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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Reviews
Sam’s Club Mastercard review: Good earnings if you have a Plus membership
Ryan is a former TPG credit cards writer who has been around points and miles for several years and has published content at Miles to Memories, AwardWallet and The Points Guy. His wife joins him on many of his trips, and they enjoy snowboarding, diving, and seeing animals in the wild. When not traveling, Ryan is probably answering questions from his family about how he travels so much and whether this points & miles stuff is illegal.
When Ryan worked as a TPG credit cards writer, he oversaw refreshes of card reviews and card offer stories. He enjoyed racking up cash back and helping readers maximize their points and miles for their next big trip.
also contributed to this story
February 24, 2025 • 9 min read
WESLEY HITT/SAM'S CLUB
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Editorial note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Quick summary
A store-branded cash-back card offers strong rates at gas stations and restaurants, especially for those who frequently purchase fuel.
To maximize rewards on store purchases, a premium membership is required; otherwise, earnings are limited.
Cash-back rewards are issued as store credit, which can be redeemed in-store, online or as cash at member services.
The card is best suited for loyal shoppers who already hold a store membership, particularly those with the premium tier.
What to consider
There is a cap on bonus cash-back earnings for gas purchases each year, after which the rate drops.
Rewards are forfeited if your membership or card account is closed or not in good standing.
Certain purchases, such as tobacco, prescriptions and gift cards, do not qualify for cash-back rewards.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of competing store and cash-back cards, including which types of shoppers benefit most from each option.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
The Sam's Club® Mastercard® is a cash-back credit card available to Sam's Club members. Although it doesn't offer bonus earnings on Sam's Club purchases without a Plus membership, this no-annual-fee card offers 5% cash back on gas (on the first $6,000 per year, then 1% thereafter) and 3% cash back on dining and takeout. The rewards are issued within one to two billing cycles of being earned and are easy to use at Sam's Club. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
The Sam's Club Mastercard may appeal to you if you frequently shop at Sam's Club, prefer to earn cash back or don't want to pay an annual fee on your credit card.
However, the card has low earning rates for most everyday purchases and only provides cash back on Sam's Club purchases to those with more expensive Plus memberships.
On the other hand, the card provides quality earning rates for gas and restaurant purchases. TPG recommends that applicants have a credit score of at least 700 to get approved for the Sam's Club Mastercard.
Note that there is a standard store version of the Sam's Club card, but this review will focus on the Mastercard version.
Let's take a closer look at the Sam's Club Mastercard to see whether it deserves a place in your wallet.
The information for the Sam's Club Mastercard and Sam's Club Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Sam's Club Mastercard pros and cons
Pros
Cons
Bonus rewards on gas and dining
No annual fee
Requires a Plus membership to maximize rewards
Spending cap on bonus rewards for gas
Sam's Club Mastercard welcome offer
Store credit cards usually offer unimpressive welcome bonuses, and the Sam's Club Mastercard (issued by Synchrony Bank) is no exception.
THE POINTS GUY
New applicants can earn a $30 statement credit after making $30 in Sam's Club purchases within the first 30 days of account opening. While something is better than nothing, $30 in value is quite low for a credit card welcome bonus.
However, it is a 100% return on spending that doesn't require much effort to earn.
Even the best no-annual-fee cards don't offer many perks. However, the benefits are abnormally few on the Sam's Club Mastercard, offering only the following:
Only two of these advertised benefits are notable: no foreign transaction fees and no annual fee. After all, Sam's Club locations accept most credit cards and other payment methods. The Sam's Club Mastercard being accepted at all Sam's Club and Walmart locations nationwide isn't notable.
With the Sam's Club Mastercard, you'll earn cash back as follows:
5% at gas stations (on the first $6,000 per calendar year, then 1%)
3% on dining and takeout
1% on other purchases
Sam's Club Plus members also earn up to 5% back on Sam's Club purchases — all Plus members already receive 2% back on qualifying in-club purchases (up to $500 cash back per year), and cardholders earn an additional 3% back.
A Plus membership costs $110 annually, but you can frequently find deals that significantly reduce the first-year cost.
SAM'S CLUB
Without a Plus membership, you'll earn just 1% back on Sam's Club purchases. If you're looking for better earnings without a $110-per-year membership, consider a 2% cash-back credit card.
Earning 5% back on gas is uncommon — especially for a card with no annual fee — making this card a great option for those who spend a lot on gas. These earnings apply at all gas stations (not just Sam's Club gas stations), though there are a few exclusions: warehouse clubs that aren't Sam's Club and gas stations at grocery stores.
Earning 3% back on dining is another solid category on this card, particularly for no annual fee.
Rewards are earned in the form of Sam's Cash. You can earn a maximum of $5,000 of Sam's Cash per year with your card. It's worth noting that you won't earn cash back on purchases of tobacco, electronic cigarettes, prescription drugs, gift cards or other cash equivalents.
Sam's Cash is automatically issued within one to two billing cycles of being earned and loaded onto your Sam's Club membership account.
Then, you can use this cash back at Sam's Club for in-club, online and app purchases. You can also use Sam's Cash toward renewing or upgrading your membership, or you can cash it out by requesting cash back at a staffed register or Member Services.
ROB LEWINE/GETTY IMAGES
However, you won't get any cash back — or your available cash-back balance will be forfeited — in the following cases:
Your card account isn't in good standing
Your Sam's Club membership is terminated, canceled or revoked by Sam's Club
Your card account is canceled or closed (either by you or Synchrony Bank)
Sam's Cash does not expire as long as you remain an active Sam's Club member.
If you plan to maintain a Sam's Club membership for years to come and periodically shop at Sam's Club, this redemption scheme is ideal for its ease of use. But, if you don't spend much with Sam's Club, it may be best to check whether a different card might provide more earnings overall.
Many cash-back cards allow you to redeem your cash back as a statement credit to cover prior purchases, so you could use a more flexible cash-back rewards card to cover Sam's Club expenses if you're an infrequent Sam's Club shopper.
Which cards compete with the Sam's Club Mastercard?
It's worth considering other cards for your wallet, such as other store cards and cards that provide good earnings on everyday spending without charging an annual fee.
If you want to earn at a warehouse club with a basic membership: The (see rates and fees) has no annual fee but requires an active Costco membership. You'll earn 5% cash back rewards on gas at Costco and 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle charging (on the first $7,000 in combined spending each year, then 1% back), 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel, 2% cash back on Costco purchases (both in-store and online) and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash rewards are available annually. To learn more, read our full review of the Costco Visa card.
If you want better earnings on everyday purchases: The (see rates and fees) has no annual fee and earns 2% cash back on every purchase (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay). You can redeem these rewards for travel or cash them out, providing options for your earnings. To learn more, read our full review of the Citi Double Cash.
If you want increased earnings and will shop online: The (see rates and fees) has no annual fee but requires an active Prime membership to unlock its earning potential. You can earn 5% back on Amazon.com purchases, at Whole Foods Market and on travel purchases with Chase Travel℠, 2% back at restaurants and gas stations and 1% back on other purchases. Additionally, cardholders can earn 10% or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com. To learn more, read our full review of the Prime Visa.
The information for the Prime Visa has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you aren't a Sam's Club member, joining to get the Sam's Club Mastercard likely won't make sense. For existing members (especially those with Plus memberships), you may benefit from the card's earning categories. I recommend checking whether any of our picks for the best cards for gas and dining purchases would be a better fit for you before opening the Sam's Club Mastercard.
Earning bonus cash back on gas and dining is nice. The real power of this card comes from pairing it with a Plus membership at Sam's Club, which has an added cost, so check whether you're earning enough to offset this expense. If you shop often at Sam's Club, this can be a good card. However, you may earn more with a card providing higher earnings on everyday expenses since you're probably not shopping at Sam's Club every day.
