American Express Cobalt® Card vs Walmart Rewards™ World 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™ World Mastercard®

Walmart Rewards™ World Mastercard®

3

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

$250.13


Welcome Bonus

$45


Annual Fee

$0


First Year Value

$295.13

$250.13 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:

$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

$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

  • 3% cashback on Walmart.ca purchases
  • 1.25% cashback on Walmart store and gas 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 World Elite Mastercard is ideal for frequent Walmart shoppers who want to spread out payments on larger purchases without paying much interest. It's especially beneficial for those who frequently shop at Walmart's online store. However, it offers a rather average reward rate for other types of purchases, making many other cards a better choice for non-Walmart spending categories.

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.

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™ World Mastercard®: When to go for one over the other


Annual Fees and Requirements


The American Express Cobalt® Card comes with a moderate annual fee, while the Walmart Rewards™ World Mastercard® has no annual fee. This makes the Walmart Mastercard more appealing for those looking to avoid yearly charges. However, the Cobalt® Card’s fee may be justified by its more comprehensive rewards and benefits. Neither card specifies a minimum personal income requirement, but the Walmart Mastercard requires a household income that not everyone might be able to meet.

Rewards Comparison


The American Express Cobalt® Card offers significantly higher rewards, particularly in categories like dining, groceries, and travel, which makes it ideal for frequent spenders in these areas. The card also offers a substantial welcome bonus. In contrast, the Walmart Rewards™ World Mastercard® focuses on cashback for Walmart purchases, with lower rewards for other spending categories. This card is more suitable for those who frequently shop at Walmart.

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 World Mastercard, however, limits rewards redemption to Walmart, reducing flexibility compared to the cashback versatility of the Cobalt Card.

Benefits and Insurance Comparison


The Cobalt® Card provides extensive insurance coverage, including emergency medical, travel accident, and mobile device insurance, along with unique benefits like American Express Experiences. The Walmart Mastercard offers basic purchase protection and extended warranty coverage but lacks the more robust benefits offered by the Cobalt® Card. The Cobalt® Card’s extensive insurance options and extra perks make it more valuable for frequent travelers and those seeking comprehensive coverage.

Conclusion


The American Express Cobalt® Card is generally the better option for most users due to its superior rewards structure and extensive benefits, making it ideal for those who spend heavily on dining, travel, and groceries. However, the Walmart Rewards™ World Mastercard® is better suited for individuals who primarily shop at Walmart and prefer a no-fee card.

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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