Best card for McDonald's

Updated September 26, 2026 · from RightCard's verified card and merchant data

Yes. McDonald's codes as a restaurants. Our directory files it under restaurants. Use your best dining card here.

Why the code decides, not the cart

Every card purchase carries a merchant category code (MCC). The store sets it once, for the whole store. Your bank pays a category bonus by that code, not by what is in your bag. That is why a cart full of groceries can still earn the base rate.

Verified dining rates

Cards in our verified data with a real dining bonus, ranked by value per dollar, not by the biggest multiplier.

Card	Dining	≈ value / $1
American Express Gold Card	4x points	7.2¢
Chase Sapphire Preferred	3x points	5.4¢
Chase Sapphire Reserve	3x points	5.4¢
Citi Premier Card	3x points	4.8¢
Citi Strata Premier Card	3x points	4.8¢
Autograph Journey Card	3x points	4.5¢

Value column: cash at face value; points at conservative per-program estimates (Amex Membership Rewards 1.8¢, Chase Ultimate Rewards 1.8¢, Citi ThankYou Points 1.6¢, Wells Fargo Rewards 1.5¢) toward travel. Cash out and most points are worth 1¢ or less. RightCard lets you flip between the two.

How RightCard handles this: search "McDonald's" in the app and it shows your best dining card, plus any bank offer you have there. The app is free and private. No bank login. Recommendations are computed on your phone.

Get RightCard on the App Store

FAQ

Does McDonald's count as dining for credit card rewards?

Yes. McDonald's codes as a restaurants. Our directory files it under restaurants. Use your best dining card here.

Is fast food the same as dining?

Yes. Fast food restaurants have their own merchant code (5814) and every major issuer includes it in the dining category.

Do bank offers apply here?

Often. Amex, Chase, Citi and Wells Fargo each run card-linked offers that rotate monthly and are targeted per card. They beat any category math when you have one. The RightCard app syncs yours and checks them at the moment you pay.

Where these numbers come from: RightCard's data pipeline re-checks each card's published rates weekly and lists a rate only after two independent sources agree. Merchant codes come from our merchant directory. If a card or store is missing here, it is because we could not verify it, not because we guessed.

More guides: Costco rewards guide · Walmart rewards guide · Freedom Flex 5% calendar · Best card for Dunkin' · Best card for 7-Eleven