American Express is widely accepted at major Canadian retailers, restaurants, and online merchants — but is not accepted everywhere. Knowing where Amex works helps you decide whether to use it as a primary card or pair it with a Visa or Mastercard.
Where Amex is Accepted in Canada
Major Retailers
| Retailer | Amex Accepted? |
|---|---|
| Loblaws / Superstore / No Frills | ✓ |
| Sobeys / Safeway / IGA | ✓ |
| Metro / Food Basics | ✓ |
| Walmart Canada | ✓ |
| Canadian Tire | ✓ |
| Home Depot | ✓ |
| IKEA Canada | ✓ |
| Shoppers Drug Mart | ✓ |
| Best Buy Canada | ✓ |
| Amazon Canada | ✓ |
Where Amex is NOT Accepted
| Retailer / Type | Amex Accepted? |
|---|---|
| Costco Canada | ✗ — Mastercard only in-store |
| Some small local restaurants | Varies — may be Visa/MC only |
| Some small independent retailers | Varies |
| PC Financial gas stations (standalone terminals) | Varies |
Costco is the most important limitation. If you shop at Costco regularly, a Visa or Mastercard is mandatory. The CIBC Costco Mastercard or BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard are popular Costco cards.
Gas Stations
Most major Canadian gas station chains accept Amex:
- Shell ✓
- Esso / Mobil ✓
- Petro-Canada ✓ (some locations)
- Pioneer ✓
- Independent gas stations — varies
Travel and Airlines
- Air Canada ✓ (Amex Aeroplan Reserve earns 3x here)
- WestJet ✓
- Air Transat ✓
- Expedia, Booking.com, Hotels.com ✓
- Airbnb ✓
- Most hotels in Canada ✓
Internationally
Amex acceptance varies significantly by country:
- United States: Very widely accepted, including at major grocery and retail chains
- UK and Europe: Major cities widely accepted; smaller towns may be Visa/MC only
- Asia/Pacific: Acceptance improving but Visa/Mastercard still dominant in many regions
- Costco worldwide: Generally does not accept Amex (varies by country)
How to Identify Amex-Accepting Merchants
Look for the American Express blue logo at checkout — either on a payment terminal sticker or in the “accepted cards” icons near a cashier. Online, Amex acceptance is typically shown at checkout.
Strategy: Pairing Amex with a Visa or Mastercard
Since Amex is not accepted everywhere, many Canadians use Amex as their primary card for most purchases and a no-fee Visa or Mastercard as a backup. This strategy works well with:
- Amex Cobalt (primary, 5x food) + SimpliiCash Back Visa (backup, no-fee, 4% grocery at Simplii)
- Amex SimplyCash Preferred (primary, 2% everywhere) + any no-fee Mastercard (backup for Costco)
- Amex Gold (primary, 3x travel + no FX) + Home Trust Preferred Visa (backup, no FX fee)
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- Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Cards in Canada
Acceptance information current as of June 2026. Amex acceptance policies may change. See our Advertiser Disclosure.