Side by Side Credit Cards Comparison
American Express Gold Rewards Card®VSPC World Elite Mastercard
Which one is better?

American Express Gold Rewards Card®
4.3
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

PC World Elite Mastercard
2.3
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*
Welcome Bonus
- Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points
- 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
Welcome Bonus
20,000 PC points ($20 value)
Rewards Breakdown
Rewards breakdown is not available for this card.
Rewards Breakdown
Rewards breakdown is not available for this card.
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
- 45 points per $1 dollar spent at Shoppers Drug Mart® stores
- 30 points per $1 dollar spent at Atlantic Superstore, Extra Foods, Fortinos, Loblaws, Maxi, Maxi & cie, no frills, Provigo, Real Canadian Superstore, SaveEasy, SuperValu, valu-mart, Your Independent Grocer, Zehrs
- 20 points per $1 spent in PC travel
- 19 points per $1 dollar spent at ESSO and Mobil (it's 30 points per liter and the assumption of average gas price of $1.6 was made)
- 10 points per $1 dollar spent for everything else
Insurance Included
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yesExtended Warranty
Up to 1 yearPurchase Protection
90 daysTravel Medical Insurance (64 & under)
15 daysLost or Stolen Baggage
$500Baggage Delay
$500Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$500,000Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500Trip Cancellation
$1,500 per person, $3,000 combinedTrip Interruption
$1,500 per person, $6,000 combinedFlight Delay
$500
Insurance Included
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Up to 31 daysExtended Warranty
Doubled up to a yearPurchase Protection
90 daysTravel Medical Insurance (64 & under)
$1M, Up to 10 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
Extra Benefits
Concierge Services
Identity Theft Assistance
Interest Rates
Purchase:
21.99%1
Cash Advance:
21.99%1
1 Subject to approval. The preferred rate for purchases is 21.99% and funds advances is 21.99%. If you have Missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99% and/or 29.99%. See the information box included with the application for the definition of Missed Payment and which rates apply to charges on your account and other details.
Interest Rates
Purchase:
21.99%
Cash Advance:
22.97%
Annual Fee
$250
Annual Fee
$0
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
Statement Credits (Cash)
1¢ / pointTransfer to Airline Partners
1.9¢ / pointFixed Point Travel Program
1.16¢ / pointTransfer to Hotel Partners
1.08¢ / pointFlexible Points Travel Program
1¢ / pointGift Cards
0.91¢ / point
Amazon.ca
0.7¢ / pointMerchandise
0.63¢ / point
Point Redemption Options
Statement Credits (Cash)
0.07¢ / pointGroceries
0.1¢ / pointGas (Esso)
0.1¢ / 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 is a great card to have in your arsenal if you frequently shop at Shoppers Drug Mart®, Loblaw's owned chains, and ESSO and Mobil gas stations, as you will earn significant rewards in these categories. The additional benefits, such as out-of-province medical insurance, car rental damage insurance, and concierge service, are impressive and typically only come with cards that have annual fees; however, you can access these benefits for free with this card. We do not recommend using this as your primary credit card but as a supplement to another primary card, especially because there are no fees. This is because the rewards on purchases outside the mentioned shops are very average, and many other cards offer much more substantial rewards for general use.
Pros
- Flexible rewards
- Travel perks
- Comprehensive insurance
- Multiple redemption options
- Instant decision. No credit impact.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Decent insurance
- Decent rewards
Cons
- High annual fee
- Foreign transaction fees
- Limited senior travel insurance
- Limited acceptance
Cons
- Limited rewards
- Income requirements
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Legal
*Terms and conditions apply.
Subject to approval. The preferred rate for purchases is 21.99% and funds advances is 21.99%. If you have Missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99% and/or 29.99%. See the information box included with the application for the definition of Missed Payment and which rates apply to charges on your account and other details.
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.