BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard
Formerly the BMO AIR MILES Mastercard. A free way to keep a Blue Rewards balance growing, but outside partner stores its earn rate trails plain cash back.
- Annual fee
- $0
- Welcome offer
- ≈ $134378 days left
- First-year value
- ≈ $253estimated
The offer: 20,000 Blue Rewards points (on $1,500/110 days); apply by October 31, 2027
Rewards math assumes you pay your balance in full every month — interest charges quickly exceed any rewards value.
The case
What it does well, and what it costs you
Why it earns its score
- 20,000 bonus points (about $134) for $1,500 of spending in the first 110 days
- No annual fee, and the only no-fee card that earns Blue Points on every purchase
- Purchase protection and extended warranty included
Where it loses points
- 0.5 points per $1 is about 0.33% back on general spending at 0.67¢ a point, below most no-fee cash-back cards
- The 1x categories stop at $500 of spending per category each statement period
- No travel insurance
The details
Earn rates, fees and coverage
| Earn rate | Rate |
|---|---|
| Blue Rewards partners, including Blue Rewards Travel (Expedia) (first $15,000 a year) | 5x |
| Groceries, gas, EV charging, wholesale, alcohol (first $500 per category per statement period) | 1x |
| Everything else | 0.5x |
- Annual fee
- No annual fee
- Interest rates
- 21.99% purchases · 23.99% cash advancesCash advances are 21.99% for Quebec residents
- Included insurance
- Purchase protection · Extended warranty
The score
How we scored it
Six weighted components, each rated 0–10. Rating × weight is what each one contributes; together they make a raw 5.07, published as 5.1.
See the evidence behind each rating
The facts are structured; the rating remains an editorial judgment. Open any component to audit what was considered without mistaking the evidence for an automatic formula.
First-year value5.0/10
The published first-year net value maps directly to the executable anchor ladder.
- $253 first-year net value maps to a 5.0/10 baseline.
- Published first-year input: 5.0/10, matching the baseline.
- The largest structured year-one offer threshold is $1,500 of spend.
Ongoing value4.0/10
This input judges recurring earn and cash-like credits after the annual fee; the welcome offer and non-cash perks are excluded.
- No annual fee.
- Published earn: 5x: Blue Rewards partners, including Blue Rewards Travel (Expedia) (first $15,000 a year); 1x: Groceries, gas, EV charging, wholesale, alcohol (first $500 per category per statement period); 0.5x: Everything else.
- 2 earn rows carry an explicit spend cap or threshold.
Flexibility5.0/10
This input judges how easily BMO Blue Rewards can become useful value without forcing one narrow redemption path.
- Reward currency: BMO Blue Rewards.
Perk usability4.5/10
This input credits non-cash benefits at realistic use, separate from cash-like credits already counted in ongoing value.
- No airport lounge access.
- 2 published insurance benefits: Purchase protection; Extended warranty.
Low friction8.5/10
This input combines network acceptance, caps, conditions, eligibility, and operational effort; a higher rating means less friction.
- Mastercard acceptance; 2.5% foreign-transaction fee.
- No published income minimum.
Strategic fit5.0/10
This input asks whether the card fills a distinct role in a small wallet rather than duplicating another card; redemption quality is not counted again here.
- Ranking roles: groceries-dining.
- Fit case: Former AIR MILES collectors who shop at Blue Rewards partners and want to keep earning Blue Points without an annual fee.
- Main conflict: You rarely shop at Blue Rewards partners; a no-fee cash-back card pays more on everyday spending.
Offer history
Welcome-offer history
Unchanged since we started tracking it on Oct 11, 2026.
We log every change to this offer, so you can judge whether today’s is genuinely strong or just loudly advertised.
All recorded offers (1)
| Offer | Est. value | Recorded | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20,000 Blue Rewards points (on $1,500/110 days); apply by October 31, 2027 | ≈ $134 | Oct 11, 2026 | Current |
Already have it?
Should you keep it?
There’s no annual fee, so keeping it costs nothing; the only renewal question is whether a different no-fee card would earn more on your spending. Check the rankings or the card finder if you suspect it would.
The bottom line
Is it the right card for you?
Who it’s for
Former AIR MILES collectors who shop at Blue Rewards partners and want to keep earning Blue Points without an annual fee.
Who should skip it
You rarely shop at Blue Rewards partners; a no-fee cash-back card pays more on everyday spending.
Rewards math assumes you pay your balance in full every month — interest charges quickly exceed any rewards value.
Source: issuer card page · Last reviewed Oct 12, 2026. Details change often: confirm current terms with the issuer before applying.
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