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Can You Get Cash Back With a Credit Card?

5 min read

Last Updated: January 29, 2026

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

Many credit cards offer cash back rewards on eligible purchases you make with their card.
You may also get cash back through a cash advance on your credit card, which is essentially a short-term loan.
Getting cash through a cash advance is more expensive than earning rewards.

If you’re wondering whether you get cash back with a credit card, the answer is, depends. With a cash back rewards card, you may get rewarded for eligible purchases and may get money back from your credit card issuer, typically as a statement credit or a deposit into your bank account.

If you want cash back on a credit card purchase, you’ll need a card with cash back rewards. These days, many credit cards offer rewards programs, but the amount you may get back typically depends on the credit card company and the types of rewards cards offered.

Cash back is different from a cash advance. While a cash advance is a possible way to get the funds you need, it may end up costing much more in the long run, as it’s essentially a short-term loan with high interest rates and fees.

The more you know about cash back, the easier it may be for you to decide how to best use your credit card to get the cash you need or earn rewards on purchases.

Earn cash back when you use your credit card for purchases

You may be thinking about how to choose the right cash back credit card for you. Start by considering a few different cash back cards and comparing their annual fees, rewards, and other features.

Some credit cards offer the same flat-rate cash back percentage, such as 1%, on all qualifying purchases. Other cash back credit cards offer a higher percentage of cash back on popular spending categories. As an example, you might earn a higher percentage of cash back when you buy gas or eat out at a restaurant, and a lower percentage of cash back on your other purchases. Then there are cash back cards that allow cardholders to earn even greater rewards in certain categories.

When you’re thinking about credit card cash back, compare any additional credit card incentives too, because these may come with the potential to earn additional bonus cash.

With Discover^® Cashback Match, we’ll automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned on your credit card at the end of your first year. There is no limit to how much we’ll match.²

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You’ll also want to carefully consider your own spending habits. A credit card that offers cash back rewards instead of miles or points may be more useful if you don’t travel often. The Discover it^® Cash Back credit card, for example, lets you earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.

Of course, you may also get cash back from a credit card through categories that don’t match your day-to-day spending habits, but if you want to earn as much extra cash as possible, try to pick a rewards credit card that offers rewards for your everyday spending.

When you’re ready to redeem cash back from your credit card, simply log into your online account or credit card mobile app and follow the instructions to redeem your cash back rewards.

Did you know?

Discover offers several ways to redeem cash back rewards, including cash, a statement credit, or redeem rewards for gift cards at popular brands. Plus, your Discover cash back rewards won’t expire for the life of the account.³

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Get cash at checkout with Discover

The next time you’re shopping at a store, use your Discover Card to get cash at checkout and may save yourself a trip to the ATM. Discover offers a cash at checkout option at participating stores that allows you to withdraw up to $120 in cash at the time of purchase—and helps you avoid ATM fees.⁴ You may want to check if the store has limits on cash at checkout.

Get cash with a cash advance

A cash advance on a credit card is another way to get cash, especially if you need money quickly to pay for an urgent bill. A cash advance is when you borrow money from your card’s line of credit, against your credit limit, at an ATM, bank, or even through an online transfer. It’s not a reward like cash back. Be aware that your cash advance limit may be lower than your credit limit, meaning you’ll only be able to take out up to a certain amount of cash.

A cash advance typically involves a cash advance fee, a high interest rate (typically more than on a standard credit card purchase) and potentially other charges, like an ATM fee, which makes it much more expensive than earning cash back through rewards.

Also, it’s important to note that a cash advance may potentially affect your credit score. With a cash advance, you’ll be using more of your available credit, which impacts your credit utilization ratio, or how much of your available credit you’re using at any time. You’ll want to have a plan for repaying your cash advance sooner than later to avoid owing more interest and further impacting your credit score.

Note that most credit card companies won’t include cash advance or balance transfer transactions in their cash back rewards programs. Check your terms and conditions before applying for a card to see details of how the rewards program works.

The bottom line

Are you able to get cash back with a credit card? If your credit card offers cash back rewards, yes. The right cash back rewards program for you can help you maximize the potential of your rewards credit card. Understanding the terms of the cash advance feature, cash rewards card, and your own spending habits may help you make the best decision for your financial situation and make the most of cash back with a credit card.

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