Sam’s Club Mastercard Review: Is It Worth Getting?

The Sam’s Club® Mastercard® makes big promises to Sam’s Club members – up to 5% cash back on gas, EV charging, restaurants, and Sam’s Club purchases. But is it the best card for your wallet? This article covers the pros, cons, rewards rates, fees, and more to help you decide.

About This Card

The Sam’s Club® Mastercard® is a store-branded credit card for Sam’s Club members. Offered by Synchrony Bank, it provides up to 5% cash back on gas, EV charging stations, dining, and Sam’s Club purchases (for Plus members).

There’s no annual fee, but you must pay for a Sam’s Club membership to be eligible.

How the Sam’s Club Mastercard Rewards Work

The Sam’s Club Mastercard offers tiered cash back rewards in four main categories:

Gas & EV Charging

Earn 5% cash back on gas station and EV charging station purchases worldwide, on up to $6,000 per year in spending (then 1% back). This includes Sam’s Club fuel stations.

Dining

Get 3% cash back on dining purchases, including restaurants, drinking places, takeout, and delivery services.

Sam’s Club Purchases

Plus Members: Earn 3% back with the card, plus up to 2% back from your membership tier, on qualifying in-club and online Sam’s Club purchases. That’s up to 5% total.
Club Members: Earn 1% back with the card on Sam’s Club purchases.

Other Purchases

All other purchases get 1% cash back.

Your total rewards across all purchases are capped at $5,000 per calendar year.

Pros of the Sam’s Club Mastercard

Let’s start with the advantages of the Sam’s Club Mastercard:

Strong Gas & Dining Rewards

The 5% cash back on gas and EV charging (on up to $6,000 per year) is one of the top rates among gas rewards cards. If you drive often, this perk alone could be worth the card.

The unlimited 3% back on dining is also solid. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American household spends over $3,500 per year dining out. So you can rack up decent rewards.

Up to 5% Back at Sam’s Club (For Plus Members)

If you have a premium Sam’s Club Plus membership ($110 per year), this card really rewards your loyalty. You’ll get 3% cash back with the card itself, plus up to 2% back from your membership tier.

That essentially matches the best store cards in terms of rewards potential on Sam’s Club purchases.

No Annual Fee

You won’t pay anything annually to keep the card beyond maintaining your Sam’s Club membership. The membership doubles as your card.

New Cardholder Bonus

New cardholders can earn a $30 statement credit by spending $30+ on Sam’s Club purchases within the first 30 days. It’s not the biggest bonus, but it’s easy to obtain.

Cons of the Sam’s Club Mastercard

However, the Sam’s Club card does have some notable drawbacks:

Sam’s Club Membership Required

You must be a paying Sam’s Club member (Club or Plus) to qualify for and use this card. So factor $50-$110 for an annual membership fee.

Just 1% Back for Baseline Members

If you only have a basic Club membership, you’ll earn just 1% back on Sam’s Club purchases with this card. Many flat-rate cash back cards can beat that.

Confusing Rewards Limits

Between the $6,000 cap on the 5% gas rate, the up-to 2% back from the Plus membership, and the $5,000 total rewards limit, there are a lot of moving parts. It can get confusing to track.

Good to Excellent Credit Needed

You’ll likely need a credit score of 700 or higher to qualify for this card. Building or rebuilding credit? This isn’t the best option.

Alternatives to Consider

The Sam’s Club Mastercard has pros and cons. Here are two alternatives worth considering instead:

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card keeps rewards beautifully simple with unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases. There are no category caps or tiers to track. This one-and-done card also has no annual fee and a welcome bonus of $200 after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months.

Citi Custom CashSM Card

The Citi Custom CashSM Card lets you pick one category each billing cycle to earn 5% cash back (on up to $500 in purchases). Options include gas, grocery stores, restaurants, and more. All other purchases get 1% back. There’s also no annual fee and new cardholders can earn $200 after you spend $750 within the first 3 months.

Who Should & Shouldn’t Consider the Sam’s Club Card?

The Sam’s Club Mastercard definitely works best for certain types of cardholders:

It’s a Great Match If…

You have a premium Plus Sam’s Club membership and shop there often. Families and small businesses can especially benefit from the high rewards potential.

You frequently buy gas or charge your electric vehicle. The 5% back perk is tailored to drivers.

Simplicity isn’t a priority and you don’t mind tracking multiple reward caps.

Consider Other Options If…

You only have a basic Club Sam’s Club membership. The non-store card options will reward more of your spending.

You want easy, unlimited cash back without worrying about caps or tiers.

You prefer rewards redemption flexibility – Sam’s Cash can only be used for Sam’s Club purchases or account credits.

Sam’s Club Credit Card vs Mastercard

Sam’s Club only offers one branded credit card – the Sam’s Club® Mastercard®. There is no separate “Sam’s Club credit card”.

The Sam’s Club Mastercard is issued by Synchrony Bank. It provides rewards and benefits tailored to Sam’s Club members specifically.

When people refer to the “Sam’s Club credit card”, they are talking about the Sam’s Club Mastercard. There is no other standalone Sam’s Club credit card product.

Sam’s Club Mastercard Pre-Approval

You may be able to see if you pre-qualify for the Sam’s Club Mastercard by logging into your Sam’s Club membership account online or via the mobile app.

Under the “Your Account” section, look for any offers or messages indicating you’ve been pre-approved for the credit card.

This pre-qualification process gives you an idea of your approval odds before formally applying. It does not guarantee you’ll be approved.

If you don’t see a pre-approval offer, you can still submit a full application.

How to Apply for the Sam’s Club Mastercard

If you don’t pre-qualify or want to apply anyway, you can submit a complete application for the Sam’s Club Mastercard.

Applications can be completed:

Online at samsclubcredit.com
Over the phone
In-club at a Sam’s Club membership desk

You’ll need to provide identifying information and answer some credit history questions. The bank may request documents to verify income, depending on the credit limit sought.

Within 30 days you’ll receive either an approval or denial letter from Synchrony Bank.

Sam’s Club Mastercard Login

If approved for the credit card, you can create an online account login via Synchrony Bank to manage your new card.

The login allows you to:

Check rewards earned
Make payments
Set up alerts
Manage personal and card information

To sign up, visit Synchrony’s website or download their mobile banking app. You’ll need your new card number and personal details.

This is separate from logging into your regular Sam’s Club membership account.

Making Sam’s Club Mastercard Payment

As a credit card, you must pay your Sam’s Club Mastercard bill directly to the issuing bank, Synchrony Bank – separate from your Sam’s Club membership fee.
You can pay your credit card bill online, by phone, mail, or set up autopay. The minimum payment due each month will be printed on your statement.
If you only pay the minimum, interest charges will accrue on the balance owed. Pay in full each month to avoid interest.

Conclusion

The Sam’s Club Mastercard offers outstanding rewards if Sam’s Club is your go-to for groceries, household essentials, and more. But only if you have a Plus membership. With a basic Club membership, you’re better off with an alternative card.

If you don’t mind navigating tiered rewards rates and multiple caps, and fill up often at gas stations, the high potential earnings on dining and Sam’s Club shopping make this card worth considering. Just know it works best for big spenders loyal to the wholesale club.

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