Top cashback credit cards that reward you for spending

Everybody loves to get something for nothing. Cashback credit cards are an easy way to get a proper return on your spending – you get a percentage back of how much you spend on the card in cash at the end of each year.

However, these cards are only worth considering if you pay your bill off in full each month – otherwise the interest will eliminate your cashback. But if you do, they are a fantastic friend to have in your wallet.

Let's take a look at the best cashback credit cards right now.

American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday

The American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday card pays 5% cashback over the first three months up to a maximum of £100.

After that you enjoy a tiered rate of interest depending on how much you spend. Spend up to £3,500 you earn 0.5% cashback, spend up to £7,500 and you get 1% cashback, while spending above £7,500 will bag you 1.25%.

There's no annual fee, and the APR is 19.9%.

American Express Platinum Cashback

The American Express Platinum Cashback card pays 5% cashback in the first three months to a slightly higher maximum of £125.

What's more, there's a flat cashback rate of 1.25% on all of your spending after that, irrespective of how much you spend.

Plus each year you have the card, in your anniversary month the cashback rate doubles to 2.5%. However you do need to spend £10,000 in the previous year to qualify for this special 'anniversary' rate.

There is also a £25 annual fee to take into account. This card has a representative APR of 18.7%.

Santander 123

The Santander 123 credit card pays 1% on supermarket spending, 2% in department stores and 3% on petrol or train fares (of up to £300).

It also comes with a 23-month 0% period on spending, the longest ever. And there's a 23-month 0% period on balance transfers as well if you need it.

There is a £24 yearly fee, though if you move your current account to the Santander 123 current account, there's no fee for the first year. The representative APR is 16.5%.

Nationwide Select

The Nationwide Select credit card offers a flat rate of 0.5% cashback on all purchases made in sterling.

On top of that you can get 0% on purchases for 15 months, 0% on balance transfers for 26 months and unlimited commission-free purchases abroad.

However, only Nationwide FlexAccount, FlexDirect and FlexPlus account holders are eligible for the card.

The card has a representative APR of 15.9%.

AA Rewards

With the AA Rewards credit card you'll earn one point for every £1 spent on fuel and other motoring purchases, and one point for every £2 spent on everything else.

The points can then be redeemed for cash or high street shopping vouchers.

4,000 points is equivalent to £10 in cash or vouchers. To double the rewards, 4,000 points can also be exchanged for £20 of AA products.

The card has an APR of 16.9% and a 10-month period of 0% interest on purchases and a 12-month 0% period for balance transfers.

NatWest/RBS Cashback Plus

NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) both offer the Cashback Plus credit card.

It pays 1% cashback on all spending at supermarkets (excluding petrol) as well as at selected Cashback Plus retailers.

Until 31st March cardholders can get a bumped up 5% cashback at department stores and additional 1% if you use contactless.

All other spending attracts 0.5% cashback at home and abroad.

The card has an annual fee of £24 and a representative APR of 17.4%.

Asda Money

The Asda Money credit card pays out 1% cashback on everything you buy in the shop (including petrol) and 0.5% elsewhere.

You can also get 5% cashback when you take out selected Asda Money insurance products using the card.

The card also has a 12-month 0% period for balance transfers and a six-month 0% period on new purchases of more than £200 at Asda Direct and George.com.

The APR is 14.9%.

Making the most of cashback cards

To make the most of your cashback card, put as much of your spending on it as you possibly can but always clear the balance at the end of the month. Setting up a direct debit payment to do this is the easiest way to make sure you don't have to pay any interest charges.

As with any credit card, using it will give you the legal protection offered by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

In addition, never use these credit cards to withdraw cash. The charges are horrendous and your withdrawals won't qualify for cashback. Balance transfers also aren't eligible for cashback.

If you'd prefer rewards to cash, such as Nectar points or Avios, a reward credit card is a better option.

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