While the MGM Rewards Mastercards has many attractive features for certain travelers, it may not be the best travel credit card for your needs. Let’s compare it with a few other cards to see how it stacks up against the competition.
MGM Rewards Mastercard®* vs. The World of Hyatt Credit Card
Hyatt and MGM have a partnership where members of their loyalty programs receive reciprocal status and benefits in the other program. Because of this relationship, you may be better off with The World of Hyatt Credit Card.
Although it has an annual fee of $95, the Hyatt card offers a welcome bonus of 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 more bonus points by earning 2 bonus points total per dollar spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 bonus point, on up to $15,000 spent. The Hyatt card earns 9 points total per dollar spent at Hyatt – 4 bonus points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and 5 base points per dollar from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member. Earn 2 bonus points per dollar spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases, comes with an annual free night (Category 1 to 4) and offers automatic Discoverist elite status. Through the MGM-Hyatt partnership, you can match Discoverist status to MGM Rewards Pearl status to also receive MGM benefits.
MGM Rewards Mastercard®* vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is another no-annual-fee card that offers generous rewards earning. You’ll earn an unlimited 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases and get a 0% introductory APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.24% – 27.99% applies. An intro transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies in the first 60 days of account opening. After that, a fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer applies.
Travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, including rooms at MGM properties, qualifies to earn 5 points per dollar. Points can be used to book travel or redeemed for cash back, gift cards and more. Although the Freedom Unlimited doesn’t earn MGM Rewards tier credits, its rewards-earning power is significantly higher and more flexible than the MGM Rewards Mastercard.
MGM Rewards Mastercard®* vs. Citi® Double Cash Card
Another $0-annual-fee option is the Citi® Double Cash Card, which earns unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off. Cash-back rewards are earned as Citi ThankYou points, which can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, travel and online shopping. However, one of the best and highest-value uses is when you transfer them to Citi’s airline and hotel partners. Additionally, the card offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the standard variable APR will be 18.24% – 28.24%, based on creditworthiness. There is also an intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
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