Barclays AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard review
A strong pick if you spend a lot on drugstores, where it's among the top three of the 106 cards we track.
- Updated October 17, 2026
- $0 annual fee
- Earns Cash back
- 106 cards compared
Who it suits
Barclays AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard
- #3 of 106 for drugstores: $3.00 back on $100 (3%).
- No annual fee, so it earns from the first dollar.
Rates change, so verify them with the issuer before you apply.
See if it beats your cards on drugstoresWhere it earns the most
What it earns on a $100 purchase in each category, and where that places it among the 106 cards we track.
| Category | On $100 | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Dining | $1.00 1% | #102 of 106 |
| Groceries | $1.00 1% | #94 of 106 |
| Gas | $3.00 3% | #9 of 106 |
| Travel | $1.00 1% | #84 of 106 |
| Airfare | $1.00 1% | #84 of 106 |
| Hotels | $1.00 1% | #84 of 106 |
| Transit | $1.00 1% | #88 of 106 |
| Streaming | $1.00 1% | #87 of 106 |
| Drugstores | $3.00 3% | #3 of 106 |
| Online shopping | $1.00 1% | #80 of 106 |
| Wholesale clubs | $1.00 1% | #79 of 106 |
| Everything else | $1.00 1% | #78 of 106 |