For many Americans, paying bills, like taxes, is a financial fact of life. It may not be a fun task, but it can be a rewarding one. That's where your credit card comes in. Credit cards can be an excellent way to receive rewards while paying off those seemingly endless bills.
Whether you're paying your utilities or groceries, ZDNet has selected these five credit cards as the best credit cards that can help make paying your bills a rewarding experience.
Citi? Double Cash Card
Best credit card for paying bills overall
card highlights intro bonusN/A
APR19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
recommended creditExcellent, Good, Fair
reward rates - Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
annual fee$0
intro purchase APRN/A
additional details intro balance transfer APR0% intro for 18 months on Balance Transfers
balance transfer feeA balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
balance transfer APR19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
late payment feeUp to$41
foreign transaction fees3%
penalty APRUp to29.99% (Variable)
rewards & redemption details - Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
Pros & Cons Pros - Excellent intro offer
- Flat-rate cashback
- Generous rewards
Cons More Details The Citi Double Cash Card is our best credit card for paying bills because it enables you to maximize your rewards while saving money. It starts off with an excellent introductory offer for balance transfers, offering a 0% APR for your first 18 months, then 18.99% - 28.99%. The balance transfer fee is lower, too, with 3% of each transfer offered for the first four months before switching to 5% of each transfer, both with a$5 minimum.
Citi offers two types of cash back on your purchases, awarding you with unlimited 1% cashback when you make your purchase and another 1% when you pay it off. Rewards are distributed in the form of ThankYou points. There are no annual fees, no caps, and no category restrictions to give you far greater freedom in your purchase decisions.
Citi? Double Cash Card
View now Blue Cash Preferred? Card from American Express
Best credit card for groceries
See Rates and Fees
Terms Apply card highlights intro bonusEarn a$250 statement credit after you spend$3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
APR19.24% - 29.99% Variable
recommended creditExcellent/Good
reward rates - 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
- 3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases
annual fee$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then$95.
intro purchase APR0% on purchases for 12 months
additional details intro balance transfer APR0% on balance transfers for 12 months
balance transfer feeEither$5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
balance transfer APR19.24% - 29.99% Variable
late payment feeUp to $40
foreign transaction fees2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
penalty APR29.99% Variable
rewards & redemption details - 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
- 3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases
Pros & Cons Pros - Intro APR offer
- High grocery rewards rate
- Statement credits
Cons - Annual fee
- Spending caps apply
More Details The Blue Cash Preferred? Card from American Express gives you very high, very impressive rewards when you use your card to shop for groceries. American Express will give you 6% cashback on your purchases at U.S. supermarkets, up to$6,000, then 1%. You also receive 6% cashback on your U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% at U.S gas stations, 3% on transit, including rideshare, and 1% on all other purchases. If you spend$3,000 within your first six months, you will also receive$250 back in statement credits.
When it comes time to pay, you also have the opportunity to opt for the Buy Now, Pay Later introductory offer, which uses Plan It by American Express to split payments into monthly installments. When you choose this option, there is a lower APR on your purchases for the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Regardless, this card comes with a 0% introductory APR on your purchases within the first year, then a variable rate of 18.99% - 29.99%. However, in typical Amex fashion, an annual fee costs$95 per year ($0 intro annual fee for the first year).
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Blue Cash Preferred? Card from American Express
View now Ink Business Preferred? Credit Card
Best credit card for business expenses
card highlights intro bonusEarn 100k bonus points after you spend$15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's$1,000 cash back or$1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards?
APR21.24% - 26.24% Variable
recommended creditGood, Excellent
reward rates - Earn 3 points per$1 on the first$150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year
- Earn 1 point per$1 on all other purchases