As part of our credit card matchups series, we pitted the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card against the reigning champion, the American Express Cobalt Card. While the BMO eclipse has better benefits, better insurance, and a lower annual fee, the Amex Cobalt’s rewards and eligibility requirements proved worthy enough to keep its crown.
Key Takeaways
- The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite card offers excellent insurance, rewards, and benefits, including a $50 annual lifestyle credit.
- The American Express Cobalt card features more valuable and flexible rewards.
- The Amex Cobalt is a better choice for general spenders thanks to its competitive benefits and dazzling rewards.
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BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card vs. American Express Cobalt Card overview
If you’re shopping for a premium credit card, you’re shopping for competitive benefits, rewards, and insurance for a moderate annual fee. The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card and American Express Cobalt Card tick all 3 boxes, but there are a few differences to note:
| Feature | BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card | American Express Cobalt Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $120 | $155.88, charged as $12.99 per month |
| Welcome bonus |  $150 GeniusCash + Up to 70,000 bonus points, first year free (terms) | Up to 15,000 bonus points (terms) |
| Payment network | Visa | American Express |
| Maximum rewards | Up to 5 points per $1 spent | Up to 5 points per $1 spent |
| Highest earning categories | Groceries, gas, restaurants, and transit | Groceries and restaurants |
| Insurance types included | 6 | 10 |
| Special features | $50 annual lifestyle credit and Shell gas discount | Flight Delay, Baggage Delay, Lost or Stolen Baggage, and Hotel Burglary insurance |
| Income requirements | $60K personal or $100K household | N/A |
| Additional card fee | $50 | $0 |
| Get started | Apply now | Apply now |
We’ll examine every difference in further detail, but for now, let’s look at the strengths of each card.
What we love about the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card
GC: $150
Pros:
- 5 ways to earn rewards
- Higher annual eligible spending cap on 5x points purchase categories
- Lower annual fee
- More 5x points purchase categories
- Greater acceptance in Canada and worldwide
- More benefits
- More valuable insurance
Cons:
- Higher income requirements
- Higher interest rates
- Less valuable rewards
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card is a travel credit card that helps you save up for your next vacation by awarding 5x the points in 4 general purchase categories. While the BMO Rewards program has seen better days, the BMO eclipse VI makes up for it with plenty of valuable credit card benefits, insurance, and discounts.
Rewards
- 5 BMO Rewards points for every $1 spent on dining, groceries, gas, and transit
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
The BMO eclipse’s top earn rate encompasses a total of 7 purchase categories – "restaurants" includes takeout and food delivery, while “transit” encompasses gas, public transit, and rideshares. Note that this rate only applies to your first $50,000 of eligible spending within the calendar year, after which the rewards drop to 1 point per $1 spent.
According to our research, those 250,000 points equal some $1,675 in rewards, assuming you redeem them on travel or BMO Financial Rewards. Both yield an estimated 0.67 cents per point (CPP).
Cost of reward in $CAD / cost of reward in points x 100 = value in cents per point (CPP)
By "travel," we mean any purchases related to air travel, car rental, cruise lines, hotels, vacation packages, and more. BMO shuttered its travel agency several years ago, a decision that caused its points value to plummet to 150 points per $1.
Benefits
The BMO eclipse offers 2 special advantages: the first is a $50 rebate on your first purchase of $50 or more every calendar year. It’s free money and even easier to redeem than cashback rewards; just buy what you want and wait for the rebate to appear automatically on your credit card statement.
The second is 2 cents off per litre on regular fuel and 7 cents off per litre on premium fuel at Shell. The offer ends December 31, 2025 and applies to a maximum of 1,000 litres per month, making a total savings of $840 per year.
But the best benefits belong to Visa Infinite, Visa’s second-best credit card program. The perks include:
- 24/7 complimentary assistance with restaurant reservations, travel itineraries, and other requests through Visa Infinite Concierge
- Access to exclusive in-person dining events featuring Michelin-starred chefs and wine and cocktail pairings at top restaurants from Toronto to Vancouver through the Visa Infinite Dining Series
- Automatic Platinum status at 60+ Sandman and Sutton Place hotels – including preferred pricing, free room upgrades, a complimentary breakfast box, early check-ins, and late check-outs – courtesy of Visa RSVP Rewards
- Automatic Silver Status – including 10% off golf fees, merchandise, and lessons at 150+ golf courses worldwide – through Troon Rewards
- Complimentary tastings, tours, discounts, and other benefits at select wineries in Ontario and British Columbia, courtesy of Visa Infinite Wine Country
- Preferred pricing, automatic room upgrades, complimentary in-room Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast for 2, a $25 USD food or beverage credit, VIP guest status, and late check-outs at 900+ properties worldwide in the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection
- Special perks at the Toronto International Film Festival through the Visa Infinite Screening Series
Plus, cardholders get discounts on car rentals, digital streaming subscriptions, membership fees, and more at various companies in Canada, France, the USA, and the UK.
Insurance
The BMO eclipse VI features 6 types of credit card insurance totalling an estimated $466 in value with $501,000 of total coverage. While you might have to buy a travel insurance package for complete peace of mind, your shopping is safe with extended warranty and purchase protection coverage.
BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card
| Extended Warranty | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days |
| Mobile Device | $1,000 |
| Travel Accident | $500,000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 15 days |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes |
Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.
What we love about the American Express Cobalt Card
×8 Award winner Transfer points to Aeroplan and 7 other travel partners with Canada's #1 credit card.*
8x Award winner Transfer points to Aeroplan and 7 other travel partners with Canada's #1 credit card.*
Pros:
- 7 ways to earn rewards
- Lower income requirements
- Lower interest rates
- More types of insurance
- More valuable and flexible rewards
Cons:
- Fewer benefits
- Less acceptance in Canada and worldwide
- Less valuable insurance
- Lower annual eligible spending cap on 5x points purchase categories
We’ve awarded the American Express Cobalt Card the title of the best overall credit card in Canada, plus the top choice in multiple categories, including:
- Best American Express card
- Best grocery credit card
- Best restaurant credit card
- Best rewards credit card
- Best travel credit card
The Amex Cobalt’s secret to success is its rewards. It may not provide as many benefits or high-earning purchase categories, but through a valuable and flexible rewards program, all things are possible.
Rewards
- 5 points per $1 spent on eligible groceries and restaurants
- 3 points per $1 spent on eligible streaming services
- 2 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit, and ride share purchases
- 1 point per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Although the Amex Cobalt counts fewer 5x points purchase categories (and a lower annual eligible spending cap) than the BMO eclipse, it still adds up to more rewards.
Let’s say you earn a maximum of 150,000 points on $30,000 of eligible spending before your rewards drop to 1 point per $1 spent. You can transfer those 150,000 Amex Membership Rewards points to the Aeroplan rewards program or use the Amex Fixed Points Travel program to get 2 CPP, making for a total of $3,000 in rewards.
This incredible value is what gives the Amex Cobalt an average return rate of 4.5%, or $4.50 in rewards for every $100 spent. For comparison, the BMO eclipse averages about 1.61%.
Value of rewards earned in CAD / money spent in CAD x 100 = return rate in %
Benefits
Although not as famous (nor as comprehensive) as the Visa Infinite program, American Express offers a fairly competitive suite of benefits. The Cobalt offers an estimated $782 of value in credit card benefits, including:
- Access to special dining, rewards, and shopping offers through Amex Offers
- Early access to in-demand event tickets and reserved seating with Front Of The Line
- $100 USD hotel credit, one-category room upgrade, 12 PM check-in, late check-out on request in The Hotel Collection
- Exclusive access to curated dining, entertainment, shopping, and wellness benefits and events through American Express Experiences
- Exclusive deals on accommodations and car rentals through American Express Travel Online
For comparison, the BMO eclipse VI provides an estimated $1,102 in benefits value. While the eclipse is the clear winner, the Cobalt still punches well above the average value of $575.
Insurance
The Amex Cobalt features 10 types of coverage, adding an estimated $409 of value in credit card insurance. Although it provides more types of coverage than the BMO eclipse, the Amex Cobalt’s travel insurance doesn’t add much value. We’re more excited about mobile device insurance, which enables you to claim up to $1,000 if your phone is accidentally damaged, lost, or stolen.
American Express Cobalt® Card
| Extended Warranty | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days |
| Mobile Device | $1,000 |
| Travel Accident | $250,000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 15 days |
| Flight Delay | $500 |
| Baggage Delay | $500 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $500 |
| Hotel Burglary | $500 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes |
Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.
BMO eclipse Visa Infinite vs. Amex Cobalt
By now, you’ve probably got an idea of which credit card is best and – more importantly – which one is best for you. If you’re on the fence, here’s a cheat sheet for the 8 most important points of comparison:
Best benefits: BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card
Both cards offer roughly comparable benefits in the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel and Amex Hotel Collection. While Amex Offers, Experiences, and Front of the Line count for a lot, they can’t touch the amazing perks included in the Visa Infinite Dining Series, Screening Series, and RSVP Rewards benefits – or the BMO eclipse’s Shell gas discount and $50 annual lifestyle credit.
Best insurance: BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card
Although the BMO eclipse sports a smaller insurance package, it’s more valuable than the Amex Cobalt’s. Flight delay and missing baggage insurance largely overlap with existing airline delay compensation laws, and if you’re going to get hotel burglary coverage, you may as well get a personal effects plan so your stuff is covered in and out of the hotel.
Best rewards: American Express Cobalt Card
While the BMO eclipse earns more points, the Cobalt Card offers unbeatable rewards. Not only do you have more choices when it comes to redeeming your points, but you also get more than twice the value.
Highest acceptance: BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card
American Express credit cards are accepted by nearly every business south of the border, but the same isn’t true in Canada. Up north, Visa reigns supreme – and you can take it travelling to 210 countries and territories worldwide.
Remember: Acceptance can also affect how many credit card rewards you earn in one year.
Highest welcome bonus: BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card
The BMO eclipse’s welcome bonus narrowly edges out the Amex Cobalt’s, but to make full use of it, you’ll have to add an authorized user. Once you’ve paid for an additional card, BMO will add a 10% bonus rate to your 5x points categories.
Interest fees: Tie
Both cards have drawbacks: while the Amex Cobalt can’t be used for balance transfers, the BMO eclipse features above-average interest rates.
| BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card | American Express Cobalt Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Purchases | 21.99% | 21.99% |
| Cash advances | 23.99% | 21.99% |
| Balance transfers | 23.99% | N/A |
Lowest annual fee: BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card
While there’s only a $30 difference between the annual fee for the BMO eclipse and Amex Cobalt, the former includes a first-year fee waiver.
Lowest eligibility requirements: American Express Cobalt Card
While it doesn’t eliminate the need for a good credit score, the Amex Cobalt has no income requirements. By contrast, the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card demands at least $60,000 of personal income or $100,000 of household income.
The winner: American Express Cobalt Card
While it won fewer categories, the American Express Cobalt Card is competitive enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card – and then some. You just can’t beat the Amex Cobalt’s amazing rewards, which double the BMO eclipse’s earnings and more than make up for its lack of insurance.
Thanks to its lower income requirements, the Cobalt is the better pick for most Canadians. It enables you to save up for a vacation simply by making daily purchases, but high-income cardholders will probably find its benefits lacking.
Best travel alternative
GC: $125
If you like the American Express Membership Rewards program but crave a credit card with more perks, we recommend the American Express Gold Rewards Card. It may not earn as many points as the Cobalt, but with an average return rate of 2.95%, it still outearns the BMO eclipse.
Plus, it’s got a hefty welcome bonus, airport lounge access, a $100 annual travel credit, and plenty of travel insurance to offset its high annual fee.
American Express® Gold Rewards Card
| Extended Warranty | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days |
| Travel Accident | $500,000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 15 days |
| Trip Cancellation | $1,500 |
| Trip Interruption | $1,500 |
| Flight Delay | $500 |
| Baggage Delay | $500 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $500 |
| Hotel Burglary | $500 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes |
Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.
FAQ
Is the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card worth it?
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card offers a good entry point to the Visa Infinite perks program, but its rewards won’t take you as far as premium competitors like the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card.
What are the drawbacks of the American Express Cobalt Card?
While the American Express Cobalt Card earns a staggering number of points, it has fewer travel perks and faces lower acceptance in Canada and around the world than Visa or Mastercard.
Does the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card have lounge access?
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card does not provide airport lounge access.
What is the income requirement for the Amex Cobalt?
Although the American Express Cobalt Card has no income requirements, applicants still require a good credit score.
Is the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card metal?
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card isn’t made of metal, but its premium cousin, the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card, is made of shiny black steel.
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