MBNA Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard Review: Is It Worth It?

The MBNA Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard® is the only Amazon-branded credit card on the market in Canada. You must have an Amazon.ca account to apply for the card, and Prime members get accelerated rewards rates.

4.6/5

4.6

NerdWallet rating

Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard®

Annual fee$0

Interest rates19.99% / 22.99%

View details

Rewards breakdown

2.5%

Cash back on Amazon.ca and Whole Foods Market store purchases for Prime members (1.5% for non-Prime members).

2.5%

Cash back on eligible foreign currency transactions (1.5% for non-Prime members).

1%

Cash back everywhere else Mastercard is accepted.

NerdWallet's take

A no-fee Amazon-branded card that’s ideal for Prime members: get 2.5% back at Amazon.ca and Whole Foods, plus 2.5% back on international purchases to help offset the card’s 2.5% foreign exchange fee. Rewards are redeemable for Amazon.ca gift cards — convenient, but as far as reward redemptions are concerned, a less flexible option than cash back. Best for: Amazon.ca Prime members and Whole Foods shoppers who value simple, at-checkout rewards.

Pros

• No annual fee.
• Up to 2.5% back at Amazon.ca & Whole Foods.
• 2.5% back on foreign-currency purchases.

Cons

• Non-Prime reward rates drop to 1.5% at Amazon.ca and Whole Foods, and 1% on foreign-currency purchases.
• Rewards can only be redeemed on Amazon.ca.

Card details

• Earn 5% back on your first $3,000 in eligible purchases at Amazon.ca, Whole Foods Market stores, grocery stores, and restaurants.
• Earn rewards on eligible purchases at Amazon.ca — including Whole Foods Market stores in Canada.
• After the welcome offer ends, eligible Prime members get 2.5% back on eligible purchases at Amazon.ca and Whole Foods Market stores.
• Eligible Prime members always get 2.5% back on eligible foreign currency transactions to help cover foreign transaction fees.
• After the welcome offer ends, non-Prime members get 1.5% back on eligible purchases at Amazon.ca and Whole Foods Market stores. Always get 1% back on eligible foreign currency transactions to help cover foreign transaction fees.
• Receive 1% back on eligible purchases everywhere else Mastercard is accepted.
• Rewards can be redeemed at Amazon.ca and applied directly to eligible Amazon.ca items.
• No annual credit card fee.
• The MBNA Payment Plan can make it more convenient to pay for large purchases and manage a budget. Pay for eligible credit card purchases of $100 or over by making monthly payments. Choose from three Payment Plan terms: 6, 12 or 18 months. Conditions and fees apply.
• Preferred rates: 19.99% for purchases, 22.99% for cash advances.
• To be eligible, you must have a Canadian credit file and be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.

Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard full review

For no annual fee, Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard cardholders can earn between 1% and 2.5% back on eligible purchases. However, the highest earn rate of 2.5% is only available to Amazon Prime members, and membership costs $99 per year ($9.99 per month), plus taxes.

Rewards earned can only be used on eligible Amazon.ca purchases.

Benefits of the Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard

Drawbacks of the Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard

Who should get the Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard?

Amazon Prime members who spend big at Amazon.ca and Whole Foods Market may get a lot out of this card’s 2.5% rewards rate.

Is Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard worth it?

The Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard is only worth it if you’re an Amazon Prime member and shop regularly at Amazon.ca and Whole Foods Market. The card’s rewards are essentially converted to Amazon.ca credit, which can only be used on Amazon.ca.

If you’re looking for a flexible cash-back credit card that offers more perks, you’re better off looking elsewhere.

What Reddit has to say

NerdWallet’s credit card experts rigorously review every detail of a card to determine its rating. But our Nerds know it can also be helpful to hear what everyday cardholders think. So, we took to Reddit to find out what users are saying about the Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard® across multiple threads.

Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard eligibility

Who qualifies for the Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard?

You must be a Canadian resident and the age of majority in your province or territory, to apply for the Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard. Applicants must also have, or open, an Amazon account to apply.

Approximate credit score needed for approval

Canadian credit card issuers rarely disclose required credit scores, which makes it hard to know your chances of approval when comparing credit cards. However, higher scores generally mean better chances of approval, and that’s true regardless of the type of credit you’re applying for.

Want to learn more? Visit our “What Credit Score is Needed for a Credit Card?” page.

Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard rewards

Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard vs CIBC Costco Mastercard

If you like the idea of store-branded credit cards but don’t spend with Amazon or Whole Foods often enough to maximize rewards, you might consider the CIBC Costco®† Mastercard®. Both the Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard and CIBC Costco Mastercard skip the annual fee, but that’s where the similarities end. Consider your shopping habits, your annual income and your insurance needs when deciding which card is best for you.

Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard®

4.6

NerdWallet rating

Annual fee$0

Interest rates

19.99% / 22.99%

Intro offer

Up to $150

Recommended credit score760-900

Rewards breakdown

2.5%

Cash back on Amazon.ca and Whole Foods Market store purchases for Prime members (1.5% for non-Prime members).

2.5%

Cash back on eligible foreign currency transactions (1.5% for non-Prime members).

1%

Cash back everywhere else Mastercard is accepted.

NerdWallet's take

A no-fee Amazon-branded card that’s ideal for Prime members: get 2.5% back at Amazon.ca and Whole Foods, plus 2.5% back on international purchases to help offset the card’s 2.5% foreign exchange fee. Rewards are redeemable for Amazon.ca gift cards — convenient, but as far as reward redemptions are concerned, a less flexible option than cash back. Best for: Amazon.ca Prime members and Whole Foods shoppers who value simple, at-checkout rewards.

Pros

• No annual fee.
• Up to 2.5% back at Amazon.ca & Whole Foods.
• 2.5% back on foreign-currency purchases.

Cons

• Non-Prime reward rates drop to 1.5% at Amazon.ca and Whole Foods, and 1% on foreign-currency purchases.
• Rewards can only be redeemed on Amazon.ca.

Card details

• Earn 5% back on your first $3,000 in eligible purchases at Amazon.ca, Whole Foods Market stores, grocery stores, and restaurants.
• Earn rewards on eligible purchases at Amazon.ca — including Whole Foods Market stores in Canada.
• After the welcome offer ends, eligible Prime members get 2.5% back on eligible purchases at Amazon.ca and Whole Foods Market stores.
• Eligible Prime members always get 2.5% back on eligible foreign currency transactions to help cover foreign transaction fees.
• After the welcome offer ends, non-Prime members get 1.5% back on eligible purchases at Amazon.ca and Whole Foods Market stores. Always get 1% back on eligible foreign currency transactions to help cover foreign transaction fees.
• Receive 1% back on eligible purchases everywhere else Mastercard is accepted.
• Rewards can be redeemed at Amazon.ca and applied directly to eligible Amazon.ca items.
• No annual credit card fee.
• The MBNA Payment Plan can make it more convenient to pay for large purchases and manage a budget. Pay for eligible credit card purchases of $100 or over by making monthly payments. Choose from three Payment Plan terms: 6, 12 or 18 months. Conditions and fees apply.
• Preferred rates: 19.99% for purchases, 22.99% for cash advances.
• To be eligible, you must have a Canadian credit file and be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.

CIBC Costco®† Mastercard®

5.0

NerdWallet rating

Annual fee$0

Interest rates

20.75% / 22.49%

Intro offerN/A

Recommended credit score760-900

Rewards breakdown

3%

Cash back at restaurants.

3%

Cash back at Costco gas.

2%

Cash back at other gas stations.

2%

Cash back at Costco.ca.

1%

Cash back on all other purchases including at Costco.

NerdWallet's take

This no-annual-fee Costco card offers 3% back on restaurants and Costco gas, 2% back on Costco.ca purchases and a flat 1% back everywhere else. You’d imagine this card’s highest cash-back rate would apply to Costco warehouse purchases, but you’d be wrong. Costco regulars may want to consider other cash-back cards that reward in-store purchases. Best for: Costco members who want a card that boosts dining and fuel spend and don’t mind redeeming cash-back rewards in-warehouse.

Pros

• No annual fee.
• Cash-back rates of up to 3%.

Cons

• Cash back can only be redeemed at Costco.
• Eligibility requires an active Costco membership.

Card details

• 3% cash back at restaurants and at Costco gas.
• 2% cash back at other gas stations and at Costco.ca.
• 1% cash back on all other purchases, including at Costco.
• No annual fee.
• Pay for purchases of $100 or more with CIBC Pace It low-rate Installment Plans, spreading payments over a fixed term. Take advantage of special Installment Plan interest rates with no installment fees on eligible Costco purchases in Canada and at Costco.ca.
• Make quick and secure payments using Apple Pay®, Google Pay™ and Samsung Pay® when you add your new card to your mobile wallet.
• Redeem your annual cash back gift certificate at any Canadian Costco warehouse.
• Get 0.25% cash back for every $1 spent on a CIBC Global Money Transfer™. There are no transaction fees, and interest won’t be charged, as long as the balance is paid by the payment due date.
• Preferred rates: 19.75% for purchases, 21.49% for cash advances.
• To be eligible, you must have a Canadian credit file and be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in the province or territory where you live. You must also have a valid Costco Wholesale membership.
• The information for the CIBC Costco®† Mastercard® has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

» If you’re still curious about how these products stack up, NerdWallet’s quick Amazon card versus Costco card comparison answers your most frequently asked questions.

Reasons you might want a different card

It may be worth looking at other options if you:

Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard facts