The AARP® Travel Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays Review – Forbes Advisor

The AARP® Travel Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays* vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers what will likely turn out to be a much higher reward potential for most consumers; the card earns 2% cash rewards on purchases. Though its spend requirement is higher than the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard, the Wells Fargo Active Cash offers cardholders the opportunity to earn $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash also offers a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% 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. This similar-length introductory APR’s extension to include purchases gains the edge over the 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers offered by the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard. The Wells Fargo also offers a cell phone protection benefit. Overall, the Wells Fargo Active Cash is much more likely to outearn and outperform the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard.

The AARP® Travel Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays* vs. myWalgreens Mastercard®*

The cost of healthcare can be a major burden for many seniors and the myWalgreens Mastercard®* offers one way to earn rewards on some of these expenditures. Though rewards redemptions are limited to Walgreens, the card earns 10% Walgreens Cash rewards on eligible Walgreens branded purchases, 5% on other eligible Walgreens brands and pharmacy purchases, 3% on eligible grocery and health & wellness purchases and 1% everywhere Mastercard is accepted.

Like The AARP® Travel Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays*, the myWalgreens Mastercard®* offers few benefits outside its brand-related perks. It does offer $0 fraud liability, access to an online credit score and personalized offers and sale access. Though it doesn’t offer the same large welcome bonus, the myWalgreens card may make sense for many seniors who regularly shop at Walgreens and want a credit card that’ll match healthcare spending patterns well.

The AARP® Travel Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays* vs. AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays*

AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays* offers many of the same benefits and perks The AARP® Travel Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays* does. The card offers the same 0% introductory APR for the first fifteen billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening and, like with its co-branded relative, cardholders can earn $100 cash back bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first 90 days.

With similar redemption options, the major difference primarily relates to reward earning. The AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard earns 3% cash back on gas and drug store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart) and 2% cash back on eligible medical expenses. For those who spend more on healthcare and gas instead of travel, this card can provide many of the same terms with a different reward structure.