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If takeout and delivery make up a good portion of your food budget, the cash-back credit card from DoorDash, Chase and Mastercard could be worth adding to your wallet.
The DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® offers a free year of DashPass. Plus, cardholders get access to competitive rewards and appealing perks for foodies (or anyone who just loves to eat).
CNBC Select outlines everything you need to know about the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard and how it stacks up against similar cards.
DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® details
The DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® is a rewarding cash-back card for dining and DoorDash purchases, but it isn't versatile enough to be an everyday rewards credit card.
- No annual fee
- Strong return on DoorDash orders and dining
- Low-value welcome bonus
- High spending requirement to earn a free DashPass membership after the first year
The DoorDash Rewards Mastercard is a no-annual-fee card that provides a tiered system of cash-back rewards, with the more generous tiers focused on dining and food delivery:
- 4% cash back on DoorDash and Caviar
- 3% cash back on dining when purchased directly from a restaurant, online or in-store
- 2% cash back on grocery stores, online or in-store
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Cardholders can redeem rewards to pay for a DoorDash or Caviar order or opt for cash back in the form of a statement credit, direct deposit or gift card.
Besides earning cash back on purchases, the DoorDash credit card comes with a robust set of benefits and perks. Namely, new cardholders get a free year of DashPass membership which can then be extended every cardmember anniversary year when they spend $10,000. A DashPass membership allows members to take advantage of unlimited $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders, as well as receive 5% back in DoorDash credits on pickup orders.
Other exclusive benefits the card offers include:
- $25 off the first two DoorDash or Caviar shipping orders of $100 or more. Offer valid through Dec. 31, 2023. With DoorDash shipping you can order items from the U.S.'s top restaurants and have them shipped right to your door (even across the country), and items are packed to ensure they don't go bad.
- 10% off one Convenience, Grocery, Alcohol, Retail or DashMart order every month. Maximum discount of $15 per order. Offer expires 12/31/2024.
The DoorDash credit card also provides a few shopping and travel protections that are somewhat uncommon for no-annual-fee cards. For example, cardholders can receive car rental coverage, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, extended warranty, and purchase protection.
Finally, the card offers World Elite Mastercard benefits, which include:
- $5 credit off the first DoorDash order each month as an eligible DashPass member through Sep. 30, 2023.
- $5 Lyft credit after taking 3 rides in one calendar month when paying with the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard.
- Complimentary 24/7 concierge service.
- Access to Mastercard Priceless® Experiences.
- Exclusive offers on ride-sharing, food delivery, online shopping and more.
- Protection from identity theft and fraudulent charges.
Additionally, the DoorDash credit card is a good card to take on an international trip since it charges no foreign transaction fees. Also, Mastercard is widely accepted around the world.
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Is the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard worth it?
The DoorDash Rewards Mastercard might be worth considering if you spend a significant chunk of your food budget on delivery and takeout and tend to stick with DoorDash. For a card that charges no annual fees, its cash-back rates for DoorDash orders and dining out are great.
That said, you may find a non-co-branded rewards credit card that can offer more value for your spending.
For example, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is another cash-back credit card that charges no annual fee and offers solid rewards. Cardholders earn 3% cash back on dining and entertainment, groceries (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®) and eligible streaming services. The dining category includes eligible purchases at DoorDash and other food delivery services, meaning you won't have to limit yourself to just one service or brand.
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the most rewarding options for earning cash back in categories such as entertainment and dining without paying an annual fee. Plus, you can combine its rewards with Capital One's travel cards to convert them into transferable miles.
- One of the most rewarding cash back cards for entertainment and streaming services
- No annual fee
- Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
- High APR
- Requires a good to excellent credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months; 18.74% - 28.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
Introductory fee of 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account during the first 12 months that your account is open. After that, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that we may offer you at any other time.
If you travel a lot and aren't opposed to paying an annual fee, your food spending can earn you outstanding rewards with the American Express® Gold Card. This popular card offers 4X Membership Rewards® points when you spend at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X) and domestic supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). You also earn 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines, through amextravel.com, or the Amex Travel App™ and 1X points on all other purchases. Terms apply.
Where the Amex Gold also shines is with its perks for foodies. Cardmembers can enjoy up to $120 in annual dining credits (up to $10 in statement credits monthly) when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. (enrollment required) and up to $120 in Uber Cash annually ($10 a month) for U.S. Uber Eats orders and U.S. Uber rides after adding the card to the Uber app. (You must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express Gold Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account. The Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States). These benefits alone almost offset Amex Gold's $325 annual fee; see rates and fees. Terms apply.
The American Express Gold Card is great for earning valuable Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets. Membership Rewards® points transfer to many of the top airline and hotel loyalty programs, which makes this card one of the best options for earning travel rewards.
- You can earn $400+ in dining and rideshare credits every year (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Exceptionally rewarding for eligible restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Large annual fee
- Credits are more complicated, you earn them monthly or semi-annually
- Spending caps on the top bonus categories
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You'll know upfront exactly how much you'll pay.
- $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Foreign transaction fee
None
Bottom line
For a card without an annual fee, the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard brings a lot to the table. Besides high rewards rates on dining out and on DoorDash and Caviar orders, it offers some compelling travel and shopping benefits.
At the same time, if you use other food delivery apps besides DoorDash, you can find a general rewards credit card that might provide more value. It's best to evaluate your spending habits before you apply to ensure you're getting the most bang for your buck.
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For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
