Amex Cobalt Card vs Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +
Two cards, one Standard Score rubric. The Amex Cobalt Card scores higher overall at 7.7/10, but the right pick depends on which components match your spending.
The verdict
ExcellentDifferent jobs entirely. The Cobalt exists to earn: 5x on food converts to some of the most valuable transferable points in Canada; the Passport exists to travel: no FX fees and six lounge visits a year, but its Scene+ points cap out at a flat 1¢. Heavy grocery-and-dining spenders who redeem through transfers take the Cobalt; frequent travellers who spend abroad want the Passport's fee-free foreign spending more than they want extra points.
See offer · current Amex Cobalt Card offer, direct from the issuer
Rewards math assumes you pay your balance in full every month — interest charges quickly exceed any rewards value.
| Amex Cobalt Card | Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Score | 7.7/10 · Excellent | 7.2/10 · Strong |
| Annual fee | $191.88 ($15.99 charged monthly (increased from $12.99/mo effective November 5, 2025)) | $150 (Rebated only if you hold an eligible Scotiabank chequing account (Ultimate Package rebates the full $150; Preferred Package rebates $40); there is no first-year waiver on the card itself. $50 for each additional card, waived on the first supplementary card under the current offer.) |
| Welcome bonus | Up to 15,000 MR points (1,250/month for 12 months of qualifying spend) | Up to 35,000 Scene+ points (25,000 on $2K/3 mo + 10,000 annual on $40K), plus the $50 fee waived on your first supplementary card; offer ends November 1, 2026 |
| Est. bonus value | ≈ $285 | ≈ $350 |
| First-year net value | ≈ $699 | ≈ $450 |
| Earn rates |
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| Points currency | Amex Membership Rewards | Scene+ |
| No FX fees | No | Yes |
| Lounge access | No | Yes |
Where the Amex Cobalt Card wins
- First-year value: scores 7.0/10 on this component
- Ongoing value: scores 8.5/10 on this component
- Flexibility: scores 9.0/10 on this component
- Strategic fit: scores 8.5/10 on this component
Where the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + wins
- Perk usability: scores 8.5/10 on this component
- Low friction: scores 9.0/10 on this component
Read the full reviews: Amex Cobalt Card and Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +, or see how both rank in Best Credit Cards for Groceries and Dining in Canada.
What the points are worth in dollars: Amex Membership Rewards Value and Scene+ Points Value. Each has a calculator for your balance.