RBC ION+ Visa vs MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®: Which one is better?
RBC ION+ Visa
3.6
MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
5
Welcome Bonus*
Get 14,000 Avion welcome points upon approval^ - that’s $100 of value in gift cards†! Apply by November 4, 2025.
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.
Our Cash Offer
N/A
Our Cash Offer
$120 Cash Rebate offer from FinlyWealth
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$425.98
RBC ION Avion
First Year Bonus Value
+
$140
RBC ION Avion
Annual Fee
-
$48
First Year Value
$517.98
$377.98 in years after
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
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 a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
How to Earn Rewards*
- Earn 3X Avion points for every $1 spent on groceries, dining, gas, food delivery, rideshare, streaming services and more2
- Earn 1X Avion point for every $1 spent on all other qualifying purchases2
How to Earn Rewards*
- 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.
Insurance Included*
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Extended Warranty
Up to a year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Insurance Included*
Mobile Device Insurance
$1000Extended Warranty
Up to a yearPurchase Protection
Up to 90 days
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1000/person
Baggage Delay
$1000/person.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
31 days
Travel Accident
$1,000,000
Emergency Out of province Medical
$2M for 21 daysFlight Delay
$500/person after 4 hours
Extra Benefits*
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Gas Discount
save 3¢/L on fuel and always earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada
Extra points
50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall
Extra Benefits*
Price Protection
$500/item, $1000/account per year
Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationally
Trip and legal Assistance
Annual 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).svg)
Concierge Services
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
20.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
19.99%2
Cash Advance:
24.99%2
Balance Transfer:
22.99%2
Annual Fee*
$48
Annual Fee*
$120
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
$80,000
Min Household Income:
$150,000
Loyalty Program*
Loyalty Program*
Point Redemption Options*
Gift Cards
0.72¢ / point
Merchandise
0.7¢ / point
Travel
0.6¢ / pointMost Optimal
Transfer to WestJet
1¢ / point
Financial Products
0.83¢ / point
Statement Credits (Cash)
0.58¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Most Optimal
Travel
1¢ / pointGift Cards
0.98¢ / pointMerchandise
0.8¢ / pointStatement Credits (Cash) - World Elite
0.82¢ / pointStatement Credits (Cash) - Platinum
0.5¢ / point
Is this card worth it?
This card is not by any means one of our favorite cards. For an annual fee it offers almost no notable benefits, with many no annual fee credit cards offering much more. The points earned are fine, but given the inflexibility of ION Avion points, it's very hard to get good value for the points earned, and it's much easier to earn more and do the same with some other credit card reward programs.
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.
Pros
- Save on fuel at Petro-Canada locations, with 3 cents per litre off
- Great welcome bonus offer
- 3x points per $1 spent on high spend categories
Pros
- Both restaurants and groceries, two of the most commonly spent categories, earn the most rewards.
- The MBNA rewards world elite mastercard offers a 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.
Cons
- The ION Avion membership isn't quite as flexible as regular Avion
- Insurance coverage is very limited
Cons
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, two great benefits are missing from this card.
- Not the best card for gas purchases.
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