Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard® vs American Express Gold Rewards Card®: Which one is better?

Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
4.8

American Express Gold Rewards Card®
4.5
Welcome Bonus*
N/A
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.
Our Cash Offer
$50 Cash Rebate offer from FinlyWealth
Our Cash Offer
N/A
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$720
First Year Bonus Value
+
$0
Annual Fee
-
$0
Finly Rebate
+
$50Exclusive Offer
First Year Value
$770
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending and assuming you have an eligible Rogers, Fido or Shaw service as the primary or level 1 authorized user. Calculate your rewards.
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.
How to Earn Rewards*
- Earn 3% unlimited cash back on all eligible purchases made in U.S. dollars.^
- Earn 2% unlimited cash back on all eligible non-U.S. dollar purchases if you have 1 qualifying service with Rogers, Fido or Shaw.^
- Otherwise earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on eligible non-U.S. dollar purchases.^
- Get 1.5 times more cash back every time you redeem for Rogers, Fido or Shaw purchases.^
- 5 Roam Like Home days at no cost with an eligible Rogers mobile plan ever year (up to $80 value).^
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
Insurance Included*
Car Rental Damage & Theft
31 days, $65,000 car MSRPExtended Warranty
1 yearPurchase Protection
90 daysEmergency Out of province Medical
$1M, Up to 10 daysTrip Cancellation
$1,000/person, $5,000 maximumTrip Interruption
$1,000/person, $5,000 maximumEmergency Medical Over 65
$1M, Up to 3 days
Insurance Included*
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yesExtended Warranty
Up to 1 yearPurchase Protection
90 daysEmergency Out of province Medical
15 daysTrip Cancellation
$1,500 per person, $3,000 combinedTrip Interruption
$1,500 per person, $6,000 combinedLost or Stolen Baggage
$500Baggage Delay
$500Travel Accident
$500,000Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500Flight Delay
$500
Extra Benefits*
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Pass only, complimentary visits not includedNo Cost roaming
5 days
Extra Benefits*
American Express® Experiences
Status lift
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® loyalty programExtra points
Earn 2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases and extra points on American Express offersTravel Credit
$100Nexus Program Rebate
$50 statement credit every 4 yearsComplimentary Hotel Benefits
Hotels booked American Express TravelAirport Lounge - Priority Pass
Pass only. No Complimentary visits!Airport Lounge - Plaza Premium
4 Free complimentary visits
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
20.99% - 25.99%1
Cash Advance:
22.99% - 27.99%1
Balance Transfer:
22.99% - 27.99%1
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%2
Cash Advance:
21.99%2
Annual Fee*
$0
Annual Fee*
$250
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
$80,000
Min Household Income:
$150,000
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Loyalty Program*
N/A
Loyalty Program*
Point Redemption Options*
Not Applicable
Point Redemption Options*
Most Optimal
Transfer to Airline Partners
2.1¢ / pointFixed Point Travel Program
1.66¢ / pointTransfer to Hotel Partners
1.66¢ / pointStatement Credits (Cash)
1¢ / pointGift Cards
0.91¢ / pointAmazon.ca
0.7¢ / pointMerchandise
0.63¢ / point
Is this card worth it?
This card is one of the best in Canada, especially if you are a Rogers, Fido, or Shaw customer. With those services, you can effectively get a 3% cashback rate, which is higher than what almost any other card offers, even those with annual fees! Additionally, for a no-fee card, you gain access to an extensive list of travel benefits, many of which are typically offered only with cards that have annual fees. Therefore, we recommend this card to anyone who meets the income requirements, even if you are not a Rogers customer!
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.
Pros
- Voted the Best Cash Back Card in Canada for Rogers, Fido and Shaw customers by FinlyWealth.
- Voted the Best No Annual Fee Credit Card in Canada by FinlyWealth.
- There is no annual fee which is a notable benefit for a card with such high rewards. Most cards with slightly lower reward rates typically include yearly fees.
- Many favorable benefits for travelers.
- Many benefits, such as trip cancellation insurance, are only available on credit cards with an annual fee. It is rare to see these benefits on a no-annual-fee card!
- Offers the flexibility to redeem cash towards Rogers, Shaw, or Fido services, potentially increasing your rewards.
- The roam-like benefit is a benefit unique only to this card.
- It is accepted at nearly all locations as it's a Mastercard.
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.
Cons
- Harder to qualify due to the high credit score and income requirements.
- Out of all possible travel insurances, this card is missing Baggage delay and Hotel Burglary insurance. If these two insurances are essential to someone, this card needs to be paired with another travel card to cover them.
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.


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