Choice Privileges Select Mastercard vs TSC Visa Card
Annual fees: Choice Privileges Select Mastercard $95/yr, TSC Visa Card $0/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Choice Privileges Select Mastercard on gas stations, TSC Visa Card on gas stations.
Card data as of October 12, 2026.
Choice Privileges Select MastercardWells Fargo · $95/yr
- TSC Visa Card
Citi · No annual fee
Overview
- Annual fee
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard$95TSC Visa Card$0Lowest
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard60,000 pointsTSC Visa Card—
- Rewards
- Choice Privileges Select MastercardChoice Privileges PointsTSC Visa CardTractor Supply Co.
- Foreign transaction fee
- Choice Privileges Select MastercardNoneTSC Visa Card—
- Network
- Choice Privileges Select MastercardMastercard World EliteTSC Visa CardVisa
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Gas Stations
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard5xHighestTSC Visa Card3x
- Grocery Stores
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard5xHighestTSC Visa Card3x
- Home Improvement
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard5xHighestTSC Visa Card1x
- Telecom
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard5xHighestTSC Visa Card1x
- Veterinary
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard1xTSC Visa Card3xHighest
- Everything else
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard1xTSC Visa Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit · $120 every 4 years
TSC Visa Card—
Perks & access— means none on record
- Hotel status & programs
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard
- Automatic Platinum Elite status
TSC Visa Card— - Other perks
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard
- No foreign transaction fees
TSC Visa Card- 36 Months - 3.99% APR Financing
- 12 Months Special Financing
- 6 Months Special Financing
- Free same-day delivery
- New Cardholder Reward Offer
- Free everyday standard shipping
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- Full-day trailer rentals
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Purchase & returns
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard
- Zero Liability on unauthorized transactions
TSC Visa Card- Zero Liability on unauthorized charges
- Cell phone
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard
- Up to $800 cell phone protection
TSC Visa Card— - Other protections
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard
- 24/7 lost/stolen card assistance worldwide
TSC Visa Card- 24/7 lost/stolen card assistance worldwide
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard
- Automatic Platinum Elite status with meaningful benefits
- Industry-leading 10x earning at Choice Hotels
- Strong 5x earning on gas, grocery, home improvement, and phone plans
- 30,000 anniversary bonus points (worth ~$180 in stays)
- 20 elite night credits annually
TSC Visa Card— - Cons
- Choice Privileges Select Mastercard
- $95 annual fee that may be hard to justify for occasional guests
- Higher $3,000 spend requirement for welcome bonus vs no-fee card
- Choice Hotels limited to economy and midscale properties
- Points value relatively low compared to premium hotel programs
- No lounge access or premium travel benefits
TSC Visa Card—
Category-by-Category Winner
The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard wins in 4 of 5 categories. The TSC Visa Card leads in 1.
Gas Stations
Choice Privileges Select Mastercard earns 5X vs 3X
Grocery Stores
Choice Privileges Select Mastercard earns 5X vs 3X
Home Improvement
Choice Privileges Select Mastercard earns 5X vs 1X
Telecom
Choice Privileges Select Mastercard earns 5X vs 1X
Veterinary
TSC Visa Card earns 3X vs 1X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Ongoing value favors the TSC Visa Card; year-one value favors the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard.
| Scenario | Choice Privileges Select Mastercard | TSC Visa Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $192 Credits (our usable estimate): $30 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $127 Year one: $607 | Rewards: $180 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $180 Year one: $180 | TSC Visa Card | Choice Privileges Select Mastercard |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $768 Credits (our usable estimate): $30 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $703 Year one: $1,183 | Rewards: $720 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $720 Year one: $720 | TSC Visa Card | Choice Privileges Select Mastercard |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard costs $95/yr — that's $95 more than the TSC Visa Card (no annual fee). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $95 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard includes Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $95 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $95 fee gap means the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard needs roughly $95 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on gas stations and grocery stores and everyday spend.
What You Give Up
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing TSC Visa Card means losing:
- -Global Entry credit
The Bottom Line
Ongoing value favors the TSC Visa Card; year-one value favors the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard.
Published annual fees: Choice Privileges Select Mastercard $95/yr, TSC Visa Card $0/yr — a $95 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard worth the higher annual fee?
- The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard costs $95/yr vs $0/yr for the TSC Visa Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $95 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use.
- Which card earns more rewards, the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard or TSC Visa Card?
- Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
- What benefits does the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard have that the TSC Visa Card doesn't?
- The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard offers cell phone protection. The TSC Visa Card focuses more on earn rates than premium perks.
- Should I get the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard or the TSC Visa Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the TSC Visa Card has a lower $0/yr fee; the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $95/yr.
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published October 12, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.