American Express Cobalt® Card vs BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®: Which one is better?
American Express Cobalt® Card
5
BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®
4.2
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$1,096
American Express Membership Rewards
First Year Bonus
$315
American Express Membership Rewards
Annual Fee
$155.8
First Year Value
$1,255.2
$940.2 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$500.78
First Year Bonus
$190
Annual Fee
$120
First Year Value
$690.78
$380.78 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included*
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Baggage Delay
$500.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Travel Accident
$250,000
Extended Warranty
Up to 1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500
Emergency Out of province Medical
15 daysFlight Delay
$500
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Insurance Included
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1000 maximumBaggage Delay
$500/person, $1000 maximum After 6 hoursCar Rental Damage & Theft
$65,000 up to 48 daysTravel Accident
$500,000Extended Warranty
Up to a yearPurchase Protection
90 daysHotel Burglary Insurance
$1000Emergency Out of province Medical
$5M up to 8 days per covered personFlight Delay
$500 After 4 hours delay
Extra Benefits*
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Travel Credit
Book two or more consecutive nights at participating properties through The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel to receive a $100 credit for amenities or a complimentary room upgrade, if available.
Amex Experiences™
Access Front Of The Line® Amex Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts and theatre performances and special offers and events curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™
Extra Benefits
Car Rental Discount
25% off base rate of participating National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Pass only, complimentary visits not included.svg)
Gas Discount
Get up to seven cents off per litre on Shell® fuel
Roadside Assistance
Includes free battery boosts, flat-tire change, lockout service and towing
Hotel Booking Discount
Save up to 7% on your Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookings
Boingo Wi-Fi hotspot
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%1
Cash Advance:
21.99%1
Interest Rates
Purchase:
20.99%
Cash Advance:
23.99%
Annual Fee*
$155.8
Annual Fee
$120
$0
First Year Waived
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
$80,000
Min Household Income:
$150,000
Welcome Bonus*
Earn 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in purchases on your Card in the first Year
Welcome Bonus
Get up to 10% cash back in your first 3 months with an incremental cashback value of $200
Rewards Rate*
- 5x points per $1 spent on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery (up to 12,500 points per month)
- 3x points per $1 spent on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
- 2x points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit & ride share in Canada
- 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Rewards Rate
- 5% cashback on groceries (maximum $25 per statement)
- 4% cashback on daily transit (maximum $12 per statement)
- 3% cashback on gas (maximum $9 per statement)
- 2% cashback on recurring payments (maximum $10 per statement)
- 1% cashback on all other credit card purchases.
Loyalty Program*
Loyalty Program
N/A
Point Redemption Options*
Most Optimal
Transfer to Airline Partners
2.1¢ / point
Fixed Point Travel Program
1.66¢ / point
Transfer to Hotel Partners
1.66¢ / point
Statement Credits (Cash)
1¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.765¢ / point
Amazon.ca
0.7¢ / point
Merchandise
0.63¢ / point
Point Redemption Options
Not Applicable
Is this card worth it?
This card was voted the Best Credit Card in Canada by FinlyWealth. The rewards earned on this card for a person with average spending exceed those of other credit cards in Canada by a huge margin! In addition, this card has a good benefits coverage, a flexible points redemption program (1:1 transfer to Aeroplan® or Avios), making it the best candidate to become the main credit card for the majority of people.
Is this card worth it?
If you're seeking a cashback credit card, the BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard® stands out for its excellent balance between rewards and benefits. It offers a robust rewards program and a comprehensive benefits list, making it a solid choice. The high first-year value is enhanced by the annual fee waiver, and those with a BMO Premium Chequing Account can enjoy continued fee waivers. While it's highly ranked for rewards alone, it may not be the absolute top choice if benefits are less important to you.
Pros
- Points can be transferred to Air Canada Aeroplan® at a 1:1 ratio, making this card a solid Aeroplan® points earner as an alternative to Aeroplan® branded credit cards
- Generous welcome bonus of up to 15,000 points
- 4+ different ways of redeeming your points for great value
- 10 different types of insurance, including travel
- Often referred to as the Best Credit Card in Canada
Pros
- Offers one of the highest cashbacks on groceries and gas, two of the most frequently spent categories, compared to other credit cards in Canada.
- Includes roadside assistance, a rare but valuable benefit for people on the road.
- Provides a comprehensive list of insurance coverage and benefits.
- High first-year value.
Cons
- Less acceptance of American Express at different merchants across Canada
- Not all types of travel insurance are covered, especially trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Cons
- Does not include restaurant purchases as a reward category, which is one of the most important spending categories.
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Other Comparisons
Other Comparisons
vs TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Rogers Red Mastercard®
vs Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
vs American Express Gold Rewards Card®
vs Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card
vs American Express® Green Card
vs PC World Elite Mastercard
vs MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
vs Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card
vs SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express
vs Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
vs CIBC Costco Mastercard
vs SimplyCash® Card from American Express
American Express Cobalt® Card vs BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®: When to go for one over the other
Annual Fees and Requirements
Rewards Comparison
Reward Redemption Options
Benefits and Insurance
Network Acceptance
Conclusion
Legal