American Express · Credit Cards
American Express Credit Cards in Canada
American Express issues several kinds of travel cards in Canada: Membership Rewards cards, whose points transfer to Aeroplan and other airline and hotel programs; co-branded Aeroplan cards that earn Air Canada points directly; and co-branded Marriott Bonvoy cards that earn hotel points and an annual free night. Amex publishes no income requirement on its personal cards.
Membership Rewards — Personal
| Card | Annual fee | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Cobalt Card | $191.88 | Heavy spenders on restaurants, food delivery, and groceries who want 5x transferable points and a monthly fee | Apply → |
| American Express Gold Rewards Card | $250 | Everyday earners who want 2x on travel, gas, grocery, and drugstore, with a $100 travel credit offsetting the fee | Apply → |
| American Express Platinum Card | $799 | Frequent travellers who want Global Lounge Collection access, $400 in annual credits, and Marriott and Hilton status | Apply → |
Aeroplan — Personal
| Card | Annual fee | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Aeroplan Card | $120 | Aeroplan earners who want 2x on Air Canada and 1.5x on dining without a high annual fee | Apply → |
| American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card | $599 | Frequent Air Canada flyers who want unlimited Maple Leaf Lounge access, 3x on Air Canada, and a companion pass at $25,000 spend | Apply → |
| Aeroplan Card vs. Reserve | Side-by-side comparison with breakeven calculator |
Marriott Bonvoy — Hotel
| Card | Annual fee | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card | $120 | Occasional Marriott guests who want an annual free night (up to 35,000 points), Silver status, and 5x at Marriott | Apply → |
| Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card | $150 | Travelling businesses that want the annual free night plus a wider 3x on gas, dining, and travel on top of 5x at Marriott | Apply → |
Aeroplan — Business
| Card | Annual fee | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card | $599 | Frequent Air Canada business travellers who want Maple Leaf Lounge access with a guest, 3x on Air Canada, 2x on hotels and car rentals, and a flat $99 companion pass. | Apply → |
Membership Rewards — Business
| Card | Annual fee | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Business Platinum Card | $799 | High-travel businesses that want unlimited Centurion and Priority Pass lounge access, Fixed Points Travel, hotel status at Marriott and Hilton, and the International Airline Program | Apply → |
| American Express Business Edge Card | $89 | Everyday business spenders who want 3x Membership Rewards on restaurants, transit, and gas without paying for travel perks they won’t use | |
| American Express Business Gold Rewards Card | $199 | Business owners who want a flat 1x on every dollar, transferable points, and a charge card with no preset spending limit | Apply → |
Two rules that shape every Amex strategy
American Express Canada caps how many of its credit cards one person can hold at the same time; the commonly cited limit is four. Charge cards sit outside that count. The Platinum, Gold Rewards, Business Platinum and Business Gold Rewards are charge cards: no preset spending limit, but the balance is due in full every month, and they do not build a revolving credit line the way a credit card does. If your plan involves more than a couple of Amex cards, the slot count decides the order you apply in.
The second rule is about leaving. Welcome bonuses are paid on the condition that the account stays open; cancel or downgrade inside the first year and the issuer can reverse the points, and Amex pays each card’s bonus once per person with no time limit, so a card you closed years ago is still a card you have held. Keep a new card past its first annual fee before you decide, and check the eligibility paragraph of any new offer against every Amex card you have ever had.
Which American Express card is the right fit?
A free consultation looks at how you fly, how you spend, and which issuer’s card belongs in your wallet.