Which card earns more rewards, the Choice Privileges Mastercard or USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card?

The Choice Privileges Mastercard has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

What benefits does the Choice Privileges Mastercard have that the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card doesn't?

The Choice Privileges Mastercard offers cell phone protection. The USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card focuses more on earn rates than premium perks.

Should I get the Choice Privileges Mastercard or the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card?

Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.

Choice Privileges Mastercard vs USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card

Both cards cost $0/yr. The Choice Privileges Mastercard leads on gas stations; the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card on gas stations.

Card data as of September 27, 2026.

Choice Privileges Mastercard

Wells Fargo

USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card

USAA

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

Welcome Bonus

60,000 points

—

Earn Rates

Category	Choice Privileges Mastercard	USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card
Gas Stations	3X	5X
Military Base	1X

Category-by-Category Winner

The Choice Privileges Mastercard wins in 3 of 5 categories. The USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card leads in 2.

Gas Stations

USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card earns 5X vs 3X

Grocery Stores

Choice Privileges Mastercard earns 3X vs 2X

Home Improvement

Choice Privileges Mastercard earns 3X vs 1X

Telecom

Choice Privileges Mastercard earns 3X vs 1X

Military Base

USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card earns 5X 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 USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card; year-one value favors the Choice Privileges Mastercard.

Scenario	Choice Privileges Mastercard	USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card	Ongoing winner	Year-one winner

The Bottom Line

Ongoing value favors the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card; year-one value favors the Choice Privileges Mastercard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which card earns more rewards, the Choice Privileges Mastercard or USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card?: The Choice Privileges Mastercard has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
What benefits does the Choice Privileges Mastercard have that the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card doesn't?: The Choice Privileges Mastercard offers cell phone protection. The USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card focuses more on earn rates than premium perks.
Should I get the Choice Privileges Mastercard or the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card?: Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.

Explore More

Choice Privileges Mastercard — Full Review All Wells Fargo Cards

USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card — Full Review All USAA Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: Wells Fargo cards · USAA cards

Pros & Cons

Pros

+No annual fee with automatic Gold Elite status
+Strong 3x earning on gas, grocery, home improvement, and phone plans
+5x earning at participating Choice Hotels
+10 elite night credits annually
+No foreign transaction fees

+5% cash back on gas stations
+5% cash back on military base purchases (commissaries, exchanges)
+2% cash back at grocery stores
+No annual fee
+Competitive rates for USAA members

Cons

−Gold Elite status provides limited benefits compared to Platinum
−Lower earning rates than the Select card across all categories
−No anniversary bonus points
−No Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
−Choice Hotels lacks luxury properties

−Restricted to USAA-eligible military members and families
−American Express network less widely accepted than Visa/Mastercard
−1% foreign transaction fee
−Only 1% on non-category purchases

Light spender: $1,000/month	Rewards: $144 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $144 Year one: $624	Rewards: $186 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $186 Year one: $186	USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card	Choice Privileges Mastercard
Heavy spender: $4,000/month	Rewards: $576 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $576 Year one: $1,056	Rewards: $744 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $744 Year one: $744	USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card	Choice Privileges Mastercard