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Essential Guide to the Cobalt® Card

  • The American Express Cobalt® Card is Canada’s top card for everyday spending, earning 5 points on groceries, dining, and food delivery, plus 2 points on gas, transit, and ride share. Flexible points transfer to major travel programs, making it easy to turn purchases into flights and hotels.

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    At-a-Glance and Key Benefits

    Earning Points Rate

    • Groceries, dining & food delivery: 5x points per dollar, up to $2,500 per month.
    • Gas, transit, ride & sharing: 2x points per dollar.
    • Streaming subscriptions in Canada: 3x points per dollar.
    • Everything else: 1x point per dollar.

    Signup Bonus

    • Earn 15,000 bonus points in your first year by spending $750 each month, with 1,250 points awarded monthly.

    Fee

    • $156 Annual Fee ($12.99 Monthly)

    First Year Value

    • Estimated first‑year value: $1,584 (approx. $1,440 in rewards + $300 in welcome bonus) after the $156 fee.

    Referral Bonus

    • 5,000 points per referral, up to 75,000 points per calendar year.

    Card Type

    • Credit Card

    Don’t Miss Out

    • Now is the best time to apply for the American Express Cobalt Card®. It comes with valuable perks, and you can take advantage of the signup welcome bonus offer while it is still strong.

How You Earn Points

Maximize your American Express Cobalt® Card rewards by shopping for groceries at stores that accept American Express, like Metro and FreshCo, to earn 5x points on every purchase.

Keep in mind, however, that not every retailer selling groceries qualifies for the 5x rate. Large stores like Walmart are typically categorized as general merchandise, not groceries, so you’ll only earn 1x points there. For stores that don’t accept Amex in-store, like Costco, you can still earn bonus points by ordering Costco groceries via Instacart and paying online with your Amex. Please note that fees and higher prices may apply, so consider them versus the value of the points.

The Cobalt Card also earns bonus points beyond groceries and dining. Eligible gas, transit, and ride-share purchases in Canada earn 2x the points per dollar spent. This makes it a great option for commuters and drivers alike.

Additionally, streaming service subscriptions such as Netflix, Spotify, and Disney+ qualify for 3x points, helping you earn faster on your entertainment expenses.

Praia d'El Rey Golf & Beach, Portugal
Praia D’El Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort, Obidos, Portugal

How to Maximize the Welcome Bonus

To earn the full welcome bonus on your American Express Cobalt® Card, make sure to meet the monthly spending requirement during your first year. Any purchase counts, but spending in high-earning categories like groceries, dining, gas, and transit will maximize your points. Track your monthly spend to stay on pace and avoid last-minute rushes.

Use your card for everyday expenses, including bills and essentials, to naturally meet the minimum spend each cycle, maximize the welcome offer, and build a strong points balance.

For step-by-step strategies and tips on meeting the minimum spend for your Cobalt® Card bonus, visit our in-depth guide on How to Meet Credit Card Minimum Spend Requirements.

First Year Earning Example

    • 🍕 Spend $1,000/month on groceries and dining = 5,000 points/month
    • 🚗 Spend $500/month on gas = 1,000 points/month
    • 🎁 1,250 monthly bonus points
    • 📈 That’s 7,250 points a month, or 87,000 points in the first year, enough for multiple North American round-trip flights, an economy flight to Europe, a one-way business class flight to Europe, or several hotel nights.

Meet the Minimum Spend
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Best Ways to Use Your Points

With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you earn flexible Membership Rewards® points that can be redeemed in many ways, with top value from transfers to airline and hotel partner reward programs like Air Canada Aeroplan®, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy®, Hilton Honors and more.

For a comprehensive guide on Membership Rewards® points, including effective strategies for earning and redeeming, advice on partner transfers, tips to maximize value, and real-world examples, be sure to visit our full Amex Membership Rewards® Guide.

Insurance & Amex Perks

The American Express Cobalt® Card comes with a helpful mix of insurance coverage and special perks that can add real peace of mind and extra value to your everyday purchases and travels. Whether you are shopping at home or heading out on a trip, these benefits are designed to keep you protected and help you get more from your card.

Insurance

  • The American Express Cobalt® Card gives you a valuable lineup of insurance and special perks to make life, shopping, and travel less stressful. Whether you are booking trips, making big purchases, or just handling daily spending, these benefits add extra protection and convenience. Coverage extends to your spouse and dependent children if their travel is also charged to your card.

    • Emergency medical insurance for out-of-province travel (for cardholders under age 65, up to $5 million for the first 15 days of a trip).

    • Flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage, and hotel burglary insurance (with set coverage limits).

    • Rental car theft and damage insurance when paying with your card (for rentals up to 48 days and car value up to $85,000 MSRP).

    • Travel accident insurance with coverage up to $250,000.

    • Extended warranty protection, adding up to one extra year on top of the manufacturer’s warranty for eligible purchases.

    • Purchase protection for new items, covering theft or accidental damage for up to 90 days after purchase (up to $1,000 per claim).

    • Mobile device insurance for phones purchased on your card, protecting against theft, loss, or damage worldwide (up to $1,000 per occurrence for up to two years after purchase).

    One important exclusion is that the Cobalt® Card does not provide trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance, which is sometimes available with more premium Amex cards.

    All coverage is subject to eligibility, limitations, and exclusions. Always refer to the official Certificate of Insurance for full details and current terms.

Amex Perks and Extras

  • The American Express Cobalt® Card offers a set of perks and extras that are commonly found across many Amex Membership Rewards cards. These benefits help you save money, get early access to popular events, and enjoy member-only experiences.

    • Access to American Express Offers with discounts, statement credits and extra points with a variety of stores and brands.

    • Early access to presale tickets and special events through Front Of The Line®, including concerts, festivals, and sports across Canada.

    • No annual fee for additional authorized users to help collect points faster.

    • Best in class customer service with easy access to support agents through phone and online chat.

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JW Marriott Resort & Spa, The Rosseau Muskoka, Ontario
Praia D’El Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort, Obidos, Portugal

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

You earn American Express Membership Rewards® points with the Cobalt® Card. These points are versatile and flexible, allowing you to redeem them for travel, statement credits, gift cards, and transfers to popular airline and hotel loyalty programs like Aeroplan®, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, Hilton Honors, and Marriott Bonvoy®. Points are earned at different rates depending on the spending category, giving you great value for everyday purchases.

The Cobalt® Card rewards you generously on everyday spending with 5 Membership Rewards® points on groceries and dining (up to a typical monthly limit), 3 points on Canadian streaming subscriptions, and 2 points on gas, transit, and ride-sharing. Points earned are flexible and can be transferred to major airline and hotel programs or redeemed for statement credits and gift cards. The card also includes valuable travel and purchase insurance, plus access to exclusive American Express Offers and experiences.

There is no limit to the points you can earn. However, the 5X bonus on groceries and dining is capped at $2,500 in monthly purchases, which is $30,000 annually.

You can transfer your points to a broad selection of airline and hotel loyalty programs, giving you great flexibility to redeem them for travel and other rewards. Be sure to check out our complete guide to transferring American Express Membership Rewards® for detailed tips and step-by-step instructions.

The American Express Cobalt® Card is a credit card and counts toward the maximum number of credit cards you can hold. In Canada, American Express limits cardholders to 4 revolving credit cards at any given time. Given the Cobalt® Card’s strong earning rates, flexible points, and valuable benefits, it is worth reserving one of your credit card slots for it.

The card has a monthly $12.99 fee, which is more than offset by the high earning potential and included benefits.

The card has a monthly $12.99 fee, which is more than offset by the high earning potential and included benefits.

Additional authorized users can be added without extra cost, making it easier to accumulate points across your household.

Aix-en-Provence, France
Aix-en-Provence, France

Bottom Line

The American Express Cobalt® Card is a top pick for earning Membership Rewards® points fast on dining, groceries, and transit. With strong insurance coverage and flexible redemptions, it is great for both new and experienced cardholders. Now is a great time to apply, so check out our guides to maximize your welcome bonus, meet spend requirements, and use Amex Offers for the best value.

The Best Welcome Offers
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