PC World Elite Mastercard vs American Express Platinum Card®: Which one is better?
PC World Elite Mastercard
2.3
American Express Platinum Card®
4.7
Welcome Bonus
Earn 20,000 points when you get approved.
Welcome Bonus*
Experience Amex’s best offer this year on the Platinum Card®. New Platinum® Cardmembers can earn up to 180,000 Membership Rewards® points - that’s up to $1,800 towards a weekend away. Earn 100,000 points after you spend $10,000 on your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership. Earn an additional 50,000 points after you spend a total of $50,000 on your Card in your first 12 months of Cardmembership. Plus, earn 30,000 points when you make a purchase between months 15 and 17 of Cardmembership. Offer ends August 18, 2025.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$266
PC Financial
First Year Bonus Value
+
$20
PC Financial
Annual Fee
-
$0
First Year Value
$286
$266 in years after
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$581.26
American Express Membership Rewards
First Year Bonus Value
+
$0
American Express Membership Rewards
Annual Fee
-
$799
First Year Value
-$217.74
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
While the first year bonus value here may show $0, the actual welcome bonus offer for this credit card is Up to 180,000 Membership Rewards® points, which we value at $3,780 when you meet the minimum spending or other listed requirements. The value of $0 here was derived based on numbers in the spending inputs and whether you meet the minimum listed requirements.
How to Earn Rewards
- 45 points per $1 dollar spent at Shoppers Drug Mart® stores
- 30 points per $1 dollar spent at Atlantic Superstore, Extra Foods, Fortinos, Loblaws, Maxi, Maxi & cie, no frills, Provigo, Real Canadian Superstore, SaveEasy, SuperValu, valu-mart, Your Independent Grocer, Zehrs
- 20 points per $1 spent in PC travel
- 19 points per $1 dollar spent at ESSO and Mobil (it's 30 points per liter and the assumption of average gas price of $1.6 was made)
- 10 points per $1 dollar spent for everything else
How to Earn Rewards*
- 2x points per $1 spent on eligible dining & food delivery purchases (restaurant, fast food, coffee shop, food delivery)
- 2x points per $1 spent on eligible travel purchases (flights, hotels, tours and more)
- 1x point per $1 spent for all other purchases
Insurance Included
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Car Rental Damage & Theft
Up to 31 days
Extended Warranty
Doubled up to a year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Emergency Out of province Medical
$1M, Up to 10 days
Insurance Included*
Car Rental Damage & Theft
YesExtended Warranty
1 yearPurchase Protection
120 daysEmergency Out of province Medical
15 days
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1,000
Baggage Delay
$1,000
Travel Accident
$500,000
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1000
Trip Cancellation
$2,500
Trip Interruption
$2,500Flight Delay
$1,000
Extra Benefits
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Concierge Services
Identity Theft Assistance
Extra Benefits*
Concierge Services
Trip and legal Assistance
American Express® Experiences
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Status lift
Upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold StatusStatus lift
Upgrade to Marriott BonvoyTM Gold Elite status
Extra points
Earn 2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases and extra points on American Express offers.svg)
Travel Credit
$200
Dining Credit
$200 at Select Restaurants
Nexus Program Rebate
$100 statement credit every 4 years
Airport Lounge - American Express Global Lounge
Take full advantage of The American Express Global Lounge Collection™ which unlocks access to over 1,400 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.
Complimentary Hotel Benefits
Enjoy complimentary benefits that offer an average value of $550 USD at over 1,600 extraordinary properties worldwide when you book Fine Hotels + Resorts
Priority Travel
At Toronto Pearson Airport get Priority Security lane, Complimentary valet and 15% discount at the Express Park and daily park
Interest Rates
Purchase:
21.99%
Cash Advance:
22.97%
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99% - 30%2
Cash Advance:
N/A2
Annual Fee
$0
Annual Fee*
$799
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
$80,000
Min Household Income:
$150,000
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Loyalty Program
Loyalty Program*
Point Redemption Options
Groceries
0.1¢ / point.svg)
Gas (Esso)
0.1¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Most Optimal
Transfer to Airline Partners
2.1¢ / point
Fixed Point Travel Program
1.66¢ / pointTransfer to Hotel Partners
1.66¢ / point
Statement Credits (Cash)
1¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.91¢ / point
Amazon.ca
0.7¢ / point
Merchandise
0.63¢ / point
Is this card worth it?
This is a great card to have in your arsenal if you frequently shop at Shoppers Drug Mart®, Loblaw's owned chains, and ESSO and Mobil gas stations, as you will earn significant rewards in these categories. The additional benefits, such as out-of-province medical insurance, car rental damage insurance, and concierge service, are impressive and typically only come with cards that have annual fees; however, you can access these benefits for free with this card. We do not recommend using this as your primary credit card but as a supplement to another primary card, especially because there are no fees. This is because the rewards on purchases outside the mentioned shops are very average, and many other cards offer much more substantial rewards for general use.
Is this card worth it?
If you're a frequent traveler, the Platinum card is an excellent choice. It's highly recommended for its extensive travel benefits, including unlimited lounge access for you and a guest at the American Express Lounge collection, making it the best card for lounge access in Canada. The card also offers unique perks not commonly found with other Canadian cards, such as status upgrades at Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton, dining and travel credits, concierge service, airport benefits, Nexus application reimbursement, and more. These benefits can more than offset the annual fee. However, if you don't travel often or are mainly looking for a card that maximizes rewards, this card may not be the best option for you.
Pros
- Out-of-province medical insurance, concierge service, and car rental damage insurance—benefits that are usually included with cards that have fees—are included with this card.
- Decent rewards on purchases at Shoppers Drug Mart®, Loblaw's owned chains, and ESSO and Mobil gas stations.
Pros
- Offers more perks than any other credit card in Canada, catering to premium users who value extensive benefits.
- Enjoy $400 in annual travel and dining credits, which can offset some of the card's cost.
- Gain unlimited access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, enhancing your travel experience.
- Multiple options for redeeming points for high value, giving you flexibility in how you use your rewards.
- Includes 11 types of insurance coverage, offering comprehensive protection for cardholders.
- It's a metal card, who doesn't love a metal credit card?
Cons
- Many other high-spend categories don't earn as many rewards. Shopping at any other grocery chains, gas stations, or pharmacies will only give the base reward rate, and restaurant purchases and purchases in other categories don't earn much either.
Cons
- As with other American Express cards, it may have lower acceptance in some locations compared to other networks.
- The high annual fee of $799 may be a barrier for some users, especially those who do not fully utilize the card's benefits.
- Some benefits are limited to specific airports and hotels.
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