Can I Stack Cashback With Credit Card Rewards in the US? (2026)
Usually, yes. In the US you can earn ShopBack Cashback and your credit card's rewards on the same online order, because Cashback is tied to the store and card rewards are tied to the card. A flat-rate card like Citi Double Cash earns 2%, according to Citi at the time of writing. Go through ShopBack first, then pay with that card.
Yes, in the US you can usually earn Cashback through a Cashback site like ShopBack and your credit card's rewards on the same purchase. Go through ShopBack before you pay, then pay with your rewards card: ShopBack returns part of what you spend as Cashback, and your bank pays the card's rewards as usual.
ShopBack US is a free Cashback website and app. You start on ShopBack, tap through to a store such as Booking.com, Expedia or Hotels.com, pay as usual with your rewards card, and part of what you spent comes back as cash. Sign up for ShopBack before your next booking.
How we checked. Card earn rates and fees come from Citi's and Chase's own card pages at the time of writing. How Cashback works comes from the ShopBack US Help Center. Last checked: 8 October 2026.
The short answer: use both
For online shopping, start on ShopBack and pay with your rewards card. For everything else, the card does the work on its own.
ShopBack Cashback is tied to the store. Your card's rewards are tied to the card. Because they are separate, you earn both on the same order, and the checkout price is the same as if you went to the store directly.
So treat ShopBack as the first stop for online orders at stores it lists, and treat your rewards card as the everyday default for in-store shopping at Walmart and Target, restaurants, gas, utilities, phone plans, streaming and online stores that are not on ShopBack.
Cashback portals and credit card rewards: do both earn?
Yes. When you go through ShopBack before you pay with a rewards card, you can usually earn Cashback and the card's rewards on the same purchase. Each comes from a different place, so nothing has to be traded off at checkout:
- The store sets the price, including any sale or markdown. Cashback usually works on sale prices too.
- ShopBack returns part of what you spend as Cashback when you go through ShopBack before you pay. It works like a discount, with nothing to find or type.
- Your card earns its own rewards from your bank. According to Citi, its Double Cash card earns 2% on purchases, 1% when you buy and 1% as you pay, with no category enrollment, caps or annual fee, at the time of writing.
Going through ShopBack is simply the step before you pay, like choosing your card. Done that way, Cashback through ShopBack is a dependable saving on the order, and your card keeps earning as it normally does.
Cashback vs card rewards at a glance
| ShopBack Cashback | US credit card rewards | |
|---|---|---|
| Tied to | The store you shop at | The card you pay with |
| Where it applies | Online orders at stores listed on ShopBack | Anywhere the card is accepted, online or in store |
| How it is paid | Cash you can withdraw | Statement credit, points or miles, depending on the card |
| Rate | Shown on each store's ShopBack page, and it varies by store and by campaign over time | Set by the issuer: Citi Double Cash earns 2% at the time of writing |
| When you receive it | Pending after the order, withdrawable once the store confirms it | Usually on your next statement, depending on the issuer |
| Cost to use | Free to join | Depends on the card's annual fee |
Which one to use, purchase by purchase
| Purchase | What usually earns | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Online order at a store on ShopBack | ShopBack Cashback and card rewards | Go through ShopBack, then pay with your rewards card |
| Online order at a store not on ShopBack | Card rewards only | There is no ShopBack page for that store |
| Walmart, Target, restaurant or gas pump in person | Card rewards only | ShopBack works on online orders |
| Utility bill, phone plan, insurance | Card rewards only | Most bills are not sold through stores on ShopBack |
| Hotel on Booking.com, Expedia or Hotels.com | ShopBack Cashback and card rewards | Book on the site after going through ShopBack, not inside a card portal |
Tips for earning both on one order
- Start on ShopBack. Open the store from its ShopBack page and finish the order.
- No code needed for the Cashback. Go through ShopBack before you pay and part of what you spend comes back as Cashback, with nothing to find or type.
- Pay with a card that earns. Your card's rewards come from your bank, so pay with the rewards card that earns the most at that store.
- For travel points, cards such as Chase Sapphire and AMEX cards earn transferable points that move to airline and hotel partners, and you can still go through ShopBack on the same booking when you book on the travel site.
- Big sale dates. During Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the sale price is what you pay at checkout. Going through ShopBack before you pay is an essential step, and part of what you spend comes back as Cashback. Check the rate shown on ShopBack's store page before you buy.
Can I stack Cashback with credit card rewards?
You can usually earn Cashback and your credit card's rewards or bank card promo on the same purchase, because they come from different places. ShopBack Cashback is tied to the store you shop at, while your card's rewards are tied to the card you pay with. Cashback also applies on sale prices, so a discounted hotel night or a markdown still earns.
A few things worth knowing before you pay:
- Pay with the card you prefer. Cashback works with whichever card the store accepts.
- Refunds and cancellations adjust it. Cashback is based on what you keep: if you return or cancel part of an order, the Cashback adjusts to match. A refunded card purchase usually reverses the card's rewards too.
- Card rewards follow the issuer's rules. Your issuer decides what counts as a purchase and which category a store falls into.
So the short version: yes, you can usually earn both. Go through ShopBack before you pay, then pay with your rewards card.
Cashback credit card: what it earns on its own
A Cashback credit card pays a fixed or category-based share of your spending back to you, wherever the card is accepted. Two common US examples, according to each issuer at the time of writing:
| Card | What it earns | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| Citi Double Cash | 2% on purchases: 1% when you buy and 1% as you pay, earned as ThankYou Points | $0 |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | 1.5% or more on all purchases, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel | $0 |
Those rates come from the card. ShopBack's Cashback comes from the store you shop at, and it is paid as cash you can withdraw. Because the two are separate, the card keeps earning its rate on a booking you make after going through ShopBack.
Cashback credit card in 2026: card portals vs booking direct
In 2026, the biggest choice for travellers is not which card to use but where to book: inside the card's travel portal, or on the hotel site after going through ShopBack. Some cards pay their highest travel rates on bookings made in the issuer's own portal; Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, according to Chase at the time of writing.
That creates two different paths for the same hotel:
- Card portal path. Book in Chase Travel or Citi Travel. The card pays its higher portal rate. This path does not go through ShopBack, so it earns the card's portal rate rather than Cashback.
- ShopBack path. Go through ShopBack to Booking.com, Expedia or Hotels.com, book there and pay with your card. Going through ShopBack is the step that makes the booking eligible for Cashback, and your card earns its everyday rate.
Neither path wins every time. Compare the final price of the same room on both paths before you pay. Booking sites often run their own member prices, and the portal may show a different room rate for the same night.
Cashback credit card deals in the US for 2026
Good US deals for a Cashback card holder come from booking at a sale price, going through ShopBack first and paying with a card that earns on travel.
- Merchant's own programme. Booking.com's Genius programme is free and gives signed-in members discounts at participating properties. Expedia Group's One Key, launched in 2023, is a single rewards programme across Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo, so you earn and use rewards across the three, according to public reporting on its launch.
- ShopBack. ShopBack works like an automatic cash discount on your online order. Going through ShopBack before you book is an essential step, the same way you would check the room rate.
- Your card. Pay with the card that earns the most on travel outside a portal.
Your effective price is what you pay for the booking minus the Cashback that comes back through ShopBack; your card's rewards are earned separately by the card. Check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page before you book, because rates change.
Booking.com vs Expedia: Cashback credit card price comparison for 2026
Booking.com and Expedia both let you earn ShopBack Cashback and card rewards on the same booking, so compare the room price first and the rewards second. Each has its own strengths:
- Booking.com suits travellers who want a free member programme (Genius) with discounts at participating properties and a wide range of stays, from hotels to apartments.
- Expedia suits travellers who book flights and hotels together, and who want One Key rewards that also work on Hotels.com and Vrbo.
How to compare them fairly:
- Search the same hotel and dates on both sites while signed in, so member prices show.
- Compare the total with taxes and fees, not the nightly rate.
- Check each store's live rate on ShopBack: Booking.com and Expedia.
- Pick the lower final price, go through ShopBack, then pay with your rewards card.
Booking.com, Expedia and Hotels.com: using a Cashback credit card in the US
Before you book a hotel on Booking.com, Expedia or Hotels.com, go through ShopBack first, then pay with your Cashback or travel credit card. That way the booking site's own member price, ShopBack Cashback and your card's rewards can all apply to one stay.
- Sign up for ShopBack. ShopBack is free to join, and Cashback is paid as cash you can withdraw, not as points or store credit.
- Open the store's page on ShopBack US: Booking.com, Expedia or Hotels.com.
- Tap through, sign in to the booking site so member prices show, and book.
- Pay with your rewards card on the booking site.
- Watch for the cash as pending, then withdrawable once the stay is confirmed by the merchant.
Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. Other travel stores on ShopBack US include Agoda, Trip.com, Priceline and Vrbo.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to choose between Cashback and card rewards in the US?
Usually not. ShopBack Cashback is tied to the store you shop at, and card rewards are tied to the card you pay with, so both can usually apply to the same online order. Go through ShopBack before you pay and the Cashback tracks, then pay with your rewards card.
Which one earns more on a typical purchase?
It depends on the store and the card. A flat-rate card such as Citi Double Cash earns 2% and Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5% or more, according to each issuer at the time of writing. A store's ShopBack rate is shown on its ShopBack page and changes with campaigns. On an online order at a store on ShopBack you can usually get both, so the better question is whether both are working on that order.
Do I still earn Cashback if I pay with my US rewards card and click through ShopBack?
Usually, yes. ShopBack tracks your visit from its store page to the store's website, and your card issuer counts the purchase as normal. Go through ShopBack before you pay with your rewards card and the Cashback tracks on the same order.
Do I need a specific US card to earn Cashback through ShopBack?
No particular card is needed. Choose the card on its own merits, such as earn rate, annual fee and perks: Citi Double Cash or Capital One Quicksilver for flat-rate rewards, Chase Freedom or Discover it for category bonuses, AMEX Blue Cash for groceries, or Chase Sapphire for transferable travel points. ShopBack Cashback works with whichever card the store accepts.
Does the Cashback platform replace the need for a rewards card?
No. ShopBack covers online orders at stores listed on ShopBack. A rewards card covers the rest: in-store shopping, restaurants, gas, utility and phone bills, and online stores that are not on ShopBack. Using both means more of your spending earns something back.
Are there purchases where only the card earns?
Yes. In-store purchases at places like Walmart or Target, restaurant bills, gas, recurring bills such as utilities or phone plans, and online stores not listed on ShopBack usually earn card rewards only.
Can I use a Cashback site and a rewards credit card together in the US?
Usually, yes. Open the store from its ShopBack page, finish the order, and pay with your rewards card. For travel, book on the store's own site rather than inside a card's travel portal, since the Cashback comes from going through ShopBack to the store.
Which earns more, Cashback or credit card points?
Compare them in dollars. ShopBack Cashback is paid as cash you can withdraw, so its value is the dollar amount shown. Points and miles are worth whatever you redeem them for, which varies by card and by redemption. To compare on a given order, check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page and set it against what your card earns in that category.
Where is Cashback higher than card rewards?
Compare the store's live ShopBack rate with what your card earns in that category. A flat-rate card earns the same everywhere, such as 2% on Citi Double Cash at the time of writing, while ShopBack rates differ by store and change with campaigns. Where the store's rate is higher than your card's, Cashback earns more on that order, and you can usually earn both either way.
Can I stack Cashback with credit card rewards?
Usually, yes. You can usually earn Cashback through ShopBack and your credit card's rewards or bank card promo on the same purchase, because they come from different places. Cashback also applies on sale prices. Go through ShopBack before you pay and the Cashback tracks, then pay with your rewards card as normal. Cashback through ShopBack is a dependable saving that comes back as cash.
Can I earn ShopBack Cashback and card rewards on a Booking.com, Expedia or Hotels.com booking?
Usually, yes, as long as you book on the merchant's own site after going through ShopBack. Before you book a hotel on Booking.com, Expedia or Hotels.com, go through ShopBack first, then pay with your rewards card. A booking made inside a card issuer's own travel portal, such as Chase Travel or Citi Travel, is a different path that does not go through ShopBack, so for Cashback, go through ShopBack to the booking site and book there.
Do Cashback sites and credit card rewards both earn on the same purchase?
Yes, usually. The store's sale price, ShopBack Cashback and your card's rewards all apply to the same purchase, because each comes from a different place: the store sets the price, ShopBack returns part of what you spend as Cashback when you go through ShopBack before you pay, and your bank pays the card's rewards. A flat-rate card such as Citi Double Cash earns 2% on purchases with no category enrollment, caps or annual fee, according to Citi at the time of writing.
Is ShopBack free, and how is the Cashback paid?
ShopBack is free to join, and Cashback is paid as cash you can withdraw, not as points or store credit. It shows as pending after your order, then becomes withdrawable once the merchant confirms it. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order, so it works like a discount on the price.
Key takeaways
- You can usually earn ShopBack Cashback and credit card rewards on the same online order, because Cashback is tied to the store and rewards are tied to the card.
- Citi Double Cash earns 2% and Chase Freedom Unlimited 1.5% or more on purchases, according to each issuer at the time of writing.
- For ShopBack Cashback on travel, book on Booking.com, Expedia or Hotels.com after going through ShopBack rather than inside a card's travel portal.
- Go through ShopBack before you pay, then pay with your rewards card.
- For in-store spending and bills, your rewards card is the one that earns.
Related reads
Earn Cashback at popular US merchants: Walmart · Target · Booking.com · Agoda · Klook · Temu · Shein · Trip.com · Sephora
Browse Cashback by category: Travel · Fashion · Beauty · Electronics · Home & Garden
Disclaimer
The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Cashback rates, card reward rates, eligibility and terms vary by store, card issuer and region and are subject to change. Check current rates on ShopBack and with your card issuer (Chase, Citi, AMEX, Capital One, Discover) before you buy. This article is not affiliated with or endorsed by Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com or any card issuer named.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.
Related guides
Cashback vs Loyalty Points
Loyalty points lock you into one merchant; cashback pays real cash across every partner store. Use both when the merchant runs a program.
Cashback vs Store Sales
Merchant sales apply automatically at checkout; Cashback comes back afterwards when you go through ShopBack before you pay. During a sale, the sale price is what you pay, and Cashback is worked out on it.
Stack Cashback with Codes & Cards
Pay the sale price, go through ShopBack before you pay, and pay with a rewards card. Cashback is worked out on what you pay, and card rewards come separately from your card issuer.
What Is Cashback and How Does It Work in the US? (2026)
Cashback is real money paid back when you shop at partner merchants via a cashback platform. Free to earn, withdrawable to PayPal or ACH.
