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Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card vs American Express Gold Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card comes from Alliant at $0/yr; the American Express Gold Card from American Express at $325/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the American Express Gold Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($2,000 more in estimated value) than the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card's. Get the American Express Gold Card first; revisit the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card | American Express Gold Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $325 |
| Sign-up bonus | No welcome bonus | 100,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $0 | $2,000 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $0 in 0 mo | $8,000 in 6 mo |
| Issuer | Alliant | American Express |
| Card category | cashback | travel |
| Best earning category (All_purchases) | 1.5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | amex-mr |
| Headline benefits |
|
Read the full review
Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card
$0/yr · No welcome bonus
Read the full review
American Express Gold Card
$325/yr · 100,000 points
Editorial take: American Express Gold Card
The ultimate foodie card, earning bonus points at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. Plus over $400 in easy-to-use statement credits make the annual fee a no-brainer.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card or American Express Gold Card?
- The American Express Gold Card has the bigger bonus, 100,000 points, worth roughly $2,000, versus No welcome bonus (~$0) on the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card.
- Is the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the American Express Gold Card?
- The Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card has no annual fee, so the question is whether the American Express Gold Card's $325 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the American Express Gold Card's benefits to clear $325 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card.
- Can I have both the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card and American Express Gold Card?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Alliant and American Express) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card or the American Express Gold Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card: $0 spend in 0 months. American Express Gold Card: $8,000 in 6 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.