TD Platinum Travel Visa or National Bank Platinum Mastercard — which is better for everyday spending?

For typical Canadian household spending — groceries, gas, recurring bills, dining — the two cards lean different ways. The TD Platinum Travel Visa earns 3 TD Rewards points per dollar on groceries and recurring bills, plus 5 points on travel through Expedia for TD. The National Bank Platinum Mastercard earns 2 À la carte points on groceries and dining, 1.5 points on gas/EV charging/bills/travel and a flat 1 point per $1.50 elsewhere. The TD card edges ahead on raw earn rate, while the National Bank card wins on Costco acceptance and richer insurance. Pure points hunters pick TD; safety-and-acceptance shoppers pick National Bank.

What is the welcome bonus on each card, and which is realistic?

The TD Platinum Travel Visa typically offers up to 50,000 TD Rewards points — 15,000 on first purchase plus 35,000 after spending $3,000 within 6 months. That converts to around $250 in travel through the Expedia for TD portal. The National Bank Platinum Mastercard usually has no welcome bonus at all, or only a small bonus during specific promo windows. If a meaningful first-year bonus drives your decision, the TD card is the clear winner. The National Bank card competes on long-term value rather than headline offers, particularly through travel insurance and Costco network coverage.

Are the annual fees waived in the first year?

The TD Platinum Travel Visa charges $89 annually but typically waives the first-year fee through Milesopedia's referral links and TD's standard promotion. The National Bank Platinum Mastercard has no annual fee at all if you maintain an eligible National Bank chequing account, otherwise around $39 per year. For year-one math, both effectively cost zero. From year two onward, the National Bank card's structure favours existing National Bank clients, while the TD card's $89 fee needs to be offset by points value — which it usually is for spenders above $5,000 per year on bonus categories.

Which card has better travel insurance and rental car coverage?

The National Bank Platinum Mastercard punches above its weight on insurance for a near-no-fee product: emergency medical (up to 21 days for travellers under 65), trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage delay/loss, flight delay, common carrier accident, and rental car CDW. The TD Platinum Travel Visa includes most of these too, but typically with shorter trip durations and lower limits. For frequent travellers who want comprehensive coverage without paying premium fees, the National Bank Platinum Mastercard is one of the strongest value plays in Canada. The TD card is closer to a points-focused product with insurance as a bonus, not its main draw.