Mastercard Credit Cards: Best and Latest Offers [May 2025]

Mastercard partners with the biggest card issuers worldwide to provide you with a wide selection of high-value consumer and business credit cards to choose from. Included among these cards are options for some of the best cashback credit cards and best balance transfer credit cards available.

Here are some of the best Mastercard credit cards and who they're right for.

The best Mastercard credit cards

• Best for easy cashback rewards: Citi Double Cash^® Card
• Best for 5% cashback rewards: Citi Custom Cash^® Card
• Best for dining and entertainment: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Best for travel: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
• Best for IHG hotel stays: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
• Best for balance transfers: Citi^® Diamond Preferred^® Card
• Best for building credit: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
• Best for JetBlue travel: JetBlue Plus Card
• Best for American Airlines travel: Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite Mastercard^®
• Best for Frontier Airlines budget travel: Frontier Airlines World MasterCard^®
• Best for American Airlines business travel: Citi^® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard^®

Card name	Best for	Why it's special
Citi Double Cash® Card  5.0 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Easy cashback rewards	Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25
Citi Custom Cash® Card  4.7 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	5% cashback rewards	Earn 5% cash back in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent, then 1% cash back), plus unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases; plus, as a special travel offer, earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card  4.9 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Dining and entertainment	Earn unlimited 3% cash back on grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services purchases
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card  4.9 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Travel	Earn 10X points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com; $100 annual hotel savings benefit; transfer points to travel partners
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card  4.7 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	IHG hotel stays	Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening; earn up to 26X points on IHG hotels & resorts; free anniversary night; automatic Platinum Elite status
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card  4.4 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Balance transfers	0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months from date of account opening, then 17.24% - 27.99% (Variable);  Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card  4.4 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Building credit	Qualify without a high credit score
JetBlue Plus Card  4.7 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	JetBlue travel	Earn 70,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases (and paying the annual fee) in the first 90 days; free first checked bag; 5,000 annual anniversary points; 50% in-flight savings
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®  4.3 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	American Airlines travel	Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening; first checked bag free; preferred boarding; 25% in-flight savings
Frontier Airlines World MasterCard®  3.9 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Frontier budget travel	Earn 40,000 Travel Miles after spending $500 in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee, and another 20,000 after spending $2,000 in the first 180 days for a total of 60,000 Travel Miles; $100 annual flight voucher benefit; priority boarding; family pooling
Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®  4.6 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	American Airlines business travel	Earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 5 months of account opening; first checked bag free; preferred boarding; 25% in-flight Wi-Fi savings; companion certificate benefit

Citi Double Cash^® Card: Best for easy cashback rewards

With the Citi Double Cash^® Card(Rates and fees), cardholders can earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25. Cash back can be redeemed for a statement credit, direct deposit, or a mailed check. You can also convert your cash back to points, which can be used for travel redemptions. The Citi Double Cash has a $0 annual fee.

Why this is best for cashback rewards: The Citi Double Cash Card rises above other cashback credit cards because of how much cash back you can earn. Many cashback cards offer up to 1.5% unlimited cash back, so earning up to 2% is a huge deal. For example, if you spend $5,000 a year on everyday purchases like groceries, you'd earn $75 cash back at a 1.5% rate ($5,000 x .015 = $75). With this card, it's $100 cash back ($5,000 x .02 = $100).

Earn Cash Back Twice

Citi Double Cash^® Card

5.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Citi Double Cash^® Card

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Rates and fees

Current Offer

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Simple flat-rate cash back on all your purchases
• 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) APR
• No annual fee

Drawbacks

• 3% foreign transaction fee
• No bonus categories to maximize earnings
• No introductory APR on purchases

Card Details

• Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.
• Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% - 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
• If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
• There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

Citi Custom Cash^® Card: Best for 5% cashback rewards

With the Citi Custom Cash^® Card, cardholders can earn 5% cash back in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent, then 1% cash back), plus unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases; plus, as a special travel offer, earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026. Cash back can be redeemed for a statement credit, direct deposit, or a mailed check. You can also convert your cash back to points, which can be used for travel redemptions. The Citi Custom Cash^® Card is a $0-annual-fee credit card.

Why this is best for cashback rewards: With this card, you can earn cash back by automatically earning 5% bonus rewards for your top spending category (up to a limit) each billing cycle. You don't have to choose or activate a category to receive your bonus rewards, like certain credit cards require.

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for dining and entertainment

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers unlimited 3% cash back on grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services purchases. Even better, you'll earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. You can also earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months. Cash back can be redeemed for statement credits, a mailed check, gift cards, and more.

Why this is best for dining and entertainment: If you like to dine out and visit entertainment venues, this is the card for you. No other card offers quite the same amount of value for these specific categories, especially if you can take advantage of purchases through Vivid Seats.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card: Best for travel

For frequent travelers, the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card(Rates and fees) provides 10X points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com. You can also earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.

Why this is best for travel: Cardholders get access to the Citi rewards program. Along with earning Citi ThankYou Points, which can be redeemed for travel, cardholders also receive a $100 annual hotel savings benefit ($100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more when booked through CitiTravel.com). There are also no foreign transaction fees with this card. For more flexibility with your travel, transfer your points from ThankYou.com to Citi transfer partners like Emirates, JetBlue, and Turkish Airlines. If you travel often, these benefits are more than enough to offset the $95 annual fee.

Earn Valuable Travel Points Even Faster

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

4.9

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

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Rates and fees

Current Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.

Annual Fee

$95

Rewards Rate

10X Points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com; 3X Points on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations; and 1X Points on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Strong earn rate on travel booked through Citi Travel
• Offers opportunities to transfer points to travel partners at a 1:1 ratio
• Elevated rewards on everyday spending, like supermarkets and restaurants

Drawbacks

• Requires good-to-excellent credit to qualify
• You get the most rewards only by booking travel through Citi’s portal

Card Details

• Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
• Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Best for IHG hotel stays

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card can help you stay at hotels for free with its valuable rewards. Earn up to 26X total points on stays at IHG hotels & resorts; 5X points on travel, gas stations, and restaurants; and 3X points on all other purchases. And if you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months, you'll earn 140,000 bonus points.

Why this is best for IHG hotel stays: IHG has over 6,000 locations around the world, which makes it easy for you to earn and use your points. Even better, cardholders receive a free anniversary night each year, which more than makes up for this card's $99 annual fee. And let's not forget the automatic Platinum Elite status you receive. Platinum Elite members receive complimentary room upgrades, bonus points earning, guaranteed room availability, and more.

Earn an Annual Free Night

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

4.7

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

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Current Offer

Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Annual Fee

$99

Rewards Rate

up to 26X total points on stays at IHG hotels & resorts; 5X points on travel, gas stations, and restaurants; and 3X points on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
• Up to 26X total points at IHG hotels & resorts
• Earn 5X points on travel, gas stations, and restaurants, 3X points on all other purchases
• Free night every year
• Fourth reward night free

Drawbacks

• Has annual fee

Card Details

• Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
• up to 26X total points on stays at IHG hotels & resorts; 5X points on travel, gas stations, and restaurants; and 3X points on all other purchases

Citi^® Diamond Preferred^® Card: Best for balance transfers

Although the Citi^® Diamond Preferred^® Card(Rates and fees) doesn't earn rewards, it still offers plenty of value. Cardholders get a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 21 months from date of account opening (then 17.24% - 27.99% (Variable)) and a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening (then 17.24% - 27.99% (Variable)). After that period, your APRs will increase to variable APRs based on your creditworthiness.

Why this is best for balance transfers: Balance transfers aren't for everyone, but if you need help managing your debt, consider this card. For balance transfers, 21 months from date of account opening is a long period of time to get a 0% introductory APR (then 17.24% - 27.99% (Variable)). This allows you to move existing debt onto this card and pay it down as much as possible while interest isn't accruing. Plus, with a $0 annual fee, you don't have to stress about an annual cost. There is a relatively low balance transfer fee with this card, which is something to keep in mind.

Extended 0% Intro APR for Balance Transfers

Citi^® Diamond Preferred^® Card

4.4

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Citi^® Diamond Preferred^® Card

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Rates and fees

Current Offer

Long introductory APR period for balance transfers

Annual Fee

$0

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months from date of account opening, then 17.24% - 27.99% (Variable) APR (balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening)
• Choose your payment due date
• $0 annual fee

Drawbacks

• Does not earn rewards
• Charges 5% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum)
• Has a 3% foreign transaction fee

Card Details

• 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months and on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 17.24% - 27.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
• There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
• Get free access to your FICO® Score online.
• With Citi Entertainment®, get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more.
• No Annual Fee - our low intro rates and all the benefits don’t come with a yearly charge.

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card: Best for building credit

The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is an excellent option for building your credit. With a $0 annual fee and an initial credit line of $200, you can get your credit back on track.

Why this is best for building credit: If your credit score has taken some hits, it can be difficult to get it back in shape. Most credit cards require good or excellent credit, so those might be out of your reach for now. But with the Capital One Platinum Secured, the guidelines are different. As long as you qualify for the card and make your refundable security deposit, you'll be granted credit. Then, it comes down to using your card and making the required payments. Capital One will automatically consider your credit line for increases, and you'll be on your way to a better credit score.

JetBlue Plus Card: Best for JetBlue travel

The JetBlue Plus Card offers 70,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. In addition, you can earn 6X points on JetBlue purchases, 2X points at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1X points per $1 spent on all other purchases. With the opportunity to earn so many points, offsetting the $99 annual fee is simple.

Why this is best for JetBlue travel: The JetBlue Plus Card provides benefits that can enhance your JetBlue flying experience. The travel rewards can help you fly for free, and you also get your first checked bag for free. In addition, you receive 5,000 bonus points each year on your account anniversary; plus, you can use your card to earn Mosaic status benefits.

Mega Points for JetBlue Flyers

JetBlue Plus Card

4.7

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

JetBlue Plus Card

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Current Offer

Earn 70,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases (and paying the annual fee) in the first 90 days

Annual Fee

$99

Rewards Rate

6X points on JetBlue purchases, 2X points at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1X points per $1 spent on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• 6X points on JetBlue purchases
• Intro APR on balance transfers
• $100 annual statement credit after purchasing a JetBlue Vacations package
• No foreign transaction fees

Drawbacks

• Has annual fee
• No travel insurance perks

Card Details

• Earn 70,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases (and paying the annual fee) in the first 90 days
• 6X points on JetBlue purchases, 2X points at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Intro balance transfer 0% APR offer: 0% for 12 billing cycles on transfers that post within 45 days of account opening then 20.24% to 29.99% (variable)

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite Mastercard^®: Best for American Airlines travel

American Airlines travelers can use the Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite Mastercard^®(Rates and fees) to boost their rewards earned from flying. Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases; and 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases. And, earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

Why this is best for American Airlines travel: This card provides plenty of miles for flying American Airlines and for its sign-up bonus. Cardholders also receive their first checked bag for free on domestic flights, which is enough value by itself to offset the $99 (waived first year) annual fee if you fly often. You also get preferred boarding on American Airlines flights and 25% savings on in-flight food and beverage purchases.

Free checked bags & more

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite Mastercard^®

4.3

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite Mastercard^®

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Rates and fees

Current Offer

Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening

Annual Fee

$99 (waived first year)

Rewards Rate

2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases; and 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Free checked bag on American Airlines domestic flights
• Early boarding on American Airlines flights
• Good bonus categories that align with everyday spending

Drawbacks

• Limited rewards flexibility
• No lounge access

Card Details

• Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
• Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases
• Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
• No Foreign Transaction Fees
• First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation
• Enjoy preferred boarding on American Airlines flights

Frontier Airlines World MasterCard^®: Best for Frontier Airlines budget travel

With the Frontier Airlines World MasterCard^®, you can earn 40,000 travel miles after spending $500 in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee, and another 20,000 after spending $2,000 in the first 180 days for a total of 60,000 travel miles. When you use your card, you'll also earn 5X miles on purchases on Flyfrontier.com, 3X miles on restaurant purchases, and 1X miles on all other purchases.

Why this is best for Frontier travel: Budget travelers typically want to spend less on airfare, and both Frontier Airlines and the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard can help them accomplish this goal. The rewards from this card can help you fly for free, and you'll earn miles toward Elite Status as you use your card or fly Frontier. Elite 100K offers free checked baggage allowance, which is a huge money saver. If you can leverage these benefits, this card is worth the $99 annual fee.

Easy-to-earn welcome bonus

Frontier Airlines World MasterCard^®

3.9

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Frontier Airlines World MasterCard^®

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Current Offer

Earn 40,000 Travel Miles after spending $500 in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee, and another 20,000 after spending $2,000 in the first 180 days for a total of 60,000 Travel Miles

Annual Fee

$99

Rewards Rate

5X miles on purchases on Flyfrontier.com, 3X miles on restaurant purchases, and 1X miles on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Earn 40,000 Travel Miles after spending $500 in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee, and another 20,000 after spending $2,000 in the first 180 days for a total of 60,000 Travel Miles
• Introductory APR on balance transfers
• 5X miles on Flyfrontier.com purchases
• Potential to earn annual $100 flight voucher
• No foreign transaction fees

Drawbacks

• Has annual fee
• Does not have free checked bag benefit

Card Details

• Earn 40,000 Travel Miles after spending $500 in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee, and another 20,000 after spending $2,000 in the first 180 days for a total of 60,000 Travel Miles
• 5X miles on purchases on Flyfrontier.com, 3X miles on restaurant purchases, and 1X miles on all other purchases
• Intro balance transfer 0% APR offer: 0% for 15 billing cycles (on balance transfers that post within 45 days of account opening) then 20.24% to 29.99% (variable)

Citi^® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard^®: Best for American Airlines business travel

The Citi^® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard^® offers a generous 75,000 miles after spending $5,000 in the first 5 months. The earning potential for travel rewards is excellent as well. Earn 2X miles per dollar on all eligible American Airlines purchases and on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and at gas stations; plus 1X miles on other purchases.

Why this is best for American Airlines business travel: If American Airlines is your preferred airline for business travel, this is the card for you. The sign-up bonus and rewards easily offset the $99 (waived first year) annual fee, and the benefits provide even more value. You get your first checked bag for free, preferred boarding, and 25% in-flight Wi-Fi savings.

Double miles on American Airlines purchases

Citi^® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard^®

4.6

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Citi^® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard^®

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Current Offer

Earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 5 months of account opening

Annual Fee

$99 (waived first year)

Rewards Rate

Earn 2X miles per dollar on all eligible American Airlines purchases and on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and at gas stations; plus 1X miles on other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 5 months of account opening
• 2X miles for eligible American Airlines purchases and on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and at gas stations
• First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries
• Preferred boarding
• 25% savings on American Airlines inflight Wi-Fi when you use your card

Drawbacks

• Annual fee

Card Details

• Earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 5 months of account opening
• Earn 2X miles per dollar on all eligible American Airlines purchases and on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and at gas stations; plus 1X miles on other purchases

Methodology

To choose the best Mastercard credit cards, we compared the available cards to find the most valuable benefits and rewards. If the perks and benefits of a card didn't provide enough value to warrant an annual fee, that card didn't make the cut. Benefits and rewards include the earning potential, welcome offer, and any extra perks on the card.

Because Mastercard credit cards are so diverse, we chose cards that would fit a variety of financial situations. For example, you may not be interested in travel rewards, but cashback rewards sound good to you. For this reason, we wanted to showcase how you can pick and choose the Mastercard credit card that best suits your lifestyle and financial needs.

What is Mastercard?

Mastercard is a global payments network that connects individuals and businesses in more than 210 countries worldwide. For over 50 years, Mastercard has innovated and adapted its technology to help make safe credit card transactions a reality. Today, billions of Mastercard transactions are made on an annual basis.

Mastercard partners with credit card companies to provide consumers and businesses with valuable credit card products. Mastercard isn't a credit card issuer itself but instead helps facilitate payments on cards. Credit card issuers like Chase, Barclays, Citibank, and Bank of America, as well as some credit unions, rely on the Mastercard network to help ensure consumers and small businesses can have peace of mind with safe and reliable transactions. That includes using contactless payment technology and having fraud liability.

In addition to processing payments, Mastercard also provides benefits on every Mastercard-branded credit card. And with over 33,000 employees and a net revenue of $25.09 billion in 2023, it's clear that Mastercard is a large, successful company.

What are the different Mastercard credit card tiers?

Mastercard doesn't issue any of its own cards, but Mastercard credit cards still come with extra benefits. As you move up the tiers of Mastercard cards, you'll find more and more benefits. Keep in mind, the actual card issuer has the final say on which benefits are included on their cards, so credit cards may offer different benefits even if they're the same Mastercard tier.

These are the current Mastercard tiers, how they work, and the types of benefits you receive:

Standard and Gold Mastercard

Standard and Gold Mastercards are designed for use on everyday purchases, like shopping at retail stores online or in-person. With a Standard or Gold Mastercard, you may get access to these benefits:

• Zero liability protection: You're not responsible for unauthorized purchases on your card.
• Global service: Use the emergency assistance hotline to report a lost or stolen card, get a card replacement or cash advance, or find an ATM.
• Identity theft protection: Your credit card account is monitored for fraudulent activity, credit inquiries, address changes, and more. You can choose to track any suspicious activity with alert notifications.

Titanium and Platinum Mastercard

Titanium and Platinum Mastercards are designed to offer premium benefits above those offered on standard cards.

With a Titanium or Platinum Mastercard, you may get access to these benefits:

• Standard and Gold benefits: Receive all the benefits found on Standard and Gold Mastercards.
• Rewards and experiences: Your eligible card provides access to hundreds of Mastercard Priceless Specials. These offers are exclusive to Mastercard cardholders and may include experiences within these categories: travel, culinary, arts and culture, sports, shopping, and entertainment.

World Mastercard

World Mastercard cardholders experience a large step up in benefits compared to lower Mastercard tiers.

With a World Mastercard, you may get access to these benefits:

• Titanium and Platinum benefits: Receive all the benefits found on Titanium and Platinum Mastercards.
• Cell phone protection: Use your credit card to pay your cell phone bill and if your phone is stolen or damaged you'll be covered for up to $600 per claim ($50 deductible per claim, up to 2 claims allowed per 12 months).
• Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle Services®: Enjoy free nights at partner hotels, hundreds of staycation offers, amenities and upgrades at properties in our portfolio, savings and status upgrades on cars and RV rentals, and personal airport concierge service for that extra peace of mind.
  
• Concierge services: Contact your concierge for personal services, including setting up dinner reservations, booking tickets, or buying and delivering gifts.
• Airport concierge: Save 15% off an in-person agent to escort you through the airport on your next departure, arrival, or connecting flight.
• ResortPass: Enjoy exclusive day passes to luxury resorts. Earn a $20 statement credit on your next ResortPass booking of $200 or more. Offer expires 9/30/2025
• ShopRunner: Receive a complimentary ShopRunner membership for free two-day shipping and return shipping. Offer expires 9/30/2025.
• Instacart: Get two months of free delivery with Instacart+ and $10 off your second order each month. Offer expires on 3/31/2025.
• Lyft: $5 credit once per month to put towards your next ride. Offer expires 9/30/2025
• Peacock: Get $3 off Peacock Premium each month when you use your World Mastercard to subscribe.
• HealthLock: HealthLock for Mastercard® Medical Claim Monitor complimentary membership
• Booking.com: Get up to 7% off on prepaid stays on Booking.com. Offer expires 9/30/2025.
• Golf: Access exclusive golf offers and experiences.

• Priceless Experiences®: From a round of golf with a legendary player to a virtual cooking class with a celebrity chef, you can create lasting memories with priceless.com, exclusively for World Mastercard® cardholders.

World Elite Mastercard

World Elite Mastercards offer the highest level of cardholder benefits.

With a World Elite Mastercard, you may get access to these benefits:

• World benefits: Receive all the benefits found on World Mastercards.

• World Elite Concierge: A complimentary 24/7 concierge service that acts as a relentless personal assistant. Reserve that perfect table, locate hard-to-find items, and more.

• Instacart: Get two months of free delivery with Instacart+ and $10 off your second order each month. Offer expires 3/31/2025

• Lyft: Take three rides in a month with Lyft to earn a $5 credit. Plus, save 10% on all scheduled rides to U.S. airports when you pay with your World Elite Mastercard. Offer expires 9/30/2025.
• Peacock: Get $3 off Peacock Premium or $5 off Peacock Premium Plus each month when you use your World Elite Mastercard to subscribe. Offer expires 3/31/2025.
• Alo Moves: Unlock 50% off your Alo Moves membership when you use your World Elite Mastercard. Upon signup, you'll also receive 300 bonus points to Alo Access, Alo Yoga's loyalty program. Offer expires 9/30/2025.

Note that some Mastercards will have their own special benefits available. For example, the Chase Freedom Flex^® also has the added Mastercard benefit of extended warranty that extends U.S. manufacturer's warranties by one year on eligible purchases.

How does Mastercard compare to other credit card companies?

Mastercard doesn't issue credit cards, but it still competes with certain credit card issuers like American Express and Discover. However, its biggest competitor is likely Visa, another payments network that's very similar to Mastercard. How does Mastercard compare to these other credit card companies?

Mastercard vs. American Express

Mastercard and American Express are both payments networks, which means they partner with credit card companies and financial institutions to process their transactions. However, American Express is also a credit card issuer, so it can issue credit cards and then use its own payments network for transactions. Mastercard does not issue any credit cards.

Mastercard credit cards are more widely accepted around the world than American Express credit cards, but they're both accepted almost everywhere in the U.S. Overall, American Express is a much larger company with 77,000 employees, compared to Mastercard's over 33,000 employees.

Mastercard vs. Visa

Mastercard and Visa are the two most well-known and widely accepted cards on the planet. They're both payments networks, but neither company issues any credit cards. Instead, they partner with credit card issuers like Chase and Citibank to process their transactions. Many credit card companies partner with both Mastercard and Visa with the cards they issue.

For company sizes, Mastercard and Visa are nearly identical. Mastercard has over 33,000 employees and Visa sits at 28,800 employees.

Mastercard vs. Discover

Both Mastercard and Discover offer payments services, but Discover also provides online banking accounts with FDIC insurance, personal loans, and issues its own credit cards. Although Mastercard may not provide as many services, its payments network is larger than Discover's. Discover is accepted at 99% of U.S. merchants, but it doesn't have the global reach that Mastercard does.

Discover has more than 21,000 employees, compared to over 33,000 employees of Mastercard.

Which Mastercard credit card should you choose?

To choose the best credit card for you from Mastercard, consider the benefits of each card and see which ones most align with your financial goals. Also, remember that each credit card may have different requirements for qualification, so keep your creditworthiness, including your FICO credit score, in mind.

Here are a few factors to consider:

• Rewards: Rewards credit cards offer cash back, points, or miles for making eligible purchases. In some cases, you might be able to earn a higher rate of rewards if a card has bonus categories. For example, earning 2% back on gas and groceries, while other purchases provide 1% back. If you like to maximize your earning potential, a card with spending categories could be one of your top picks.
• Credit requirements: You typically need at least a good credit score to qualify for cards with top rewards and benefits. If you have bad credit or no credit history, you might have to apply for specific cards that can help build your credit.
• Fees: Most credit cards have late fees for making late payments, but you also have to be aware of annual fees, foreign transaction fees, and balance transfer fees. No-annual-fee cards are popular because you don't have to worry about a card membership fee each year.
• Business or personal: A business card is for someone running a business, which could include a business with multiple employees or a business you run by yourself. Personal credit cards are for everyday expenses, such as buying groceries and eating out.

Cash back credit cards are straightforward and easy to use. You can use them to earn cash back on every purchase, and they typically don't have annual fees. This makes earning rewards simple and stress-free.

For travel purchases, there's nothing better than a travel credit card. You can go with a general travel rewards card that earns flexible points or miles, or a specific airline credit card if you have a preferred airline. Either way, these cards can help you travel more while spending less.

If you aren't yet able to qualify for a rewards card due to poor credit or limited credit history, consider building your credit with a secured credit card. These cards are meant to provide an opportunity for you to get a credit card without having great credit. In time, they can help you meet the requirements for cards with big sign-up bonuses and high-value benefits.

Note that different credit cards tend to have different benefits. For example, one might provide cell phone protection or ID theft protection, while another has certain types of travel coverage. Depending on your goals, you might prefer one card over another because of its benefits. Remember to check if terms apply for you to be able to use card benefits.

The best Mastercard credit card for you depends on your lifestyle and spending habits. Carefully browse the list we've provided to see which one might be the best card for you. Included among these cards are options for some of the best cashback credit cards and best balance transfer cards available.

FAQs about Mastercard credit cards

Bottom line on the best Mastercard credit card for your wallet

Mastercard credit cards offer some of the best benefits among all available credit cards. They can easily suit the needs of most financial situations, whether you want cash back, travel rewards, low interest rates, or a chance to build your credit.

As you browse the list of the best Mastercard credit cards, consider the types of purchases you generally make and the kind of benefits you're looking for. Doing so will make it simple to find the perfect card for your wallet.

Earn Cash Back Twice

Citi Double Cash^® Card

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Citi Double Cash^® Card

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Rates and fees

Current Offer

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Simple flat-rate cash back on all your purchases
• 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) APR
• No annual fee

Drawbacks

• 3% foreign transaction fee
• No bonus categories to maximize earnings
• No introductory APR on purchases

Card Details

• Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.
• Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% - 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
• If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
• There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).