| Last updated on October 12th, 2023
Xbox Mastercard
Xbox Mastercard
Xbox Mastercard
- 20.99%, 26.99% or 31.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
- 20.99%, 26.99% or 31.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Balance Transfer APR
- 32.49% variable based on the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
At a Glance
The Xbox Mastercard is an interesting retail credit card from Barclaycard. The card earns an impressive 5X points on eligible Microsoft purchases, 3X on streaming and dining, and 1X on everything else. New accounts also enjoy a decent point bonus and free trial of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate just for using the card.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- No annual fee
- Earn 5X points on eligible Microsoft or Xbox purchases
- Earn 3X points on select streaming and dining
- Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Regular Purchase APR: 20.99%, 26.99% or 31.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer APR: 20.99%, 26.99% or 31.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
- Cash Advance APR: 32.49% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of the transaction amount in U.S. dollars
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $41
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $41
- You prefer Xbox as your gaming platform
- You're considering buying a new Xbox console and want to earn points on it
- You want a stylish card that shows your love for your favorite game series
- You don’t want to pay an annual fee
In-Depth Review: Xbox Mastercard Credit Card
The Xbox Mastercard is a fairly unique retail credit card that offers exceptional rewards to dedicated gamers. Like the PlayStation® Visa® from Comenity Bank, the Xbox Mastercard earns up to 5X points on eligible purchases, a modest welcome bonus, and no annual fee.
Basic Welcome Offer
New cardholders can take advantage of a 5,000-bonus point welcome offer (a $50 value) after making their first purchase with the card. They’ll also receive three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for new Game Pass members after their first purchase (don’t worry, you can gift it to a friend if you already have a Game Pass subscription).
How to Earn Points
As mentioned, the Xbox Mastercard earns enhanced points in key gaming categories as well as everyday essentials. Here’s how those rewards breakdown:
- 5X points per $1 on eligible products at the Microsoft Store
- 3X per $1 on eligible streaming services and eligible dining and delivery services
- 1X per $1 on all other purchases
The 5X points per dollar on Microsoft Store purchases is a great incentive for anyone looking to purchase a new gaming console, laptop, or any other type of computer technology from Microsoft, Xbox, or any other related brand. However, not all Microsoft storefront purchases are eligible. Rewards won’t apply to in-game transactions on gear from the Xbox Gear Shop, Official Bethesda Gear Shop, Xbox Design Labs, or other third-party retailers or Microsoft Commercial sites.
Equally pleasant are the triple points earned on dining and streaming transactions, with Barclays accepting a wide range of eligible services:
| Apple TV | Apple Music | Paramount+ | DirecTV |
| Fubo TV | Hulu | Netflix | NFL Game Pass |
| NFL Sunday Ticket | NHL TV | Pandora | Showtime |
| Sirius XM | Spotify | Starz | Vudu |
| YouTube Premium | YouTube TV |
For a full rundown of eligible services, check out the Xbox Rewards terms & conditions.
Gaming Card Comparison
Here’s how the Xbox Mastercard stacks up with its closest rival, the PlayStation Visa:
 Xbox Mastercard |
 PlayStation® Visa® |
|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Rewards on gaming | 5X per $1 | 5X per $1 |
| Other rewards | 3X on dining and select eligible streaming services, 1X on all else | 3X on cable and internet bill payments, 2X on dining, 1X on all else |
| Issuer | Barclays | Comenity |
| Credit needed | Excellent | Fair to Good |
The additional bonus categories may be the biggest difference (besides the consoles). Barclays wants to make the Microsoft gaming card something to use while playing – although the dining and streaming categories also make it convenient for everyday use. On the other hand, the PlayStation Card aims to help offset the cost of utilities while offering triple points when dining out at restaurants.
Points earned with the Xbox Mastercard never expire if the account is in good standing.
How to Redeem Points
Xbox Mastercard rewards points apply towards games and downloadable content or add-ons. Points also apply to Xbox Mastercard Gift Cards that can be used to make additional purchases at the Xbox store. Cardholders can also apply a statement credit towards their card account balance (excluding the minimum amount due). These redemption options provide a point value of one cent per point ($0.01/pt.) – equivalent to 1% in cash back rewards.
Customized Card Design
Beyond lucrative points and three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, there are other great Microsoft perks with the credit card. Chief among these is the option of five slick card designs to choose from. As an additional (and cooler) touch, cardholders have the option of personalizing the card with their Xbox Gamertag.
Other Card Features
Beyond solid gaming rewards and a decent sign-up bonus, the Xbox credit card provides benefits and safety protections found in most Mastercard products. These include $0 Fraud Liability protection, so cardmembers are not responsible for charges they didn’t authorize. Other features include:
| Zero Liability Protection | Mastercard Global Services | ID Theft Protection |
Cardholders also enjoy free online access to view their FICO credit score, allowing them to monitor their credit score and receive alerts when it has changed.
Barclays Ratings
How is Barclays as a credit card issuer? Here is a selection of consumer and expert ratings for the bank:
| BestCards | Better Business Bureau | TrustPilot |
|
3.5/5 |
4.5/5 |
3/5 |
Should You Apply for the Xbox Mastercard
Overall, the Xbox Mastercard Credit Card is an interesting option for the avid gamer who wants a credit card and is equally at home playing games or catching up on the latest Netflix series with pizza and a beer. The card offers an excellent opportunity for games to amass impressive rewards when buying the games you want (or need) and filling your stomach along the way.
In addition, the card offers greater versatility for everyday use versus the PlayStation Visa. However, the latter card earns rewards on paying for certain common bills, which might be more enticing to some than streaming services. Still, for those fully immersed in the Xbox/Microsoft ecosystem, this is an easy-to-use card that can really stack the points.
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