American Express Gold Rewards Card® vs RBC ION+ Visa: Which one is better?
American Express Gold Rewards Card®
4.5
RBC ION+ Visa
4.2
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*
Get up to $125 in groceries(1). Apply by September 9, 2025. Get 14,000 Avion points upon approval – that’s up to $100 of value in gift cards(1). Get 3,125 Moi points upon linking to your Moi Rewards card – a value of $25(1)
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$598.87
American Express Membership Rewards
First Year Bonus Value
+
$1,890
American Express Membership Rewards
Annual Fee
-
$250
First Year Value
$2,238.87
$348.87 in years after
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$425.98
RBC Avion Premium
First Year Bonus Value
+
$140
RBC Avion Premium
Annual Fee
-
$48
First Year Value
$517.98
$377.98 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 3X Avion points for every $1 spent on groceries, dining, gas, food delivery, rideshare, streaming services and more2
- Earn 1X Avion point for every $1 spent on all other qualifying purchases2
Insurance Included*
Extended Warranty
Up to 1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Baggage Delay
$500.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Travel Accident
$500,000
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500
Emergency Out of province Medical
15 days
Trip Cancellation
$1,500 per person, $3,000 combined
Trip Interruption
$1,500 per person, $6,000 combinedFlight Delay
$500
Insurance Included*
Extended Warranty
Up to a yearPurchase Protection
90 days
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Extra Benefits*
Extra points
Earn 2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases and extra points on American Express offers
American Express® Experiences
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Status lift
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® loyalty program.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*
Extra points
Earn 1 extra Moi point for every $2 spent at participating Moi Rewards stores (minimum purchase required)Extra points
50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall.svg)
Gas Discount
Save 3¢/L instantly at the pump and get 20% more Petro-Points and 20% more Avion points
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%1
Cash Advance:
21.99%1
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
20.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Annual Fee*
$250
Annual Fee*
$48
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Loyalty Program*
Loyalty Program*
Point Redemption Options*
Statement Credits (Cash)
1¢ / point
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
Amazon.ca
0.7¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Gift Cards
0.72¢ / pointMerchandise
0.7¢ / pointStatement Credits (Cash)
0.58¢ / pointMost Optimal
Transfer to WestJet
1¢ / point
Financial Products
0.83¢ / pointTravel
0.58¢ / 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?
This card is not by any means one of our favorite cards. For an annual fee it offers almost no notable benefits, with many no annual fee credit cards offering much more. The points earned are fine, but given the inflexibility of ION Avion points, it's very hard to get good value for the points earned, and it's much easier to earn more and do the same with some other credit card reward programs.
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
- Save on fuel at Petro-Canada locations, with an overall 7 cents per litre value
- Great welcome bonus offer
- 3x points per $1 spent on high spend categories
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
- The ION Avion membership isn't quite as flexible as regular Avion
- Insurance coverage is very limited
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