Amazon’s Shop with Points: Is It a Good Deal?

Online shopping has grown and grown in popularity over the years, and it’s now one of the main ways that we buy just about everything.
For many people, online merchants like Amazon offer a convenient way to get items delivered to your front door quickly and easily, while still earning points or cash back.
To help make your online purchases even more accessible, Amazon gives you a handful of different ways to pay, including a « Shop with Points » options that lets you use your TD Rewards points or your American Express Membership Rewards points to pay for your purchase.
In this article, we take a look at whether it makes sense to use points to pay for your Amazon purchases, breaking down whether the Shop with Points option is a good deal or not.
Amazon’s Shop with Points: Is It a Good Deal?
Amazon’s Shop with Points feature lets you use the points from your eligible American Express Membership Rewards (MR) and TD Rewards account to offset the cost of your Amazon.ca purchases.
To access this payment option, you need to link your accounts by following these steps:
- Go to the Amazon.ca Shop with Points page
- Select either American Express Membership Rewards or TD Rewards, and click « See Details »
- Click « Link Rewards Account Now »
- Sign in to your Amazon.ca account
- Enter the details from your eligible credit card to link accounts
- You should now be able to see the option to pay with points when you check out

You are also able to link more than one TD Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards credit card, making it easy to get connected and access all your points.
Now, in terms of determining whether it’s worth it to use your points to pay for your Amazon purchases, we’ll need to compare the other possible redemption options and their value versus the value that you can get using Amazon’s Shop with Points.
Shop with Points – American Express Membership Rewards
When you use your American Express Membership Rewards (MR) points to pay for an Amazon.ca purchase, 1,000 MR points is equal to $7.00. This means that the Shop with Points option on the Amazon.ca website gives you a value of 1 MR points = 0.7 cents.
We value MR points at around 1.7 cents each, so this redemption option falls well below the ideal rate.
However, to really get a clear picture of how using points for Amazon purchases ranks in terms of value, let’s look at the value available through other MR points redemption options.

Transferring MR points
One of the most valuable ways to use MR points is to transfer them to popular loyalty programs like Aeroplan at a rate of 1 MR point = 1 Aeroplan point, and Marriott Bonvoy at rate of 5 MR points = 6 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Since we value Aeroplan points at 2 cents each and Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.9 cents each, this redemption options offers a value ranging from 1.08–2 cents per MR point.
Not only that, but it’s also possible to get value well beyond this range by redeeming for the right award flight and hotel bookings.
Amex Travel
Another redemption option for those looking to enjoy an adventure away is to use your MR points to cover travel booked through the Amex Travel portal.
With this option, you can book flights, hotels, and more using the fixed points travel program or the flexible points travel program.
Depending on what you book and which of the two programs you use, these redemption options generally offer a value ranging from 1 MR point = 0.7 cents all the way up to 1 MR point = 2 cents (and possibly a bit more).
Merchandise and gift cards
You can also redeem your MR points for merchandise and gift cards through the American Express rewards portal, giving you an option to exchange your reward points for something more tangible than travel.
When using your MR points for gift cards, the most common redemption rate is 3,250 MR points = $25 gift card, giving you a value of 1 MR point =0.77 cents, which is nearly identical to the value you can get when you use your points for purchases on Amazon.ca.
Unfortunately, determining the redemption value for the merchandise option is not possible since items are only presented with prices in points and no cash value comparison.
Statement credits
The final, but perhaps most straightforward comparison we’ll look at is the value you get when you redeem your MR points for a statement credit.
In this case, 1,000 MR points = $10 statement credit, or 1 MR point = 1 cent, which is better than the Amazon Shop with Points rate of 1,000 MR points = $7, or 1 MR point = 0.7 cents.
This means that you’re better off making your Amazon.ca purchase with a credit card that earns MR points and then redeeming these points for an equivalent statement credit than you are using the Shop with Points feature directly.
- Annual fee
- $0
- Our valuation
- $170ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$170Total$170Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$170Total$170Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- 10,000 points
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreⓘApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
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.
Legal
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or controlling the accuracy of the information published on this website. For full and up-to-date product information, click on the Apply now link. Terms and conditions apply.
Annual fee
Annual income required
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
- 1xAll spending
Value
Transfer partners
- AeroplanAirline
- British Airways ClubAirline
- Cathay Asia MilesAirline
- Etihad GuestAirline
- Marriott BonvoyHotel
Purchase protection
- Annual fee
- $191.88
- Our valuation
- $255ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 15,000 points
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreⓘApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
The American Express Cobalt® Card is the best credit card from American Express, whether you want points for travel or cash back.
American Express Cobalt® Card welcome offer
The welcome bonus is paid out monthly over your first 12 months. You earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $750 in net purchases to your card, in any category (1X, 2X, 3X or 5X). That adds up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points over the year, a welcome offer we value at $255.
Earning the full bonus means $9,000 in net purchases spread across 12 monthly billing periods. This offer rewards steady monthly spending rather than one large purchase.
You can use these points as statement credits on everyday or travel purchases, at the same rate either way: 1,000 points = $10.
You can also transfer them to Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways and Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. With the full welcome bonus, that is a choice between:
- 15,000 Aeroplan points
- 15,000 Avios points
- 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- 18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
If hotel points are what you are after, our ultimate guide to Marriott Bonvoy and our complete map of Marriott Bonvoy hotels by category show what those points can actually buy.
American Express Cobalt® Card benefits
Here is what the card gives you, starting with the benefits cardholders use most.
- 5X points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada: groceries, restaurants and bars, home food delivery and convenience stores. A spend cap applies.
- 3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada.
- 2X points on eligible gas, public transit and ride sharing purchases in Canada.
- 1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
- 1X point per dollar on everything else, with no category restrictions.
- Points that hold the same value either way: 1,000 points = $10 as a statement credit, or a 1:1 transfer to several airline and hotel loyalty programs.
- No minimum income requirement, as with every American Express Canada card.
- Additional cards at no extra cost: the first and every other supplementary card is $0.
- The Hotel Collection: a room upgrade when available, 12pm check-in and late check-out when available, and up to $100 USD in hotel credit on amenities charged to the room for a stay of two or more consecutive nights, booked through American Express Travel.
- Front Of The Line® presale and reserved tickets for concerts and theatre performances, plus offers and events curated for cardmembers through Amex Experiences.
- A soft credit check before you apply: you can see whether you will be approved with no impact to your credit score. This applies to American Express personal card applications.
To see how it compares with the rest of the line-up, read our round-up of the best credit cards from American Express in Canada.
The 5X categories and where they apply
The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers four kinds of merchants:
- Groceries: Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, Safeway, Whole Foods.
- Restaurants and bars: sit-down meals, takeout and drinks.
- Home food delivery.
- Convenience stores: Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven.
The 2X rate covers gas stations such as Esso, Shell and Petro-Canada, along with public transit and ride sharing.
With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:
| Category | Points per dollar |
| Grocery (Metro, 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 |
That works out to a 1 to 5% return on those purchases. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month across groceries, restaurants and food delivery, you earn $50 back per month, or $600 per year from that category alone. Transfer the points to a program such as Aeroplan instead and the return can be higher.
You can also stack these categories with the hundreds of stores that offer 5x points.
American Express Cobalt® Card insurance coverage
The card comes with a broad insurance package. The amounts below are the coverage limits; conditions, age limits and exclusions are set out in the certificate of insurance linked in the Insurance section above.
Travel insurance
- Emergency medical: up to $5,000,000 for the first 15 days of a trip.
- Travel accident: accidental death and dismemberment of up to $250,000 for you, your spouse and dependent children under age 23 when travelling on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and the tickets are charged to your card. Supplementary cardholders and their families are covered too.
- Flight delay: up to $500 for necessary hotel, meal and sundry expenses bought within 48 hours when you are delayed or denied boarding for four hours or more and no other transportation is available. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and delayed baggage coverage.
- Delayed baggage: up to $500 for essential clothing and sundries bought within four days when your outbound luggage is delayed six hours or more. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and flight delay coverage.
- Lost or stolen baggage: up to $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined, for checked or carry-on baggage and personal effects in transit, when the airline tickets are charged to your card. Within that limit, jewellery is capped at $300 per occurrence and golf clubs, including golf bags, at $250 per occurrence.
- Hotel and motel burglary: up to $500 against the loss of most personal items if your hotel or motel is burglarized, when the stay is charged to your card.
Rental car insurance
Theft and damage coverage is included for a rental car with an MSRP, for its model year, of up to $85,000 excluding all taxes, for rentals of up to 48 days. To use it, decline the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or any similar option from the rental company and charge the full rental to your card. There is no cost for this coverage, and it replaces the daily insurance the rental company charges, usually $16 to $23 per day.
Mobile device insurance
Your device is covered for up to $1,000 per occurrence when it is charged to the card, for up to two years from the date of purchase. The payout is based on the depreciated value of the device, which falls by 2% of the purchase price for every completed month, less a 10% deductible. Theft and accidental damage coverage starts on the 91st day after purchase, because the first 90 days are covered by purchase protection.
Purchase protection and extended warranty
Eligible items charged to your card are insured against accidental physical damage or theft for 90 days from the purchase date, up to $1,000 per occurrence for all items combined. The card also extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items, with indemnification limited to $10,000 per insured item and $25,000 per Cardmember per policy year for all items combined.
American Express Cobalt® Card fees
- Card fee: $15.99 per month, which equals $191.88 per year, for residents outside Quebec. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year.
- Additional cards: $0.
- Purchase interest rate: 21.99%.
- Cash advance interest rate: 21.99%.
- Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%.
- Minimum income required: none.
Because the fee is billed monthly rather than in one annual charge, you can stop and restart the cost in step with how much you are actually using the card.
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.
Annual fee
Annual income required
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
- 5xRestaurants
- 5xGroceries
- 5xConvenience
- 3xStreaming
- 2xTransit
- 2xGas & EV
- 1xAll spending
Value
Transfer partners
- AeroplanAirline
- British Airways ClubAirline
- Cathay Asia MilesAirline
- Etihad GuestAirline
- Flying BlueAirline
- Hilton HonorsHotel
- Marriott BonvoyHotel
Travel insurance
Purchase protection
- Annual fee
- $250
- Our valuation
- $1,020ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,020Total$1,020Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,020Total$1,020Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 60,000 points
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreⓘApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points with this welcome offer for the American Express Gold Rewards Card. That’s a value of
- 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.
Legal
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or controlling the accuracy of the information published on this website. For full and up-to-date product information, click on the Apply now link. Terms and conditions apply.
Annual fee
Annual income required
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
- 2xPharmacy
- 2xGas & EV
- 2xTravel
- 2xGroceries
- 1xAll spending
Value
Transfer partners
- AeroplanAirline
- British Airways ClubAirline
- Cathay Asia MilesAirline
- Etihad GuestAirline
- Flying BlueAirline
- Hilton HonorsHotel
- Marriott BonvoyHotel
Card benefits
Travel insurance
Purchase protection
- Annual fee
- $799
- Our valuation
- $1,700ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 100,000 points
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreⓘApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
Terms of the offer
- Unlock special experiences with the newly designed metal Platinum Card
- New Platinum® Cardmembers, earn 25,000 Welcome Bonus Membership Rewards® points when you charge $2,000 in purchases to your Card in the first three months of Cardmembership
- Earn 3 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible dining in Canada, 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible travel, and 1 point for every $1 in all other Card purchases
- You will have access to a $200 CAD Annual Travel Credit to use towards any single travel booking of $200 or more charged to your Platinum Card and made on www.americanexpress.ca/travel or through Platinum Card® Travel Service
- Take full advantage of the American Express Global Lounge Collection™ which unlocks access to over 1200 airport lounges worldwide. This includes The Centurion® Lounge network, Plaza Premium Lounges, and hundreds of other domestic and international lounges designed to enhance your travel experience
- Enjoy complimentary benefits that offer an average value of $550 USD at over 1,000 extraordinary properties worldwide when you book Fine Hotels & Resorts.
- Platinum Cardmembers can enjoy access to special events and unique opportunities
- Enjoy premium benefits at the Toronto Pearson Airport including security bypass, complimentary valet car service and discount car care and parking
- You will also have access to many leading hotel and car rental companies’ loyalty programs. Our partners include Marriott International, Hilton Hotels and Resorts®, Radisson Hotel Group Hotels and Resorts, Hertz® and Avis®
- As a Charge Card, the balance must always be paid in full each month. 30% annual interest rate applies to balances not paid in full. Payments must be received and processed by the date of the next monthly statement to avoid interest charges
Legal
*Terms and conditions apply.
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of the 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.
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 after charging $10,000 to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
- 30,000 points when you make a purchase between the 15th and 17th month after your Cardmembership begins
With this Card, you get:
- 2 points per $1 on eligible dining and delivery purchases in Canada
- 2 points per dollar on eligible travel purchases charged to the Card
- 1 point per $1 on all other purchases charged to the Card
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 points to hotel partners, including Hilton Honors and 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 could earn 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
- A $100 statement credit for NEXUS membership
- Complimentary access for you and one additional guest to more than 1,550 airport lounges in over 140 countries
- Hilton Honors Gold status
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- Access to the Fine Hotels + 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.
Annual fee
Annual income required
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
- 2xTravel
- 2xRestaurants
- 1xAll spending
Value
Transfer partners
- AeroplanAirline
- British Airways ClubAirline
- Cathay Asia MilesAirline
- Etihad GuestAirline
- Flying BlueAirline
- Hilton HonorsHotel
- Marriott BonvoyHotel
Card benefits
Travel insurance
Purchase protection
- Annual fee
- $799
- Our valuation
- $2,040ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$2,040Total$2,040Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$2,040Total$2,040Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 120,000 points
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreⓘApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
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.
Legal
*Terms and conditions apply.
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of the 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.
Annual fee
Annual income required
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
- 1.25xAll spending
Value
Transfer partners
- AeroplanAirline
- British Airways ClubAirline
- Cathay Asia MilesAirline
- Etihad GuestAirline
- Marriott BonvoyHotel
Card benefits
Travel insurance
Purchase protection
- Annual fee
- $199
- Our valuation
- $1,190ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,190Total$1,190Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,190Total$1,190Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 70,000 points
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreⓘApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
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.
Legal
*Terms and conditions apply.
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full and up-to-date product information, click on the Apply now link. Terms and conditions apply.
Annual fee
Annual income required
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
- 1xAll spending
Value
Transfer partners
- AeroplanAirline
- British Airways ClubAirline
- Cathay Asia MilesAirline
- Etihad GuestAirline
- Flying BlueAirline
- Hilton HonorsHotel
- Marriott BonvoyHotel
Travel insurance
Purchase protection
Shop with Points – TD Rewards
If you were to use your TD Rewards points to pay for your Amazon.ca purchase through the Shop with Points feature, you would get the following value: $1 on Amazon.ca = 303 TD Rewards points or 1 TD Rewards points = 0.33 cents.
Since we value TD Rewards points at 0.5 cents each, the Shop with Points rate, once again, doesn’t quite meet the mark.
That said, let’s do a comparison of this value with the other redemption options to see how it truly stacks up.

Expedia for TD travel
For TD Rewards collectors who are looking to maximize the value of their points, this first redemption option is their best bet.
Travel purchases booked through Expedia for TD can be enjoy a redemption rate of 200 TD Rewards points = $1, or 1 TD Rewards point = 0.5 cents.
Book Any Way travel
If you can’t find the booking you want through Expedia for TD, you can also redeem your TD Rewards points for eligible travel expenses made with your TD Rewards credit card through the Book Any Way redemption feature.
Note that later in 2026, this redemption option will no longer be available online. It will only be offered by phone, at 1-800-983-8472.
With this option, the redemption value is:
- 250 TD Rewards points = $1 for the first $1,200 of the redemption, and
- 200 TD Rewards points = $1 for any amount above that $1,200
This is equivalent to 1 TD Rewards point = 0.4–0.5 cents, making it a close second in terms of best value for your points. It’s also a notably better rate than the 0.33 cents per point offered with Amazon.ca’s Shop with Points option.
- Annual fee
- $0 $139ⓘNo annual fee the first year
- No annual fee the first year
- Our valuation
- $939ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$800Annual fee rebated$139Total$939Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$800Annual fee rebated$139Total$939Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 160,000 points
- + First Year Annual Fee Rebate
on TD's website
With the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card, you can earn up to 160,000 TD Rewards Points† as well as an Annual Fee rebate for the first year†:
- 20,000 TD Rewards Points for the first purchase made with your card†
- 140,000 TD Rewards Points when you spend $7,500 within 180 days of account opening†
- A Birthday Bonus of up to 10,000 TD Rewards Points†
Get an annual TD Travel Credit† of $100 when you book at Expedia® For TD, and enjoy your time at the airport with global airport lounge access and 4 complimentary lounge visits with Visa Airport Companion Program (a value of up to $277)†.
With the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card, you earn:
- 8 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend when you book travel through Expedia® For TD†
- 6 TD Rewards Points† per dollar on your grocery, dining and public transit purchases
- 4 TD Rewards Points† per dollar on your recurring bill payments and purchases of streaming services as well as digital games and media
- 2 TD Rewards Points† per dollar on all other purchases made with your card
This card also allows you to enjoy a range of travel benefits, including an annual travel credit, complimentary airport lounge visits, and a birthday bonus that boosts your points each year†.
Legal
†Terms and conditions apply.
Annual fee
Annual income required
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
- 6xGroceries
- 6xRestaurants
- 6xTransit
- 4xBills & recurring payments
- 4xStreaming
- 2xAll spending
Value
Card benefits
Travel insurance
Purchase protection
Gift cards and merchandise
TD Rewards points can also be redeemed for gift cards and merchandise.
When redeeming your points for gift cards, you can expect to exchange 10,000 TD Rewards point for a $25 gift card, which is equivalent to 1 TD Reward point = 0.25 cents. This is the worst redemption value that we’ve seen in these comparisons and is lower than the 0.33 cents per point offered with Amazon.ca’s Shop with Points feature.
Also, similarly to what we found with the MR points merchandise redemptions, it’s not actually possible to determine a value since the cash value of the merchandise is unknown.
Statement credits
For our final comparison, let’s look at the value available when you redeem your TD Rewards points for a statement credit to lower your credit card bill.
When redeeming for a statement credit, you need to redeem a minimum of 10,000 points (for which you get a $25 value), and then you can redeem as many points as you’d like beyond that, with every 400-point chunk giving you another $1 in credit for your bill.
Based on this, 1 TD Reward point = 0.25 cents, tied for the worst redemption value.
- Annual fee
- $0
- Our valuation
- $76ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$76Total$76Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$76Total$76Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- 15,152 points
on TD's website
With the TD Rewards Visa* Card, you can earn TD Rewards points on your everyday purchases, such as groceries, dining out, bill payments, public transit, streaming services, or travel bookings.
You can earn 15,152 TD Rewards points†, a value of $50 on Amazon.ca†, when you spend $500 within 90 days of account opening†.
- Earn 4 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend when you book travel through Expedia® For TD†
- Earn 3 TD Rewards points per dollar spent on grocery, restaurant and public transit purchases†
- Earn 2 TD Rewards points per dollar on recurring bill payments and purchases of streaming services as well as games and digital media†
- Earn 1 TD Rewards Points For every $1 you spend on other Purchases made using your Card†
Your card also allows you to redeem your TD Rewards points for a wide variety of rewards, including through ExpediaMD for TD, at Starbucks®, and on Amazon.ca with the Amazon Shop with Points program. Conditions Apply.
- Mobile Device Insurance of up to $1,000 if you lose or damage your phone†
- No blackout dates†, no seat restrictions†, and your TD Rewards points never expire† as long as your account remains open and in good standing.
- Earn 50% more TD Rewards Points and 50% more Stars at participating Starbucks® locations. Conditions Apply.
Legal
†Terms and conditions apply.
Annual fee
Annual income required
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
- 3xRestaurants
- 3xGroceries
- 3xTransit
- 2xBills & recurring payments
- 2xStreaming
- 1xAll spending
Value
Purchase protection
- Annual fee
- $0 $89ⓘNo annual fee the first year
- No annual fee the first year
- Our valuation
- $339ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$250Annual fee rebated$89Total$339Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$250Annual fee rebated$89Total$339Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 50,000 points
- + First Year Annual Fee Rebate
on TD's website
Terms of the offer
- Limited Time Offer - Apply by December 1, 2019 to get an Annual Fee Rebate¹ for the Primary Cardholder for the first year and earn up to 70,000 TD Rewards Points (a travel value of $350 when you book travel purchases through ExpediaForTD.com!²) as follows:
- Welcome Bonus of 15,000 TD Rewards Points when you make your first Purchase with your card¹.
- + Earn 2X TD Rewards Points on all Purchases in the first three months up to a total of 45,000 TD Rewards Points¹.
- + Earn 10,000 TD Rewards Points when you add an Authorized User to your Account by December 1, 2019. Annual Fees for Authorized Users continue to apply¹.
- This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here.
- Book your trip through Expedia For TD³ or any other travel provider – the choice is yours!
- Choose Expedia For TD to maximize the number of TD Rewards Points you can earn on your travel purchases.
- No blackouts4or seat restrictions4 under the TD Rewards Program
- A suite of travel insurance
- Earn 3 TD Rewards Points for every $1 in grocery purchases³ and regularly recurring bill payments4
- Earn5 5 TD Rewards Points for every $1 when you book travel online through ExpediaForTD.com
- Earn 2 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend on all other purchases6
Fees / Rates / Eligibility
| Type | Details |
| Personal annual income | N/A |
| Household annual income | N/A |
| Purchase APR | 19.99% |
| Cash Advance APR | 22.99% |
| Interest Grace Period | 21 days on all new purchases |
| Balance Transfer Rate | 22.99% |
| Foreign Transaction Rate | |
| Annual Fee | $89 |
| Authorized User Cards | $35 |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Promotional Balance Transfer/ Cheque Fee: 3% of the amount of each Balance Transfer or TD Visa Cheque that we may offer to you at a promotional interest rate which is an interest rate that is lower than the regular annual interest rate that applies to Cash Advances on your Account. The Bank may waive or lower this 3% fee at the time the promotional interest rate offer is made to you. You will be advised of the exact fee that applies at the time the offer is made. |
| Cash Advance Fee | 1% of the amount of the transaction (minimum fee of $3.50 up to a maximum fee of $10.00) (in Canada) or $5.00 (outside Canada), plus $3.00 at a PLUS* network ATM. (Fee does not apply to a Balance Transfer or TD Visa Cheque) |
| Foreign Currency Conversion Fee | 2.50% |
| Over Credit Limit Fee | $29 |
Disclaimer
'1 Must apply by December 1, 2019. Welcome Bonus of 15,000 TD Rewards Points will be awarded to the TD Platinum Travel Visa* ("Account") only after the first Purchase is made on the Account. Rebate of the Annual Fee is for the first year for the Primary Cardholder only and will occur when you have applied for an Account by December 1, 2019. Rebate will be applied within 2 monthly statements from the date of Account opening. The Annual Fee for any Authorized User Cards added to the Account continues to apply. Welcome Earn Bonus of 2x in TD Rewards Points ("Welcome Earn Bonus") applies to new Accounts in the first 3 months of Account opening ("First 3 Months") to a maximum total collective TD Rewards Points of 45,000 ("Welcome Earn Bonus Cap") on all purchases charged to your Account. During the Welcome Earn Bonus promotional period; earn 10 TD Rewards Points for every $1 in Purchases of travel made online through Expedia For TD ("Online Travel Purchases") and charged to the Account, earn 6 TD Rewards Points for every $1 in Purchases of travel made by phone through Expedia For TD ("Phone Travel Purchases"), grocery purchases ("Grocery Purchases") and regularly recurring bill payments ("Pre-Authorized Payments") and earn 4 TD Rewards Points on every $1 on all other Purchases ("Other Purchases") charged to the Account. Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits on any Purchases made during the First 3 Months will reduce or cancel the TD Rewards Points earned at the Welcome Earn Bonus on the original Purchase, as applicable. Welcome Earn Bonus Cap: Once the Welcome Earn Bonus Cap is reached, any further Purchases made in the First 3 Months will earn TD Rewards Points at the regular 5 TD Rewards Points for every $1 on Online Travel Purchases, earn 3 TD Rewards Points for every $1 on Phone Travel Purchases, Grocery Purchases, and Pre-authorized Payments, and earn 2 TD Rewards points ("Standard Rebate") for every $1 on all Other Purchases. To receive the additional 10,000 TD Rewards Points for adding an Authorized User to your Account ("Authorized User Bonus"), you must: (a) apply for an Account and add an Authorized User between September 4, 2019, and December 1, 2019; and (b) Authorized User must call and activate their Card by January 31, 2020. You can have a maximum of three (3) Authorized Users on your Account but you will only receive 1 (one) 10,000 Authorized User Bonus TD Rewards Points offer. Annual Fee for each Authorized User Card added to the Account will apply. The Primary Cardholder is responsible for all charges to the Account, including those made by any Authorized User. If you have opened an Account in the last 6 months, you will not be eligible for this offer. We reserve the right to limit the number of Accounts opened by any one person. Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer unless otherwise indicated. 2 Primary Cardholder remains liable for all charges to the Account, including those made by any Authorized User. Maximum of 3 Authorized User Cards on the Account. 3 Earn 3 TD Rewards Points ("Grocery Rebate") for every $1 in Purchases of groceries or grocery items ("Grocery Purchases") charged to your TD Platinum Travel Visa Card Account ("Account"). Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits will reduce or cancel the TD Rewards Points earned on the original Grocery Purchase, as applicable. Fees, Cash Advances (including Balance Transfers, Cash-Like Transactions and TD Visa Cheques), interest charges, optional service, refunds, rebates or other similar credits do not earn TD Rewards Points. $15,000 Cap: The Grocery Rebate is only available to a $15,000 maximum net annual spend ("$15,000 Cap"). Once the $15,000 Cap has been reached for Grocery Purchases, then any further Grocery Purchases made on the Account will earn TD Rewards Points at the standard rebate rate of 2 TD Rewards Point that applies to all other Purchases on the Account as set out in your Cardholder Agreement ("Standard Rebate"). Applicability of Grocery Rebate: The Grocery Rebate is in place of, and not in addition to, the Standard Rebate. Merchant Category Codes: To earn the Grocery Rebate, the Grocery Purchases must be made at merchants classified through the Visa network with a Merchant Category Code ("MCC") that identifies them in the "grocery" category. Some merchants may (i) sell groceries or grocery items; or (ii) have separate merchants located on their premises that also sell groceries or grocery items; but may not be classified with a grocery MCC and such Purchases will not earn the Grocery Rebate as applicable. If you have questions about the MCC that applies to a Purchase, contact TD at 1-800-983-8472. Other Conditions: Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer. 4 Earn 3 TD Rewards Points ("PAP Rebate") on each $1 in payments made on a monthly or other regularly recurring basis for merchant bills, including insurance premiums, magazine/newspaper/online streaming subscriptions, membership fees and telecommunication fees, that are set up by the merchant with your consent to be automatically charged to your TD Platinum Travel Visa Card Account ("Account") and that are classified through the Visa network as "recurring payments" ("Pre-Authorized Payments"). You must confirm with your merchant if they can accept Pre-Authorized Payments. Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits will reduce or cancel the TD Rewards Points earned on the original Pre-Authorized Payment. Fees, Cash Advances (including Balance Transfers, Cash-Like Transactions and TD Visa Cheques), interest charges, optional service, refunds, rebates or other similar credits do not earn TD Rewards Points. $15,000 Cap: The PAP Rebate is only available to a $15,000 maximum net annual spend ("$15,000 Cap"). Once the $15,000 Cap has been reached, then any further Pre-Authorized Payments made on the Account will only earn TD Rewards Points at the standard rebate rate of 2 TD Rewards Point that applies to all other Purchases on the Account as set out in your Cardholder Agreement ("Standard Rebate"). Applicability of PAP Rebate: The PAP Rebate is in place of, and not in addition to, the Standard Rebate. Other Conditions: Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer. 5 Earn 5 TD Rewards Points for every $1 in Purchases of travel made online through Expedia For TD ("Online Travel Purchases") and charged to your TD Platinum Travel Visa Card Account ("Account"). Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits will reduce or cancel the TD Rewards Points earned on the original Online Travel Purchase. Fees, Cash Advances (including Balance Transfers, Cash-Like Transactions and TD Visa Cheques), interest charges, optional service, refunds, rebates or other similar credits do not earn TD Rewards Points. Other Conditions: Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer. Earn 3 TD Rewards Points for every $1 in Purchases of travel made by phone through Expedia For TD ("Phone Travel Purchases") and charged to your TD Platinum Travel Visa Card Account ("Account"). Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits will reduce or cancel the TD Rewards Points earned on the original Phone Travel Purchase. Fees, Cash Advances (including Balance Transfers, Cash-Like Transactions and TD Visa Cheques), interest charges, optional service, refunds, rebates or other similar credits do not earn TD Rewards Points. Other Conditions: Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer. 6 Earn 2 TD Rewards Points ("Standard Rebate") on every $1 on all other Purchases ("Other Purchases") charged to your TD Platinum Travel Visa Card Account ("Account"). Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits will reduce or cancel the TD Rewards Points earned on the original Purchase. Fees, Cash Advances (including Balance Transfers, Cash-Like Transactions and TD Visa Cheques), interest charges, optional service, refunds, rebates or other similar credits do not earn TD Rewards Points. Other Conditions: Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer. All trade-marks are the property of their respective owners. * Trademark of Visa International Service Association and used under license. ®The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.Legal
†Terms and conditions apply.
With this new welcome offer for the TD Platinum Travel Visa* Card, you can get up to 50,000 TD points and a Annual Fee rebate for the first year:
- 15,000 TD Rewards points for the first purchase made with your card†
- 35,000 additional TD Rewards points when you spend $3,000 within 180 days of account opening†
This TD travel rewards credit card requires no minimum income.
Annual fee
Annual income required
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
- 4.5xTransit
- 4.5xGroceries
- 4.5xRestaurants
- 3xBills & recurring payments
- 3xStreaming
- 1.5xAll spending
Value
Travel insurance
Purchase protection
- Annual fee
- $0 $139ⓘNo annual fee the first year
- No annual fee the first year
- Our valuation
- $939ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$800Annual fee rebated$139Total$939Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$800Annual fee rebated$139Total$939Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 160,000 points
- + First Year Annual Fee Rebate
on TD's website
With the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card, you can earn up to 160,000 TD Rewards Points† as well as an Annual Fee rebate for the first year†:
- 20,000 TD Rewards Points for the first purchase made with your card†
- 140,000 TD Rewards Points when you spend $7,500 within 180 days of account opening†
- A Birthday Bonus of up to 10,000 TD Rewards Points†
Get an annual TD Travel Credit† of $100 when you book at Expedia® For TD, and enjoy your time at the airport with global airport lounge access and 4 complimentary lounge visits with Visa Airport Companion Program (a value of up to $277)†.
With the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card, you earn:
- 8 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend when you book travel through Expedia® For TD†
- 6 TD Rewards Points† per dollar on your grocery, dining and public transit purchases
- 4 TD Rewards Points† per dollar on your recurring bill payments and purchases of streaming services as well as digital games and media
- 2 TD Rewards Points† per dollar on all other purchases made with your card
This card also allows you to enjoy a range of travel benefits, including an annual travel credit, complimentary airport lounge visits, and a birthday bonus that boosts your points each year†.
Legal
†Terms and conditions apply.
Annual fee
Annual income required
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
- 6xGroceries
- 6xRestaurants
- 6xTransit
- 4xBills & recurring payments
- 4xStreaming
- 2xAll spending
Value
Card benefits
Travel insurance
Purchase protection
Bottom Line
The Amazon Shop with Points feature lets you use your TD Rewards points and MR points to cover some or all of the costs of your Amazon purchases; however, as we’ve noted above, this is typically not the best use of your points.
With American Express’ MR points being one of the most valuable and flexible loyalty currencies in Canada, there are so many ways to get considerably better value than the $0.7 cents per point that’s offered by the Amazon redemption.
Likewise, TD Rewards points are better spent on redemptions like travel since this option tends to give you a value of 0.4–0.5 cents per point compared to the 0.33 cents per point that you can get from Amazon.
Given this, choosing to pay for your Amazon purchases with points is not a “good deal” from a value perspective.
That said, if you’re looking for some advice on how to get the best deals when redeeming your TD Rewards points and MR points, we’ve included a number of helpful guides throughout this article that will help you get the most from your loyalty accounts.
- Annual fee
- $191.88
- Our valuation
- $255ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 15,000 points
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreⓘApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
The American Express Cobalt® Card is the best credit card from American Express, whether you want points for travel or cash back.
American Express Cobalt® Card welcome offer
The welcome bonus is paid out monthly over your first 12 months. You earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $750 in net purchases to your card, in any category (1X, 2X, 3X or 5X). That adds up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points over the year, a welcome offer we value at $255.
Earning the full bonus means $9,000 in net purchases spread across 12 monthly billing periods. This offer rewards steady monthly spending rather than one large purchase.
You can use these points as statement credits on everyday or travel purchases, at the same rate either way: 1,000 points = $10.
You can also transfer them to Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways and Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. With the full welcome bonus, that is a choice between:
- 15,000 Aeroplan points
- 15,000 Avios points
- 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- 18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
If hotel points are what you are after, our ultimate guide to Marriott Bonvoy and our complete map of Marriott Bonvoy hotels by category show what those points can actually buy.
American Express Cobalt® Card benefits
Here is what the card gives you, starting with the benefits cardholders use most.
- 5X points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada: groceries, restaurants and bars, home food delivery and convenience stores. A spend cap applies.
- 3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada.
- 2X points on eligible gas, public transit and ride sharing purchases in Canada.
- 1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
- 1X point per dollar on everything else, with no category restrictions.
- Points that hold the same value either way: 1,000 points = $10 as a statement credit, or a 1:1 transfer to several airline and hotel loyalty programs.
- No minimum income requirement, as with every American Express Canada card.
- Additional cards at no extra cost: the first and every other supplementary card is $0.
- The Hotel Collection: a room upgrade when available, 12pm check-in and late check-out when available, and up to $100 USD in hotel credit on amenities charged to the room for a stay of two or more consecutive nights, booked through American Express Travel.
- Front Of The Line® presale and reserved tickets for concerts and theatre performances, plus offers and events curated for cardmembers through Amex Experiences.
- A soft credit check before you apply: you can see whether you will be approved with no impact to your credit score. This applies to American Express personal card applications.
To see how it compares with the rest of the line-up, read our round-up of the best credit cards from American Express in Canada.
The 5X categories and where they apply
The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers four kinds of merchants:
- Groceries: Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, Safeway, Whole Foods.
- Restaurants and bars: sit-down meals, takeout and drinks.
- Home food delivery.
- Convenience stores: Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven.
The 2X rate covers gas stations such as Esso, Shell and Petro-Canada, along with public transit and ride sharing.
With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:
| Category | Points per dollar |
| Grocery (Metro, 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 |
That works out to a 1 to 5% return on those purchases. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month across groceries, restaurants and food delivery, you earn $50 back per month, or $600 per year from that category alone. Transfer the points to a program such as Aeroplan instead and the return can be higher.
You can also stack these categories with the hundreds of stores that offer 5x points.
American Express Cobalt® Card insurance coverage
The card comes with a broad insurance package. The amounts below are the coverage limits; conditions, age limits and exclusions are set out in the certificate of insurance linked in the Insurance section above.
Travel insurance
- Emergency medical: up to $5,000,000 for the first 15 days of a trip.
- Travel accident: accidental death and dismemberment of up to $250,000 for you, your spouse and dependent children under age 23 when travelling on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and the tickets are charged to your card. Supplementary cardholders and their families are covered too.
- Flight delay: up to $500 for necessary hotel, meal and sundry expenses bought within 48 hours when you are delayed or denied boarding for four hours or more and no other transportation is available. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and delayed baggage coverage.
- Delayed baggage: up to $500 for essential clothing and sundries bought within four days when your outbound luggage is delayed six hours or more. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and flight delay coverage.
- Lost or stolen baggage: up to $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined, for checked or carry-on baggage and personal effects in transit, when the airline tickets are charged to your card. Within that limit, jewellery is capped at $300 per occurrence and golf clubs, including golf bags, at $250 per occurrence.
- Hotel and motel burglary: up to $500 against the loss of most personal items if your hotel or motel is burglarized, when the stay is charged to your card.
Rental car insurance
Theft and damage coverage is included for a rental car with an MSRP, for its model year, of up to $85,000 excluding all taxes, for rentals of up to 48 days. To use it, decline the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or any similar option from the rental company and charge the full rental to your card. There is no cost for this coverage, and it replaces the daily insurance the rental company charges, usually $16 to $23 per day.
Mobile device insurance
Your device is covered for up to $1,000 per occurrence when it is charged to the card, for up to two years from the date of purchase. The payout is based on the depreciated value of the device, which falls by 2% of the purchase price for every completed month, less a 10% deductible. Theft and accidental damage coverage starts on the 91st day after purchase, because the first 90 days are covered by purchase protection.
Purchase protection and extended warranty
Eligible items charged to your card are insured against accidental physical damage or theft for 90 days from the purchase date, up to $1,000 per occurrence for all items combined. The card also extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items, with indemnification limited to $10,000 per insured item and $25,000 per Cardmember per policy year for all items combined.
American Express Cobalt® Card fees
- Card fee: $15.99 per month, which equals $191.88 per year, for residents outside Quebec. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year.
- Additional cards: $0.
- Purchase interest rate: 21.99%.
- Cash advance interest rate: 21.99%.
- Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%.
- Minimum income required: none.
Because the fee is billed monthly rather than in one annual charge, you can stop and restart the cost in step with how much you are actually using the card.
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.
Annual fee
Annual income required
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
- 5xRestaurants
- 5xGroceries
- 5xConvenience
- 3xStreaming
- 2xTransit
- 2xGas & EV
- 1xAll spending
Value
Transfer partners
- AeroplanAirline
- British Airways ClubAirline
- Cathay Asia MilesAirline
- Etihad GuestAirline
- Flying BlueAirline
- Hilton HonorsHotel
- Marriott BonvoyHotel
Travel insurance
Purchase protection
Make sure to read our Amazon guides to optimize your online purchases:
- Amazon Prime Canada 2025: Price, Benefits, and Complete Guide
- Amazon Prime Day 2025 Canada: The Best Deals and Exclusive Offers
FAQs
What is the redemption rate for Amazon.ca’s Shop with Points?
When you use Amazon.ca’s Shop with Points feature, 303 TD Rewards points are equal to $1 on Amazon.ca and 1,000 MR points are worth $7 on Amazon.ca.
How much are American Express Membership Rewards points worth?
We value American Express Membership Rewards points at 1.7 cents on average, though it’s possible to get redemption values of around 2 cents per point and higher.
How much are TD Rewards points worth?
We value TD Rewards points at 0.5 cents each. This value can be realized by redeeming your points for travel through the Expedia for TD booking portal and through the Book Any Way option.
What’s changing with TD Rewards points redemption in 2026?
Starting September 1, 2026, merchandise redemptions will only be possible on Amazon.ca with a TD Rewards card enrolled in the Shop with Points program. Later in 2026, the Book Any Way redemption option will only be available by phone (1-800-983-8472), and the remaining redemption options (Expedia for TD, Shop with Points, Pay with Points, Pay Down Balance, Starbucks, gift cards) will only be offered within EasyWeb and the TD app.
Our featured card
- Annual fee
- $120
- Our valuation
- $990ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- Up to 110,000 points
- Ends Sep 22, 2026
on American Express's website
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreⓘApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card is the best credit card in Canada for free hotel nights.
New Cardmembers can earn up to 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points with the current offer:
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on your Card in your first 6 months of Cardmembership.
- Plus, earn 30,000 points by making a purchase during your 15th month of Cardmembership.
This offer ends on September 22, 2026. The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.
Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.
To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.
The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.
You move up to Gold Elite status automatically when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card in a year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your Card.
Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 110,000 point welcome offer is worth about $990, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.
Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.
You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.
The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.
Two things to plan around: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and the 21.99% purchase interest rate, which makes this a Card to pay in full every month. Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is published for this Card, and you can see whether you would be approved before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
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Annual fee
Annual income required
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
- 5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
- 2xAll spending
Value
Travel insurance
Purchase protection
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