"Is the Amex Cobalt or BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite better?"

"The Amex Cobalt ($155/year) is generally the better card for Canadian dining and grocery earners. Both cards earn 5x points on food purchases, but Amex MR points are more flexible and valuable than BMO Rewards points — transferring to Aeroplan (1:1) for business class flights worth 2–3¢/pt vs BMO Rewards at approximately 0.58¢/pt toward travel. The BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite ($150/year) has a slight edge on travel insurance comprehensiveness and includes a $50 annual lifestyle credit. If you prefer Visa acceptance over Amex acceptance (especially at Costco) or want Visa-specific travel insurance, BMO Eclipse may be preferred."

"Does the BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite have a $50 lifestyle credit?"

"Yes — the BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite includes a $50 annual lifestyle credit that can be applied toward eligible purchases like dining, takeout, or recurring bills. This credit reduces the effective annual fee from $150 to $100. Combined with the card's 5x earn on food and drinks, the BMO Eclipse is a competitive premium dining card — but the Amex MR ecosystem's superior flexibility gives the Cobalt the edge for points maximisers."

"Where is Amex not accepted in Canada?"

"American Express is not accepted everywhere in Canada. Major places that do not accept Amex include: Costco (Mastercard only), some small businesses and restaurants, many grocery discount banners (FreshCo, No Frills), and some utilities and government services. The BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite is a Visa card and is accepted virtually everywhere Visa is accepted — which is essentially universal in Canada. If you shop at Costco or frequently encounter Amex refusal, the BMO Eclipse resolves the acceptance issue while still offering 5x on food."

"How do BMO Rewards points compare to Amex MR points in value?"

"BMO Rewards points are worth approximately 0.58¢ per point when redeemed for travel through BMO Rewards. They can also transfer to Air Miles at 3:1 (150 BMO Rewards = 50 Air Miles, or approximately 0.4–0.5¢/pt equivalent). Amex MR points are significantly more valuable: redeemable at 1¢/pt for statement credit, or transferred 1:1 to Aeroplan where they can be worth 1.5–3¢+ per point on premium flight redemptions. For the same 50,000 points, BMO delivers ~$290 in travel; Amex MR can deliver $500–$1,500+ depending on how strategically you redeem."

"Can I use the BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite at Costco?"

"No — Costco Canada accepts only Mastercard (not Visa or Amex). The BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite is a Visa card and is not accepted at Costco. Neither is the Amex Cobalt (Amex). For Costco purchases, Canadians need a Mastercard — popular options include the CIBC Costco Mastercard (3% at Costco), Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard (1.5% everywhere), or Tangerine Money-Back (2% in chosen categories)."

Amex Cobalt vs BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite (2026)

Both the Amex Cobalt and BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite are premium dining cards that earn 5x points on food spending — but they differ significantly in point value, card network, travel insurance, and perks.

Quick verdict: Amex Cobalt for points maximisers who want Aeroplan transfers and maximum aspirational value. BMO Eclipse for Canadians who need Visa acceptance over Amex, or prefer a $50 lifestyle credit.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	American Express Cobalt	BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite
Annual fee	$155	$150
$50 lifestyle credit	None	✓ Yes ($50 effective fee reduction)
Effective annual fee	$155	$100
Network	Amex (limited acceptance)	✓ Visa (universal acceptance)
Income required	None	$60K personal / $100K household
Earn — Dining & food delivery	5x Amex MR	5x BMO Rewards
Earn — Grocery	5x Amex MR	5x BMO Rewards
Earn — Gas & transit	2x Amex MR	2x BMO Rewards
Earn — Everything else	1x Amex MR	1x BMO Rewards
Points value	1–3¢/pt (Aeroplan transfers)	~0.58¢/pt (travel portal)
Transfer to Aeroplan	✓ 1:1	Limited (Air Miles conversion)
Foreign transaction fee	2.5%	2.5%
Costco acceptance	No	No
Trip cancellation	No	✓ Yes
Emergency medical	Limited	✓ More comprehensive
Welcome bonus	Check current offer	Check current offer

Points Value Comparison

On 50,000 points earned in one year:

Programme	Redemption Type	Value
Amex MR (Cobalt)	Statement credit (1¢/pt)	$500
Amex MR (Cobalt)	Aeroplan transfer, economy flight	~$750–$1,000
Amex MR (Cobalt)	Aeroplan transfer, business class	$1,000–$1,500+
BMO Rewards (Eclipse)	Travel portal (~0.58¢/pt)	~$290
BMO Rewards (Eclipse)	Air Miles conversion (3:1)	~$250–$350

Amex MR’s Aeroplan transfer capability makes the Cobalt’s points worth 2–5x more than BMO Rewards for aspirational travel redemptions.

Effective Annual Fee

Card	Annual Fee	Credit	Effective Fee
Amex Cobalt	$155	None	$155
BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite	$150	$50 lifestyle credit	$100

BMO Eclipse’s $50 credit (for eligible dining, takeout, and lifestyle purchases) reduces the effective fee below the Cobalt’s — making it competitive on a cost basis for light points users who value cash-equivalent credits over aspirational redemptions.

Amex Acceptance vs Visa Acceptance

This is a meaningful practical difference:

Places that don’t accept Amex in Canada:

Costco (Mastercard only)
Some small businesses and restaurants
Some grocery discount banners
Some government and utility services

Visa is accepted virtually everywhere — CIBC, Costco (no), convenience stores, all major retailers, most restaurants.

If you shop at Costco regularly or encounter Amex refusal, BMO Eclipse Visa resolves this. You can always add a no-fee Visa or Mastercard as backup, but some find carrying two premium cards inconvenient.

Travel Insurance Comparison

Coverage	Amex Cobalt	BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite
Trip cancellation	No	✓ Yes
Trip interruption	No	✓ Yes
Emergency medical	Limited (shorter duration)	✓ Up to $5M
Flight delay	No	✓ Yes
Rental car	✓ Yes	✓ Yes

BMO Eclipse wins on travel insurance. The absence of trip cancellation on the Cobalt is a meaningful gap for travellers who don’t have separate coverage.

Who Should Choose Amex Cobalt

You’re a points maximiser focused on Aeroplan transfers and business class redemptions
Amex acceptance is not an issue at your regular spending locations
You have a separate Visa/Mastercard for Costco and Amex-rejected purchases
You don’t rely on your credit card for trip cancellation insurance

Who Should Choose BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite

You want universal Visa acceptance (no Amex refusal headaches)
You need trip cancellation insurance from your credit card
You use the $50 lifestyle credit (reduces effective fee to $100)
You prefer BMO’s ecosystem or already bank with BMO

Verdict

Amex Cobalt for maximum points value — the Aeroplan transfer advantage delivers 2–5x more redemption value than BMO Rewards. BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite for Canadians who need Visa acceptance, want trip cancellation insurance, or prefer the $50 lifestyle credit reducing the effective annual fee.

Card details current as of June 2026. Verify with the issuer before applying. See our Advertiser Disclosure.