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Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card vs American Express Schwab Investor Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card comes from Alliant at $0/yr; the American Express Schwab Investor Card from American Express at $0/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
These cards are close on the fundamentals (similar bonus value, similar fee). The right pick depends on which category you spend the most in and which transfer partners best fit your travel goals.
| Feature | Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card | American Express Schwab Investor Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | No welcome bonus | 10,000 Membership Rewards points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $0 | $110 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $0 in 0 mo | $1,000 in 6 mo |
| Issuer | Alliant | American Express |
| Card category | cashback | travel |
| Best earning category (All_purchases) | 1.5x | 1.5x |
| Transfer partners | None | amex-mr |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card
$0/yr · No welcome bonus
Read the full review
American Express Schwab Investor Card
$0/yr · 10,000 Membership Rewards points
Editorial take: American Express Schwab Investor Card
The hidden gem of the Amex MR lineup for Schwab brokerage customers. Flat 1.5X MR with $0 annual fee, full transfer-partner access, AND a 1.0 cents-per-point cash-into-brokerage redemption guarantees you can always extract real cash. The catch: you need a Schwab brokerage account to apply.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card or American Express Schwab Investor Card?
- The American Express Schwab Investor Card has the bigger bonus, 10,000 Membership Rewards points, worth roughly $110, 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 Schwab Investor Card?
- The Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card has no annual fee, so the question is whether the American Express Schwab Investor Card's $0 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the American Express Schwab Investor Card's benefits to clear $0 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 Schwab Investor 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 Schwab Investor 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 Schwab Investor Card: $1,000 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.