The BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite Credit Cards Head-To-Head

BMO’s Visa cards may be the outliers in a sea of Mastercards, but they’re worth considering. Both cards earn up to 5 rewards points per $1 spent in popular spending categories, plus generous perks and premium Visa Infinite benefits.

For some, these cards' annual fees and income requirements can be tricky to justify (especially the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege's). Still, if you meet the requirements, the benefits can easily make your choice of eclipse card well worth it.

Here, we’ll comb through the details for the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite^* Card and the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege^* Card so you can make an informed decision.

BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card vs. BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card at a glance

BMO is one of Canada's largest credit card issuers, so you have plenty of options from them when choosing a credit card. One thing that stands out about BMO is that it primarily issues Mastercards – the exception is the eclipse line of Visas.

There’s a 1 no fee card (the BMO eclipse rise Visa Card) in BMO's eclipse roster, but we're going to focus on both of the Visa Infinite options here. These two cards come with annual fees: the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite is modestly priced, while the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege is pricier but also more of a premium option.

Key differences between the cards

As you can see, the differences between these cards are quite stark. Just reading through the annual fee and income requirements will give you an idea of whether the low-fee or premium card is better for you.

Both cards give you 7 cents off per litre at Shell, and they charge the same interest rates across all categories.

The rewards you earn are also very similar – the key difference is that the Visa Infinite gives you bonus points on transit but not travel or pharmacy purchases, while the Infinite Privilege card does reward travel and pharmacy spending.

Which BMO eclipse card is better?

If this all sounds good and you’re ready to sign up, you may be wondering: which card should I apply for?

First off, ask yourself which card you’re eligible for. Do you meet the income requirements of the Visa Infinite Privilege? Are you willing to pay the higher fee?

If so, you’ll probably want to choose the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card since it offers more: better insurance coverage, bonus rewards on travel, airport lounge membership and free passes, a better welcome bonus, and a heftier lifestyle credit.

We should also mention that if you add another cardholder, the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege^* Card allows you to earn 25% more points for this authorized user, whereas the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite^* Card only offers 10%.

Both cards give you fantastic, luxurious perks, including:

• Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection
• Visa Infinite Dining Series
• Visa Infinite Concierge
• Visa Infinite Troon Golf Benefit

But the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card has these added benefits:

• Visa Infinite Wine Country
• Priority Security Lane, airport parking and valet service discounts

What cardholders say

Now that we’ve outlined the biggest differences between these cards and put in our 2 cents, we wanted to see what real cardholders thought. When we headed to Reddit, we were a little surprised to see that these cards aren’t generating much buzz.

Many users cautioned against the premium card, pointing out that you have better options from other issuers (looking at you, American Express Cobalt Card).

However, some pointed out that a BMO eclipse Visa can make a good companion card if you have an Amex that’s not accepted everywhere.

FAQ

What is the difference between Visa Infinite and Visa Infinite Privilege?

Annual fee and income requirements are some of the biggest differences. Essentially, it’s harder to qualify (and pay for) the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card, but it offers more benefits and rewards, like better insurance and airport lounge access.

Does the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card have lounge access?

Unfortunately, this card doesn’t include lounge access. This isn't particularly surprising since it has a relatively low annual fee – the pricier BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card offers Visa Airport Companion membership and 6 free lounge passes per year.

Is the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card card metal?

No, it’s not, but the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card is a metal card and comes with many perks and benefits. The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card may not be made of metal, but it still offers great value.

What is the income requirement for Visa Infinite Privilege?

The income requirements for the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card are quite steep. To qualify, you’ll need to earn either $150,000 yourself or have a household annual income of at least $200,000.