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Credit Cards » Credit Card Reviews » Athleta Rewards Mastercard Review 2024

Athleta Rewards Mastercard Review 2025

The Athleta Rewards Mastercard cardholders enjoy fast shipping for free, early access to sales and quarterly bonus. But, there are limitations.
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Interest Rates Last Update: February 1, 2025
The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Interest Rates Last Update: February 1, 2025

The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.

We earn a commission from our partner links on this page. It doesn't affect the integrity of our unbiased, independent editorial staff. Transparency is a core value for us, read our advertiser disclosure and how we make money.

Athleta Rewards Mastercard

Athleta Rewards Mastercard®

Rewards Plan

1x – 5x 5 points per dollar on purchases at the Gap Group and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus

20% off your first purchase Receive 20% off your first purchase at the Gap Inc group using your new card

Credit Rating

Fair – Good

0% Intro

N/A

Annual Fee

$0

APR

34.49%
Athleta Rewards Mastercard

Athleta Rewards Mastercard®

Rewards Plan

1x – 5x 5 points per dollar on purchases at the Gap Group and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus

20% off your first purchase Receive 20% off your first purchase at the Gap Inc group using your new card

0% Intro

N/A

PROS

CONS

APR

34.49%

Annual Fee

$0

Balance Transfer Fee

$5 or 5%, whichever is greater

Credit Requirements

Fair - Good

The Athleta Rewards Mastercard may be appealing to those who regularly shop with the brand. With bonus points, access to events and sales, and free fast shipping for your online orders over $50, if you regularly shop with Athleta, this card could be a good choice for you.

Outside of the Gap Inc. brands, the rewards and benefits of this card are fairly limited. You won’t get extra purchase protections or complimentary subscriptions that some other cards offer. If you’re not particularly brand loyal to Athleta, you’ll probably find that there are many no-annual-fee cards with more comprehensive perks and benefits.

So, have a serious think about whether you shop at Athleta enough to warrant having a dedicated co-branded card when there are cards that offer more generous rewards for your retail purchases and everyday shopping.

  • Fast Shipping for Free
  • Early Access to Events and Sales
  • Family Brand Bonus
  • Quarterly Bonus
  • Support Charities
  • $0 Fraud Liability
  • Limited Welcome Bonus
  • One APR for All
  • Limited Perks

What are card income requirements?

There are no official income requirements for the Athleta Rewards Mastercard, but you do need to have good to excellent credit. So, while your income will be evaluated, it is not the only factor that will be considered when Barclays is making an approval decision.

Can I get pre-approved?

There is no pre approval button on the official Barclays website, but Barclays may periodically send out mailers or other marketing materials to select customers offering pre approval. You may also be offered pre approval when you visit your local Athleta store.

How do I redeem rewards?

Your Athleta Rewards points have a set value of 100 points for one dollar. You can accumulate your points to be able to redeem them for purchase up to a maximum redemption of $500. However, you can only redeem your points for purchases made with a brand in the Gap Inc group. Just bear in mind that there is some fine print associated with redeeming your rewards.

This includes that you cannot use your rewards to pay down your credit card balance, purchase subscriptions or gift cards or use to pay fees or taxes associated with packaging, gift wrap or shipping your Athleta order.

To claim your rewards, you’ll need to log into your account and then select “redeem.” You’ll then receive a reward that you can use for in store or online Athleta purchases.

In this Review

Top Offers

Amex gold

Rewards Plan:
1X – 4X 4X points at restaurants (including Uber Eats purchases in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X points), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2X points on rental cars through amextravel.com and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 points 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

upgrade cash rewards

Rewards Plan:
1.5% 1.5% cash back on payments
Welcome Bonus:
$200 Earn $200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking account and making 3 debit card transactions.

AMEX Blue Cash Preferred Card review

Rewards Plan:
1-6% 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) and selected U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit and U.S. gas stations, 1% cash back on other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
$250 $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
Top Offers From Our Partners

Amex gold

Rewards Plan:
1X – 4X 4X points at restaurants (including Uber Eats purchases in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X points), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2X points on rental cars through amextravel.com and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 points 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

upgrade cash rewards

Rewards Plan:
1.5% 1.5% cash back on payments
Welcome Bonus:
$200 Earn $200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking account and making 3 debit card transactions.

AMEX Blue Cash Preferred Card review

Rewards Plan:
1-6% 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) and selected U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit and U.S. gas stations, 1% cash back on other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
$250 $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
Top Offers

Amex gold

Rewards Plan:
1X – 4X 4X points at restaurants (including Uber Eats purchases in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X points), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2X points on rental cars through amextravel.com and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 points 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

upgrade cash rewards

Rewards Plan:
1.5% 1.5% cash back on payments
Welcome Bonus:
$200 Earn $200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking account and making 3 debit card transactions.

AMEX Blue Cash Preferred Card review

Rewards Plan:
1-6% 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) and selected U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit and U.S. gas stations, 1% cash back on other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
$250 $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.

Rewards Simulator: Unveiling Your Potential Benefits

Figuring out exactly how much rewards you'll get with this card can be tricky since it depends on how you use it. Whether you use it a lot or just occasionally, and whether you use it for certain types of purchases, all these things impact your rewards.

But don't worry. We've done the math for you and can give you an idea of the rewards you might earn with the Athleta Rewards Mastercard. We looked at how people typically spend on things like groceries, travel, and dining and came up with an average estimate of the total rewards you could get.

Athleta Rewards Mastercard®

Spend Per Category
Athleta Rewards Mastercard
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets
10,000 points
$3,000 – Gap Group
15,000 points
$5,000 – Airline
5,000 points
$4,000 – Hotels
4,000 points
$4,000 – Gas
4,000 points
Estimated Annual Points
38,000 Points

Pros and Cons

Similar to other credit cards on the market, the Athleta Rewards Mastercard has its own set of pros and cons:

Pros
Cons
Fast Shipping for Free
Limited Welcome Bonus
Early Access to Events and Sales
One APR for All
Family Brand Bonus
Limited Perks
Quarterly Bonus
Support Charities
$0 Fraud Liability

As a cardholder, you can enjoy fast shipping with no fee for all of your online orders of $50 or more.

Athleta Rewards cardholders will have early access to select events and sales, so you can have first pick of the shopping bargains at your favorite Athleta or Gap group stores. 

There are also members only exclusive events and offers.

You can unlock an annual points bonus if you shop at multiple Gap Inc brands. 

If you shop at two brands, you’ll get a 500 point bonus, but this increases to 1,000 points if you shop at three brands and 2,000 points for four brands.

There is also a quarterly bonus in each quarter that you make a purchase at Athleta, Gap, Old Navy or Banana Republic. 

This bonus is determined by your status, with 125 points for Core members, 250 points for Enthusiasts and 500 for Icons.

Barclays also has a program which allows you to support good causes. You can donate your points to select charities, but the causes are chosen at the discretion of Gap Inc.

Although a 20% discount is nice, it is limited to your first purchase with the card. 

When you consider that welcome bonuses for new credit card accounts can offer a value of several hundred dollars, this does seem a little paltry.

Regardless of whether you have spotless credit or just good credit, you’ll still pay the same APR. 

This means that there is no real incentive or perk for having better credit.

Unlike general rewards credit cards, the Athleta Rewards card does not offer a full suite of benefits. 

So, if you’re looking for a card that offers some really nice perks, you may find this card a little lacking.

This is quite standard on most credit cards, but it is still nice that you will not be responsible for any charges to your account that you did not authorize.

Top Offers

Amex gold

Rewards Plan:
1X – 4X 4X points at restaurants (including Uber Eats purchases in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X points), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2X points on rental cars through amextravel.com and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 points 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

upgrade cash rewards

Rewards Plan:
1.5% 1.5% cash back on payments
Welcome Bonus:
$200 Earn $200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking account and making 3 debit card transactions.

AMEX Blue Cash Preferred Card review

Rewards Plan:
1-6% 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) and selected U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit and U.S. gas stations, 1% cash back on other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
$250 $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
Top Offers

Amex gold

Rewards Plan:
1X – 4X 4X points at restaurants (including Uber Eats purchases in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X points), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2X points on rental cars through amextravel.com and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 points 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

upgrade cash rewards

Rewards Plan:
1.5% 1.5% cash back on payments
Welcome Bonus:
$200 Earn $200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking account and making 3 debit card transactions.

AMEX Blue Cash Preferred Card review

Rewards Plan:
1-6% 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) and selected U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit and U.S. gas stations, 1% cash back on other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
$250 $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
Top Offers From Our Partners

Amex gold

Rewards Plan:
1X – 4X 4X points at restaurants (including Uber Eats purchases in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X points), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2X points on rental cars through amextravel.com and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 points 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

upgrade cash rewards

Rewards Plan:
1.5% 1.5% cash back on payments
Welcome Bonus:
$200 Earn $200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking account and making 3 debit card transactions.

AMEX Blue Cash Preferred Card review

Rewards Plan:
1-6% 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) and selected U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit and U.S. gas stations, 1% cash back on other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
$250 $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.

Who is the Athleta Rewards Mastercard Best For?

This co-branded credit card is best suited for those who are loyal to Athleta and the other Gap Inc. brands. Most of the benefits are tied to shopping within the brand, so to make the most of this card, you’ll need to shop there regularly. The only exception is the base rewards rate for purchases outside the Gap Inc. group.

The card is also best for those who don’t want to miss out on sales deals and offers. As a cardholder, you’ll get early access to sales and exclusive member only events, which are a must for keen shoppers.

If you are looking for an alternative co-branded, clothing store card – here are some options:

Card
Rewards
Annual Fee

chase_sapphire_preffered

2X – 5X 5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, online grocery purchases and select streaming services. 2x on other travel purchases. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
$95

Holland America credit card

1x – 2x 2 points per dollar on all Holland America purchases, including any onboard purchases. 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
$0

Venture X Rewards

1X – 10X 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases
$395

Wells Fargo Autograph

1X – 3X 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Also, earn 1X points on other purchases
$0

Carnival World Mastercard review

1x – 2x 2x FunPoints for every dollar spent with Carnival Cruises and World Leading Cruise Lines brands and 1x FunPoints on all other purchases
$0

1X – 10X 5X total points on air travel and 10X total points on hotels, car rentals and dining when you purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, immediately after earning your $300 annual travel credit. Also, earn 3x points on dining at restaurants and travel (after meeting the $300 travel credit), then 1x points per dollar spent on all other purchases.
$550

amex platinum

1X – 5X 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases

FAQs

This card is not a good idea if you plan on using a credit card to earn rewards on your everyday purchases. The rewards and card perks are almost exclusively related to Gap Inc brands. There are numerous other credit cards that offer greater rewards rates for everyday purchases.

You will also have more flexibility when you want to redeem your rewards. So, unless you are highly brand loyal to Athleta, this card will not be a good idea for you.

Unfortunately, while you can earn rewards on your travel purchases, you’ll not get any automatic travel insurance. Since this card is a Mastercard, you will miss out on the travel insurance that is offered as part of the Visa benefits package.

Picture of Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor.  Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more.
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amex platinum

Rewards Plan:
1X – 5X 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

amex brilliant

Rewards Plan:
2X – 6X 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3 points at Worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
95,000 points 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $6,000 within the first 6 months of card membership.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum card

Rewards Plan:
1X – 3X 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 miles 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
Top Offers From Our Partners

amex platinum

Rewards Plan:
1X – 5X 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

amex brilliant

Rewards Plan:
2X – 6X 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3 points at Worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
95,000 points 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $6,000 within the first 6 months of card membership.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum card

Rewards Plan:
Up to 3x miles 3 miles per $1 spent on United purchases immediately after earning your $125 annual United purchase credit, 2 miles on all other travel and select streaming services, 1 mile on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 miles Earn 70,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying points (PQP)
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.

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Credit Card Reviews Methodology

In order to determine the best possible credit cards, we look at things like fees, interest rates and rewards. We do this with companies that are associated with us as partners as well as other offerings. From there, we make a decision about what the best card is related to different categories and needs. We focus on interest rate cost & fees, especially the cost of carrying a balance, rewards – cards accumulate rewards in different currencies—points, miles, cash back—and their values vary widely usability – cards that accept a wide range of credit profiles and offer simple solutions for things like checking your credit score or contacting. We also consider customer reviews.

We look at cards related to good or excellent credit ratings that will then provide a range of different benefits and improvements for someone who has these scores. We also look at low fees when it comes to those who have lower credit scores.

This website is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear).

This website does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace. This website may use other proprietary factors to impact card offer listings on the website such as consumer selection or the likelihood of the applicant’s credit approval.

This allows us to maintain a full-time, editorial staff and work with finance experts you know and trust. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impacts any of the editorial content on The Smart Investor.

While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, The Smart Investor does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof.

Learn more about how we review products and read our advertiser disclosure for how we make money. All products are presented without warranty.