Our latest credit card matchup pits the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card against its cashback counterpart, the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard. Although the BMO CashBack WEM provides more insurance, the BMO eclipse VI offers superior benefits and returns. We’re comparing them in multiple categories so that you can decide which one might be the better fit for you.
Key Takeaways
- The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite card offers excellent insurance, rewards, and benefits, including a $50 annual lifestyle credit.
- The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard features decent returns and insurance, plus complimentary roadside assistance.
- Most Canadians will get more value from the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite’s rewards than from the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard's insurance.
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BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card vs. BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard overview
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card and BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard have plenty of common ground; they’re both BMO credit cards advertising above-average rewards for a premium annual fee. However, they differ on several key points:
| Feature | BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card | BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $120 | $120 |
| Welcome bonus |  $150 GeniusCash + Up to 70,000 bonus points, first year free (terms) | $150 GeniusCash + Up to $480 cash back in the first year, first year free (terms) |
| Payment network | Visa | Mastercard |
| Maximum rewards | Up to 5 points per $1 spent | Up to 5% cashback |
| Highest earning categories | Groceries, gas, restaurants, and transit | Groceries |
| Insurance types included | 6 | 13 |
| Special features | * $50 annual lifestyle credit * 10% bonus points when you add an authorized user * $120 annual fee rebate with a BMO Premium Chequing account | * Roadside assistance * $120 annual fee rebate with a BMO Premium Chequing account |
| Income requirements | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household |
| Get started | Apply now | Apply now |
We’ll examine every difference in detail later; for now, let’s take a look at what each card does best.
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 income requirements
- More benefits
Cons:
- Higher interest rates
- Less insurance
- Lower returns
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card is a versatile credit card you can take to restaurants, grocery stores, and gas pumps to earn BMO Rewards points towards your next vacation. You can make your trip even more memorable by using the included credit card benefits, such as hotel room upgrades and discount car rentals.
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 best part about the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card is how fast it earns rewards. Cardholders get 5x the points on gas, groceries, dining, and transit, which includes purchases from takeout joints, food delivery services, and rideshares.
Unfortunately, you can only get 5x the points on your first $50,000 of eligible spending per calendar year, after which the rewards drop to 1 point per $1 spent. Those 250,000 BMO Rewards points are worth up to $1,675 if you spend them on travel credits or BMO Financial Rewards, giving the BMO eclipse VI a maximum return rate of 3.35%.
Rewards earned in CAD / money spent in CAD x 100 = return rate in %
A 3.35% return rate puts $3.35 back in your pocket for every $100 you spend – pretty stellar!
Benefits
The BMO eclipse VI and CashBack WEM both offer a Shell gas discount worth up to $840 per year. Until December 31, 2025, cardholders get 2 cents off per litre of regular fuel and 7 cents off per litre of premium fuel, up to a maximum of 1,000 litres per month.
As for unique selling points, the BMO eclipse VI’s list of benefits starts with a $50 annual lifestyle credit. Each year, your first purchase of $50 or more will automatically cause a $50 rebate to appear on your next credit card statement.
The rest of its perks fall under Visa Infinite, Visa’s second-best credit card program, which includes:
- 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 WiFi, 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’s 6 types of credit card insurance add up to an estimated $466 in value. Its mobile device insurance plan is especially useful – you can claim up to $1,000 if your phone is accidentally damaged, lost, or stolen anywhere in the world within 2 years of purchase.
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 BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard
GC: $150
Pros:
- 7 ways to earn rewards
- Higher returns
- Lower interest rates
- More insurance
Cons:
- Fewer benefits
- Higher income requirements
- Lower annual eligible spending cap on 5% cashback purchase categories
The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard holds the title of the best BMO credit card, the best grocery credit card and the best cash back credit card in Canada thanks to its superb returns. Although it earns fewer rewards than other premium cards that use a points system, its benefits and insurance help to make up the difference.
Rewards
- 5% cash back on groceries, up to $500 in monthly spend
- 4% cash back on transit, up to $300 in monthly spend
- 3% cash back on gas, up to $300 in monthly spend
- 2% cash back on recurring bills, up to $500 in monthly spend
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
For every dollar you spend with the BMO CashBack WEM, you recoup 1% – 5% of the cost as cash back, which you can redeem using the BMO CashBack website or mobile app. You can also set up automatic deposits into your BMO Chequing, Savings, or Investorline account.
You can only earn so much cash back per 30-day credit card statement period before your earn rate drops to just 1%:
| Purchase category | Top earn rate | Monthly eligible spending limit at top rate | Total eligible spending limit per year | Total cash earned at top rate per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groceries | 5% | $500 | $6,000 | $300 |
| Transit | 4% | $300 | $3,600 | $144 |
| Gas | 3% | $300 | $3,600 | $108 |
| Recurring bills | 2% | $500 | $6,000 | $120 |
| Everything else | 1% | N/A | N/A | Unlimited |
Remember, we calculated the BMO eclipse VI earns a maximum return of 3.35% after spending $50,000 per year. If you used the BMO CashBack WEM to spend the same amount (and met the eligible spending limit for its 4 best purchase categories), you’d end the year with $980 in rewards, or 1.96% in returns – not bad for a cash back card, but not as good as the competition.
If you don't anticipate spending $50,000 or more per year, the BMO CashBack WEM may provide better rewards. We calculated an average return rate of 2.05% for the BMO CashBack and 1.61% for the BMO eclipse based on $24,000 of typical yearly spending.
Benefits
The BMO CashBack WEM enjoys the same Shell gas discounts as the BMO eclipse VI but doesn’t offer an annual lifestyle credit. That said, cardholders get a complimentary roadside assistance package – including 24/7 help with towing, battery boosts, flat tires, and gas delivery – valued at $69 per year.
Mastercard’s answer to the Visa Infinite program is the lineup of World Elite Mastercards, whose benefits include:
- Up to 20% off National, Alamo, and Enterprise car rentals using the Car Rental Booking Tool
- 20% off tickets to Cirque du Soleil, 15% off resident shows in Las Vegas, and preferred seats and VIP experiences at select Canadian shows through Mastercard Priceless
- 7% off hotels at Booking.com
- Access to exclusive culinary, cultural, and travel experiences (like an after-hours dinner party at Cheese Boutique or a treatment at a Hammam spa) through Priceless.com
- A complimentary DragonPass membership – which provides airport lounge access for $32 USD per visit – courtesy of the Mastercard Travel Pass
- Bonus cash back and savings at select retailers worldwide in the Mastercard Travel Rewards program
- Discounted data roaming plans, software, and digital subscription services
- Exclusive tickets, retail discounts, and concession discounts at Leafs and Raptors games through Mastercard Insider Benefits
Even better, both cards are eligible for a $120 annual fee rebate each year provided you open and maintain a BMO Premium Chequing Account. As long as you bank with BMO, your credit card’s basically free.
Motorcycles, RVs, commercial taxis, and limousines (among others) are not eligible for BMO Mastercard Roadside Assistance coverage.
Insurance
The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard includes 13 types of coverage, adding an estimated $525 of value in credit card insurance. The best of the lot is the rental car insurance, which can save you $140 or more on a 7-day car rental.
BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®*
| Extended Warranty | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days |
| Travel Accident | $500,000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 8 days |
| Trip Interruption | $2,000 |
| Flight Delay | $500 |
| Baggage Delay | $500 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $500 |
| Personal Effects | $750 |
| Hotel Burglary | $1,000 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes |
| Rental Car Accident | $200,000 |
| Rental Car Personal Effects | $1,000 |
Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.
How do the BMO eclipse and BMO CashBack compare?
If our in-depth analysis of each credit card hasn't swayed your opinion, a side-by-side comparison of their 8 most important features just might.
Best benefits: BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card
In terms of value, Visa Infinite beats World Elite Mastercard by a narrow margin. Its concierge services and hotel perks are especially luxurious – however, unlike the BMO CashBack WEM, the BMO eclipse VI does not include airport lounge access.
Best insurance: BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard
Offering more coverage and more value, the BMO CashBack WEM handily takes this category. It's important to note, however, that it's missing cell phone insurance, which can save you at least $50 on protection and thousands of dollars in buying a new phone.
Best rewards: BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card
Although the BMO CashBack WEM out-earns the BMO eclipse VI at lower levels, the latter is the best choice for anyone who plans to spend $50,000+ on gas, groceries, or transit. It's also easier to remember the BMO eclipse’s yearly eligible spending limit than the BMO CashBack’s myriad of monthly spending rules.
Highest acceptance: Tie
Visa and Mastercard handle credit transactions in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. While the Visa payment network is more popular, certain Canadian businesses (including Costco) only accept Mastercard.
Highest welcome bonus: BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card
The BMO eclipse VI’s $70,000 welcome bonus is twice the size of the one provided by the BMO CashBack WEM. To take full advantage, you'll have to add an authorized user and max out your 5x points purchase categories.
Interest fees: BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard
There's only a single percentage of difference between both cards’ balance transfer rate, leading to a narrow victory for the BMO CashBack WEM:
| BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card | BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|
| Purchases | 21.99% | 21.99% |
| Cash advances | 23.99% | 23.99% |
| Balance transfers | 23.99% | 23.99% |
Lowest annual fee: Tie
At the time of writing, both the BMO eclipse VI and CashBack WEM have the same $120 annual fee, which BMO will waive for your first year. They’re also tied on the cost of additional cards ($50).
Remember, you can apply a $120 annual fee rebate to either card for every year you maintain a BMO Premium Chequing Account.
Lowest eligibility requirements: BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card
All things being equal – and assuming you have a good credit score – it's easier to qualify for the BMO eclipse VI than the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard. You only need to prove $60,000 of personal income or $100,000 of household income versus $80K/$150K.
The winner: BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card
The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard boasts excellent insurance, modest rewards, and a useful roadside assistance package, but we can't ignore the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card’s superior benefits and rewards – not to mention its lower income requirements.
If you want to enjoy premium benefits and versatile rewards without spending $30,000 per year or more, the BMO CashBack WEM can deliver. If you like to shop and travel in luxury, the BMO eclipse VI will help you do it in style.
Best non-BMO alternative
×1 Award winner GC: $60
1x Award winner No income requirements, 6 free airport lounge passes, a welcome bonus that rivals the BMO eclipse, and rewards that beat the BMO CashBack: that's the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card. It's one of the best airport lounge access credit cards in Canada, and with 12 types of insurance and no foreign exchange fees, it's the perfect travel companion.
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
| Extended Warranty | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days |
| Mobile Device | $1,000 |
| Travel Accident | $500,000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 25 days |
| Emergency Medical over 65 | 3 days |
| Trip Cancellation | $1,500 |
| Trip Interruption | $1,500 |
| Flight Delay | $500 |
| Baggage Delay | $1,000 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $1,000 |
| Hotel Burglary | $1,000 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes |
Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.
FAQ
Which is better: Mastercard World Elite or Visa Infinite?
Offering a concierge and valuable hotel benefits, Visa Infinite offers more value than World Elite Mastercard. The only thing it doesn't provide is airport lounge access.
Is the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite worth it?
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite offers high-spenders a worthwhile entry point to Visa Infinite perks, but its rewards won’t take you as far as other premium credit cards.
What benefits do I get with my BMO World Elite Mastercard?
BMO World Elite Mastercard benefits include a Shell gas discount, a complimentary DragonPass airport lounge membership, cashback offers at top brands, car rental discounts, and 20% off tickets to Cirque du Soleil.
How do you get airport lounge access with BMO World Elite Mastercard?
To enter a lounge with a BMO World Elite Mastercard, present your credit card at the reception desk of any lounge in the DragonPass network and pay the $32 USD entry fee per guest.
Does Visa Infinite have lounge access?
Visa Infinite doesn't provide a free membership or pass to any airport lounges.
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