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Mr. Loonie

Comparing 2 cards

Amex Cobalt vs Amex Gold Rewards

At typical spending, Amex Gold Rewards is worth $234 more in year one, but Amex Cobalt is worth $781 more every year after.

Worked out from each card’s fees, earn rates and welcome offer. How we work it out

Your spending a month
What’s in each?
Light:
Groceries $400, restaurants $100, gas $100, recurring bills $100, everything else (base rate) $250, foreign currency $50
Typical:
Groceries $800, restaurants $250, gas $250, recurring bills $250, travel $150, everything else (base rate) $650, foreign currency $150
Big:
Groceries $1,200, restaurants $500, gas $400, recurring bills $400, travel $500, everything else (base rate) $1,600, foreign currency $400

American Express

American Express Cobalt™

Remove Amex Cobalt

American Express

American Express® Gold Rewards Card

Remove Amex Gold Rewards
What it’s worth to you
Better: $1,651
Year one · The full offer.
Better: Every year after $1,396

Points counted at 1.7 cents each, our value for American Express Membership Rewards. Why we value Amex Cobalt this way

Better: $1,885
Year one · The full offer.
Better: Every year after $615

Points counted at 1.7 cents each, our value for American Express Membership Rewards. Why we value Amex Gold Rewards this way

Apply now with American Express (opens in a new tab)
Apply now with American Express (opens in a new tab)
We may earn a fee when you apply through these links. It never changes the numbers.

Lower is better here.

Annual fee
Better: $191.88
$250$0 in year one
Extra card For a partner or family member
Better: $0
$50 a year
Foreign currency fee On purchases in another currency
2.5%
2.5%
Interest on purchases
21.99%
21.99%
Interest on cash advances
21.99%
21.99%
Cash advance fee
$2.75
$2.75
Late payment fee
$0
$0
Source
americanexpress.comChecked Nov 8, 2026
americanexpress.comChecked Nov 8, 2026

Typical spending, $2,500 a month. Bigger is better.

Groceries $9,600 a year
Better: $816 5 points per $1
Better: $326 2 points per $1
Restaurants $3,000 a year
Better: $255 5 points per $1
Better: $51 1 point per $1 (base rate)
Gas $3,000 a year
Better: $102 2 points per $1
Better: $102 2 points per $1
Recurring bills $3,000 a year
Better: $51 1 point per $1 (base rate)
Better: $51 1 point per $1 (base rate)
Travel $1,800 a year
Better: $31 1 point per $1 (base rate)
Better: $61 2 points per $1
Everything else (base rate) $7,800 a year
Better: $133 1 point per $1
Better: $133 1 point per $1
Foreign currency $1,800 a year
Better: $31 1 point per $1 (base rate)
Better: $31 1 point per $1 (base rate)
Total earned Before fees and the welcome offer
Better: $1,418
Better: $755
Foreign currency fee On the budget’s foreign spending. * Fee not listed, counted at the usual rate
Better: $45
Better: $45
Perks you’d use Lounge visits and cover, at what they cost on their own
Better: $215
Better: $155
Limits
Restaurants: Up to $2,500 in spending per month (shared with other categories). Groceries: Up to $2,500 in spending per month (shared with other categories). Food delivery: Up to $2,500 in spending per month (shared with other categories). Streaming: Up to $30,000 in spending per year
None listed
Source
americanexpress.comChecked Nov 8, 2026
americanexpress.comChecked Nov 8, 2026

Counted at your spending, not the advertised maximum.

What you’d get
Better: $255The full offer.
Better: $1,020The full offer.
Advertised
Up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points.
Up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points.
Source
americanexpress.comChecked Nov 8, 2026
americanexpress.comChecked Nov 8, 2026

Car rental damage
Included
Included
Extended warranty
Included
Included
Purchase protection
Included
Included
Travel accident
Included
Included
Travel medical
Up to $5,000,000
Up to $5,000,000
Flight delay
Included
Included
Baggage delay
Included
Included
Hotel burglary
Included
Included
Lost baggage
Included
Included
Mobile device
Up to $1,000
Not listed
Trip cancellation
Not listed
Included
Trip interruption
Not listed
Included
Mobile wallets
Apple Pay
Apple Pay

Personal income Minimum the bank lists
None listed
None listed
Network
American Express
American Express
Expert Score From critic reviews, shown, not ranked
Expert Score 8.9 out of 10. Excellent
Expert Score 7.8 out of 10. Good

More comparisons with these cards

Pairs our editors picked. Numbers are year one at typical spending.

Mr. Loonie’s tip Look at every year after before year one. A big welcome offer pays once; the earn rates pay every month you keep the card.

Questions

How do you work out year one?

We add what each card earns at your spending, plus the part of the welcome offer you’d get, then take off the first year’s annual fee. Every year after leaves out the offer and uses the regular fee.

Can I compare more than two cards?

Yes, up to four. Tap Add a card above the table, or + Compare on any card page.

Do banks pay to appear here?

No. You pick the cards and the math decides the numbers. We may earn a fee when you apply through some links. That never changes a number.

Year one adds what each card earns at the spending you picked, plus the part of the welcome offer that spending reaches, then takes off the first year’s fee. Every year after leaves out the offer and uses the regular fee. Points are counted at the value shown under each card.

Sources, checked by us:

Rates, fees and offers come from the card issuers and change often. We work to keep this page accurate and current, but it may contain mistakes, so always check the issuer’s terms before you apply. Values are estimates for the spending you picked, rounded to the nearest dollar.

Spot something wrong? We’ll check it with the bank. Suggest a correction

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