The Best American Express Network Credit Cards – May 2026

In Canada, two institutions issue credit cards on the American Express (AMEX) network:

These American Express credit cards are ideal for travellers and those who want to earn lots of reward points.

Here is a table summarizing the different offers. For more details, read on or click on the name of a card.

American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card

With this welcome offer for American Express^® Aeroplan^®* Reserve Card, you can earn up to 85,000 points Aeroplan. Here’s how:

Earn 60,000 points after you spend $7,500 on your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
Plus, earn 25,000 points when you make a purchase in the 13th month following your membership

With this Amex Aeroplan Card, you earn 3X the points on purchases made directly with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. And 2x the points on Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada. Everywhere else, you will earn 1.25X the points.

With this Amex Aeroplan Premium Card, you receive many Air Canada travel benefits, such as access to Maple Leaf Lounges in North America for you and one guest, priority check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage handling. It’s the best Amex Aeroplan Card for frequent Air Canada flyers.

With this American Express Aeroplan Card, enjoy your first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada^®* flights.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card offers an excellent welcome bonus.

Until July 1, 2026, you can get up to 45,000 Scene+ points as a bonus, distributed as follows:

25,000 Scene+ points by spending $2,000 on the card within the first 3 months
20,000 Scene+ points by making $7,500 in purchases on the card in the first year

This represents a value of up to $450 for travel (including Airbnb).

With the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, you earn 6 points per dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà par IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! grocery stores. FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.

Also, you earn 5 points per dollar for:

Grocery stores
Restaurants
Entertainment centers

And 3 points per dollar on gas, transit and streaming services purchases.

You can redeem your points on travel purchases (flights, hotels, all-inclusive and even Airbnb). You can also use your points as cash back rewards with Scene+.

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card also offers no foreign transaction fees, excellent insurance for your travel or purchases, concierge service, exclusive American Express benefits like the Front of the Line program.

American Express Cobalt® Card

The American Express Cobalt^® Card is the best credit card from American Express, whether you want points for travel or cash back.

The welcome bonus is distributed monthly for the first 12 months. You’ll earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for every $750 in purchases charged to your card during the month (whether in the 1X, 2X, 3X or 5X category). That’s up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points.

You can easily use these points as statement credits for everyday or travel purchases. The value is the same for both: 1,000 points = $10.

Alternatively, transfer them to Aeroplan points, Avios (British Airways/Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy, or Hilton Honors.

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to:

15,000 Aeroplan points
15,000 Avios points
15,000 Flying Blue Miles
18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

With the American Express Cobalt^® Card, you can earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:

Category	Points per dollar
Grocery (Métro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.)	5
Home food delivery	5
Restaurants and bars	5
Convenience stores	5
Streaming services	3
Service station	2
Transport	2
Travel	1
Other	1

This is a 1 to 5% return on all these purchases.

For example, if you spend $1,000 per month on groceries and/or restaurants and/or food delivery, you’ll earn $50 cash back per month, or $600 cash back per year with this card for this category of purchases!

And if you decide to transfer your points to other programs like Aeroplan, you could get even more value!

In addition, this card provides excellent insurance coverage: rental car theft and damage, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage, flight delay, $250,000 travel accident, hotel or motel burglary, Mobile Device Insurance, Purchase Security, Purchase Protection Insurance.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

American Express Platinum Card®

The Platinum Card^® is the best Premium Card in Canada for travellers.

With this welcome offer, you can earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards points:

70,000 points when you charge $10,000 in net purchases to your Card in the first 3 months after joining;
30,000 points if you make a purchase between 15 to 17 months after signing up.

With this Card, you get:

2 points per dollar for dining purchases
2 points per dollar on travel purchases
1 point per dollar for other purchases

You can use your Membership Rewards points in many ways:

Transfer points to airline partners: Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways / Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Delta Skymiles, etc.
Transfer your points to hotel programs (Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy)
Redeem points for statement credits to offset any travel purchase charged to your Card (1,000 points = $10)
Redeem points for statement credits towards other purchases (1,000 points = $10)
And more!

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to :

100,000 Aeroplan points
100,000 Avios
100,000 Flying Blue Miles
120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

With this card, you also have advantages for your travels:

$200 Annual Travel Credit
An annual meal credit of $200
$100 NEXUS Card Statement Credit
Complimentary access for you and one additional guest to over 1,400 airport lounges in more than 130 countries
Hilton Honors Gold Elite status (complimentary breakfast at all Hilton hotels)
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
Access to the Fine Hotels and Resorts program

Last but not least, the Platinum Card^® offers a wide range of insurance coverage: rental car theft and damage, $500,000 travel accident, emergency medical expenses (out-of-province or out-of-country), lost or stolen baggage, flight delays and misdirected baggage, hotel or motel burglary, Purchase Protection, Purchase Security.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

American Express® Gold Rewards Card

Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points with this welcome offer for the American Express Gold Rewards Card. That’s a value of $600 toward travel or any purchase charged to the Card:

5,000 Membership Rewards points per month when you charge $1,000 in net purchases to your Card, for 12 months (a total of 60,000 points in the first year).

You can also transfer your points to airline partners such as Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways, Qatar Airways, Finnair), Flying Blue, and hotel partners (Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors).

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to :

60,000 Aeroplan points
60,000 Avios
60,000 Flying Blue Miles
72,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

With this Card, you get many benefits like:

$100 annual travel credit
Priority Pass membership and 4 complimentary Plaza Premium visits per year
$50 NEXUS credit

You earn 2 points per dollar for travel purchases, and at:

gas stations
grocery stores
drugstores

And 1 point per dollar everywhere else.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

American Express® Green Card

Do you want a cash back credit card with no annual fee that earns travel points? Here’s an option for you: American Express^® Green Card.

By signing up for the American Express^® Green Card, you can earn 10,000 Membership Rewards Welcome Bonus Points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 months of Cardmembership. This is a $100 value for travel or any purchase on the Card.

You can also transfer your points to airline partners (Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Flying Blue, etc.) and hotel partners (Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors).

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning:

10,000 Aeroplan points
10,000 Avios points
10,000 Flying Blue Miles
12,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

That’s a nice welcome bonus for a credit card with no annual fee.

You’ll also have access to online promotional offers to earn points or rebates on your purchases with this no annual fee credit card.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card

The Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card is the best credit card for free hotel nights.

With this welcome offer, you can earn up to 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points:

Earn 60,000 points after spending a total of $3,000 on your Card within your first 3 months of Cardmembership.
In addition, earn 10,000 points after you spend $500 on your Card in your 13th month of Cardmembership.

It’s a card we recommend you keep, because each year at renewal, you’ll get an Annual Free Night Award for up to 35,000 points, plus 15 Elite nights per year, counting towards your Marriott Bonvoy Elite status.

With this Card, you earn 5 points per dollar on all purchases at Marriott Bonvoy properties and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases.

Last but not least, this Card comes with a wide range of insurance coverages: baggage delay, baggage loss or theft, $500,000 travel accident, flight delay, hotel/motel burglary, rental car theft and damage, Purchase Security, Purchase Protection.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

With this welcome offer for the American Express^® Aeroplan^®* Card, you can earn up to 45,000 Aeroplan points. Here’s how:

Earn 35,000 Aeroplan points after charging $7,500 to your Card within the first 6 months.
Plus, earn an additional 10,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $1,000 in the 13th month.

With this Card, you earn 2x the points on purchases with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations.

And 1.5x the points for dining and food delivery services in Canada. Anywhere else, you will earn 1X the points.

Enjoy your first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada^®* flights.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express

The SimplyCash^® Preferred Card from American Express is the only credit card in Canada that offers 2% cash back on all purchases. In addition, you can get:

4% cash back at gas stations
4% cash back at grocery stores

With this welcome offer, you can get 10% cash back on all your purchases (up to $2,000) during the first 3 months, for a total of up to $200. Plus, receive a $50 credit on your account after making a purchase in the 13th month.

The SimplyCash^® Preferred Card from American Express is particularly popular with those who have significant purchases to make: renovations, furniture or appliance purchases, as it offers 2% at all merchants.

This Card stands out for the numerous insurances offered: car rental theft and damage, $100,000 travel accident, emergency medical expenses (outside the province or country), lost or stolen baggage, flight delay and misdirected baggage, hotel or motel burglary, Purchase Protection, Buyer’s Assurance.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Scotiabank®* Platinum American Express® Card

For a limited time, by subscribing to Scotiabank Platinum American Express^® Card, you can earn up to 80,000 points. That’s a value of $800 for trips including Airbnb.

With Scotiabank Platinum American Express^® Card, you earn 2 points per dollar spent on all your purchases. You can redeem your points on travel purchases (flights, hotels, all-inclusive and even Airbnb). And you can also use them for other rewards in the Scene+ program, such as cash back.

What’s more, with this card you pay no fees for foreign currency transactions, and you get 10 free accesses to airport VIP lounges like Priority Pass and Premium Plaza.

And you get excellent insurance for your travels or purchases, concierge service, and exclusive American Express Offers (American Express Invites Program).

Scotiabank American Express® Card

Scotiabank American Express^® Card is one of the best no-annual-fee credit cards in Canada.

For a limited time, you can earn up to 5,000 points in the first three months, which represents a $50 value for travel (including Airbnb) :

2,500 Scene+ points after $250 spent in the first three months
2,500 Scene+ points after $1000 spent in the first three months

With Scotiabank American Express^® Card, you earn 3 points per dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.

Also, you get 2 points per dollar for:

Grocery stores
Restaurants
Entertainment centers
Gas stations
local transportation
streaming services

And 1 point per dollar of purchase for all other purchases.

These points can be used against any travel purchase (air tickets, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb) or with Scene+ partners for cash back.

Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Earn up to 120,000 points with this welcome offer for the American Express Business Platinum Card:

80,000 Membership Rewards points for $15,000 net purchases within the first 3 months of membership
40,000 additional points if you make a purchase between the 15th and 17th month after enrollment

You can use your Membership Rewards points in many ways:

Transfer your points to airline partners: Aeroplan Avios (British Airways, Qatar Airways, Finnair, Iberia), Flying Blue, Delta Skymiles, etc.
Transfer your points to hotel programs (Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy)
Redeem your points for statement credits to offset any eligible purchase charged to your Card (1,000 points = $10)
And more!

120,000 points have a minimum value of $1,200 for a Statement credit, and much more if you transfer your points to a partner.

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to :

120,000 Aeroplan points
120,000 Avios
120,000 Flying Blue Miles
144,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

With this Card, you earn 1.25 Membership Rewards points per dollar on all purchases. What’s more, you’ll enjoy a host of travel and business benefits:

Complimentary access for you and one additional guest to over 1,400 airport lounges in over 130 countries
$200 Annual travel credit
$100 Card Statement Credit for Nexus
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
Hilton Honors Gold Elite status
Access to the Fine Hotels and Resorts program
Up to $120 in eligible Wireless Credits each year

With this Card you can maximize your cash flow with up to 55 interest free days. It is a card that is particularly appreciated by contractors when making large purchases in home improvement stores, for example.

Last but not least, Business Platinum Card^® from American Express offers a wide range of insurance coverage: rental car theft and damage, $500,000 travel accident, emergency medical expenses (out-of-province or out-of-country), lost or stolen baggage, flight delays and misdirected baggage, hotel or motel burglary, Purchase Protection, Purchase Security.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card

With this welcome offer for the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card, you can earn up to 90,000 Aeroplan points:

Earn 65,000 Aeroplan points after making $10,500 in purchases in the first three months.
Earn an additional 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $3,500 in the 13th month.

With this Card, you earn 3X the points on purchases made directly with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. And 2X the points on hotels and car rentals. Everywhere else, you will earn 1.25X the points.

With this Card, you benefit from many Air Canada travel benefits such as access to Maple Leaf lounges in North America for you and one guest, priority check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage handling.

Enjoy your first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada^®* flights.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

American Express® Business Gold Rewards Card®

Earn a welcome bonus of up to 70,000 Membership Rewards^® points with the American Express^® Business Gold Rewards Card^®

50,000 Membership Rewards^® points after spending $7,500 in purchases within the first three months of Cardmembership.
20,000 additional points after spending $30,000 on your Card in your first 12 months of Cardmembership.

Plus, earn 10,000 bonus points in each calendar quarter when you spend $20,000 or more.

With this Card, you earn 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar on your purchases.

You can then use your points in many ways:

Statement credit for travel purchases
Statement credit for all purchases
Transfer to partner programs (Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Delta Skymiles, Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, etc.).
Book your flight with American Express Travel at a special rate

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to:

70,000 points Aeroplan
70,000 Avios
70,000 Flying Blue Miles
84,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

Alternatively, 70,000 Membership Rewards points can also represent a value of $700 for travel or for any purchase charged to the Card.

Also, as a cardmember, you get many advantages such as up to 55 interest-free days to maximize your cash flow.

Finally, you are covered with reliable insurance for your travels and purchases.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Frequent Asked Questions about credit cards

Here are frequently asked questions in the Milesopedia community regarding American Express credit cards in Canada.

Which is the best American Express credit card in Canada?

There are over 30 American Express network credit cards in Canada. Here is our selection of the best American Express cards in Canada:

American Express Cobalt^® Card: the American Express card offering the most flexible points on everyday spending such as groceries
American Express Platinum Card^®: the American Express card offering the most benefits for travelers
Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card: the American Express card offering the most Scene+ points for everyday spending such as groceries at IGA/Sobeys
American Express^® Aeroplan^®* Reserve Card: the American Express card offering the most benefits and points for Air Canada travelers

What are the best American Express Business Cards?

Here are the best American Express business cards in Canada:

Why don’t all merchants in Canada accept American Express?

The short answer: interchange fees. American Express charges merchants higher transaction fees than Visa or Mastercard — roughly 2.4% to 3.5% versus 1.5% to 2% — because Amex acts as both the network and the issuer. Smaller businesses, grocery chains like Costco, and some independents refuse Amex to protect margins. Acceptance has improved markedly in recent years thanks to Amex’s Front of the Line and shop-small programs, and major chains (Walmart Canada, Loblaws, Sobeys, Metro) all accept it. To maximize coverage, pair an Amex like the American Express Cobalt with a Visa or Mastercard such as the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + for the few merchants that still decline Amex.

What are the Membership Rewards transfer ratios from American Express?

Membership Rewards points are the most flexible currency in Canada thanks to a deep partner network. The headline ratios: Aeroplan transfers at 1:1, Marriott Bonvoy at 5:6 (5,000 MR → 6,000 Bonvoy), British Airways Avios at 1:1, and Hilton Honors at 1:1.5. Air France/KLM Flying Blue and Delta SkyMiles also accept 1:1 transfers. Hotel transfers usually post within 24 hours, while airline transfers can take 48 to 72 hours. The Marriott 5:6 bonus is one of the most valuable features for cards like the American Express Cobalt and the American Express Platinum — a $50 dinner can become $84 in Bonvoy points after the bonus.

What is the American Express Front of the Line presale benefit?

Front of the Line is one of the most underrated perks of any Amex Canada card. It gives Cardmembers exclusive presale access to concert, theatre and sporting event tickets through Ticketmaster Canada — typically 24 to 72 hours before the public on-sale. Major tours (Taylor Swift, Drake, Beyoncé, NHL playoffs, Cirque du Soleil premieres) consistently open Front of the Line windows. There is no minimum-tier requirement: even the no-fee American Express Green Card qualifies. Sign up for event alerts in your Amex account, watch your inbox, and have your card ready — popular shows still sell out within minutes even during the presale.

Do American Express cards in Canada require a minimum income?

This is one of Amex Canada’s biggest competitive advantages over the big-bank Visa and Mastercard products. Most American Express cards have no stated minimum personal income requirement — only acceptable credit history. That includes the American Express Cobalt, the American Express Platinum, and the American Express Gold Rewards. By contrast, the equivalent Visa Infinite cards require $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income, and Visa Infinite Privilege requires $200,000 household. This makes Amex a great option for self-employed Canadians, students moving into their first premium card, and travellers whose declared income does not match their actual ability to pay.

How does the Amex Cobalt compare to the Gold Rewards and Platinum?

The three flagship Amex cards target different spenders. The Amex Cobalt ($155.88/year) is built for groceries and dining — 5X points on those categories make it the best earner for foodies. The American Express Gold Rewards ($250/year) is the travel earner with 2X on travel/gas/groceries plus a $100 travel credit and Priority Pass. The American Express Platinum ($799/year) is the luxury card: $200 travel credit, $200 dining credit, unlimited Priority Pass, Hertz Gold, hotel elite status (Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold), and Centurion Lounge access where available. Pick Cobalt if you spend under $30,000/year mostly on food, Gold for balanced travel and groceries, and Platinum if you can use $400+ in annual credits and lounge access yourself.