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Cash Rewards Mastercard vs Essential Mastercard vs Flex Rewards Mastercard

At a glance
  • Same annual fee on all 3: $0.
  1. Cash Rewards MastercardVirginia Credit Union2 of 8 facts on file · annual fee checked Sep 2026
  2. Essential MastercardVirginia Credit Union3 of 8 facts on file · annual fee checked Sep 2026
  3. Flex Rewards MastercardVirginia Credit Union5 of 8 facts on file · annual fee checked Sep 2026
Top earn ratesPer unit of currency spent, as the card states it. Not ranked: points in different programs aren't worth the same, and most rates don't record their unit.
Cash Rewards Mastercard
Not confirmed
Essential Mastercard
Not confirmed
Flex Rewards Mastercard
2x on dining · 2x on entertainment · 2x on travel+1 more
Welcome offerAs the issuer describes it. Offers change often, so check the terms before you apply.
Cash Rewards Mastercard
Not confirmed
Essential Mastercard
Not confirmed
Flex Rewards Mastercard
Earn 20,000 in bonus points when you spend $3,000 within the first 90 days. That's equal to $200 in gift cards!
Annual feeSame on allPer year. Lower is marked only when every fee has been verified against the issuer.
Cash Rewards Mastercard
$0No annual fee
Essential Mastercard
$0No annual fee
Flex Rewards Mastercard
$0No annual fee
Listed underThe sections of this site the card appears in.
Cash Rewards Mastercard
Not confirmed
Essential Mastercard
Low Interest
Flex Rewards Mastercard
Welcome Bonus
NetworkSame on allWhere the card is accepted.
Cash Rewards Mastercard
Mastercard
Essential Mastercard
Mastercard
Flex Rewards Mastercard
Mastercard
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Not confirmed for any of these cards: Purchase interest (APR), Foreign transaction fee, Rewards program. We leave these out rather than show a row of blanks — check the issuer’s own terms for them.

Lower lowest figure, marked only when every card’s figure is confirmed by the issuer’s or a regulator’s published document Not confirmed: we hold no checked figure — a blank is not a claim of zero On file, but not yet checked with the issuer — confirm it on their own page

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Your cards · 3 of 4
  • Cash Rewards Mastercard
  • Essential Mastercard
  • Flex Rewards Mastercard
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The bottom line

Which one?

Cost is only half of it. Match each card’s earn rates and welcome offer to where your money actually goes, confirm anything marked “not confirmed” with the issuer, then open the full review for the card that fits.

Cash Rewards Mastercard reviewEssential Mastercard reviewFlex Rewards Mastercard review
Questions

Frequently asked

Can I hold Cash Rewards Mastercard, Essential Mastercard and Flex Rewards Mastercard at the same time?

In most cases, yes. Holding cards from different issuers is common and can help you cover more spending categories. Check each issuer's own policies for any restrictions.

Are these cards available in United States?

Every card in this comparison is issued for United States. Approval depends on each issuer's credit and income criteria.