Many credit card companies offer cash back credit cards, so there are a lot of options available. You can find cash back cards with or without annual fees, that offer introductory bonuses and interest rate promotions.

When you use your cash back cards for eligible purchases, you’ll earn a percentage of the purchase’s amount back in the form of cash back rewards. Depending on your card’s rewards structure, you can earn a different amount of cash back from each purchase.

There are flat-rate cash back cards that offer the same cash back rate on every purchase. Then there are bonus category cash back cards. These cards offer bonus cash back on qualifying purchase categorized under certain merchant categories and a lower base rate on all other purchases. Finally, there are cards that offer higher cash back rates — in addition to a base rate — for purchases made within rotating bonus categories that generally change every three months.

Cash back cards generally offer only cash back. Rewards credit cards may offer cash back, rewards through a card issuer’s program, or miles or points in the card partner’s program (such as an airline or hotel loyalty program). There’s no overall best option, but there are a few general rules of thumb that could help you decide whether a cash back or rewards card is best for you.

If you’re looking for simplicity and no annual fees, consider cash back cards. With these types of cards, comparing the different cash back cards is straightforward. And when you earn cash back, it’s easy to understand how much you’ll earn from each purchase. Some of the top-earning cards are also available without an annual fee, although cash back cards that have annual fees may offer higher cash back rates.

Rewards cards can be more difficult to compare, because the value of a mile or point will depend on the rewards program. But they sometimes offer more value than cash back as a mile or point could be worth several cents.

Additionally, a rewards card could offer valuable cardholder benefits, such as free checked bags on flights or status in a hotel loyalty program. But many mid- to premium-level cards have annual fees.

If you’ve decided a cash back card makes the most sense, you’ll still need to choose which cash back card to get. Consider your credit, spending habits and whether you’re open to paying an annual fee.

Your credit can affect your ability to get approved for a card, and having anything but good or excellent credit may limit your options. If you can’t qualify for the card you want right now, you may want to focus on building your credit and trying later.

Also, consider where you tend to use credit cards. If you use a card for all your purchases, you may want a flat-rate cash back card. But if you tend to primarily use a card for travel, dining, groceries or some other specific type of purchase, a tiered-rewards cards that offers bonus cash back in that category could be more rewarding.

In either case, look for cards with and without an annual fee and estimate how much cash back you’ll earn from the different options. If you can afford it, a card with an annual fee may be worth it — but only if you earn enough rewards to outweigh the cost.

Choosing the right cash back card for your lifestyle is the first step in maximizing the cash back you’ll earn. But once you’ve got your card, there are still a few things you can do to maximize your cash back.

If you have a tiered or rotating cash back card, prioritize shopping at the stores that will offer bonus cash back (assuming they don’t charge more for the products you want). Sometimes creative thinking and planning out your purchases can lead to earning more rewards as well. For example, if your card offers bonus cash back at supermarkets, you may be able to stock up on other household goods.

Also, keep track of your spending and make try to avoid making purchases if you won’t be able to comfortably pay off your balance in full by your bill’s due date. Although rewards are nice, the interest you’ll pay while carrying a balance could more than offset the cash back you earn.