How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Our take: The Sam's Club Mastercard is best for card-carrying Sam’s Club Plus members who regularly do the bulk of their shopping at Sam’s Club. It may be a worthwhile card for Sam’s Club members who fill up on fuel at Sam’s Club. Otherwise, it’s a card that has limited perks.
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With a $0-annual-fee, the Sam's Club Mastercard is a solid, low-cost cash back credit card. Since it’s only available to Sam’s Club members, you’ll first have to pay a membership fee of $50 for basic membership or $110 for Sam’s Club Plus.
The elevated cash back rewards on gas, dining and travel are available to cardholders of either membership level, but only Sam’s Club Plus members get extra cash back on Sam’s Club purchases. Because of the cost associated with membership, this card is only worth considering if you already receive value from your membership and plan on keeping it.
Intro Purchase APR
N/A
Regular Purchase APR
20.90% or 28.90%
Intro BT APR
N/A
Regular BT APR
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Cash Advance Fee
N/A
Foreign Transaction Fee
3%
Balance Transfer Fee
$10 or 4% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater
When you use your Sam's Club Mastercard you’ll earn 5% cash back on gas (on the first $6,000 per year, then 1%), 3% back on dining, 1% back on other purchases. This is an exceptionally high rate for gas and EV purchases that’s hard to beat when it comes to other gas credit cards. You’ll also receive a higher-than-average rate of cash back at restaurants.
Sam’s Club Plus members earn bonus cash back
Deciding to apply for the Sam's Club Mastercard may come down to whether you’re a Club or Plus member:
Very few credit cards give bonus earnings at warehouse clubs like Sam’s Club. The 3% that Plus members earn on Sam’s Club purchases is better than you’ll find with most other cards. And as a Plus member, you already earn 2% on club purchases.
However, it costs $110 to be a Sam’s Club Plus member, so you’ll need to do a lot of shopping at Sam’s Club, roughly $2,220, to make the additional rewards cover the membership fee.
Credit card doubles as your membership card
Since the Sam's Club Mastercard is only available to club members, it doubles as your membership card, meaning one less card to keep in your wallet if you’re not using the mobile app.
Convenient app holds your membership and credit card information
Those who prefer to keep everything stored on their phone will find the Sam’s Club app useful. Not only can you pull up your membership card from the app, you can store your Sam's Club Mastercard to make the check out line faster and easier.
Subpar sign-up bonus
While a $30 cash back on a $30 minimum purchase is an easy and useful sign-up bonus, it’s extremely low compared to the Citi Custom Cash® Card and Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card which offer larger sign-up bonuses that are relatively easy to meet.
Available to Sam’s Club members only
In order to apply for a Sam's Club Mastercard you need to have a current paid Sam’s Club membership. There are two levels: Club is $50 per year and Plus is $110. While there is no annual fee to this credit card, your membership is essentially a fee that needs to be paid to keep the Sam's Club Mastercard.
Underwhelming rewards for regular club members
Cardholders who are regular Sam’s Club members only receive 1% cash back on their Sam’s Club purchases, which pales in comparison to Plus members. While you’ll still get an exceptional rate on gas and restaurant purchases with this card, regular Sam’s members might consider a card that gives a higher rewards rate on in-store purchases. For instance, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card gives you 2% cash back at warehouse clubs like Sam’s.
Restrictions on redeeming cash back
Until recently, rewards earned with the Sam's Club Mastercard were issued just once a year. Fortunately this has changed and rewards are now issued within one to two months after earning them. However, there are still some serious restrictions on redemption:
Here’s a look at how the Sam's Club Mastercard compares to some other similar cards:
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | Annual Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sam's Club Mastercard*
Learn More
on Synchrony Bank's secure site |
5% cash back on gas (on the first $6,000 per year, then 1%), 3% back on dining, 1% back on other purchases | $30 statement credit when you open a new account and make $30 in Sam's Club purchases within 30 days | $0 |
Learn More
on Synchrony Bank's secure site |
|
Citi Custom Cash® Card
 Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025. | Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 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. | $0 |
Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
|
Earn 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more), 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Terms apply. | Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. | ||
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Apply Now
on Bank Of America's secure site |
3% cash back in the category of your choice. 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases. 1% cash back on all other purchases. | $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening | $0 |
Apply Now
on Bank Of America's secure site |
The Citi Custom Cash® Card is a $0-annual-fee card that lets you earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.
It’s a great dedicated grocery card for families who spend around $500 per month on groceries. Furthermore, the rewards are more flexible and you’ll enjoy a long intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers a higher rate of cash back on groceries, no membership required. You’ll earn 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more), 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Terms apply.
There is a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. But the rewards you earn for U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas purchases can easily offset the annual fee.
For Sam’s Club members who also buy groceries elsewhere, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card is a solid choice for a $0-annual-fee rewards card. It lets you 3% cash back in the category of your choice. 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases. 1% cash back on all other purchases.
It also comes with a solid welcome offer and an intro APR offer on new purchases and balance transfers.
The Sam's Club Mastercard makes the most sense for people who are already Sam’s Club Plus members and spend a lot of money there. If a Sam’s Club membership isn’t worth it for your specific spending situation, the Sam's Club Mastercard likely won’t make sense either.
For occasional Sam’s Club shoppers, using a card that has a high earning rate on all purchases may be the better option.
The information related to the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The information related to the Sam's Club Mastercard has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.
