Beta

Free during beta. Plus launches at $12/mo or $99/yr on July 1. Annual is locked for 12 months during beta.

Skip to content
RewardZ Travel
All credit cards
Side-by-side

American Express Schwab Investor Card vs Sephora Visa Credit Card

Both are well-respected travel cards. The American Express Schwab Investor Card comes from American Express at $0/yr; the Sephora Visa Credit Card from Comenity 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.

FeatureAmerican Express Schwab Investor CardSephora Visa Credit Card
Annual fee$0$0
Sign-up bonus10,000 Membership Rewards points25% off your first Sephora.com purchase + 4X Beauty Insider points on that purchase
Bonus value (est.)$110$25
Min spend to unlock bonus$1,000 in 6 mo$0 in 0 mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressComenity
Card categorytravelcashback
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
    Read the full review
    American Express Schwab Investor Card
    $0/yr · 10,000 Membership Rewards points
    Read the full review
    Sephora Visa Credit Card
    $0/yr · 25% off your first Sephora.com purchase + 4X Beauty Insider points on that purchase

    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: Sephora Visa Credit Card

    Common questions

    Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Schwab Investor Card or Sephora Visa Credit Card?
    The American Express Schwab Investor Card has the bigger bonus, 10,000 Membership Rewards points, worth roughly $110, versus 25% off your first Sephora.com purchase + 4X Beauty Insider points on that purchase (~$25) on the Sephora Visa Credit Card.
    Is the American Express Schwab Investor Card's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Sephora Visa Credit Card?
    The American Express Schwab Investor Card has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Sephora Visa Credit Card's $0 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Sephora Visa Credit Card's benefits to clear $0 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 Sephora Visa Credit Card?
    Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Comenity) 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 Sephora Visa 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. Sephora Visa Credit Card: $0 in 0 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.