Best Credit Card for McDonald's in 2026
McDonald's is classified under MCC 5814 (Fast Food Restaurants). The best card for McDonald's purchases is the Ink Business Cash (no annual fee), earning 5x on fast food restaurants — an effective return of 10.25%.
Does McDonald's accept Mastercard? Yes — McDonald's accepts Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Discover at all locations, including in-store and mobile app payments.
Fast food restaurants like McDonald's are part of the dining rewards category, which is covered by travel and cash-back cards. This means you can earn significant points or cash back on your regular fast food purchases.
To maximize your rewards, load up your gift cards at McDonald's using a high-rebate portal for even more bonus points or cash back.
Spending Math
If you spend $200 a month at McDonald's, the Hilton Honors Aspire card with its 7x points earns you $168 a year, compared to just $24 from a basic 1% cash-back card. That’s a huge difference in rewards!
McDonald's purchases are classified under MCC 5814 (Fast Food Restaurants).
MCC Details for McDonald's
Best Credit Cards for McDonald's (2026)
How McDonald's Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at McDonald's at their locations, your card issuer sees MCC 5814 in the transaction data. This code tells your bank that the purchase was made at a fast food restaurants merchant. Bonus reward rates on your card apply based on this MCC — not the merchant name itself.
If your card earns bonus points on "fast food restaurants" purchases, McDonald's transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not McDonald's specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any McDonald's transaction by checking your card's mobile app or statement. Some issuers display the merchant category alongside the transaction details. For the most accurate information, contact your card issuer's customer service and ask whether MCC 5814 qualifies for bonus rewards.
Bonus Category Match — McDonald's
About MCC 5814: Fast Food Restaurants
Merchant Category Code 5814 is assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to classify businesses in the Fast Food Restaurants industry. Issuers use MCCs to determine which transactions qualify for bonus reward rates. When a merchant is assigned MCC 5814, all qualifying card programs that include fast food restaurants as a bonus category will apply the elevated earn rate.
The Dining industry group encompasses several related MCCs. Not all merchants in a similar business will share the same MCC — for example, a grocery store inside a warehouse club may code as wholesale ({"5300"}) rather than grocery ({"5411"}). Always verify with your issuer if you're unsure whether a specific merchant qualifies for bonus rewards on your card.
Other Fast Food Restaurants merchants: Arby's, Arby's - Albuquerque, Arby's - Anaheim.
What You Could Earn at McDonald's
Spending $200/month at McDonald's with the Ink Business Cash (5x on fast food restaurants) earns approximately $120/year in rewards. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending. That is $96 more per year with no annual fee.
Prefer no annual fee? The Custom Cash earns 5x at McDonald's merchants, earning $120/year with no annual fee.