Home/Point Valuations

Cash Back

cash rewards Ecosystem

PointsMax Valuation1¢per point / mile
Redeeming for travel transfer partners yields maximum value.
Portal redemptions generally provide a fixed 1.0¢ to 1.5¢ floor value.

Why PointsMax Values Cash Back at 1¢

Cash back is the ultimate benchmark, valued at a fixed 1.0¢. It is ideal for individuals who prioritize simplicity and zero fee drag over travel optimization strategies.

Our valuations represent the estimated cash yield you can expect when booking typical award tickets or hotel nights using optimal redemption strategies, rather than baseline cash-back conversions.

Earning Credit Cards

Here are the cards in the PointsMax catalog that earn Cash Back, showing their primary multipliers and effective return values.

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return3x (3.00%)

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return3x (3.00%)

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Discover • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return2x (2.00%)

Chase Freedom Rise®

Chase • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return1.5x (1.50%)

Capital One Platinum Secured

Capital One • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return1x (1.00%)

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Capital One • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return1x (1.00%)

Mastercard® Gold Card™

Luxury Card • Annual Fee: $1199

Best Return2x (2.00%)

Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

Wells Fargo • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return1x (1.00%)

Citi® Simplicity® Card

Citi • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return1x (1.00%)

Mission Lane Green Line Visa®

Mission Lane • Annual Fee: $39

Best Return1x (1.00%)

Secured Self Visa® Credit Card

Lead Bank • Annual Fee: $25

Best Return1x (1.00%)

First Latitude Elite Secured Card

First Latitude • Annual Fee: $29

Best Return1x (1.00%)

First Latitude Assent Card

First Latitude • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return1x (1.00%)

OpenSky® Secured Visa® Card

Capital Bank • Annual Fee: $35

Best Return1x (1.00%)

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Chase • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return3x (3.00%)

Chase Freedom Flex®

Chase • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return3x (3.00%)

Citi Double Cash® Card

Citi • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return2x (2.00%)

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from Amex

American Express • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return3x (3.00%)

U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Signature® Card

U.S. Bank • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return2x (2.00%)

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Wells Fargo • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return2x (2.00%)

Discover it® Cash Back

Discover • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return2x (2.00%)

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards

Bank of America • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return3x (3.00%)

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Citi • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return4x (4.00%)

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from Amex

American Express • Annual Fee: $95

Best Return6x (6.00%)

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Citi • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return5x (5.00%)

BankAmericard® Credit Card

Bank of America • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return1x (1.00%)

U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card

U.S. Bank • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return1x (1.00%)

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Citi • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return1x (1.00%)

BJ's One® Mastercard®

Capital One • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return3x (3.00%)

BJ's One+® Mastercard®

Capital One • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return5x (5.00%)

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return1.5x (1.50%)

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

U.S. Bank • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return5x (5.00%)

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card

Bank of America • Annual Fee: No Fee

Best Return1.5x (1.50%)

Max out your Cash Back

Which combination of cards earns the most points for your specific grocery, dining, and travel expenses? Let our optimizer run the math for you.

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