Daniela Hanna
The MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard offers no annual fee and a rewards structure that caters to groceries, restaurants, utilities and everyday spend. With bonus points, a birthday bonus and flexible redemptions, it’s a solid choice for Canadians seeking simplicity with value.
Quick highlights
- 🎁 Welcome bonus: Earn 5,000 bonus points after $500 in purchases in first 90 days, plus 5,000 more for enrolling for online statements.
- 🛍️ Earn 4 points per $1 for eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, memberships and household utilities for first 90 days (then 2 points per $1 in those categories, up to $10,000 annual spend each category).
- 💳 Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
- 🌟 Birthday bonus: 10% bonus points each year based on points earned in the prior 12 months (up to 10,000 points).
- 💡 No annual fee and your points never expire while the account is in good standing.
Why we like it
This card hits a sweet spot for everyday Canadian spending. With no annual fee, elevated earn rates in key household categories (restaurants, grocery, utilities), and a bonus structure that rewards you early on and over time via a birthday bonus, it stacks up well. Points are flexible — usable for cash back, travel, merchandise — and the fact they never expire while your account is in good standing is a plus.
Stand-out features
- ✅ No annual fee ever.
- ✅ Lose fewer points to expiry — they never expire while your account remains open and in good standing.
- ✅ Earn bonus points in categories you already spend in.
- ✅ Birthday bonus adds extra value year after year.
Good to know
- ⚠️ The elevated 4 points per dollar is only for the first 90 days and only in specified categories.
- ⚠️ After that, key category earn rate drops to 2 points per dollar and there is an annual cap of $10,000 per category.
- ⚠️ General spend (outside bonus categories) earns at base level of 1 point per dollar.
Pros
- No annual fee — ideal for budget-conscious cardholders.
- Strong initial earn rate in high-use categories.
- Points that never expire while account in good standing.
- Flexible redemption options (cash back, travel, gift cards, merchandise).
- Birthday bonus gives long-term recurring value.
Cons
- The highest earn rate is time-limited (first 90 days) and category-specific.
- After the elevated period, the bonus category rate drops and is capped annually.
- The 1 point per dollar on all other spend is modest — you may want another card for diverse categories like travel, dining, or non-bonus spend.
- Redemptions for best value may require travel or merchandise rather than simply statement credit.
Rewards program
- 4 points per $1 on eligible categories (restaurants, grocery, digital media, memberships, household utilities) for the first 90 days — up to category cap of $10,000 per category.
- 2 points per $1 thereafter in those same categories — capped annually.
- 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
How to maximize rewards
- Use this card for your grocery and restaurant spending, digital-media subscriptions and household utility bills — these align with the bonus categories.
- In the first 90 days aim to hit the $500 spend (or higher) to benefit from the 4 pts/ $1 rate — this front-loads value quickly.
- After the intro period, continue to maximize the 2 pts/$1 rate, but track the category spend cap ($10,000) so you don’t earn base 1 point after cap is reached.
- Use another card for other categories like travel, big-ticket purchases or anything outside the bonus categories to optimize overall returns.
- Redeem points for travel or high-value merchandise rather than low-value gift cards to extract maximum value from each point.
Insurance & benefits
Included
- 🛍️ Purchase Assurance: Coverage if eligible items are stolen or damaged within 90 days.
- 🕒 Extended Warranty: Doubles manufacturer warranty up to 1 year on eligible new purchases.
- 💡 Mobile Device Insurance: Up to $1,000 for eligible mobile devices in case of loss, theft or damage.
Not included / limited
- ❌ Travel medical insurance is not a major highlight of this card.
- ❌ Lounge access and luxury travel perks are not included.
Rates & fees
| Annual fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 21.99% |
| Cash advance APR | 22.99% |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.5% |
| Grace period | 21 days |
Best for
- Everyday Canadian spenders who want a no-fee card with bonus categories.
- Individuals who spend regularly on groceries, restaurants, digital-media subscriptions and utilities.
- Anyone seeking simple, flexible rewards without worrying about rotating categories.
Where it falls short
- If your spending is heavy outside the bonus categories, the value will drop to 1 point per dollar.
- No strong travel perks or lounge access for users seeking premium travel benefits.
- To extract maximum value you’ll need to focus your spend on the bonus categories and use another card elsewhere.
Customer reviews
Positive feedback
“Love that there’s no annual fee and I still get elevated earning where I spend most — groceries, restaurants and bills.”
“Points never expire as long as I keep the account — no stress on tracking expiration.”
Critiques
“The 1 point per dollar on other purchases is a bit underwhelming for my travel and online spending.”
“After the first 90 days the rate drops, so you need to be intentional about staying in the bonus categories.”
Community insights
This card is often recommended in Canadian personal finance forums for “best no-fee reward with bonus categories”. Many users say it’s a great starter rewards card, and they pair it with a travel-focused or high-category card for full coverage.
AI review (straight talk)
For Canadians looking for value with minimal hassle, this card checks a lot of boxes. No annual fee, bonus earn in everyday categories, and flexible redemption make it highly usable. The trade-offs are that the premium earn rate drops after the intro period and you’ll want other cards for travel or exotic categories. All in all: a reliable everyday rewards card.
Alternatives & comparison
| Card | Annual Fee | Top Categories | Other Purchases | Key Perks | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard | $0 | 4 points/$1 in bonus categories first 90 days; then 2 points/$1 | 1 point/$1 | Birthday bonus, flexible redemption | Everyday spenders |
| MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard | $120 | 5 points/$1 in bonus categories | 1 point/$1 | Travel perks, higher spend cap | High spenders / travel |
| MBNA Smart Cash World Mastercard® | $39 | 5% cash-back first 6 months gas/groceries | 1% others | Low fee cash-back | Gas/grocery‐heavy households |
| Scotiabank Momentum® Visa Infinite | $120 | 4% on groceries/gas/recurring bills | 1% others | No FX fee | Travel + everyday spenders |
FAQ
Is there an annual fee?
No — this card has no annual fee.
What is the welcome bonus?
You earn 5,000 bonus points after $500 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days, plus 5,000 more points for going paperless.
What are the earn rates?
You earn 4 points per $1 on select categories (restaurants, grocery, digital media, memberships, household utilities) during the first 90 days, then 2 points per $1 in those categories up to an annual cap; and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
How do I redeem points?
Points can be redeemed for cash back (statement credit), travel bookings, gift cards, merchandise or charitable donations.
Do points expire?
No — as long as your account remains open and in good standing, your points will not expire.
Final verdict & ratings
Our take For a no-fee rewards card that doesn’t overcomplicate things and still gives good value in meaningful everyday categories, this card is a strong match. If you spend a lot in the bonus categories (groceries, restaurants, utilities) and redeem smartly, it delivers meaningful return. If your spend is more diverse or travel-heavy, you might want a card with higher earn in those other categories — but this is a reliable everyday workhorse.
| Overall | ★★★★☆ 4.1 / 5 |
|---|---|
| Rewards value | 4.2 / 5 — strong for a no-fee card |
| Benefits & protections | 4.0 / 5 — solid for essentials |
| Fees & costs | 5.0 / 5 — no annual fee is a clear win |
| Ease of approval | 4.0 / 5 — accessible for many Canadians |
