The best Mastercard credit cards: Ditch the Visa in your wallet

The Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard credit card is made for the small business owner, offering rewards without any limitations so you can make the most out of your company's finances. There are unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on purchases without restrictions on how much you spend or from which store you buy. It is also designed to help with travel, offering 3x the points when you choose the Bank of America Travel Center to book your car, hotel, or flight. Your points never expire, and there are no annual or foreign transactions fees to slow you down while on travel. Business owners that have a Bank of America checking account can earn up to 75% more points by qualifying for the highest tier of rewards, the Preferred Rewards for Business tier.

Pros 

• No annual or foreign transaction fees
• Bonus offer
• Intro APR

Cons

• Excellent credit required
• No luxury travel upgrades
• Limited bonus rewards

The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is forgiving of new or damaging credit and offers a route to rebuild your credit. As a secured card, you will be required to make a deposit to guarantee your line of credit. This can be a minimum refundable deposit of $49, $99, or $200. There is no annual fee, but it comes with a very high, set APR of 29.99% variable, that does not offer the leeway of other cards. 

After establishing a history of responsible payments, Capital One could refund your deposit and allow you to move to the unsecured Platinum card. Automatic credit line reviews can occur as soon as six months after you open your account.

Pros  

• Flat APR
• No annual or foreign transaction fees
• Excellent for credit building

Cons

• Requires a deposit
• Higher APR
• No rewards

If you like to be out and about, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards credit card is your perfect fit for dining and entertainment, like 8% off Vivid Seats tickets. Even if you love to lounge on the couch with some takeout, Capital One has you covered with 4% cashback on takeout, delivery, and your popular streaming services for that must-see movie or TV show. There is even 3% on groceries if you feel like playing Emeril at home, and you will earn 1% on all other purchases. 

There is an annual fee that is under $100. However, the welcome bonus eases the sting with a one-time $300 cash bonus when you spend $3,000 within three months.

Pros

• No transfer fee
• Rewards don't expire
• Welcome rewards

Cons

• Requires excellent credit
• No intro APR
• Annual fee

The Citi Double Cash card will not bring you rewards or even an intro APR, but it does give rewards on a regular basis. Rewards are limited to just 1% cashback when you purchase your items, but there is another 1% awarded when you pay for a total of 2% cashback on your purchases. There are no category restrictions or limitations, so it is a simple rewards structure that is straightforward and upfront. Rewards are distributed as ThankYou Points under a new program beginning at the end of March 2022. You will have the choice to redeem your points as a direct deposit, check, statement credit, or gift card, among other rewards.

There is also a low starting APR of 18.99%, making it the second-lowest starting APR on our list.

Pros 

• 2% cashback rewards (1% at the time of purchase and 1% when you pay)
• Unlimited rewards
• Intro balance transfer APR

Cons

• No welcome rewards
• No intro APR
• Staggered rewards

When you sign up for a new Citi Premier card, you will receive 60,000 bonus points after making purchases totaling $4,000 or more within the first 3 months of opening your account. This is a reward that is worth $600 when you redeem via gift cards. When it comes time to redeem your rewards, you can use your ThankYou Points to redeem as gift cards or travel rewards, or you can opt to use them for online purchases at Amazon or Best Buy. There is also a $100 annual hotel savings benefit that will give you one $100 credit to use toward a hotel stay costing $500 or more.

While there is a $95 annual fee, there are no foreign transaction fees to help when you are a regular traveler. The APR starts higher than others with a purchase APR that starts at 20.99%, but it is not the highest APR on our list at 28.99% for poor credit. 

Pros 

• Annual fee
• Welcome rewards
• Annual hotel credit

Cons

• Annual fee
• No intro APR
• Must have good credit

Deserve offers two cards, but its EDU card is a fantastic option for students with new or little credit. You don't have to worry about money taking up all your fees, either. Deserve EDU Mastercard for Students* does not charge any fees for balance transfers, foreign transactions, cash advances, or even annual account fees. However, there are also not any introductory offers that give points, miles, or cash value. You will receive a free one-year membership to Prime Student for all those dorm rooms and school supplies you will need while away at school.

The card does come with 1% cashback on all purchases, plus cell phone protection.

Pros 

• Accepts international students
• One-year Prime Student membership
• No annual or foreign transaction fees 

Cons

• No balance transfers
• No cash advances
• No intro offers

The Citi Simplicity card specializes in balance transfers, offering an 0% introductory APR lasting 21 months - nine months longer than the 12-month period for the 0% purchase APR (with a variable APR 18.99% - 29.74% thereafter) . It means you have almost two years to make all the transfers you need before the fees kick in. This card also skips the usual fees with no late fee or annual fee, saving you potentially hundreds of dollars each month. 

However, with no rewards program, this is not the card you want when you are looking for rewards. There are no bonus points or cashback rewards to offer redemption options like travel miles or cash value, so it really is best when your goal is to make multiple balance transfers.

Pros 

• Intro purchase APR
• Intro transfer APR
• No annual fee

Cons

• No rewards
• No cash back
• Foreign transaction fee