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Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. SHARE: Maskot/Getty Images March 23, 2022 Checkmark Bankrate logo How is this page expert verified? At Bankrate, we take the accuracy of our content seriously. "Expert verified" means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced. Their reviews hold us accountable for publishing high-quality and trustworthy content. Margaret has written for Money Under 30, MoneyGeek, The Simple Dollar, CreditCards.com, Interest.com and Fiscal Tiger, among other publications. She writes about subjects including saving, credit, insurance, investing and other financial topics. Liz Bingler is an Associate Editor for CreditCards.com and Bankrate, where she focuses on product news and reviews. As an editor, her goal is to produce content that will help people to make informed financial decisions. Meredith Hoffman is a personal finance writer covering credit card news and advice at Bankrate. She is originally from Columbia, S.C., and received her bachelor's degree from the Univ. of North Carolina at Wilmington. Before joining Bankrate in October 2019, Meredith worked as the news editor of Wilmington’s local newspaper, The Seahawk. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate, we have a mission to demystify the credit cards industry — regardless or where you are in your journey — and make it one you can navigate with confidence. Our team is full of a diverse range of experts from credit card pros to data analysts and, most importantly, people who shop for credit cards just like you. With this combination of expertise and perspectives, we keep close tabs on the credit card industry year-round to: Meet you wherever you are in your credit card journey to guide your information search and help you understand your options. Consistently provide up-to-date, reliable market information so you're well-equipped to make confident decisions. Reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible, so you can make the right decision for you. At Bankrate, we focus on the points consumers care about most: rewards, welcome offers and bonuses, APR, and overall customer experience. Any issuers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide to consumers at each of these levels. At each step of the way, we fact-check ourselves to prioritize accuracy so we can continue to be here for your every next. Bankrate logo Editorial integrity
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You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. Mastercard is one of the major credit card networks, along with Visa, Discover and American Express. While the tend to be minimal, each network comes with a slightly different host of benefits. Mastercard credit card benefits range from basic purchase protections at the Standard level to exclusive travel perks, discounts and services at the World Elite level. In addition to these benefits, Mastercard cardholders will likely also be eligible for card benefits from their card issuer, particularly if they have a . These additional benefits can include things like account management tools, travel and retail discounts, banking apps and more. If you’re considering opening a , there are plenty of options to choose from. Mastercard credit cards are broken down into several tiers, including Standard, Platinum, World and World Elite. Each tier comes with different associated benefits and perks, which we’ll explore below. What is a Mastercard credit card
As a credit card network, Mastercard facilitates transactions between card issuers and merchants. For example, if you have a Mastercard credit card from Capital One, and you use that card to make a purchase in a store, Mastercard processes the transaction between Capital One and the store, acting as a middleman to facilitate communication between the bank and the merchant. Mastercard credit cards are issued by independent banks, credit unions and mid-to-large financial institutions. These include larger banks like Capital One and Citi, as well as smaller lenders like Navy Federal Credit Union and Deserve. Mastercard credit cards are easily identified by the Mastercard logo of two interlocking red and yellow circles. What s the difference between Standard Platinum World and World Elite Mastercards
Mastercard credit cards come in different tiers, with each tier associated with different benefits. These tiers include Standard, Platinum, World and World Elite. Benefits can range from perks like zero liability protection to 24/7 concierge service and curated offers. While higher Mastercard tiers come with additional benefits, they are often also associated with higher annual fees. These benefits are typically at the discretion of the card issuer, so you should be sure to check with your bank and read the fine print before making a decision to open a new credit card. Standard Platinum World World Elite Zero liability protection Yes Yes Yes Yes Mastercard Global Service Yes Yes Yes Yes Mastercard ID Theft Protection Yes Yes Yes Yes Priceless experiences No Yes Yes Yes ShopRunner membership No No Yes Yes Priceless Golf No No Yes Yes Complimentary professional travel services No No Yes Yes Mastercard hotel stay guarantee No No Yes Yes Mastercard lowest hotel rate guarantee No No Yes Yes Mastercard luxury hotel and resorts portfolio No No Yes Yes Car air cruise and vacation packages No No Yes Yes Mastercard Airport Concierge No No Yes Yes Cellphone protection No No Yes Yes Lyft discounts No No Yes Yes DoorDash discounts No No Yes Yes Fandango discounts No No No Yes World Elite Concierge No No No Yes Standard Mastercard benefits
The Mastercard Standard tier credit card is the lowest tier available, but it still comes with plenty of perks, including purchase protection and identity theft protection. Zero liability protection
Zero liability protection protects cardholders in the event that someone makes an unauthorized purchase using their card. This includes purchases made online, in person, over the phone or at ATMs. In order to be eligible for zero liability protection, you need to report the fraudulent charges as soon as possible. Mastercard Global Service
Mastercard Global Service is a nice perk for cardholders, especially those who travel frequently. This service allows you to report lost or stolen cards, access an emergency card replacement or cash advance, find ATMs, and get help with other questions or concerns you might have regarding your account. Mastercard ID Theft Protection
Mastercard ID Theft Protection protects you from identity theft at no extra cost. The service monitors your credit report for potentially fraudulent activity, such as new cards or accounts opened in your name. If you are a victim of identity theft, you’ll also be assigned a resolution specialist to help guide you through the process. Platinum Mastercard benefits
The Platinum Mastercard is the next tier up from Standard. This card includes all of the Standard Mastercard benefits, as well as additional rewards and experiences. Priceless experiences
In addition to the Standard card benefits, Platinum Mastercard cardholders are eligible for curated benefits and offers from Mastercard’s , which provides access to thousands of exclusive experiences around the world. These include extra perks and discounts in categories including travel, culinary arts, arts and culture, sports, shopping and entertainment. World Mastercard benefits
The World Mastercard includes all of the perks and benefits that come with the Standard and Platinum Mastercards, as well as additional travel perks and upgrades. ShopRunner membership
Word Mastercard cardholders receive a free ShopRunner membership with their card, which provides access to free two-day shipping and free return shipping at over a hundred online retailers. If you do a lot of online shopping and want your packages to arrive more quickly, the free ShopRunner membership is a nice addition. Priceless Golf
Cardholders are eligible for exclusive offers and experiences with the PGA tour. This includes access to private country clubs and golf courses, golf experiences and events. Complimentary professional travel services
If you need help planning your trip, you can access complimentary professional travel services as a Mastercard World cardholder. You can get help from experienced travel advisors 24/7 to plan your trip online or by phone. Mastercard hotel stay guarantee
World Mastercard benefits also include Mastercard’s hotel stay guarantee. If you stay at a three-star hotel or higher and encounter any problems, Mastercard will work with the hotel to make it right or find comparable accommodations. Mastercard lowest hotel rate guarantee
If you book a hotel stay through the Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle Services program and find a lower rate somewhere else, Mastercard will refund the difference. Mastercard luxury hotel and resorts portfolio
Cardholders can access additional benefits at over 3,000 hotels and resorts around the world, including complimentary breakfast for two each day, amenity credits (worth up to $100) and more. Car air cruise and vacation packages
World Mastercard cardholders can save on hotel stays, car rentals and flight bookings through Mastercard’s Travel & Lifestyle Services. This is a great perk if you travel frequently and are looking to save money on common expenses or gain access to additional perks (like free status upgrades). Mastercard airport concierge
If you’re looking for personalized service, you can’t beat Mastercard’s airport concierge service. World Mastercard cardholders can arrange for a personal agent to escort them through the airport at over 700 destinations. Cellphone protection
If your cellphone is stolen or needs to be fixed, Mastercard offers $1,000 in yearly coverage for phone replacement and repairs. Note, however, that there is a $50 deductible and terms apply. Still, this benefit can come in handy if something happens to your phone when you’re traveling far from home. Lyft discounts
Cardholders are eligible for a $5 Lyft credit once per month when they take three rides within a month. If you use Lyft often, this is a nice perk to take advantage of. DoorDash discounts
New DoorDash users can get three free months of membership, and DoorDash DashPass members will get $5 off their first two orders each month. World Elite Mastercard benefits
The Mastercard World Elite tier is the highest tier credit card from Mastercard. In addition to the benefits that come with the previous tiers, World Elite comes with perks like Fandango discounts and World Elite concierge service. Fandango discounts
For every $20 spent on movie tickets through Fandango, cardholders receive $5 off future movie tickets or at-home purchases. This is a great perk if you’re a movie fan. World Elite concierge
If you’re looking for personal assistance for all things travel-related, Mastercard’s World Elite concierge service is a great benefit to have. This 24/7 concierge service can help you with anything from booking event tickets to purchasing gifts to making dinner reservations. How to qualify for a Mastercard credit card
Mastercard does not directly issue credit cards to consumers; it partners with other financial institutions like banks and lenders. In order to qualify for a Mastercard credit card, you’ll need to apply for a card through one of these institutions. While different lenders have different requirements for applicants, in general, you’ll need good to excellent credit and a history of responsible borrowing in order to qualify. In some cases, lenders may allow borrowers to see if they without affecting their credit score. If you’re still working to raise your score or build your credit history, there are other options available, including and . The bottom line
Because different benefits and services can vary widely from card to card—including cards in the same Mastercard tier—you should be sure to compare different cards carefully and review all associated benefits in order to decide which Mastercard credit card is best for you. For most cardholders, the benefits from Mastercard may not be enough of a reason to choose a certain card in and of itself, but they represent nice additional features on top of the rewards a card already comes with. SHARE: Margaret has written for Money Under 30, MoneyGeek, The Simple Dollar, CreditCards.com, Interest.com and Fiscal Tiger, among other publications. She writes about subjects including saving, credit, insurance, investing and other financial topics. Liz Bingler is an Associate Editor for CreditCards.com and Bankrate, where she focuses on product news and reviews. As an editor, her goal is to produce content that will help people to make informed financial decisions. Meredith Hoffman is a personal finance writer covering credit card news and advice at Bankrate. She is originally from Columbia, S.C., and received her bachelor's degree from the Univ. of North Carolina at Wilmington. Before joining Bankrate in October 2019, Meredith worked as the news editor of Wilmington’s local newspaper, The Seahawk. Related Articles