Sam’s Club® Mastercard® review: Cash back for filling up

Written by: Sarah Schaut
• Updated •3 min read
This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.
Family standing nearby and thinking about the Sam's Club Mastercard as smiling mother handing credit card to cashier at grocery store.Image: Family standing nearby and thinking about the Sam's Club Mastercard as smiling mother handing credit card to cashier at grocery store.

In a Nutshell

The Sam’s Club® Mastercard® offers high cash back rates. But the card is only worth getting if you’re already a regular Sam’s Club shopper.
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Pros

  • 5% cash back on gas purchases (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
  • 3% cash back on dining and takeout purchases
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases

Cons

  • Sam’s Club membership required

Core features of the Sam’s Club® Mastercard®

Cash back categories

The high point of the Sam’s Club® Mastercard® is the whopping 5% cash back earned for gas purchases at Sam’s Club and Walmart gas stations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and at other eligible gas stations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

But you can only earn that 5% rate on the first $6,000 you spend on gas each year. After that cap, you’ll only earn 1% cash back on those eligible gas purchases. With the average American household spending about $2,000 on gas in a year, the purchase cap doesn’t seem like a major drawback.

Purchases on dining and takeout can also earn cardholders 3% cash back, which is similar to earning rates for comparable credit cards.

Annual fee vs. membership fee

Sam’s Club® Mastercard® advertises that there’s no annual fee, which is sort of true. While there’s technically no annual fee on the card, applicants must have a Sam’s Club membership in order to be approved for and use it. An annual membership costs $50 for Sam’s Club members and $110 for Sam’s Club Plus members.

By applying for the card, you might be able to get most of your Sam’s Club membership fee covered for the first year. That’s because it’s common to see sign-up bonuses that offer a statement credit offsetting the Sam’s Club membership cost.

Landing a sign-up bonus like that is a practical way to dodge fees for the first year — just be sure to pay attention to the details of any sign-up bonus offer, like the date the offer ends.

What else you should know about the Sam’s Club® Mastercard®

  • It has a variable purchase APR of 20.90% or 28.90
  • Your Sam’s Club® Mastercard® doubles as your Sam’s Club membership card, so no need to juggle cards when entering or paying at the store
  • Rewards cash is only paid out if the account and club membership are in good standing, so if you plan to cancel your membership, wait until you receive your rewards check to do so

Who this card is good for

The Sam’s Club® Mastercard® offers pretty good cash back rates for gas and dining. Getting 5% cash back on gas purchases at eligible gas stations is a huge perk — your everyday driving might drain your tank, but it can earn you high rewards, too.

If you’re a die-hard Sam’s Club fan, this card could work for you. But if deciding when and where you use your earned rewards is a must-have, then you can cross the Sam’s Club® Mastercard off your list.

Not sure this is the card for you? Consider these alternatives.

About the author: Sarah Schaut is a Canadian living in sunny Florida. She’s an economic crimes detective at a city police department and an expert in credit, fraud and mortgages. Read more.