The Best Credit cards in My Wallet
These are the credit cards that I think are the perfect combo in my wallet in 2021.
Card | Why |
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To earn 5 points per dollar on grocery, convenience store, food delivery as well as dining purchases. To earn 5 points per dollar for many businesses like Amazon or the SAQ thanks to gift cards |
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To earn 6 points per dollar on travel purchases, for purchases at Costco, Walmart and places where American Express is not accepted For its $100 annual travel credit |
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To earn 5 points per dollar for my Marriott expenses For its Annual Free Night Award (35,000 points value) For 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year for my Marriott Bonvoy Elite status |
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For Canada’s best credit cards insurance: up to 60 days for international travel, up to 3 years of warranty for purchases. For its annual travel credit of up to $250 |
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To get my first free checked bag with Air Canada (as well as my spouse’s and children’s) For benefits with Air Canada and the Aeroplan flight rewards Preferred Pricing For insurance on flight rewards booked with Aeroplan points |
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For free access to VIP airport lounges with my family. To get Hilton Honors Gold Elite status (complimentary breakfasts). |
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Get 15% off North American AIR MILES flight rewards To earn hundreds of miles easily each year through AIR MILES events, some of which are only available to AIR MILES credit cardholders |
American Express Cobalt® Card
The American Express Cobalt® Card is the best credit card from American Express, whether you want points for travel or cashback.
The welcome bonus is distributed monthly for the first 12 months. You earn 2,500 Membership Rewards points for every $500 in purchases charged to your card during the month (whether in the 1X, 2X, 3X or 5X category). That’s up to 30,000 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.
Or, you can transfer your points to Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy, or Hilton Honors. With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you can earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:
Category | Points per dollar |
Grocery | 5 |
Food delivery | 5 |
Restaurants and bars | 5 |
Convenience stores | 5 |
Streaming subscriptions | 3 |
Gas station | 2 |
Gas & Transit | 2 |
Travel | 2 |
Other | 1 |
This is a 1 to 5% return on all these purchases.
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.
Find out in this article how to maximize the welcome bonus to get 60,000 points with your everyday spending. This offer may be withdrawn at any time.
Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.
HSBC World Elite® Mastercard®
The HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® is a great credit card with no foreign transaction fees, especially for travel purchases.
For a limited time, you can get:
- Up to 110,000 points ($550 value in travel rewards) if you live in Quebec and with no minimum purchase!
- Up to 80,000 points ($400 value in travel rewards) and waiver of the annual fee for the first year if you live outside Quebec
With the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard®, you can earn:
- 6 points per dollar for travel purchases (flights, hotels, Airbnb, all-inclusive, etc.)
- 3 points per dollar for all other purchases including Costco
This means a return of 1.5% to 3% depending on your purchases!
You can apply your points on any travel purchase charged to your HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® (flights, hotels, Airbnb, all-inclusive, etc.). But you can also transfer your points to three airline loyalty programs: British Airways Executive Club, Asia Miles and Singapore Airlines Krisflyer.
Finally, with the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® you get:
- $100 annual travel credit (for airport lounges, for example)
- Unlimited access to Boingo WiFi hotspots around the world
- 10% discount for hotel bookings on Expedia or Agoda
- Premium insurance for your travels and purchases
Finally, the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® does not charge any conversion fees for foreign exchange transactions: you save 2.5% for each transaction.
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 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. When you apply for this Card via Milesopedia, all you have to do is make $1,500 in Card purchases within the first 3 months.
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.
Finally, this Card comes with comprehensive insurance: baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage, $500,000 travel accident, flight delay, hotel or motel burglary, rental car theft and damage, Purchase Security, Purchase Protection.
Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.
National Bank's World Elite Mastercard®
The National Bank’s World Elite Mastercard® is the best NBC credit card.
With this exclusive welcome offer for Milesopedia readers, you can earn 35,000 points after $3,000 in purchases and the first year annual fee is waived for the primary and first additional cardholder.
You can earn up to 2 points per dollar in Card purchases, including at Costco. Besides, you get up to $250 in travel credits per calendar year:
- Airport parking: $100
- Baggage fees: $100
- Seat selection: $50
In addition, you can enjoy access to DragonPass airport lounges and free Wi-Fi with Boingo.
The National Bank’s World Elite Mastercard®is a credit card to keep, year after year, for several reasons:
- it has one of the best travel and purchases credit card insurance on the market
- up to $250 travel credit per year
- Unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau airport
TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you can earn up to 50,000 Aeroplan points and a full Annual Fee Rebate for the first year:
- A welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card†
- 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $1,500 within 90 days of Account opening†
- an additional 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $7,500 within 12 months of Account opening†
- Plus, get an annual fee rebate for the first year (instead of $139)†
- Annual fee rebate for the first year for up to 3 additional cardholders (instead of $75 per additional card)†
- $100 NEXUS fee rebate†
- Up to eight passengers travelling on the same reservation will all enjoy their first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) when your travel originates on an Air Canada flight†
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you earn 1.5 points† for every $1 spent on eligible:
- Grocery stores
- Gas stations
- Air Canada purchases, including Air Canada Vacations
Platinum Card®
The Platinum Card® is the Best Premium Travel Card in Canada.
Earn up to 80,000 Membership Rewards points with this great welcome offer.
With this card, you get:
- 3 points per dollar on dining purchases
- 2 points per dollar on travel purchases
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
You can use your Membership Rewards points in many ways:
- Transfer your points to airline partners (Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Delta Skymiles, Flying Blue, etc.)
- Transfer 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!
With this card, you also have advantages for your travels:
- $200 Annual Travel Credit
- $100 NEXUS Card Statement Credit
- Complimentary and unlimited access for you and one additional traveller to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide
- Hilton Honors Gold Elite status (complimentary breakfast at all Hilton hotels)
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- Access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program
Finally, the Platinum Card® comes with premium insurance: Car Rental Theft and Damage, $500,000 Travel Accident, Emergency medical insurance (outside the province or country), Lost or Stolen Baggage, Flight delay insurance and misdirected baggage, Hotel or motel burglary, Purchase Protection® Plan, Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan.
Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.
BMO® AIR MILES® World Elite®* Mastercard®*
With this exclusive offer for the BMO® AIR MILES® World Elite®* Mastercard®*, you can earn 3,000 AIR MILES Bonus Miles after $3,000 in Card purchases, representing a $310 cash value. Besides, the annual fee is waived in the first year!
With this card, you earn 3 miles for every $12 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners. Everywhere else, you’ll earn 1 Mile for every $12 spent, including at Costco and Walmart. And it’s the only AIR MILES credit card in Canada to offer a 15% discount on AIR MILES flights within North America with no blackout periods.
The BMO® AIR MILES® World Elite®* Mastercard®* card also offers:
- Premium insurance for your travels or purchases
- Double the miles for car rentals with National or Alamo
- Concierge services