Which has the lower annual fee, BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard or Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card?

Both cards have the same annual fee of $150.

Which card is better for groceries, BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard or Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card?

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard earns 0.7x on groceries, while the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card earns 1.6%. The better choice depends on your grocery spending and the specific merchants you shop at.

Is the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card accepted everywhere in Canada?

The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card runs on the American Express network, which is not accepted at some Canadian retailers like Costco and Loblaws. Visa and Mastercard have broader acceptance in Canada.

BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard vs Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card — Which Is Better? | Churnr

Header Quick Take Value Earn Rates Merchants Wallet Bonus FX Benefits Eligibility Perks Downgrade Verdict

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card wins by $237/yr — strongest in groceries

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card earns $142 more on groceries
Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card earns $47 more on shopping

Groceries: +$142Shopping: +$47Travel: +$39

BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard: $30/yr in foreign transaction fees

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card: $30/yr in foreign transaction fees

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card (Amex) — not accepted at Costco, Loblaws, No Frills, Walmart

Showing Year 1 analysis

Dollar Value

$109

/first year

0.3% effective$9/mo

vs 1% no-fee card: −$310

Annual rewards earned+$289

FX costs−$30

Annual fee−$150

Winner

$346

/first year

0.8% effective$29/mo

vs 1% no-fee card: −$73

Annual rewards earned+$526

FX costs−$30

Annual fee−$150

Best for your spendingMarriott Bonvoy American Express Card—$346Year 1 value

+$237 more than BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard

Scroll down for the full breakdown

Earn Rates by Category

Wallet Optimizer

Neither card currently offers a welcome bonus.

Downgrade

Coming soon

The Bottom Line

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card wins by $237/yr — strongest in groceries

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card earns $142 more on groceries
Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card earns $47 more on shopping

Groceries: +$142Shopping: +$47Travel: +$39

Showing Year 1 analysis

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card wins in both Year 1 and Year 2+ — consistent long-term value.

Data Sources

Issuer terms & conditions (verified Feb 2026)

Merchant MCC verification (239 merchants)

Insurance certificates (PDF review)

Reward program documentation

User-reported acceptance data

Found an error? Report incorrect data