X Money promised 3%. Here's what it actually pays today.
A dated, sourced log of every change to X Money's cash-back and APY terms, side by side with the flat-rate cards that never moved the goalposts. 8 of the 12 changes we've logged so far made the deal worse for you.
X Money terms at a glance
Excluded from cash back
27 MCCs + no-MCC (utilities, Costco-type clubs, insurance, colleges, rent, taxes...)
Source · checked 2026-10-18
3% only applies if you're on a paid X plan or bring $1,000+ in payroll-type direct deposits every 34 days. Everyone else gets 1%. X's terms also say cash back "may be capped" and the rate is applied "in our sole discretion". Full history →
Latest changes
- Cash back worse for you verified (date window only)
3% becomes 'up to 3%'; non-subscribers drop to 1% unless they direct deposit $1,000+
- Fees worse for you verified (date window only)
ATM fee reimbursement capped for non-subscribers; metal card now $25
- APY neutral
Rate sheet reissued for 'The X Subscription' tiers; APY numbers unchanged
- APY worse for you
New York accounts drop to 0.00% APY
Is it still worth it?
Advertised base rates. X Money's real rate depends on your tier and how much of your spending falls in excluded categories. Run your own numbers.
| Card / account | Rate | Annual fee | Key caveats | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X Money (X Card debit) Debit card + 4%/6% APY account | 1% base / up to 3% | $0 account fee; X subscription optional | 27 excluded MCCs + no-MCC; 1% unless paid plan or $1k+ DD every 34 days; "may be capped" | X terms |
| Robinhood Gold Card Credit card (Visa) | 3% on all categories | $0 Annual Robinhood Gold subscription, $50/yr (no 30-day free trial for cardholders) | Requires active annual Robinhood Gold ($50/yr); cancelling Gold closes the card; 'Exclusions may apply' (we did not verify the excluded categories) | Issuer page checked 2026-10-18 |
| Citi Double Cash Card Credit card (Mastercard) | 2% (1% when you buy + 1% as you pay) | $0 | Second 1% earned only as you pay the balance; Earned as ThankYou Points | Issuer page checked 2026-10-18 |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Credit card (Visa Signature) | Unlimited 2% cash rewards | $0 | Welcome offer: $100 after $500 in purchases in first 3 months (not modeled); 3% foreign transaction fee | Issuer page checked 2026-10-18 |
| Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Credit card (Visa Signature) | Unlimited 2% when deposited to an eligible Fidelity account | $0 Eligible Fidelity account to get the 2% value | 2% only when points are redeemed into an eligible Fidelity account; other redemptions are worth less; No foreign transaction fee | Issuer page checked 2026-10-18 |
| SoFi Unlimited 2% Credit Card Credit card | 2 points per $1 (2% when redeemed into SoFi accounts at 1 cent/point) | Not verified Redeem into SoFi accounts for the 1 cent/point value | 2% assumes redeeming points into SoFi accounts or SoFi Travel at 1 cent/point; Annual fee not verified from the issuer page we fetched | Issuer page checked 2026-10-18 |
| PayPal Cashback Mastercard Credit card (Mastercard) | 3% at PayPal checkout, 1.5% everywhere else | $0 | 3% only when you check out with PayPal and choose this card; 1.5% on all other purchases | Issuer page checked 2026-10-18 |
| Apple Card Credit card (Mastercard) | 2% with Apple Pay, 1% with the physical card, 3% at Apple | $0 | Calculator assumes every purchase is made with Apple Pay (2%); physical card or card number earns 1%; 3% at Apple and select merchants | Issuer page checked 2026-10-18 |
| Capital One Quicksilver Credit card | Unlimited 1.5% cash back | $0 | $200 bonus after $500 in 3 months (not modeled); 5% on Capital One Travel/Entertainment bookings (not modeled) | Issuer page checked 2026-10-18 |