How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
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How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
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Advertising Disclosure

LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products. We are compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order).
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American Express Disclosure
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

American Express Disclosure

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® Review

Updated on:
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
LendingTree's Review

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1.3
Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard®
Welcome Offer
Save 30¢/gal (up to 35 gallons*) on your first five Shell fuel purchases made within the offer timeframe.
Rewards Rate
You can Save 10 cents per gallon on up to 35 gallons of gas. Plus, earn 10% in Shell rebates on your first $1,200 in non-fuel purchases per year, 2% in Shell rebates on dining and grocery store purchases each year (up to $10,000 in combined spending per year) and 1% in Shell rebates on all other purchases.
Redeeming Rewards
Rebates are automatically applied to your account as a statement credit.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It was not reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.
Citi is an advertising partner.

Key takeaway

The Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® can help you save if you primarily fill up at Shell stations and spend a lot on gas and Shell gas station purchases. However, you’re likely to save more with a more flexible cash back card.

Pros and cons

  • $0 annual fee
  • Generous savings on gas purchases
  • Receive automatic Shell Fuel Rewards Gold status
  • Decent rewards for dining and groceries
  • Rewards are automatically applied to your statement
  • High APR
  • Restrictions apply to rebates
  • Foreign transaction fees
  • Low-value sign-up bonus

Is the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® worth it?

The Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® is worth it for individuals who spend a lot of money at Shell stations each year. This card also offers a generous rate of return on dining and grocery purchases, theoretically on par with top cash back credit cards.

However, the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® isn’t as flexible as other rewards credit cards when it comes to redeeming rewards. All of the rebates you earn on spending are automatically applied as statement credits toward Shell fuel purchases. This means redemption is very easy, but you can’t choose how your rewards are redeemed.

This rewards credit card is mostly for people who want savings on fuel, specifically at Shell gas stations. But if you’re after a rewards card that lets you earn points for redeeming gift cards or travel, you’ll want to look at other rewards credit card options.

Quick facts

    • Save 10¢ per gallon when you fill up at Shell gas stations.
    • $0 annual fee
    • 34.24% variable APR
  • Recommended Credit
    Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion
  • Rewards: You can Save 10 cents per gallon on up to 35 gallons of gas. Plus, earn 10% in Shell rebates on your first $1,200 in non-fuel purchases per year, 2% in Shell rebates on dining and grocery store purchases each year (up to $10,000 in combined spending per year) and 1% in Shell rebates on all other purchases.
  • Sign-up bonus: Save 30¢/gal (up to 35 gallons*) on your first five Shell fuel purchases made within the offer timeframe.
  • Annual fee: $0

Intro Purchase APR

N/A

Regular Purchase APR

34.24% variable

Intro BT APR

N/A

Regular BT APR

N/A

Annual Fee

$0

Cash Advance Fee

Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transaction Fee

3% of each purchase transaction in US dollars.

Balance Transfer Fee

N/A

Save 30 cents per gallon of first 5 Shell fuel purchases

While the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® doesn’t offer a more traditional sign-up bonus, you do get an initial boost in savings on fuel purchases.

With this limited time offer, you Save 30¢/gal (up to 35 gallons*) on your first five Shell fuel purchases made within the offer timeframe.

Since all Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® cardholders receive 10¢/gal on Shell fuel purchases, this sign-up bonus really gets you an extra 20¢/gallon.

If you’re able to make five purchases of 35 gallons each, that amounts to a sign-up bonus with a value of $35. However, this is just a fraction of the average sign-up bonus for a cash back credit card, which is currently just over $157.

Note that this bonus is only good on the first five Shell fuel purchases you make before the offer’s deadline. If you’re able to max out this benefit, this promotion is worth up to $30 (including the $5 you would already earn as a Gold Status member).

Earning rebates with Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard®

Many rewards credit cards let you earn points or cash back that you can redeem for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise or travel, among other options. However, the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® only offers rewards in the form of “rebates” on your fuel spending, which are applied instantly and decrease the price of gas.

You can Save 10 cents per gallon on up to 35 gallons of gas. Plus, earn 10% in Shell rebates on your first $1,200 in non-fuel purchases per year, 2% in Shell rebates on dining and grocery store purchases each year (up to $10,000 in combined spending per year) and 1% in Shell rebates on all other purchases.

These rebates are automatically applied as statement credits to your account when you buy fuel at Shell and pay with your credit card.

  • Earn at Shell

    As part of their ongoing rewards, cardholders save 10 cents per gallon (up to 20 gallons each time) on Shell fuel purchases.

    However, half of this savings comes from being a Shell Fuel Rewards Gold member. You get instant Gold status as a card member, but consumers can earn this status for six months without having a co-branded Shell credit card just by signing up for the free loyalty program. From there, they can maintain Gold status by filling up at least six times during the final three months of their initial trial period.

    Cardholders also get 10% back in Shell rebates on up to $1,200 in non-fuel purchases each year at Shell, which includes items like snacks and drinks. Consumers may struggle to truly maximize this benefit unless they spend considerable amounts on coffee, snacks on the go or other convenience items at Shell most days of the week.

    Remember that Shell rebates are instantly added to your account as statement credits toward Shell fuel purchases. If you do actually spend $1,200 per year on non-fuel purchases at Shell, this benefit is worth $120 per year.

    Earnings difference between Shell Fuel Rewards Gold Members and Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® cardholders

    Rebate per gallonRebate on a 35 gallon purchaseRebate on four 35 gallon purchases (1/week)
    Shell Fuel Rewards Gold Members5 cents$1.75$7
    Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® cardholders10 cents$3.50$14
  • Earn on dining and groceries

    The card also offers 2% in Shell rebates on dining and grocery store purchases each year. However, the 2% rebate is only good for the first $10,000 you spend in those categories each year — after you hit the cap, your dining and grocery store purchases will only earn the 1% general purchase rebate.

    If you ultimately max out this earning rate with $10,000 in combined spending per year (or $833 per spending per month), you can earn $200 in rebates toward fuel purchases each year.

  • Earn on all other spending

    On all other purchases you make with the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard®, you’ll receive a 1% rebate. The 1% rebate also applies to purchases made in Shell stores and on dining and grocery purchases once you meet the cap for the elevated rewards.

    Here’s an example of how much someone might earn in Shell Fuel rewards if they used this card as their primary credit card for common household expenses.

    Shell fuelShell store purchasesDining and groceriesAll other spending
    Rebate amount10 cents/gallon10%2%1%
    Annual purchases474 gallons$500$3,000 dining and $5,000 groceries$10,000
    Value $47.4$50$160$100
    Total value of rewards$357.40

    *According to U.S. Department of Energy statistics, the average car uses 474 gallons of gasoline per year

How to redeem rebates on the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard®

Rebates earned with the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® are automatically applied as statement credits toward Shell fuel purchases made with your card. This makes redeeming extremely simple — you won’t have to wait until you reach a certain dollar threshold to redeem your rewards and you won’t have to do any work to redeem them.

However, you don’t have any available redemption options other than fuel rebates. Most other cash back credit cards let you redeem rewards for a variety of options, including statement credits against any purchase, gift cards and more.

Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® vs. Citi Custom Cash® Card

| Disclosures
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Citi Custom Cash® Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site
Rates & Fees
0% intro APR for 15 months on Purchases
18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
$0
Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category
  • Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
  • 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026.
  • No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.
660 720 850
Good / Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

 

The Citi Custom Cash® Card offers a generous 5% rewards rate on purchases that fall within your biggest spending category each month, on up to $500 in purchases. Gas is one of the many categories that qualify, which makes it the best gas credit card and ideal if you want a card that you use exclusively for fuel purchases. Plus, its versatility is nice for those whose spending categories fluctuate month-to-month.

Rewards are issued as ThankYou® Points which are flexible and can be redeemed for cash, travel, statement credits and more. This card can help offset high fuel prices for commuting cardholders.

Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® vs. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

| Disclosures
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on American Express's secure site
Rates & Fees
| Terms Apply
0% on purchases for 12 months
18.49%-29.49% Variable
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Earn 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per
  • Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
  • Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
  • Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 18.49% - 29.49%.
  • 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
  • 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
  • 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
  • 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
  • Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
  • $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
  • Terms Apply.
660 720 850
Good / Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

 

Consumers will find the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express to be a far more flexible and rewarding card — even when considering its annual fee. You can earn 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more), 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Terms apply. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

There’s a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. However, if you spend at least $1,584 on groceries, or $3,180 on gas, in the year, you’ll recoup the annual fee. Just note that there is an annual cap on grocery spending.

*To see rates & fees for Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please click here.

 

Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® vs. Citi Double Cash® Card

| Disclosures
Citi Double Cash® Card
Citi Double Cash® Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site
Rates & Fees
N/A
18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
$0
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you
  • Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
  • Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.
  • Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
  • If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
  • There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
600 660 720 850
Fair / Good / Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

 

Along with a $0 annual fee and a long balance transfer intro APR, the Citi Double Cash® Card lets you earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25. There are no caps, no categories and you’ll earn a flat-rate on every purchase — this makes it a great all-around card, especially if you value simplicity in your financial life.

Rewards are paid as ThankYou® points that you can redeem for statement credit, direct deposit, travel, merchandise, gift cards and more.

Should you apply for the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard®?

When you consider all the limitations on the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard®, it’s hard to see this card as the best option for everyday spending. You may want to consider signing up in order to score discounts on fuel, but then again, you can earn $0.05 cents off per gallon just for having Gold status with Shell Fuel rewards loyalty program — and you don’t need a Shell credit card for that.

The 10% rebate offered on up to $1,200 in non-fuel Shell purchases each year seems good in theory, but do you really spend $100 per month on gas station drinks and snacks? Perhaps you do, but that’s still worth considering before you choose this card.

At the end of the day, you’re probably better off with a different cash back credit card or gas credit card for fuel purchases and everything else you buy.

Frequently asked questions

You can get a Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® upon a successful online application.

The Shell Fuel Rewards program requires you to sign up for a Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® or the Shell Fuel Rewards card. When you use the card for qualifying purchases, you can earn rebates that are automatically applied to future Shell fuel purchases.

You can use the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® anywhere Mastercard is accepted around the world. Keep in mind, however, that foreign transaction fees apply: 3% of each purchase transaction in US dollars.

The Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® doesn’t charge an annual fee of any kind.

The Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® is offered by Citibank, which doesn’t list a minimum credit score for card applicants. However, the terms and conditions for this card do say that applicants who don’t qualify based on their creditworthiness can be approved for the Shell’s store card instead.

You can use your Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® for all your spending and bills in order to earn rebates toward Shell fuel purchases. However, make sure you pay your bill in full each month to avoid paying this card’s high variable APR for purchases.

To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:

The information related to the Shell | Fuel Rewards® Mastercard® has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.

The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.