The Best Metal Credit Cards in Canada for 2024

Just a few years ago, it was difficult to get a metal credit card in Canada. American Express was the only provider that offered one, and it was only available to their Platinum cardholders. However, in recent years, more metal credit cards have become available. 

That doesn’t mean having a metal credit card in Canada is less exclusive. It’s just easier to get one.  This isn’t a bad thing since credit card providers are recognizing that their top cardholders should be treated better. 

Of course, every metal card is different, so here are the best metal credit cards in Canada.

The best metal credit cards in Canada

Credit card	Annual fee
American Express Platinum Card	$799
American Express Business Platinum Card	$799
American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card	$599
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card	$599
American Express Gold Rewards Card	$250
BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card	$499
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card	$499

The American Express Platinum Card was the first metal credit card in Canada. Honestly, if Amex never made this a metal card, I don’t think we’d see as many metal credit cards in Canada as we do now. When you look at the benefits of the Platinum Card, it is really not hard to see why this card gets so much hype.

As of September 26, the earn rate is 2 American Express Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on dining and travel. All other purchases earn you 1 point per dollar spent.

Although the earn rate may not seem impressive, this card does come with some great benefits. As of September 26, you get a $200 dining credit that’s given each calendar year. You also get an annual travel credit of $200, unlimited airport lounge access (including Centurion lounges) for two people, comprehensive travel insurance, hotel status upgrades, and more. The credits alone reduce your annual fee to $399 a year. When you factor in the other benefits, you’re getting more value than the annual fee. That’s why this card always makes the list of the best travel credit cards in Canada. 

Eligibility: No income requirement. A credit score of 740+ is recommended.
Welcome bonus: It’s typically worth 75,000 – 100,000 American Express Membership Rewards points. To get the offer, you usually need to spend $7,500 in the first three months.

The American Express Business Platinum Card is very similar to the regular Platinum Card, but it’s clearly aimed at business owners. Instead of getting an increased earn rate on a few different categories, the Business Platinum Card gives you a straight 1.25 American Express Membership Rewards points per dollar spent. While this may not seem as good as the Platinum card, it’s beneficial to business owners who make most of their purchases in “other” categories.

As for the benefits, you get unlimited airport lounge access for two, an annual $200 travel credit, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, travel insurance, extended warranty, and an annual $120 credit for wireless services. These credits and benefits greatly reduce the annual fee of $799 (As of Sept. 26, 2023).

Eligibility: No income requirement. A credit score of 740+ is recommended. You also technically need to have a business.
Welcome bonus: It usually hovers around 90,000 – 100,000 American Express Membership Rewards points and requires a minimum spend of about $10,000 within three months of account opening.

If you want a metal credit card in Canada that earns you a lot of Aeroplan points, then you’ll want to look at the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card. The earn rate is 3 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on Air Canada, 2 points on dining and food delivery (including Uber Eats), and 1.25 points on all other purchases.

As for the additional benefits, you get your first checked bag free, priority check-in and priority boarding on Air Canada. You also get unlimited access to Maple Leaf Lounges in North America. Comprehensive travel insurance, purchase protection, and buyer’s assurance are also included.

Since Air Canada is one of the top airlines in Canada, it’s worth getting this stainless steel card as Aeroplan often has promotions and perks where you can earn bonus points, travel rewards, and statement credits. This is as close as you’re going to get to a black card.

Eligibility: No income requirement. A credit score of 740+ is recommended.
Welcome bonus: Typically worth around 90,000 Aeroplan points. The spending requirement has been both a lump sum and a monthly minimum.

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card is TD’s top Aeroplan card. The earn rate is 2 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on Air Canada purchases, 1.5 points per $1 spent on gas, and groceries, and 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Frequent travellers will love this card since you get Air Canada benefits, such as free checked bags, priority check-in, zone 2 boarding, and unlimited access to Maple Leaf Lounges in North America for you and a guest. This card is very comparable to some of the best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada.

Eligibility: Annual personal income of $150,000 or a household income of $200,000. A credit score of 740+ is recommended.
Welcome bonus: Typically worth 70,000 – 100,000 Aeroplan points. You’ll often need to spend $12,000 in the first year to get the full offer.

The American Express Gold Rewards Card is one of the best metal credit cards in Canada since it’s highly versatile. The earning rate is 2 American Express Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on grocery, gas, drugstore, and travel purchases. All other purchases get you 1 point per dollar spent. This card is easily one of the best American Express cards.

As for the benefits, you get an annual $100 travel credit, a Priority Pass Membership + 4 annual Plaza Premium passes, a NEXUS rebate, travel insurance and purchase insurance. The card does have an annual fee of $250, but the yearly benefits are worth more than that.

Eligibility: No income requirement. A credit score of 740+ is recommended.
Welcome bonus: Typically worth between 50,000 – 65,000 American Express Membership Rewards points. The spending requirement has been both a lump sum and a monthly minimum.

BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

Is the BMO eclipse card metal? That’s a question that a lot of people ask. Only higher-tier BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card is metal. That makes sense since it’s BMO’s top credit card that earns you BMO Rewards.

What makes the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card appealing is the high earn rate. You’ll get 5 BMO Rewards points per $1 spent on travel, dining, groceries, gas, and drugstore purchases. All other purchases earn you 1 BMO Reward point per $1 spent. While that may seem high, it’s worth noting that it takes 150 BMO Rewards points to redeem $1 in travel. That effectively makes 1 point worth .67 cents. That said, you can boost your earn rate by 25% if you add a supplementary user. There is an annual fee of $499.

As for the benefits, you get an annual $200 lifestyle credit, travel insurance, and mobile device insurance. You also get Visa Infinite Privilege benefits such as priority security lanes at select Canadian airports, a Visa Airport Companion membership and 6 free annual airport lounge passes.

Eligibility: Annual personal income of $150,000 or a household income of $200,000. 740+ credit score recommended.
Welcome bonus: Up to 90,000 BMO Rewards points. 50,000 BMO Rewards points are given when spending $6,000 in the first three months. Another 40,000 points are given on your anniversary if you spent $100,000 in the previous 12 months.

CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card

Does CIBC offer a metal credit card? Yes, it does in the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card. This shouldn’t be a surprise since this is CIBC’s top-tier credit card that earns you CIBC Rewards points (often known as Aventura points).

The earn rate is 3 Aventura points per dollar spent on CIBC travel, and 2 CIBC Aventura points on dining, entertainment, transportation, gas stations, electric vehicle charging and grocery stores. All other purchases earn you 1.25 points per dollar spent. The benefits you get include a $200 annual travel credit, a Priority Pass Membership and 6 complimentary visits per year. In addition, you get 2 NEXUS application fee rebates.

Eligibility: Annual personal income of $150,000 or a household income of $200,000. 740+ credit score recommended.
Welcome bonus: Typically worth around 60,000 – 80,000 CIBC Aventura points. The spending requirement has been both a lump sum and a monthly minimum.

What is a metal credit card?

Most credit cards are made out of plastic, but as you can imagine, metal credit cards are made out of metal (stainless steel), so they’re luxury cards. The actual function of metal credit cards is exactly the same as a plastic credit card, including the APR, but they have enhanced durability. The only difference is the physical material. Some people love metal credit cards because they come with some clout. A metal credit card is reserved for top-tier cards, so pulling one out, rather than plastic cards to pay shows that you belong to an exclusive club.

There is no metal credit card that comes with no foreign transaction fees. There’s also no metal card in Canada that gives you annual statement credits, a cash bonus, or a free night award.

What credit score do I need to get a metal credit card?

The credit score you need to get a metal credit card is usually a closely guarded secret. Generally speaking, you’ll need excellent credit of at least 700 to be approved. That said, some credit card providers have a lower requirement. Keep in mind that some metal credit cards also have a minimum income requirement to be approved.

Which metal credit card in Canada has the best rewards?

When it comes to metal credit cards in Canada, most of them prioritize rewards that are best redeemed for travel. In this case, the American Express Platinum tends to come out on top of having the best rewards. That being said, you can also use rewards for merchandise and gift cards if you choose. You can take a look at the American Express Membership Rewards Guide here for more information. 

Earning rewards is easy with the American Express Platinum in that you will earn rewards for every purchase, and some at an accelerated rate. However, keep in mind that American Express cards are not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard.

How to get a metal credit card

Getting a metal credit card in Canada is easy as long as you meet the requirements. With American Express metal credit cards, there is no minimum income requirement, so those are the easiest ones to get. If you want a metal credit card from BMO, TD, or CIBC, you’ll likely need to have a personal income of $150,000 or a household income of $200,000. You’ll also have to be a Canadian resident and the age of majority in the province or territory where you reside. If you’re approved for one of the best metal credit cards in Canada, it’ll be mailed to you by default.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get a metal credit card.

1. Browse the cards above
2. Click apply now
3. Check your eligibility requirements
4. Fill out your information or go to a branch to apply in person
5. Wait for approval
6. When the card arrives, activate it

Note that metal debit cards do not exist in Canada. Only metal credit cards are available. While it is possible to get a custom metal credit or debit card via a third-party, for security reasons, you’re better off not using this type of service.

How much does a metal credit card cost?

The cost of a metal credit card is dependent on the annual fee of your credit card. For example, the American Express Platinum Card has an annual fee of $699. The metal credit card with the lowest annual fee is the American Express Gold Rewards card at $250. That said, since you get an annual $100 travel credit, you’re really only paying $150 a year.

Are metal credit cards worth it?

This is a matter of opinion. Since metal credit cards don’t serve any additional function, they’re no different from regular credit cards. That said, as someone who has a metal credit card, I can tell you I love the weight and feel of them. More importantly, metal credit cards typically come with top-tier cards. When you look at the benefits included with metal credit cards, such as the welcome bonus, bonus miles earned, access to tickets and fine hotels through American Express, then it’s definitely worth it to have a metal card.

FAQ

What is the best metal credit card?

The best metal credit card will depend on your goals with the credit card. That being said, when it comes to the metal credit cards on this list, the Amex Platinum does offer the most travel benefits including access to airport lounges and a NEXUS rebate. Once you’re approved for NEXUS, you get global entry and TSA precheck access, which can save you a lot of time when travelling. The card has several transfer partners, has great conversion options for airfare, and also tends to have the highest welcome bonuses, which often earns it a title as the best metal credit card.

Which banks have metal credit cards?

There are only a few financial institutions that offer metal credit cards at this time, including:

• American Express
• Bank of Montreal (BMO)
• Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)
• HSBC
• TD Bank

It’s worth noting that KOHO used to offer metal credit cards, but that’s no longer the case.

Metal American Express Cards in Canada

• American Express Platinum Card
• American Express Busines Platinum Card
• American Express Gold Rewards Card
• American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
• American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card

Metal Mastercards in Canada

• HSBC Jade World Elite Mastercard

Metal Visa cards in Canada

• BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card
• CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card
• CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
• TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
• KOHO Prepaid Visa (no longer available)

How do you destroy a metal credit card?

Disposing of a metal credit card because you got a new card or your current one has been compromised is tricky because it can’t be snipped with scissors like the plastic cards. You can get in touch with the credit card issuer and ask to mail it back. They will provide you with instructions and will destroy it for you. If the credit card provider has a physical bank location, you can also take it there. Finally, you can use tin snips and destroy it yourself at home.

Are metal credit cards better than plastic credit cards?

One card isn’t necessarily better than the other because of the material that it is made of. Metal cards tend to be status cards, and are usually the top tier cards with better travel perks, such as airport lounge access and discounts on car rentals (along with higher annual fees). However, while they look pretty good when you take them out of your wallet, they aren’t necessarily ‘better.’ The best credit card for you is the one that allows you to get the most out of the rewards program and the included perks and benefits.