Best Mastercard Credit Cards for This September
There are so many credit cards to choose from, it’s hard to know which one is right for you. The first step is to determine what is important to you, and then find the best card in that category. Perhaps you want to get cash back on every purchase, without worrying about categories that change from month to month. Or you may want the most cash back possible, even if it means some housekeeping on your part. Travel points may be the most important factor for you.
No matter what your criteria are, there’s probably a Mastercard credit card that meets your needs. These Mastercard credit cards are the best in their category.
Best for Cash Back
The array of cash-back offers from credit cards is dizzying, as issuers try to compete for your business. These cards offer best-in-class cash back.
Mastercard
The Chase Freedom Flex Mastercard offers a $200 bonus when you spend just $500 in purchases within the first three months you have the card. This is one of the best bonus offers out there.
The cash-back offers on this card are significant, but you need to be on top of your game to take advantage of all of them.
- In the first year, you get 5% cash back at gas stations, on up to $6,000 in purchases.
- You get 5% cash back in different categories that change each quarter. Categories include Amazon, gas stations, grocery stores — excluding Target and Walmart, etc. The 5% applies to the first $1,500 in purchases each quarter.
- You get 5% cash back on travel that you purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- You earn 3% cash back at restaurants, including dining in, take out and delivery.
- You earn 3% cash back at drugstores.
- For everything else, you get 1% cash back.
Annual fee: $0
Interest rate: 0% for 15 months, then .
There are several cards that offer extra cash back in certain categories, but the Citi Custom Cash Mastercard gives you that extra cash back in the categories you use most, without you having to do anything. Each billing cycle, you get 5% cash back in the eligible category where you spend the most, like restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, drugstores, etc., up to the first $500 you spend in that category. You get 1% cash back on everything else.
This card also offers $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases within six months of opening the account. And, for the first 15 months, you pay 0% APR on purchases and on balance transfers completed in the first four months. The balance transfer fee is 5%.
Annual fee: $0
Interest rate: 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then APR.
Best for Balance Transfers Plus Cash Back
If you have high-interest-rate balances on other cards, plus you want cash back on future purchases, this is the card for you.
If you have high-interest-rate balances on other cards that you want to pay off, and you also want cash back on purchases, take a look at the Citi Double Cash Mastercard.
This card pays you 1% cash back when you purchase something and another 1% when you pay off that purchase. So, you get 2% cash back on everything, with no limits, plus an incentive to pay your bill.
When you transfer balances from other cards within the first 4 months of opening your account, you’ll pay a 3% fee, with a minimum of $5. After that, the fee is 5%, also with a minimum of $5. Then you pay 0% APR on those transferred balances for 18 months. There is no introductory rate for purchases.
Annual fee: $0
Interest rate: APR. 0% APR for 18 months on balance transfers only.
Best for Introductory Interest Rate
Have balances on a card with a high-interest rate? Transfer them here and pay them off faster.
BankAmericard® Mastercard
The BankAmericard Mastercard offers a 0% APR introductory interest rate for the first 21 billing cycles. This rate applies to purchases and to balance transfers that are made in the first 60 days of opening the account. There’s a 3% balance transfer fee for each transaction.
This card does not offer cash back but is a good choice if you have high-interest balances you want to transfer, or if you plan to make a large purchase that you’ll pay off within 21 months.
Annual fee: $0
Interest rate: 0% APR for 21 billing cycles, then APR.
Best for Travel
If you have — or want — a separate card for travel, consider this one.
Citi Premier® Mastercard
Travel cards often use points instead of cash back, and the Citi Premier Mastercard is no different. But if you travel a lot and want to use your points for travel, this card is worth a look. You cannot redeem your points for cash back or a statement credit, but you can shop with them, use them for gift cards or redeem them for travel.
You earn 3 points per dollar at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel and hotels, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
Annual fee: $95
Interest rate: APR.
Best for Business
A business credit card can help you even out your cash flow, and can fund purchases you might not be otherwise able to make.
For business owners who travel, the Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard offers bonus points, an introductory APR offer, unlimited points on purchases and more.
When you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days you have the card, you’ll earn 30,000 bonus points which you can redeem for a $300 statement credit for travel or dining. You can also earn 3 points per dollar spent on travel you book through the Bank of America Travel Center. You’ll get 1.5 points per dollar spent on everything else.
If you also have a business checking account at Bank of America and qualify for the highest tier of Preferred Rewards for Business, you can get up to 75% more points on every purchase.
You can redeem your points for cash back, gift cards, travel purchases or a statement credit towards travel and dining purchases.
Annual fee: $0
Interest rate: 0% APR for the first 9 billing cycles, then APR.
Best for Dining and Entertainment
Whether you just like to eat out and go to shows, or you use a dining and entertainment card for business purposes, it may be worthwhile to have a card just for these types of purchases.
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Mastercard
If most of your credit card spending consists of dinners out, concerts and sporting events, take a look at the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Mastercard. You’ll earn 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, groceries and popular streaming services. And, unlike many bonus cash-back offers, this one’s unlimited — there’s no cap on how much you can earn. You’ll get 1% cash back on everything else.
You’ll also get a $200 cash bonus when you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months you have the card.
Annual fee: $0
Interest rate: 0% APR for the first 15 months, then APR.
Best for Fair Credit
Is your credit not the best? It’s even more critical to get the right credit card if you’re using it to build or repair your credit.
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Mastercard
If your credit rating is less than stellar, take a look at the Capital One QuicksilverOne Mastercard. You’ll get 1.5% cash back on every purchase, with no limits. And you can be reviewed for a credit line increase in as little as six months. The downside is that there’s no introductory interest rate, and the APR is high at .
Annual fee: $39
Interest rate: APR.
Final Take
There are lots of different types of Mastercards, and the best one is whichever one is right for you and your particular situation. The different types of Mastercards — standard, World and World Elite — are less important than whether the card has the features you want. While the World Elite might be considered the highest level of Mastercard, it may also come with higher fees than you need to pay. Consider your needs and your spending patterns, and then decide which Mastercard is best for you.
Rates are subject to change; unless otherwise noted, rates are updated periodically. All other information on accounts is accurate as of Sept. 4, 2022.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.
