DoorDash Rewards Credit Card Review: For Loyalists, It Delivers
The Bottom Line
4.3
For DoorDash devotees, the card can help defray some of those notoriously expensive delivery and service fees. But other credit cards can offer equal or better rewards on all kinds of dining, whether delivery, drive-thru or dine-in.
Rates, fees and offers
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-4%
Bonus offer
With the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard get a FREE year of DashPass ($96 value).
Intro APR
N/A
Ongoing APR
APR: 20.24%-28.99% Variable APR
Cash Advance APR: 29.99%, Variable
Penalty APR: Up to 29.99%
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
$0
More details from Chase
- With the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard get a FREE year of DashPass ($96 value).
- 4% cash back on DoorDash and Caviar orders. Enjoy this benefit on every type of DoorDash order, including restaurants, groceries, pet supplies, retail items, and more. No earning caps.
- 3% cash back on dining when purchased directly from a restaurant. No earning caps.
- 2% cash back on purchases from grocery stores, online or in person. 1% cash back on all other purchases. No earning caps.
- Get a complimentary DashPass membership ($96 value) every year with $10k in annual card spend. DashPass members enjoy $0 delivery fees & reduced service fees on every eligible order.
- No annual card fee, just cash back on every purchase.
- As an exclusive Cardmember benefit, get 10% off one Convenience, Grocery, Alcohol, Retail or DashMart order every month. Maximum discount of $15 per order. Offer expires 12/31/2024.
- Member FDIC
Pros and Cons
Pros
No annual fee.
High rewards rate.
Flexible rewards redemption.
New cardholder bonus offer.
World Elite Mastercard benefits.
Cons
No intro APR.
Requires good to excellent credit.
Detailed Review
If you prefer to get your food by opening an app versus opening an eatery's front door yourself, the $0-annual-fee DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® might be a good pick, especially if you're a frequent user.
The credit card earns a high cash-back rate on orders placed with DoorDash and Caviar (its sibling brand), with no caps on spending or rewards — meaning you can defray some of the notoriously high fees that DoorDash charges on such orders. New cardholders also get access to multiple limited-time offers, such as a sign-up bonus that includes a complimentary yearlong DashPass membership, which can also help you save money with the service. And because you'll earn rewards in categories beyond just DoorDash, it can be a decent card for everyday use as well.
But if you're not a DoorDash devotee, the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® doesn't make a lot of sense. In fact, if you're a foodie who doesn't particularly care how your meal gets to your table — delivery, drive-thru, dine-in or otherwise — any number of credit cards for dining would be a better pick.
DoorDash Rewards Mastercard®: Basics
Card type: Cash back.
Annual fee: $0.
Sign-up bonus: With the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard get a FREE year of DashPass ($96 value).
Rewards:
4% cash back on DoorDash and Caviar orders, including restaurants, groceries, pet supplies, retail items and more.
3% back on dining when purchased directly from a restaurant.
2% back on purchases from grocery stores (online or in person).
1% back on all other purchases.
Cash-back rewards can be redeemed for DoorDash or Caviar orders in the app, statement credit, direct deposits into a bank account or gift cards. Rewards don't expire as long as the account remains open.
APR: The ongoing APR is 20.24%-28.99% Variable APR.
Foreign transaction fee: $0.
Other benefits:
10% off one convenience, grocery, alcohol, retail or DashMart order on DoorDash each month. Maximum discount of $15 per order. (Offer expires Dec. 31, 2024.)
Compare to Other Cards
Benefits and Perks
A great rate for DoorDash die-hards
If DoorDash or Caviar is your go-to delivery service, the 4% cash back you’ll earn on every order with the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® will help offset the pesky service fees. A 4x rewards rate is robust, especially for a $0-annual-fee card, and because there's no rewards cap, you won’t have to balance earning bonus rewards on your burger and fries versus your grocery delivery.
And with a free DashPass membership during your first cardholder year, you’ll enjoy no delivery fees and a reduced service fee on eligible orders.
The limited-time 10%-off benefit (through Dec. 31, 2024) on convenience store, grocery, alcohol and DashMart orders can be stacked with the 4% cash back from the credit card for an overall 14% discount on your first eligible order of the month.
Healthy everyday rewards and benefits
If you prefer your food hot off the grill, the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® earns a cool 3% cash back on all purchases made directly from a restaurant, in addition to 2% back on grocery store purchases (online and in store).
The card also comes with some useful benefits, including no foreign transaction fee, extended warranty coverage and purchase protection. That's a pretty strong suite of perks for a $0-annual-fee card.
Drawbacks and Considerations
Not good for other delivery services
If flexibility in choosing a delivery service is important to you, you’ll probably do better with a different card. That’s because the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® earns that fat 4% cash back only on DoorDash purchases. Purchases on other delivery apps like Uber Eats, Seamless or Grubhub will earn only 1% back.
A good alternative is the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card, which earns 4 points per $1 spent on all dining, including takeout and delivery services. In addition, you’ll get 2 points per $1 spent at grocery stores and grocery delivery services, like Instacart, streaming services, gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations (discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs excluded, effective Sept. 9, 2024). New cardholders will also qualify for the following introductory offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
DoorDash itself is limited
DoorDash is active in all 50 states and is easily the biggest food delivery service in the country, operating in over 7,000 cities. But that doesn't necessarily include your town or municipality — nor does it guarantee that your favorite restaurants in the area even partner with the service.
Before you apply for the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard®, it's worth researching whether DoorDash can bring you the food you want.
There are better sign-up offers
The card offers new applicants a sign-up bonus, which it phrases this way: With the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard get a FREE year of DashPass ($96 value). If you'll use DashPass, that's not a bad deal, but other cards come with a more rewarding introductory offer and similar (or better) ongoing rewards.
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, for example, has a $0 annual fee and earns 3% cash back on all dining (including delivery services) and grocery store purchases, in addition to offering a bigger sign-up bonus: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
And about that complimentary one-year DashPass membership that you can get with the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard®: Note that it will auto-renew if you don't cancel it. Chase says members will be reminded of the renewal, but if DashPass is a service you don't need or want long term, make sure you cancel it before you're charged.
How To Decide If It's Right For You
If you’re already a frequent DoorDash user, the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® may offer enough earning potential to click “apply now.” The first-year DashPass membership and other limited-time benefits on top of the 4% cash back could lead to some significant savings on your delivery orders.
However, most foodies will likely benefit more from a general rewards credit card that offers flexibility in your choice of restaurants — whether you get the meal delivered or eat it right there in the dining room.
The information related to the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
You'll earn 4 points per $1 spent on dining, including takeout and delivery services, plus 2 points per $1 spent at grocery stores and grocery delivery services, streaming services, gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations. There's also a hefty sign-up bonus.
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Methodology
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