Best Credit Card for Outbrain in 2026
Outbrain is classified under MCC 7311 (Advertising Services). The best card for Outbrain purchases is the Business Gold ($375/yr annual fee), earning 4x on advertising services — an effective return of 8.00%.
Advertising services like Outbrain (MCC 7311) can rack up serious rewards if you choose the right credit card. Business Gold cards often offer a juicy 4x points on these expenses, making them a no-brainer for advertisers.
To maximize rewards, pre-load your Outbrain expenses for the quarter and pay them in one go with your Business Gold to capture all those points.
Outbrain purchases are classified under MCC 7311 (Advertising Services).
MCC Details for Outbrain
Best Credit Cards for Outbrain (2026)
How Outbrain Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at Outbrain in the app or online, your card issuer sees MCC 7311 in the transaction data. This code tells your bank that the purchase was made at a advertising services merchant. Bonus reward rates on your card apply based on this MCC — not the merchant name itself.
If your card earns bonus points on "advertising services" purchases, Outbrain transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Outbrain specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Outbrain 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 7311 qualifies for bonus rewards.
Bonus Category Match — Outbrain
About MCC 7311: Advertising Services
Merchant Category Code 7311 is assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to classify businesses in the Advertising Services industry. Issuers use MCCs to determine which transactions qualify for bonus reward rates. When a merchant is assigned MCC 7311, all qualifying card programs that include advertising services as a bonus category will apply the elevated earn rate.
The Professional 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 Advertising Services merchants: Amazon Advertising, Criteo, Google Ads.
What You Could Earn at Outbrain
Spending $200/month at Outbrain with the Business Gold (4x on advertising services) earns approximately $96/year in rewards. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending. After the $375 annual fee, that is $-279 more per year.