When considering the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card vs BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard, it isn't difficult to see how the benefits of the World Elite card are what set it apart, creating more value than its Visa Infinite counterpart. These top BMO credit card products may seem similar in many ways, but they do have distinct differences that make them valuable for Canadians with specific spending habits.
As a Visa Infinite card, the eclipse option offers superior perks, but the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard comes with a huge insurance package and balance transfer offer.
This article lays out all the details of the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card and BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard, comparing them in multiple categories, so you can decide which one better fits your needs.
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 Card’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
| 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 BMO Rewards points per $1 spent | Up to 5% cashback |
| Highest earning categories | Groceries, gas, restaurants, transit, takeout and delivery | Groceries |
| Insurance | 6 types | 13 types |
| Special features | * $50 annual lifestyle credit * 10% bonus points when you add an authorized user | * Roadside assistance * $120 annual fee rebate with a BMO Premium Chequing account |
| Income requirements | * $60,000 personal * $100,000 household OR * $15,000 declared current annual spend | * $80,000 personal * $150,000 household |
| Learn more | Learn more | Learn more |
What we love about the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card
GC: $150
Pros:
- Higher spending cap
- Annual $50 lifestyle credit
- 10% bonus points for adding authorized user(s)
- Lower income requirements
Cons:
- Less insurance
- Slightly lower annual return
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card is a versatile credit card that can help turn your restaurant, grocery, and gas purchases into BMO Rewards points to put towards your next vacation. You can make your trip even more memorable by using the included Visa Infinite benefits, such as the annual lifestyle credit and access to the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection and Dining Series.
Rewards
- 5 BMO Rewards points for every $1 spent on dining ($6,000 per year), groceries ($6,000 per year), 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 – and this includes purchases from takeout joints, food delivery services, and rideshares.
Unfortunately, there's an annual spending cap on dining and grocery purchases: $6,000 each. If you spend more than that, the rewards drop to 1 point per $1 spent.
If you hit these caps, you'll have accumulated 60,000 BMO Rewards points. Using our handy BMO Rewards Calculator, you'll see these are worth up to $402 if you spend them on travel credits or BMO Financial Rewards.
You can try the calculator for yourself, here:
| Redemption Option | Point Value | Total Value |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | 0.67 cents | $67 |
| Investments | 0.67 cents | $67 |
| Experiences | 0.65 cents | $65 |
| Gift Cards | 0.56 cents | $56 |
| Merchandise | 0.54 cents | $54 |
Benefits
As for unique selling points, the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card'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, 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 across the country through the Visa Infinite Dining Series
- 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
- Automatic room upgrades, complimentary breakfast for 2, and food or beverage credits at 900+ properties worldwide in the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection
- Special perks at the Toronto International Film Festival
Insurance
The BMO eclipse's 6 types of credit card insurance provide solid value, especially as it includes mobile device insurance, which is quite rare. With this, users can claim up to $1,000 if their 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 |
| Emergency Medical Maximum Coverage | $5,000,000 |
| 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
×1 Award winner GC: $150
1x Award winner Pros:
- Complimentary roadside assistance
- Huge insurance package
- Slightly higher annual return
- 6 months free Instacart+
Cons:
- Higher income requirements
- Lower spending cap
The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard holds the title of the best BMO credit card, thanks to its fantastic returns and long list of valuable benefits. Although it earns fewer rewards than other premium cards of similar types, its perks 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 World Elite Mastercard, 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 | Earn rate after reaching monthly spending limit | Total eligible spending limit per year | Total cash earned at top rate per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groceries | 5% | $500 | 1% | $6,000 | $300 |
| Transit | 4% | $300 | 1% | $3,600 | $144 |
| Gas | 3% | $300 | 1% | $3,600 | $108 |
| Recurring bills | 2% | $500 | 1% | $6,000 | $120 |
| Everything else | 1% | N/A | N/A | N/A | Unlimited |
Note that while there are spending caps on each category, that's just for the highest earn rate. Anything spent beyond that cap still earns 1% cash back.
To compare this card's reward rate, we estimated annual rewards based on $3,000 in monthly spending. We found the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard averaged a 2.02% return on spending (compared to the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card's 1.59% return).
Benefits
The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard doesn't offer an annual lifestyle credit, but 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 World Elite Mastercard program, and its 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
There's also a special offer right now for balance transfers: pay 0% interest for 12 months, with a 2% transfer fee.
Unrelated to the World Elite program, new BMO cardholders get an Instacart+ membership for 6 months, plus a $10 Instacart credit each month.
Even better, the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard is 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 comes with 13 types of coverage, including rental car insurance, which can save you a significant amount. BMO credit cards give an average value of $250 in insurance coverage.
BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®*
| Extended Warranty | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days |
| Travel Accident | $500,000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 8 days |
| Emergency Medical Maximum Coverage | $5,000,000 |
| 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 Visa Infinite Card and BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard 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.
Best insurance: BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard
Offering more coverage and more value, the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard handily takes this category. It's important to note, however, that it's missing cell phone insurance – which the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card does have. This type of coverage can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, on buying a replacement phone.
Best rewards: BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard
While the rewards may sound similar – 5 points on groceries vs. 5% cash back, for example – it's important to remember that 1 point isn't necessarily equal to 1 cent.
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card earns BMO Rewards points, which are worth up to 0.67 cents each, meaning you'll earn more on groceries with the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard.
Overall, the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard comes out on top for rewards, with an average return of 2.02%. Based on the same calculations (an average spend of $3,000 per month split across typical spend categories), the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card earns 1.59% back.
Plus, when it comes to flexibility, it's hard to beat cold, hard cash back.
Highest acceptance: Tie
Visa and Mastercard handle credit transactions in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. While Visa is more popular, some Canadian businesses – including Costco – only accept Mastercard.
Highest welcome bonus: BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard
The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard's welcome bonus is worth just a little more than its competitor – the 70,000 bonus points are worth $469 when redeemed for travel and/or investments, vs. the World Elite card's $480 in max cash back.
Don't forget to factor in any GeniusCash offers. At the time of writing, each card has a $150 GeniusCash cash back bonus.
Interest rates: BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard
There's no difference between the two cards' regular interest rates, but the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard does currently offer an impressive promo rate for balance transfers:
| 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% |
| Promo balance transfer offer | N/A | 0% (for 12 months) |
Lowest annual fee: BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card
At the time of writing, both the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card and BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard have the same $120 annual fee, and they're also tied on the cost of additional cards ($50).
However, you can apply a $120 annual fee rebate to the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard card for every year you maintain a BMO Premium Chequing Account. This bumps it ahead of the competition if you can keep the minimum $6,000 balance required for the account. (If you don't maintain this balance, the premium account will cost you $30.95/month.)
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 Visa Infinite Card than the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard. You only need to prove $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income, versus $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income for the other card.
This is, of course, because the cash back product is a World Elite card, and these always have high income requirements.
The winner: BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard
Overall, the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard comes out on top.
While the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card is easier to qualify for and has a lower annual fee, the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard offers extensive insurance, a handy roadside assistance package, and higher annual rewards. Not only does it beat out the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card, the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard is also the best BMO credit card in Canada.
However, it's worth noting that Visa Infinite beats World Elite Mastercard on perks, so if you're looking for access to Visa's premium perks, you might still prefer the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card.
Best non-BMO alternative
×3 Award winner GC: $60
3x Award winner With very low income requirements, a welcome bonus that rivals the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card, and rewards that beat the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is a solid choice for a non-BMO credit card. In fact, it's one of the best flexible rewards credit cards in Canada.
Considering the 12 types of insurance and no foreign exchange fees, it's the ideal 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 Maximum Coverage | $1,000,000 |
| 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
What's the difference between the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card and BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard?
Although they're both issued by BMO, one is a Visa Infinite credit card, Visa's mid-level offering, while the other is a World Elite Mastercard, a premium Mastercard option. Both have the same interest rates, but give different rewards, perks, and benefits.
Which is better: Mastercard World Elite or Visa Infinite?
With concierge services and valuable hotel benefits, Visa Infinite offers more value than the World Elite Mastercard. The only important perk it doesn't provide is access to airport lounges. However, the better card for you depends on which rewards program you'd like to participate in.
Which BMO credit card is better?
Of all the BMO credit cards we analyzed, the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard is our top choice. It stands out for its high earning possibilities, generous insurance package, and handy roadside assistance benefit. We also love that you can redeem your cash back on demand.
Is the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card worth it?
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card 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. That said, we appreciate its lower income requirements, valuable insurance package, and roadside assistance perk.
What benefits do I get with my BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard?
The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard's benefits include 6 months of free Instacart+ and a monthly $10 credit, roadside assistance, accelerated rewards on popular spending categories, cash back offers, a generous insurance package, and rental car discounts. Perhaps most appealing is the DragonPass membership, providing you with airport lounge access around the world.
Which card comes with airport lounge access?
Unfortunately, the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card doesn't come with airport lounge access, but the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard includes a Mastercard Travel Pass membership provided by DragonPass. Although you'll have to pay a $32 USD entrance fee whenever you use the pass, you have access to a global network of airport lounges.
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