American Express Cobalt® Card vs Walmart 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

Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard®

Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard®

2.9

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

$242.9


Welcome Bonus

$45


Annual Fee

$0


First Year Value

$287.9

$242.9 in years after

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

Insurance Included*

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days

  • 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
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

Insurance Included

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days

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

N/A

Interest Rates*

Purchase:

21.99%1

Cash Advance:

21.99%1

Interest Rates

Purchase:

20.89% - 26.99%

Cash Advance:

22.97% - 27.99%

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

$45 on Approval

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

  • 1.25% cashback on Walmart store and Walmart.ca purchases
  • 1% cashback on all credit card purchases.

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?

The Walmart Rewards Mastercard is ideal for frequent Walmart shoppers who want to spread out payments on larger purchases without paying much interest. It offers 1.25 Walmart Reward Dollars for every dollar spent at Walmart stores and the ability to pay in installments. Additionally, you can earn up to $45 in Walmart Reward Dollars when you sign up. However, the rewards can only be redeemed at Walmart, and the card lacks additional benefits or insurance coverage beyond purchase assurance and extended warranty.

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

  • Installment Payments: Allows you to pay for Walmart purchases in installments over six months.
  • Walmart Rewards: Earn 1.25 Walmart Reward Dollars for every dollar spent at Walmart stores.
  • Sign-Up Bonus: Get up to $45 in Walmart Reward Dollars when you sign up.

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

  • Limited Redemption: Rewards can only be redeemed at Walmart and Walmart.ca.
  • Lower Rewards: Offers lower rewards compared to other store and cashback credit cards.
  • Minimal Benefits: No additional benefits or insurance coverage aside from purchase assurance and extended warranty.

American Express Cobalt® Card vs Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard®: When to go for one over the other


Annual Fees and Requirements


The American Express Cobalt® Card charges a higher annual fee, which reflects its extensive rewards and benefits package. In contrast, the Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard® has no annual fee, making it more accessible to budget-conscious consumers. Neither card has specific income requirements, allowing a wide range of applicants to be eligible.

Rewards


The American Express Cobalt® Card offers a higher rewards rate, particularly in categories like dining and groceries, which can lead to significant value over time. It also provides a substantial welcome bonus, making it appealing for those who spend regularly in its high-reward categories. The Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard® offers straightforward cashback rewards, particularly on Walmart purchases, but the overall value is significantly lower compared to the Cobalt® Card.

Reward Redemption Options


The American Express Cobalt Card offers multiple redemption options, including transfers to airline and hotel partners, statement credits, and gift cards. These options provide flexibility and value. The Walmart Rewards Mastercard, however, limits rewards redemption to Walmart, reducing flexibility compared to the cashback versatility of the Cobalt Card.

Benefits and Insurance


The American Express Cobalt® Card comes with a robust package of benefits and insurance, including travel insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty. It also offers unique perks like access to American Express Experiences. The Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard® is more basic, with limited benefits primarily focused on purchase protection and an extended warranty, and lacks the extensive insurance coverage provided by the Cobalt® Card.

Network Differences


The American Express Cobalt® Card operates on the American Express network, which is less widely accepted compared to Mastercard which the Walmart Mastercard is on.

Conclusion


For most users, especially those who value high rewards in dining, groceries, and travel, the American Express Cobalt® Card is the superior choice due to its extensive benefits and higher rewards potential. However, the Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard® may be better suited for frequent Walmart shoppers who prefer a no-fee card with straightforward rewards and broader acceptance.

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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