Best Rewards Card for McDonald's
Fast food adds up — a 3x or 4x dining card turns every Big Mac into bonus points. Earn flexible points you can transfer to airline and hotel partners for premium redemptions.
Top rewards picks for McDonald's
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
6x on RestaurantsAmerican Express · $150 annual fee
The mid-tier Hilton card packs incredible value for its $150 fee. Gold status includes room upgrades and complimentary breakfast at most properties. The free night reward after $15K annual spend easily covers the fee, and 10 Priority Pass lounge visits are a rare perk at this price.
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite
5x on DiningU.S. Bank · $400 annual fee
U.S. Bank's premium card stands out for mobile-first users — pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay and earn 3x points on every tap. The $325 annual travel and dining credit effectively brings the $400 fee down to $75. For customers already using U.S. Bank, this card offers exceptional value especially if you use mobile payments frequently.
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
5x on DiningChase · $99 annual fee
One of the best hotel cards for value. The annual free night (worth up to 40,000 points, often $150+) alone justifies the $99 fee. IHG Platinum Elite status, 4th-night-free on reward stays, and a massive 26x earning rate at IHG properties make this a must for IHG loyalists.
Hilton Honors American Express Card
5x on RestaurantsAmerican Express · No annual fee
The best no-annual-fee hotel card for casual Hilton guests. Earn 7x points at Hilton properties and 5x on restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations. Automatic Silver status gives you perks like 5th-night-free on reward stays. Points are worth ~0.5¢ each.
American Express Gold Card
4x on RestaurantsAmerican Express · $250 annual fee
The go-to card for foodies and grocery shoppers with 4x on restaurants and groceries.
U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature
4x on DiningU.S. Bank · No annual fee
One of the best no-annual-fee dining cards available. Earn an uncapped 4x points on dining purchases, plus 2x on groceries, streaming, gas, and EV charging. The intro APR and no foreign transaction fees sweeten the deal.
Brex Card
4x on RestaurantsBrex · No annual fee
A charge card designed for startups and tech companies. Incredible bonus categories (8x rideshare, 5x travel, 4x dining) and built-in expense management. No personal guarantee and no annual fee, but you must pay the balance in full each month.
Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card
4x on RestaurantsBarclays · $75 annual fee
A budget-friendly hotel card with a unique perk: Wyndham points transfer 1:1 to Caesars Rewards, unlocking Las Vegas hotel value. Gold status includes late checkout and room upgrades. Strong earning on gas and dining beyond just hotel spend.
Annual value math — Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card at McDonald's
Typical spend
$800
per year at McDonald's
Earn rate
6x
on Restaurants
Annual value
$72
rewards earned per year
More card picks for McDonald's
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best rewards points credit card for McDonald's?⌄
Our top pick is the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card — it's a rewards points card that earns 6x on Restaurants, which applies to McDonald's purchases. With typical spending of $800/year at McDonald's, that's about $72/year in rewards.
Do McDonald's purchases count as Dining?⌄
McDonald's purchases typically code as Dining or Restaurants or Fast Food depending on the issuer. Card networks determine merchant category codes (MCC), so coding can vary between Visa and Mastercard for the same retailer.
Is a rewards points card worth it just for McDonald's?⌄
A rewards points card is only worth it if its broader utility matches your spending. The McDonald's fit is a bonus — not the primary reason to open one.
How much can I earn per year on McDonald's with a rewards points card?⌄
At the typical McDonald's spend of $800/year and the 6x earn rate on our top pick, you'd earn about $72/year — more than enough to justify the card.