Best Mastercard credit cards of May 2025
Our top choices for the best Mastercard credit cards made the cut thanks to their global acceptance, range of offerings and annual fees — and lack thereof — that fit every budget.
Our list includes Mastercard’s premium line of credit cards, World Mastercard and World Elite Mastercard, which feature additional benefits like cellphone protection, complimentary Shoprunner membership and Lyft credits.
With a Mastercard option for every type of consumer, our guide can help you find the right credit card to align with your spending and individual needs. Whether you’re looking to get the most cash back on your grocery bill or rack up travel points, Mastercard has a credit card to help get you there. Here are our top picks for the best Mastercard credit cards from our partners.
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for foodies and entertainment
- Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for straightforward cash back
- Citi Double Cash® Card: Best for no-frills cash back rewards
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: Best for American Airline flyers
Browse by card categories
Best for foodies and entertainment
| 8% | 8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases |
| 5% | 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply) |
| 3% | 3% Cash Back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services |
| 1% | 1% Cash Back on all other purchases |
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card serves as a great introduction into the world of rewards credit card. For starters, there’s no annual fee, so you’ll rest easy knowing that you’re at an automatic net positive by opening this card. From there, earn 3% on four popular everyday spending categories, redeeming for valuable cash-back rewards back in your pocket. If you travel internationally from time to time, you can even bring this card with you, as there are no foreign transaction fees. Read our full review of the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card.
Pros
- Earning 3% back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores, like Walmart® and Target®) is a great return for a no-annual-fee credit card
- This card is great for beginners
- The intro APR offer that comes with this card makes it a solid choice for those looking to finance a large purchase.
Cons
- If you spend a lot on dining and entertainment each year, there are cards that provide better value with higher rewards potential
- The sign-up bonus isn’t anything to write home about (though it is easy to earn)
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- No foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
Best for straightforward cash back
| 5% | Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply |
| 1.5% | Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day |
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards takes the guesswork out of earning cash-back rewards by offering an unlimited 1.5% earning rate on all purchases. Read our full review of the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card.
Pros
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- No annual fee
- Cash back doesn't expire
Cons
- Limited card perks and benefits
- Other cards offer more potential and upside when it comes to redeeming cash back
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Best for no-frills cash back rewards
| 2% | 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. |
| 5% | Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel. |
The Citi Double Cash Card takes all of the stress and complication away from credit card rewards with a simple (yet lucrative) 2% earning scheme and straightforward cash-back redemption options. Read our full review of the Citi Double Cash Card.
Pros
- Earning 2% back on every purchase is an industry-leading return on everyday spending for a no-annual-fee credit card
- Now that you have the ability to convert rewards to ThankYou points with an eligible card, your redemption options are even more flexible
Cons
- Those looking to make a balance transfer will have to pay 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)
- 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, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- 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).
Best for American Airline flyers
| 2X | Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases |
For a card with a low annual fee, $0 intro annual fee in the first year, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® punches above its weight with a big welcome bonus and double miles not just for spending on American Airlines but also categories you will likely use regularly. You can earn 2 AAdvantage miles for every dollar spent at restaurants and gas stations and 1 mile per dollar spent for all other purchases.
Pros
- $99 annual fee, $0 intro annual fee for the first year
- Numerous benefits when flying American include first checked bag free, preferred boarding and a 25% inflight food and beverage purchase discount
- You can redeem AAdvantage miles for flights on American, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Japan Airlines and many more
Cons
- The $125 AA flight discount after spending $20,000 on the card each year is weak compared with other cobranded card spending threshold perks
- Other cards earn more miles for everyday purchases
- 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
Comparing the best Mastercard credit cards
Credit card | Best for | Intro offer | Earning rate | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Capital One's secure site | foodies and entertainment | Earn $200 Cash Back Open Intro bonus $200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | 1 - 8% cash-back | $0 |
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Capital One's secure site | straightforward cash back | Earn $200 Open Intro bonus Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | 1.5 - 5% cash-back | $0 |
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Citi's secure site | no-frills cash back rewards | $200 cash back Open Intro bonus 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. | 2 - 5% cash-back | $0 |
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Citi's secure site | American Airline flyers | Earn 50,000 miles Open Intro bonus Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. | 2X miles | $99, waived for first 12 months |
More details on the best Mastercard credit cards
The Capital One Savor is a true cashback card with numerous bonus categories and no spending cap. Earn 3% back on dining, grocery stores (excluding superstores), popular streaming services and entertainment. And with no annual fee, it’s a no-brainer.
Anyone whose spending is within the card’s bonus categories should consider the Capital One Savor. The card also has no foreign transaction fees which makes it a great companion when traveling outside the U.S.
The Capital One Savor has no annual fee and a superb cash-back model. The elevated cash-back categories can be a catch-all for people who want to earn more cash back or help fill in the missing categories that your other cards don’t earn rewards on.
If you want to stick with Capital One but are looking for a card that offers solid reward rates and travel perks, consider the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
There is no card quite as simple as the Capital One Quicksilver. It has a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases, no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
Card users who are looking for simplicity will find the Quicksilver to be a great fit for them. There is no fuss to maximize your earnings with the Quicksilver because you consistently earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase.
“This is my oldest credit card, but I’ve kept it open for more than just its history to aid my credit score. With no annual fee and a fair earning structure, it’s a good option for purchases that don’t fall into bonus categories on my other credit cards. I’m happy knowing I’ll never earn less than 1.5% back on spending.” — Ryan Smith, former credit cards writer
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card might be a better choice if you typically spend on dining, grocery stores, popular streaming services, and entertainment purchases. With the Savor, you will earn 3% cash back on these categories.
The Citi Double Cash® Card is a simple cash-back card that earns 2% back on every purchase (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your bill). It comes with no annual fee, and if you have a card that earns full ThankYou Rewards points, you can convert your cash back to fully transferable rewards.
This card is best suited for someone who is looking for a simple cash-back card that will help them earn on every purchase.
“The Citi Double Cash card was one of my very first credit cards and remains one of my favorites. I use the card to earn 2% back on categories that are not covered by my other credit cards. There is no annual fee, no capped earnings and no fuss!” – Christina Ly, credit card writer
If your spending typically centers around dining, grocery stores, popular streaming services, and entertainment purchases, consider the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card. The Savor earns 3% back on these categories.
This airline card comes packed with American Airlines specific perks like preferred boarding and a free checked bag, for you and four travel companions.
Frequent American Airlines will find the most value from the card’s airline-specific perks and impressive welcome offer.
“The AAdvantage Platinum Select was my first travel reward and airline cobranded credit card that familiarized me with airline loyalty programs. The card is a great way to travel domestically and be allowed 1 free checked bag. In addition, thanks to AAdvantage’s loyalty program, I use the card to help me earn Loyalty Points in order to earn and maintain my elite status. — Danyal Ahmed, credit cards writer
If you want a card that earns similar rewards but offers more flexible redemption options, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. While it does not come with airline-specific perks, it is still a solid travel card and Chase Ultimate Rewards can be redeemed with any of Chase’s transfer partners.
How we rate
Ask our experts
What's your favorite Mastercard — and why?
How to choose the best Mastercard credit card
- Choose a Mastercard that offers a sign-up bonus you can redeem for future travel or cash back to pay down a balance, for example.1Sign-up bonus
- Credit cards come with varying annual fees; from those with no fee to those with eye-watering fees, opt for a card that matches your budget and financial needs. Several no-annual-fee cards are great starters for getting into the points and miles game.2Annual fee
- If you want to maximize your earnings, choose a card with elevated earning rates in categories you most frequently use.3Bonus categories
Pros + cons of Mastercard credit cards
Pros
- Mastercard is a major issuer and is accepted in most places in the U.S.
- There are tons of great Mastercard credit cards to choose from
- Different Mastercard credit cards offer varying protections whether you hold an everyday earner or a more premium rewards card
Cons
- Mastercard is not as popular in places like Europe
Frequently asked questions
There are four major credit card networks in the United States: Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Discover. Not all cards issued by financial institutions use Mastercard’s network.
There isn’t a single “best” Mastercard credit card that will apply to everyone. The best card for a person will depend on their spending habits, budget, financial goals and more. Luckily, there are hundreds of credit cards available to choose from, across various issuers and networks, ensuring you’ll still be able to find one that best suits your needs. Since the process of finding the best card can be overwhelming, we’ve compiled a list of our top picks offered by Mastercard.
Most credit cards have an online application process. Mastercard partners with various financial institutions, so the process might differ slightly among different banks that issue Mastercards. You can apply for any of the credit cards on this list by clicking on the “Apply Link” under each card.
Mastercard itself is not a credit card, it is a major credit card network that partners with financial institutions that actually issue credit cards. Other major credit card networks include Visa, American Express and Discover. Mastercard’s network is a communication system that allows banks to process their users’ purchases.