The Best Metal Credit Cards in Canada for 2023

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	$699
American Express Business Platinum Card	$499
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
HSBC World Elite Mastercard	$499

American Express Platinum Card

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 that come with the Platinum Card, it is really not hard to see why this card gets so much hype.

The welcome bonus is often worth between 75,000 – 100,000 American Express Membership Rewards points. The base value of those points is worth between $750 – $1,000. While that may not seem great for a card with an annual fee of $699, your points can actually be worth double that if you were to transfer them to Aeroplan.

In addition, this card comes with an annual travel credit of $200, unlimited lounge access for 2 people, comprehensive travel insurance, hotel status upgrades, and more. The benefits alone are worth more than the annual fee. That’s why this card always makes the list of the best travel credit cards in Canada. 

American Express Business Platinum Card

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 $1 spent. While this may not seem as good as the Platinum card, it’s beneficial to business owners that do most of their purchases in “other” categories.

What’s worth noting is that the American Express Business Platinum Card typically has one of the highest welcome offers for any credit card. That said, the minimum spend requirement is usually quite high. If you can reach that minimum spend organically, there’s no denying that this card gives you incredible value.

As for the benefits, you get unlimited airport lounge access, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, travel insurance, and more.

American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card

If you want a metal credit card in Canada that earns you a lot of Aeroplan points, then you’ll want to take a look at the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card. Even though the card has an annual fee of $599, the welcome bonus is typically worth around 90,000 Aeroplan points, and you get an Air Canada Buddy Pass. I personally value Aeroplan points at 2 cents each, so your welcome bonus could easily be worth at least $1,800.

The earn rate on the Amex Platinum is quite generous too. You’ll earn 3X points on Aeroplan per $1 spent on Air Canada, 2x points on dining and food delivery, 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 Candada, 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. Of course, terms apply.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card is TD’s top Aeroplan card and when you look at what’s offered, it’s no surprise that it’s on the list of the best metal credit cards in Canada. The welcome bonus is usually worth around 65,000 Aeroplan points and you also get a Buddy Pass. The annual fee is $599.

Although the welcome bonus may appear lower than what American Express offers, it’s worth noting that these sign up offers change all the time. Plus, there’s nothing stopping you from applying for both cards. If you did that, you’d have over 150,000 Aeroplan points for a cost of $1,200. That’s enough points to get you a roundtrip business class flight to many parts of the world that easily has a real value of $5,000 – $7,000.

The earn rate is 2 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on Air Canada purchases, 1.5 points per $1 spent on gas, and groceries, and1 point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases. You also get free checked bags, check-in and priority boarding on Air Canada flights, and unlimited access to Maple Leaf Lounges in North America. This card is very comparable to some of the best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada.

American Express Gold Rewards Card

There were quite a few changes made to the American Express Gold Rewards Card recently and they were all surprisingly good. Although the annual fee went up by $100 to $250, you now get an annual $100 travel credit, a Priority Pass Membership + 4 annual Plaza Premium passes, and trip cancellation insurance. In other words, you’re getting more benefits for the same net price. Oh, this metal credit card in Canada also comes in gold or rose gold.

The welcome bonus is typically worth between 50,000 – 65,000 American Express Membership Rewards points. This is an incredible offer considering that the annual fee is only $150 after you factor in the travel credit.

When it comes to the earn rate, you’ll get 2 American Express Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on grocery, gas, drugstores, and travel purchases. All other purchases get you 1 point per $1 spent. The Gold Card is easily one of the best American Express cards.

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.

The annual fee is $499 and the welcome bonus for new cardholders is usually only 50,000 BMO Rewards points when you meet the minimum spend requirement within 3 months of card membership. That said, you do get a Priority Pass membership + 6 free annual passes, so there is value with this card.

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 card itself is very similar to the other best metal credit cards in Canada. The annual fee is $499 and the welcome bonus is usually worth around 60,000 Aventura points. That has a real value of $600. Of course, it’s the additional benefits that make this card appealing. You get a $200 annual travel credit, a Priority Pass Membership and 6 complimentary visits per year. In addition, you get 2 NEXUS application fee rebates.

The earn rate is 3 Aventura points per $1 spent on CIBC travel, 2 points on dining, entertainment, transportation, gas stations and grocery stores, and 1.25 points on all other purchases.

HSBC World Elite Mastercard

The HSBC Metal World Elite Mastercard comes packed with benefits and would easily be one of the top picks for the best metal credit cards in Canada, but there’s one major problem. It’s only available through HSBC Private Client Services. That means you need to have a minimum of $1 million in personal deposits and investments or both a minimum of $500,000 in personal deposits and investments and personal residential mortgage balances of at least $1,500,000.

Assuming you qualify for the card, it’s a keeper. You get a high earn rate, no foreign transaction fees, unlimited lounge access and Boingo WiFi, and a 10% discount on Expedia and Agoda via HSBC. The travel insurance included is also top of the class.

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.

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 apprloval
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.

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 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)

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.