JetBlue Premier vs PayPal Cashback Mastercard
Side-by-side comparison
| JetBlue Premier | PayPal Cashback Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $499 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | No current offer | |
| Dining | 2x | 1.5x |
| Groceries | 2x | 1.5x |
| Gas | 1x | 1.5x |
| Travel | 1x | 1.5x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1.5x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1.5x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $382 | $437 |
| Points type | Locked to JetBlue TrueBlue | Cash back only |
| Network | Mastercard | Mastercard |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the JetBlue Premier earns about $382 a year in rewards and the PayPal Cashback Mastercard about $437, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The JetBlue Premier charges $499, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The PayPal Cashback Mastercard has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard delivers more total value, about $555 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and gas. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the JetBlue Premier currently has the larger welcome offer (a limited-time offer above its usual amount, so treat it as a one-time boost). A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the JetBlue Premier if your spending leans toward dining, groceries. Pick the PayPal Cashback Mastercard if your spending leans toward gas, travel, streaming.