Best card for REI
At REI, REI Co-op Mastercard earns an estimated 5.00% back: 5x × 1¢ point value. On $100, that is about $5.00 back (estimate).
REI is the outdoor co-op, and its own card earns more at REI than any general card. This page compares the REI card against the best general card -- and the member dividend angle is separate from the card rate.
Best card · REI
REI Co-op Mastercard
5x × 1¢ = 5.00%
On $100, that is about $5.00 back (estimate).
Annual fee: $0.
Top 3 compared
| Card | Earn math | Estimated return | Annual fee | Foreign transaction fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| REI Co-op Mastercard | 5x × 1¢ | 5.00% | $0 | None |
| The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (business card)Its 2x applies to the first $50,000 of spend per year, then drops to 1x (catalog note). | 2x × 2¢ | 4.00% | $0 | Yes |
| Bilt Palladium CardIts $495 annual fee is not covered by the earn rate alone -- its other perks have to justify the fee for you. | 2x × 1.8¢ | 3.60% | $495/yr | None |
How is this ranking computed?
Effective return = category earn rate × point value. Example: 4x × 2.0¢ = 8.00% back (estimate).
Ranked across 91 cards open to new applicants in DanHana's catalog (debit cards and cards closed to new applicants excluded).
Every % here is an estimate: point values are catalog assumptions, and actual value depends on how you redeem.
A payment place's category comes from DanHana's merchant map; if a specific location codes differently, the card falls back to its everything rate.
This page ranks the full catalog. Inside DanHana, the same math re-ranks by the cards in your own wallet -- so your personal best at REI may differ.
Some bonus rates have annual caps -- the panel flags the ones that matter for the winners above.
Questions about paying at REI
What is the best card for REI?
At REI, REI Co-op Mastercard earns an estimated 5.00% back: 5x × 1¢ point value. On $100, that is about $5.00 back (estimate).
What do I earn at REI without the REI card?
Without the brand card, the best general card is The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express at 4.00% -- below REI Co-op Mastercard at 5.00%. The gap is small here, so if you rarely shop at REI, a general card costs you little.
I already have the Bilt Palladium Card. Should I switch?
Bilt Palladium Card earns 3.60% -- about $1.40 less per $100 than the top card (estimate). No need to switch for this one category alone; it only pays if you spend a lot here.
Are these returns guaranteed?
No -- every figure here is an estimate. Point values are catalog assumptions (e.g. Membership Rewards 2.0¢, Ultimate Rewards 1.5¢, cash back 1.0¢), and your actual value depends on how you redeem. Bonus rates can have annual caps, and issuers change terms -- check the card's official terms before applying.
Sources
Page updated: October 28, 2026