Amex Gold Rewards vs Scotiabank Gold Amex: Which Wins?
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The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card costs $120 a year and earns up to 6 Scene+ points per dollar on groceries; the American Express® Gold Rewards Card costs $250 and opens four airport lounge visits a year. Scotiabank and American Express each issue a gold card, the names are nearly identical, and the two suit very different people.
They share almost the same name, but their features differ. Here is what each one earns, and who it suits.
- Annual fee
- $120
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$500Total$500Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $500
- Welcome offerAfter $7,500 in 12 months
- Up to 50,000 points
- Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now
on Scotiabank's website
- Annual fee
- $250
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,020Total$1,020Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,020
- Welcome offerAfter $12,000 in 12 months
- Up to 60,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
We compare them on the points that actually decide the choice:
- the welcome offer
- how you earn points
- how you redeem points
- the annual fee
- the income required
- the insurance
- the benefits
| Feature | American Express Gold Rewards Card | Scotiabank Gold American Express Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $250, or $150 net with the $100 travel credit | $120, rebated with the Scotiabank Ultimate Package |
| Minimum income | None | $12,000 personal income |
| Groceries | 2 points per dollar | 6 points at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, FreshCo and partner banners, 5 points elsewhere |
| Dining and food delivery | 1 point per dollar | 5 points per dollar |
| Gas | 2 points per dollar | 3 points per dollar |
| Travel | 2 points per dollar, 3 on hotels and car rentals booked through American Express Travel Online | 1 point per dollar, up to 4 through Scene+ Travel |
| Other purchases | 1 point per dollar | 1 point per dollar |
| Point value | 1,000 points = $10 on any purchase | 10,000 points = $100 on travel |
| Transfers to other programs | Yes, 8 partners, including Aeroplan at 1:1 | No |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.5% | None |
| Airport lounges | 4 free Plaza Premium visits a year in Canada, plus Priority Pass membership (paid visits) | Priority Pass membership, each visit is paid |
| Emergency medical, age 64 and under | $5,000,000, 15 days | $1,000,000, 25 days |
| Emergency medical, age 65 and over | No coverage | $1,000,000, 3 days |
| Mobile device insurance | No | Up to $1,000 |
| Additional card | First one free, then $50 | $29 |
| Annual credits | $100 travel, up to $120 Instacart until December 31, 2027, $50 NEXUS every 4 years | Up to 12¢/L in value at Shell |
Welcome Offer
The welcome offer on each card moves with the promotions in market. A few differences between the two hold steady.
With the current welcome offer on the American Express® Gold Rewards Card, you can earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points:
- 5,000 Membership Rewards points for every monthly statement period in which you charge $1,000 in net purchases to the card, for 12 months, for a total of 60,000 Membership Rewards points
That is worth up to $600.
You also choose the finish when you apply: Gold or Rose Gold.
With the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card, you can earn up to 50,000 Scene+ points:
- 30,000 points after $2,000 in purchases in the first three months
- 20,000 points after $7,500 in purchases in the first year
That is worth up to $500.
Advantage: American Express Gold Rewards Card
On gross value, the American Express Gold Rewards Card leads: up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points, worth $600 toward travel or against any purchase charged to the card.
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card asks for less: $7,500 in purchases over the first year brings 50,000 Scene+ points, worth $500.
One rewards a steady spending rhythm over twelve months; the other pays out faster.
Earning Points
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card and the American Express Gold Rewards Card each earn on their own tiers.
The Earn Tiers
With the American Express Gold Rewards Card, you earn:
- 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar (2%) on travel purchases
- 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar (2%) on gas, groceries and drugstore purchases in Canada
- 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar (1%) on everything else
- 1 additional point per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through American Express Travel Online
With the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, you earn 6 Scene+ points per dollar at:
- IGA
- Rachelle Béry
- Les Marchés Tradition
- Voilà by IGA, Safeway and Sobeys
- Sobeys and Safeway
- Foodland and Thrifty Foods
- FreshCo and Chalo! FreshCo
Then you earn:
- 5 Scene+ points per dollar (5%) on groceries, food delivery, food subscriptions, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues
- 3 Scene+ points per dollar (3%) on local transit, gas stations and streaming services
- Up to 4 Scene+ points per dollar on travel booked through Scene+ Travel: 1 base point, plus 3 more on hotels and car rentals
- 1 Scene+ point per dollar (1%) everywhere else
Advantage: Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
On groceries, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card wins clearly.
It earns 6 points per dollar at Empire banners (IGA, Sobeys, Foodland, Safeway, FreshCo and the other partner stores), against 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar on the American Express Gold Rewards Card.
Everywhere else in groceries and at restaurants, it still earns 5 points per dollar.
Redeeming Points
The two cards sit in different programs, and the points do not redeem the same way.
Membership Rewards points and travel
You can put them toward travel three ways, at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 in credit:
- Redeem them directly when you book through American Express Travel Services
- Book the trip yourself, then use your points to pay down the card balance
The third way is transferring them to a partner program. American Express Canada has eight, and the rate depends on the program: 1,000 Membership Rewards points give 1,000 Aeroplan points, 1,000 British Airways Avios, 1,000 Flying Blue miles or 1,000 Hilton Honors points; they give 1,200 Marriott Bonvoy points, but only 750 Asia Miles with Cathay Pacific, 750 Delta SkyMiles or 500 ALL Accor points.
Membership Rewards points also cover everyday purchases of any kind, at 1,000 points for a $10 credit on the card balance.
They also buy merchandise and gift cards on the American Express site.
Scene+ points and travel
You can put them toward travel two ways, at a fixed rate of 10,000 points = $100 in credit:
- Redeem them directly when you book through Scene+ Travel, powered by Expedia
- Book the trip yourself, then use your points to pay down the card balance
Scene+ points also apply to everyday purchases.
You can use 1,000 Scene+ points for $10 off at the register at IGA and Sobeys.
They also buy gift cards on the Scotiabank and Scene+ site, from 1,000 to 1,400 points for $10.
Scene+ points also redeem for:
- 500 points for $5 off at participating restaurants (Harvey's, Swiss Chalet and others)
- 100 points for $1 off movie tickets at Cineplex
- 500 points for $5 off food and drinks at Cineplex and The Rec Room, and on game play at Playdium
- 3,000 points or more for an account credit of $6.67 to $8 against any purchase charged to the card
Advantage: American Express Gold Rewards Card
Membership Rewards points spend more ways: a credit against any purchase, a booking through American Express Travel Services, or a transfer to one of eight partner programs. Scene+ points apply mostly to travel, to groceries at Sobeys and IGA, and to nights out at the movies or a restaurant.
Annual Fee
The American Express Gold Rewards Card has a $250 annual fee.
If you use its $100 annual travel credit, your real cost drops to $150.
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card has a $120 annual fee, charged on the first statement and at each annual renewal.
A Scotiabank chequing account changes that: the Ultimate Package carries an ongoing annual rebate of up to $150 on select credit cards, which covers the $120 fee on the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card in full. The Preferred Package rebates $40 a year.
Advantage: Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
$120 against $250: the gap on the annual fee is wide.
With the Ultimate Package, that fee disappears entirely, which no banking package does for the American Express Gold Rewards Card.
Income Required
The American Express Gold Rewards Card asks for no minimum personal income.
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card asks for a minimum credit limit of $5,000 and a personal income of at least $12,000 a year.
Advantage: American Express Gold Rewards Card
The American Express Gold Rewards Card has no minimum income requirement at all: you need to be a Canadian resident with a Canadian credit file, at the age of majority in your province.
The bar on the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is low as well.
That is typical of American Express cards, which are not demanding on this point.
Insurance
The American Express Gold Rewards Card carries several coverages. You will find its certificate of insurance here:
| Coverage | Amount |
|---|---|
| Travel emergency medical | $5,000,000 per person, 15 days, age 64 and under |
| Travel emergency medical, 65 and over | No coverage |
| Delayed or lost baggage | Up to $500 per trip |
| Flight delay | Up to $500 per person |
| Trip cancellation, interruption or delay | Up to $1,500 per coverage |
| Car rental | Up to 48 days, vehicle worth $85,000 or less |
| Hotel or motel burglary | Up to $500 |
| Public transport accident | Up to $500,000 per person |
| Purchase protection | 90 days |
| Mobile devices | No coverage |
| Extended warranty | Doubles the warranty, up to one extra year |
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card carries its own coverages, and you will find its certificate of insurance here:
| Coverage | Amount |
|---|---|
| Travel emergency medical | $1,000,000 per person, 25 days, age 64 and under |
| Travel emergency medical, 65 and over | $1,000,000, 3 days |
| Delayed or lost baggage | Up to $1,000 |
| Flight delay | Up to $500 |
| Trip cancellation, interruption or delay | Up to $1,500 per coverage |
| Car rental | Up to 48 days, vehicle worth $65,000 or less |
| Hotel or motel burglary | Up to $1,000 |
| Public transport accident | Up to $500,000 per person |
| Purchase protection | 90 days |
| Mobile devices | Up to $1,000 |
| Extended warranty | Doubles the warranty, up to one extra year |
Advantage: Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
Several amounts on the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card sit a notch above its rival, on baggage and on hotel theft. Note that at least 75% of the trip cost must be charged to that card for some of its coverages to apply.
The Scotiabank card is also the only one of the two that covers mobile devices, up to $1,000.
On the American Express Gold Rewards Card, the full trip cost must be charged to the card, and its emergency medical coverage is the higher of the two: $5,000,000 per insured person, per trip, against $1,000,000.
After 65, the gap reverses: the American Express Gold Rewards Card no longer covers emergency medical care, while the Scotiabank card still covers the first 3 days of a trip. Read both certificates against your own situation before you choose.
Benefits
The American Express Gold Rewards Card offers:
- A $100 annual travel credit, good for one booking of $100 or more through American Express Travel Online
- Four complimentary visits per calendar year to Plaza Premium Lounges in Canada; entry fees apply after that
- Priority Pass membership included, with more than 1,200 lounges worldwide: enrollment is required and entry fees apply
- A $50 statement credit toward a NEXUS application or renewal fee, once every 4 years
- Up to $120 in Instacart statement credits over 12 months, until December 31, 2027
- The Hotel Collection: a $100 USD hotel credit and a one-category room upgrade on stays of two consecutive nights or more
- Hertz Gold Plus Rewards: one car class upgrade on rentals of 5 days or more, and one additional driver at no charge
- Promotional offers as statement credits at several merchants
- Amex presales and experiences for concerts, theatre and restaurants
- A 13g stainless steel card, in your choice of Gold or Rose Gold
- First supplementary card free, then $50 per card
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card offers:
- No foreign transaction fees on purchases made in a foreign currency
- Up to 12¢/L in value at Shell, with a Shell Go+ account linked to the card
- Priority Pass membership included, with each visit charged
- Promotional offers as statement credits at several merchants
- Double Scene+ points when you show your Scene+ membership card at partner merchants
- Amex presales and experiences for concerts, theatre and restaurants
- Concierge service
- Supplementary card at $29
Advantage: American Express Gold Rewards Card
Both cards aim their benefits at travel, but at different moments of your trip.
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card avoids the 2.5% foreign transaction fee and is worth up to 12¢/L at Shell.
The American Express Gold Rewards Card opens four Plaza Premium lounge visits a year, a $100 annual travel credit, $50 toward NEXUS and up to $120 in Instacart credits.
Conclusion
So which card wins this one?
| Profile | American Express Gold Rewards Card | Scotiabank Gold American Express Card |
|---|---|---|
| Family: $800 of groceries a month at Sobeys or IGA, $300 on dining, $200 on gas, $700 on other purchases | $810 in year 1, then $210 a year | $1,292 in year 1, then $792 a year |
| Traveller: $500 of travel a month, $400 on dining, $300 of groceries outside partner banners, $200 on gas, $600 on other purchases | $810 in year 1, then $210 a year | $1,004 in year 1, then $504 a year |
If your grocery budget is large, choose the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card.
It stands out for:
- A solid welcome offer, and an annual fee a Scotiabank chequing account can erase
- Its travel insurance, which still covers something after 65
- Its 5 to 6 Scene+ points per dollar on groceries
- Its lower annual fee
For all the details of the current offer, see our full review of the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card offer.
- Annual fee
- $120
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$500Total$500Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $500
- Welcome offerAfter $7,500 in 12 months
- Up to 50,000 points
- Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now
on Scotiabank's website
The American Express® Gold Rewards Card suits people who travel often, for:
- Its 4 complimentary Plaza Premium lounge visits in Canada
- The size of its welcome offer
- The flexibility of Membership Rewards points, which redeem several ways
- Having no minimum income requirement
- Its $100 annual travel credit
- Annual fee
- $250
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,020Total$1,020Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,020
- Welcome offerAfter $12,000 in 12 months
- Up to 60,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
What are the annual fees on these two cards?
The American Express Gold Rewards Card costs $250 a year and includes a $100 annual travel credit, which brings the real cost down to $150 if you use it. The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card costs $120. With a Scotiabank Ultimate Package chequing account, an ongoing annual rebate of up to $150 erases that fee, and the Preferred Package rebates $40.
Which card earns more on groceries?
The Scotiabank card, by a wide margin. It earns 6 Scene+ points per dollar at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo and the other partner banners, and 5 points per dollar at other grocery stores. The American Express Gold Rewards Card earns 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar. On $1,000 of groceries a month at a partner store, the gap is worth about $480 a year.
Where can Membership Rewards points be transferred?
American Express Canada has eight partners. For 1,000 Membership Rewards points you get 1,000 Aeroplan points, 1,000 British Airways Avios, 1,000 Flying Blue miles or 1,000 Hilton Honors points. Marriott Bonvoy gives 1,200 points, while Cathay Pacific and Delta SkyMiles give 750 units each, and ALL Accor gives 500. Scene+ points do not transfer: they apply directly against a purchase, at 10,000 points for $100.
Which card gets you into airport lounges?
The American Express Gold Rewards Card includes four complimentary visits per calendar year to Plaza Premium Lounges in Canada; entry fees apply after that. Both cards include a Priority Pass membership with no complimentary visits, so each visit is charged. For included visits on the Scotiabank side, you need the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card at $399, which gives 10 a year.
What income do you need to qualify?
The American Express Gold Rewards Card has no minimum income requirement: you need to be a Canadian resident with a Canadian credit file, at the age of majority in your province. The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card asks for a personal income of at least $12,000 a year and a minimum credit limit of $5,000.
What does the insurance cover after 65?
This is the sharpest difference for a traveller aged 65 or over. The American Express Gold Rewards Card no longer covers emergency medical care past 64. The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card still covers up to $1,000,000, but only for the first 3 days of the trip, against 25 days before 65.
Which card is better for purchases in a foreign currency?
The Scotiabank card, which charges no foreign transaction fee. The American Express Gold Rewards Card charges 2.5% on purchases made in a foreign currency, like most Canadian cards.
Can you hold both cards?
Yes. The two cards come from different issuers and their welcome offers are independent. The points sit in two separate programs, Scene+ on one side and Membership Rewards on the other, and they do not combine.
For your next Hilton stay, see the Hilton Honors American Express® Card available in Canada and the terms of its current offer.