The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is the best Mastercard® because it offers high cash back rates in popular rotating categories, a large-sign-up bonus and a $0 annual fee. Plus, rewards are worth even more when it’s paired with select premium Chase travel cards.
The red and yellow circles that make up the Mastercard logo are instantly recognizable. But what you may not realize is that Mastercard is a payment network — not a credit card issuer. Your Mastercard credit card doesn’t come from Mastercard directly. Rather, it’s issued by a bank or credit union.
If you’re considering applying for a new credit card, getting one on the Mastercard payment network is an excellent choice. Like Visa credit cards, Mastercard credit cards are accepted virtually everywhere in the world that you can pay by card.
There are a variety of Mastercard credit cards available, including cash back credit cards, balance transfer cards and more. We’ll help you evaluate the options and choose the best Mastercard credit card for your wallet.
Mastercard is one of the four major payment networks in the U.S., along with Visa, American Express and Discover. Mastercard doesn’t approve card applications or issue credit cards on its own — instead, it partners with banks and other financial institutions to provide payment services for credit, debit and prepaid cards.
Mastercard is among the most accepted forms of payment worldwide. It’s accepted by more than 44 million merchants in more than 210 countries and territories and more than 150 currencies. So if you’re traveling with a Mastercard, you should be able to use it with most merchants.
The benefits you receive as a cardholder vary depending on the type of Mastercard you have. Currently, three kinds of Mastercard credit cards are available: Standard, World Mastercard and World Elite Mastercard. Each offers a different set of benefits.
Credit card issuers ultimately determine the specific benefits that accompany a particular Mastercard. Refer to your card agreement or card issuer for the specific benefits included with a particular credit card.
Mastercard and Visa are the most accepted credit cards in the world. You should have no issues using either of them wherever you make purchases. Both payment networks offer different types of cards with varying benefits, from standard perks to elite travel and purchase benefits.
However, it’s the card issuer, and not Mastercard or Visa, that decides which perks are included with an individual card. So when choosing a credit card, don’t worry about whether it has a Visa or Mastercard logo — instead, look for a card that best fits your needs and aligns with your spending habits.
Generally, most banks offer Mastercard credit cards. Some banks, like American Express and Discover, do not offer Mastercards, as they’re both credit card issuers and payment networks.
Frequently asked questions
Methodology: How we chose the best Mastercard credit cards
To select the cards in this post, we reviewed the top Mastercard credit cards available on LendingTree and major issuer sites.
In addition, we evaluated factors including rewards, 0% intro APR periods and ease of accessibility to applicants with varying credit levels. Some cards also include useful benefits, such as extended warranty or free access to your credit score.
Finally, nearly all of the cards on this list charge no annual fee.