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Side by Side Credit Cards Comparison
American Express Cobalt® CardVSRogers Red Mastercard®
Which one is better?
American Express Cobalt® Card
4.9
Rogers Red Mastercard®
4.4
Welcome Bonus
Earn 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in purchases on your amex cobalt credit card in the first Year. That's up to 15,000 Membership Rewards® points.
Welcome Bonus
Get $45 in cash back value(1) exclusively with Rogers, when you spend $3,000 and make a mobile wallet purchase in the first three months of card activation.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$1,037.82
American Express Membership Rewards
First Year Bonus Value
+
$300
American Express Membership Rewards
Annual Fee
-
$191.88
First Year Value
$1,145.94
$845.94 in years after
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$720
First Year Bonus Value
+
$45
Annual Fee
-
$0
First Year Value
$765
$720 in years after
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending and assuming you have an eligible Rogers, Fido or Shaw service as the primary or level 1 authorized user. Calculate your rewards.
How to Earn Rewards
- 5x points per $1 spent on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery (up to 12,500 points per month)
- 3x points per $1 spent on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
- 2x points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit & ride share in Canada
- 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases
How to Earn Rewards
- Earn 2% unlimited cash back on all eligible non-U.S. dollar purchases if you have 1 qualifying service with Rogers, Fido, Comwave or Shaw.^
- Otherwise earn 1% unlimited cash back on eligible non-U.S. dollar purchases.^
- Earn 2% unlimited cash back on all eligible purchases made in U.S. dollars.^
- Get 1.5 times more cash back every time you redeem for Rogers, Fido, Comwave or Shaw purchases.^
- 5 Roam Like Home days at no cost with an eligible Rogers mobile plan every year (up to $90 value).^
Insurance Included
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Baggage Delay
$500.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$250,000
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Extended Warranty
1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500
Travel Medical Insurance
15 days, up to $5M (if under age 65)Flight Delay
$500
Insurance Included
N/A
Extra Benefits
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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.
Amex Experiences™
Access Front Of The Line® Amex Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts and theatre performances and special offers and events curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™
Extra Benefits
No Cost roaming
5 days with eligible Rogers mobile plan
Interest Rates
Purchase:
21.99%1
Cash Advance:
21.99%1
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 29.99%.
Interest Rates
Purchase:
20.99% - 25.99%2
Cash Advance:
22.99% - 27.99%2
Balance Transfer:
22.99% - 27.99%2
2 Standard rate on Purchases and Fees: 20.99%. Standard rate on Cash Advances, Cash-like Transactions and Balance Transfers: 22.99%. If you are not approved for an Account at the above rates and you reside outside Quebec, we (Rogers Bank) may still issue you an Account at our alternate interest rates, as follows: Standard Rate for Purchases and Fees: 25.99%, Standard Rate for Cash Advances, Cash like Transactions and Balance Transfers: 27.99%.
Annual Fee
$191.88 (paid monthly)
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
Loyalty Program
Loyalty Program
N/A
Point Redemption Options
Most Optimal
Aeroplan® Flights
2¢ / point
Transfer to Airline Partners
1.6¢ / point
Fixed Point Travel Program
1.16¢ / point
Transfer to Hotel Partners
1.16¢ / point
Statement Credits (Cash)
1¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.91¢ / point
Amazon.ca
0.7¢ / point
Merchandise
0.63¢ / point
Point Redemption Options
Not Applicable
Is this card worth it?
This card was voted one of 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, this card has a good benefits coverage, a flexible amex cobalt bonus points redemption program (1:1 transfer to Aeroplan® or Avios), making it the best candidate to become the main credit card for the majority of people.
Is this card worth it?
This card is one of our top-ranked options in terms of rewards, especially if you are a Rogers, Fido, or Shaw customer. With those services, you can effectively get a 3% cashback rate, which is a higher rate than almost any other card offers, even those with annual fees! If you have a high income of $80K or a household income of $150K, you can apply for the World Elite version of this card, which comes with additional insurance and benefits like a lounge pass.
Pros
- Amex cobalt credit card Points can be transferred to Air Canada Aeroplan® at a 1:1 ratio, making this card a solid Aeroplan® points earner as an alternative to Aeroplan® branded credit cards
- Generous welcome amex cobalt bonus points of up to 15,000
- 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
- Voted as the Best No Annual Fee Cash Back Card in Canada for Rogers, Fido and Shaw Customers by FinlyWealth.
- There is no annual fee, a notable perk for a card with such high reward multipliers. Most cards with slightly lower reward rates typically have annual fees.
- Offers the flexibility to redeem cash towards Rogers, Shaw, or Fido services, potentially increasing the value of your earned rewards.
- The roam-like benefit is a benefit unique only to this card.
- It is accepted at nearly all locations as it's a Mastercard.
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
- No real insurance coverage (only balance protection), not even purchase protection or extended warranty which are pretty standard benefits for almost all credit cards.
- Low rewards multiplier if you don't have an eligible Rogers, Shaw, or Fido service.
vs Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card
vs Neo World Elite® Mastercard®
vs American Express Platinum Card®
vs SimplyCash® Card from American Express
vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
vs Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card
vs CIBC Costco Mastercard
vs CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
vs BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®
vs Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard
vs Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard®
vs SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express
vs TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card
vs TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card
vs Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card
vs MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
vs PC World Elite Mastercard
vs American Express® Green Card
vs Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card
vs RBC ION+ Visa
vs Neo Mastercard®
vs American Express Gold Rewards Card®
vs Walmart Rewards™ World Mastercard®
vs Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard®
vs Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
vs RBC ION Visa
vs Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
vs TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Neo World Elite® Mastercard®
vs American Express Platinum Card®
vs SimplyCash® Card from American Express
vs Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card
vs CIBC Costco Mastercard
vs BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®
vs Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard
vs SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express
vs Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card
vs Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
vs TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
American Express Cobalt® Card vs Rogers Red Mastercard®: When to go for one over the other
Annual Fees and Requirements
The American Express Cobalt® Card carries an annual fee, while the Rogers Red Mastercard® does not, making the latter an attractive option for those looking to avoid an extra yearly expense. Neither card has a specified minimum income requirement, making them accessible to a wide range of applicants. The Cobalt® Card’s fee might be justified for users who can fully leverage its robust rewards and benefits.
Rewards
In terms of rewards, the American Express Cobalt® Card significantly outperforms the Rogers Red Mastercard® for most spending categories, particularly in areas like dining and groceries. It also offers a substantial welcome bonus that could enhance the card's value in the first year. The Rogers Red Mastercard®, however, offers a straightforward cash-back program with a higher multiplier if you are a Rogers, Fido, or Shaw customer, making it a compelling choice for those who already use these services.
Reward Redemption Options
The American Express Cobalt Card offers a variety of redemption options, including transfers to airline and hotel partners, which can yield significant value for those who travel frequently. Additionally, points can be used for statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise, though the value may vary. The Rogers Red Mastercard does not offer a point redemption system but instead provides flexible cashback that can be used on anything, making it more straightforward and versatile for everyday expenses.
Benefits and Insurance
The American Express Cobalt® Card stands out with its comprehensive insurance coverage, including travel, purchase protection, and mobile device insurance, which the Rogers Red Mastercard® lacks. The Rogers Red Mastercard® does offer a unique roam-like-home benefit that is not available with the Cobalt® Card, but its overall insurance offering is minimal, limited to balance protection.
Conclusion
For users who prioritize high rewards in specific categories and comprehensive insurance coverage, the American Express Cobalt® Card is the better choice, despite its annual fee. It’s ideal for frequent travelers, diners, and those who value extensive insurance. However, the Rogers Red Mastercard® is better suited for individuals who prefer a no-fee card with simple, effective cashback rewards, especially if they are Rogers, Fido, or Shaw customers.
Legal
*Terms and conditions apply.
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 29.99%.
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.
*, ^, Terms and conditions apply.
Rogers Bank is not responsible for maintaining or controlling the accuracy of the information published on this website. For full and up-to-date product information and applicable terms and conditions, visit Rogersbank.com.
®/TM Mastercard, World Elite and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. Used under License.
The Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard® is issued by Rogers Bank.
TM Rogers and Mobius Design, Rogers Bank and related marks, logos and brand names are trademarks of Rogers Communications Inc., or an affiliate, used under license. © 2025 Rogers Bank. Rogers Bank is the issuer of this credit card.
1Offer available to new primary cardholders only. Get $30 cash back when you use your Rogers Red Mastercard or Rogers Red World Mastercard to make: (a) purchases totalling $3,000 within 105 days of opening your credit card account, and (b) at least 1 purchase via your mobile wallet within 105 days of opening your credit card account. If you redeem the $30 cash back in full on eligible Rogers, Fido, Shaw or Comwave purchase(s), you will get 1.5x the redemption value, giving an extra $15 in cash back value— for a total of $45 in cash back rewards. For clarity, $45 cash back value is applicable only when $30 cash back provided through this offer is redeemed on eligible Rogers, Fido, Shaw or Comwave purchase(s).
Refunded purchases do not qualify. Cash back rewards can be redeemed online through the Rogers Bank app towards purchases or requested in the form of a statement credit annually. Minimum redemption amount is $10. Account must be open and in good standing to earn, redeem and be given cash back rewards. After you qualify for the $30 cash back, it may take up to 4 months for the cash back to be posted to your account. Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended at any time without notice and cannot be combined with any other offer unless we indicate otherwise. We may revoke this offer if you appear to be manipulating or abusing it, or are engaged in any suspicious or fraudulent activity, as we may determine in our sole discretion. Existing cardholders who switch to the Rogers Red Mastercard or Rogers Red World Mastercard are not eligible for this offer.