Choice Privileges Mastercard
Earn 5X points on Choice Hotels stays with $0 annual fee and automatic Gold Elite status
The Choice Privileges Mastercard delivers 40,000 bonus points after just $1,000 in spending, plus automatic Gold Elite status and 10 elite night credits annually — all with no annual fee. Earn 5X points at Choice Hotels and 3X on gas, groceries, home improvement, and phone plans.
- Annual Fee
- $0
- points · Welcome Bonus
- 40,000
- Highest rate (conditional)
- Up to 5X (Choice Hotels)
Terms checked against the issuer on October 29, 2026
At a Glance
- Annual Fee
- $0
- Authorized User Fee
- $0
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- $0
- Network
- Mastercard World Elite
- Rewards Currency
- Choice Privileges Points
- Point Valuation
- 0.5–0.85 cpp (mid: 0.8)
- Credit Required
- Good
Welcome Offer
40,000
points
$1,000
Spend Required
3 months
Time Period
Earning Rates
- 5X
Choice Hotels
5x points per dollar at participating Choice Hotels properties
- 5X
Choice Privileges
5X points on stays at participating Choice Hotels® properties plus on Choice Privileges point purchases
- 3X
Gas Stations
3x at gas stations
- 3X
Grocery Stores
3x at grocery stores
- 3X
Home Improvement
3x at home improvement stores
- 3X
Telecom
3x on phone plan services (landline and cellphone)
- 1X
All Other
1x on all other purchases
Earning Scenarios
5X at Choice Hotels
A $150/night stay earns 750 Choice Privileges points per night
3X at gas stations
Spending $200/month on gas earns 600 points monthly — 7,200 points per year
3X on groceries
$500/month in groceries earns 1,500 points monthly — 18,000 points per year
3X at home improvement stores
A $2,000 renovation supply run earns 6,000 Choice Privileges points
3X on phone plans
A $100/month family phone plan earns 300 points monthly — plus activates cell phone protection
1X on everything else
$1,000 in other monthly spending earns 1,000 points
Benefits & Perks
Elite Status & Memberships
Fast track to top-tier perks
Automatic Gold Elite status with 10% bonus
Gold Elite status grants 10% bonus points on stays, early check-in, late checkout, welcome gifts, and elite parking.
Insurance & Protections
1 protectionsUp to $800 cell phone protection
$800
secondary
Covers damage or theft of your cell phone with just a $25 deductible when you pay your monthly bill with the card.
View conditions
Deductible: 25
Program & Transfers
Choice Privileges
Stay more, unlock more.
Choice Privileges is a hotel loyalty program designed to reward paid stays and partner activity with points-based value. The program includes 5 membership levels (Member, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Titanium) with incremental benefits as activity grows. In 2026, the program introduced the new Titanium elite tier and Elite Qualifying Credits (EQCs) system, making elite status easier to achieve while rewarding frequent travelers with higher perks. Members can earn through qualifying stays, credit card spending, and partner activity, then redeem for free nights, experiences, and other rewards. For elite members, points never expire.
Program Ratings
Sweet Spots — Best Redemptions
| Route / Property | Points | Cabin/Type | Value / Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe properties (20K or fewer points) | 8,000–20,000 | — | — |
| Japan properties (20K or fewer points) | 8,000–20,000 | — | — |
| Myrtle Beach weekend nights (15K or fewer) | 8,000–15,000 | — | — |
| RewardSaver rates (as low as 6K points) | 6,000–15,000 | — | — |
| Preferred Hotels & Resorts (25K-50K points) | 25,000–50,000 | — | — |
| Points Plus Cash combo deals | 6,000–25,000 | — | — |
Reviews & Analysis
Third-Party Rankings & Ratings
5 sourcesPros and 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
- +Cellphone protection benefit
- +Low $1,000 spend requirement for 60,000 point welcome bonus
- +Product change path available to Select card
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
- -Points have relatively low value compared to premium hotel programs
- -No primary auto rental insurance
Who It's Best For
Best For
- Budget travelers who stay at Choice Hotels (Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge)
- Cardholders who want Gold Elite status without annual fee commitment
- Drivers and homeowners who can maximize 3x gas, grocery, and home improvement categories
- Those who want a no-annual-fee hotel card with solid everyday earning rates
Not Ideal For
- Frequent Choice Hotels guests who would benefit from higher 10x earning on the Select card
- Travelers seeking premium travel benefits like lounge access or travel insurance
- Those who primarily stay at luxury or upscale hotel brands
- International travelers who need comprehensive travel protections
The Math: Is $0 Worth It?
First-year value includes $320 welcome bonus
Credit Utilization (60%)
Excludes earning value, lounge access, insurance, and elite status
Total Value Captured
$0
Annual Fee
-$0
Net Annual Value
+$0
Details & Terms
Payment Terms
| Purchase APR | 19.99%–28.74% (Variable) |
| Cash Advance APR | 29.74% (Variable) |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 |
| Authorized User Fee | $0 |
Media & Resources
Video Reviews
8 videosWells Fargo Choice Privileges Mastercard Review | BEST Hotel Credit Card in 2024?!
The Choice Privileges MasterCard | Is It Worth It?
Wells Fargo Choice Privileges Select Credit Card Review 2025
Wells Fargo Choice Privileges Credit Card Review 2025 | Worth It or Leave It?
Choice Privileges Mastercard (Wells Fargo) Honest Review
Barclays Choice Privileges Mastercard Honest Review & Real User Experience 2025
Choice Privileges Select Mastercard (Wells Fargo) Honest Review
Third-Party Articles & Reviews
Choice Privileges Mastercard 2026 Review
U.S. News review highlighting automatic Gold Elite status, elevated rewards, and cellphone protection. Rated 4.2 out of 5 for travelers who frequently stay with Choice Hotels.
Choice Privileges Mastercard review: A no-annual-fee option for travelers
Comprehensive review covering welcome bonus, benefits, earning rates, and comparison to alternatives. TPG rates it 3 out of 5 stars.
Choice Privileges Mastercard: Full Review [2026]
Detailed review covering card benefits, Gold Elite status, cell phone protection, and how to maximize rewards. Rates the card 3 out of 5 for Choice loyalists wanting no annual fee.
Choice Privileges Mastercard Reviews
WalletHub's in-depth review and user ratings of the Choice Privileges card, including editor's analysis, pros/cons, and comparison to Hilton Honors alternatives.
Guide To Choice Privileges
Comprehensive guide to the Choice Privileges loyalty program, including how to earn and redeem points and strategies for maximizing value with the Choice Privileges Mastercard.
Choice Privileges Mastercard Review
Business Insider review comparing the card to other no-annual-fee hotel cards including Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy Bold. Covers World Elite Mastercard benefits, cell phone protection, and redemption options.
Wells Fargo Launches Two Choice Credit Cards
Doctor of Credit coverage of the Wells Fargo Choice Privileges card launch, including earning rates, benefits, and comparison to the previous Barclays version.
Best Wells Fargo Credit Cards Of 2025
Forbes Advisor roundup featuring the Choice Privileges Mastercard with a 3.5 star rating among Wells Fargo's credit card lineup.
Card Design
Evidence Sources
| Source | Verified | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo | — | Wells Fargo |
| Usnews | — | Usnews |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Multiple card facts | |
| NerdWallet | — | NerdWallet |
| Scrape 20260201 | Scrape 20260201: Card name | |
| RewardsCC API | — | RewardsCC API |
| Wells Fargo | Wells Fargo: Cobrand | |
| Wells Fargo | Wells Fargo: Welcome offer | |
| Wells Fargo | Wells Fargo | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Welcome offer |
Top brands for this card
Brands where this card's earn-rate structure makes it a strong choice. Open a brand for the full ranked list.
