Mastercard began more than 50 years ago as an interbank payment network. Today, it is a technology company in the global payments industry that serves businesses and consumers in more than 210 countries and territories around the world.
The Mastercard name is ubiquitous, with dozens of cards offered in the United States that are part of its payment network. Most major card issuers offer Mastercards for every segment of the market, from premium reward cards to products for rebuilding credit. While no one credit card is right for everyone, the Citi® Double Cash Card* is the best all around Mastercard available today.
BEST FOR EARNING UNIQUE AIRLINE BENEFITS
JetBlue Plus Card *
Up to 6X Reward Rate
Earn 6X points on eligible JetBlue purchases; Earn 2X points at restaurants and grocery stores;Read More
Welcome Bonus
40,000 bonus points
Annual Fee
$99
Regular APR
15.99% - 24.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Credit Score
Good/Excellent (700 - 749)
BEST FOR EARNING POINTS THAT TRANSFER TO FREQUENT FLYER MILES
Citi Premier℠ Card *
Up to 3X Reward Rate
Earn 3X points per $1 spent on travel including gas stations, airfare, hotels, car rentalRead More
Welcome Bonus
Earn 60,000 Bonus Points
Annual Fee
$95
Regular APR
15.99% - 23.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Credit Score
Good/Excellent (700 - 749)
BEST FOR FLEXIBLE REWARDS AND PREMIUM BENEFITS
Citi Prestige® Card *
Up to 5X Reward Rate
Earn 5X ThankYou Points for each $1 spent on purchases at airlines, travel agencies, andRead More
Welcome Bonus
Earn 50,000 Bonus Points
Annual Fee
$495 for the primary cardmember. $75 for each authorized user
Regular APR
16.99% - 23.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Credit Score
Excellent (750 - 850)
Here's a summary of the Best Mastercard Credit Cards
Methodology
Since Mastercard is a payment network, the best Mastercards can come from any card issuer. To find the best, we looked at all of the major card issuers, and selected cards that are the best for their intended purpose—for example, the best premium rewards cards, the best no fee rewards cards and the best cards for building or rebuilding your credit.
How to choose a Mastercard
Choosing a Mastercard is much like choosing any other type of credit card. Those who are new to credit will want a basic card such as the Journey Student Rewards. And if you’re trying to rebuild your credit, the Capital One® Secured Mastercard®* is an excellent choice. Others will want to earn cash back rewards by using a card like the Citi Double Cash or the Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card*.
Then there’s the opportunity to earn both rewards and valuable benefits with co-branded cards such as the JetBlue Plus card from Barclays or the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®. Or, you can earn cash back from a co-branded card such as the Walmart Mastercard from Capital One.
As with all credit cards, you’ll want to take a close look at the card’s rates and fees, and compare the rewards and benefits offered with competing cards. You can also choose a card that’s part of the World or World Elite Mastercard programs, which will offer you additional benefits as well as travel and shopping discounts. When you take all of these factors into consideration, you’ll find the best Mastercard for your needs.