American Express Cobalt® Card vs Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard®: Which one is better?


American Express Cobalt® Card

American Express Cobalt® Card

5

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RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard®

Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard®

3.1

More Details

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$1,041.82

American Express Membership Rewards


Welcome Bonus

$315

American Express Membership Rewards


Annual Fee

$155.8


First Year Value

$1,201.02

$886.02 in years after

Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$251.84


Welcome Bonus

$150


Annual Fee

$0


First Year Value

$401.84

$251.84 in years after

Based on $2,000/mo average spending and assuming you are an Amazon Prime member as the primary account holder. Calculate your rewards.

Insurance Included*

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    15 days
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500
  • baggage on roller

    Baggage Delay

    $500
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $500
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $250,000
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    Up to 48 days and $85k car MSRP
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1000

Insurance Included

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

Extra Benefits*

  • Amex logo

    American Express Experiences

  • travel

    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.

Extra Benefits

  • car rental

    Car Rental Discount

    10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car
  • gavel

    Trip and legal Assistance

    Yes

Interest Rates*

Purchase:

21.99%1

Cash Advance:

21.99%1

Interest Rates

Purchase:

19.99%

Cash Advance:

22.99%

Annual Fee*

$155.8

Annual Fee

$0

Income Required*

Min Personal Income:

N/A

Min Household Income:

N/A

Income Required

Min Personal Income:

N/A

Min Household Income:

N/A

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 5% back at Amazon.ca, Whole Foods Market stores in Canada, grocery stores and restaurants for up to 6 months. Up to $150 cashback on top of the normal cashback earned.

Rewards Rate*

  • 5x points per $1 spent in Restaurants, Fast Foods, Coffee Shops, Food delivery and Groceries up to 12,500 points monthly
  • 3x points per $1 spent on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
  • 2x points per $1 spent in standalone gasoline stations, Amex Travel online, travel services or local commuter transportation in Canada including ride share services
  • 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Rewards Rate

  • 2.5% cashback on Amazon.ca, Whole Foods and foreign currency transactions IF a prime member
  • Only 1.5% on Amazon.ca and Whole foods and 1% on foreign currency transactions IF not a prime member
  • 1% cashback on everything else

Loyalty Program

N/A

Point Redemption Options*

  • Most Optimal

    plane

    Transfer to Airline Partners

    2.1¢ / point
  • travel

    Fixed Point Travel Program

    1.66¢ / point
  • hotel

    Transfer to Hotel Partners

    1.66¢ / point
  • cash coins

    Statement Credits

    1¢ / point
  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.765¢ / point
  • amazon logo

    Amazon.ca

    0.7¢ / point
  • online shop

    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, the card has good benefit coverage, making it the best candidate to become the main credit card for the majority of people.

Is this card worth it?

If you are a Prime member and want to maximize your cashback on your Amazon purchases, then this card is the best option for that specific purchase category. However, for other purchases, many other cards offer better benefits and rewards.

Pros

  • 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

  • If you are a Prime member, the 2.5% cashback offered on Amazon purchases is unbeatable in terms of rewards compared to other credit cards.
  • The 2.5% cashback on all foreign currency transactions helps to offset the extra 2.5% fee.

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

  • It offers very little on non-Amazon and non-Whole Foods purchases, with many other well-rounded credit cards out there that offer much more.
  • Very limited benefits.

American Express Cobalt® Card vs Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard®: When to go for one over the other


Annual Fees and Requirements


The American Express Cobalt Card has an annual fee, while the Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard does not. This difference makes the Amazon.ca card a more attractive option for those looking to avoid annual fees. However, the American Express Cobalt Card might justify its fee with higher rewards and benefits, making it suitable for those who can maximize these perks. Neither card has a specified income requirement, making them accessible to a broad range of applicants.

Rewards Comparison


The American Express Cobalt Card offers significantly higher rewards, especially in specific categories like dining and groceries, compared to the Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard. The welcome bonus on the Cobalt Card is also higher, making it potentially more lucrative in the first year. In contrast, the Amazon.ca card offers decent cashback, particularly for Amazon Prime members, but falls short in overall rewards compared to the Cobalt Card.

Reward Redemption Options


The American Express Cobalt Card provides various redemption options, including transfers to airline and hotel partners, which can offer excellent value. It also allows for statement credits and gift cards, though at a lower value per point. The Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard is straightforward, offering cashback that can be easily used for any purchase, making it more flexible but potentially less rewarding than the points system of the Cobalt Card.

Benefits and Insurance


The American Express Cobalt Card comes with extensive benefits and insurance, including travel insurance, purchase protection, and exclusive access to events through American Express Experiences. In contrast, the Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard offers more basic benefits, with fewer insurance options and no unique perks beyond cashback. This makes the Cobalt Card a better choice for those who value comprehensive coverage and additional benefits.

Conclusion


The American Express Cobalt Card is generally better for users who can take advantage of its higher rewards, extensive benefits, and flexible redemption options. It is especially suited for those who spend significantly in its high-reward categories. On the other hand, the Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard is a solid option for Amazon Prime members or those who prefer a no-fee card with simple cashback, particularly if they frequently shop on Amazon.ca.

Legal


*American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment. Check for full details and current product information.
1 If you have 2 separate missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate missed payments, the applicable rates will be 28.99%.

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