In Canada, two institutions issue American Express credit cards:
American Express cards are consistently rated among the best credit card offers in Canada. However, they have a reputation for not being accepted by many stores.
This may have been true a few years ago, but since then American Express has been progressively catching up with its rivals.
In Canada and Quebec, many businesses accept American Express credit cards, including small merchants thanks to the Shop Small initiative. Since 2023, almost all IGA grocery stores accept American Express!
The main grocery and convenience stores that accept American Express credit cards in Canada and/or Quebec are:
As of 2023, all IGA grocery stores should accept American Express, as Scotiabank has implemented its Scene+ program with its American Express cards. However, some IGA owners are still reluctant.
In the grocery and convenience stores mentioned above, for example, you could use the American Express Cobalt® Card to earn 5 points per dollar.
In our experience, only the Thibeault Family Metro Plus stores in the Laurentians refuse American Express cards (Thibeault Family Metro Plus St-Jérôme, St-Antoine, Blainville and Prévost).
The main drugstores accepting American Express Cards in Canada and/or Quebec are:
At these pharmacies, for example, you could use the American Express® Gold Rewards Card to earn 2 points per dollar.
The main gas stations accepting American Express Cards in Canada and/or Quebec are:
At these service stations, for example, you could use the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card to earn 3 points per dollar.
The major electronics and office supply stores accepting American Express Cards in Canada and/or Quebec are:
The main hotels accepting American Express Cards in Canada and/or Quebec are:
At Marriott hotels, for example, you could use the Marriott Bonvoy American Express®* Card to earn 5 points per dollar.
The main travel-related businesses that accept American Express credit cards in Canada and/or Quebec are:
The major restaurants, cafés or food delivery services accepting American Express Cards in Canada and/or Quebec are:
In these restaurants, cafés and home delivery services you could, for example, use the American Express Cobalt® Card to earn 5 points per dollar.
Some people have reported that St-Hubert deliveries and take-out orders don’t earn 5X points, and the same is true of McDonald’s mobile orders. To get around this problem, you can buy gift cards from these restaurants in grocery stores (see below).
The main retailers accepting American Express Cards in Canada and/or Quebec are:
At these retailers, for example, you could use the SimplyCash™ Preferred from American Express to earn 2% cash back.
When you shop online, American Express is rarely not accepted. However, it can happen.
Find out if the business accepts Paypal! If so, you may be able to use your American Express card via Paypal.
You can buy gift cards at Rakuten.ca, for stores like Maxi and Provigo that don’t accept American Express.
You can then use your American Express card indirectly in these shops with gift cards. Please note, however, that your purchase on Rakuten.ca will be charged at your card’s base rate (and not at the multiplied rate used for groceries).
This trick comes in handy when you need to unlock a welcome bonus (such as the American Express Cobalt® Card ‘s 2,500-point monthly welcome bonus after $500 in purchases).
As you can see, American Express credit cards are accepted in more places than you might think!
Certainly there are still retailers who do not yet accept American Express credit cards. It will also depend on your location (in remote regions vs in a large city) and your consumption habits.
However, American Express credit cards offer the most rewards: changing a few habits could save you a lot of money and even bring you closer to your dream trip!
American Express cards are accepted at many retailers in Canada: grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies and restaurants. Find the list above on this page.
American Express cards are accepted at many grocery stores in Canada:
The vast majority of IGA grocery stores accept Amex cards. Some may not offer it, or may only offer it in the self-serve section. Test it at your favourite IGA.
To find out if your IGA is on the list, check out the map of Amex-accepting stores on the American Express website.
Canac now accepts Amex cards. Take a look at the map of businesses that accept Amex in your neighborhood, on the American Express website.
No. Take a look at the map of businesses that accept Amex in your neighborhood, on the American Express website.
In more stores than you might think! Usually, large brand or chain stores accept it. Grocery stores like Super C, Adonis, Metro and IGA accept it, as do gas stations like Shell, Esso, Petro-Canada and Ultramar.
Take a look at the map of businesses that accept Amex in your neighborhood, on the American Express website.
Savings are here:
