[2019.10 Update] Today Barclays announced changes to the benefits on the Uber card: cash back will be converted to Uber Cash, the earn rate on Uber purchases will increase, and the earn rates on dining and online shopping will be reduced. In my view, this card has basically become nothing special. The application link has already been updated with the new benefits, and according to the email, these changes will take effect in February 2020.

The specific changes are as follows:

  • This card will now earn only Uber Cash: previously this card earned regular cash back, but now it earns Uber Cash, which can only be used on Uber or Uber Eats. In my view, if you do not use Uber much, or if you live in a rural area, there is no reason to keep this card anymore.
  • The 4% cash back on dining will be reduced to 3%, Uber earnings will increase from 2% to 5%, and the 2% cash back on online shopping will be eliminated.
  • The $50 subscription credit after spending $5,000 will be discontinued.
  • Roadside dispatch will be added.
  • FAQ about the changes

Barclays Uber Credit Card Review

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Full review

Barclays Uber Credit Card

4% cash back on dining, 3% on travel; no annual fee!

  • Welcome bonus: $100 cash back (spend $500 in three months)
  • Rewards: 4% on dining + Uber Eats, 3% on airfare and hotels, 2% on online shopping + Uber, 1% on all other purchases
  • Redemption: Cash back
  • Annual fee: $0
  • Apply now>>

Highlights

  • Solid cash back structure: The bonus categories cover most travel-related spending, making this card especially suitable for people who prefer cash back and have significant travel expenses.
  • $50 annual credit: If you spend more than $5,000 on this card each year, you can get a $50 subscription credit, which is effectively an extra 1% back on the first $5,000 of spending.
  • Cell phone protection: If you pay your monthly cell phone bill with this card, you can be reimbursed up to $600 for cell phone repairs.
  • Free monthly FICO score: You can keep track of your credit score. See also: Comparison of free credit scores

My Take

This is a cash back card with a pretty good rewards structure and is one that could be worth keeping long term. Especially for people who do not like dealing with points and prefer straightforward cash back, this card covers many aspects of travel spending, and it also offers a solid 2% return on online shopping. As for the $50 subscription credit, I am not sure what kinds of subscriptions qualify, but if it can be used for purchases like Amazon Prime, it would be even more useful.

In addition, the NewYork Times mentioned that this card may add transfer partners. Later, the VFTWb blogger also received confirmation from Barclays that in 2018 they might add a points transfer feature to this card or to another credit card from the bank. If points transfers really become possible, then a no-annual-fee card with 4x on dining would be incredibly competitive. Personally, I do not think this is very likely, because adding transfer partners comes with costs, and most cards that allow points transfers have annual fees.

Application

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