American Express Cobalt® Card vs TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card: 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

TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

3.5

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

$533.24

Air Canada Aeroplan


Welcome Bonus

$735

Air Canada Aeroplan


Annual Fee

$139


First Year Value

$1,129.24

$394.24 in years after

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

Insurance Included*

  • 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
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

Insurance Included

  • 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
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Medical Over 65

    4 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,500
  • travel - plane

    Trip Interruption

    $5,000

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

  • baggage

    Free first checked bag

    First checked bag is free for primary cardholder on WestJet flight and up to 8 guests
  • border guard

    Nexus Application

    $100 every 4 years
  • exclusive

    Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits

  • concierge

    Concierge Services

  • golf clubs

    Golf Benefit

    Troon Rewards Golf benefits like discounts at over 95 resorts and courses around the world plus access to select private clubs across the U.S
  • reward cup

    Extra points

    Earn 50% more Stars and 50% more Aeroplan points at participating Starbucks stores
  • reward cup

    Extra points

    Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and over 170 online retailers through the Aeroplan eStore
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Reach Aeroplan Elite™ Status sooner by earning 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and one (1) Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 of net purchases
  • car rental

    Car Rental Discount

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

    Trip and legal Assistance

Interest Rates*

Purchase:

21.99%1

Cash Advance:

21.99%1

Interest Rates

Purchase:

20.99%

Cash Advance:

22.99%

Annual Fee*

$155.8

Annual Fee

$139

Income Required*

Min Personal Income:

N/A

Min Household Income:

N/A

Income Required

Min Personal Income:

$60,000

Min Household Income:

$100,000

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

Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card. Earn 15,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $7,500 within 180 days of Account opening. Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 15,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $12,000 within 12 months of Account opening.

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

  • 1.5x Aeroplan points per $1 spent on gas, groceries, Air Canada and Air Canada vacations (maximum 120,000 points annually)
  • 1x Aeroplan point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases

Point Redemption Options*

  • Most Optimal

    plane

    Transfer to Airline Partners

    2.1¢ / point
  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.765¢ / point

  • travel

    Fixed Point Travel Program

    1.66¢ / point
  • hotel

    Transfer to Hotel Partners

    1.66¢ / point
  • cash coins

    Statement Credits

    1¢ / point
  • amazon logo

    Amazon.ca

    0.7¢ / point
  • online shop

    Merchandise

    0.63¢ / point

Point Redemption Options

  • plane

    Transfer to Airline Partners

    2.1¢ / point
  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.765¢ / point

  • Most Optimal

    baggage on roller

    Travel

    0.825¢ / point

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?

The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Card* is an excellent choice for frequent Air Canada travelers looking to maximize their rewards with Aeroplan points. With perks like free checked bags, Preferred Pricing, and a first-year fee waiver, it’s ideal for users who value Air Canada-specific benefits. However, the card’s high income requirement and limited non-Air Canada redemption options may not appeal to everyone.

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

  • Earn up to 40,000 Aeroplan points (welcome bonus offer ends January 6, 2025).
  • 1.5 points per $1 on gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases.
  • Free checked bags and Preferred Pricing on Air Canada rewards flights.
  • Extensive insurance coverage with 12 types of insurance.

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

  • The rewards rate on this card is not that high. There are non-Aeroplan cards with much better reward programs, and their points can later be transferred to this card, making them better options if you are looking to gather Aeroplan points.
  • You lose the flexibility to use other airlines if you want to take advantage of the benefits of this card.

American Express Cobalt® Card vs TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card: When to go for one over the other


Annual Fees and Requirements


The American Express Cobalt® Card and the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card have comparable annual fees, with the Cobalt® Card being slightly higher. However, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card requires a minimum personal or household income, which could limit accessibility for some applicants. The Cobalt® Card has no specific income requirements, making it more broadly accessible to a wider range of users.

Rewards Comparison


The American Express Cobalt® Card shines in everyday spending categories such as dining, groceries, and streaming services, offering a more consistent rewards rate year-round. In contrast, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card delivers higher rewards when used for Air Canada purchases and Aeroplan partners, which is ideal for frequent flyers. Both cards offer strong welcome bonuses, with the TD Aeroplan® card providing a larger initial bonus, although its ongoing rewards may not match the Cobalt® Card for general spending.

Reward Redemption Options


The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card allows users to redeem points primarily through the Aeroplan program, offering excellent value for Air Canada flights and partner airlines. The American Express Cobalt Card provides more flexibility with redemption options, including transferring points to various airline and hotel partners, using points for travel through Amex Travel, or redeeming them for statement credits. This flexibility makes the Cobalt Card more versatile for users who value multiple redemption avenues.

Benefits and Insurance


Both cards come with extensive insurance coverage, including travel-related protections and purchase assurances. However, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card stands out with additional travel benefits like a free checked bag on Air Canada flights, a Nexus application rebate, and the ability to earn Aeroplan Elite™ Status faster through the Status Lift feature. The American Express Cobalt® Card, while slightly less travel-focused, offers unique perks such as access to American Express Experiences, which may appeal to those interested in exclusive events and offers.

Conclusion


For most users, the American Express Cobalt® Card is the better option due to its excellent rewards on everyday purchases and lack of income restrictions. However, frequent Air Canada travelers or those invested in the Aeroplan program may prefer the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card for its specific travel benefits, such as the Nexus rebate, free checked bags, and faster path to Aeroplan Elite™ Status.

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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