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PayPal Cashback Mastercard vs USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum
Both are well-respected travel cards. The PayPal Cashback Mastercard comes from Synchrony at $0/yr; the USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum from USAA at $0/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.
| Feature | PayPal Cashback Mastercard | USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | $200 cash back | None |
| Bonus value (est.) | $200 | $0 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $500 in 3 mo | $0 in 0 mo |
| Issuer | Synchrony | USAA |
| Card category | cashback | rewards |
| Best earning category (Paypal_purchases) | 3x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
Read the full review
PayPal Cashback Mastercard
$0/yr · $200 cash back
Read the full review
USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum
$0/yr · None
Editorial take: USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, PayPal Cashback Mastercard or USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum?
- The PayPal Cashback Mastercard has the bigger bonus, $200 cash back, worth roughly $200, versus None (~$0) on the USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum.
- Is the PayPal Cashback Mastercard's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum?
- The PayPal Cashback Mastercard has no annual fee, so the question is whether the USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum's $0 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum's benefits to clear $0 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the PayPal Cashback Mastercard.
- Can I have both the PayPal Cashback Mastercard and USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Synchrony and USAA) 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 PayPal Cashback Mastercard or the USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. PayPal Cashback Mastercard: $500 spend in 3 months. USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum: $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.