Is the Jasper Cash Back Mastercard worth it?

The Jasper Cash Back Mastercard®* is a rewards credit card that offers cardholders the potential to get up to 6% back on their purchases by referring friends.

Jasper’s qualification requirements are different from many other credit cards. The company prides itself on being friendly to borrowers with limited credit histories, self-employed individuals, and those new to the U.S.

Wondering whether the Jasper Cash Back Mastercard is right for you? Keep reading to learn about its rewards and benefits and whether it’s worth it for you.

Unique rewards potential and easy cash back

The Jasper cash back program is different from most credit cards you’ll come across. Cash back credit cards offer a certain percentage of cash back on your purchases. These cards often have flat cash back rates, bonus categories in which you can earn higher rewards or rotating rewards that offer higher cash back for a different bonus category each quarter.

But the rewards rate on the Jasper card is based on your referrals. First, everyone with a Jasper card earns at least 1% cash back. Then you’ll earn an additional percent for each friend you refer for an entire year after the referral, up to a total of 6%.

No matter what your cash back rate is, you’ll earn your rewards on your spending. Rewards apply to almost all charges. You won’t earn rewards on a few types of transactions, though, including balance transfers, cash advances and lottery tickets.

Once you’ve earned your rewards and have at least three months of on-time payments, you’ll receive your cash back as a statement credit at the end of each month. These statement credits reduce the amount you owe on your bill. Unfortunately, you don’t have the option of redeeming your cash back any other way, but they have the benefit of being automatically applied to your statement, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to redeem them.

It’s important to note that only Jasper accounts in good standing can receive cash back rewards. If you are past due on your bill, you won’t receive your cash back until you make your minimum payment.

Decent benefits

In addition to its cash back rewards, the Jasper Cash Back Mastercard offers several other benefits. First, this card doesn’t charge an annual fee. So as long as you pay off your balance each month to avoid interest, it won’t cost you anything.

The Jasper card also comes with several travel perks, some of which you would expect from a premium credit card. Cardholders receive trip cancellation insurance, lost luggage coverage and travel accident insurance that includes baggage delay. Card membership also comes with a collision damage waiver, which covers damage or theft to any rental vehicle you pay for with your Jasper card.

In addition to travel perks, cardholders receive purchase protection and a satisfaction guarantee for all purchases they make with their Jasper card. You can also get protection for your cellphone in case it’s damaged or stolen.

Finally, Jasper offers tools and services to help you keep your identity, personal data and finances safe, including:

• ID theft protection
• Online monitoring dashboard
• Monthly risk alert
• Identity monitoring
• Resolution services
• Credit bureau monitoring
• Lost wallet assistance
• Financial account monitoring

Should you sign up for the Jasper Cash Back card?

Because of the way Jasper qualifies its customers, there are certain people for whom the Jasper card would be a good fit. First, because Jasper doesn’t rely only on your credit history as some card issuers do, it may be a suitable option for those with poor credit or limited credit history. If you’ve struggled to qualify for other credit cards, you may qualify for the Jasper card instead.

The card is also well-suited to certain other types of borrowers. For example, the Jasper card is available to those without W-2 income, meaning self-employed individuals can qualify. Jasper also accepts applicants who are in the process of moving to the U.S. before they’ve actually moved – or even had their Visa stamped.

Jasper’s unique cash back reward structure may also appeal to some consumers who think they’ll be able to refer enough people to maximize their cash back. The card’s normal 1% cash back rate is lower than many other cash back cards on the market. But the 6% cash back you can earn by referring five friends is more than you’ll find with most other cards. It might be worth it for those who can take advantage of this unusual perk.

All of that being said, if you don’t plan to take advantage of the unique rewards structure Jasper offers and don’t need a card tailored to borrowers new to the U.S., then the Jasper Cash Back Mastercard doesn’t really stand out among other rewards credit cards. Individuals with good credit are likely able to qualify for a credit card with flat-rate rewards one-and-a-half or two times higher than Jasper’s.

Because of the automatic rewards redemption, this card also may not be right if you’re saving rewards for a big purchase or a trip. Despite its handful of travel perks, Jasper doesn’t allow you to use your rewards for travel the way some other rewards credit cards do. Instead, you can only use your cash back as a statement credit to reduce your credit card bill.

Bottom line

While the Jasper Cash Back Mastercard is a decent card that offers high rewards potential for highly social cardholders, it won’t be the best fit for everyone.

*All information about the Jasper Cash Back Mastercard has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer. The Jasper Cash Back Mastercard is no longer available through CreditCards.com.