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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Ethan's been a frequent flier for as long as he can remember, from studying abroad in Paris to moving to Shanghai after graduating college, where he served as TPG's eyes and ears for all things travel in the Asia-Pacific region. If you asked him where he wants to travel next he'd quote Anthony Bourdain and tell you "anytime I'm eating spicy noodles in a bowl, I'm happy."
May 31, 2020 • 16 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
A recent IT outage affecting a major payment network in Europe highlighted the importance of carrying multiple card types when traveling.
The article reviews a range of Mastercard credit cards, each excelling in areas like travel, dining, everyday rewards and business use.
Several cards offer valuable perks such as hotel credits, airline lounge access, and statement credits for travel programs.
TPG provides up-to-date valuations for loyalty program points and highlights the importance of flexible rewards.
What to consider
Some offers mentioned in the article are no longer available; readers should verify current terms before applying.
Certain cards include foreign transaction fees, which may impact international travelers.
Eligibility for specific perks or bonuses may require meeting spending thresholds or maintaining account status.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of top Mastercard credit cards, including their standout features and which traveler profiles benefit most.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
A few years ago a massive IT problem hit Visa’s European operations and prevented customers from using their Visa cards across most of the continent. Although the issue was resolved within hours, it served as a cautionary reminder of the importance of carrying a diverse wallet – Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards – to cover all eventualities. TPG has guides to the best Visa and the best American Express cards. Here’s a look at the best Mastercards.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for dining and entertainment
IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card: Best for frequent IHG traveler
Citi Prestige® Card: Best for travel
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: Best for American Airlines flyers
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: Best for American Airlines flyers who want lounge access
Citi® Double Cash Card: Best for everyday rewards
Citi Rewards+® Card: Best for small purchases
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card: Best for Bank of America members
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card: Best no-annual fee card for American Airlines flyers
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®: Best business card for American Airlines flyers
The information for the Capital One Savor, Citi Prestige, CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Comparison of the best Mastercard credit cards
Credit Card
Best for
Bonus
Annual fee
Citi Premier® Card
Sign-up bonus
80,000 ThankYou Rewards points after you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first three months of account opening
$95
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Dining and entertainment
Earn a $300 cash bonus after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening
$95
IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card
Frequent IHG traveler
Earn 140,000 bonus points + 1 Free Night after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
$99
Citi Prestige Card
Premium travel
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within three months of account opening
$495
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
American Airlines flyers
Earn 50,000 AA miles after spending $2,500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening
$99
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
American Airlines flyers who want lounge access
Earn 80,000 miles after you spend $5,500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
$450
Citi Double Cash Card
Everyday rewards
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
$0
Citi Rewards+ Card
Small purchases
Earn 20,000 ThankYou points after spending $1,500 in purchases in the first three months of account opening. For a limited time, earn 5 ThankYou points per dollar at restaurants up to $6,000 in the first 12 months; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter.
$0
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Bank of America members
Earn a $300 statement credit when you make at least $3,000 in net purchases within 90 days of your account opening
Earn 65,000 AAdvantage miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first four months of account opening
$99, waived for the first year
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card
Budget American Airlines flyers
Earn 10,000 AAdvantage miles and a $50 statement credit after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening
$0
A closer look at the best Mastercard credit cards
Citi Premier® Card: Best sign-up bonus
Sign-up bonus: 80,000 ThankYou Rewards points after you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Annual fee: $95
Why you’ll love it: The Citi Premier® Card is a strong mid-tier Mastercard attached to a solid travel rewards program and backed up with lucrative bonus categories. The value of the card starts with its current sign-up bonus — 80,000 ThankYou points that are worth $1,440 based on TPG’s most recent valuations.
Even after you earn the sign-up bonus, this is a card you can keep in your purse or wallet, since it earns 3x points per dollar on air travel purchases, hotels, gas stations, restaurants, and at supermarkets and 1x on all other purchases. You can also use this card overseas without incurring foreign transaction fees.
Cardholders will also receive a once-per-calendar-year perk: a $100 credit on any hotel stay costing $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) booked through thankyou.com.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for dining and entertainment
(Photo by John Gribben for The Points Guy)
Sign-up bonus: Earn a $300 cash bonus after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Annual fee: $95
Why you’ll love it: The Capital One Savor card offers impressive 4% cash-back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services. These are top-of-the-line rewards for those categories. It also offers 3% back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target) and 1% on all other purchases. The card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.
IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card: Best for frequent IHG traveler
Sign-up bonus: Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
Annual fee: $99
Why you’ll love it: The IHG Rewards Premier card comes with a 140,000-point sign-up bonus that TPG values at $700. You’ll earn up to 26x points at IHG properties, 5x points on travel, gas stations and restaurants and 3x points on all other purchases.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within three months of account opening.
Annual fee: $495
Why you’ll love it: The Citi Prestige Card's January 2019 refresh brought more negatives than positives, but the Citi Prestige still has the potential to deliver the biggest rewards of any card in your wallet, Mastercard or otherwise. Let’s start with the basics. You’ll earn 5x points on air travel and dining, 3x points on hotels and cruises and 1x everywhere else.
The real value of the Citi Prestige, though, is its fourth-night-free hotel reward benefit. This perk gives you a free night on paid hotel stays of four nights or more and you’ll still earn 3x points for booking the hotel with your Prestige card. Although this perk is now capped at twice per year, it can still be massively valuable.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: Best for American Airlines flyers
(Photo by John Gribben for The Points Guy)
Sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 AAdvantage miles after spending $2,500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Annual fee: $99
Why you’ll love it: If you want to earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles and enjoy elite-like benefits (like a free checked bag) without paying a hefty annual fee, the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard is a great choice. New applicants will get 50,000 AAdvantage miles after spending $2,500 in the first three months. That's enough for a one-way SAAver-level business-class award to Europe, Japan or South Korea.
The card earns 2x miles on all eligible American Airlines purchases and at restaurants and gas stations and 1x miles on all other spending. In addition to a free checked bag on domestic itineraries and a $125 AA flight discount when you spend $20,000 or more on your card during your membership year and renew your card.
Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard: Best for American Airlines flyers who want lounge access
(Photo by Eric Helgas for The Points Guy)
Sign-up bonus: Earn 80,000 AA miles after spending $5,500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Annual fee: $450
Why you’ll love it: The Citi AAdvantage Executive Mastercard comes with a steep price tag but it can be a great option for serious American Airlines fliers. In addition to a sign-up bonus worth $1,416 at TPG valuations, you’ll get a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application-fee credit of up to $100 and one of the most valuable perks of all — an Admirals Club membership. If you’re considering purchasing a membership anyway, this is one of the cheapest ways to get it. Paying full price will be more expensive, even if you have high-level AA elite status. You can also share your Admirals Club membership with authorized users.
You’ll also get a 25% credit on food and beverage purchases with the card and you won’t pay foreign transaction fees.
Sign-up bonus: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
Annual fee: $0
Why you’ll love it: If you’re looking for something simple, consider the Citi Double Cash Card. The card does exactly as its name suggests – it earns cash. You’ll get 1% cash back when you purchase, and another 1% in cash back when you pay your bill (for a total of 2% cash back).
Simplicity is the key here and the card comes with a simple annual fee of zero. Just be careful about using it outside the U.S., as it does charge a 3% foreign transaction fee.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 20,000 ThankYou points after spending $1,500 in purchases in the first three months of account opening. For a limited time, earn 5 ThankYou points per dollar at restaurants up to $6,000 in the first 12 months; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter.
Annual fee: $0
Why you’ll love it: The Citi Rewards+ Card offers 2x points per dollar spent at gas stations and supermarkets on the first $6,000 per year (then 1x point) and 1x point per dollar spent on other purchases. All purchases are rounded up to the nearest 10 points, so all purchases earn at least 10 points. Unless you also have a Citi Prestige or Citi Premier® Card, the Rewards+ will earn basic ThankYou points that can be redeemed for gift cards at 1 cent apiece. You'll also get 10% of the first 100,000 points you redeem back each year.
Like the Citi Double Cash Card, the Rewards+ charges a 3% foreign transaction fee.
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card: Best for Bank of America members
Sign-up bonus: Earn a $300 statement credit when you make at least $3,000 in net purchases within 90 days of your account opening.
Annual fee: $0
Why you’ll love it: The Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card provides 3% cash back on the category of your choice; gas stations, office supply stores, travel, TV/telecom and wireless, computer services or business consulting services and 2% cash back on dining. You'll get 3% and 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in combined choice category and dining purchases each calendar year and 1% thereafter.
The cash back is decent, but the true value is for Bank of America's Preferred Rewards members since they get a bonus on the base earning of every purchase. Gold members get a 25% bonus, Platinum members get a 50% bonus and Platinum Honors members get a 75% bonus. The Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card is similar, but offers 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases (except travel purchases through the Bank of America Travel Center, which earn 3 points per dollar spent). Both of these cards are best for Bank of America Preferred Rewards for Business Platinum Honors members who will get the best return.
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card: Best no-annual fee card for American Airlines flyers
(Photo by Eric Helgas for The Points Guy)
Sign-up bonus: Earn 10,000 AAdvantage miles and a $50 statement credit after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Annual fee: $0
Why you’ll love it: For someone new to points and miles, one of the hardest chores is often figuring out how to hit the minimum spending requirement on a new card without racking up expensive interest payments. But the MileUp Card has a modest minimum spending requirement of just $500 over the first three months of account opening.
You’ll earn 2x miles at grocery stores and on eligible American Airlines purchases, as well as 1x miles on all other purchases. Plus, you’ll get a 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights when you use your card.
Related reading: Credit Card Review: AAdvantage MileUp Mastercard
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®: Best business card for American Airlines flyers
Sign-up bonus: Earn 65,000 AAdvantage miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first four months of account opening.
Annual fee: $99, waived the first 12 months
Why you’ll love it: This card comes with all the perks you'd expect on an airline credit card, like a free checked bag (for the cardholder and up to four companions) and priority boarding. You can also earn a companion certificate after you spend $30,000 or more on the card during your cardmember year and renew the card (your account must remain open at least 45 days after anniversary date). The certificate is valid for domestic economy flights and to redeem it, you'll pay $99 plus any taxes and fees.
The CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum card is also a good business credit card because it's issued by Citibank, which means it won't add to your Chase 5/24 count. So if you're looking to earn AA miles and you qualify for a business card, consider this card.
Your primary concern in your credit card strategy should be how to earn flexible, valuable rewards that fit your travel goals, but you should also pay attention to what types of credit cards are in your wallet. I never leave the house without at least two different “types” of cards — i.e., one Visa and one Amex — in case I run into problems, such as a fraud alert on my account or a merchant who only accepts certain types of cards. So take a good look at this list of the best Mastercards and at the list of the best credit cards and make sure at least one of them is part of your credit card inventory.
Additional reporting by Chris Dong.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
