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Side-by-side

Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card vs Mastercard Gold Card

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card comes from Barclays at $75/yr; the Mastercard Gold Card from Barclays (Luxury Card) at $1199/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

These cards are close on the fundamentals (similar bonus value, similar fee). The right pick depends on which category you spend the most in and which transfer partners best fit your travel goals.

FeatureWyndham Rewards Earner Plus CardMastercard Gold Card
Annual fee$75$1199
Sign-up bonus45,000 pointsNo public welcome offer
Bonus value (est.)$450$0
Min spend to unlock bonus$1,000 in 3 mo$0 in 0 mo
IssuerBarclaysBarclays (Luxury Card)
Card categoryhoteltravel
Best earning category (Wyndham)6x1x
Transfer partnersNoneNone
Headline benefits
  • 7,500 anniversary points
  • Platinum status
  • Vacasa redemptions
  • 4x gas + groceries
  • $300 airline credit
  • $200 dining credit
  • $120 Global Entry credit
  • 2cpp cash back or airfare
Read the full review
Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card
$75/yr · 45,000 points
Read the full review
Mastercard Gold Card
$1199/yr · No public welcome offer

Editorial take: Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card

Underrated card for Vacasa rentals and Caesars properties (which take Wyndham points). The 7,500 anniversary points alone (~$75 in value) make the fee a wash; Platinum status adds late checkout and 15% bonus.

Editorial take: Mastercard Gold Card

The top tier of Barclays' Luxury Card lineup at $1,199. The $300 airline + $200 dining + $120 Global Entry credits chip away at the AF (about $620 of stated value before lounge access), and the 2cpp redemption on cash back is unusual. Still a status play more than a smart-points play; Amex Platinum or Sapphire Reserve win on credits-to-fee math for most travelers. Authorized-user fee is steep at $349 each.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card or Mastercard Gold Card?
The Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card has the bigger bonus, 45,000 points, worth roughly $450, versus No public welcome offer (~$0) on the Mastercard Gold Card.
Is the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card's $75 annual fee worth it compared to the Mastercard Gold Card?
At $75/yr, the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Mastercard Gold Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
Can I have both the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card and Mastercard Gold Card?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (Barclays and Barclays (Luxury Card)) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
Should I get the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card or the Mastercard Gold Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card: $1,000 spend in 3 months. Mastercard Gold Card: $0 in 0 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.