Mastercard® Black Card™* vs. Citi Double Cash® Card
The Citi Double Cash® Card offers 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off. It also offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the standard variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on creditworthiness. An intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies to transfers completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
The Double Cash may not have the travel benefits of the Mastercard Black Card, but even without an annual fee, it bests the potential rewards earned. To earn back the cost of the Mastercard Black Card’s annual fee in cash back, the card requires $33,000 in spending. Spend that with the Citi Double Cash and you’ll earn $660—more than enough to pay for the best perks offered by the Mastercard Black and then some.
Mastercard® Black Card™* vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
With a $550 annual fee and a $75 authorized user fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers the sort of card the Mastercard Black Card wants to be. You’ll get a $300 travel credit (versus the Mastercard Black’s $100 airline credit), stronger earning rates and points that can be redeemed for travel through Chase’s portal at 1.5 cents per point or transferred to one of Chase’s airline or hotel partners. Cardholders will earn 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals when purchasing travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
To sweeten the deal, new Sapphire Reserve cardholders will have the opportunity to earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. The Mastercard Black Card offers no welcome bonus.
Mastercard® Black Card™* vs. The Platinum Card® from American Express
For those looking for an elite card alternative that’s focused on travel, The Platinum Card® from American Express (Terms apply. See rates & fees) is one to consider. With similar perks to the Mastercard Black Card and then some, the Amex Platinum earns 5 Membership Rewards Points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.
The Amex Platinum really shines with its extra benefits and welcome bonus: 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $8,000 on purchases on the card in the first 6 months of card membership.
Read more: Best Credit Cards of 2024
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Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in the article comparing different credit cards.
Citi Double Cash® Card
The Citi Double Cash® Card offers 2% cash back on all purchases. This cash back is earned in two parts: 1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they're paid off. The card also provides a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After the introductory period, the standard variable APR ranges from 19.24% to 29.24%, depending on creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% (whichever is greater) for transfers completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, the fee is 5% of each transfer, with a minimum of $5.
Mastercard® Black Card™
The Mastercard® Black Card™ is known for its travel benefits. However, it comes with an annual fee that needs to be considered. To earn back the cost of the annual fee in cash back, the card requires $33,000 in spending. On the other hand, the Citi Double Cash® Card offers a higher cash back rate of 2% on all purchases, which can earn you $660 with the same spending amount. This makes the Citi Double Cash® Card a better option in terms of potential rewards earned, even without an annual fee.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is another credit card that competes with the Mastercard® Black Card™. It has a $550 annual fee and a $75 authorized user fee. The card offers a $300 travel credit (compared to the Mastercard Black's $100 airline credit) and stronger earning rates. Cardholders can earn 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals when purchasing travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. The points earned can be redeemed for travel through Chase's portal at 1.5 cents per point or transferred to one of Chase's airline or hotel partners. The card also provides 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. New Sapphire Reserve cardholders have the opportunity to earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening .
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express is focused on travel and offers similar perks to the Mastercard Black Card. Cardholders can earn 5 Membership Rewards Points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year. They can also earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases. The card comes with additional benefits and a welcome bonus of 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.
These are some of the key points mentioned in the article comparing the Mastercard® Black Card™ with the Citi Double Cash® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and The Platinum Card® from American Express. If you have any specific questions or need more information, feel free to ask!
