Cash Back Rewards Calculator: See What Any Card Would Earn You
Works for any card — flat-rate or category-bonus. Enter your own spending and rates for gas, groceries, dining, and everything else, and see your real monthly and annual cash back below.
For cards like Wells Fargo Active Cash or Citi Double Cash that pay the same rate on every purchase.
%
Per Month
Per Year
Blended Rate
Estimate only — actual rewards depend on your card’s specific terms, category definitions, and any spending caps.
What Rates Should I Enter? Real Current Examples
Not sure what to plug in? Here’s what some of the most common category-bonus and flat-rate cards actually pay as of September 2026.
| Card | Groceries | Gas | Dining | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Blue Cash Preferred | 6% (up to $6,000/yr) | 3% | 1% | 1% |
| Chase Freedom Flex | 1% (unless active rotating quarter) | Up to 5% (rotating, activation required, $1,500/qtr cap) | 3% | 1% |
| Discover it Cash Back | 1% (unless active rotating quarter) | 1% (unless active rotating quarter) | 1% | 1% |
| Citi Custom Cash ⚠ | 5% on whichever eligible category you spend most in that cycle (up to $500/cycle), 1% beyond that | 1% | ||
| Flat-rate cards (Wells Fargo Active Cash, Citi Double Cash, etc.) | 2% on everything, every category | |||
⚠ Citi Custom Cash closed to new applicants on May 28, 2026 — shown for reference only since existing cardholders retain it. Discover it’s specific rotating categories change quarterly and have included groceries, gas, and dining at various points, but not simultaneously. Rates current as of September 2026 — verify with each issuer before applying.
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Cash Back Calculator FAQs
How do I use a cash back rewards calculator?
Enter your average monthly spending in each category along with the rate your card pays there. The calculator multiplies each category’s spend by its rate and totals them for your monthly and annual cash back.
What’s the difference between a flat-rate and a category-bonus cash back card?
A flat-rate card pays the same percentage on every purchase (usually 1.5%–2%). A category-bonus card pays more (often 3%–6%) in specific categories but drops to a lower base rate, typically 1%, on everything else.
What are the most common bonus categories offered by credit card issuers?
Groceries/supermarkets, gas stations and EV charging, dining and restaurants, and rotating categories that can include drugstores, streaming, home improvement, and specific retailers. Some cards fix these year-round; others rotate quarterly and require activation.
Do rotating category cash back cards have spending limits?
Yes. Cards like Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it Cash Back typically cap the 5% rate at $1,500 in combined quarterly spending per category, then drop to 1% beyond that — and usually require manual quarterly activation to earn the bonus at all.
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