The myWalgreens Mastercard® offers top-shelf rewards on spending at Walgreens, plus competitive earning rates on grocery, healthcare, and wellness spending. But rewards are in the form of Walgreens Cash, which can only be used on purchases at Walgreens and doesn’t convert to actual cash back. We’ll explore whether this card is a robust choice for your wallet in this myWalgreens credit card review.
myWalgreens credit card basics
- Annual fee: $0.
- Welcome bonus: $25 Walgreens cash rewards after making a purchase within 45 days of account opening.
- Rewards: 10% Walgreens Cash rewards on eligible Walgreens-branded products, 5% cash rewards on all other eligible brands and pharmacy purchases at Walgreens, 3% cash rewards on all eligible grocery and health and wellness purchases outside of Walgreens and including healthcare provider visits, and 1% cash rewards on eligible purchases anywhere Mastercard credit cards are accepted.
- APR: 23.24%, 29.24% and 32.24% variable.
- Recommended credit score: Good to excellent.
- Other benefits: $0 fraud liability, free access to your credit score.
myWalgreens credit card review
It’s worth noting there are two separate Walgreens cards available with different rewards structures. Both the myWalgreens Credit Card and the myWalgreens Mastercard are designed to reward shoppers who spend at Walgreens. But the former is a store card while the latter can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted. And, only the myWalgreens Mastercard offers rewards for grocery, health, and wellness purchases outside the pharmacy chain.
You can’t choose which version to apply for. Instead, upon approval you are automatically assigned the store card or the Mastercard based on your credit profile. Neither card charges an annual fee.
Now, let’s get both the good and the bad out of the way immediately: The good news is that this card comes with a generous rewards program, especially if you’re approved for the Mastercard version. But the bad news is rewards can’t be redeemed for cash back, only toward purchases at the Walgreens register. In addition, the welcome bonus and benefits are mediocre. This makes the myWalgreens card a fit only for dedicated Walgreens shoppers who just want to use their rewards for future Walgreens spending.
Looking to earn rewards you can use anywhere? A card on our list of best cash-back credit cards might be a perfect fit for your needs.
our partner
Ad Blueprint receives compensation from our partners for featured offers, which impacts how and where the placement is displayed.
Bilt World Elite Mastercard®
BLUEPRINT RATING
Our ratings are based on specific use cases for each card. We compared this card to others in the same category and developed our rankings based on this criteria, along with our editorial input. Note that although we chose this card as the best in its category, the right card for you will depend on your own financial circ*mstances.
BLUEPRINT RATING
Our ratings are based on specific use cases for each card. We compared this card to others in the same category and developed our rankings based on this criteria, along with our editorial input. Note that although we chose this card as the best in its category, the right card for you will depend on your own financial circ*mstances.
Welcome bonus
N/A
N/A
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
See terms
Credit score
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
(700 – 749) Good, Excellent
1x on rent payments without a transaction fee (on up to 100,000 points each calendar year). 2x points on travel (when booked directly with an airline, hotel, car rental or cruise company). 3x points on dining. Plus, 1x points on other purchases. Use the card 5 times to earn points each statement period.
Editor’s take
Pros
- Earns rewards on rent payments.
- No transaction fee for paying rent by credit card.
- No annual fee or Foreign Currency Conversion Fee.
Cons
- You must make five transactions per billing period to earn rewards.
- No welcome bonus or intro APR period.
- Restrictive definition of what counts as a travel purchase.
The no-annual-fee Bilt Mastercard earns elevated rewards rates on dining and travel, lets you transfer those points 1:1 to multiple airline and hotel partners and offers a slew of helpful travel perks, like an Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver and Cellular Telephone Protection.
Card details
- $0 annual fee
- Earn 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year
- Earns 3x points on dining
- Earn 2x points on travel
- Earn 1x points on other purchases
- Earn double points on the first of each month (excluding rent, up to 1,000 bonus points)
- Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points
- Earn up to 5x Bilt points on Lyft rides when you link your Bilt account and pay with your Bilt card
- Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent payments, credit card statements, toward a down payment on a home, etc.
- Rewards & benefits terms
- Select “Apply Now” to learn more about the product features, terms, and conditions
Pros
- Generous rewards program: With the Mastercard, you’ll earn 10% Walgreens Cash rewards on eligible Walgreens-branded products, 5% cash rewards on all other eligible brands and pharmacy purchases at Walgreens, 3% cash rewards on all eligible grocery and health and wellness purchases outside of Walgreens and including healthcare provider visits, and 1% cash rewards on eligible purchases anywhere Mastercard credit cards are accepted.
- Broad definition of health and wellness: According to the fine print, the health and wellness rewards extend to the following purchases: grocery stores, spa and salon appointments, pet stores, medical bills, counseling services, sporting goods stores, gym memberships and more.
- Instant rewards redemption at Walgreens: When you check out at Walgreens, your rewards can be automatically applied to your purchase.
- No annual fee: You can add this credit card to your wallet without adding an annual fee to your budget.
Cons
- Walgreens-only rewards: When you earn rewards through this credit card, you can only redeem them through Walgreens purchases.
- No major perks: $0 fraud liability and the ability to check your credit score for free are pretty lackluster benefits. Some other rewards cards offer perks such as cellphone insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty, for example.
- No choice over which card you apply for: Approved applicants will automatically receive a myWalgreens store card or myWalgreens Mastercard. You can’t choose which card you want to apply for in advance.
- High APR: The store card comes with an interest rate of 32.24% variable APR on purchases. Meanwhile, the Mastercard’s rate will be 23.24%, 29.24% and 32.24% variable. While you should always pay your credit card in full, if you do carry a balance once in a while, you could end up facing expensive interest charges.
How does paying in full help you avoid interest? Here’s how your credit card’s grace period works.
myWalgreens Mastercard rewards
New account holders can earn $25 Walgreens cash rewards after making a purchase within 45 days of account opening.
In terms of ongoing rewards with this card, you can earn 10% Walgreens Cash rewards on eligible Walgreens-branded products, 5% cash rewards on all other eligible brands and pharmacy purchases at Walgreens, 3% cash rewards on all eligible grocery and health and wellness purchases outside of Walgreens and including healthcare provider visits, and 1% cash rewards on eligible purchases anywhere Mastercard credit cards are accepted.
Using government data and other publicly available information, we estimate that a household in the U.S. that would be in the market for this card has around $25,087 in annual expenses that can be charged to a credit card. Here’s how our sample household’s rewards could break down:
| SPENDING CATEGORY | SPENDING AMOUNT | REWARDS RATE | REWARDS EARNED |
|---|---|---|---|
Walgreens, eligible Walgreens-brand items | $408 | 10% | $40.80 |
Walgreens, non-Walgreens-brand items | $408 | 5% | $20.40 |
Grocery spending | $4,942 | 3% | $148.26 |
Health and wellness | $507 | 3% | $15.21 |
Other | $18,822 | 1% | $188.22 |
TOTAL | $25,087 | $412.89 |
With a myWalgreens Mastercard, you could potentially earn $412.89 in Walgreens Cash each year. You can redeem these rewards toward your Walgreens purchases. Consider how much you spend at Walgreens to determine if this card is the right fit for your wallet.
Want to consider other options? Our list of the best credit cards is a good place to start.
How the myWalgreens Mastercard compares to other rewards cards
myWalgreens Mastercard vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a more robust rewards credit card without an annual fee attached. It offers 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstore purchases and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited card gives you an opportunity to earn elevated cash back on your drugstore purchases without limiting your rewards exclusively to Walgreens Cash. Rewards are available as true cash back, gift cards, travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, and Amazon purchases. Ultimately, the flexibility offered through the Chase Freedom Unlimited makes it the better fit for most shoppers.
New cardholders can also earn 1.5% back on everything bought in the first year on up to $20,000 in spending, which is worth up to $300.
myWalgreens Mastercard vs. Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card*The information for the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card*The information for the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is likely a better option for everyday shoppers. That said, if you are specifically looking for health and wellness rewards, you won’t find them through the Capital One Walmart Rewards Card.
The Capital One Walmart Rewards Card offers 5% cash back on Walmart.com & in the Walmart app, 2% cash back on restaurants and travel, and at Walmart Stores, Walmart & Murphy USA fuel stations and 1% cash back everywhere else. Also, with this card you earn actual cash back, which you can redeem in the form of cash, gift cards or travel, or use to cover a credit card purchase.
When you open a new account, you can earn 5% cash back at Walmart stores for the first 12 months when using the card with Walmart Pay.
Like the myWalgreens Mastercard, you won’t face an annual fee.
myWalgreens Mastercard vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a no-annual-fee card with a straightforward rewards structure. You’ll earn 2% cash rewards on purchases. And, there’s a generous welcome bonus of a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Redemption options include offsetting purchases made with your card, as a credit to a qualifying Wells Fargo credit card, checking account or mortgage, for cash in $20 increments at a Wells Fargo ATM (when you have a Wells Fargo debit or ATM card) for gift cards from a variety of retailers and paying with rewards through PayPal when checking out at eligible online stores.
With the straightforward flat-rate earning structure of the Active Cash, you won’t have to worry about shopping at Walgreens to maximize your rewards. And, if you put the full $25,087 per year that we estimate a typical household can spend on a credit card, you’d earn $501.74 in cash rewards.
But the flat rate earned on all purchases could detract from your ability to earn elevated rewards on health and wellness with a card such as the myWalgreens Mastercard. If you’re someone who spends heavily in this category, you might consider one card for your health and wellness spending and a flat-rate card for all your other purchases.
Wondering if it’s smart to juggle multiple credit cards? Read our analysis on how many credit cards a person should have.
The myWalgreens credit card is right for you if:
- You shop at Walgreens regularly and purchase Walgreens-branded products.
- You want to earn Walgreens Cash on medical bills and spa visits through a credit card.
- You’re OK with reward redemptions being limited to future Walgreens purchases.
- You don’t mind submitting an application without knowing if you’ll be assigned a myWalgreens credit card or myWalgreens Mastercard.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
You can use the myWalgreens credit card to make purchases at Walgreens, Duane Reade stores and Walgreens.com. If you have the myWalgreens Mastercard, you can use it anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
The minimum credit score for a myWalgreens Credit Card isn’t disclosed. But for the best approval chances, you’ll likely need a good credit score of at least 670.
Yes. You might be able to access a cash advance through a myWalgreens Mastercard. However, we recommend avoiding credit card cash advances in almost all situations. A cash advance typically starts accruing interest immediately, not allowing the grace period you usually get on regular purchases. Plus, interest may be assessed at a higher APR than for regular purchases, and you may pay a cash advance fee to boot.
No. The myWalgreens Credit Card doesn’t have an annual fee attached.
*The information for the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
