Old Navy credit card review: Only for brand mega-fans
Navyist Rewards Mastercard overview
The Navyist Rewards Mastercard is a decent option for fans of clothing retailer Old Navy. The card features no annual fee and earns bonus rewards at Old Navy, Gap, Athleta and other sister brands. However, it offers minimal benefits and mediocre earning rates outside these brands. Card rating*: ⭐⭐½ stars
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Fans of Old Navy may consider getting the Navyist Rewards credit card for its brand-specific elevated earning rates and benefits. The Navyist Rewards card was made specifically for shoppers who frequently purchase from Old Navy and its sister brands:
- Gap
- Athleta
- Banana Republic
- Gap Factory
- Banana Republic Factory
The Navyist Rewards card has no annual fee and a recommended credit score of 690 or above, although having a score below this doesn't necessarily mean you'll be denied.
Let's dig into the card details so you can decide if it deserves a place in your wallet.
The information for the Navyist Rewards Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Navyist Rewards Mastercard pros and cons
Here's a quick glance at where the Navyist Rewards Mastercard offers solid value and where it misses the mark.
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Navyist Rewards Mastercard welcome offer
The Old Navy credit card offers new applicants a 30% discount on their first purchase with the card upon approval.
This can be tempting when you see the savings opportunity at checkout, but it's less impressive when you compare it to some cash-back cards that offer a $200 sign-up bonus. To get a better value than that from your Navyist Rewards offer, you would need to spend more than $600 on your first purchase.
Related: This month's best welcome offers
Navyist Rewards Mastercard benefits
We don't typically expect many benefits on no-annual-fee cards, and the Navyist Rewards is no exception. Many of the card's benefits are available to non-cardholders who sign up for Old Navy's rewards program.
Even without being a cardholder, members of Old Navy's rewards program earn 1 point per dollar spent at the family of brands; the points are worth 1 cent each. Rewards members also receive free, fast shipping on orders of $50 or more, exclusive offers and a birthday bonus.
In addition to earning bonus points on purchases in the Old Navy family of brands, cardholders can convert their expired Super Cash (Old Navy coupons) to rewards points within 30 days of the Super Cash expiration date. The value of expired Super Cash is minimal — usually only a couple of cents per "dollar" of Super Cash. You're better off using your Super Cash before it expires, but this option is a fringe benefit.
The Old Navy credit card also features fraud protection, meaning you're not responsible for any charges you didn't authorize.
Finally, cardholders with the highest status level get a choose-your-own sale day and free basic alterations on qualifying Banana Republic purchases.
But again, you can access many perks just by being an Old Navy rewards member, so the value of the cardholder benefits is truly minimal.
Earning rewards on the Navyist Rewards Mastercard
Traditionally, store credit cards were limited in their scope of use and were only valid at the stores that issued them (also known as closed-loop cards). Increasingly, however, cobranded store cards have upped their functionality and, for the most part, can be used anywhere credit cards are accepted. Such is the case with the Navyist Rewards card.
Being a Navyist Rewards cardholder means you have access to perks like elevated earning rates on specific purchases, including:
- 5 points per dollar spent at Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta
- 1 point per dollar spent on all purchases outside of Old Navy's family of brands
Cardholders can also unlock Family of Brands bonus points every year when they shop at two or more Old Navy sister brands. The breakdown for earning these bonus points looks like this:
- Earn 500 points when you shop at two sister brands.
- Earn 1,000 points when you shop at three sister brands.
- Earn 2,000 points when you shop at four sister brands.
Additionally, cardholders at the middle and highest rewards tiers receive a quarterly bonus after they make a qualifying purchase at any of Old Navy's family of brands: 250 points for the middle tier and 500 points for the highest tier.
If someone at the highest tier took full advantage of these bonus opportunities, they could get up to 4,000 bonus points each year — worth $40, since they can be redeemed for 1 cent apiece.
Redeeming rewards on the Navyist Rewards Mastercard
The points you earn on your Navyist Rewards Mastercard are worth 1 cent apiece and can only be redeemed toward purchases at Old Navy or its sister brands.
You can redeem earned points at checkout — whether you're making a purchase online or in-store at Old Navy or any of its sister brands. Redemptions begin at $1, and you cannot redeem more than $500 per transaction.
When I'm checking out in-store, I get prompted to enter my phone number — which is attached to my Old Navy account. The cashier lets me know how many rewards I've accrued and asks if I want to use them or save them for another time.
It's worth noting that the redemption system for the Navyist Rewards card is very limiting. If you're seeking more flexible redemption options, you'll get better value from one of our top picks for the best cash-back or travel credit cards.
Which cards compete with the Navyist Rewards Mastercard?
If you decide the Navyist Rewards card isn't the best fit for you but still want a rewards credit card, consider one of these top-rated TPG picks:
- If you want bonus rewards for online shopping: The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has no annual fee (see rates and fees) and earns 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%) and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%) and on U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%). Cash back is received as reward dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits. For more details, check out our full review of the Amex Blue Cash Everyday.
- If you want consistent cash-back rewards: The Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) has no annual fee and earns 2% cash back on every purchase — 1% when you make a purchase and another 1% when you pay it off. For more details, check out our full review of the Citi Double Cash.
- If you want travel rewards: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points you can redeem for travel, gift cards and more. For more details, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
For more options, check out our list of best starter credit cards and the best credit cards for online shopping.
Related: Why the Sapphire Preferred should be your next credit card
Is the Navyist Rewards Mastercard worth it?
Those who shop frequently at Old Navy, Gap, Athleta, Banana Republic, Gap Factory and Banana Republic Factory will get decent value from the Navyist Rewards Mastercard thanks to earning a set 5 points per dollar spent at this family of brands. However, most shoppers will do better with a different card with more valuable earning categories and benefits.
Bottom line
If you frequently shop at Old Navy — or any of its sister brands — then applying to become a Navyist cardholder can make sense. You can redeem earned points as cash discounts on future purchases and use your card in conjunction with Super Cash for maximum savings. However, most shoppers will get more value from simply signing up for Old Navy's rewards program and using a cash-back or travel rewards credit card.
Related: Store vs. cash-back credit cards
For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Cash Everyday, click here.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.