MBNA Smart Cash® World Mastercard® vs MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard®: Which one is better?

MBNA Smart Cash® World Mastercard®
3.1

MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard®
3.9
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$300
MBNA Rewards
First Year Bonus Value
$90
MBNA Rewards
Annual Fee
$39
First Year Value
$351
$261 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
N/A
Insurance Included*
Extended Warranty
Up to a yearPurchase Protection
Up to 90 daysCar Rental Damage & Theft
Up to 31 daysCar Rental Accident
$200,000Travel Accident
$1,000,000Price Protection
$500/item, $1,000/yearCar Rental Personal Effects
$1,000/person, $2,000/occurence
Insurance Included*
Extended Warranty
Doubled up to 1 yearPurchase Protection
90 days
Extra Benefits*
Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationallyTrip and legal Assistance
Support for emergency cash transfer, lost document and ticket replacement, lost baggage assistance, pre-trip information and legal assistance while traveling
Extra Benefits*
Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationallyTrip and legal Assistance
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
19.99%
Cash Advance:
24.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
10.99%
Cash Advance:
24.99%
Balance Transfer:
13.99%
Annual Fee*
$39
Annual Fee*
$39
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
$50,000
Min Household Income:
$80,000
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Welcome Bonus*
Get 5% Cash Back†† on eligible gas and grocery purchases for the first 6 months (until the total gas and grocery purchases in the applicable month reaches $500)
Welcome Bonus*
N/A
Rewards Rate*
- Get 2% Cash Back‡ on eligible gas and grocery purchases (until the total gas and grocery purchases in the applicable month reaches $500)
- Get 1% Cash Back‡ for all other eligible purchases
Rewards Rate*
- No rewards earned on purchases
- Standard Annual Interest Rates of 10.99% on purchases, 13.99% on balance transfers✪, and 24.99% on cash advances
- Use available credit on your credit card to transfer funds right to your chequing account.
- Around-the-clock-fraud protection
Is this card worth it?
The MBNA Smart Cash World Mastercard offers decent rewards, especially with its 5% introductory rate on gas and groceries. However, the income requirements and spending caps may limit its appeal to higher earners. If you want flexible rewards and strong insurance coverage, it's a solid option with a low annual fee of $39.
Is this card worth it?
A great card for having a permanently low interest rate on your purchases and balance transfers, however you do not earn any rewards.
Pros
- 5% cash back on gas and groceries for the first 6 months: A solid introductory offer for essential spending categories.
- Up to 2% cash back: Earn 2% on gas and grocery purchases up to $500 monthly.
- Comprehensive insurance: Includes 8 types of insurance, including rental car and price protection.
- Flexible reward redemption: Redeem cash back as a statement credit, deposit to a bank account, or donate to charity.
Pros
- Low purchase interest rate for people planning to put some balance on their credit card.
Cons
- High income requirements: $50,000 personal or $80,000 household income needed.
- Cap on rewards for gas and groceries: 2% cash back is limited to $500 in monthly spending for these categories.
Cons
- High cash advance interest rate at 24.99%
- No rewards earned on purchases
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