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American Express Cobalt® Card vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card: Which one is better?
American Express Cobalt® Card
American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
Welcome Bonus
Earn 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in purchases on your amex cobalt credit card in the first Year. That's up to 15,000 Membership Rewards® points.
Welcome Bonus
Earn 30,000 Aeroplan® points after spending $3,000 in purchases on your Card within the first 3 months. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 Aeroplan® points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in month 13.
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 a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$517
Air Canada Aeroplan®
First Year Bonus Value
+
$630
Air Canada Aeroplan®
Annual Fee
-
$120
First Year Value
$1,027
$397 in years after
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
How to Earn Rewards
- 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
How to Earn Rewards
- 2x Aeroplan® points on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada®* and Air Canada vacations®*
- 1.5x Aeroplan® points on eligible Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada
- 1x Aeroplan® point on everything else
Insurance Included
Baggage Delay
$500.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Travel Accident
$250,000
Extended Warranty
Up to 1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500Flight Delay
$500
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Emergency Out of province Medical
15 days, up to $5M (if under age 65)
Insurance Included
Baggage Delay
$500 (Aggregated with Flight Delay)Car Rental Damage & Theft
$85K, up to 48 daysTravel Accident
$500,000Extended Warranty
1 yearPurchase Protection
90 days, $1,000 per occurrenceHotel Burglary Insurance
$500Flight Delay
$500 (Aggregated with Baggage Delay)
Extra Benefits
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™.svg)
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.
Extra Benefits
Amex Experiences™
Amex Experiences™: From music and movies, to specially curated dining and online shopping opportunities, stay connected with all that we have to offer from the comfort of your own home.svg)
Status lift
Reach Aeroplan Elite™ Status sooner by earning Status Qualifying Miles and Status Qualifying Segments with purchases made on your account.svg)
Free first checked bag
Enjoy your first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada®* flights
Extra points
Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands
Free Extra Night at Hotels
Receive an extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points
Interest Rates
Purchase:
21.99%1
Cash Advance:
21.99%1
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 29.99%.
Interest Rates
Purchase:
30% Annual2
Cash Advance:
30% Annual2
2 As a Charge Card, the balance must always be paid in full each month. 30% annual interest rate applies to balances not paid in full. Payments must be received and processed by the date of the next monthly statement to avoid interest charges.
Annual Fee
$155.88 (paid monthly)⁕
⁕ For Quebec residents, $150/year.
⁕ IMPORTANT NOTICE: Effective November 5, 2025, the monthly fee for non-Quebec residents will increase to $15.99 per month ($191.88 annually), and the annual fee for Quebec residents will increase to $191.88 per year.
Annual Fee
$120
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Loyalty Program
Loyalty Program
Point Redemption Options
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
Statement Credits (Cash)
1¢ / point
Amazon.ca
0.7¢ / point
Point Redemption Options
Merchandise
0.75¢ / pointGift Cards
0.72¢ / pointMost Optimal
Aeroplan® Flights
2.1¢ / point
Car Rentals
0.9¢ / pointTravel
0.825¢ / 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 amex cobalt bonus 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?
This card comes with the free checked bag benefit, which can save hundreds on a single trip for you and your family, more than making up for the annual fee of the card. In addition, the card helps you reach the next Aeroplan Status faster with spending on the card. However, if you don't have a specific use for these two benefits, there are many better cards in terms of benefits and rewards.
Pros
- Amex cobalt credit card 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 amex cobalt bonus points of up to 15,000
- 4+ different ways of redeeming your points for great value
- 10 different types of insurance, including travel
- Excellent Amex cobalt bonus offers
- Often referred to as the Best Credit Card in Canada
Pros
- Free checked bag benefit: Every checked bag might cost you $60 - $100 per person on a round trip. The amount you can save in a year if you travel a few times or travel with a few companions can easily be much higher than the annual fee of the card.
- If you are interested in a higher Aeroplan Status, the card helps you get there faster.
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
- The main reward category is only for Air Canada purchases. Unless you are a frequent Air Canada traveler, this reward category is not useful to most people.
- The only other rewards category offered is for food, and it doesn't offer that high of a reward rate either.
- In terms of insurance benefits, the types and coverage amounts provided are lower compared to other cards with a similar annual fee.
vs Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card
vs Neo World Elite® Mastercard®
vs American Express Platinum Card®
vs SimplyCash® Card from American Express
vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
vs Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card
vs CIBC Costco Mastercard
vs CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
vs BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®
vs Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
vs Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard®
vs SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express
vs TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card
vs TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege*
vs Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card
vs MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
vs PC World Elite Mastercard
vs American Express® Green Card
vs Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card
vs RBC ION+ Visa
vs Neo Mastercard®
vs American Express Gold Rewards Card®
vs Walmart Rewards™ World Mastercard®
vs Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard®
vs Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
vs RBC ION Visa
vs Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
vs Rogers Red Mastercard®
vs TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
vs Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card
vs American Express Platinum Card®
vs SimplyCash® Card from American Express
vs Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card
vs CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
vs Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard®
vs SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express
vs MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
vs American Express® Green Card
vs American Express Gold Rewards Card®
vs Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
vs TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
American Express Cobalt® Card vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card: When to go for one over the other
Annual Fees and Requirements
The American Express Cobalt Card has a slightly higher annual fee compared to the American Express Aeroplan Card. However, neither card imposes specific income requirements, making them accessible to a broad range of users. The annual fee differences may be offset depending on how often you utilize the rewards categories.
Rewards Comparison
The American Express Cobalt Card focuses heavily on food-related categories, offering high rewards on dining, groceries, and streaming services. The Aeroplan Card, meanwhile, centers its rewards on Air Canada purchases and dining. Both offer substantial signup bonuses, but the Cobalt Card provides better ongoing rewards for everyday spending beyond travel.
Reward Redemption Options
One of the key advantages of the Cobalt Card is the ability to transfer points to airline partners, including Aeroplan, which enhances its flexibility and makes it a superior choice even compared to the Aeroplan Card. In addition, the Cobalt offers other redemption options such as cash back, travel, and gift cards. The Aeroplan Card primarily focuses on Aeroplan-related travel redemptions, limiting its versatility.
Benefits and Insurance
Both cards provide solid insurance coverage, including travel and purchase protection. However, the Aeroplan Card offers a unique benefit of free checked bags on Air Canada flights, which can save frequent flyers significant amounts. In contrast, the Cobalt Card’s benefits are better suited to everyday use, but it doesn’t match the travel perks of the Aeroplan Card.
Conclusion
The American Express Cobalt Card is best for those who want maximum flexibility and strong rewards across multiple categories, including the option to transfer points to Aeroplan and other airline partners. This makes it a better choice for most users. On the other hand, the Aeroplan Card is ideal for frequent Air Canada travelers who can take advantage of specific travel benefits like the free checked bag perk.
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 29.99%.
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.
*Terms and conditions apply.
As a Charge Card, the balance must always be paid in full each month. 30% annual interest rate applies to balances not paid in full. Payments must be received and processed by the date of the next monthly statement to avoid interest charges.
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.