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Credit Cards

Sam’s Club Credit Card Review

Updated Feb 28, 2022   |   7-min read

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Sam's Club Credit Card
on Sam’s Club’s secure website
Editorial Rating

Editorial Rating

What we like:

Generous rewards for those who frequently spend on gas, dining, and travel

Intro Offer$45 statement credit when you open your account and make a purchase of $45 or more on the same day
Rewards Rate5% cash back on the first $6,000 in annual gas purchases

3% cash back on dining and travel purchases

1% cash back on all other purchases (cash back capped at $5,000 annually)
Regular APR17.15% or 25.15% variable APR
Annual Fee$0
See how this card stacks up to our top rated credit cards

Card Details

Pros

  • 5% cash back on gas not limited to Sam’s Club gas stations
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • Cash access up to $100 at any Sam’s Club or Walmart register
  • Doubles as your membership card

Cons

  • Cash back rewards only issued once per year
  • Card must be in good standing (no more than two months delinquent on the minimum payment, must have current Sam’s Club membership) otherwise your rewards are forfeited
  • No 0% introductory APR on purchases or balance transfers
  • Sam’s Club purchases earn just 1% cash back
  • Unimpressive signup bonus
  • Annual cap on cash back rewards

Recommended Credit Score

  • Good or excellent credit

Sam’s Club Mastercard Review: More Rewards for Sam’s Club Members

Both the Sam’s Club store credit card and the Sam’s Club Mastercard are only available to individuals with an active Sam’s Club annual membership. The Sam’s Club credit card has very little to offer other than a small signup bonus if you make a purchase on the first day of account opening, along with the ability to access cash at a Walmart or Sam’s Club register.

The Sam’s Club Mastercard, on the other hand, has a good rewards program that’s especially beneficial for people who buy gas often, but it does come with some major drawbacks and limitations of which you need to be aware. We’ll take a closer look at both cards below to help you decide which one might be a good choice for you.

In this review:

Where Can I Use My Sam’s Club Credit Card?

Your Sam’s Club credit card can be used at any Walmart or Sam’s Club location as well as for Samsclub.com or Walmart.com purchases. You can use your Sam’s Club Mastercard anywhere Mastercard is accepted.

Sam’s Club Credit Card Benefits

The Sam’s Club store card offers almost no benefits, but the Mastercard has some perks that frequent Sam’s Club shoppers might enjoy.

Signup Bonus

Both cards provide a $45 statement credit when you make at least $45 in Sam’s Club purchases on the day of account opening.

One Card Convenience

Sam’s Club credit cards double as your membership card so you don’t have to lug around two cards in your wallet.

Special Financing

Cash access is available for Sam’s Club cardholders. You can visit any Sam’s Club or Walmart register to access up to $100 in cash in $20 increments. When you access cash, it’s treated as a purchase — most cards charge higher APRs for cash advances — but you’re limited to one cash advance per day.

$0 Fraud Liability

If your card is lost or stolen, you aren’t responsible for charges incurred.

No Annual Fee

Sam’s Club charges no annual fees for either card. However, you do have to pay for a Sam’s Club membership to be a cardholder. A basic Sam’s Club membership has a $45 membership fee, while Sam’s Club Plus memberships cost $100.

Sam’s Club Mastercard Benefits

The Sam’s Club Mastercard provides all of the benefits of the Sam’s Club store card, as well as some additional advantages.

Sam’s Club Rewards

When you have a Sam’s Club Mastercard, you can receive a maximum of $5,000 in cash back annually. You’ll earn 5% cash rewards on up to $6,000 in fuel purchases at any participating gas station worldwide; 3% cash back on travel and dining; and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Cash back rewards are issued starting in February and must be redeemed as a statement credit. You must be a current Sam’s Club member and your card must be in good standing — otherwise, your rewards will be forfeited.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

Since you don’t pay fees when using your card abroad, you can use your Sam’s Club Mastercard to make purchases and earn points no matter where you go.

Downsides of the Sam’s Club Credit Cards

The Sam’s Club store card has a few obvious disadvantages, including the fact it can only be used at Walmart and Sam’s Club. In addition, it has no rewards program.

The Sam’s Club Mastercard is a much better option than the store card; however, the annual cash back limit is one significant downside, as is the fact you can redeem rewards just once per calendar year as a statement credit for Sam’s Club purchases. Most other rewards credit cards provide added flexibility, allowing you to redeem rewards more frequently for things like travel, hotel stays, gift cards, and more.

How It Compares to Similar Cards

The Sam’s Club store card offers way fewer perks than most store cards, while the Sam’s Club Mastercard has serious limitations other cash back cards don’t generally have.

Sam’s Club Credit Card vs. Walmart Credit Card

Both the Sam’s Club and Walmart credit cards can be used at the same stores, but the Walmart card is much more generous in terms of the rewards you can earn.

The Walmart card allows you to earn 3% back on Walmart.com purchases, 2% back on Walmart fuel purchases and purchases at Murphy USA gas stations, and 1% cash back on Walmart in-store purchases. For the Walmart Mastercard, it’s also possible to earn 1% cash back anywhere Mastercard is accepted.

Walmart’s initial bonus for new cardholders isn’t as generous, though, as you get back just $25 after making $75 in purchases, compared to $45 after $45 in purchases with the Sam’s Club card.

Sam’s Club Mastercard vs. Capital One SavorOne Card

The Capital One SavorOne is a versatile cash back card with fewer limitations than the Sam’s Club Mastercard.

The Capital One SavorOne credit card offers unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment, 2% cash back on grocery store spending, and 1% back on all other qualifying purchases. You don’t get the same 5% rewards rate on fuel purchases that the Sam’s Club Mastercard provides, but you do get to earn as much cash back as you want instead of being subject to a $5,000 annual limit.

The Capital One SavorOne also comes with a 0% introductory APR for 15 months and a $150 cash bonus for new cardholders, though you have to spend at least $500 on purchases within three months of opening the card to qualify. Perhaps the biggest advantage of the Capital One SavorOne card is you aren’t limited to redeeming rewards just once per year. You also have many more redemption options at your disposal.

Bottom Line

If you spend a lot on gas and don’t mind serious restrictions when it comes to the cash back you earn, the Sam’s Club Mastercard may be right for you. However, people who don’t frequent a wholesale club like Sam’s Club or want to earn substantial rewards they can redeem for more than just a statement credit should generally look elsewhere for a rewards card.