American Express Cobalt® Card
on American Express's website
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Pros & Cons
Pros
- Welcome Bonus: Up to 15,000 points
- Up to 5x at restaurants
- Purchase protection included
Cons
- High annual fee ($191.88/yr)
- Foreign Transaction Fee (2.5%)
- No airport lounge access despite fee
Our Review
The American Express Cobalt® Card turns grocery runs, restaurant meals, and food delivery into points for your next trip. Its main strength is 5 points per dollar on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, with the choice to transfer points to programs such as Aeroplan or use them to reduce your balance.
You earn:
- 5 points per dollar on eligible groceries, dining, bars, and food delivery in Canada, on up to $2,500 in combined purchases per month, then 1 point per dollar;
- 3 points per dollar on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada;
- 2 points per dollar on eligible gas, transit, and ridesharing in Canada;
- 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
The welcome offer can reach 15,000 Membership Rewards points: earn 1,250 points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $750 in net purchases to the Card during your first 12 months.
You choose how to use your points: travel through partner programs or statement credits at 1,000 points for $10 on eligible purchases. No-fee Supplementary Cards also help bring your household spending together.
The fee is $15.99 per month outside Quebec, equivalent to $191.88 per year. In Quebec, the $191.88 fee is billed annually. The Card also includes travel insurance and protection for certain purchases, subject to applicable terms.
Awards won by the American Express Cobalt® Card
Rewards
All Spending
1x
Amex Membership Rewards pts per dollar
Restaurants
5x
Amex Membership Rewards pts per dollar
Groceries
5x
Amex Membership Rewards pts per dollar
Streaming
3x
Amex Membership Rewards pts per dollar
Transit
2x
Amex Membership Rewards pts per dollar
Gas
2x
Amex Membership Rewards pts per dollar
Credit Card Rewards Calculator
See how much you could earn with this card based on your spending.
Points Earned
84,000
Amex Membership Rewards/yr
Estimated Value
$1,428
After Fees
+$1,236
1st Year Value
$1,491
incl. welcome bonus
Annual rewards breakdown
The calculation uses the maximum advertised welcome offer. Your actual offer may be lower or unavailable.
Transfer partners
Aeroplan
Airline
British Airways Club
Airline
Cathay Asia Miles
Airline
Etihad Guest
Airline
Flying Blue
Airline
Hilton Honors
Hotel
Marriott Bonvoy
Hotel
Travel Insurance
Travel medical (under 55)
Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)
Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Delayed Baggage
Up to $500
Lost Baggage
Up to $500
Flight Delay
Up to $500
Hotel Burglary
Up to $500
Travel Accident
Up to $250,000
Purchase Protection
Purchase Protection
Up to $1,000 / 90 days
Extended Warranty
+1 year(s)
Mobile Device
Up to $1,000 / 2 year(s)
Auto Rental (primary)
Up to $85,000 / 48 days
Fees and interest rates
- Annual Fee$191.88
- Additional card fee$0
- Foreign currency conversion fee2.5%
- Purchase Rate21.99%
- Cash advance rate21.99%
Terms & Conditions
Card Features
- In your first year as a new Cobalt Cardmember, you can earn 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in net purchases on your Card. This could add up to 15,000 points in a year. That’s up to $150 towards a weekend getaway or concert tickets
Card features
- Earn 5X the points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery. Spend cap applies.
- Earn 3X the points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
- Earn 2X the points for eligible gas, public transit and ride sharing purchases in Canada
- Earn 1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings via American Express Travel Online
- Earn 1X point for every $1 in Card purchases everywhere else
- Fees: $15.99/month (Equals $191.88 annually) for non-Quebec residents. $191.88/year for Quebec residents.
- Enjoy access to hotel bookings, a room upgrade (when available), 12pm check-in and late check-out (when available), and up to $100 USD hotel credit to use on amenities when charged to the room for a stay of 2 or more consecutive nights through The Hotel Collection from American Express Travel
- Transfer points 1:1 to several frequent flyer and other loyalty programs
- Access Front Of The Line® AmexTM Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts and theatre performances and special offers and events curated for Cardmembers with Amex ExperiencesTM
Apply with confidence!
- See if you’ll be approved before you apply – with no impact to your credit score.*
- When applying for a new card, businesses will typically run a “hard check” of your credit report. A hard credit check can cause a temporary impact to your credit score.
- Unlike many lenders, for American Express’ personal cards, you can see if you will be approved before you apply without impacting your credit score
- A soft credit check is a check into your credit report initiated either by you or a company even if you didn’t apply for credit. It is primarily used to screen for pre-approval financing offers or for a background check
- Available for American Express personal cards, we’ll let you know your eligibility with no impact to your credit score, so you can submit your application with confidence.*
*Instant decisions are only available for Consumer (also known as Personal) Card applications.
Legal
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.
FAQ
Where can I use the American Express Cobalt Card in Quebec or Canada?
You can use your American Express Cobalt® Card at grocery stores like Metro, Super C, Safeway, Whole Foods, your local Couche-tard or 7Eleven convenience store, your favorite gas station like Esso, Shell, Petro-Canada or any travel provider!
How many points can I earn on my American Express Cobalt Card purchases?
You can earn 1 point per dollar on all purchases with the American Express Cobalt® Card. And 5 points per dollar for groceries, restaurants and food delivery, and 2 points per dollar for transportation.
What is the American Express Cobalt® Card welcome offer?
The American Express Cobalt® Card offers up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points spread over the first 12 months, where you earn 1,250 points each month after making $750 in purchases on your card.
How can I use American Express Cobalt® Card Membership Rewards points?
Membership Rewards points can be used as credit towards everyday purchases or travel (1,000 points = $10), or transferred to loyalty programs such as Aeroplan, Avios, Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors.
How many points can I earn for every dollar I spend with the American Express Cobalt® Card?
You can earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar, depending on the category of purchase: 5 points for groceries, food delivery and restaurants (up to $2,500 in net purchases per month in Canada); 3 points for streaming services; 2 points for gas stations and transportation; and 1 point for all other purchases.
How can I get cash back with the American Express Cobalt® Card?
For example, if you spend $1,000 monthly in the grocery, restaurant and food delivery categories, you’ll earn $50 cash back per month, or $600 per year, thanks to 5 points per dollar in these categories.
Does the American Express Cobalt® Card offer travel insurance?
Yes, American Express Cobalt® Card offers various types of insurance, including rental car theft and damage, baggage delay, baggage loss or theft, flight delay, travel accident, hotel or motel burglary, Mobile Device Insurance, Purchase Protection and Purchase Protection Guarantee.
What is the minimum income required to obtain the American Express Cobalt® Card?
No minimum income is required to obtain the American Express Cobalt® Card.
How are points earned during the first year with the American Express Cobalt® Card?
In your first year, you can earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points every month you charge $750 in net purchases to your Card, for a total of up to 15,000 points in one year.
How can I use my American Express Cobalt® Card Membership Rewards points for travel?
Membership Rewards points earned with the American Express Cobalt® Card can cover American Express travel expenses by applying them directly as a credit on your travel purchases or by transferring them to partner loyalty programs.
How do I get the welcome bonus with the American Express Cobalt® Card?
To earn the welcome bonus with the American Express Cobalt® Card, you must make net purchases of $750 each month to receive 1,250 Membership Rewards points, up to 15,000 points during your first 12 months. Full program terms and conditions are available on the Amex Canada website.
How do net purchases affect point accumulation with the American Express Cobalt® Card?
Net purchases, meaning your purchases minus returns, made with the American Express Cobalt® Card are eligible to earn Membership Rewards points based on qualifying purchase categories, such as groceries or travel, and according to the loyalty program’s terms and conditions.
What advantages does the American Express Cobalt® Card offer when renting a car?
The American Express Cobalt® Card offers theft and damage insurance for rental cars. Terms of service and details of coverage and exclusions can be found in the card’s insurance guide.
Is the American Express Cobalt® Card available to US residents?
No, the American Express Cobalt® Card is specifically designed for residents of Canada. U.S. residents can explore other card options through the country’s Amex bank.
What are the annual fees for American Express Cobalt® Card, and are there any promotions for new cardholders?
The American Express Cobalt® Card is billed monthly rather than once a year: $15.99 per month for residents outside Quebec, which equals $191.88 per year. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year. Additional cards are $0. The current offer for new cardmembers is the welcome bonus of up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points over the first 12 months.
Does the American Express Cobalt® Card offer cash advance benefits?
Specific terms and conditions for cash advances with the American Express Cobalt® Card, including applicable fees and interest rates, can be found in the Card Services Guide on the American Express Canada website.
How are points earned during the monthly billing period with the American Express Cobalt® Card?
During each monthly billing period, American Express Cobalt® Cardmembers can earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points by charging $750 in net purchases to the card, earning up to 15,000 points in one year, according to program terms and conditions.
Can I use my American Express Cobalt® Card in the United States or anywhere else in the world?
Yes, you can use your American Express Cobalt® Card in the USA or anywhere else in the world. However, there will be a 2.5% conversion fee applied to your purchase.
Is the American Express Cobalt Card worth it?
Yes. The American Express Cobalt Card stands out with 5 points per dollar on groceries, restaurants and food delivery, the categories where households spend the most. Membership Rewards points transfer to several airline and hotel programs, which makes it one of the best rewards credit cards in Canada. For anyone who spends regularly on food, the points value easily exceeds the annual fee.
Do the purchasing categories apply to the U.S. or anywhere else in the world with American Express Cobalt® Card?
No. American Express’s terms limit the 5x, 3x and 2x categories to eligible purchases in Canada. Purchases outside Canada earn the base rate of 1 point per $1.
Is the American Express Cobalt Card a charge card or a credit card?
The American Express Cobalt® Card is a credit card, not a charge card. It carries a purchase interest rate of 21.99% and a cash advance rate of 21.99%, which means a balance can be carried from one billing period to the next instead of having to be paid in full every month.
Is the American Express Cobalt Card metal?
No. The American Express Cobalt® Card is issued as a standard plastic card rather than a metal one. What sets it apart is its earn rate of up to 5 points per dollar on eligible eats and drinks, and its insurance package, rather than the material the card is made of.
How much does the American Express Cobalt Card cost per month?
The American Express Cobalt® Card costs $15.99 per month for residents outside Quebec, which comes to $191.88 per year. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year instead of monthly. There is no fee for additional cards.
Conditions apply. All information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Card details, rewards, and offers are subject to change at any time. Always verify the latest terms on the issuer’s website before applying. Milesopedia may receive compensation through affiliate links. This does not affect our editorial choices or card rankings. © 2026 American Express. All trademarks are property of their respective owners.
