Comparison: American Express Cobalt Card vs American Express Gold Rewards Card

Updated Jun 13, 2025
Fact checked by
Alexandrine Bertrand
Alexandrine Bertrand Alexandrine Bertrand
An avid solo traveller, Alexandrine is an expert on loyalty programmes such as Aeroplan, Avios, AIR MILES, Flying Blue and Marriott Bonvoy. With a budget-conscious approach, she helps travellers make the most of their points and miles to experience affordable, off-the-beaten-path getaways. She also shares a love of gastronomy and enjoys exploring local flavours and culinary traditions.
All posts by Alexandrine Bertrand
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Comparatif: Carte Cobalt American Express vs Carte Or avec Primes American Express
To the point Here is our detailed comparison of American Express Cobalt® Card and American Express® Gold Rewards Card.

American Express Canada offers several cards, but two stand out for their popularity:

Welcome bonus for American Express cards in Canada

The welcome bonus offered by each of these cards varies according to the promotions.

Here’s how the current offer is structured:

With this welcome offer, you can earn up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points, spread over the first 12 months of card ownership.

  • 1,250 Membership Rewards points after $750 in purchases, each month (monthly statement period)

With this welcome offer for American Express® Gold Rewards Card you can earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points:

  • 5,000 Membership Rewards points for each monthly statement period in which you charge $1,000 in net purchases to your card (12 months X 5,000 points), for a total of 60,000 Membership Rewards points.
  • 30,000 additional points after you’ve charged a total of $20,000 to your Card in your first 12 months of membership
  • 20,000 Membership Rewards points when you make a purchase between the 15th and 17th month of membership
Advantage: Gold Rewards card but...

Because it gives more privilege points, the American Express® Gold Rewards Card is the winner.

The American Express Cobalt® Card gives you fewer points, but also requires less monthly spending. However, our tip is to make the most of your 5X points accumulation at restaurants and grocery stores.

In fact, by combining the welcome bonus (15,000 Membership Rewards points) from the American Express Cobalt® Card with a $750 purchase at 5X points, another 45,000 Membership Rewards points are added (1,250 points X 12 months), for a total of 60,000 Membership Rewards points.

As a result, 60,000 Membership Rewards points will have been accumulated with $9,000 in expenses for the American Express Cobalt® Cardcompared with $12,000 for the American Express® Gold Rewards Card.

What income do you need for an Amex card

The American Express Cobalt® Card requires no minimum income.

The American Express® Gold Rewards Card requires no minimum income.

Draw

This one’s easy!

Like the vast majority of American Express credit cards, these two credit cards do not require a minimum personal income.

Annual fee for these 2 American Express cards

The American Express Cobalt® Card has a monthly fee of $12.99 (or $155.88 per year). The annual fee is $150 for Quebec residents.

Holding the American Express® Gold Rewards Card has a fee of $250, charged once a year.

Advantage: Cobalt card but...

On paper, the cost of American Express Cobalt® Card costs less than American Express® Gold Rewards Card.

But the American Express® Gold Rewards Card has an advantage that the American Express Cobalt® Card doesn’t: a $100 annual travel credit.

This brings the net annual fee for the American Express® Gold Rewards Card to $150, compared with $155 for the American Express Cobalt® Card.

Membership Rewards Points earning

The American Express Cobalt® Card and the American Express® Gold Rewards Card each offer several levels of point accumulation.

The American Express Cobalt® Card gives :

  • 5 X points on restaurant purchases, drinks (bars and bistros), groceries and food delivery services (Uber Eats, SkipTheDishes, etc.)
  • 3 X points on streaming services in Canada (Apple TV+, Apple Music, Crave, Disney+, Netflix, RDS, Spotify, etc.)
  • 2 X points on transportation purchases (gas, public transit, cabs, ridesharing, etc.)
  • 1 X points for everything else

For its part, the American Express® Gold Rewards Card you get :

  • 2 X points on travel purchases (plane tickets, hotels, car rentals, cruises, trains, etc.)
  • 2 X points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores and pharmacies
  • 1 X points on the rest
Advantage: Cobalt card

For its 5 X points on daily purchases at grocery stores, restaurants and food services, the American Express Cobalt® Card clearly wins this round. By the way, our favorite trick is to buy gift cards at the grocery store at 5X the points, to take advantage of this great accumulation.

The accumulation of these 5X points has a maximum purchase of $2,500 per month and a maximum of $30,000 per year. So, from a $2,501 purchase at 5X points, the accumulation decreases to 1 X.

On the other hand, if major purchases have to be made at the pharmacy, the American Express® Gold Rewards Card is the winner in its category.

Using Amex points

Both American Express cards earn Membership Rewards points, and the redemption process is similar. On this point, the American Express Cobalt® Card and the American Express® Gold Rewards Card have no difference and are both winners!

This points program is the most flexible in Canada, allowing :

Other Amex benefits (lounge access, Priority Pass, travel, etc.)

With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you benefit from the following advantages:

  • Mobile Device Insurance
  • Book with The Hotel Collection for upgrades and credits at unique hotels

With the American Express® Gold Rewards Card you benefit from the following advantages:

  • $100 annual travel credit on American Express Online Travel Services (similar to the $200 annual credit on the American Express Platinum Card)
  • 4 free admissions to Plaza Premium airport lounges in Canada per year
  • Statement credit $50 NEXUS membership fee
  • Free subscription to Priority Pass (after that, admission is charged)
  • Special benefits (upgrade and free additional driver) for car rental at Hertz
  • Book with The Hotel Collection for upgrades and credits at unique hotels
  • The American Express® Gold Rewards Card is made of metal
  • And you can decide the color of your card! Do you prefer it in Gold or Rose Gold?
Advantage: Gold card with rewards

The American Express® Gold Rewards Card is designed for travelers.

The American Express Cobalt® Card is more a card for everyday purchases, without.

Promotional Offers

The American Express Cobalt® Card and the American Express® Gold Rewards Card both have promotional offers.

American Express regularly offers savings to its cardholders. They are given on the basis of purchases from targeted retailers and according to each person’s purchasing profile:

  • a discount (“Spend $100 or more and get a $30 credit”)
  • bonus points (“Spend $50 and earn 1,000 bonus points”)
  • a higher accumulation rate (“Earn 4 points per dollar, up to 4,000 bonus points”)

There is no difference between the two cards. You may get certain offers on one card and not on the other, and vice versa.

Travel insurance and other insurance

after 4 hours

Insurance cobalt card american express gold rewards card
Trip Cancellation Insurance up to $1,500
Trip interruption insurance up to $1,500
Out-of-Province/Country Emergency Medical Insurance Up to $5,000,000
15 days
Up to $5,000,000
15 days
Flight delay insurance Up to $500 Up to $500
after 4 hours
Misdirected Baggage Insurance Up to $500
after 6 hours
Up to $500
after 6 hours
Baggage loss or theft insurance up to $500 up to $500
Hotel burglary insurance up to $500 up to $500
Rental car theft and damage insurance up to $85,000 up to $85,000
Travel accident insurance 250 000 $ 500 000 $
Purchase Protection 1 additional year 1 additional year
Purchase Guarantee Up to $1,000
90 days
Up to $1,000
90 days
Standby medical concierge service
Mobile Device Insurance Up to $1,000
Advantage: Gold card with rewards

For travellers, the American Express® Gold Rewards Card is the best card for insurance purposes. The American Express Cobalt® Card unfortunately does not offer trip cancellation and interruption insurance.

However, the American Express Cobalt® Card offers an interesting insurance policy for mobile devices.

Amex Cobalt vs Amex Gold card comparison

So? Which Card is the winner?

For people who travel from time to time: the American Express® Gold Rewards Card with its travel benefits and insurance!

For everyday shopping, the American Express Cobalt® Card is the best.

There’s no reason why you can’t have both, for a good combination.

The American Express Cobalt® Card stands out thanks to:

  • Its unbeatable 5 X points accumulation rate in grocery stores, restaurants and bars
  • To its mobile device insurance

The American ExpressMD Gold Rewards Card stands out on:

  • $100 annual travel credit
  • Travel insurance
  • Travel benefits (NEXUS credit, 4 free admissions per year to Plaza Premium airport lounges in Canada)
  • Its beautiful Rose Gold card!

Is Amex Cobalt or Amex Gold the best card?

For everyday purchases, the ® Gold Rewards Card” href=”https://milesopedia.com/en/go/amex-gold-rewards-card/” rel=”noindex”>American Express® Gold Rewards Card With its access to airport lounges in Canada and advantageous travel insurance, it’s the ideal choice for those who travel a few times a year.

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
Caroline Tremblay
Caroline Tremblay
Caroline, a loyalty program specialist, helps families maximize their points to travel more frequently and affordably. With expertise in Disney, AIR MILES, and Costco, she travels the world with her partner and two children through rewards. Passionate about the latest in loyalty programs, Caroline shares tips to help you earn more points and turn your travel dreams into reality.
All posts by Caroline Tremblay
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