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Side-by-side

American Express Schwab Investor Card vs TAP Miles and Go American Express Card

Both are well-respected travel cards. The American Express Schwab Investor Card comes from American Express at $0/yr; the TAP Miles and Go American Express Card from Cardless at $79/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.

FeatureAmerican Express Schwab Investor CardTAP Miles and Go American Express Card
Annual fee$0$79
Sign-up bonus10,000 Membership Rewards points40,000 bonus miles
Bonus value (est.)$110-
Min spend to unlock bonus$1,000 in 6 mo$2,500 in 3 mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressCardless
Card categorytravelairline
Best earning category (All_purchases)1.5x1x
Transfer partnersamex-mrNone
Headline benefits
  • 1.5X MR on everything
  • $0 annual fee
  • 1.0c/pt Invest with Rewards
  • Full MR transfer partners
  • 3x miles on TAP purchases
  • 2 Lisbon lounge passes per year
  • Free extra checked bag
  • Star Alliance redemptions
Read the full review
American Express Schwab Investor Card
$0/yr · 10,000 Membership Rewards points
Read the full review
TAP Miles and Go American Express Card
$79/yr · 40,000 bonus miles

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.

Editorial take: TAP Miles and Go American Express Card

The only US co-branded card for a European Star Alliance carrier. Useful if you fly TAP to Lisbon or onward Europe several times a year, since the lounge passes, free extra bag, and Premium Boarding can each be worth more than the $79 annual fee on a single transatlantic trip.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Schwab Investor Card or TAP Miles and Go American Express Card?
The American Express Schwab Investor Card has a public bonus (10,000 Membership Rewards points, worth roughly $110), while the TAP Miles and Go American Express Card doesn't advertise one right now.
Is the American Express Schwab Investor Card's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the TAP Miles and Go American Express Card?
The American Express Schwab Investor Card has no annual fee, so the question is whether the TAP Miles and Go American Express Card's $79 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the TAP Miles and Go American Express Card's benefits to clear $79 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the American Express Schwab Investor Card.
Can I have both the American Express Schwab Investor Card and TAP Miles and Go American Express Card?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Cardless) 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 American Express Schwab Investor Card or the TAP Miles and Go American Express Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. American Express Schwab Investor Card: $1,000 spend in 6 months. TAP Miles and Go American Express Card: $2,500 in 3 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.