Credit Cards Can You Get Cash Back on a Credit Card? Rewards and cash at the register are two very different options By LaToya Irby LaToya Irby LaToya Irby is a credit expert who has been covering credit and debt management for The Balance for more than a dozen years. She's been quoted in USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, and the Associated Press, and her work has been cited in several books. learn about our editorial policies Updated on April 26, 2022 Reviewed by Erika Rasure Reviewed by Erika Rasure Erika Rasure is globally-recognized as a leading consumer economics subject matter expert, researcher, and educator. She is a financial therapist and transformational coach, with a special interest in helping women learn how to invest. learn about our financial review board In This Article View All In This Article Cash-Back Rewards vs. Cash Back at Register How Cash-Back Rewards Work Using a Credit Card for a Cash Advance The Bottom Line Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Photo: Drazen_ / Getty Images Cash-back credit cards are one of the most popular types of credit cards. With each swipe, you have the opportunity to get money back on your purchases. Not to be confused with cash back on a debit card—which you can get at the register when you're checking out—cash-back credit card rewards accumulate until you opt to redeem them. Understanding the difference between cash-back rewards and cash back at a store makes a big difference when you're choosing which way to pay. Unless you need physical cash, using your rewards credit card is the best option for most purchases. Key Takeaways Cash-back rewards are earned when you make qualifying purchases on your cash-back credit card.Only a debit card can be used to get cash back at the register.Many credit cards allow cash advances from an ATM, but the transaction is generally more expensive. Cash-Back Rewards vs. Cash Back at the Register Earning cash-back rewards is much different from getting cash back at the register with a debit card. Cash-back rewards are earned through the purchases you make on your credit card. You can redeem cash rewards as a deposit to your bank account, statement credit, or a few other options, depending on your credit card. The rewards don't add to your outstanding credit card balance and don't need to be repaid. Getting cash back at the register with your debit card, however, is like making a withdrawal from your bank account. The total transaction amount includes your purchase and the amount of cash back you've selected. For example, if your purchase is $5 and you opt to receive $20 cash back, the total transaction will be $25. Some banks and retailers may charge a fee when you get cash back at the register. Note Even though you can choose the "credit" or "debit" option for debit card purchases, you must choose "debit" and enter your PIN to get cash back during a transaction. How Cash-Back Rewards Work Start by choosing a cash-back rewards credit card, ideally one with a rewards structure that fits your spending habits. For example, if you spend heavily on groceries each month, a cash-back rewards card that offers higher rewards on groceries is an ideal option. Note A credit card that pays a flat rate of rewards on all purchases is great for earning a set amount of rewards on all purchases. Each time you make a qualifying purchase on a cash-back card, you'll earn rewards. Let's say your credit card pays 3% cash back on groceries. Spending $300 each month on groceries would earn you $9 in rewards each month. Rewards accumulate with each purchase and many card issuers don't expire your rewards as long as your account is open and in good standing. In our scenario, you could earn $108 annually (assuming your grocery purchases total $300 each month for a year). Once you're ready to take advantage of your cash back, check out your redemption options with your credit card issuer. Depending on your credit card, you may be able to redeem for a deposit into your checking or savings account, a statement credit to your credit card, a gift card to a restaurant or retailer, or have a check mailed to you. But note that unlike when you get cash back at checkout with a debit card, you won’t have most cash-back rewards in a usable form right away. Note Paying your credit card balance in full is ideal since interest costs offset the value of the rewards you earn. Using a Credit Card for a Cash Advance Many credit cards can also be used for cash via a cash advance, but you'll have to visit an ATM and make a withdrawal using your PIN to take advantage of the option. Credit card cash advances are charged a fee, either a flat rate or a percentage of the transaction, whichever is higher. Cash advance transactions are typically charged a higher interest rate than purchases, and the interest begins to accrue right away, making cash advances more expensive. Unlike purchases, you won't get a grace period in which you can avoid paying interest, even if you paid your balance in full the previous month. If you need cash, you’re usually better off using your debit card to make withdrawals than getting a credit card cash advance. The Bottom Line Earning cash back from a rewards credit card is very different from getting cash back from your debit card at a grocery store checkout. Both have their purposes. If you need cash and don’t want to make an extra trip to a bank or ATM, you can get cash back from your debit card when you’re shopping. Otherwise, making the most of your purchases with a cash-back credit card is a good way to earn a little bit of extra money on purchases you’d make anyway, but usually, you won’t have that cash in hand immediately. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Are there limits to cash-back rewards on credit cards? Most cash-back credit cards do not limit the overall amount of rewards you can earn. However, some may limit the amount of cash back you can earn on higher tier rewards. For example, a credit card may cap the 3% cash back earned on grocery purchases to $3,000 per year. Once you reach the limit, your purchases will earn a base amount of rewards, typically 1%. Do you still get cash-back rewards when you return the item you purchased? Cash-back rewards typically apply to only net purchases, which exclude returns. Cash-back on returns is generally deducted from your rewards balance. Or if the reward has already been issued, your card issuer may reserve or cancel the rewards deposit, or post a cash advance for the rewards to your credit card balance. What stores will give you cash back at the register with a debit card? Many gas stations, pharmacies, grocery stores, discount stores, home improvement, and general merchandise retailers allow you to get cash back at the register with a debit card. This includes: Target, Walmart, Gristedes, Fred Meyer, Publix, The Fresh Market, Whole Foods, CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens, 7-Eleven, ExxonMobile, Family Dollar, Dollar General, The Home Depot, and Lowes. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Bank of America. "Terms and Conditions for Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards." Capital One. "Savor Rewards From Capital One." Bank of America. "Bank of America Cash Rewards Program Rules." Page 8. Mastercard. "Get Access To Your Cash at Checkout."