MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus® Mastercard® vs MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard®: Which one is better?

MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus® Mastercard®
3.2

MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard®
3.9
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$210
MBNA Rewards
First Year Bonus Value
$90
MBNA Rewards
Annual Fee
$0
First Year Value
$300
$210 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
N/A
Insurance Included*
Extended Warranty
Up to a yearPurchase Protection
Up to 90 daysCar Rental Damage & Theft
Up to 31 daysCar Rental Accident
$300,000Travel Accident
$1,000,000Car Rental Personal Effects
$1,000Car Rental Personal Effects
$1,000/person, $2,000 occurrence
Insurance Included*
Extended Warranty
Doubled up to 1 yearPurchase Protection
90 days
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
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
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
19.99%
Cash Advance:
24.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
10.99%
Cash Advance:
24.99%
Balance Transfer:
13.99%
Annual Fee*
$0
Annual Fee*
$39
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
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)
Welcome Bonus*
N/A
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 0.5% Cash Back‡ for all other eligible purchases
Rewards Rate*
- No rewards earned on purchases
- Standard Annual Interest Rates of 10.99% on purchases, 13.99% on balance transfers✪, and 24.99% on cash advances
- Use available credit on your credit card to transfer funds right to your chequing account.
- Around-the-clock-fraud protection
Is this card worth it?
The MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus Mastercard is a solid no-fee card for those looking to earn rewards on everyday essentials like gas and groceries. However, with a cap on rewards and a low base earn rate on other purchases, it may not be the best fit for high spenders outside of these categories.
Is this card worth it?
A great card for having a permanently low interest rate on your purchases and balance transfers, however you do not earn any rewards.
Pros
- 5% cash back on gas and groceries: Earn 5% cash back on gas and groceries for the first 6 months (up to $500 spent per month).
- 2% ongoing cash back on gas and groceries: After the introductory period, continue earning 2% cash back on gas and groceries, up to $500 in combined monthly spend.
- Comprehensive insurance: Includes 7 types of insurance, including rental car insurance.
- No annual fee: Enjoy rewards without paying a fee.
Pros
- Low purchase interest rate for people planning to put some balance on their credit card.
Cons
- Low cash back on other purchases: Only 0.5% cash back on non-gas and grocery purchases.
- Cap on gas and grocery rewards: The 2% cash back on gas and groceries is limited to $500 in monthly spend.
Cons
- High cash advance interest rate at 24.99%
- No rewards earned on purchases
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