Best Blue Rewards Credit Cards in Canada
Air Miles is now Blue Rewards
BMO is making waves in the rewards program world. Gone is its well-known Air Miles program, and in its place is Blue Rewards. Don't worry – your points will be automatically converted.
The rebrand BMO announced earlier this year is finally here, and with it come new Blue Rewards-branded credit cards.
Instead of primarily rewarding flights, the Blue Rewards program is designed to simply offer more everyday value, especially when you use co-branded credit cards.
Key Takeaways
- BMO recently replaced the famous Air Miles program with the new Blue Rewards program.
- 2 Blue Rewards credit cards are currently available.
- The best is the BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard.
- The BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard is a similar card with no annual fee.
The best Blue Rewards cards compared
There are 2 Blue Rewards credit cards available. If you had an Air Miles credit card, you'll be automatically migrated to the corresponding new card.
| Category | Credit card | Annual Fee | Insurance package | Welcome bonus | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard | $150 | 12 types |  $125 GeniusCash + Up to 100,000 bonus points, first year free (terms) | Learn more |
| Best no-fee card | BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard | $0 | 2 types | $100 GeniusCash + Up to 20,000 bonus points (terms) | Learn more |
1. BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard
GC: $125
Rewards:
- 10 points per $1 spent at Blue Rewards partners*
- 2 points per $1 spent on groceries, gas, electric vehicle charging, wholesale, and alcohol purchases*
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases*
What's changed from the BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard: Enjoy a higher partner earn rate; a slightly lower earn rate for gas, EV charging, wholesale clubs, and liquor stores; and a reduced earn rate on all non-category or partner purchases.
With the BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard, you'll earn the most rewards for making purchases with partners like Blue Rewards Travel Powered by Expedia and Pharmasave. You'll also earn accelerated rewards for basics like gas, EV charging, groceries, wholesale clubs, and liquor stores. However, your rewards aren't as high as they were with the Air Miles version of the card.
This World Elite Mastercard has a steady 1 point per $1 spent on everything else, which does seem a little low for a premium credit card that has steep income requirements.
But what this card lacks in rewards, it makes up for in perks: It includes a free Mastercard Travel Pass membership with 4 free passes, basic roadside assistance, and generous insurance coverage.
Pros:
- Includes 12 types of insurance
- Introductory balance transfer offer
- Travel perks like airport lounge access and roadside assistance
Cons:
- Annual fee of $150
- High income requirements of $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
- Low rewards compared to other World Elite Mastercards
2. BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard
GC: $100
Rewards:
- 5 points per $1 spent at Blue Rewards partners*
- 1 point per $1 spent on groceries, gas, electric vehicle charging, wholesale, and alcohol purchases*
- 0.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases*
What's changed from the BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard: Your earn rate with partners almost doubles with the new card, but it drops for the accelerated-earning category of gas, EV charging, wholesale clubs and liquor stores.
Unfortunately, all other purchases only earn an average of 0.58% back (compared to 4.2% with the old Air Miles card).
This is a basic no-fee credit card that earns exactly half the rewards that the premium World Elite Mastercard does.
Like many no-fee cards, you won't get a lot of perks or benefits, although BMO includes free roadside assistance, which is a useful and rare perk for a free credit card. And, BMO partners with National and Alamo to offer cardholders a discount of up to 20%.
Pros:
- Balance transfer offer
- Easier to qualify for
Cons:
- Low rewards rate
- Very limited insurance included
Compare top Blue Rewards cards by Genius Rating
Learn more about the Genius Rating methodology
Blue Rewards vs. Aeroplan
| Feature | Aeroplan | Blue Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Membership requirements | Aeroplan credit card OR free account | BMO Blue Rewards credit card OR free account |
| Currency | * Aeroplan Points | Blue Rewards points |
| Rewards | * Events and attractions * Gift cards * Merchandise * Travel | * Vouchers * Travel * Merchandise * Experiences |
| Top rewards category | Air Canada flights (4 CPP) | Vouchers (0.67 CPP) |
| Bottom rewards category | Gift cards (0.71 CPP) | TBD, likely merchandise |
| Special membership benefits | * Flight eUpgrade credits * Free checked bags and priority services on Air Canada flights * Maple Leaf Lounge access | * Free roadside assistance * Accelerated rewards with partners |
While Blue Rewards and Aeroplan are both comprehensive rewards programs, Aeroplan edges out Blue Rewards in earning power, making it generally more valuable to an average Canadian.
That said, since both Aeroplan and Blue Rewards offer free accounts, there's no harm in signing up for both programs! Just make sure to do your due diligence and review the best value for your lifestyle before choosing a branded credit card.
There are many more options for Aeroplan credit cards, and they tend to earn higher rewards. Choose from major banks like TD and CIBC – or try a card that earns American Express Membership Rewards, which offers point transfers to Aeroplan.
Pros and cons of Blue Rewards credit cards
Here's how the new Blue Rewards credit cards stack up.
Pros:
- Extensive list of partners
- Roadside assistance and airport lounge access with premium card
- Introductory balance offers available with both cards
Cons:
- Limited selection of co-branded cards
- Cards place spending caps on rewards
- Lower earn rates than similar cards
- Points aren't as valuable as Air Miles used to be
- Limited benefits and perks
- Shell gas stations are now partnered with Scene+ instead
FAQ
What happened to Air Miles?
Air Miles declared bankruptcy in 2023. It was then purchased by BMO. In summer 2026, BMO officially rebranded Air Miles as Blue Rewards. If you have the Air Miles app, you'll see it's now the Blue Rewards app, and Air Miles credit cardholders now hold Blue Rewards cards.
What is the best BMO credit card to get?
The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard is the bank's best credit card. Although you don't earn flexible reward points, the card's cash back earn rates are some of the best in Canada. Plus, the card comes with a valuable insurance package.
What are Blue Rewards credit cards?
Blue Reward credit cards are Mastercards issued by BMO that earn Blue Rewards points, which can be redeemed for vouchers and travel. BMO currently only issues 2 Blue Rewards cards: a basic Mastercard and a World Elite Mastercard.
What's the best Blue Rewards credit card?
The BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard has the best reward rate and benefits like travel insurance coverage, roadside assistance, and airport lounge access. However, if you don’t meet eligibility requirements or want to pay an annual fee, the BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard is the best card for you.
What is the best credit card in Canada for points?
The overall best points and rewards credit card in Canada is the American Express Cobalt® Card. This card earns American Express Membership Rewards, which are both very valuable and very flexible. Other top rewards cards include the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card and American Express® Gold Rewards Card.
Editorial Disclaimer: The content here reflects the author's opinion alone. No bank, credit card issuer, rewards program, or other entity has reviewed, approved, or endorsed this content. For complete and updated product information please visit the product issuer's website. Our credit card scores and rankings are based on our Rating Methodology that takes into account 126+ features for each of 243 Canadian credit cards.
