Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® vs PayPal Cashback Mastercard

Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®
VS
PayPal Cashback Mastercard
The short answer: The PayPal Cashback Mastercard delivers a bit more value for most spenders, but choose the Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® if you spend more on travel.

Side-by-side comparison

Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®PayPal Cashback Mastercard
Annual fee$89No annual fee
Welcome offer70,000 milesNo current offer
Dining1x1.5x
Groceries1x1.5x
Gas1x1.5x
Travel2x1.5x
Streaming1x1.5x
Everything else1x1.5x
Est. yearly rewards*$310$437
Points typeLocked to Miles & MoreCash back only
NetworkMastercardMastercard

*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 Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® earns about $310 a year in rewards and the PayPal Cashback Mastercard about $437, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® charges $89, 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 $217 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and groceries. 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 Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.

Pick the Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® if your spending leans toward travel. Pick the PayPal Cashback Mastercard if your spending leans toward dining, groceries, gas.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® or the PayPal Cashback Mastercard better?
On typical household spending, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard comes out ahead, by roughly $217 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® and the PayPal Cashback Mastercard?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® or the PayPal Cashback Mastercard?
As of June 2026, the Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® offers 70,000 miles and the PayPal Cashback Mastercard offers no current offer. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.