Best American Express credit cards in Canada

The American Express Cobalt® Card isn't just a good credit card. In fact, the Amex Cobalt is our winner for Best Credit Card in Canada and it's easy to see why.

The American Express Cobalt Credit Card is a great rewards credit card if you enjoy spending money on food and streaming subscriptions. Love eating out or ordering in? Maximize the value of each dollar spent with the Amex Cobalt® Card. The American Express Cobalt® Card accrues a massive 5 points per $1 spent on eligible food and drinks in Canada, including grocery stores and food delivery services (spend cap applies); 3 points per $1 spent on eligible streaming services; 2 points per $1 spent on ride shares, transit and gas in Canada; and 1 point per $1 on everything else. Each point is worth about $0.01, and they’re redeemable for travel, gift cards, Amazon, and for general statement credits.

Cardholders can also take advantage of a very lucrative introductory deal, which runs for the first year of card membership and pays out consecutive bonuses for reaching spending goals. Earn up to 15,000 Membership Rewards® points* by earning 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 on your Card in your first year as a new Cardmember. This could add up to 15,000 points in a year.* That’s up to $150 towards a weekend getaway or concert tickets. Conditions apply.

The card costs a relatively low $155.88 ($$12.99/month) annual fee, which can be more than covered in rewards points by those high-octane urbanites that dine out regularly. It's easy to see why this is our top pick for Amex Canada credit cards.

Main features:

• Annual fee: $155.88 ($$12.99/month)
• Welcome bonus: Earn up to 15,000 Welcome Bonus Membership Rewards® points* – that’s up to $150 in value.
  
• Enhanced earn rates: Earn 5x points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery. Spend cap applies.; 3x points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada; 2x points on eligible rideshares, transit and gas in Canada
  
• Regular earn rate: 1x point on all other purchases
  
• Special feature: 5,000 bonus points for referring friends to the card, up to a maximum annual referral bonus of 75,000 points
  

Disclosures

• Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.

  American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. 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.

If you're looking for a great cash back credit card with a low annual fee, the SimplyCash^® Preferred Card from American Express can fit your needs. New cardholders will appreciate the Welcome Offer. IEarn a bonus 10% cash back on purchases in your first 3 months (up to $2,000 in purchases).. This could add up to bonus 10% cash back in the first 10 months. Conditions apply. 

With this card, you can earn 4% cash back on eligible gas station purchases in Canada, 4% cash back on eligible grocery store purchases in Canada (up to $1,200 cash back) and 2% cash back on all other purchases. The card’s annual fee is worthwhile looking at these earn rates. Moreover, it wouldn’t be an Amex without a suite of great travel protections like emergency medical and travel accident insurance, or the inclusion access to events and special offers curated for card members with American Express^® Experiences^TM.

Main features:

• Annual fee: $119.88 ($9.99 per month. Additional cards are free.)
• Earn rate: Earn 4% cash back on eligible gas station purchases in Canada; Earn 4% cash back on eligible grocery purchases in Canada, up to $1,200 cash back annually; Earn 2% cash back on everything else.

Disclosures

• Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.
  
  American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. 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.

American Express is generally one of the best credit card processors for travellers, and the most globetrotter-friendly card they offer might be the Scotiabank Gold American Express^® card. It helps cardholders earn points quickly on their most common expenses, and then enjoy them on future adventures. You’ll receive 6X Scene+ points for every $1 CAD spend at eligible grocers like Sobeys, Safeway, and more eligible grocers¹, 5X for every $1 CAD spent on other eligible groceries, dining and entertainment; 4X Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend at eligible gas stations, on daily transit, and on streaming services and a single point on everything else. The points can be spent with superior flexibility.

Earn up to $780* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points.. There are few other Canadian credit cards that offer the same level of travel benefits for this price point—$120 per year—as the card includes access to airport lounges worldwide, and a solid travel insurance package. If you don’t want to bend to the stricter limitations on point redemption and travel choices that define other cards, you should give the Scotiabank Gold American Express^® card a close look.

Main features:

• Annual fee: $120

• Sign-up bonus: Earn up to $780* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points.

• Enhanced earn rates: Earn 6x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more; 5x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on dining, food delivery, food subscriptions, other eligible grocery stores, and eligible entertainment purposes, 1 Scene+ point on all other purchases

• Regular earn rate: Earn 1 Scene+ point on all other purchases

Disclosures

• Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card to learn more.

  *See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.

If you want to take advantage of Amex perks without paying an annual fee, check out the Scotiabank American Express^® card. 

Cardholders can accrue points via their natural spending inclinations and use them later to save on trips.

• Earn up to 5,000 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months (that’s up to $50 towards travel).
• Earn 3 Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and more.

• Earn 2 Scene+ points1 for every $1 you spend on restaurants, fast food, drinking establishments, and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.

• Earn 2 Scene+ points1 for every $1 you spend on eligible gas and daily transit. Includes rideshare, buses, taxis, subway, and more.

• Earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases.

Like other Amex travel cards, points are redeemable via retroactive statement credits—just make a purchase with the card and pay for it with points later. You can also spend them on merchandise and other special offers.

Main features:

• Annual fee: $0

• Sign-up bonus: Earn up to 5,000 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months (that’s up to $50 towards travel).

• Base earn rate: Earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases.

• Special feature: New mobile device insurance

Disclosures

• Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank American Express® Card to learn more. *See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.

The SimplyCash Card from American Express helps you earn cash back without paying an annual fee. The card earns rates of: Earn 2% cash back on eligible gas purchases in Canada, 2% cash back on eligible grocery purchases in Canada (up to ), and 1.25% cash back on all other eligible purchases. Referring a friend earns the cardholder $50 per approval, up to a maximum of $750 annually.

There is an impressive variety of additional perks that make the SimplyCash^® Card from American Express more valuable, like the inclusion of automatic coverage for rental cars, travel accidents, new purchases and more. As a part of the American Express family, the card also includes access events and special offers curated for card members with American Express® Experiences. In other words, it lends a helping hand to those who are struggling financially, but will also grant them access to perks normally enjoyed by higher-tier cards—and all without an annual fee.

Main features:

• Annual fee: $0

• Welcome bonus: Earn a bonus 5% cash back on purchases in your first 3 months (up to $2,000 in purchases)..

• Earn rates: Earn 2% cash back on eligible gas station purchases in Canada; 2% back on eligible groceries in Canada (up to $300 cash back annually); 1.25% back on everything else

Disclosures

• Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.

  American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. 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.

The Platinum Card^® is geared towards those who travel quite often and spend enough to justify its $799 annual fee, which is obviously quite pricey, but worthwhile considering what the card gives back in return.

Earn up to 140,000 Membership Rewards® points* – that’s up to $1,400 in value.

• Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points* after spending $10,000 on your Card within your first 3 months as a new Platinum® Cardmember.* That’s $1,000 towards your next flight.

  Plus, earn 40,000 points* when you make a purchase between 14 and 17 months of Cardmembership.* That’s $400 towards dinner out with friends.
  
  *Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible for these offers. Other terms apply.
  
  Offer ends January 28, 2025.

Sign-up bonus aside, many other elite travel features and upper echelon benefits are included with The Platinum Card^®. Cardholders will have access to complimentary entry into hundreds of airport lounges around the world. Take full advantage of The American Express Global Lounge Collection^TM which unlocks access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide. This includes The Centurion® Lounge network, Plaza Premium Lounges, and hundreds of other domestic and international lounges designed to enhance your travel experience

Amex’s standard earn rate for earning Membership Rewards points applies to all spending at 1 point per $1 spent, accelerated to 2 points per $1 spent on eligible travel, and 2 points per $1 spent on eligible dining and food delivery in Canada. Points are redeemable on travel, hotels, merchandise and statement credits.

Main features:

• Annual fee: $799

• Welcome bonus: Earn up to 140,000 Membership Rewards® points* – that’s up to $1,400 in value. Conditions apply.

• Earn rates: Earn 2X points on eligible dining and food delivery purchases in Canada and 1X point on everything else.

• Special feature: Access a ; Enjoy complimentary benefits that offer an average value of $600 USD at over 1,500 extraordinary properties worldwide when you book Fine Hotels + Resorts; You can earn statement credits for qualifying purchases with participating brands

Disclosures

• Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.

  American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. 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.

The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card is a lucrative hotel rewards credit card that allows cardholders to earn points that can be used towards free nights at over 7,000+ of the world’s most desired hotels through the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. 

For starters, the card comes with an impressive welcome bonus for new accounts:

• Earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points* after you spend $1,500 on your Card within your first 3 months as a new Cardmember.*

  *Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible for these offers. Other terms apply.

After that, cardholders earn up to 5 points for every $1 in eligible Card purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®, plus the points you already earn as a Marriott Bonvoy® Member, plus  2 points for every $1 in all other Card purchases.

The Amex Bonvoy credit card also carries other perks of value to the frequent traveller. As a cardholder, you receive an annual free night award (valued at up to 35,000 Bonvoy points), complimentary upgrades to your Marriott Bonvoy membership and American Express Invites and Front of the Line benefits give cardholders exclusive access to pre-sales and special events.^†

Finally, the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* comes with seven distinct types of travel and purchase protection coverage. These insurance benefits include travel accident, baggage delay, flight delay, hotel/motel burglary and rental car insurance, plus purchase protection and buyer's protection (which somehow aren't the same thing).

Read more: Our comprehensive guide to Marriott Bonvoy

Disclosures:

• Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.

  American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. 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.

The American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card is no travel slouch - in fact, it's one of the best Aeroplan credit cards on the market today.

The Aeroplan Reserve is a premium travel credit card that acks a wallop for its $599 annual fee ($199 for each additional card). Cardholders enjoy unlimited lounge visits to Maple Leaf Lounges, a $100 NEXUS◊ Card Statement Credit and up to 60,000 points as a welcome bonus:

• Earn 60,000 Aeroplan®* points* after spending $7,500 on your Card within the first 3 months as a new Cardmember.*

  Plus, earn 25,000 Aeroplan®* points* when you spend $2,500 in month 13.*
  
  *Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible for these offers. Other terms apply.

With everyday use, cardholders earn 3x Aeroplan points on eligible Air Canada purchases, 2x Aeroplan points on on eligible dining and food delivery purchases in Canada and 1.25x Aeroplan points on all other purchases. Points are redeemable for flights with Air Canada or any Star Alliance member, for upgrades to flights, including Wi-Fi, seat upgrades or additional stopovers, for merchandise or gift cards or as carbon offset.

The Aeroplan Reserve Card also comes with exceptional insurance coverage, including up to $ 5,000,000 for your first 15 days of your out-of-province trip (for travelers under 65 years old).

Read more: Our comprehensive guide to Aeroplan points

Disclosures:

• Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.

  American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. 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.

Business owners commonly rack up expenses in gas and transit, office supplies, and of course food and drink (for themselves and employees). The American Express^® Business Edge^TM Card is a great way to earn back on these purchases, earning Membership Rewards^® points at a steady 3X the points per $1 rate in the categories above after the Welcome Offer ends, and 1X point per $1 elsewhere. Caps and other conditions may apply. These accumulated points can then be converted into statement credits and to book flights, hotels and car rentals. You can redeem points for flight purchases on AirCanada.com and even transfer to frequent flier and hotel programs, including one-to-one to Aeroplan^®* and Avios.

Main features:

• Annual fee: $99

• Welcome bonus: Earn up to 67,000 points*. Terms and conditions apply.

• Enhanced earn rate: Earn 3x the points for card purchases on eligible business essentials including office supplies and electronics, rides and gas, eats and drinks when your welcome offer ends. Caps and other conditions may apply.

• Regular earn rate: Earn 1x the points on all other purchases charged to the card.

• Special feature: Supplementary cards have no annual fee.

You can learn more about the card by reading our complete American Express^® Business Edge^TM Card review.

Disclosures

•  Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.

  
  

  American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. 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.

American Express offers a diverse range of credit cards in Canada, each designed to suit different lifestyles and financial needs. Let's break down the main types of cards available:

• Travel cards: These cards are perfect for jet-setters and adventure seekers. They often come with perks like travel insurance, airport lounge access, and the ability to earn points that can be redeemed for flights, hotels, and other travel experiences.
• No annual fee cards: For those who want the benefits of an Amex card without the yearly cost, these cards offer a great entry point. They're ideal for occasional users or those just starting to build their credit.
• Cash back cards: Who doesn't like getting money back? These cards reward you with a percentage of your purchases back in cash, making every swipe a little more rewarding.
• Co-branded cards: Amex partners with other brands to offer cards that provide specific benefits. For example, there are Aeroplan®* Cards that allow you to earn Aeroplan points directly.
• Flexible rewards: These cards offer versatility in how you earn and redeem points. The Membership Rewards® program allows you to use points for a variety of purposes, from travel to merchandise.

American Express is more known for its charge cards than its credit cards. Way back when, the term "charge card" was sometimes interchangeable with the term "credit card." However, these are not the same thing.

What is a charge card?

A charge card is a type of payment card that lets you make purchases without needing to handle cash. However, unlike a credit card, which offers this same benefit, a charge card requires the cardholder to pay the balance in full each month instead of carrying a balance and getting charged a monthly interest payment, like wish a credit card.

Amex charge cards

American Express Canada actually only issues a single charge card: the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card. In the United States, cards like The Platinum Card, the Gold Card and the Amex Green Card are all charge cards, though in Canada, they are credit cards.

All other Amex cards in Canada are credit cards. 

Amex Membership Rewards (MR) points are like the Swiss Army knife of the credit card world – versatile, valuable, and oh-so-satisfying to use. In Canada, these little beauties can be your ticket to travel adventures, statement credits, and more. But not all cards are created equal, so let's break it down.

Earning MR points with Amex credit cards

The best way to quickly amass a load of Amex Membership Rewards points is with an Amex credit card. The following cards earn Membership Rewards points:

Amex personal cards that earn MR points

Amex small business cards that earn MR points

Amex also offers two business cards that earn MR points:

• Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 1.25 Membership Rewards points for virtually every $1 in purchases charged to your card.
• American Express® Business Gold Rewards Card: Earn 1 Membership Rewards point for every dollar in purchases charged to the card.

Disclosures:

• Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.

  American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. 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.

Amex MR point valuation and expiration

Here's the million-dollar question (or should I say, the million-point question?): What's the value of these MR points? Well, it depends on how you use them, but generally:

• For travel redemptions through Amex Travel: 1,000 points = $10 (1 cent per point)
• For statement credits: 1,000 points = $10 (1 cent per point)
• When transferring to airline partners: Potentially more than 1 cent per point 

American Express Membership Rewards points do not expire.

Redeeming Amex MR points

Now, what can you do with this treasure trove of points? Here's how you can redeem Amex Rewards:

1. 1.

   Transfer to codeshare travel partners: This is where the real value lies, folks. You can transfer your MR points to programs like Aeroplan, British Airways Avios, and more. It's like having a backstage pass to the world of travel hacking.

2. 2.

   Book through Amex Travel: Use the Flexible Points Travel Program to book flights, hotels, and car rentals. It's straightforward, with 1,000 points = $10 in travel value.

3. 3.

   Fixed points travel program: For the planners out there, this program lets you book flights for a fixed number of points. For example, 40,000 points can get you a long-haul flight within Canada or the US. Not too shabby!

4. 4.

   Statement credits: If travel isn't your jam, you can use your points for statement credits. It's not the most exciting option, but hey, money is money, right?

5. 5.

   Shop with points: You can also use your points for online shopping or gift cards. But between you and me, this usually isn't the best value. Save those points for something more exciting!

Read more: Our comprehensive guide to Amex Membership Rewards points

Unlike Visa and Mastercard, American Express doesn’t have a formal tiered system (with exceptions). However, if you are looking for ways to better categorize American Express cards, you can take our approach.

We’ve divided the cards into four different levels based on annual fees and requirements. As a general rule, normally the higher the level of card, the better the benefits and perks (as you will see in our comparison later).

Entry-Level American Express Cards

• Annual fee: $0
• Credit score requirement: Fair/Good 670-739

Mid-Tier American Express Cards

• Annual fee: $0 to $250
• Credit score requirement: Fair/Good 670-739

Premium American Express Cards

• Annual fee: $250 to $799
• Credit score requirement: Excellent 740-900

⭐️ The highest tier: American Express Centurion Card

The highest level American Express card is the Centurion card, which is also known as the ‘black card.’ However, it’s available only by invitation from American Express, meaning you can’t just apply for it as you would the other cards mentioned in this article.

So, how do you get invited? It seems many invitees are chosen from existing American Express cardholders, particularly Platinum cardholders. Cardholders generally need to charge a very high amount to their cards (perhaps above $100K) to be invited.

Those invited to become Centurion cardholders will need to pay a very significant annual fee (estimated at $2,500) in addition to a one-time initiation fee of around $7,500.

But reports of the card’s benefits indicate that those sky-high fees might be worth it. Centurion cardholders have access to a personal travel concierge; flight upgrades; companion tickets; free hotel nights; highest-level airport lounge access; and are exempt from foreign transaction fees, among numerous other rumoured benefits.