DoorDash Rewards Mastercard^® Review: Worth It?

The DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® rewards DoorDash and Caviar orders with bonus cash back, plus includes one year of free DashPass membership. The card requires significant annual spending to maintain DashPass benefits after the first year, making it most useful for those who frequently use the delivery service.

This credit card review will cover everything you need to know about this card to determine if you should add this card or a different card to your wallet. Let's dive right in.

Welcome Bonus

The DoorDash Mastercard currently offers the following welcome bonus:

Approved applicants receive a free year of DashPass that will auto-renew at $96/yr.

Earning Cash Back

The DoorDash Mastercard earns cash back at the following rates:

• 4% back on DoorDash and Caviar orders, including restaurants, groceries, pet supplies, retail items, and more;
• 3% back on online or in-store restaurant purchases;
• 2% back on online or in-store grocery purchases; and
• 1% back on all other purchases.

This card offers decent earning rates for DoorDash loyalists but falls short compared to premium dining cards that offer similar or better rewards across all restaurants.

While the 4% on DoorDash orders stands out, you can earn higher rates on dining and groceries with other no-annual-fee cards that provide more flexible redemption options.

The 1% base rate on other purchases makes this card less appealing for everyday spending, suggesting it works best as a supplementary card specifically for DoorDash orders.

No Annual Fee

The DoorDash Rewards Mastercard comes with no annual fee, which makes it an accessible option for frequent DoorDash users. 

You’ll get valuable benefits like a complimentary DashPass membership for the first year (worth $96), and you can maintain this membership in subsequent years by spending $10,000 annually on the card.

DoorDash Card Benefits and Perks

Below are all the card benefits of the DoorDash Mastercard:

DashPass: Receive a complimentary DashPass membership ($96 value) if you spend $10,000 card spend in an account year. DashPass members enjoy $0 delivery fees, reduced service fees, and exclusive benefits on every eligible order. Membership auto-renews if you don’t have qualifying spend.

No Foreign Transaction Fees: You’ll save money on every purchase while traveling internationally since this card doesn’t add the typical 3% surcharge that many other cards impose.

Secondary Rental Car Insurance: This card provides backup protection for rental car damage or theft when you charge the full rental to your card.

Extended Warranty Protection: Your purchases gain an extra year of warranty protection when bought with this card, extending manufacturer warranties of three years or less without the inflated prices of store warranty plans.

120-Day Purchase Protection: Get 120 days of protection against damage, theft, and even loss of your purchases – one of the longest windows available. This premium coverage automatically applies when you pay with your card.

Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance: This protection reimburses you for non-refundable, prepaid travel expenses if you need to cancel before departure or cut your trip short due to covered situations like severe illness or weather events. Coverage activates when you pay for your trip with the card, but it’s important to note that reimbursement only applies for specific covered reasons rather than any cancellation.

World Elite Benefits: This card is a World Elite Mastercard, which gets you access to these special benefits and discounts: DoorDash ($5 off your first DoorDash order each month), Lyft (Take 3 rides in one month and earn a $5 Lyft credit), Shoprunner (free two-day shipping), and Fandango (spend $20 and get $5 back).

Redeem Rewards

The DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® is a cash-back card, not a points program, so redemption is refreshingly simple. There's no award chart to decode and no partner airlines to weigh.

Every dollar you earn comes back to you in one of a few ways. You can apply your cash back directly toward a DoorDash or Caviar order in the app. You can also request a statement credit, a direct deposit to your bank account, or a gift card.

That flexibility means you're never stuck trying to find a "good" redemption. A dollar earned is worth a dollar, whether you spend it on tacos or use it to knock down your balance.

Where this card gets interesting is how fast those dollars pile up. You'll earn 4% back on every DoorDash and Caviar order, with no cap, covering restaurants, groceries, pet supplies, and retail items ordered through the app. Dining paid directly at a restaurant earns 3% back, and grocery store purchases earn 2%, whether you shop online or in person. Everything else earns a flat 1%.

A few practical notes worth knowing before you redeem:

• Rewards don't expire as long as your account stays open.
• Redeeming for a DoorDash or Caviar order is the most direct option if you're already a regular user.
• Statement credits and direct deposits work better if you want the value applied elsewhere.

Since there's no points valuation to maximize, your best strategy is simply choosing the redemption method that fits how you actually spend.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Here’s a quick overview of this card’s advantages and disadvantages:

Pros:

No Annual Fee: You’ll pay nothing to keep this card in your wallet while still earning rewards on your purchases and getting useful benefits.

Strong Delivery Earnings: The 4% cash back rate on DoorDash and Caviar orders provides solid value for frequent delivery customers.

Food-Focused Rewards: The 3% back on restaurant purchases and 2% on groceries provides decent earnings across all food spending.

Cons:

High DashPass Requirement: You must spend $10,000 annually to maintain DashPass benefits after the first year, which is a steep threshold for a no-annual-fee card.

Limited Redemption Options: While you can redeem for cash back or DoorDash credits, the card lacks travel transfer partners or other valuable redemption choices.

Platform Lock-in: The card’s best benefits and earning rates are tied specifically to DoorDash/Caviar, making it less valuable if you use other delivery services.

Redundant DashPass Benefit: Many other Chase cards offer complimentary DashPass membership, making this benefit less valuable if you already have another Chase card.

Is the DoorDash Worth It?

I can’t recommend the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® even for frequent delivery users, as the rewards structure is too restrictive and underwhelming compared to other no-annual-fee cards on the market.

The 4% back on DoorDash orders might sound good at first, but you can actually get better value from cards that offer broader dining rewards and more flexible redemption options.

The included DashPass membership provides minimal value since it’s a benefit available through several other credit cards.

I find the card particularly limiting since you’re restricted to earning bonus rewards within the DoorDash ecosystem, while other cards offer similar dining rewards that can be used anywhere.

Looking at the bigger picture, you’d be better off with a general dining rewards card that gives you the freedom to earn and redeem rewards however you choose, rather than being locked into just one delivery platform.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.