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No, the Mastercard® Gold Card™ does not waive its annual fee for active military members. Though Barclaycard previously offered perks like 0% APR and no annual or late fees to active duty military cardholders, they have since removed those benefits. However, there are still a few Mastercard® Gold Card™ military benefits that are required by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), including a capped interest rate during and after the time of active military duty.
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Is the Mastercard® Gold Card™ Worth the Sky-High Annual Fee?
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
LendingTree's Review
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Balance Transfer Intro Rate
0% introductory APR for the first fifteen billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening. After that, (and for balance transfers that do not post within 45 days of account opening) the APR will be 19.99% to 27.99%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate
Rewards Rate
2 points for every $1 spent on Airfare and Hotel reservations booked through LuxuryCardTravel.com. 1 point for every $1 spent on all purchases. 2% Value for Airfare Redemptions. 2% Value for Cash Back Redemptions. Terms and Conditions Apply
Travel Perks
Receive up to $120 reimbursment credit for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application for each Mastercard Gold Card Primary Cardmember and Authorized Users. Enjoy complimentary lounge access and travel experiences with Priority Pass™ Select.
Key takeaway
While it is a premium credit card, the Mastercard® Gold Card™ has lackluster benefits that don’t justify its exorbitant annual fee.
Pros and cons
- Heavy metal, gold-plated card
- Foreign transaction fee of 0% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
- Luxury travel perks and travel credits
- Airport lounge access
- Travel insurance
- Average rewards rate
- Extremely high annual fee
- No sign-up bonus
- Other premium cards offer better benefits
Is the Mastercard® Gold Card™ worth it?
Some things in life aren’t meant to be a good deal — they’re done for the panache. Coming with an annual fee of $1,199 ($349 for each authorized user added to the account), the gold-plated Mastercard® Gold Card™ is one of those things.
With an average rewards program and no sign-up bonus, the Mastercard® Gold Card™ won’t give you much in the way of travel benefits. But it will earn you style points, and that counts for something, right? Read our full review to decide for yourself.
Quick facts
- Go Further with Industry Leading Rewards®: Redeem at 2% value for airfare and 2% for cash back. Just 50,000 points will get you a $1,000 ticket on any airline or $1000 cash back, issued as a direct deposit statement credit.
- Earn 2X points on Airfare and Hotel reservations booked through LuxuryCardTravel.com. One point for every one dollar you spend for all other categories, earning points every time you spend.
- $300 Annual Airline Credit: Receive up to $300 in annual air travel credits toward flight-related purchases, including airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades and more.
- $200 Annual Dining Credit: Get up to $200 in annual statement credits when you use your Luxury Card at qualifying restaurants.
- $200 Ship&Play Credit: Send your belongings ahead of time with Ship&Play and receive up to $200 in credits annually.
- Receive up to $120 reimbursment credit for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application for each Mastercard Gold Card Primary Cardmember and Authorized Users.
- 24/7 Luxury Card Concierge®: Exclusive to Cardmembers. Your busy life never stops, and neither do our Luxury Card Concierge agents. Enjoy around-the-clock lifestyle management and planning support tailored to your specific needs—and designed to save you time. Our personalized one-on-one service delivers solutions, suggestions and even surprises to make every day exceptional. Book the trip. Get the reservations. Score the tickets.
- With your Luxury Card, enjoy complimentary access to over 1,700 airport lounges and travel experiences in more than 600 cities across 145 countries with Priority Pass™ Select. Access includes unlimited visits for yourself as well as your guests.
- Made with 24K Gold® : Beautifully crafted and exceptionally premium, Luxury Card is a statement piece designed to stand out in the most refined way. Weighing in at an impressive 22 grams, its contactless patented card design and metal construction raises the standard. Carry a card with distinction.
- Exclusive Luxury Card Travel® benefits—average value of $500 per stay (e.g., resort credits, room upgrades, free wifi, breakfast for two and more) at over 3,000 properties. Receive protection benefits like trip cancellation and interruption, auto rental car collision waiver, travel accident and baggage delay. Cell phone protection for eligible claims of up to $1,000 each year. Plus additional World Elite Mastercard® benefits.
- Annual Fee: $1,199 ($349 for each Authorized User). Terms and conditions apply.
- Recommended Credit
Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretionExcellent
- Earning rate: 2 points for every $1 spent on Airfare and Hotel reservations booked through LuxuryCardTravel.com. 1 point for every $1 spent on all purchases. 2% Value for Airfare Redemptions. 2% Value for Cash Back Redemptions. Terms and Conditions Apply
- Annual fee: $1,199 ($349 for each authorized user added to the account).
- Foreign transaction fee: 0% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
Intro Purchase APR
N/A
Regular Purchase APR
19.99% to 27.99% Variable, based on your creditworthiness and other factors
Intro BT APR
0% introductory APR for the first fifteen billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening. After that, (and for balance transfers that do not post within 45 days of account opening) the APR will be 19.99% to 27.99%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate
Regular BT APR
19.99% to 27.99% Variable, based on your creditworthiness and other factors
Annual Fee
$1,199 ($349 for each Authorized User added to the account)
Cash Advance Fee
Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
Foreign Transaction Fee
0% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
Balance Transfer Fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Our Mastercard® Gold Card™ review: Is it worth the annual fee?
Key takeaways:
- The Mastercard® Gold Card™ comes with unusual gifts and perks.
- The card’s high annual fee outweighs the benefits you’ll get from its rewards program.
- Its coolest perk is simply that it’s heavy and plated with 24-karat gold.
With an annual fee just shy of a grand — $1,199 ($349 for each authorized user added to the account) — the Mastercard® Gold Card™ is one of the most expensive luxury cards on the market. But it offers little to make up for that cost compared to other high-end cards.
Still, if the annual fee doesn’t bother you and you’re interested in a flashy card, you can earn decent rewards with the Mastercard® Gold Card™. Here’s what it has to offer.
Mastercard® Gold Card™ benefits
On the whole, the Mastercard® Gold Card™ has a solid rewards program, which we’ll break down below. We don’t think the rewards are enticing enough to justify the high annual fee, but the card does come with some unique benefits.
Travel perks
The Mastercard® Gold Card™ comes with a 24/7 travel concierge service and a number of travel perks to make your trips feel more luxurious.
- Car rental benefits: Get competitive pricing and upgrades from Luxury Card’s auto rental partners.
- Airport meet & assist: Arrange for a representative to expedite your trip through the airport.
- No foreign transaction fees (0% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.): Avoid exchange fees when you use your card abroad.
- Luxury Card Travel®: Luxury Card Travel® offers cardmembers an average value of $500 in travel benefits and services per stay at over 3,000 properties around the world. Benefits may include resort credits, breakfast vouchers, complimentary food and beverages, room upgrades, free Wi-Fi, early check-in, late checkout and welcome perks. View travel benefit examples at the Luxury Card Hotel & Travel site.
Travel credits and protection
On top of the perks outlined above, Mastercard® Gold Card™ membership includes complimentary travel credits and protection, including:
- Airline credit: Cardmembers will get an annual $200 air travel credit that can be used toward ticket purchases, baggage fees, upgrades and more.
- Global Entry & TSA PreCheck application credit: Cardmembers will get a $120 statement credit to cover the cost of application fees so they can enjoy expedited arrival into the U.S. at participating international airports.
- VIP airport lounge access: With Priority Pass™ Select membership, you can access more than 1,500 airport lounges worldwide.
- Travel insurance: If your flight is canceled or your baggage is delayed on a trip you purchased with your Mastercard® Gold Card™, you may be reimbursed through Luxury Card’s travel insurance packages. Review your benefits guide for the full terms of your coverage.
Luxury card app
Concierge agents are available 24/7 via live chat to assist with any request from Mastercard® Gold Card™ cardmembers. App users can browse and book a memorable Luxury Card experience, make travel arrangements and explore exclusive offers and perks.
Surprises
Mastercard® Gold Card™ cardmembers receive exclusive access to events, golf courses and Priceless® Surprises. Mastercard doesn’t divulge what these surprises might be, saying instead, “You never know where, when or who we will surprise next!”
Average rewards rates
One of the biggest strikes against the Mastercard® Gold Card™ is its average rewards program. The rewards rate is underwhelming considering the card’s high annual fee.
Cardmembers earn a 2 points for every $1 spent on Airfare and Hotel reservations booked through LuxuryCardTravel.com. 1 point for every $1 spent on all purchases. 2% Value for Airfare Redemptions. 2% Value for Cash Back Redemptions. Terms and Conditions Apply
While you earn 1 point per dollar spent with the card, the company values its points at 2 cents each, since 50,000 points can be redeemed for a $1,000 airline ticket or $1,000 cash back. That means you earn 2% on your spending if you redeem your Mastercard® Gold Card™ points for airfare or cash back. You can easily find this same rate with many no-annual-fee, cash back cards like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card.
With the Mastercard® Gold Card™, you can’t transfer your points to partnering rewards programs to maximize their value like you can with Chase Ultimate Rewards® or American Express Membership Rewards. This limits your redemption options.
24-karat bragging rights
The Mastercard® Gold Card™’s design is its biggest selling point. It has a patented 24-karat, gold-plated front, weighing in at 22 grams. This is purely a style perk, as we doubt you’d be able to resell the card for its gold content.
But if you’re in the market for a luxury item, a gold-plated credit card might be exactly what you’re looking for.
0% intro APR on balance transfers
One other useful benefit of the Mastercard® Gold Card™ is that it offers a 0% introductory APR for the first fifteen billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening. After that, (and for balance transfers that do not post within 45 days of account opening) the APR will be 19.99% to 27.99%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate You’ll be charged either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Mastercard® Gold Card™ eligibility
You don’t need to be a member of the richest 1% to qualify for the Mastercard® Gold Card™, but you will need excellent credit when you submit your card application in order to be approved. You’ll also need a spare $1,199 ($349 for each authorized user added to the account) to cover the card’s annual fee.
Other cons
Most credit cards let you add authorized users for free, but the Mastercard® Gold Card™ charges $295 for each additional authorized user to cover the cost of the gold-plated card.
How does the Mastercard® Gold Card™ compare to other luxury cards?
There are several luxury cards available to people who spend heavily, and most high-end cards offer better incentives than the Mastercard® Gold Card™.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mastercard® Gold Card™*
|
$1,199 ($349 for each Authorized User added to the account) | 2% / 2X points
| N/A | ||
Chase Sapphire Reserve®*
|
$795 | 1X - 8X points
| 125,000 points
Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
| ||
American Express Platinum Card®
|
$895 | 5X points
| As high as 175,000 points
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
| ||
Mastercard® Black Card®*
|
$699 ($249 for each Authorized User added to the account) | 1X - 2X points / 1.5% - 2%
| N/A |
*The information related to the Mastercard® Gold Card™, Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Mastercard® Black Card® has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms Apply.
Mastercard® Gold Card™ vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Better benefits for a lower annual fee
*The information related to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply
If you’re in the market for a high-end card, you’ll get more value from the Chase Sapphire Reserve® than the Mastercard® Gold Card™. The $795 annual fee is high, but it’s lower than the fee charged by the Mastercard® Gold Card™.
Plus, the rewards rate for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is better. You can earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases. And if you transfer these points to certain Chase travel partners, you can squeeze even more value out of them.
Finally, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with a valuable sign-up bonus: Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You’ll also get a $300 travel credit, lounge access and comparable travel benefits. If you’re looking for a luxury credit card with high-end benefits, it’s hard to beat the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Mastercard® Gold Card™ vs. American Express Platinum Card®: The ultimate luxury travel card
When it comes to travel benefits, the American Express Platinum Card® beats the Mastercard® Gold Card™ by a long shot.
The American Express Platinum Card® is targeted specifically toward people who want luxury travel amenities like upgrades, concierge service for high-end reservations and access to Amex Centurion and Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required).
You’ll also earn up to 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Terms apply. You’ll get up to a $200 airline fee credit each year (enrollment required) and up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue (enrollment required). Also, you may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
And although its $895 annual fee (see rates & fees) is rather high, it’s still much cheaper than the Mastercard® Gold Card™.
Mastercard® Gold Card™ vs. Mastercard® Black Card®: Watered-down benefits for a lower annual fee
*The information related to the Mastercard® Black Card® has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply
With an annual fee of $699 ($249 for each authorized user added to the account), the Mastercard® Black Card® is a lot more affordable than the Mastercard® Gold Card™. You’ll take a slight hit on the rewards rate in exchange for this reduced price.
While most of the benefits are the same, cardmembers will only receive 2 points for every $1 spent on Airfare and Hotel reservations booked through LuxuryCardTravel.com. 1 point for every $1 spent on all purchases. 2% Value for Airfare Redemptions. 1.5% Value for Cash Back Redemptions. Terms and Conditions Apply. Also, you’ll earn an annual airline credit of just $100. And the card isn’t made out of gold.
It’s a better option than the Mastercard® Gold Card™ since you can still lock in a 2% rate when redeeming for airfare and it costs $500 less per year to carry the card. However, when compared to similarly priced cards like the American Express Platinum Card® and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, we don’t think the Mastercard® Black Card® stands out.
How can you make the most out of your Mastercard® Gold Card™?
If you’re dead set on getting the Mastercard® Gold Card™, you might as well make the most of it by utilizing its top benefits:
- Take advantage of its travel credits to help offset the annual fee: The $200 annual airline fee credit and the $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit will save you money and time when you travel.
- Be sure to use airport lounges: You’ll get a Priority Pass™ Select membership with this card, which means you can access more than 1,500 airport lounges worldwide.
- Use the travel perks and discounts: With Luxury Card Travel®, you’ll get access to a range of upgrades and credits at over 3,000 worldwide properties. These benefits may include spa credits, breakfast vouchers, room upgrades and more. It’s also worth taking advantage of the travel insurance that comes with the Mastercard® Gold Card™.
- Take up golf: With this card, you’ll get luxury golf perks and access to courses around the world.
- Make the Mastercard® Gold Card™ your primary premium card: Use this card for its luxury benefits and amenities. Only keep other credit cards with low or no annual fees and higher rewards rates.
Should you apply?
In our opinion, if you’re looking for a credit card to use for day-to-day spending, the Mastercard® Gold Card™ isn’t worth it. Its rewards rates for nontravel purchases are low, and we don’t believe the card’s benefits outweigh the high annual fee. Other premium credit cards have more to offer at significantly lower prices.
However, frequent travelers who want a swanky card with luxury travel benefits may find that this card is what they’re looking for. If you plan to take advantage of the travel perks, credits, discounts and lounges, and want an extravagant gold-plated credit card, you might decide that the Mastercard® Gold Card™ is worth the expensive annual fee.
Frequently asked questions
In order to qualify for the Mastercard® Gold Card™, you will need to have excellent credit and be able to afford the annual fee of $1,199 ($349 for each authorized user added to the account).
Yes, the Mastercard® Gold Card™ is a 24-karat, gold-plated, stainless steel card. The card is heavy, weighing in at 22 grams, which outweighs several similar competing premium credit cards.
In our opinion, the Mastercard® Gold Card™ isn’t worth it for the average consumer. If you’re a frequent traveler with a luxurious lifestyle, the travel benefits of this card could be worth it for you. However, other premium credit cards offer better benefits at lower prices.
The Mastercard® Gold Card™ is a luxurious, gold-plated rewards credit card. Mastercard is widely accepted throughout the world and offers a variety of useful travel perks.
The Mastercard® Gold Card™ charges an annual fee of $1,199 ($349 for each authorized user added to the account).
The Mastercard® Gold Card™ is a status symbol. These types of cards are often more expensive to own and come with a variety of exclusive rewards and benefits.
Whether a Mastercard® Black Card® is better than a Mastercard® Gold Card™ will depend on your personal preferences. Black and gold cards tend to fall into the premium credit card category, which grants a level of status exclusive to these types of cards.
No, the Mastercard® Gold Card™ does not offer a sign-up bonus.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
The information related to the Mastercard® Gold Card™, Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Mastercard® Black Card® has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.