CardRewardsEditorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Our analysis is based on publicly available card data and is reviewed regularly by our editorial team. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content. Last updated: May 2026.
Ranked by effective value per dollar at McDonald's — including welcome offer math, redemption value, and annual fee.
Rankings are generated by our algorithm based on earn rates, point valuations, fees, and benefits — not paid placement. We don't accept compensation to rank cards higher. How we rank
American Express Gold Card earns the top spot for McDonald's purchases at 7.2¢ per dollar — a $325 annual fee, factoring in welcome offers and ongoing rewards. We ranked every card in our database against McDonald's purchases using the same scoring engine that powers our search. The list below orders cards by net value to you, not by what pays the biggest affiliate commission. Cards 4–10 are still solid picks; they just trade off some of the headline value for fewer fees, broader networks, or simpler redemptions.
Amex
Ranked by effective value per dollar at McDonald's — including welcome offer math, redemption value, and annual fee.
Rankings are generated by our algorithm based on earn rates, point valuations, fees, and benefits — not paid placement. We don't accept compensation to rank cards higher. How we rank
American Express Gold Card earns the top spot for McDonald's purchases at 7.2¢ per dollar — a $325 annual fee, factoring in welcome offers and ongoing rewards. We ranked every card in our database against McDonald's purchases using the same scoring engine that powers our search. The list below orders cards by net value to you, not by what pays the biggest affiliate commission. Cards 4–10 are still solid picks; they just trade off some of the headline value for fewer fees, broader networks, or simpler redemptions.
Amex
Ranked by effective value per dollar at McDonald's — including welcome offer math, redemption value, and annual fee.
Rankings are generated by our algorithm based on earn rates, point valuations, fees, and benefits — not paid placement. We don't accept compensation to rank cards higher. How we rank
American Express Gold Card earns the top spot for McDonald's purchases at 7.2¢ per dollar — a $325 annual fee, factoring in welcome offers and ongoing rewards. We ranked every card in our database against McDonald's purchases using the same scoring engine that powers our search. The list below orders cards by net value to you, not by what pays the biggest affiliate commission. Cards 4–10 are still solid picks; they just trade off some of the headline value for fewer fees, broader networks, or simpler redemptions.
Amex
Cardless
Chase
American Express Gold Card earns 7.2¢ per dollar at McDonald's, the highest in our database. The $325 annual fee pays for itself once you're spending at least the equivalent each year. It's the right pick if you want maximum value on this category and don't mind paying for a premium card.
All 10 cards ranked by effective value per dollar.
| Card | Dining Rate | Effective Value | Annual Fee | Fee Offset | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Gold CardAmex | 4x Membership Rewards | 7.2¢/$ | $325 | $36 | amex |
| Bilt Blue CardCardless | 3x Bilt Rewards | 6.0¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred CardChase | 3x Ultimate Rewards | 5.4¢/$ | $95 | $42.60 | visa |
| Bilt Obsidian CardCardless | 3x Bilt Rewards | 6.0¢/$ | $95 | $10 | mastercard |
| Bilt Palladium CardCardless | 3x Bilt Rewards | 6.0¢/$ | $495 | $40 | mastercard |
| American Express Green CardAmex | 3x Membership Rewards | 5.4¢/$ | $150 | $18.90 | amex |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Visa Credit CardWells Fargo | 3x Wells Fargo Rewards | 4.5¢/$ | $0 | $1.60 | visa |
| Citi Strata Elite℠ CardCiti | 3x ThankYou Points | 4.5¢/$ | $595 | $630.50 | mastercard |
| Chase Sapphire ReserveChase | 3x Ultimate Rewards | 5.4¢/$ | $795 | $198 | visa |
| Citi Strata Premier CardCiti | 3x ThankYou Points | 4.5¢/$ | $95 | $10 | mastercard |
Other brands in Quick Service Restaurants where the top picks above also earn well.
Want to filter by spend amount, network, or fee preference?
Open in full search with filters →Cardless
Chase
American Express Gold Card earns 7.2¢ per dollar at McDonald's, the highest in our database. The $325 annual fee pays for itself once you're spending at least the equivalent each year. It's the right pick if you want maximum value on this category and don't mind paying for a premium card.
All 10 cards ranked by effective value per dollar.
| Card | Dining Rate | Effective Value | Annual Fee | Fee Offset | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Gold CardAmex | 4x Membership Rewards | 7.2¢/$ | $325 | $36 | amex |
| Bilt Blue CardCardless | 3x Bilt Rewards | 6.0¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred CardChase | 3x Ultimate Rewards | 5.4¢/$ | $95 | $42.60 | visa |
| Bilt Obsidian CardCardless | 3x Bilt Rewards | 6.0¢/$ | $95 | $10 | mastercard |
| Bilt Palladium CardCardless | 3x Bilt Rewards | 6.0¢/$ | $495 | $40 | mastercard |
| American Express Green CardAmex | 3x Membership Rewards | 5.4¢/$ | $150 | $18.90 | amex |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Visa Credit CardWells Fargo | 3x Wells Fargo Rewards | 4.5¢/$ | $0 | $1.60 | visa |
| Citi Strata Elite℠ CardCiti | 3x ThankYou Points | 4.5¢/$ | $595 | $630.50 | mastercard |
| Chase Sapphire ReserveChase | 3x Ultimate Rewards | 5.4¢/$ | $795 | $198 | visa |
| Citi Strata Premier CardCiti | 3x ThankYou Points | 4.5¢/$ | $95 | $10 | mastercard |
Other brands in Quick Service Restaurants where the top picks above also earn well.
Want to filter by spend amount, network, or fee preference?
Open in full search with filters →Cardless
Chase
American Express Gold Card earns 7.2¢ per dollar at McDonald's, the highest in our database. The $325 annual fee pays for itself once you're spending at least the equivalent each year. It's the right pick if you want maximum value on this category and don't mind paying for a premium card.
All 10 cards ranked by effective value per dollar.
| Card | Dining Rate | Effective Value | Annual Fee | Fee Offset | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Gold CardAmex | 4x Membership Rewards | 7.2¢/$ | $325 | $36 | amex |
| Bilt Blue CardCardless | 3x Bilt Rewards | 6.0¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred CardChase | 3x Ultimate Rewards | 5.4¢/$ | $95 | $42.60 | visa |
| Bilt Obsidian CardCardless | 3x Bilt Rewards | 6.0¢/$ | $95 | $10 | mastercard |
| Bilt Palladium CardCardless | 3x Bilt Rewards | 6.0¢/$ | $495 | $40 | mastercard |
| American Express Green CardAmex | 3x Membership Rewards | 5.4¢/$ | $150 | $18.90 | amex |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Visa Credit CardWells Fargo | 3x Wells Fargo Rewards | 4.5¢/$ | $0 | $1.60 | visa |
| Citi Strata Elite℠ CardCiti | 3x ThankYou Points | 4.5¢/$ | $595 | $630.50 | mastercard |
| Chase Sapphire ReserveChase | 3x Ultimate Rewards | 5.4¢/$ | $795 | $198 | visa |
| Citi Strata Premier CardCiti | 3x ThankYou Points | 4.5¢/$ | $95 | $10 | mastercard |
Other brands in Quick Service Restaurants where the top picks above also earn well.
Want to filter by spend amount, network, or fee preference?
Open in full search with filters →