Best Mastercard Credit Cards

Why We Like It: The Citi Premier® Card is the best Mastercard credit card because its rewards can save you more than $1,500 over the first two years, according to our calculations. You can get an initial bonus of 60,000 points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus ongoing rewards of 1 - 3 points per $1 spent on purchases. That includes bonus rewards on purchases made through the Citi Travel portal as well as airfare and hotel reservations generally.
 
What We Don’t Like: The Citi Premier Card has an annual fee of $95, and a high APR will apply to balances carried from month to month. Neither negative attribute has to stop the card from being worthwhile, though.
 
Who Should Get It: Consider applying for Citi Premier if you have good credit or better and can comfortably afford to spend $4,000 in the first 3 months after opening an account.

Why We Like It: The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® is the best Mastercard hotel credit card because its bonus points can quickly turn into free nights. For starters, you can get an initial bonus of 60,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months, enough for up to 7 nights at Choice Hotels.

In addition, you will earn 10 points per $1 spent at Choice Hotels, 5 points per $1 spent at gas stations, grocery stores and home improvement stores, 5 points per $1 spent on phone plan services, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. Having the card also qualifies you for Platinum level status, which gets you perks such as 25% more points every time you book a qualifying stay with Choice.

What We Don’t Like: The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® has a $95 annual fee. It also has a high regular APR, so you should plan to pay your bill in full each month to avoid interest.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for this card if you have good credit or better, you regularly stay at hotels, and you can easily stay at Choice properties when you travel. For more options, check out WalletHub’s complete list of the best hotel credit cards available right now.

Why We Like It: The JetBlue Plus Card is the best airline rewards Mastercard because it can help you save hundreds of dollars per year on flights. To kick things off, you can get 60,000 points for making $1,000 in purchases within 90 days of opening an account and paying the card’s annual fee.

The JetBlue Plus Card also gives you 6 points per $1 spent on JetBlue purchases, 2 points per $1 spent at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. There are plenty of other perks, too, from in-flight savings and free checked bags to 5,000 points after each account anniversary.

What We Don’t Like: You have to pay an annual fee of $99 and you should commit to flying with JetBlue. You should also pay the bill in full monthly to prevent interest charges from eating into your savings from rewards.

Who Should Get It: Apply for this Mastercard if you have excellent credit or better, you fly frequently, and you will be able to fly with JetBlue moving forward. For more options, check out WalletHub’s complete list of the best airline credit cards available right now.

Why We Like It: The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is the best Mastercard credit card with no annual fee because it gives you great rewards and a low introductory interest rate. For starters, you can get a $200 bonus in return for spending just $500 within 3 months of opening an account. Capital One SavorOne also gives you 1 - 8% cash back in ongoing rewards.

In addition to its rewards and low cost, Capital One SavorOne offers an introductory APR of 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. That is months longer than average.

What We Don’t Like: Capital One SavorOne has a high APR, at 19.99% - 29.99% (V), and a balance transfer fee of 3% for the first 15 months, 4% at a promo APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time. These things aren’t dealbreakers, but you do need to manage them if you want to maximize the card’s value.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for the Capital One SavorOne if its bonus rewards mesh well with your spending habits and you don’t want to pay an annual fee.

Why We Like It: The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is the best Mastercard for bonus cash back rewards. For starters, it currently offers $300 to new cardholders who spend $3,000 within 3 months of opening an account. Capital One Savor has great ongoing rewards, too, giving unlimited 1 - 5% cash back on purchases, depending on the category.
 
What We Don’t Like: This card has an annual fee of $95, and a high APR will apply to balances carried from month to month.
 
Who Should Get It: Consider applying for Capital One Savor if you have good credit or better and want a way to save on dining, entertainment, travel and grocery store purchases in particular.

Why We Like It: The Citi Premier® Card is the best Mastercard credit card for an initial bonus because offers 60,000 points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. You’ll also get ongoing rewards of 1 - 3 points per $1 spent on purchases. That includes bonus rewards on purchases made through the Citi Travel portal as well as airfare and hotel reservations generally.

What We Don’t Like: The Citi Premier Card has an annual fee of $95, and a high APR will apply to balances carried from month to month. Neither negative attribute has to stop the card from being worthwhile, though.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for Citi Premier if you have good credit or better and can comfortably afford to spend $4,000 in the first 3 months after opening an account.

Why We Like It: The best Mastercard credit card for 0% purchases and bonus rewards is the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card because it offers an introductory APR of 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, plus 1 - 8% cash back on all purchases. You can also get an initial bonus of $200 for spending $500 in the first 3 months.

What We Don’t Like: Capital One SavorOne has a high APR, at 19.99% - 29.99% (V), and a balance transfer fee of 3% for the first 15 months, 4% at a promo APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time. These things aren’t dealbreakers, but you do need to manage them if you want to maximize the card’s value.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for Capital One SavorOne if its bonus rewards mesh well with your spending habits and you don’t want to pay an annual fee.

Why We Like It: The Fifth Third 1% Cash/Back Card is the best 0% APR Mastercard because it offers one of the longest interest-free periods and also gives you rewards for making purchases. On the financing side of things, you get 0% for 15 months on new purchases and balance transfers. When it comes to rewards, you’ll earn 1% cash back on all purchases.

The low-interest promotion is better than the rewards, but both can save you money.

What We Don’t Like: This card’s balance transfer fee is 4% (min $5), and its regular APR is 20.24% - 29.99% (V). You should therefore plan to pay off your balance by the end of the introductory period, whether you finance big-ticket purchases or transfer. Before transferring a balance, you should also confirm that a card with a lower transfer fee won’t save you more money.

Who Should Get It: Apply for the Fifth Third 1% Cash/Back Card if you have excellent credit, you need nearly two years without interest, and you want to earn rewards on purchases.

Why We Like It: The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card is one of the best Mastercard balance transfer credit cards because it offers a very long 0% introductory APR period, giving you 21 months without interest on balance transfers (along with 0% for 12 months on purchases). Citi Diamond Preferred also has a $0 annual fee.

What We Don’t Like: The regular APR, at 18.24% - 28.99% (V), and the balance transfer fee – 5% (min $5) – are both pretty high.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card if you have good credit and the card’s transfer terms will save you money.

Why We Like It: The Citi Simplicity® Card is the best balance transfer Mastercard, and the best credit card for balance transfers overall, because it offers a 0% introductory APR for 21 months along with a $0 annual fee and a relatively low transfer fee.

What We Don’t Like: The card has a transfer fee of 3% intro fee ($5 min) for each transfer in first 4 months, and 5% ($5 min) for each transfer after that, but that’s actually lower than what a lot of cards charge. Try to repay your balance before regular rates kick in, though. The Citi Simplicity® Card’s regular APR will cost you otherwise. 

Who Should Get It: Apply for the Citi Simplicity® Card if you have good credit and need to reduce the cost of existing debt. You can check your credit score for free on WalletHub as well as calculate how much a balance transfer could save you.

Why We Like It: The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card is the best Mastercard for bad credit because it has a $0 annual fee and rewards cardholders with at least 1.5% cash back on all purchases. 

What We Don’t Like: This card requires a security deposit of at least $200. Fortunately, this deposit is fully refundable when you bring your balance to $0 and close your account.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for Capital One Quicksilver Secured if you have limited or bad credit and want to save money as you improve your credit standing.

Why We Like It: The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is the best Mastercard for people with no credit because it offers better-than-average rewards. You can earn at least 1.5% cash back on all purchases with this card while steadily building a good credit score.

What We Don’t Like: You have to pay a $39 annual fee, but the card is still worthwhile if you’re a moderate-to-heavy spender.

Who Should Get It: You should apply for Capital One QuicksilverOne if you plan to charge at least $2,600 per year and pay the full balance due each month. If you do that, this card will pay for itself with rewards, according to our calculations.

Why We Like It: The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is the best student Mastercard credit card because it accepts applicants with limited credit, does not charge an annual fee, and offers superb rewards. You can get an initial bonus of $50 for spending $100 in the first 3 months, plus 1 - 8% cash back on purchases.

The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card also offers 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, as well as complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024. You can get 8% cash back on purchases made through the Capital One Entertainment portal, too. 

What We Don’t Like: Carrying a balance from month to month will get expensive fast due to the card’s high APR. Fortunately, you can pay the full amount due each month to avoid interest charges altogether.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for this Mastercard if you’re a student with limited credit who wants to earn cash back rewards on purchases.

Why We Like It: The U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard® is the best Mastercard for business owners who want to earn travel rewards because it offers 60,000 points for spending $6,000 in the first 180 days – worth $600 – plus 1 - 5 points per $1 spent on purchases normally. You also benefit from perks such as Priority Pass airport lounge access and rideshare credits.

What We Don’t Like: The annual fee is $95 starting the second year your account is open. You can still save a lot of money with rewards, though. Balances carried from month to month will also generate a lot of interest charges, but you can avoid that by paying the statement balance in full each month.

Who Should Get It: Apply for U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect if you have at least good credit personally and you frequently travel for work.

Why We Like It: Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus is the best business Mastercard because it offers exceptional rewards at a reasonable price. If you get this card, you will earn 5% cash back on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as 2% cash back on all other purchases. You can also grab a great initial bonus: $1,200 for spending $30,000 in the first 3 months.

What We Don’t Like: Capital One Spark Cash Plus has a $150 annual fee. You also have to pay the bill in full monthly. It’s still worth it if you take advantage of the rewards, though. 

Who Should Get It: If you own a small business, have excellent credit personally, and don’t anticipate any issues qualifying for the initial bonus, you should consider applying for Capital One Spark Cash Plus.