Prime Visa vs American Express® Business Gold
Side-by-side comparison
| Prime Visa | American Express® Business Gold | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $375 |
| Welcome offer | $200 Amazon Gift Card upon approval | Up to 200,000 Membership Rewards® Points |
| Advertising | 1% | 4% |
| Shipping | 1% | 4% |
| Office supplies | 1% | 1% |
| Phone & internet | 1% | 1% |
| Travel | 1% | 4% |
| Everything else | 1% | 1% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $492 | $1,116 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Transfers to airlines & hotels |
| Network | Visa | Amex |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of business spending, the Prime Visa earns about $492 a year in rewards and the American Express® Business Gold about $1,116, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Prime Visa has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The American Express® Business Gold charges $375, but carries about $240 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the American Express® Business Gold delivers more total value, about $294 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on advertising and travel. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the American Express® Business Gold earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Prime Visa pays plain cash back. Favor the American Express® Business Gold if you will use travel transfers, the Prime Visa if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the American Express® Business Gold currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the American Express® Business Gold if your spending leans toward advertising, shipping, travel.