Choice Privileges MastercardChoice Privileges Mastercard
Issued by Wells Fargo
Reviewed by the CardCurator Editorial Team
Before you apply
Use this quick check so you click out only when the offer and fee structure really fit.
- Best fit: strongest ongoing earning is 5x on Choice Hotels® properties19 plus on Choice Privileges point purchases.
- Bonus hurdle: spend $1,000 in 3 months.
- Annual fee: No annual fee.
- Offer status: Offer is at or near the best public bonus we have tracked.
- Who should skip: people chasing premium perks, lounge access, or outsized transfer-partner upside.
- What happens next: you will leave CardCurator for the issuer or partner application page in a new tab.
Confirm current issuer terms and approval rules before you submit an application.
Earning Categories
Current Welcome Bonus
Year 1 net value: +$600 (bonus − annual fee)
Maximize Your Choice Privileges Points
Expert tips to get the most value from this program
Program Overview
Choice Privileges is the loyalty program for Choice Hotels International, covering brands including Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Clarion, EconoLodge, Rodeway Inn, Sleep Inn, MainStay Suites, Suburban Studios, WoodSpring Suites, Everhome Suites, and Ascend Collection. Choice has over 7,000 properties primarily in the US, Canada, and Europe. Key strengths: large budget/midscale hotel footprint makes it useful for road trips and domestic travel; fixed-rate award nights at many properties (Category 1–9); transfers accepted from Citi ThankYou at 1:2 ratio (1 TY point = 2 Choice points); Comfort Inn/Suites are excellent value for budget road trips. Key weaknesses: mostly budget and midscale properties; limited luxury inventory; TPG values points at only 0.6¢ each (February 2026); redemption value rarely exceeds 1¢/point. Best for: budget-conscious road travelers and those who stay frequently at Comfort Inn or similar properties. Not a premium hotel program.
Earning Tips
Choice Privileges Mastercard (Wells Fargo): - 5x at Choice Hotels properties - 3x on groceries, gas, home improvement, and phone plans - 1x everywhere else Points also earn through Choice stays (10 points per dollar) and Choice's shopping and dining portals. Key: Citi ThankYou's 1:2 transfer ratio makes Choice a useful destination for surplus TY points when targeting specific properties.
Redemption Tips
Choice Privileges redemptions use a fixed category chart (Categories 1–9) with some properties on dynamic pricing. Best value: - Category 1–3 properties: 6,000–10,000 points/night for budget properties that can cost $80–$120/night cash (target 1¢+/point) - Extended stay brands (MainStay, Suburban) often available at lower category rates Avoid high-category redemptions where cash rates are equivalent to the points cost at 0.5¢/point. Points expire after 18 months of inactivity.
Transfer Strategy
Inbound transfers: - Citi ThankYou Points: 1:2 (1 TY → 2 Choice points) — good ratio for high-value fixed-rate properties - Wells Fargo Rewards: 1:2 When to transfer: - Only for fixed-rate properties where the cash cost is high relative to the points cost - Category 1–3 properties can offer strong value on Choice's fixed chart
Choice Privileges Program
Based on 10,000 points transferred
Compare This Card
See how the Choice Privileges Mastercard stacks up against other cards side by side — fees, bonuses, earn rates, and more.
Approval Insights
Recent community application data for this card. Issuers make the final decision, but this gives you a public read on how similar applicants have been doing lately.
How to use this
- Use the approval summary as a signal, not a guarantee.
- Combine it with issuer rules like 5/24, Amex lifetime language, and velocity limits.
- Open the full approval page to see recent datapoints, profile bands, and notes.
Most card pages stop at a generic credit-score range. CardCurator layers real community submissions on top of card detail, rewards value, and application strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the annual fee for the Choice Privileges Mastercard?
- The Choice Privileges Mastercard has no annual fee.
- What is the best category to use the Choice Privileges Mastercard for?
- The Choice Privileges Mastercard earns 5x on Choice Hotels® properties19 plus on Choice Privileges point purchases, making it the strongest earning category for this card.
- What is the Choice Privileges Mastercard welcome bonus in 2026?
- The Choice Privileges Mastercard currently offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months.
- Does the Choice Privileges Mastercard charge foreign transaction fees?
- Yes, the Choice Privileges Mastercard charges a 3% foreign transaction fee on purchases made outside the United States.
- How much are Choice Privileges points worth?
- Choice Privileges points are worth approximately 0.60¢ per point on average, with premium redemptions reaching up to 1.00¢ per point. Values based on industry estimates including The Points Guy and NerdWallet.
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