Mastercard Black Card review: A premium option that falls short of excitement

Overview of the Mastercard Black Card

The Mastercard® Black Card™ offers a range of benefits designed to enhance your travel experience. These include a $100 annual airline credit, reimbursement for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee, and a Priority Pass Select membership. You earn 1 point for every dollar spent, with points redeemable at 1.5% for cash back or 2% for airfare without any blackout dates. Card rating*: ⭐⭐½

*Card rating reflects the views of TPG's editors and is not swayed by the card issuer.

The Mastercard Black Card is crafted from metal, aligning with the trend of prestigious cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express. This design attracts those eager to become part of the exclusive metal cardholder community.

While it shares material similarities with premium credit cards and borrows its name from Amex's Black (Centurion) Card, the Mastercard Black Card lacks many benefits and carries a hefty annual fee of $495. It is recommended for those with a credit score of 740 or higher.

Let's dive deep into the Mastercard Black Card and see how it stacks up against other premium cards, helping you determine if it's worthy of a spot in your wallet.

The information regarding the Centurion Card has been gathered independently by Dinogo. The details on this page have not been verified or supplied by the card issuer.

Pros and cons of the Mastercard Black Card

Welcome offer for the Mastercard Black Card

A significant drawback of the Mastercard Black Card is the absence of a welcome bonus.

Although it markets itself as a premium credit card, the Black Card does not provide an initial bonus of points upon account opening. This could be a major turn-off for those who compare it to the generous welcome bonuses offered by many travel credit cards.

Benefits of the Mastercard Black Card

The Black Card provides various benefits that can help mitigate the annual fee while offering cardholders added conveniences for their travels.

When compared to other premium cards, the benefits are limited, yet they still offer some value for frequent flyers.

Cardholders enjoy an annual travel credit of $100 that can be used flexibly for flight-related expenses. Eligible purchases include airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades, and other charges directly from the airline.

A key advantage of this benefit is that you are not required to choose a specific airline to utilize it, unlike the up to $200 airline statement credit offered each calendar year with the Amex Platinum. Enrollment is necessary; terms apply.

The card also provides up to $120 in statement credits for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee. True to its nature as a travel card, the Black Card imposes no foreign transaction fees.

Additionally, it includes a Priority Pass Select membership, granting cardholders access to more than 1,500 lounges and partner restaurants around the globe.

The card offers various travel and purchase protections, which include:

• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: Provides secondary coverage for a covered round-trip purchase made with the card. You can be reimbursed for nonrefundable round-trip expenses up to $5,000 per person if an accidental covered event forces you to cancel or interrupt your trip.
• Travel assistance: Access to travel, medical, and legal assistance when you are 50 miles or more from home.
• Baggage delay insurance: Reimbursement for eligible items up to $100 per day for a maximum of three days if your baggage is delayed by more than four hours from the time you arrive at your destination (excluding arrival at your primary residence).
• Travel accident insurance: Coverage of up to $250,000 for eligible common carrier accidental death and dismemberment when you charge your full travel fare to your eligible card for a covered trip.
• Auto rental collision waiver: Provides secondary coverage for damages to a rental car when paid for with the card, provided you decline the coverage offered by the rental agency.

The Black Card also includes the following benefits:

While these benefits are appealing, you can find the same or similar features with other premium cards, often accompanied by a welcome bonus and additional perks.

Earning rewards with the Mastercard Black Card

Regrettably, despite its branding as a premium card, the Black Card falls short with its low earning rate. Cardholders earn just 1 point per dollar spent, with no bonus categories to enhance rewards.

Given such low earning rates, you're likely better off using a no-annual-fee cash-back credit card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, which offers 1.5% cash back on non-bonus spending categories.

The low earning rate is another reason this card falls short compared to other premium credit cards.

Redeeming rewards with the Mastercard Black Card

Rewards can be redeemed in two ways: for cash back or for airfare.

You can redeem points for 2 cents each towards airfare, giving it an edge over competitors. In contrast, Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can redeem points for up to 1.5 cents each when booking through Chase Travel℠.

Of course, you can achieve significantly higher returns by transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to airline partners instead of redeeming them directly through a portal.

The inability to transfer points to an airline partner is a significant drawback for me, as I see much greater value in doing so, particularly when leveraging transfer bonuses, promotions, or sweet spot redemptions.

One of the standout features of this card is the ability to redeem flights at 2 cents each; however, beyond that, the Black Card really falls short in the premium credit card arena.

Which cards rival the Mastercard Black Card?

It's no secret that the Black Card isn't garnering acclaim from credit card and points enthusiasts. If you receive an offer to apply for this card, consider the following alternatives instead, which provide significantly more value and have annual fees comparable to the Black Card.

• If you're looking to accumulate more miles: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is your top choice, featuring an annual fee of $395 (see rates and fees). This card awards 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars, and 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel. For all other purchases, you'll earn 2 miles per dollar, plus a $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel. To find out more, check out our full review of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
• If you dine out often: The American Express® Gold Card provides 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants (on the first $50,000 in purchases each calendar year; then 1 point per dollar) and on groceries at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 annually, 1 point per dollar thereafter), along with 3 points per dollar on airfare booked directly with an airline or through amextravel.com. Notably, points can be transferred to 21 partners (18 airlines and three hotels). This card carries an annual fee of $325 (see rates and fees). Enrollment is necessary for select benefits; terms apply. For more details, read our full review of the American Express Gold Card.
• If you prefer a Chase card: The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers elevated earning rates on specific travel and dining purchases at 3 points per dollar (enhanced earning on travel is available after the $300 annual travel credit), along with a flexible $300 annual travel credit and access to airport lounges. Although it has an annual fee of $550, cardholders enjoy more valuable perks than those with the Black Card. To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

For more choices, check out our full list of the best premium credit cards.

Is the Mastercard Black Card worth considering?

The Black Card is not a card I would suggest for anyone looking to enter the premium credit card space. It's mainly appealing to those who desire a sleek metal credit card with basic travel perks and a slightly better redemption rate than other premium options. For everyone else, the hard inquiry on your credit report for a card that offers limited benefits, poor earning potential, and a hefty annual fee simply isn't justified.

In summary

Mediocre benefits merely for possessing a metal black card that mimics the Amex Centurion Card make this a card to steer clear of. A premium credit card boasting a high annual fee needs to offer a more compelling value.

While I do appreciate the option to redeem points at 2 cents each for airline purchases, the Black Card ultimately falls short in the premium credit card arena.