Our Verdict
The Synchrony Premier World Mastercard®* offers an unlimited 2% cash back on all eligible purchases. Though this card doesn’t offer much else in the way of benefits, welcome bonuses or low intro APRs, the card is likely a viable option for those who can qualify.
Pros
- 2% cash back with no categories or caps
- No annual fee
Cons
- No intro APR or welcome bonus
- 3% foreign transaction fee
Highlights
- Earn 2% cash back on eligible purchases
- No annual fee
- $0 fraud liability
Introduction
With unlimited 2% cash back on all other purchases and no annual fee, the Synchrony Premier World Mastercard®* doesn’t offer many other benefits, save the standard World Mastercard benefits which include $0 fraud liability and ID theft protection.
The flat-rate 2% cash-back card is quickly becoming the plastic standard among rewards cards: If a card doesn’t earn you as much as an unlimited 2% cash-back card like the Synchrony Premier World Mastercard does, it should have great extra benefits to make up for it. However, most 2% cards are thin on the benefits and this card is no exception.
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Quick Facts
- No annual fee
- Unlimited 2% cash back on all eligible purchases
- Identity theft protection benefit through Mastercard World benefits
Synchrony Premier World Mastercard Credit Card Rewards
Earning Rewards
The Synchrony Premier World Mastercard earns an unlimited 2% cash-back reward on all eligible purchases automatically.
Redeeming Rewards
Cash-back rewards earned with Synchrony Premier World Mastercard are redeemed automatically on each statement as a credit toward the card balance.
Rewards Potential
To determine the rewards potential of the Synchrony Premier World Mastercard we consider what an average household might spend on a credit card each year. Forbes Advisor uses data from various government agencies to determine baseline income and spending averages across various categories. The 70th percentile of wage-earning households brings in $116,000 annually and has $36,177 in annual expenses that can reasonably be charged to credit cards.
At 2% cash back, the Synchrony Premier World Mastercard would earn $723.54 cash back each year.
Other Synchrony Premier World Mastercard Credit Card Benefits
- $0 fraud liability: Cardholders aren’t responsible for unauthorized charges.
- World Mastercard benefits: Get access to an array of concierge and convenience-related benefits available through the World Mastercard program.
Fine Print
Interest Rates
- Regular APR: 19.24%, 25.24%, or 32.24% variable
- Purchase intro APR: N/A
- Balance transfer intro APR: N/A
Fees
- Annual fee: $0
- Balance transfer fee: Either $10 or 4% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater.
- Foreign purchase transaction fee: 3% of each transaction
How the Synchrony Premier World Mastercard Credit Card Stacks Up
Synchrony Premier World Mastercard®* vs. Citi Double Cash® Card
The Citi Double Cash® Card also earns an unlimited 2% cash back—but with 1% earned when a purchase is made and the other 1% when the purchase is paid off. Rewards are issued as ThankYou Points which can be redeemed as cash back at a rate of 1 cent per point. Unlike the Synchrony Premier, the Citi Double cash requires redeeming rewards instead of offering automatic redemption.
The Citi Double Cash offers one of the most impressive low APRs on the market for balance transfers. It offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the standard variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on creditworthiness. An intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies to transfers completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5) For those trying to also consolidate credit card debt, the Citi Double Cash is hard to beat. For cash rewards, these two cards are a match.
Synchrony Premier World Mastercard®* vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card also offers 2% cash rewards on purchases, but unlike the Synchrony Premier, it offers a welcome bonus: Earn $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
The card also offers a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR applies. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a fee of up to 5%, with a minimum of $5 applies. Because the Active Cash also offers cellphone insurance, we believe it’s likely a better choice than the Synchrony Premier for most folks who would use this feature. Note also that the cellphone insurance offered on the Active Cash is subject to a $25 deductible for eligible claims.
Synchrony Premier World Mastercard®* vs. Chase Freedom Flex℠
For those skeptical of a flat-rate card and wondering what other earning structures exist, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ may be worth exploring. The Freedom Flex offers 5% cash back on the first $1,500 of eligible spending each quarter in rotating, must-be-activated categories.
Cardholders also earn 5% cash back on travel when purchased through Chase, 3% cash back at restaurants and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. This structure may work for some, but those who have the brainpower to keep track of bonus categories should consider applying for both cards to boost earnings even further.
The Chase Freedom Flex’s extra benefits, like purchase protection, trip interruption insurance and extended warranty coverage also offer a wider array of benefits. The Freedom Flex card also offers cellphone protection with an $800 per-incident coverage maximum. The Freedom Flex also offers a welcome bonus: Earn $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Is the Synchrony Premier World Mastercard Credit Card for You?
The Synchrony Premier World Mastercard isn’t the best 2% cash-back card out there, but as a 2% cash-back card it’s worth looking into. Flat-rate, unlimited 2% cash back is the new standard and as such, the card makes a great addition to any wallet oriented primarily at earning the most cash back. For those looking for more benefits and other features like a low APR, keep looking.
Best 0% APR & Low Interest Credit Cards Of 2024
Methodology
Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria when assigning credit cards a rating. Cards are graded based on numerous factors including:
- Annual fees
- Welcome bonus offers
- Ongoing earning rates
- Value of individual points or miles
- Included travel or merchant credits
- Additional cardholder benefits
Card features we expect cardholders to use the most often are weighted more heavily in our ratings. Altogether, the factors came together to provide a star rating for each individual card.
Read more: How Forbes Advisor Rates Credit Cards
*The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor: Synchrony Premier World Mastercard®. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
