American Express Gold Rewards Card® vs MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®: Which one is better?
American Express Gold Rewards Card®
4.5
MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
5
Welcome Bonus*
New American Express® Gold Rewards Cardmembers, earn 5,000 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $1,000 in net purchases on your Card. Earn an additional 30,000 points after you spend a total of $20,000 on your Card in your first 12 months of Cardmembership. Plus, earn 20,000 points when you make a purchase between months 15 and 17 of Cardmembership. Offer ends August 18, 2025. This could add up to 110,000 points in a year. That’s up to $1,100 towards your next vacation.
Welcome Bonus*
20,000 bonus points†† (approximately $165 in cash back value) after you make $2,000 or more in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening. 10,000 bonus points††(approximately $80 in cash back value) once enrolled for paperless e-statements within the first 90 days of account opening. This offer is not available for residents of Quebec.
Our Cash Offer
N/A
Our Cash Offer
$120 Cash Rebate offer from FinlyWealth
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$619.03
American Express Membership Rewards
First Year Bonus Value
+
$1,890
American Express Membership Rewards
Annual Fee
-
$250
First Year Value
$2,259.03
$369.03 in years after
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$657.62
MBNA Rewards
First Year Bonus Value
+
$300
MBNA Rewards
Annual Fee
-
$120
Finly Rebate
+
$120Exclusive Offer
First Year Value
$957.62
$537.62 in years after
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
How to Earn Rewards*
- 2x points per $1 spent on gas, groceries and drugstore purchases
- 2x points per $1 spent on travel (eligible flights, hotels, tours and more)
- 1x point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
How to Earn Rewards*
- Earn 5 points‡ for every $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases until $50,000 is spent annually in the applicable category.
- 1 point‡ for every $1 on all other eligible purchases.
- Each year, you will receive Birthday Bonus Points‡ equal to 10% of the total number of Points the Account earned in the 12 months before the month of the primary cardholder's birthday, to a maximum Birthday Bonus each year of 15,000 Points.
Insurance Included*
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Baggage Delay
$500.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Travel Accident
$500,000
Extended Warranty
Up to 1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Emergency Out of province Medical
15 daysFlight Delay
$500
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500
Trip Cancellation
$1,500 per person, $3,000 combined
Trip Interruption
$1,500 per person, $6,000 combined
Insurance Included*
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1000/personBaggage Delay
$1000/personCar Rental Damage & Theft
31 daysTravel Accident
$1,000,000Extended Warranty
Up to a yearPurchase Protection
Up to 90 daysEmergency Out of province Medical
$2M for 21 daysFlight Delay
$500/person after 4 hours
Mobile Device Insurance
$1000
Extra Benefits*
American Express® Experiences
.svg)
Status lift
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® loyalty program
Extra points
Earn 2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases and extra points on American Express offers.svg)
Travel Credit
$100
Nexus Program Rebate
$50 statement credit every 4 years
Complimentary Hotel Benefits
Hotels booked American Express Travel
Airport Lounge - Priority Pass
Pass only. No Complimentary visits!Airport Lounge - Plaza Premium
4 Free complimentary visits
Extra Benefits*
Price Protection
$500/item, $1000/account per year
Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationally
Trip and legal Assistance
Annual Birthday Bonus
10% of the Points earned the 12 months prior to the primary cardholder's birthday month (up to a max 15,000 bonus points per year).svg)
Concierge Services
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%1
Cash Advance:
21.99%1
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
19.99%
Cash Advance:
24.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Annual Fee*
$250
Annual Fee*
$120
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
$80,000
Min Household Income:
$150,000
Loyalty Program*
Loyalty Program*
Point Redemption Options*
Gift Cards
0.91¢ / point
Merchandise
0.63¢ / pointMost Optimal
Transfer to Airline Partners
2.1¢ / point
Fixed Point Travel Program
1.66¢ / pointTransfer to Hotel Partners
1.66¢ / point
Statement Credits (Cash)
1¢ / point
Amazon.ca
0.7¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Gift Cards
0.98¢ / pointMerchandise
0.8¢ / pointMost Optimal
Travel
1¢ / pointStatement Credits (Cash) - World Elite
0.82¢ / pointStatement Credits (Cash) - Platinum
0.5¢ / point
Is this card worth it?
The American Express® Gold Rewards Card is an excellent choice for travelers seeking an entry-level card that offers a strong balance of generous travel benefits without excessive costs. With a relatively low annual fee, this card provides flexibility and a range of perks that make it stand out among other options. It’s ideal for those who want to maximize their travel rewards without being tied to a specific airline or compromising on the benefits offered.
Is this card worth it?
The MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® is one of the best reward credit cards in Canada, offering high rewards on frequently spent categories such as groceries and restaurant purchases. The annual birthday bonus, unique to this card, also provides a significant boost to your yearly earnings. Additionally, the card features a comprehensive list of benefits, including price protection—a rare and valuable perk not found with many other cards in Canada. These factors make this card one of the best to have in Canada.
Pros
- Flexible Rewards: Enjoy flexible Membership Rewards point conversion with up to 2 points per $1 spent.
- Travel Perks: Includes $100 annual travel credit and 4 free passes to Plaza Premium lounges in Canada.
- Comprehensive Insurance: Comes with 11 types of insurance coverage.
- Multiple Redemption Options: Offers 4 ways to redeem points for maximum value.
Pros
- Both restaurants and groceries, two of the most commonly spent categories, earn the most rewards.
- Great annual birthday bonus with up to $150 in value.
- A solid list of travel insurance and benefits.
- Price protection, a rare feature not offered by many other cards.
- Good value for many of the card's redemption options.
Cons
- High Annual Fee: The card comes with a $250 annual fee.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: A 2.5% fee applies to foreign transactions.
- Limited Travel Insurance for Seniors: No travel medical insurance coverage for those over 65.
- Lower Acceptance: As an American Express card, it may have lower acceptance compared to Visa or Mastercard.
Cons
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, two great benefits are missing from this card.
- Not the best card for gas purchases.
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