@unsungivy wrote:
@1LostArk wrote:As others have said, 1.5-2% unlimited cards are plentiful. In my own personal experience, the Amex Cash Magnet is severely underrated. No AF, and you'll often get offers from Amex like the current spend $4,500 and get $45, effectively making all that spend 2.5% back. Those offers aren't always active so it averages out to around 1.8-2% back, plus other coupons and offers. I had the Cash Magnet and Citi Double cash for a long time, and the Cash Magnet was a much, much better value.
I would say that the new Bread AmEx is superior to the Cash Magent except for the fact that AmEx is not your customer service. 2% vs 1.5% and it will ALSO get AmEx deals (plus the free apps at some restuarnts). The real kicker is that it has no FTF, while the Cash Magnet does.
Good points. Being able to PC to BCP / BCE is another point in favor of Cash Magnet though, imo. No FTF on a no-AF card is very nice though, indeed.
Looking only at those two cards, I think I'd rather have a card issued by Amex at 1.5% than a card issued by Comenity at 2%.
I mentioned this in the AOD thread, but the PPMC now gets 3% when used to fund purchases via PayPal, and, that can be used for lots of things online. It's 2% on everything. So I would suggest it gets consideration for next-best (might still lose to the 2.5% card), though I am not a huge Sync Bank fan.
@KJinNC wrote:Looking only at those two cards, I think I'd rather have a card issued by Amex at 1.5% than a card issued by Comenity at 2%.
I mentioned this in the AOD thread, but the PPMC now gets 3% when used to fund purchases via PayPal, and, that can be used for lots of things online. It's 2% on everything. So I would suggest it gets consideration for next-best (might still lose to the 2.5% card), though I am not a huge Sync Bank fan.
I'd trust a BofA Customized Cash rewards card set to Online Shopping (which STARTS at 3%) before the PayPal one through Sync. But they both have FTF, so meh. Having a FTF on a "supposedly good for everything" card really makes it a non-starter for me.
Sock - 
On my 
Debit Cards - 
@GatorGuy wrote:
@Aim_High wrote:
There was a similar thread started 11/08/2021 "So there's no other bank offering a flat 3% cash back card?" The focus was on cards that pay *cash* back. I'll point that out since it seems that travel points cards sometimes get added to these discussion but that isn't what many members want when they are looking for a good flat-rate cash back return.
Of those cards, AOD FCU Visa was far and away the strong card offering permanent 3%. US Alliance Financial Credit Union has offered 3% on their card in phases and it's currently offered through 12/31/2022.
Great post! Just to clarify because you specifically mention cash back, are there any cards that give 3x points uncapped on uncategorized spending? That would be worth atleast 3%?
Thanks @GatorGuy. The reasons I suggested that points cards not be added to discussion:
- Cash-is-cash, an easily defined valuation. With many point systems, value can vary, depending on redemption.
- Points can be devalued easily and insidiously whereas cash-back has to be more obviously devalued.
- Maximizing point valuation may require redemption for non-cash rewards such as travel. Many of our members who want a cash-back card don't travel or choose not to redeem for travel rewards.
- Even for the same person, points may have differing value depending on when and how they are redeemed. And they won't know the actual value of a point until after they have redeemed it.
- Points cards, especially for premium travel points, may include additional complexities like annual fees with potentially-offsetting credits or perks. How much someone is able to take advantage of credits or how they value perks can vary widely, and that can have a huge impact on the net rewards return.
All of that said, yes there are points cards that could exceed the 3% value in terms of travel redemptions, but not for straight cash. Still, even getting 3% equivalent or higher depends on many variables. With the major travel points systems like AMEX Member Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, or Citi Thank You points, there are card combinations and transfer options that could exceed 3% (in travel) for uncategorized spend. But it's an absolute YMMV scenario, and bringing this into the discussion just unnecessarily muddies the water.
"Online shopping" will cover some things that PayPal does not cover, but, what you can pay with PayPal is quite an extensive list that goes beyond what would be normally considered online shopping. PayPal (the service, not just PPMC itself) can be added to mobile wallets, among other things, which would hopefully trigger 3%, though I haven't tried it. I think there is room for creativity with this. But I agree that Sync is not my favorite issuer.
@Rockysocks wrote:The new million dollar question:
What to get since it's gone?
In your opinion, what's the next "best" card?
I musta missed the announcment - when did they drop the 3% Visa Sig? 
@KJinNC wrote:PayPal (the service, not just PPMC itself) can be added to mobile wallets, among other things, which would hopefully trigger 3%, though I haven't tried it.
We tried that during a 5% Discover card month, and found that it kept drawing directly from the bank account rather than using the card assigned (despite digging into the settings and trying to make sure it was only told to use the Discover both online and in store). So I wouldn't have high hopes for getting that to work.
True about certain things that are non-shopping (such as memberships... Have had the "that specifically doesn't count as shopping" fight) that you can pay via PayPal.