Milestone® Mastercard® Review
Overview
The Milestone Mastercard is a heavily marketed subprime card that exists to charge an annual fee for a small unsecured limit, with no rewards to show for it. You see it advertised constantly to people with poor credit.
There is nothing inherently predatory about a card for bad credit, the problem is paying $75 to $99 a year for one when a no-fee secured card builds credit just as well for free.
Think twice if: you can put down a small refundable deposit, because a no-fee secured card is then the smarter move.
Our 1.5 out of 5 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.
Rewards: how it earns
There are no rewards. This card is purely about access to credit, not earning anything.
| Category | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dining and restaurants | 0x | Base rate |
| Groceries | 0x | Base rate |
| Gas | 0x | Base rate |
| Travel | 0x | Base rate |
| Streaming | 0x | Base rate |
| Everything else | 0x | Everything else |
The fine print on rates: A heavily marketed subprime card with an annual fee (often $75 the first year, then $99), a ~35.9% APR, and no rewards. It exists to charge fees for a small unsecured limit. A no-fee secured card builds credit better and cheaper.
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.
Pros and cons
- No security deposit required
- Reports to all three credit bureaus
- $75-to-$99 annual fee (sometimes plus a monthly fee) and no rewards
- About 35.9% APR
- A free secured card builds credit just as well
The welcome bonus
No welcome bonus. Just the annual fee.
Is the annual fee worth it?
The annual fee is the sticking point, often $75 the first year then $99, and some offers add a monthly fee on top, at about 35.9% APR. You are paying real money every year for a small limit and zero rewards.
Benefits and protections
Beyond the rewards, the perks and protections worth knowing about include:
- No rewards of any kind
- Annual fee often $75 the first year, then $99 (some offers add a monthly fee)
- About 35.9% APR
- Small unsecured credit limit, typically around $300 to $700
- Reports to all three credit bureaus
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
If you can swing a refundable deposit, get a no-fee secured card instead, the Discover it Secured or Capital One Platinum Secured build credit the same way, charge no annual fee, and give your deposit back when you upgrade.
Milestone is not a scam, but it is an expensive way to do something you can do for free. Reach for a secured card first.
Frequently asked questions
Best-card guides featuring this card
Offer details verified against issuer sources as of July 2026. Editorial opinions are our own. Cardocrat values all points at a flat 1 cent and never inflates redemptions.
