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Short answer: Three cards we checked pay a flat 2%: the Wells Fargo Active Cash (2% cash rewards), the Citi Double Cash (1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay) and the Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature (2% when deposited into an eligible Fidelity account). None charges an annual fee.
Flat-rate cards compared
| Card | Rewards on everyday spending | Annual fee | Welcome offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Cash | Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases | $0 | $100 cash rewards bonus after $500 in purchases in the first 3 months |
| Double Cash | 2% cash back on purchases: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay, earned as ThankYou® Points | $0 (Citi's pricing details: Annual Fee – None) | Not verified yet: check the issuer’s current terms |
| Fidelity Rewards | Unlimited 2% cash back when deposited into an eligible Fidelity account | $0 | Not verified yet: check the issuer’s current terms |
| Freedom Unlimited | 1.5% cash back on all purchases | $0 | $200 bonus after $500 in purchases in the first 3 months (not available if you received a bonus for this card in the past 24 months) |
| Quicksilver | Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase | $0 | One-time $200 cash bonus after $500 in purchases within 3 months of account opening |
2% on purchases, plus a welcome bonus and 0% intro APR on purchases
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
| Annual fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Rewards |
|
| Welcome offer | $100 cash rewards bonus after $500 in purchases in the first 3 months |
| Intro APR | 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (balance transfers made within 120 days) |
| Regular APR | 18.74%, 24.74% or 28.74% variable APR after the intro period |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% of each foreign transaction converted to U.S. dollars |
2% (1% when you buy, 1% as you pay)
Citi Double Cash® Card
| Annual fee | $0 (Citi's pricing details: Annual Fee – None) |
|---|---|
| Rewards |
|
| Welcome offer | Not verified yet: check the issuer’s current terms |
| Intro APR | Intro APR applies to balance transfers only, not purchases (rate and length shown on Citi's application page) |
| Regular APR | Not verified yet: check the issuer’s current terms |
| Foreign transaction fee | Not verified yet: check the issuer’s current terms |
2% for Fidelity investors
Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card
| Annual fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Rewards |
|
| Welcome offer | Not verified yet: check the issuer’s current terms |
| Intro APR | Not verified yet: check the issuer’s current terms |
| Regular APR | Not verified yet: check the issuer’s current terms |
| Foreign transaction fee | None (Fidelity: no foreign transaction fee) |
1.5% base, with 3% on dining and drugstores
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
| Annual fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Rewards |
|
| Welcome offer | $200 bonus after $500 in purchases in the first 3 months (not available if you received a bonus for this card in the past 24 months) |
| Intro APR | 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers |
| Regular APR | 18.49%–27.99% variable APR after the intro period |
| Foreign transaction fee | Not verified yet: check the issuer’s current terms |
1.5% with no foreign transaction fees
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards
| Annual fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Rewards |
|
| Welcome offer | One-time $200 cash bonus after $500 in purchases within 3 months of account opening |
| Intro APR | 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers |
| Regular APR | 18.74%–28.74% variable APR after that |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
Who should get a flat-rate card
A flat-rate card is right if you don’t want to track categories, or as the “everything else” card next to a category card. At 2%, every $1,000 you spend earns $20. A 1.5% card earns $15 on the same spending, so a 1.5% card needs extra categories, like the Freedom Unlimited’s 3% on dining and drugstores, or a bonus to keep up.
The catch with each
- Active Cash: 3% foreign transaction fee, so leave it home when you travel abroad.
- Double Cash: you earn the second 1% only when you pay, and Citi says you must pay at least the minimum on time to earn cash back.
- Fidelity: the 2% rate requires depositing rewards into an eligible Fidelity account.
See which wins for you: Citi Double Cash vs Wells Fargo Active Cash.
Frequently asked questions
Which cards pay 2% cash back on everything?
As of Oct 29, 2026, the Wells Fargo Active Cash, Citi Double Cash and Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature all advertise unlimited 2% on purchases, with conditions noted on this page.
Are flat-rate cash back cards worth it?
Yes for most people who pay their balance in full: they earn on every purchase with nothing to activate.
Sources
- Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (official page) (checked Oct 29, 2026)
- Citi Double Cash® Card (official page) (checked Oct 29, 2026)
- Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card (official page) (checked Oct 29, 2026)
- Chase Freedom Unlimited® (official page) (checked Oct 29, 2026)
- Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards (official page) (checked Oct 29, 2026)