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Side-by-side

American Express Schwab Investor Card vs Chase Aeroplan Credit Card

Both are travel travel cards. The American Express Schwab Investor Card comes from American Express at $0/yr; the Chase Aeroplan Credit Card from Chase at $95/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the Chase Aeroplan Credit Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,015 more in estimated value) than the American Express Schwab Investor Card's. Get the Chase Aeroplan Credit Card first; revisit the American Express Schwab Investor Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureAmerican Express Schwab Investor CardChase Aeroplan Credit Card
Annual fee$0$95
Sign-up bonus10,000 Membership Rewards points75,000 bonus points
Bonus value (est.)$110$1,125
Min spend to unlock bonus$1,000 in 6 mo$4,000 in 3 mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressChase
Card categorytraveltravel
Best earning category (All_purchases)1.5x1x
Transfer partnersamex-mraeroplan
Headline benefits
  • 1.5X MR on everything
  • $0 annual fee
  • 1.0c/pt Invest with Rewards
  • Full MR transfer partners
  • 3x on Air Canada + dining + grocery
  • Free checked bag
  • Companion pass
  • UR transfer
Read the full review
American Express Schwab Investor Card
$0/yr · 10,000 Membership Rewards points
Read the full review
Chase Aeroplan Credit Card
$95/yr · 75,000 bonus 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.

Editorial take: Chase Aeroplan Credit Card

Aeroplan is one of the best Star Alliance programs for sweet-spot redemptions. This card is a great way to earn Aeroplan miles directly, plus the UR transfer option gives flexibility.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Schwab Investor Card or Chase Aeroplan Credit Card?
The Chase Aeroplan Credit Card has the bigger bonus, 75,000 bonus points, worth roughly $1,125, versus 10,000 Membership Rewards points (~$110) on the American Express Schwab Investor Card.
Is the American Express Schwab Investor Card's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Chase Aeroplan Credit Card?
The American Express Schwab Investor Card has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Chase Aeroplan Credit Card's $95 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Chase Aeroplan Credit Card's benefits to clear $95 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 Chase Aeroplan Credit Card?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Chase) 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 Chase Aeroplan Credit 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. Chase Aeroplan Credit Card: $4,000 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.