Gap Encore Mastercard®
A no-annual-fee cash back card from Barclays.
Rates, fees, and full terms are set by Barclays and can change. See current rates & fees on the issuer’s site, and always confirm the latest terms before applying.
Our review
The Gap Encore Mastercard looks generous on the front, with 5X points at Gap brands, 3X at other apparel stores, and 1X everywhere else. The fine print changes everything. Barclays redeems Encore points at 500 points per $1 reward, so 5X is about 1% back, 3X is about 0.6%, and 1X is just 0.2%.
That makes it one of the weakest rewards cards I cover. Even inside Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta, a basic 2% cash back card earns twice as much, and outside those stores the difference is enormous. The real draws are the 20% off your first purchase, free shipping on online orders of $35 or more, and the member perks.
Think twice if: you want real rewards. At about 1% back in Gap stores and 0.2% everywhere else, nearly any flat cash back card earns more.
Our 3.0 out of 10 rating
Each score weighs the rewards rate, value after the annual fee, welcome offer, points flexibility, and perks, with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. This is our editorial assessment to help you compare cards, not a guarantee of approval or of the value you will get.
Earning rates at a glance
Rewards: how it earns
This is where the card falls apart. You earn 5X points per dollar at the Gap Inc. family of brands, 3X at other eligible apparel retailers, and 1X everywhere else. Barclays turns 500 points into a $1 reward, so in cash terms that is roughly 1%, 0.6%, and 0.2%. The table shows the 0.2% everyday rate because that is what you earn on most purchases. Rewards are spent at Gap Inc. brands or in the Encore Market, so they are not flexible either. Put your normal spending on this card and you would earn about a tenth of what a 2% card pays.
| Category | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dining and restaurants | 0.2x | Base rate |
| Groceries | 0.2x | Base rate |
| Gas | 0.2x | Base rate |
| Travel | 0.2x | Base rate |
| Streaming | 0.2x | Base rate |
| Everything else | 0.2x | Everything else |
The fine print on rates: Barclays values Encore points at 500 points for a $1 reward, so 5X works out to about 1% back at Gap Inc. brands, 3X to about 0.6% at other apparel stores, and 1X to just 0.2% everywhere else. Rewards are spent at Gap Inc. brands or in the Encore Market and do not transfer to travel partners. Outside Gap's family of stores, almost any flat cash back card earns more.
Every point and mile above is valued at a flat 1 cent, the same honest standard we use for every card. Run your own spending through the calculator to see what this card would actually return for you.
Best ways to earn & redeem
Use it as a flat-rate everyday card, since it earns the same on every purchase, and pair it with bonus-category cards for groceries, dining, and travel.
When you cash in, take the rewards as cash back or a statement credit, worth a flat 1 cent each. We value every point at a flat 1 cent, so treat any transfer upside as a bonus rather than the baseline — see what your points are really worth.
Pros and cons
- 20% off your first purchase at Gap
- Free shipping on Gap Inc. online orders of $35 or more
- No annual fee
- 500 points equal $1, so 5X is only about 1% back
- Just 0.2% back on everyday purchases
- Rewards can only be spent with Gap Inc. brands
The welcome bonus
New cardholders get 20% off their first purchase at Gap, with a code that expires 14 days after the account opens. That discount is the best part of the card, so if you open it, use it on a real order. Just do not let it talk you into using the card for everyday spending afterward.
First-year value vs ongoing value
| Welcome bonus | 20% off your first purchase at Gap |
| To earn it | first purchase within 14 days of opening |
| Est. first-year value* | $58 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $58 |
There is no lump-sum welcome bonus, so first-year and ongoing value are about the same, roughly $58 a year on typical spending after the fee. What you see is what you get from day one.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent, on average spending.
Benefits and protections
Beyond the rewards, the perks and protections worth knowing about include:
- Free shipping on Gap Inc. online orders of $35 or more
Statement credits
This card does not come with recurring statement credits. Its value is in the rewards rate and welcome offer.
Who should get it, and who should skip it
The Gap Encore Mastercard only makes sense for someone who shops at Gap Inc. brands often and cares more about the opening discount and free shipping than about rewards.
Everyone else should skip it. The rewards work out to about 1% at Gap stores and 0.2% elsewhere, so a flat 2% card like the Citi Double Cash earns more even on your Gap orders.
Alternatives to the Gap Encore Mastercard®
Pairs well with
The Gap Encore Mastercard® earns a flat rate on everything, so pair it with a category card or two to earn more where you spend the most.
Frequently asked questions
Best-card guides featuring this card
Learn more
How does it rank for your spending?
Every card is ranked by what it actually returns on the way you spend. Run your numbers and see where the Gap Encore Mastercard® lands.
Calculate My CardOffer details verified against issuer sources as of October 2026. Editorial opinions are our own. Cardocrat values all points at a flat 1 cent and never inflates redemptions.
