Best Mastercard Credit Card Offers for June 2024 | Bankrate (2024)

A Mastercard credit card is any card on the Mastercard payment network. Payment networks, like Mastercard, partner with issuers to provide credit card options to people. These issuers are financial institutions, including financial giants like Chase, Citi and Capital One, as well as community banks and credit unions.

Mastercard credit cards may include Mastercard-specific credit card benefits, but whether you have access to them depends on the issuer. In fact, the issuer — not the payment network — determines most of the features consumers look for in credit cards, including credit limits, rates and fees, rewards and other perks.

Our data: How popular are Mastercard credit cards?

One of Mastercard’s major features is its broad acceptance — more so than American Express and Discover credit cards. Along with Visa, Mastercard is one of the most widely accepted credit card networks worldwide. According to its most recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing, Mastercard processes transactions in more than 180 markets and 150 currencies.

Additionally, Mastercard credit card benefits come in two tiers: Mastercard World and Mastercard World Elite.Which of the two tiers you receive on a card depends on the issuer as well as your creditworthiness.

Mastercard World benefits include:

• The Priceless Cities travel experience program, an offer unique to Mastercard
• Identity theft protection
• Room upgrades, if available
• Vacation packages
• Airport concierge service — something not provided at the equivalent Visa levels

World Elite includes all World benefits, plus:

• Trip cancellation insurance
• 24-hour concierge
• Exclusive Mastercard discounts on a variety of airlines, travel expenses, entertainment brands and more

Additional Mastercard features

On top of the World Mastercard benefits, the network offers a few other notable features.

• SecureCode: A private code for your Mastercard account that can help keep your account secure when you make online purchases.
• True Name™ Cards: To take a stand for inclusion and the LGBTQIA+ community, Mastercard worked with other financial institutions to introduce True Name cards in 2020. These cards allow applicants to choose their desired name without proof of a legal name change.
• Masterpass: Mastercard's digital wallet, Masterpass, stores your card information and address online, facilitating safe online, in-app and in-person shopping. Like in-store purchases, Masterpass purchases are also protected by Zero Liability for any unauthorized purchases.

Several members of the Bankrate editorial staff are familiar with a wide range of credit cards and how each payment network compares. One of our experts, Re’Dreyona Walker, shares this perspective on Mastercard:

“What sets Mastercard apart is its impressive range of benefits. Many Mastercard credit cards offer enticing rewards programs, enhanced security features and valuable perks, such as extended warranties, price protection and travel insurance — providing immense value for cardholders.

It also boasts a widespread network with acceptance at millions of merchants worldwide. Whether you're shopping online, traveling abroad or simply making everyday purchases, the chances of encountering a merchant that accepts Mastercard are extremely high, making it a convenient and reliable choice for cardholders.

Additionally, Mastercard's commitment to innovation and technological advancements such as Mastercard Contactless and the incorporation of biometric authentication shows that the network strives to enhance transaction security and provide a seamless and secure payment experience for its users.

While Visa is certainly a well-established network, Mastercard's benefits, global acceptance and commitment to innovation give it an edge.”

— Re’Dreyona Walker, Editor, Bankrate

• Check your score

  Your credit score is one factor that determines your eligibility for different credit cards. If you have good-to-excellent credit (FICO score of 670 and above), you’ll have an easier time qualifying for great cards with some of the best features available.

• Know what type of credit card you want

  Whether you want to earn rewards, take advantage of low-interest and balance transfer offers or focus on building credit, you’ll have an easier time finding your ideal card type if you know the category that best aligns with your goals and spending habits. Consider using an online comparison tool like CardMatch. This can help match you with credit cards you may be eligible for using a soft credit pull, which won’t impact your credit score. It may also help find cards with special offers and welcome bonuses.

• Know the features that matter most to you

  Once you know the type of credit card you’re after, it helps to know the features that will give you the most value. For example, if you’re looking for a rewards card, you’ll want to determine what kind of card rewards you want or what perks would increase the card’s value for you.

• Look at the rates and fees

  On top of an APR, your card may have other common credit card fees, such as an annual fee, balance transfer fee, foreign transaction fee and late payment fee. Keep these in mind before you apply for a credit card. If you think you risk incurring one of these fees, you should factor that fee into your card comparisons.

When evaluating the best Mastercard credit cards, we take into account several factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether they offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders, from earning rewards to scoring a large sign-up bonus to saving on interest.

We analyzed the most popular Mastercard credit cards and selected standouts that may appeal to people across a range of interests and credit levels. We scored each card based on the factors most relevant to its primary category, including its rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, intro APR period, ongoing APR, perks and more.

Here are some of the key factors that we considered:

Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply

As a Bankrate credit cards editor, Ashley Parks is fascinated by the ways people can make credit cards work for them when armed with the right knowledge.

Courtney Mihocik is an editor at Bankrate Credit Cards and CreditCards.com specializing in credit card news and personal finance advice. Previously, she led insurance content at…