American Express Cobalt® Card

TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

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American Express Cobalt® Card vs TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

Which one is better? Both cards worked out on the same spending: rewards, welcome bonus, fees and perks, line by line.

Finly rebate

$75

4.9

Apply now Get $75 Finly rebate

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4.5

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Welcome bonus

Each offer as the issuer words it. The numbers below show whether your spending reaches it.

The offer

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.

Up to $1,550 in value^†including up to 50,000 Aeroplan points^† could be yours. Plus, receive an Annual Fee rebate for the first year^† and additional travel benefits. Conditions Apply.

Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first Purchase with your new Card^†.
Earn 15,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $3,000 within 90 days of Account opening^†.
Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $12,000 within 12 months of Account opening^†.
Apply for the NEXUS program and once every 48 months get an application fee rebate (up to $100 CAD per eligible cardholder).^†
Share free first checked bags for you and up to 8 travel companions†
Get an Annual Fee rebate for the first year^†.

To receive the first-year Annual Fee rebate, you must activate your Card and make your first Purchase on the Account within the first 3 months after Account opening. To receive the first Additional Cardholder first-year Annual Fee rebate, you must add your first Additional Cardholder while this offer is in effect.

Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer unless otherwise indicated.

What each card is worth

Rewards, the welcome bonus and any Finly rebate in, the annual fee and FX fees out, all on your spending.

Worked out on a typical $2,000 a month of spending. Enter yours to see your own numbers.

$1,147

First-year value

$1,444

$787

Every year after

$355

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite is worth $297 more to you in year one.

From year two, Amex Cobalt pulls ahead by $432 a year.

How the first year adds up

Annual rewards

$979.03

51,528 points a year

Welcome bonus

+ $285

first year only

Annual fee

− $191.88

Finly rebate

+ $75

paid by FinlyWealth

First-year value

$1,147.15

1.9¢ a pointAmerican Express Membership Rewards, redeemed for Transfer to Airline Partners

Annual rewards

$494.3

26,016 points a year

Welcome bonus

+ $950

first year only

Annual fee

$139− $0

$139 from year two

First-year value

$1,444.3

1.9¢ a pointAeroplan, redeemed for Flights

Where each card earns

A year of your spending at each card's own reward rates, most first.

5xFood, drinks and groceries in Canada

32,604 pts

$619.48

2xGas, transit & ride share in Canada

4,692 pts

$89.15

3xStreaming subscriptions in Canada

1,440 pts

$27.36

1xAll other purchases

12,792 pts

$243.05

1.5xGroceries, Gas and Air Canada

8,172 pts

$155.27

1xAll other purchases

17,844 pts

$339.04

Fees, rates and eligibility

What each card costs to hold and to use abroad, and who it's for.

$191.88

billed monthly

Annual fee

$139

$0 the first year

Additional cards

$75

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%.

Purchase:

21.99%

Cash Advance:

22.99%

Recommended credit score

300

Poor

693

Fair

743⁎

Good

790⁎

Very Good

833⁎

Excellent

⁎Estimates based on TransUnion scoring

300

Poor

560

Fair

660⁎

Good

725⁎

Very Good

760⁎

Excellent

⁎Estimates based on Equifax scoring

Income required

Min Personal Income:

N/A

Min Household Income:

N/A

Min Personal Income:

$60,000

Min Household Income:

$100,000

How each card earns

The earn rates and caps, as each issuer sets them.

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

Earn 1.5 points^†for every $1 spent on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, grocery and direct through Air Canada^®purchases (including Air Canada Vacations^®) made with your Card.
Earn 1 point^†for every $1 spent on all other Purchases made with your Card
Earn points twice when you pay with your Card and provide your Aeroplan number at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and at 200+ online retailers via the Aeroplan eStore (www.aeroplan.com/estore).
Your Aeroplan Points do not expire as long as you are a TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Cardholder in good standing.
Earn more at Starbucks: Link your eligible Card to earn more Starbucks Stars at participating Starbucks stores. Conditions apply.

Points and how we value them

Points become dollars at each card's best redemption. Here's the value we used, and every other way to spend them.

Loyalty program

American Express Membership Rewards

We count each point at 1.9¢ a point, what it's worth redeemed for Transfer to Airline Partners, its best value. Every dollar figure above uses that value.

Aeroplan

We count each point at 1.9¢ a point, what it's worth redeemed for Flights, its best value. Every dollar figure above uses that value.

Point redemption options

Gift Cards

0.91¢ / point

Merchandise

0.63¢ / point

Most Optimal

Transfer to Airline Partners

1.9¢ / point

Fixed Point Travel Program

1.16¢ / point

Transfer to Hotel Partners

1.08¢ / point

Flexible Points Travel Program

1¢ / point

Statement Credits (Cash)

1¢ / point

Amazon.ca

0.7¢ / point

Merchandise

0.75¢ / point

Gift Cards

0.72¢ / point

Most Optimal

Flights

1.9¢ / point

Car Rentals

0.9¢ / point

Travel

0.825¢ / point

Insurance and perks

What both cards include comes first in each list.

Insurance

Lost or Stolen Baggage

$500

Baggage Delay

$500

Car Rental Damage & Theft

yes

Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance

$250,000

Mobile Device Insurance

$1,000

Extended Warranty

1 year

Purchase Protection

90 days

Hotel Burglary Insurance

$500

Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)

15 days, up to $5M (if under age 65)

Flight Delay

$500

Lost or Stolen Baggage^†

$1,000

Baggage Delay^†

$1,000

Car Rental Damage & Theft^†

yes

Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance^†

$500,000

Mobile Device Insurance^†

$1,000

Extended Warranty^†

1 year

Purchase Protection^†

90 days

Hotel Burglary Insurance^†

$2,500

Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)^†

21 days

Flight Delay^†

$500

Travel Medical Insurance (65 to 75)^†

4 days

Trip Cancellation^†

$1,500

Trip Interruption^†

$5,000

Perks

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™

Car Rental Discount^†

10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car

Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits^†

Trip and legal Assistance^†

Concierge Services^†

Status lift^†

Reach Aeroplan Elite™ Status sooner by earning 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and one (1) Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 of net purchases

Free first checked bag^†

First checked bag is free for primary cardholder on Aircanada flights and up to 8 guests

Extra points^†

Link your eligible Card to earn more Starbucks Stars at participating Starbucks stores. Conditions apply.  

Extra points^†

Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and over 200 online retailers through the Aeroplan eStore

Nexus Program Rebate^†

$100 every 4 years

Golf Benefit^†

Troon Rewards Golf benefits like discounts at over 95 resorts and courses around the world plus access to select private clubs across the U.S

Our take

Why we like it

This card was voted one of 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.

The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Card* is an excellent choice for frequent Air Canada travelers looking to maximize their rewards with Aeroplan points. With perks like free checked bags, Preferred Pricing, and a first-year fee rebate, it’s ideal for users who value Air Canada-specific benefits. However, the card’s high income requirement and limited non-Air Canada redemption options may not appeal to everyone.

Pros

Impressive optimization
1:1 Aeroplan point transfer
Generous welcome bonus
Flexible high value redemptions
Comprehensive coverage
Highly ranked
Instant decision. No credit impact.

Decent rewards
First-year fee rebate
Comprehensive insurance
Impressive travel perks

Cons

Limited acceptance
Lacks valuable coverage categories

Relatively lower reward rates
Limited airline loyalty
Annual fee
Income requirements

American Express Cobalt® Card vs TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card: When to go for one over the other

Annual Fees and Requirements

The American Express Cobalt® Card and the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card have comparable annual fees, with the Cobalt® Card being slightly higher. However, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card requires a minimum personal or household income, which could limit accessibility for some applicants. The Cobalt® Card has no specific income requirements, making it more broadly accessible to a wider range of users.

Rewards Comparison

The American Express Cobalt® Card shines in everyday spending categories such as dining, groceries, and streaming services, offering a more consistent rewards rate year-round. In contrast, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card delivers higher rewards when used for Air Canada purchases and Aeroplan partners, which is ideal for frequent flyers. Both cards offer strong welcome bonuses, with the TD Aeroplan® card providing a larger initial bonus, although its ongoing rewards may not match the Cobalt® Card for general spending.

Reward Redemption Options

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card allows users to redeem points primarily through the Aeroplan program, offering excellent value for Air Canada flights and partner airlines. The American Express Cobalt Card provides more flexibility with redemption options, including transferring points to various airline and hotel partners, using points for travel through Amex Travel, or redeeming them for statement credits. This flexibility makes the Cobalt Card more versatile for users who value multiple redemption avenues.

Benefits and Insurance

Both cards come with extensive insurance coverage, including travel-related protections and purchase assurances. However, the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card stands out with additional travel benefits like a free checked bag on Air Canada flights, a Nexus application rebate, and the ability to earn Aeroplan Elite™ Status faster through the Status Lift feature. The American Express Cobalt® Card, while slightly less travel-focused, offers unique perks such as access to American Express Experiences, which may appeal to those interested in exclusive events and offers.

Conclusion

For most users, the American Express Cobalt® Card is the better option due to its excellent rewards on everyday purchases and lack of income restrictions. However, frequent Air Canada travelers or those invested in the Aeroplan program may prefer the TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card for its specific travel benefits, such as the Nexus rebate, free checked bags, and faster path to Aeroplan Elite™ Status.

More comparisons

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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.

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