American Express Cobalt® Card

American Express Cobalt® Card

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Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card

Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card

Apply Now

American Express Cobalt® Card vs Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card: Which one is better?


American Express Cobalt® Card

American Express Cobalt® Card

5


RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card

Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card

4


RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

Finly Rebate

N/A

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

$278.6


First Year Bonus

$100


Annual Fee

$0


First Year Value

$378.6

$278.6 in years after

Based on $2,000/mo average spending and assuming you have a Tangerine Savings account. Calculate your rewards.

Insurance Included*

  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 1 year
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days

  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    yes
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $250,000
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $500
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    15 days
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500

Insurance Included

  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days

Extra Benefits*

  • 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.
  • Amex logo

    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

N/A

Interest Rates*

Purchase:

21.99%1

Cash Advance:

21.99%1

Interest Rates

Purchase:

20.95%2

Cash Advance:

22.95%2

Balance Transfer:

22.95% (1.95% first 6 months)2

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

In the first 2 months, get a bonus 10% cash back up to $100

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

  • 2% on the choice of two categories chosen from the 10 offered by Tangerine
  • 0.5% cashback on all other credit card purchases.

Loyalty Program

N/A

Point Redemption Options*

  • Most Optimal

    plane

    Transfer to Airline Partners

    2.1¢ / point
  • travel - plane

    Fixed Point Travel Program

    1.66¢ / point
  • hotel

    Transfer to Hotel Partners

    1.66¢ / point
  • cash coins

    Statement Credits (Cash)

    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, 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?

While we think Tangerine isn't the best single credit card to own, it's still a valuable card to have in your arsenal for maximizing your rewards. It offers one of the highest cashback rates for pharmacy and recurring bill payments, areas where your other credit cards might not provide significant rewards. This card only requires a Fair credit score, making it an excellent choice for people who don't have a high credit score yet.

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

  • Allows you to change the categories, and you get a 2% reward depending on how your spending is changing every 90 days.
  • 2% cashback on recurring Transactions and pharmacy purchases. One of the highest cashback rates on these categories among credit cards in Canada. 
  • Has cashback on Furniture and Home Improvement categories. Two categories that are not covered by any other card in Canada.
  • Easy credit score requirements needed for this card.
  • Overall, it is a good no-annual-fee cashback credit card, especially if you have a Tangerine Savings account.

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

  • Insurance coverage is the most basic.
  • Very low cashback rate on the other categories not selected.

American Express Cobalt® Card vs Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card: When to go for one over the other


Annual Fees and Requirements

The American Express Cobalt Card comes with an annual fee, while the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card does not charge one. This significant difference makes the Tangerine card an attractive option for those seeking a no-fee credit card. Both cards do not have specific income requirements, making them accessible to a broad audience.

Rewards Comparison

The American Express Cobalt Card offers higher rewards potential, especially for those who spend heavily in dining, groceries, and streaming services, thanks to its tiered points system. In contrast, the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card provides straightforward cashback with the flexibility to choose categories, but its overall rewards potential is lower compared to the Cobalt Card. For those seeking maximum rewards, the American Express Cobalt Card stands out.

Reward Redemption Options

The American Express Cobalt Card provides a variety of redemption options, including travel, statement credits, and gift cards, with the potential for higher value when transferring points to airline or hotel partners. The Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card, on the other hand, offers cashback, which is more flexible and can be used on anything. If you prioritize ease of use and flexibility, the Tangerine card’s cashback is a clear winner.

Benefits and Insurance

The American Express Cobalt Card includes a comprehensive suite of benefits and insurance, such as travel insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty, which far exceed the basic coverage offered by the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card. For those who travel frequently or seek extensive insurance coverage, the Cobalt Card is the better choice.

Network Acceptance

The American Express Cobalt Card operates on the American Express network, which is not as widely accepted as Mastercard, the network for the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card. Additionally, Mastercard is accepted at Costco and considers Walmart as a grocery store for rewards, unlike American Express. This makes the Tangerine card a card which can be relied on for all purchases, but for Cobalt it's always a good idea to carry a secondary card for merchants that don't accept it.

Conclusion

The American Express Cobalt Card is ideal for those who want to maximize rewards and benefit from extensive insurance coverage, particularly if they spend significantly on dining and travel. However, the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card is better suited for those looking for a no-fee card with flexible cashback options and wider acceptance. Choose the card that aligns with your spending habits and preferred perks.

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 here 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%.
2 The annual interest rate on Purchases is 20.95% and Cash Advances (including Balance Transfers) is 22.95%. Rates are subject to change. If you don't make 2 consecutive monthly Minimum Payments, or at any time thereafter, an interest rate of 25.95% will apply to your Account on Purchases and 27.95% on Cash Advances (including Balance Transfers).

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