Synchrony Marvel Mastercard review (3% back on dining and entertainment)

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The Marvel Mastercard is a no-annual-fee cash back card from Synchrony Bank with cool superhero card art. But just because a card looks fancy doesn’t mean it deserves a place in your wallet.

It earns 3% cash back at restaurants and on select entertainment like movie theaters, games, Marvel.com, and more — but it doesn’t have a great welcome bonus, and there are similar no-annual-fee cards that are better for a number of different reasons. I’ll detail the Marvel Mastercard, and provide suggestions for other cards that are a better deal for you.

The information for the Marvel Mastercard has been collected independently by Million Mile Secrets. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Who is the Marvel Mastercard for?

The main perk of the Synchrony Marvel Mastercard is 3% back on restaurants and entertainment — two categories where many of us spend a lot of money. That’s not a bad return at all!

The card is also is for those who prioritize cash back over miles and points. The best credit cards for travel also offer bonus rewards for spending in these categories, and it’s possible to receive far more than a 3% return. The Marvel Mastercard has no annual fee, as well, so it’s risk-free (though it’s far from the best no annual fee credit card, we’ll explain why).

If the above describes your needs, or if you just want cool Marvel characters to flash around on your card, keep reading.

Current offer

The Synchrony Marvel Mastercard comes with a $25 statement credit after your first purchase.

Many cards require you to spend a certain amount of money within a short time frame to receive a card’s bonus, so this offer is extremely easy to achieve. The problem is that a $25 welcome bonus is laughably weak. Some no annual fee cash back cards come with bonuses as high as $500!

Benefits and perks

Earning rates

This card offers the following returns for spending:

• 3% cash back on dining and select entertainment (such as movie theaters, video rental and game stores, theatrical and concert promoters, amusement parks, digital entertainment, music, games and software, books and newsstands, toys and hobby stores)
• 3% cash back online at Marvel.com and at Marvel’s official merchandise booths
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Marvel discounts

If you’re looking at this card, you’re probably a big Marvel fan. Anyone who spends a significant amount of money with Marvel can save big with this card:

• 10% off purchases at MarvelShop.com
• Free shipping offers at MarvelShop.com
• 3 free months of Marvel Unlimited membership (gives you online access to 17,000+ Marvel comics)

No annual fee

No annual fee credit cards are the best way to dip your toe into the world of credit. Because there’s no annual fee with this card, you can keep it open forever, which can potentially improve your credit history (and therefore your credit score).

Is the Synchrony Marvel Mastercard worth it?

For most of us, not at all.

Despite its $0 annual fee, there are simply better cards out there. You’ll have to spend a gigantic quantity of money on comic books and Marvel merchandise to justify this card over its competitors.

The question here is whether a $25 sign-up bonus worth a hard credit pull, when there are so many better offers. I don’t think so.

Better no annual fee cash back credit cards

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card offers similar bonus categories to the Marvel Mastercard, namely:

• 3% cash back on dining and entertainment
• 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target)
• 1% on all other purchases

Plus, 8% back on Vivid Seats purchases and 3% back on popular streaming services. The card comes with a bonus seven times larger: $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

Chase Freedom

The Chase Freedom® card is one of our favorite no-annual-fee cards. It, too, comes with $150 (15,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards point) after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

This card offers rotating 5% cash back (5 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar) quarterly bonus categories (on up to $1,500 in purchases) that allow you to earn up to $75 each quarter for a total of up to $300 cash back per year. And similar to the Marvel credit card, you’ll earn 1% on all other purchases.

You might consider the Freedom instead, as you can earn the one-time $150 sign-up bonus and 5% back in select categories each quarter when you activate your card.

Everyone on the MMS team has this card, though it’s worth mentioning that some don’t like rotating bonus categories, because collecting rewards are slightly more complicated.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is also a no-annual-fee cash back card (See rates and fees).  You’ll earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months of card membership.

You’ll also get 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%), 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits.

A great perk with Amex cards is that they give you access to Amex Offers and perks like extended warranty, purchase and return protection, and more. I’ve saved thousands of dollars using the Amex Offers through the years, from wine (lots of wine!) to department stores, hotel stays to dog-sitting.

Bottom line

The Marvel Mastercard from Synchrony Bank looks pretty cool if you like superheroes. But as the saying goes, you should never judge a book (or credit card) by its cover! 

You’ll earn a $25 statement credit after your first purchase, and earn 3% cash back at restaurants and on select entertainment, like movies and concerts. But unless you’re spending a small fortune at Marvel.com (3% back) and MarvelShop.com (10% off), use your Captain America shield to block this offer from your mailbox. There are better cards with larger sign-up bonuses and similar bonus categories.

That’s why we recommend these cards instead:

• Capital One SavorOne
• Chase Freedom
• Amex Blue Cash Everyday

Read our post on the best cashback credit cards to see just how amazing cash back credit cards can be. And subscribe to our newsletter for more credit card guidance like this delivered to your inbox.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday Card, please click here.