Amex welcome bonuses are some of the best available for new credit card applicants, currently with values as high as $1,200. If you’re in the market for a new American Express credit card, you have no shortage of valuable offers to choose from.
Here, we've listed the top Amex welcome bonuses alongside their cards and important details. Because while these offers are valuable, they're not the only factor to consider when choosing a new credit card.
Key Takeaways
- The American Express Gold Rewards card gives you the best welcome bonus of 60,000 points.
- Read your card’s terms carefully to meet the welcome bonus conditions.
- In some cases, a similar credit card may have a better welcome bonus.
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Summary of current Amex welcome offers
Amex offers change regularly, but here’s what it's currently offering.
One thing to note about Amex credit cards is that they don't have any first-year free offers. You'll have to pay the annual fee up front to get the welcome bonus for these cards unless you select the no-fee card.
| Amex Credit Card | Current Welcome Offer | Annual fee | Rewards | Top Competitor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Cobalt® Card |  $100 GeniusCash + Up to 15,000 bonus points (terms) | $191.88 | * 5 points per $1 spent on eligible groceries and restaurants (up to $2,500 spent per month) * 3 points per $1 spent on eligible streaming services * 2 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit, and ride share purchases * 1 point per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases | BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card |
| American Express® Gold Rewards Card | Up to 60,000 bonus points (terms) | $250 | * 2 points for every $1 spent on gas, groceries, drugstores, and travel * 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases | CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card |
| SimplyCash® Card from American Express | 5% cash back for the first 3 months (terms) | $0 | * 2% cash back on gas * 2% cash back on groceries (up to $300 cash back annually) * 1.25% cash back on all other purchases | BMO CashBack® Mastercard®* |
| SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express | 10% cash back for the first 3 months + $50 (terms) | $119.88 | * 4% cash back on gas and groceries * 2% cash back on all other purchases | BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* |
| Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card | 50,000 bonus points (terms) | $120 | * 5 points per $1 spent at Marriott properties * 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases | TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card |
| American Express® Aeroplan®* Card | Up to 40,000 bonus points (terms) | $120 | * 2 points per $1 spent on Air Canada * 1.5 points per $1 spent on restaurants * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases | TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card |
| American Express® Green Card | 10,000 bonus points (terms) | $0 | * 1 point per $1 spent on all purchases | MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard® |
Best credit card in Canada
×8 Award winner 
GC: $100
8x Award winner One of the hottest welcome offers running right now (especially in the flexible rewards category) is the American Express Cobalt® Card.
It's got a two-part welcome bonus that's worth up to 15,000 American Express Membership Rewards points after spending $750 every month for the first year. Transfer your points to Aeroplan, and the bonus is worth up to $300.
Or redeem for any travel charged to your card, and it's worth $150. For flexible rewards, this Amex credit card is unparalleled.
Top alternative offer: Another top offer right now in the flex rewards category is the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card. You can earn up to 70,000 BMO Rewards points, which are worth $469 in travel booked through BMO Rewards.
A card for perks and rewards
One of the best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada, the American Express® Gold Rewards Card offers a valuable yet simple signup bonus.
Earn 60,000 Amex Membership Rewards points after spending $1,000 every month for the first year. Transfer those points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio, where each point is worth 2 cents, and it's worth up to $1,200.
And since it's actually earning Amex rewards and not Aeroplan points, these points are worth $1,050 when redeemed through the Flexible Rewards travel program, or $600 on any travel charged to the card.
Top alternative offer: As an Aeroplan-branded card, CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card has its own terrific welcome bonus to consider.
A no-fee, cash back credit card
Switching gears to cash back, let's start with Amex's no-fee offering – the SimplyCash® Card from American Express.
You'll earn 5% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,000 in spend.
Top alternative offer: The BMO CashBack® Mastercard®* has an even better sounding offer – 5% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,500 in spend. But this includes what you would already earn.
Its true value is up to $150, depending on your spending breakdown. A little better, but not as impressive as it sounds.
The best cash back credit card offer
Amex's premium cash back credit card offer is the best going right now – the SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express.
You'll earn 10% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,000 in spend. Plus, earn $50 when you make a purchase on month 13.
This welcome bonus is unmatched by any other cash back credit card.
Top alternative offer: The next best cash back credit card offer is with the BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®*. You'll earn up to $480 cash back in the first 12 months. This card also gives the first year free, saving you another $120.
Plenty of free hotel nights
Looking for a quick getaway? The
You can earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points with a new Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card. It all depends on the category of hotel you book and the dates of your stay, but these points are equivalent to several free nights.
And, if you keep the card long term, every year on your anniversary, you'll receive a free night voucher that can be used for a stay worth up to 35,000 points.
Top alternative offer: This is the only credit card that directly earns hotel points, so there really isn't a direct alternative. As a flexible rewards card, the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card is probably the closest you'll get, with a welcome offer of 50,000 TD Rewards Points.
The best Amex Aeroplan branded credit card
Amex is also an issuer of Aeroplan branded credit cards. And the
First, you can earn up to 40,000 Aeroplan points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months and spending $1,000 in month 13.
Those 40,000 points are worth $800 in flights.
Top alternative offer: The
A no-fee travel credit card offer
Amex’s no-fee travel credit card, the American Express® Green Card earns 10,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months.
Redeemed against travel purchases made to the card, and the bonus is worth $200. Simple and straightforward.
Top alternative offer: For no-fee travel rewards, the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard® has a top offer for a no-fee credit card. You can earn up to 10,000 bonus points after spending $500 in the first 90 days and signing up for paperless e-statements.
What are Amex Membership Rewards?
All American Express credit cards give you access to the Amex Membership Rewards program. Every swipe of your Amex card earns you points that unlock everything from dream vacations to statement credits.
The program also gives you access to exclusive events and discounts on travel or experiences.
The number of points you earn depends on your specific Amex card and its unique earn rates. You can also buy Amex points online or over the phone, which can be helpful when you want to make large redemptions with your rewards.
You have several redemption options, but to get the most value out of your Amex points, you’ll want to transfer them to a travel partner, like Aeroplan or British Airways. Using Amex’s Fixed Points Travel Program is another high-value option where you can redeem your points for flights and other types of travel.
In addition to these redemption options, you can also select:
- Cash back
- Gift cards
- Merchandise
FAQ
What credit cards have the best Amex welcome bonuses?
The American Express Gold Rewards Card offers an impressive welcome bonus of up 60,000 points, worth up to $1,200. The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card offers an excellent $485 points bonus, worth several free nights at various hotels.
What is the highest Amex welcome offer?
Again, that honour goes to the American Express Gold Rewards Card, which allows you to earn up to 60,000 bonus points, worth $1,200 after you transfer them to Aeroplan (which has a 1:1 transfer ratio).
Can you tell me how to get a 150k welcome bonus from Amex?
Unfortunately, no Amex card offers a 150,000-point bonus. The best you’ll get is up to 60,000 points from the American Express Gold Rewards Card. If you’re hoping for 150,000 points, you'll need to open several new cards.
How much are 500,000 Amex points worth?
For the highest value, transfer your 500,000 Amex points to Aeroplan rewards – they’re worth $10,000! However, be sure to avoid cashing them out for merchandise, which only nets you $3,400 in value.
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