American Express offers Canadians more than two dozen credit cards that come with benefits and programs unique to our country. These cards are especially popular with travellers, and no matter what your needs or spending habits are, there's at least one for you. We've compiled the top ten American Express cards on the market in 2022, and to get an even clearer picture, check out our credit card comparison tool to find the one that's right for you.
American Express Cobalt Credit Card
Monthly Fee: $12.99 ($155.88 annual total)
Welcome offer: Up to 30,000 Membership Rewards points
Every purchase you make with the American Express Cobalt Card earns you points and rewards. You can redeem those points on Amazon.ca. With this card, you earn 5x the points on eligible purchases at restaurants, bars, grocery stores and through delivery services. You'll earn 3X the points for streaming services and 2x the points on travel, cabs, public transportation and hotel stays. Finally, you earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. This card is perfect for those who love to get away from it all.
The current promotional offer allows you to earn up to 30,000 Membership Rewards points in your first year. Spending $500 per month with your card will give you 2,500 bonus reward points each month during the first year you have the card. You can redeem your points for movie tickets, concerts, travel, gift cards and more.
Through Advance Reservations, you have exclusive access to concerts, plays and dining out. You can get great seats reserved only for American Express members.
Get special offers throughout the year on blockbuster movie premieres, getaways, in-store and online purchases. Receive benefits at hotels and resorts in over 30 countries. Also enjoy up to $100 USD in lodging credit and a free upgrade.
The American Express
Customer service is available 24/7. Emergency card replacement, fraud protection and online account management are also available.
The monthly fee is $12.99 and the annual interest rate is 20.99% on purchases and 21.99% on cash advances. There is no fee for an additional card.
You must be a Canadian resident, have reached the age of majority in the province in which you reside and have a Canadian credit history.
Check out our full review of the American Express Cobalt Card for a complete breakdown of features, benefits, rates, and fees.
American Express Gold Rewards Credit Card
With the American Express Gold Rewards Card, you earn points and receive rewards on every purchase.
Earn 2x points for every dollar spent on eligible:
- Travel expenses
- Gas, grocery, drugstores in Canada
Earn 1 point per $1 on all other card purchases. You also earn 1 additional Membership Rewards point for every dollar spent on overnight stays at eligible hotels or car rentals through American Express Travel Services.
The current welcome offer allows you to receive 50,000 Membership Rewards points for making $3,000 in purchases on your card within the first 3 months of enrollment. American Express often runs additional welcome bonuses in addition to the standard sign-up bonus, so check in frequently.
This credit card is perfect for travellers who want to save money, as it gives you an annual travel credit of $100. You also have access to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide with Priority Pass.
At participating hotels and resorts, you get a $100 U.S. credit and a free upgrade at check-in.
The Hertz Gold Plus Reward program allows you to receive a car upgrade and avoid the cost of an additional driver.
You can also redeem your points on Amazon with this card. This card gives you exclusive access with Previews. This booking program includes concerts, plays and restaurants. You'll get special offers throughout the year on advance screenings of blockbuster movies, weekend getaways, in-store,online shopping and more.
The American Express Gold Rewards Card comes with travel insurance. This includes Out-of-Province/Country Emergency Medical Insurance (available to those under 65), Flight Delay Insurance and Trip Interruption Insurance. Purchase-related protections are also included, such as no preset spending limits on purchases, Purchase Security Guarantee and Purchase Security Guarantee.
Like other American Express credit cards, its customer service is available 24/7. Emergency card replacement, fraud protection and online account management are services you can access.
The annual fee is $250 and you can apply for your first additional card for free. To apply for this credit card, you must be a Canadian resident, have reached the age of majority in the province where you reside and have a Canadian credit history.
American Express Platinum Credit Card
The American Express Platinum Credit Card earns 3 points for every dollar spent on dining and takeout, 2 points for every dollar spent on eligible travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. You earn 1 additional Membership Rewards point for every dollar spent on eligible hotel reservations or car rentals with American Express.
The current welcome offer allows you to earn a welcome bonus of up to 80,000 Membership Rewards points. Simply make $6,000 worth of card purchases in the first 3 months of having the card. These points give you a total of $900 in account credit to use on eligible purchases.
At more than 1,000 hotels worldwide, members enjoy late checkout at 4 p.m. and complimentary breakfast for two (average total value of $550 USD for a two-night stay). You gain access to the highest statuses awarded by major hotel loyalty programs around the world (Hilton Honors Gold Status, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status, etc.).
Finally, when you travel through Toronto Pearson International Airport, you receive priority security screening during peak hours, valet parking at no extra charge and a 15% discount on Express Park and Daily Park parking fees. The Platinum Card also provides concierge service for your outings.
“American Express Experiences invites you to events such as fashion shows and gourmet dinners. The card comes with insurance that covers out-of-province/country emergency medical expenses (for those under 65) as well as trip cancellation and interruption. Travel accident insurance covers up to $500,000. A variety of insurance policies to protect your purchases are also included.
Like other American Express credit cards, its customer service is available 24/7. Emergency card replacement, fraud protection and online account management are available.
The annual fee is $699 and you can apply for an additional Platinum card for $175 per year or a Gold card for $50 per year. The standard interest rate in card purchases is 20.99%. Once again, this card lets you redeem your points for free merchandise on Amazon Canada.
To apply for this credit card, you must be a Canadian resident, have reached the age of majority in the province where you reside and have a Canadian credit history.
Check out our full review of the American Express Platinum Card for a complete breakdown of features, benefits, rates, and fees.
The American Express SimplyCash Credit Card
Annual Fee: None
The American Express SimplyCash Credit Card allows you to earn cash back on everyday purchases. The SimplyCash card and the SimplyCash Preferred Card offer various insurance coverages such as $100,000 travel accident insurance and purchase protection coverage. Amex offers and discounts on shopping, dining and travel expenses are another benefit of this card. Preview exclusives give you access to tickets to some of the most sought-after events and exclusive access to many American Express trade shows around the world.
Like other American Express credit cards, customer service is available 24/7. Emergency card replacement, fraud protection and online account management are all services you'll have access to. There is no annual fee for primary and secondary cards. The interest rate on purchases is 19.99% and 21.99% on cash advances.
You must be a Canadian resident, have reached the age of majority in the province in which you reside and have a Canadian credit history.
Check out our full review of the American Express SimplyCash Card for a complete breakdown of features, benefits, rates, and fees.
American Express Essential Credit Card
Fee: None
Interest rate: 12.99% on purchases and cash advances
With its low interest rate, the American Express Essential Credit Card is convenient for those who can't pay off their balance in full each month. It has an annual rate of 12.99% on purchases and cash advances. In addition, the “Plan It” installment plan offers the ability to pay off a portion of your statement balance in monthly installments.
The American Express Essential Card offers a variety of insurance coverages such as $100,000 Travel Accident Insurance, Purchase Security and Purchase Protection.
Amex Preview exclusives give you access to advance tickets to some of the most sought-after events and exclusive access to American Express trade shows around the world.
Like other American Express credit cards, customer service is available 24/7. Emergency card replacement, fraud protection and online account management are all services you'll have access to.
To apply for this credit card, you must be a Canadian resident, have reached the age of majority in the province where you reside and have a Canadian credit history.
American Express Aeroplan Credit Card
The American Express Aeroplan Credit Card welcome offer is divided into 3 parts, offering multiple ways to earn bonus Aeroplan points:
- Earn 15,000 bonus Aeroplan points when you make $1,500 worth of card purchases in the first 3 months
- Earn 5x the points, up to a total of 15,000 bonus Aeroplan points, when you book eligible to travel through Air Canada, Air Canada Vacations, and eligible hotel stays and rental cars in the first 6 months
- Earn 2,500 bonus Aeroplan points when you make $500 worth of card purchases each month for the first 12 months
After the welcome offer ends, you'll earn 2x the points when you book eligible to travel through Air Canada, Air Canada Vacations, and eligible hotel stays and rental cars. For eligible restaurant and dining purchases, you'll earn 1.5X the points. On all other card purchases, you'll earn 1 point per $1. You can redeem your Aeroplan points for flights to over 1,300 destinations or for hotel stays, vacation packages, merchandise and more.
The American Express Aeroplan Card offers you travel benefits with Air Canada, such as free checked baggage for you and eight people on the same Air Canada reservation, for bags weighing 50 or less.
If you're a business traveller, we recommend the American Express Aeroplan Corporate Prestige Card. Similar to the American Express Aeroplan Card, it gives you more frequent flyer program points. You'll earn three Aeroplan Points for every dollar in eligible purchases on Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations, two Aeroplan Points for every dollar in eligible accommodation and car rental purchases, and one Aeroplan Point on everything else.
Amex Offers give you discounts on shopping, dining and travel. Amex Preview offers access to pre-sale tickets for in-demand events.
The American Express Aeroplan Card offers a variety of insurance coverages such as travel emergency insurance, flight delay insurance, baggage insurance, $500,000 travel accident insurance, hotel burglary insurance, purchase protection insurance and more.
Like other American Express credit cards, customer service is available 24/7. Emergency card replacement, fraud protection and online account management are all available to you.
The annual fee for the American Express Aeroplan Card is $120 and $50 for each additional card. This allows you to share some of your benefits and earn Aeroplan points faster.
As this is a charge card, if the balance is not paid in full each month, an annual interest rate of 30% will be charged.
To apply for this credit card, you must be a Canadian resident, have reached the age of majority in the province where you reside and have a Canadian credit history.
The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card
With The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card, you earn five points per dollar on qualifying purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy locations and two points per dollar spent on all other purchases.
The current promotional offer allows you to earn a welcome bonus of 50,000 points by putting $1,500 in purchases on your card in the first three months of membership. Receive an Annual Free Night Award for up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide every year after your first anniversary.
These points earn you free nights at over 7,000 hotels worldwide, and can also be transferred to one of the frequent flyer programs of a wide range of airlines.
The Marriott Bonvoy card entitles you to free Marriott Bonvoy Silver elite status and 15 elite night credits each year. You'll then upgrade to Gold Elite status after registering 10 nights or spending $30,000 on your card during the year.
You can earn additional Marriott Bonvoy points by referring a friend, up to 150,000 points per calendar year. You'll also receive 15,000 bonus points by transferring 60,000 points to a frequent flyer program.
This card has a $120 annual fee and an annual interest rate of 19.99% on purchases and 21.99% on cash advances. There is no fee for an additional Marriott Bonvoy card.
You must be a Canadian resident, have reached the age of majority in the province in which you reside and have a Canadian credit history.
American Express Edge Business Card
The American Express Edge Business Card is ideal for entrepreneurs who want to earn rewards on their spending. It gives three times the points on eligible essential business purchases, such as office supplies, electronics, transportation, gas, food and beverage, up to a maximum of 75,000 points per year. For all other purchases, you earn one point per dollar spent.
The current promotional offer allows you to earn a welcome bonus of 45,000 points when you make $5,000 worth of card purchases in the first 3 months of enrollment. Plus, you earn 1,000 Membership Rewards points by spending $3,000 on your card each month, for the first 12 months of card membership, to earn a total of 12,000 bonus points. You can earn additional points by referring a friend: each approved referral earns you 5,000 points.
With the American Express Edge Corporate Card, you can redeem your points in a variety of ways, including travel, dining out, entertainment, in-store merchandise and gift cards.
The card offers a number of benefits designed specifically for businesses, such as expense and business management tools, car rental insurance, flexible payment options and a tax-deductible annual fee of $99.
The American Express Edge Corporate Card also offers comprehensive protection including employee fraud insurance, rental car theft and damage insurance, a purchase guarantee and purchase protection.
Like other American Express credit cards, customer service is available 24/7. Emergency card replacement, fraud protection and online account management are all services you'll have access to.
Amex Offers give you discounts on shopping, dining and travel, and the Amex Preview program gives you access to exclusive presale tickets to some of the most sought-after events.
This card has a $99 annual fee and an annual interest rate of 19.99% on purchases and 21.99% on cash advances. You can apply for up to 99 additional cards for your employees at no charge.
To apply for this credit card, you must be a Canadian resident, have reached the age of majority in the province where you reside and have a Canadian credit history.
Scotiabank American Express Card
With the Scotiabank American Express Card, you earn 1 Scene+ Point for every dollar you spend on the card. You can redeem your points for movies, entertainment, dining out, travel, and more through the Scene+ Program. When you use your Scene+ points for travelling, you can anytime, anywhere with no travel restrictions.
The current promotional offer allows you to earn 5,000 bonus Scene+ Points when you spend $500 on the card in the first 3 months if you get the card before Aug 31, 2022.
There is no annual fee and the interest rate is 19.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances. The minimum credit limit is $1,000.
The Scotiabank American Express Card offers exclusive benefits such as American Express Invites and its exclusive offers, Scotia Rewards Travel Benefits and its exceptional discounts, the possibility to choose from a wide selection of items and gifts by visiting the Scotia Rewards site and the conversion of Scotia Rewards points into Scene+ points.
Four travel coverages comes with this card: Travel Medical Insurance, Trip Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage Insurance and Travel Accident Insurance. Purchase Protection insurance is also available with this card, including Purchase Security and Extended Protection insurance and Price Protection.
Finally, as with other Scotiabank credit cards, you'll also enjoy discounts of up to 25% at participating AVIS and Budget car rental agencies around the world.
Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
Annual Fee: $120
Welcome Offer: Up to 45,000 Scene+ points
The current Scotiabank American Express Gold Card welcome offers 2 ways to earn bonus Scene+ points. First, you can earn 25,000 bonus Scene+ points when you spend $1,000 on eligible card purchases in the first 3 months of opening your card. Second, you could earn 20,000 bonus Scene+ points when you spend $7,500 on eligible card purchases in the first year of opening your card if you get it before July 4th, 2022.
With the Scotiabank American Express Gold Card, you'll accelerate points on the first $50,000 spent annually on eligible food and entertainment purchases. Earn 5x Scene+ points for every $1 in eligible purchases at grocery stores, restaurants, liquor stores, movie theatres and ticket merchants. Earn 3x times Scene+ points for every $1 in eligible purchases on gas, carpooling, bus, cab and select streaming services. Finally, you'll earn1 Scene+ on all other purchase categories, and when you exceed the annual spend limit on food and entertainment.
This card is also one of the only credit cards that do not charge a currency conversion fee. The Card has an annual fee of $120. The interest rate is 19.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances. A fee of $29 per year applies for any additional cards. The minimum credit limit for this card is $5,000.
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card offers exclusive benefits. American Express Offers provide discounts and offers for shopping, dining and travel. Amex Previews allows you to purchase advance tickets to some of the most popular events. American Express Invites offers exclusive events, complimentary access to airport lounges, flight redemption with Scotia Rewards Travel and complimentary concierge services.
The Card also comes with a variety of insurance benefits, including Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance, Travel Medical Insurance, Flight Delay Insurance, Baggage Delay/Loss of Baggage insurance, Travel Accident Insurance, Collision/Loss Damage Insurance, Hotel/Motel Theft insurance and Extended Protection insurance.
Check our full review of the Scotiabank American Express Gold Card for a complete breakdown of features, benefits, rates and fees.
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About The Author: Sophie Albo
Sophie is the content specialist at Hardbacon. She is currently in her 3rd year of a bachelor's degree in marketing at Concordia University. Her passion for Fintech and was revealed during the 2016 Cooperathon where she received special award.
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