Amex Platinum Business vs RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Credit Card

Both business cards worked out on the same spending: rewards, welcome bonus, fees and perks, line by line.

amex platinum business
Finly rebate
$175

Business Platinum Card® from American Express

4.6

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RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Credit Card

3.3

Learn more

Worked out on a typical small business spending $4,000 a month. Enter yours to see your own numbers.

$164

First-year value

$1,549

$164

Every year after

$849

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Credit Card is worth $1,384 more to your business in year one.

It stays ahead after that, by $684 a year.

How the first year adds up

Rewards and the welcome bonus in, the annual fee, FX fees and employee cards out, at your spending.

$1,143.42
in American Express Membership Rewards points a year

Annual rewards

Better of the two$1,203.6
in RBC Avion (Elite) Rewards points a year
+ $0
not reached at this spending

Welcome bonus

Better of the two+ $700
first year only
− $799

Annual fee

Better of the two− $175
− $180
2.5% on $600/mo

FX fees

− $180
2.5% on $600/mo
$164.42

First-year value

Better of the two$1,548.6

Finly rebates are paid on top and aren't counted in these values.

Where each card earns

A year of your spending on each card, category by category, biggest spend first.

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Credit Card earns more on 17 of your 17 categories.

$299.14
at 1.25x

All Other Business Expenses

$12,600 a year

Better of the two$314.88
at 1.25x
$146.15
at 1.25x

US Dollar Purchases

$6,150 a year

Better of the two$153.84
at 1.25x
$114
at 1.25x

Recurring Bills & Subscriptions

$4,800 a year

Better of the two$120
at 1.25x
$85.5
at 1.25x

Gas & EV Charging

$3,600 a year

Better of the two$90
at 1.25x
$85.5
at 1.25x

Dining & Restaurants

$3,600 a year

Better of the two$90
at 1.25x
$71.14
at 1.25x

Office Supplies

$3,000 a year

Better of the two$74.88
at 1.25x
$57
at 1.25x

Phone, Internet & Cable

$2,400 a year

Better of the two$60
at 1.25x
$42.64
at 1.25x

Hotels

$1,800 a year

Better of the two$44.88
at 1.25x
$42.64
at 1.25x

Shipping & Courier

$1,800 a year

Better of the two$44.88
at 1.25x
$42.64
at 1.25x

Accounting & Bookkeeping

$1,800 a year

Better of the two$44.88
at 1.25x
$29.18
at 1.25x

Other Foreign Currencies (EUR, GBP, etc.)

$1,230 a year

Better of the two$30.72
at 1.25x
$28.5
at 1.25x

Electronics & Software

$1,200 a year

Better of the two$30
at 1.25x
$28.5
at 1.25x

Air Canada

$1,200 a year

Better of the two$30
at 1.25x
$28.5
at 1.25x

Transportation

$1,200 a year

Better of the two$30
at 1.25x
$14.14
at 1.25x

Other Airlines

$600 a year

Better of the two$14.88
at 1.25x
$14.14
at 1.25x

Car Rental

$600 a year

Better of the two$14.88
at 1.25x
$14.14
at 1.25x

Other Travel

$600 a year

Better of the two$14.88
at 1.25x
$1,143.42

Rewards in a year

Better of the two$1,203.6

Welcome bonus

Each offer as the issuer words it, then which milestones your spending reaches.

Amex Platinum Business

  • Earn up to 120,000 bonus Membership Rewards® points
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you charge $15,000 in net purchases to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
  • Plus, earn 40,000 points when you make a purchase between 15 and 17 months of Cardmembership
  • That’s up to $1,200 in statement credit that can be reinvested in your business

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Credit Card

Get 35,000 Welcome Avion points upon approval.2 That’s enough points to fly almost anywhere in Canada & the US except Hawaii & Alaska (a value of up to $750^), taxes & fees extra. Enjoy the travel benefits, plus access to other features designed to help simplify your business and maximize cash flow.

Amex Platinum Business

Worth $0 at your spending

80,000 MR points when you spend $15,000 in the first 3 months

0 pts

40,000 MR points when you make a purchase in months 15-17 (card year 2)

40,000 pts

40,000 points when you make a purchase between 15 and 17 months of Cardmembership (card year 2)

40,000 pts

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Credit Card

Worth $700 at your spending

35,000 Avion points on approval

35,000 pts

Fees, rates and eligibility

What each card costs to hold and to use abroad, and who it's for.

$799

Annual fee

Better of the two$175
$250 per Platinum, $0 per Gold (max 99)

Employee cards

$75 (max 9)
2.5%

Foreign transaction fee

2.5%
American Express Membership Rewards

Rewards

RBC Avion (Elite) Rewards
American Express

Network

Visa

Amex Platinum Business

Interest rates

Purchase:

21.99% - 30%1

Cash Advance:

21.99% - 30%1

1 This charge Card has both Due in Full and Flexible Payment Option balances. All Due in Full balances must be paid each month. Interest rate of 30% applies to each delinquent Due in Full charge. The Preferred rate of 21.99% applies to your Flexible Payment Option balance. If you have 2 separate Missed Payments in a 12 month period, the Flexible Payment Option rate for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate Missed Payments in a 12 month period, the Flexible Payment Option rate will be 29.99%. These rates are effective from the day account is opened.

Recommended credit score

300
Poor
693
Fair
743⁎
Good
790⁎
Very Good
833⁎
Excellent
⁎Estimates based on TransUnion scoring

Income required

Min Personal Income:

N/A

Min Household Income:

N/A

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Credit Card

Interest rates

Purchase:

19.99%

Cash Advance:

22.99%

Balance Transfer:

22.99%

Recommended credit score

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725⁎
Very Good
760⁎
Excellent
⁎Estimates based on Equifax scoring

Income required

Min Personal Income:

$60,000

Min Household Income:

$100,000

How each card earns

The earn rates and caps, as each issuer sets them.

Amex Platinum Business

  • 1.25x points per $1 spent on all purchases

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Credit Card

  • Earn 1.25 Avion points for every $1 spent in net purchases with your card, on up to $75,000 per year3
  • Earn 1 Avion point for every $1 spent in net purchases after the first $75,000 annually

Insurance and perks

What both cards include comes first in each list.

Amex Platinum Business

Insurance

  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $1,000
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $1,000
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    Yes
  • heart lock

    Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance

    $500,000
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,500
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $1,000
  • travel accident medical

    Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)

    15 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,500
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $1,500
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $1,000

Perks

  • concierge

    Concierge Services

    Personalized concierge at your service
  • discount

    Discount

    Your Business Platinum Card gets you savings on the seats you really want and lower fares on premium tickets with participating airlines
  • grwoth

    Interest on Balance

    Up to 55 interest-free days
  • Amex logo

    American Express® Experiences

    Access Front Of The Line® Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts, theatre shows, and special offers with American Express® Experiences
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Earn Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status by spending $30,000 or staying 10 nights combined with 15 Elite Night Credits. Status retention depends on Marriott Bonvoy terms.
  • bed furniture

    Free Extra Night at Hotels

    Each year, 8-10 weeks after your anniversary, receive a Free Night Award for a Marriott Bonvoy room up to 35,000 points, valid for 1 year. Resort fees excluded.
  • travel

    Travel Credit

    Access a $200 Annual Travel Credit each year of your Cardmembership
  • border guard

    Nexus Program Rebate

    Access a $100 credit for NEXUS with your Cardmembership
  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - American Express Global Lounge

    Take full advantage of the American Express Global Lounge CollectionTM which unlocks access to over 1400 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. Terms and Conditions apply.
  • hotel

    Complimentary Hotel Benefits

    Enjoy Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits at over 1,600 properties worldwide like guaranteed late check-out, complimentary breakfast for two, and more with Business Platinum.
  • airport waiting room

    Priority Travel

    At Toronto Pearson Airport get Priority Security lane, Complimentary valet and 15% discount at the Express Park and daily park
  • mobile phone wifi

    Wireless Credit

    Up to $120 in statement credits each year. Spend $10 each month with eligible wireless providers month and get a $10 credit.
  • business briefcase

    Business Statement Credits

    Up to $500 in business statement credits. Enroll and earn statement credits on eligible purchases with $200 Dell statement credit, $300 Indeed statement credit.

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Credit Card

Insurance

  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $1,000
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    Included
  • heart lock

    Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance

    $500,000
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $2,000
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 1 year
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $2,500
  • travel accident medical

    Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)

    15 days (unlimited coverage)
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,500
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $5,000
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500

  • travel accident medical

    Travel Medical Insurance (65 to 75)

    3 days

Perks

  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

    Pass only, must pay $32 USD per visit
  • gas station

    Gas Discount

    save 3¢/L on fuel and always earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada and 20% more Avion points at Petro-Canada

Our take

Amex Platinum Business

The most premium business card in Canada, and priced accordingly at $799/year. You get 1.25x Membership Rewards points on everything, a massive welcome bonus of up to 120,000 points, and a deep roster of perks: airport lounge access, hotel elite status, statement credits, and comprehensive insurance. The value proposition only works if you travel frequently and use the perks — the earn rate alone doesn’t justify the fee. But for businesses that fly often, entertain clients, and want best-in-class coverage, the benefits can far exceed the cost. Amex acceptance gaps in Canada remain a consideration.

  • Optimize all purchases
  • Premium travel perks
  • Comprehensive insurance
  • Interest grace period
  • Business statement credits
  • High annual fee
  • Limited acceptance

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Credit Card

The premium tier of RBC’s business Avion line, with a higher 1.25x flat earn rate and noticeably better insurance — including trip cancellation, emergency medical, and rental car coverage. Avion points transfer to partners like British Airways, WestJet, and Cathay Pacific, which can unlock outsized value on flights if you know how to use them. At $175/year, it’s a meaningful step up in fee from the regular Avion Business card, so it really only makes sense if you’ll use the insurance and travel perks. Not ideal for businesses that prefer straightforward cash back or don’t travel much.

  • Decent reward flat rate
  • Flexible redemption options
  • Comprehensive insurance
  • Interest-free grace period
  • Gas discounts
  • Supplementary card fees
  • Foreign transaction fees

More business card comparisons

Each card against every other business card we review.

Legal


Amex Platinum Business

*Terms and conditions apply.


This charge Card has both Due in Full and Flexible Payment Option balances. All Due in Full balances must be paid each month. Interest rate of 30% applies to each delinquent Due in Full charge. The Preferred rate of 21.99% applies to your Flexible Payment Option balance. If you have 2 separate Missed Payments in a 12 month period, the Flexible Payment Option rate for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate Missed Payments in a 12 month period, the Flexible Payment Option rate will be 29.99%. These rates are effective from the day account is opened.


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.

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Credit Card

^Air Travel Reward redemptions from the Air Travel Redemption Schedule start at 35,000 Avion points for a round trip long-haul flight to almost anywhere in Canada or the United States, exclusive of Hawaii or Alaska, with a maximum ticket price of $750. All applicable taxes, service fees and surcharges are the responsibility of the traveller. For more details, including information on redeeming for first class and business class seats, visit: www.avionrewards.com/travel/index.html. For general redemption terms, conditions and restrictions that apply to the Avion Rewards program, please visit: avionrewards.com or call 1-800 ROYAL 1-2 (1-800-769-2512 ).


2 To receive the 35,000 Welcome Avion points (“Welcome Points”), your application must be approved by us. The Welcome Points will appear on your first credit card statement after your application has been approved. Only the primary business owner on the account is eligible for the Welcome Points; additional business owner(s) and cardholder(s), existing RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business cardholders, as well as existing RBC Avion Visa Business cardholders, applying for or transferring to the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business credit card, are not eligible for this offer. This offer may not be combined or used in conjunction with any other offer. Royal Bank of Canada reserves the right to cancel, modify or withdraw this offer at any time, including if we suspect that you may be manipulating or abusing it, or engaging in any suspicious or fraudulent activity, as determined by Royal Bank of Canada in its sole discretion.


3 You will earn: (i) 1.25 Avion point per $1 in net purchases you make with your card, up to a maximum of $75 000 in net purchases per Annual Period, and (ii) 1 Avion point per $1 in net purchases you make with your card in excess of $75 000 during an Annual Period, unlimited. “Annual Period” means the twelve (12) full monthly statement periods each year, starting with your January monthly statement and ending with your December monthly statement or, if you are a new Avion Visa Infinite Business cardholder, the period starting on the day your card is issued and ending with your December statement. Each year, on the first day of your January monthly statement, your annual net purchase amount, for the purpose of determining your earn rate only, will automatically reset to zero. Please note that monthly statement periods don't necessarily line up with the beginning and end of a calendar month. Avion points are earned on net purchases only; they are not earned on cash advances (including balance transfers, cash-like transactions and bill payments that are not pre-authorized charges that you set up with a merchant), interest charges or fees, and credits for returns and adjustments will reduce or cancel the points earned by the amounts originally charged. For more details on the Avion Rewards program, please visit: avionrewards.com/terms-and-conditions