Swisscard Cashback Cards Amex

1% cashback on Amex (4x the Visa!) plus 5% welcome bonus. The better earner of the duo.

The Swisscard Cashback Cards Amex is the higher-earning half of the free dual-card setup. 1% ongoing cashback matches the best free cards in Switzerland, and the 5% welcome bonus adds first-quarter value. The tradeoff: Amex acceptance is limited, so you need the companion Visa for gaps.

Is It Worth Using as Primary?

Where Amex is accepted, yes. 1% cashback ongoing is 4x the Visa card's 0.25%. CHF 15,000 annual Amex spending = CHF 150 cashback. The 5% welcome bonus for 3 months (capped at CHF 100) adds first-quarter value.

For a free card, 1% cashback is competitive with cards like Certo One. The strategy: use Amex everywhere possible, Visa for gaps.

What Actually Stands Out

The 1% rate on a free card is the headline. Most free cards offer 0.25-0.5%. This matches premium cashback offerings without an annual fee. If you can use Amex at your regular merchants, the returns are genuine.

Apple Pay and Google Pay work. The free companion Visa ensures you're never stuck without a card.

What Most Reviews Miss

American Express acceptance is 70-80% in Switzerland. Smaller merchants, some restaurants, certain services won't accept it. The dual-card approach means carrying both cards. Some people find this manageable; others prefer one-card simplicity.

The 2.5% FX fee applies to both cards. International purchases cost you money. The 1% cashback doesn't offset FX fees on foreign spending.

The Bottom Line

The better half of the Swisscard Cashback duo. 1% ongoing is competitive for a free card. Use this as your primary where Amex is accepted; keep Visa as backup. Compare alternatives in our best cashback credit cards in Switzerland guide.

Verdict: Make this your primary card where Amex works. The 1% rate beats most free alternatives.