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American Express Cobalt® Card vs CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card: Which one is better?
American Express Cobalt® Card
5
CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card
2.8
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$1,096.08
American Express Membership Rewards
First Year Bonus Value
$315
American Express Membership Rewards
Annual Fee
$155.88
First Year Value
$1,255.2
$940.2 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$264.39
CIBC Aventura
First Year Bonus Value
$350
CIBC Aventura
Annual Fee
$139
$0
First Year Waived
First Year Value
$614.39
$125.39 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included*
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Baggage Delay
$500.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Travel Accident
$250,000
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Extended Warranty
Up to 1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500
Emergency Out of province Medical
15 daysFlight Delay
$500
Insurance Included
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500Baggage Delay
$500Car Rental Damage & Theft
up to car value of $65kTravel Accident
$500,000Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000Extended Warranty
Up to a yearPurchase Protection
90 daysHotel Burglary Insurance
$2,500Emergency Out of province Medical
15 daysFlight Delay
$500Emergency Medical Over 65
3 days
Trip Cancellation
$1,500
Trip Interruption
$2,000
Extra Benefits*
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Travel Credit
Book two or more consecutive nights at participating properties through The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel to receive a $100 credit for amenities or a complimentary room upgrade, if available.
Amex Experiences™
Access Front Of The Line® Amex Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts and theatre performances and special offers and events curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™
Extra Benefits
Car Rental Discount
Get up to 25% off auto rentals at participating Avis and Budget locations worldwide.
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits
Exclusive offers
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Airport lounges Visa Airport Companion Program managed by DragonPass International + 4 Free complimentary visits.svg)
Gas Discount
save up to 10¢/L on fuel at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stations
Nexus Program Rebate
Up to $100 statement credit for Nexus Application fee every 4 years
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%1
Cash Advance:
21.99%1
Interest Rates
Purchase:
20.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%, for Quebec 21.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Annual Fee*
$155.88
Annual Fee
$139
$0
First Year Waived
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
$60,000
Min Household Income:
$100,000
Welcome Bonus*
Earn 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in purchases on your Card in the first Year
Welcome Bonus
15,000 Aventura Points when you make your first purchase, and 20,000 Aventura Points when you spend $3,000 or more in net purchases in the first 4 monthly statement periods
Rewards Rate*
- 5x points per $1 spent on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery (up to 12,500 points per month)
- 3x points per $1 spent on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
- 2x points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit & ride share in Canada
- 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Rewards Rate
- 2 points per $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre
- 1.5 points per $1 spent at eligible gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, grocery stores and drug stores
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Loyalty Program*
Loyalty Program
Point Redemption Options*
Statement Credits (Cash)
1¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.91¢ / point
Merchandise
0.63¢ / pointMost Optimal
Transfer to Airline Partners
2.1¢ / point
Fixed Point Travel Program
1.66¢ / point
Transfer to Hotel Partners
1.66¢ / point
Amazon.ca
0.7¢ / point
Point Redemption Options
Gift Cards
0.71¢ / pointMerchandise
0.71¢ / pointStatement Credits (Cash)
0.62¢ / pointMost Optimal
Travel
1¢ / point
Financial Products
0.83¢ / point
Is this card worth it?
This card was voted the Best Credit Card in Canada by FinlyWealth. The rewards earned on this card for a person with average spending exceed those of other credit cards in Canada by a huge margin! In addition, this card has a good benefits coverage, a flexible points redemption program (1:1 transfer to Aeroplan® or Avios), making it the best candidate to become the main credit card for the majority of people.
Is this card worth it?
The CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite Card* offers significant value for travelers with its high rewards on travel spending and flexible point redemptions, especially when used for flights. However, the high income requirements and limited value outside of travel redemptions may be drawbacks for some users. The extensive insurance coverage and airport lounge access make this card attractive for frequent travelers.
Pros
- Points can be transferred to Air Canada Aeroplan® at a 1:1 ratio, making this card a solid Aeroplan® points earner as an alternative to Aeroplan® branded credit cards
- Generous welcome bonus of up to 15,000 points
- 4+ different ways of redeeming your points for great value
- 10 different types of insurance, including travel
- Often referred to as the Best Credit Card in Canada
Pros
- Generous Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 45,000 Aventura points, which can be worth up to $1,031 in travel value.
- High Points on Travel: Earn 2 points per $1 on travel booked through the CIBC Rewards Centre and 1.5 points per $1 on gas, groceries, EV charging, and drugstores.
- Flexible Redemption: Points can be redeemed for flights, travel, gift cards, merchandise, and more, with the best value coming from the Aventura Flight Chart, where points can be worth up to 2.29 cents each.
- Complimentary Airport Lounge Access: Includes 4 free passes to Visa Airport Companion lounges globally.
- Comprehensive Insurance: 12 types of insurance, including trip cancellation, mobile device protection, and emergency medical coverage.
Cons
- Less acceptance of American Express at different merchants across Canada
- Not all types of travel insurance are covered, especially trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Cons
- High Income Requirements: Requires a personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000.
- Poor Rewards Outside Travel: If you redeem points for non-travel rewards, like gift cards or merchandise, the value drops to about 1 cent per point, making other cards better for non-travel rewards.
Legal
**Terms and conditions apply.
If you have 2 separate missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate missed payments, the applicable rates will be 28.99%.
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment. Check here for full details and current product information.
1 If you have 2 separate missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate missed payments, the applicable rates will be 28.99%.