Cash back · Mastercard · No annual fee
Last verified 2026-09-09. Review issuer source
Barclays Upromise Mastercard is a no-annual-fee cash back card from Barclays. It earns 1.25% on purchases, which puts it behind most rewards cards; you hold it for the account itself, not the rewards.
On our reference budget of $24,600 a year it returns about $308, an effective 1.3% back. The welcome bonus, $100 after $500 in 90 days, adds to the first year's return.
There is no reason to hold it for rewards. It is a card for the banking relationship, or a first card.
Earn $100 Bonus Cash Back Rewards after spending $500 on purchases in the first 90 days
Earn 1.25% bonus cash back rewards on your purchases if your Upromise Program account is not linked to a College Savings Plan.
Earn 1.529% Cash Back Rewards on your purchases when your Upromise Program account is linked to an eligible College Savings Plan. A current list of eligible College Savings Plans can be found at Upromise.com/CollegeSavingsPlans.
Get up to $250 in cash back rewards per calendar year on eligible gift card purchases at MyGiftCardsPlus, powered by Upromise. Learn more at MyGiftCardsPlus.com.
Free online access to your FICO® Credit Score lets you keep an eye on your credit score and get email alerts when we learn that your score has changed.
Upromise Round Up lets you round up your purchases to the nearest dollar, based on the limit you set (from $1 to $500). The total Round Up Amount is considered a purchase and converted to cash back rewards.
These come from Mastercard, not from Barclays. Every card on the Standard Mastercard tier carries them, so they should not decide between two cards.
Call 1-800-MASTERCARD (1-800-627-8372) for 24/7 assistance to report a lost or stolen card.
Enjoy a HealthLock for Mastercard Medical Claim Monitor complimentary membership plus a 90-day upgrade to all HealthLock services at no monthly cost.
Groceries and more delivered in as fast as one hour. Get $10 off your second order each month, and new Instacart+ members can also get three free months of Instacart+.
Monitor your credit file for fraud, get alerts for suspicious activity and access a resolution specialist.
Mastercard gives you exclusive access to ticket presales at top venues and festivals across the U.S. Eligibility restrictions, exclusions and terms apply. Offer expires 3/31/2027.
Save when you tap and go with your eligible Mastercard and receive a $2.50 statement credit when you spend $10 or more each month at participating transit systems.
With Mastercard Zero Liability protection you’re protected against unauthorized transactions in stores, online and in app.
Benefit descriptions are the issuer’s and network’s own wording, trimmed for length. Limits and exclusions are in the guide to benefits.
| Card | Annual fee | Rewards earned | Net after fee | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upromise® Mastercard®This card · 1.25% on everything | None | $308 | +$308 | 528th of 1,291 |
| The AARP® Travel Rewards Mastercard®Barclays's most-held other card · 3% on airfare | None | $342 | +$342 | 519th of 1,291 |
| Savor RewardsThe strongest no-fee card on this budget · 3% on dining | None | $642 | +$642 | 4th of 1,291 |
| Robinhood Gold CardHighest net return on this budget · 3% on everything | $50 | $798 | +$748 | 1st of 1,291 |
Reference budget: groceries $6,000, dining and restaurants $3,600, gas and ev charging $2,400, travel and transit $3,000, online shopping $2,400, entertainment and streaming $1,200, everything else $6,000. Points are valued at 1¢ unless the program is worth less; statement credits, welcome bonuses, and perks are left out. Run it with your own spending.
