BMO AIR MILES® Mastercard®* vs BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®: Which one is better?

BMO AIR MILES® Mastercard®*
2.8

BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®
4
Finly Rebate
Finly Rebate
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$63.16
Air Miles
First Year Bonus Value
$216
Air Miles
Annual Fee
$0
First Year Value
$279.16
$63.16 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$500.78
First Year Bonus Value
$184
Annual Fee
$120
$0
First Year Waived
First Year Value
$684.78
$380.78 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included*
Extended Warranty
1 yearPurchase Protection
90 days
Insurance Included*
Extended Warranty
1 yearPurchase Protection
90 daysLost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1,000 maximumBaggage Delay
$500/person, $1,000 maximum After 6 hoursCar Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 daysTravel Accident
$500,000Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000Emergency Out of province Medical
$5M up to 8 days per covered personFlight Delay
$500 After 4 hours delay
Extra Benefits*
Car Rental Discount
20% off base rate of participating National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car and up to 5% on Enterprise Rent-A-CarDiscount
Save up to 7% on your Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookingsDiscount
Up to 7 cents off per litre on Shell® fuel if you are an AirMiles collectorDiscount
Get 20% off admission to Cirque du Soleil shows touring Canada, and 15% off resident shows in Las Vegas
Extra Benefits*
Car Rental Discount
Save up to 20% on National Car Rental® and Alamo Rent A Car® and up to 5% on Enterprise Rent-A-Car® at locations worldwide using the Car Rental Booking toolAirport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass. As a member enjoy lounge access for a fee of just US$32 per person, per visit.Gas Discount
Get up to 7 cents off per litre on Shell® fuel, only for BMO cardholders.Roadside Assistance
Including battery boosts, flat-tire change, lockout service and towing – a $69/year value.Hotel Booking Discount
Save up to 7% on your Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookings at booking.com/mastercardcanada.Global Data Roaming plan
With FlexiRoam, stay connected around the world without a SIM card and get up to 15% off a Global Data Roaming plan plus up to 3GB of data, without any additional charges, if apply.
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%1
Cash Advance:
23.99%1
Balance Transfer:
23.99%1
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%
Cash Advance:
23.99%
Balance Transfer:
23.99%
Annual Fee*
$0
Annual Fee*
$120
$0
First Year Waived
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
$80,000
Min Household Income:
$150,000
Welcome Bonus*
Get 1,200 AIR MILES Bonus Miles when you spend $1,500 in net card purchases (less refunds and excluding cash advances, cash-like transactions, interest charges, fees, credit, or debit adjustments) in the first 110 days from the Credit Card open date. Get a 0.99% introductory interest rate on Balance Transfers for 9 months, 2% fee applies to balance amounts transferred*.
Welcome Bonus*
Get up to 10% cash back in your first 3 months with an incremental cashback value of $194
Rewards Rate*
- 3x Miles points per $25 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners
- 2x Miles points per $25 spent on eligible grocery purchases
- 1x Mile point per $25 spent on all other eligible purchases
Rewards Rate*
- 5% cash back on groceries (capped at $500 spending per statement, maximum of $25 in cashback per statement cycle)
- 4% cash back on daily transit (capped at $300 spending per statement, maximum of $12 in cashback per statement cycle)
- 3% cash back on gas (capped at $300 spending per statement, maximum of $9 in cashback per statement cycle)
- 2% cash back on recurring payments (capped at $500 spending per statement, maximum of $10 in cashback per statement cycle)
- 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Loyalty Program*
Loyalty Program*
N/A
Point Redemption Options*
Most Optimal
Travel
18¢ / pointStatement Credits (Cash)
10¢ / pointMerchandise
9¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Not Applicable
Is this card worth it?
The BMO Air Miles Mastercard is an excellent option for those looking to collect Air Miles without paying an annual fee. With bonus earning opportunities at Air Miles partners and grocery stores, this card is ideal for regular Air Miles collectors. It also offers perks like fuel savings at Shell and a competitive balance transfer rate, making it a versatile card for everyday purchases. However, its limited rewards outside of partner stores may not make it the best fit for those who don't frequently shop at Air Miles-affiliated retailers.
Is this card worth it?
If you're seeking a cashback credit card, the BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard® stands out for its excellent balance between rewards and benefits. It offers a robust rewards program and a comprehensive benefits list, making it a solid choice. The high first-year value is enhanced by the annual fee waiver, and those with a BMO Premium Chequing Account can enjoy continued fee waivers. While it's highly ranked for rewards alone, it may not be the absolute top choice if benefits are less important to you.
Pros
- No annual fee: The card is free to hold, making it a cost-effective way to collect Air Miles.
- Bonus miles at partners: Earn 3x the miles at Air Miles partners and 2x the miles at grocery, liquor, and wholesale stores.
- Fuel savings: Save up to 7 cents per litre at Shell stations, with the potential to save up to $100 annually.
- Balance transfer offer: 0.99% promotional interest rate on balance transfers for the first 9 months.
Pros
- Offers one of the highest cashbacks on groceries and gas, two of the most frequently spent categories, compared to other credit cards in Canada.
- Includes roadside assistance, a rare but valuable benefit for people on the road.
- Provides a comprehensive list of insurance coverage and benefits.
- High first-year value.
Cons
- Low base earn rate: Earn only 1 Air Mile per $25 spent on all non-bonus purchases.
- Limited insurance: The card only offers basic insurance, such as extended warranty and purchase protection.
- Limited value outside Air Miles partners: Rewards earning potential is higher at participating partners, but significantly lower for general spending.
Cons
- Does not include restaurant purchases as a reward category, which is one of the most important spending categories.
- Monthly limits on cash back could be higher


vs BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card


vs BMO Preferred Rate Mastercard®


vs BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard®∗


vs BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card


vs BMO eclipse rise Visa* Card


vs BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®*


vs BMO CashBack® Mastercard® for Students


vs BMO CashBack® Mastercard®


vs BMO AIR MILES® World Elite®* Mastercard®*


vs BMO VIPorter Mastercard®∗


vs BMO AIR MILES® Mastercard®* for Students


vs American Express Cobalt® Card


vs TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card


vs Rogers Red Mastercard®


vs Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card


vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card


vs Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®


vs American Express Gold Rewards Card®


vs Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card


vs American Express® Green Card


vs PC World Elite Mastercard


vs MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®


vs Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card


vs SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express


vs Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card


vs CIBC Costco Mastercard


vs SimplyCash® Card from American Express


vs Neo World Elite® Mastercard®


vs BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card


vs BMO Preferred Rate Mastercard®


vs BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard®∗


vs BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card


vs BMO eclipse rise Visa* Card


vs BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®*


vs BMO CashBack® Mastercard® for Students


vs BMO CashBack® Mastercard®


vs BMO AIR MILES® World Elite®* Mastercard®*


vs BMO VIPorter Mastercard®∗


vs BMO AIR MILES® Mastercard®* for Students
Legal