MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® vs MBNA Smart Cash® World Mastercard®: Which one is better?

MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
5

MBNA Smart Cash® World Mastercard®
3.1
Finly Rebate
Finly Rebate
N/A
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$657.62
MBNA Rewards
First Year Bonus Value
$300
MBNA Rewards
Annual Fee
$120
Finly Rebate
$120Exclusive Offer
First Year Value
$957.62
$537.62 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$300
MBNA Rewards
First Year Bonus Value
$90
MBNA Rewards
Annual Fee
$39
First Year Value
$351
$261 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included*
Car Rental Damage & Theft
31 daysTravel Accident
$1,000,000Extended Warranty
Up to a yearPurchase Protection
Up to 90 daysLost or Stolen Baggage
$1000/personBaggage Delay
$1000/personMobile Device Insurance
$1000Emergency Out of province Medical
$2M for 21 daysFlight Delay
$500/person after 4 hours
Insurance Included*
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Up to 31 daysTravel Accident
$1,000,000Extended Warranty
Up to a yearPurchase Protection
Up to 90 daysCar Rental Accident
$200,000Price Protection
$500/item, $1,000/yearCar Rental Personal Effects
$1,000/person, $2,000/occurence
Extra Benefits*
Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationallyTrip and legal Assistance
Price Protection
$500/item, $1000/account per yearAnnual Birthday Bonus
10% of the Points earned the 12 months prior to the primary cardholder's birthday month (up to a max 15,000 bonus points per year)Concierge Services
Extra Benefits*
Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationallyTrip and legal Assistance
Support for emergency cash transfer, lost document and ticket replacement, lost baggage assistance, pre-trip information and legal assistance while traveling
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
19.99%
Cash Advance:
24.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
19.99%
Cash Advance:
24.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Annual Fee*
$120
Annual Fee*
$39
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
$80,000
Min Household Income:
$150,000
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
$50,000
Min Household Income:
$80,000
Welcome Bonus*
20,000 bonus points†† (approximately $165 in cash back value) after you make $2,000 or more in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening. 10,000 bonus points††(approximately $80 in cash back value) once enrolled for paperless e-statements within the first 90 days of account opening. This offer is not available for residents of Quebec.
Welcome Bonus*
Get 5% Cash Back†† on eligible gas and grocery purchases for the first 6 months (until the total gas and grocery purchases in the applicable month reaches $500)
Rewards Rate*
- Earn 5 points‡ for every $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases until $50,000 is spent annually in the applicable category.
- 1 point‡ for every $1 on all other eligible purchases.
- Each year, you will receive Birthday Bonus Points‡ equal to 10% of the total number of Points the Account earned in the 12 months before the month of the primary cardholder's birthday, to a maximum Birthday Bonus each year of 15,000 Points.
Rewards Rate*
- Get 2% Cash Back‡ on eligible gas and grocery purchases (until the total gas and grocery purchases in the applicable month reaches $500)
- Get 1% Cash Back‡ for all other eligible purchases
Loyalty Program*
Loyalty Program*
N/A
Point Redemption Options*
Most Optimal
Travel
1¢ / pointGift Cards
0.85¢ / pointStatement Credits (Cash) - World Elite
0.83¢ / pointMerchandise
0.8¢ / pointStatement Credits (Cash) - Platinum
0.5¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Not Applicable
Is this card worth it?
The MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® is one of the best reward credit cards in Canada, offering high rewards on frequently spent categories such as groceries and restaurant purchases. The annual birthday bonus, unique to this card, also provides a significant boost to your yearly earnings. Additionally, the card features a comprehensive list of benefits, including price protection—a rare and valuable perk not found with many other cards in Canada. These factors make this card one of the best to have in Canada.
Is this card worth it?
The MBNA Smart Cash World Mastercard offers decent rewards, especially with its 5% introductory rate on gas and groceries. However, the income requirements and spending caps may limit its appeal to higher earners. If you want flexible rewards and strong insurance coverage, it's a solid option with a low annual fee of $39.
Pros
- Both restaurants and groceries, two of the most commonly spent categories, earn the most rewards.
- Great annual birthday bonus with up to $150 in value.
- A solid list of travel insurance and benefits.
- Price protection, a rare feature not offered by many other cards.
- Good value for many of the card's redemption options.
Pros
- 5% cash back on gas and groceries for the first 6 months: A solid introductory offer for essential spending categories.
- Up to 2% cash back: Earn 2% on gas and grocery purchases up to $500 monthly.
- Comprehensive insurance: Includes 8 types of insurance, including rental car and price protection.
- Flexible reward redemption: Redeem cash back as a statement credit, deposit to a bank account, or donate to charity.
Cons
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, two great benefits are missing from this card.
- Not the best card for gas purchases.
Cons
- High income requirements: $50,000 personal or $80,000 household income needed.
- Cap on rewards for gas and groceries: 2% cash back is limited to $500 in monthly spending for these categories.


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