credit card companies for everyday usage, in addition to Citibank, are CapitalOne, Chase, and Bank of America.
Another factor is the payment gateway. Visa and MasterCards are widely accepted as compared to Amex, Discover, Pulse, and Diners. For everyday usage, it is recommended to opt for Visa or MasterCard.
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Grocery | Supermarkets, local grocery stores |
| Gas | Gas stations, EV charging stations |
| Regular Dining | Restaurants, cafes, takeout orders |
| Commuting | Public transport, taxis, ride-sharing services |
| Online Shopping | E-commerce websites, digital marketplaces |
| In-Store Buying | Marts, malls, supermarkets, department stores |
| Other Retail Purchase | Clothing, electronics, personal care items |
| Paying Utility Bills | Electricity, water, gas, internet, phone |
| Paying Subscriptions | Streaming services, software, magazines |
Summary Table
Top 10 Credit Cards for Everyday Use in the USA in March 2025
| Serial Number | Name of Credit Card | Best Known for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Citi Double Cash® Card | Earns up to 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when you buy and an additional 1% as you pay off those purchases. |
| 2 | Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | Provides unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, offering straightforward cash back without category restrictions. |
| 3 | Chase Freedom Unlimited® | Offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases, plus higher rates in select categories like travel and dining, making it versatile for daily spending. |
| 4 | Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | Provides cash back on everyday purchases, including 3% at U.S. supermarkets (up to a spending cap), 2% at U.S. gas stations, and 1% on other purchases. |
| 5 | U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card | Allows you to choose two categories each quarter to earn 5% cash back (up to a spending cap), plus 2% cash back on one everyday category like gas stations or grocery stores. |
| 6 | Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards | Offers 3% cash back in a category of your choice (like gas, online shopping, dining), 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to a spending cap), and 1% on all other purchases. |
| 7 | Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | Provides unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, simplifying rewards without category restrictions. |
| 8 | Discover it® Cash Back | Earns 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and online shopping (up to a spending cap) and 1% on all other purchases. |
| 9 | Amazon Visa Credit Card | Offers cash back on Amazon purchases, with higher rates for Prime members, making it ideal for frequent Amazon shoppers. |
| 10 | Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi | Provides 4% cash back on eligible gas purchases (up to a spending cap), 3% on restaurants and eligible travel, 2% on Costco purchases, and 1% on all other purchases, benefiting regular Costco members. |
Best Credit Cards for Everyday Use in the USA in March 2025
1. Citi Double Cash® Card
The Citi Double Cash® Card, issued by Citi, offers a simple yet rewarding cashback program. Its best feature is earning 2% cashback (1% on purchases and 1% on payments). It benefits users with no category restrictions, making it a versatile choice for everyday spending.
- Issuer – CitiBank
- Payment Gateway – MasterCard
- Annual Fee – $0
- Credit Score – Good – Excellent
- Intro APR – 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers
- Regular APR – 18.24% – 28.24%
- Balance Transfer APR – 19.24%–29.24%
- Cash Advance Fee – 5% or $10
- Balance Transfer Fee – 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum)
- International Transaction Fee – 3%
- Best For – Everyday Users, Budget-Conscious
2. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a top-tier cashback credit card offering an unlimited 2% cash reward on every purchase. Issued by Wells Fargo, it provides straightforward rewards with no categories to track, making it an excellent everyday spending card.
- Issuer – Wells Fargo
- Payment Gateway – Visa
- Annual Fee – $0
- Credit Score – Good – Excellent
- Intro APR – 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers.
- Regular APR – 19.24% to 29.24% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer APR – 19.24% to 29.24% APR
- Cash Advance Fee – Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Balance Transfer Fee – 5% for each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5.
- International Transaction Fee – 3%
- Best For – Individuals Seeking Cash Back
3. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® Card is designed for everyday spending. Issued by Chase, it offers unlimited cash back on all purchases and helps manage expenses efficiently. It provides flexibility in earning rewards.
- Issuer – Chase
- Payment Gateway – MasterCard
- Annual Fee – $0
- Credit Score – Good – Excellent
- Intro APR – 0% for 15 months
- Regular APR – 20.24%–28.99%
- Balance Transfer APR – 20.24%–28.99%
- Cash Advance Fee – 5% or $10
- Balance Transfer Fee – Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- International Transaction Fee – 3%
- Best For – General Consumers
4. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
The American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card is one of the greatest options for earning rewards on regular purchases without paying an annual fee. The card provides robust cash back at American supermarkets, petrol stations, and internet merchants throughout the year. If you often buy online, this is a useful category since it’s one of the few cards that offers more cash back for U.S. online retail transactions.
- Issuer– American Express
- Payment Gateway – AMEX
- Annual Fee – $0
- Credit Score – Good/Excellent
- Intro APR – 0% on Purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR – 19.24%–29.99%
- Balance Transfer APR – 20.24%
- Cash Advance Fee – Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Balance Transfer Fee – 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum)
- International Transaction Fee – 0%
- Best For – Families, Online Shoppers
5. U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
The Citi Double Cash® Card, issued by Citi, offers a simple yet rewarding cashback program. Its best feature is earning 2% cashback (1% on purchases and 1% on payments). It benefits users with no category restrictions, making it a versatile choice for everyday spending.
- Issuer – U.S. Bank
- Payment Gateway – Visa
- Annual Fee – $0
- Credit Score – Good – Excellent
- Intro APR – 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers.
- Regular APR – 18.24% to 28.24% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer APR – 18.24% to 28.24% Variable APR
- Cash Advance Fee – Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Balance Transfer Fee – Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater
- International Transaction Fee – 3%
- Best For – Individuals Seeking Cash Back
6. Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards card, issued by Bank of America, offers 3% cash back in a category of your choice, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and 1% on all other purchases. It’s ideal for tailored rewards on everyday expenses.
- Issuer – Bank of America
- Payment Gateway – Visa
- Annual Fee – $0
- Credit Score – Good – Excellent
- Intro APR – 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
- Regular APR – 18.24% – 28.24%.
- Balance Transfer APR – 18.24% – 28.24%.
- Cash Advance Fee – N/A
- Balance Transfer Fee – 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum)
- International Transaction Fee – 3%
- Best For – Everyday Spenders
7. Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a straightforward cash-back credit card that provides 1.5% cash back on all purchases every day.
- Issuer – Capital One
- Payment Gateway – MasterCard
- Annual Fee – $0
- Credit Score – Good-Excellent
- Intro APR – 0% for 15 months
- Regular APR – 19.24%-29.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR – 19.24%-29.24% Variable
- Cash Advance Fee – Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Balance Transfer Fee – Typically 3% or 5%
- International Transaction Fee – 0%
- Best For – Everyday Users, Professionals
8. Discover it® Cash Back
The Discover it® Cash Back offers one of the best quarterly returns rates for a variety of daily spending. To optimize your rewards, you must activate your categories and track your spending to align with Discover’s quarterly bonus categories. This extra effort may make Discover’s Cashback Match® the best first-year offer available for a personal cash-back card.
- Issuer – Discover
- Payment Gateway – Discover
- Annual Fee – $0
- Credit Score – Good – Excellent
- Intro APR – 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
- Regular APR – Variable APR of 18.24% – 27.24%.
- Balance Transfer APR – 18.24% – 27.24%
- Cash Advance Fee – 5% or $10
- Balance Transfer Fee – 5%
- International Transaction Fee – 0%
- Best For – Everyday Spenders
9. Amazon Visa Credit Card
The Prime Visa Card is a most popular credit cards for online shopping, featuring high rewards rates on Amazon purchases, no spending limits, and Visa Signature advantages. You can offset the cost of your Amazon Prime membership by making Amazon purchases while also receiving crucial benefits such as travel and purchase protections.
- Issuer – Chase
- Payment Gateway – Visa
- Annual Fee – Good/Excellent
- Credit Score – N/A
- Intro APR – N/A
- Regular APR – 19.49% to 28.24%
- Balance Transfer APR – 19.49% to 28.24%
- Cash Advance Fee – Either $5 or 4% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.
- Balance Transfer Fee – Either $5 or 4% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- International Transaction Fee – N/A
- Best For – Online Shoppers
10. Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is perfect for Costco members. Its best feature is earning 4% cashback on eligible gas purchases. It benefits users with high rewards on gas, dining, and Costco purchases, making it a valuable card for everyday use.
- Issuer – CitiBank
- Payment Gateway – Visa
- Annual Fee – $0 (Costco membership required)
- Credit Score – Good – Excellent
- Intro APR – N/A
- Regular APR – 20.24%
- Balance Transfer APR – 20.24%
- Cash Advance Fee – 5% or $10
- Balance Transfer Fee – 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum)
- International Transaction Fee – 0%
- Best For – Costco Members, Frequent Drivers
What is an Everyday Use Credit Card?
An Everyday Use Credit Card is designed for frequent, regular expenses like groceries, gas, dining, and utility payments. These cards frequently provide perks such as cashback, points, or other rewards on everyday purchases, making them ideal for regular spending.
How It Works:
- Credit Limit: The card issuer sets a credit limit depending on your credit history and income. This limit is the maximum amount you may borrow using the card.
- Purchases: When you use the card for a transaction, you are borrowing money from the issuer to pay the merchant.
- Billing Cycle: At the end of each billing cycle, you will get a statement that includes your purchases, total amount owing, minimum payment due, and payment due date.
- Payments: You can either pay the entire debt before the due date to avoid interest charges or make the minimum payment and carry the unpaid balance to the following cycle, where interest will accumulate.
Tips for Maximizing Rewards
Maximizing credit card rewards requires strategic planning and financial discipline. Here are numerous tactics and factors to assist you in maximizing cash back and rewards accruals, including some of the top everyday usage credit cards:
1. Align your Spending Habits with Card Reward Categories
Choose credit cards with bigger rewards in the categories where you spend the most.
For example:
- American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card: Provides 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to a spending limit), 2% at U.S. petrol stations, and 1% on other transactions, making it excellent for grocery and gas bills.
- U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card: Allows you to pick two categories each quarter to earn 5% cash back (up to a spending limit), plus 2% cash back on one everyday category such as petrol stations or grocery shops, giving you flexibility based on your spending habits.
2. Use Multiple Cards for Different Spending Categories
Using different credit cards designed for particular spending categories might increase your benefits.
For example:
- The Citi Double Cash® Card: Earns up to 2% cash back on all transactions—1% when you buy and an extra 1% when you pay off those purchases.
- Discover It®. Cash Back: Provides 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories such as petrol stations, grocery shops, restaurants, and online shopping (up to a spending limit), plus 1% on all other transactions.
3. Pay your Balances in Full to Avoid Interest Charges
To maximize your benefits, pay your credit card bills in full each month. Carrying a debt incurs interest costs, which can reduce the value of any incentives received.
4. Take Advantage of the Sign-up Bonuses and Promotional Offers
Many credit cards provide sign-up bonuses or promotional prizes to new customers. Meeting the required spending limit during the stated timeframe might result in significant extra rewards.
Advantages of Credit Cards for Everyday Use
Using a credit card for regular transactions has various perks that can help you manage your finances better and give additional rewards.
Here are several major advantages:
1. Establish a Credit History
Regular usage of a credit card, combined with on-time payments, helps to create and strengthen your credit history. A high credit history is required to acquire advantageous loan conditions and interest rates in the future.
2. Earn Rewards
Many credit cards include rewards programs for regular purchases, such as cashback, points, or trip miles. You may earn points without paying interest by using your card for typical transactions and paying off the balance on a monthly basis.
3. Enhanced Security
Credit cards offer better fraud protection than other payment options. If illegal transactions occur, you may dispute them, and many issuers provide zero-liability policies, which ensure you are not held liable for fraudulent charges.
4. Convenience
Credit cards are a simple payment option that allows you to make transactions without carrying cash. They are widely recognized and may be used for both in-person and online purchases, making it easier to manage daily expenses.
5. Purchase Protection
Many credit cards include perks like extended warranties, price protection, and theft or damage coverage for qualified purchases. These safeguards give peace of mind while purchasing things such as electronics or appliances.
6. Budget and Expense Tracking
Credit card statements include thorough details of your expenses, allowing you to analyze expenses and manage your budget more efficiently. Some issuers provide tools for categorizing and analyzing your spending habits.
7. Interest-Free Grace Period
By paying your amount in full each month, you may benefit from the interest-free grace period on purchases, efficiently using the issuer’s funds without incurring interest costs.
8. Emergency Financial Flexibility
A credit card can provide rapid access to funds in an emergency, serving as a financial cushion. However, in order to minimize debt accumulation, this tool must be used properly.
Factors to Consider While Choosing an Everyday Credit Card
Choosing the perfect everyday-use credit card takes careful evaluation of a number of aspects to ensure that it is compatible with your spending patterns and financial objectives.
Here’s an overview of the major elements to consider:
1. Expenses: Identify Your Primary Spending Categories
Determine where you spend the most money, whether it’s on groceries, gas, restaurants, internet shopping, or utilities. Choosing a card that provides higher points or cashback in these categories might help you optimize your advantages.
For example, if online shopping accounts for a considerable amount of your spending, a card that offers additional cashback or reward points for online purchases may be beneficial.
2. Payment Gateway Compatibility
Ensure that the credit card is widely accepted by the businesses and platforms you frequent, both online and in-store. This allows effortless transactions and eliminates the need to carry many payment methods.
3. Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
The APR is the interest rate you’ll pay if you carry a balance on your card. While paying off your amount on a regular basis prevents interest charges, it is wise to use a card with a lower APR to save possible expenses. Be aware that credit cards may carry several APRs, including those for purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers.
4. Cashback Offers
Cashback cards refund a percentage of your purchases, significantly lowering your overall expenses. Some cards pay flat-rate cashback on all transactions, while others provide greater rates in certain areas. Assess your spending habits to choose a card that provides the greatest cashback where you spend the most.
5. Reward Programs
In addition to cashback, many credit cards provide reward points or miles that may be redeemed for travel, retail, or bill credits. Evaluate the rewards structure—whether it is a flat rate, tiered, or rotating category—and select one that corresponds to your purchasing patterns. Consider the flexibility and value of the various redemption alternatives.
6. Signup Bonuses
Many credit cards provide appealing welcome bonuses to new cardholders who achieve particular spending limits within a given term. While these benefits might be quite beneficial, make sure that the spending barrier corresponds to your regular spending to minimize unnecessary spending.
The Bottom Line
Using a credit card for daily spending has several benefits, including building a credit history, earning rewards, and improving security and convenience. However, it is critical to use credit cards wisely, which includes paying bills in full each month to minimize interest charges and monitoring expenditures to avoid debt growth. By doing so, you may better manage your money and take advantage of the benefits that credit cards offer for everyday usage.