Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card vs Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card: Which one is better?

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
4.9

Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
4
Welcome Bonus*
Earn up to 50,000 bonus Scene+TM points†◊ and pay no annual fee in your first year.◊ Earn 30,000 bonus Scene+TM points by making at least $2,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. You are eligible to earn an additional 20,000 Scene+TM point bonus when you spend at least $7,500 in everyday eligible purchases in your first year.
Welcome Bonus*
In the first 2 months, get a bonus 10% cash back up to $100. During your first 30 days, transfer balances up to your credit limit and pay an interest rate of only 1.95% on the transferred balance for 6 months (22.95% after that). A Balance Transfer fee of 1% on the amount transferred will apply.11
Our Cash Offer
$100 $150 Cash Rebate offer from FinlyWealth
Promotional rebate expires on Jul 31, 2025
Our Cash Offer
$50 $120 Cash Rebate offer from FinlyWealth
Promotional rebate expires on Jul 31, 2025
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$644.5
Scene+
First Year Bonus Value
+
$500
Scene+
Annual Fee
-
$120
$0
First Year Waived
Finly Rebate
Exclusive Offer
First Year Value
$1,294.5
$524.5 in years after
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$278.6
First Year Bonus Value
+
$100
Annual Fee
-
$0
Finly Rebate
Exclusive Offer
First Year Value
$498.6
$278.6 in years after
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending and assuming you have a Tangerine Savings account. Calculate your rewards.
How to Earn Rewards*
- Earn 6x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more*
- Earn 5x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on dining, food delivery and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.*
- Earn 5x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend in Canada eligible entertainment purposes. Includes movies, theatre and ticket agencies stores.*
- Earn 3x Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible gas and daily transit options. Includes rideshares, buses, subway, taxis and more*
- Earn 3x Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible select streaming services*
- Plus earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
- Earn additional benefits + up to 4x Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia
How to Earn Rewards*
- 2% on the choice of two categories chosen from the 10 offered by Tangerine (Grocery, Restaurants, Gas, Entertainment, Furniture, Hotel-Motel, Drug Store, Reoccurring Bill Payments, Home Improvement, Public Transportation and Parking).
- Have your cash back Reward deposited in a Tangerine Savings Account and get a third 2% Money-Back Category.
- 0.5% cashback on all other credit card purchases.
Insurance Included*
Extended Warranty
Up to 1 yearPurchase Protection
90 daysLost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1000/tripBaggage Delay
$500/person, $1,000/trip After 4 hoursCar Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 daysTravel Accident
$500K/person, $1M/occurrenceMobile Device Insurance
$1,000Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1000/occurrenceEmergency Out of province Medical
$1M, Up to 25 daysEmergency Medical Over 65
$1M, Up to 3 daysTrip Cancellation
$1500/person, $10000/tripTrip Interruption
$1500/person, $10,000/tripFlight Delay
$500/person
Insurance Included*
Extended Warranty
Up to a yearPurchase Protection
90 days
Extra Benefits*
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Avoid the 2.5% foreign transaction fees incurred when spending in non $CADConcierge Services
Discount
Discount on PriorityPass MembershipAmerican Express® Experiences
Extra Benefits*
N/A
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
20.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
20.95%2
Cash Advance:
22.95%2
Balance Transfer:
22.95%2
Annual Fee*
$120
$0$
First Year Waived
Annual Fee*
$0
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
$12,000
Min Household Income:
$12,000
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Loyalty Program*
Loyalty Program*
N/A
Point Redemption Options*
Entertainment
1¢ / pointTravel
1¢ / pointGroceries (Sobeys)
1¢ / pointRestaurants
1¢ / pointMerchandise
0.76¢ / pointGift Cards
0.74¢ / pointStatement Credits (Cash)
0.7¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Not Applicable
Is this card worth it?
The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card is one of our favorite cards. It has a very solid rewards program, earning one of the highest rewards among all credit cards in Canada. In addition, it offers comprehensive travel benefits, including the rare and valuable no foreign transaction fee benefit, making it a great and balanced credit card in terms of both rewards and benefits. The first-year annual fee waiver is the cherry on top, providing even greater value to cardholders.
Is this card worth it?
While we think Tangerine isn't the best single credit card to own, it's still a valuable card to have in your arsenal for maximizing your rewards. It offers one of the highest cashback rates for pharmacy and recurring bill payments, areas where your other credit cards might not provide significant rewards. This card only requires a Fair credit score, making it an excellent choice for people who don't have a high credit score yet.
Pros
- No foreign transaction fee saves you 2.5% on all non-CAD purchases.
- Rewards cover all high-spending categories, including food, groceries, entertainment, and gas.
- Comprehensive coverage of all travel insurance.
Pros
- Allows you to change the categories, and you get a 2% reward depending on how your spending is changing every 90 days.
- 2% cashback on recurring Transactions and pharmacy purchases. One of the highest cashback rates on these categories among credit cards in Canada.
- Has cashback on Furniture and Home Improvement categories. Two categories that are not covered by any other card in Canada.
- Easy credit score requirements needed for this card.
- Overall, it is a good no-annual-fee cashback credit card, especially if you have a Tangerine Savings account.
Cons
- The card network is American Express, which might not be widely accepted in some countries, making it a bit harder to use the no foreign transaction fee benefit.
- Having a lounge pass would have made this card even more perfect, but there is access to a discount code for lounge access pass purchases.
Cons
- Insurance coverage is the most basic.
- Very low cashback rate on the other categories not selected.


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