The Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® has no annual fee and guaranteed 2% cash back on every purchase. Could it be the perfect low-cost rewards card?
In this post, you’ll learn—
- What the Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® is.
- How the 2% cash back works.
- Pricing and fees.
- What we think of the Synchrony Premier Mastercard®.
- The alternatives for the card.
- What users have to say about it.
What is the Synchrony Premier World Mastercard®?
The Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® is a cash-back credit card issued by Synchrony Bank. It’s a traditional rewards card with 2% cash back on every purchase.
Unlike other cash-back cards, with this one there are no hidden hurdles to overcome or specific requirements to redeem the money. No matter what you buy, you get two cents cash back for every dollar you spend.
Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® at a Glance
Type: Cash-back card
Annual fee: None
Maintenance fee: None
Credit score needed: Excellent (750+)
Cash back: 2%
Intro offer: None
Benefits: Mastercard® World benefits
Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® Review: Overall Card Rating
Synchrony Mastercard® 2% Cash Back—How Does It Work?
Synchrony Premier Mastercard® is one of the easiest to use cash-back credit cards on the market.
You can use it anywhere, anytime, and always get 2% cash back on every transaction. Whatever you’re paying for—dining, groceries, gas, or anything else—you get two cents for every dollar spent.
The 2% cash back has no reward caps or tiers. What you earn is automatically credited to your statement each month.
Synchrony Premier Mastercard® in Questions and Answers
How does the card differ from Synchrony Plus Mastercard® and Synchrony Preferred Mastercard®?
These are three different versions of the same credit card. While you can apply for the Synchrony Premier World Mastercard®, the two others are available through invitation only.
How to apply for the Synchrony credit card?
To apply for the Synchrony Premier Mastercard®, visit the issuer’s website.
What credit score does Synchrony bank require?
To get approved for the Synchrony Premier World Mastercard®, you need to have an excellent credit score of at least 750 and be in good standing financially.
If your credit score is lower than that, check out some ways to build your credit fast. The Synchrony Mastercard® is worth the extra effort.
How to activate the Synchrony card?
To activate the Synchrony card, go to the issuer’s website or call 1-855-872-4311.
How to cancel the Synchrony credit card?
To cancel any Synchrony Bank credit card, contact their customer service representative. Call the number on the back of your card or 877-295-2080.
What is the Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® foreign transaction fee?
It’s 3% for every foreign transaction—which is why the card isn’t the best choice when traveling abroad.
Here’s the full breakdown of fees and rates:
Key Synchrony Mastercard® Credit Card Fees
|
Fees |
Details |
|
Annual fee |
$0 |
|
Monthly maintenance fee |
$0 |
|
APR |
18.24–31.24% (variable) |
|
APR for cash advances |
29.99% |
|
Balance transfer fee |
Either $10 or 4% of each balance transfer (whichever is greater) |
|
Cash advance fee |
Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance (whichever is greater) |
|
Foreign transaction fee |
3% |
|
Late fee |
Up to $41 |
|
Minimum interest charge |
$2 |
|
Returned payment fee |
Up to $30 |
Our Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® Review
Did you know there are 2.8 billion active credit cards worldwide? Synchrony Premier Mastercard® may be among the best, but there are some aspects you should keep in mind before you get your hands on it—
Synchrony Premier Mastercard®—what we like
No annual fee
With Synchrony Premier Mastercard®, there’s no guesswork around annual or monthly fees—because there aren’t any.
You can enjoy earning rewards without paying a dime to the issuer (that, of course, if you pay off your card in full each month and avoid paying interest charges).
Guaranteed 2% cash back
As we said earlier, there’s unlimited and guaranteed cash back for every purchase made with the Synchrony Premier World Mastercard®.
If you’re looking for a way to earn a percentage of your monthly expenses steadily, the card does that for you, and—
Automatic statement credits
All the earnings are automatically added to your statement each month.
You don’t need to remember which categories to focus on today or manually redeem the rewards—it all happens automatically in the background.
You can just swipe the card, relax, and wait for the rewards to flow into your account.
World Mastercard® benefits
The Synchrony Premier card comes with a suite of Mastercard® benefits.
Some of them are a standard addition to Mastercard® products like zero fraud protection or ID theft protection.
Others, however, make the card really worthwhile—these include Lyft credits, Doordash membership, and travel services.
To see the full list of benefits, visit Mastercard’s website.
Secure mobile app
Synchrony Bank has its own mobile app available to all its customers.
You can download it through the Apple Store or Google Play. It’s a convenient way to make payments, check current balances, change settings, and more.
Synchrony Premier Mastercard®—things to keep in mind
High APR
The card has a variable APR ranging from 18.24% to 31.24%.
It’s more than the average 16.27%, and you may end up paying a lot in charges if you forget to make monthly payments on time.
No worries, though—you have AutoPay to remind you.
No sign-up bonus and intro APR
Although you can make some additional cash using Synchrony card in the long term, this one has no quick wins. There’s no sign-up bonus or intro 0% APR.
So if you want to make a big purchase or transfer your current balance and pay it off, Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® wouldn’t be our first choice.
Foreign transaction fee
Don’t take your Synchrony Premier card with you when you travel.
A 3% fee on every transaction you make abroad (or online through a foreign merchant) makes it much more costly to shop internationally.
We have a list of travel credit cards you can use instead.
Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® Reviews Recap
Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® has mixed reviews online.
To make it easy for you, we compiled a selection of the most prominent ones—
Pros
- Easy approval process
- The rewards program
- No annual fee
Cons
- A few cardholders are frustrated with ID theft on the card.
- Some users claim the customer service representatives are unhelpful and unresponsive.
- Some reviewers received the card as a promotional offer in the mail, only to then find out that they don’t qualify for the promotion.
Alternatives to the Synchrony Premier Mastercard®
Here are the top three alternatives for the Synchrony card—each with guaranteed cash back and other benefits.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® card
|
Credit card |
Rating |
Annual fee |
Rewards rate |
Intro offer |
|
4.8/5 |
$0 |
2% |
0% APR for the first 15 months and $200 bonus |
Why we like it
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® card works similarly to the Synchrony Premier, offering a guaranteed 2% cash back on every purchase. The biggest difference between the two is that Wells Fargo also offers a sign-up bonus and 0% intro APR for the first fifteen months.
Pros
- $0 annual fee
- 2% cash back on every purchase
- $200 bonus for spending $1,000 in purchases in the first three months
- 0% intro APR for the first 15 months
- Flexible rewards redemption
Cons
- Relatively high APR of 19.24%–29.24%
- Foreign transaction fee of 3%
Capital One Venture X Rewards
Why we like it
The Capital One Venture X Rewards is an alternative for those who travel a lot (at least a few times a year). It has an annual fee of $395, but the benefits are entirely worth it—if you use Capital One Travel, that is.
The card has a rewards program that grants you bonus miles when booking flights, hotels, rental cars, and making other purchases.
Pros
- You get 75,000 bonus miles if you spend $4,000 in the first three months.
- After the first year, you get 10,000 bonus miles on every account anniversary.
- If you book travels through Capital One Travel, you get $300 annual travel credits.
Cons
- Fairly high APR of 21.24%–28.24%.
- Makes sense only for those who use Capital One Travel.
Citi Double Cash® card
|
Credit card |
Rating |
Annual fee |
Rewards rate |
Intro offer |
|
4.2/5 |
$0 |
1%–2% |
0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers. |
Why we like it
The Citi Double Cash® card offers unlimited cash back and flexible rewards redemption. You get 1% for every purchase and another 1% after paying the bill. Collected points can be redeemed as a check, gift card, direct deposit, statement credits, and more.
Pros
- 0$ annual fee
- 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers
Cons
- High APR of 18.49%–28.49%
- Foreign transaction fee of 3%
If you want to see more options, here’s a list of the 22 best cash-back credit cards in 2023.
Synchrony Premier vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash® vs. Citi Double Cash®
Is the Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® Good for You?
The Synchrony Premier Mastercard® is good for those who want to make some extra cash without the hassle of managing different categories, tiers, or rates.
You can earn a lot in rewards each year if you use the card for your everyday expenses.
But if you plan to make a large purchase—and pay it off in the first year or two—look for a card with a 0% APR intro offer.
FAQ
What credit score do you need for Synchrony Premier Mastercard®?
To be approved for the Synchrony Premier Mastercard®, you need to have an excellent credit score (at least 750). Not quite there yet? Learn how to do it and how long it will take to build credit to 750+.
Is Synchrony Mastercard® hard to get?
Yes, the card is considered hard to get—you need an excellent credit score and your finances in good standing to be approved for it. If you don’t yet qualify, but still want to get it, see how to build credit fast.
Does Synchrony premier Mastercard® have foreign transaction fees?
Yes, Synchrony Premier Mastercard® has a foreign transaction fee of 3%—and we don’t recommend it for traveling abroad. If you need a credit card for that, check our list of the best travel credit cards.
What’s the difference between Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® and Wells Fargo Active Cash?
Wells Fargo Active Cash comes with an intro bonus of $200 (when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first three months) and an intro APR of 0% for 15 months. The Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® offers neither.
Also, while both cards guarantee 2% cash back on every purchase, the one from Wells Fargo lets you redeem it through credit statements, gift cards, offsetting your mortgage, and more. With Synchrony Mastercard®, earnings are automatically added to your account statement.
How do I check the status of my Premier Mastercard® Synchrony?
To check your Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® application status, call Synchrony Bank at 1-855-872-4311.
Can I use my Synchrony card anywhere?
Yes, but watch out for the foreign transaction fee. If you use the Synchrony Premier Mastercard® outside the US (or online with a foreign merchant), you’ll pay 3% of each transaction. If you plan to travel, use travel credit cards.
How do I increase my credit line Synchrony Premier Mastercard®?
To raise your credit limit, call Synchrony Bank on 1-855-872-4311, or ask for it using your Synchrony app. The issuer can ask you about your annual net income to check if you’re eligible for the increase.
Does Synchrony Mastercard® have any fees?
The Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® has no annual or maintenance fees. There’s a 3% foreign transaction fee—and a balance transfer fee of either $10 or 4%.
What’s the grace period for Synchrony Premier World Mastercard®?
It’s 23 days after each billing cycle ends. If you pay your entire balance before then, you won’t pay any interest charges on purchases.
