Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card vs American Express® Green Card: Which one is better?

Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card

4.3

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RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

American Express® Green Card

3.8

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RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Finly Rebate

+$150 Cash Rebate from FinlyWealth

Now +$150 until Oct 31, 2024

Finly Rebate

N/A

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$333.58

Scene+

Welcome Bonus

$250

Scene+

Annual Fee

$150

First Year Value

$433.58

$183.58 in years after

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

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$457.03

American Express Membership Rewards

Welcome Bonus

$210

American Express Membership Rewards

Annual Fee

First Year Value

$667.03

$457.03 in years after

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

Insurance Included

Purchase Protection

90 days

Extended Warranty

1 year

Emergency Out of province Medical

$2M/insured up to 25 days

Emergency Medical Over 65

$2M/insured up to 3 days

Trip Cancellation

$1,500/person, $10,000/trip

Trip Interruption

$2,500/person, $10,000/trip

Flight Delay

$500/person after 4 hours

Lost or Stolen Baggage

$1000

Baggage Delay

$1000

Travel Accident

$500,000/insured, $1M combined

Car Rental Damage & Theft

$65,000 up to 48 days

Hotel Burglary Insurance

$1,000

Insurance Included*

Purchase Protection

90 days

Extended Warranty

1 year

Extra Benefits

No Foreign Transaction Fees

Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

6 Free complimentary visits

Status lift

Avis® Preferred Plus membership

Concierge Services

Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits

Extra Benefits*

American Express Experiences

Extra points

2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases

Interest Rates

Purchase:

20.99%

Cash Advance:

22.99%

Interest Rates*

Purchase:

21.99%²

Cash Advance:

21.99%²

Annual Fee

$150

Annual Fee*

Income Required

Min Personal Income:

$60,000

Min Household Income:

$100,000

Income Required*

Min Personal Income:

N/A

Min Household Income:

N/A

Welcome Bonus

Earn 25,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, another 10,000 bonus Scene+ points after making $40,000 of purchases annually.

Welcome Bonus*

Earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 months.

Rewards Rate

3 Points on on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland & Participating Co-ops
2 Points dining and at other eligible grocery stores,entertainment purchases which includes movies, theatre, and ticket agencies and Rides which includes rideshare,buses,taxis, subways and more
1 Point on everything else

Rewards Rate*

1x point per $1 spent on all purchases

Loyalty Program

Scene+

Loyalty Program*

American Express Membership Rewards

Point Redemption Options

Merchandise

0.76¢ / point

Gift Cards

0.74¢ / point

Statement Credits

0.7¢ / point

Entertainment

1¢ / point

Travel

1¢ / point

Groceries (Sobeys)

1¢ / point

Restaurants

1¢ / point

Point Redemption Options*

Merchandise

0.76¢ / point

Gift Cards

0.74¢ / point

Statement Credits

0.7¢ / point

Most Optimal

Transfer to Airline Partners

2.1¢ / point

Fixed Point Travel Program

1.66¢ / point

Transfer to Hotel Partners

1.66¢ / point

Amazon.ca

0.7¢ / point

Is this card worth it?

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is a strong choice for frequent travelers, especially those who value flexibility and premium perks. It stands out with its rare benefit of no foreign transaction fees, making international purchases more cost-effective. Additionally, the card offers a valuable blend of travel perks, including airport lounge access, comprehensive insurance coverage, and flexible rewards, making it an ideal companion for those who frequently travel abroad and want to avoid extra fees while enjoying premium benefits.

Is this card worth it?

The American Express® Green Card is a great option for those looking for a no-frills card that earns rewards on all purchases without any annual fee or minimum income requirement. It's an accessible card with no cap on rewards, making it ideal for those who want to earn points without the higher costs and complexities of premium cards. However, it does come with lower rewards earnings across most categories and a modest welcome bonus.

Pros

High Rewards on Select Purchases: Earn up to 3 points per $1 spent on select categories.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: Shop abroad without additional charges.
Comprehensive Insurance: Includes 11 types of insurance coverage.
Airport Lounge Access: Enjoy up to 6 airport lounge passes per year through the Visa Airport Companion program.

Pros

No Spending Limits: Earn unlimited rewards with no caps.
Flexible Redemption: Transfer points to other loyalty programs for maximum value.
VIP Perks: Access a variety of exclusive benefits through American Express Experiences.
Eco-Friendly: The card is made from 99% recycled plastic.

Cons

High Income Requirements: Requires $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income.
Lower Overall Rewards: Rewards potential is lower compared to premium credit cards.
High Annual Fee: Comes with a significant annual fee.
Average Insurance Coverage: Insurance benefits are standard, not exceptional.
Mediocre Earnings Potential: The card’s rewards structure might not offer the highest returns for every spender.

Cons

Lower Reward Rates: Earn rates are lower compared to other no-fee cards.
Limited Travel Perks: Lacks some of the travel benefits and insurance options provided by other cards.

Other Comparisons

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vs Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card

vs TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege*

vs TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card

vs Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card

vs BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®

vs CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

vs Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card

vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card

vs American Express Platinum Card®

Other Comparisons

vs American Express Cobalt® Card

vs Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

vs Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®

vs American Express Gold Rewards Card®

vs Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card

vs PC World Elite Mastercard

vs MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®

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vs CIBC Costco Mastercard

vs Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card

vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

vs American Express Platinum Card®

Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card vs American Express® Green Card: When to go for one over the other

Annual Fees and Requirements

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card has an annual fee, while the American Express Green Card comes with no annual fee, making the latter more accessible for those wanting to avoid yearly costs. The Scotiabank Passport also has a minimum income requirement of $60,000 for personal income or $100,000 for household income, whereas the Amex Green has no stated income requirement, offering more flexibility for applicants with varying income levels.

Rewards Comparison

The American Express Green Card earns rewards on all purchases at a flat rate, while the Scotiabank Passport offers tiered rewards with higher points for specific categories such as grocery and dining. Although the Green Card does not have spending caps and provides flexibility, its lower overall earning rate may not be as beneficial for those seeking high returns in select spending categories. The Scotiabank Passport, with its higher rewards in certain areas like groceries, offers more value for targeted spending.

Reward Redemption Options

Both cards offer a variety of redemption options, but the Scotiabank Passport allows users to redeem points through the Scene+ program for travel, merchandise, and more. The American Express Green Card also provides flexible redemption through Membership Rewards, with the added benefit of transferring points to airline and hotel partners for greater value. While both cards offer travel redemption options, the ability to transfer points for potentially higher value makes the Amex Green redemption option better.

Benefits and Insurance

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card stands out with its no foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for international travelers. It also offers six complimentary airport lounge passes and comprehensive insurance coverage, including trip interruption, flight delay, and lost baggage insurance. The American Express Green Card, while lacking foreign transaction fee waivers, provides basic benefits such as purchase protection and extended warranty but does not include significant travel perks or insurance. For those needing robust travel protections, the Scotiabank Passport is the stronger choice.

Card Network and Acceptance

The Scotiabank Passport is part of the Visa network, which is widely accepted around the world, making it more convenient for international travelers. Visa’s broad acceptance ensures that you can use the card in most countries, including places where American Express may not be as commonly accepted. The American Express Green Card, while beneficial within its reward program, is not accepted as widely as Visa, which can be a disadvantage for travelers in certain regions.

Conclusion

The American Express Green Card is a good fit for those looking for a no-fee card with flexible redemption options and straightforward rewards on all purchases and is a better option for people that don't travel as often.

However, for most travelers, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite offers greater benefits, including no foreign transaction fees, higher rewards on select purchases, and more comprehensive travel insurance. Frequent international travelers or those looking for premium travel perks should consider the Scotiabank Passport, while those prioritizing no annual fee and basic rewards and less travelling may prefer the Amex Green.

Annual Fees and Requirements
Rewards Comparison
Reward Redemption Options
Benefits and Insurance
Card Network and Acceptance
Conclusion

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.

² 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%.