How the Indigo Card Stacks Up Against Other Retail Cards

Canadians have an abundance of retail credit cards to choose from to finance purchases with major brands. But how does the Indigo Card compare when pitted against cards from other well-known stores?

This detailed guide will compare and contrast the Indigo Card with similar retail cards to analyze the pros, cons, fees and reward rates.

We’ll look at key competitors in the categories of books, fashion, groceries, and electronics so you can determine which card best suits your spending habits and offers the most value.

Indigo Card Overview

First, let’s examine the basics of the Indigo Card itself. Issued by TD Bank, it comes in a free basic Plum version and a paid Plum Plus premium version. Both offer:

Accelerated earn rates at Indigo stores
Plum Rewards points redeemable for discounts
1-year extended warranty on purchases
Purchase protection and price matching

The Plum Plus Card adds benefits like:

Higher earn rates
Airport lounge access
Free supplementary cards
Concierge service

There are no foreign transaction fees. Both cards have 19.99% interest on purchases and $29 late payment fees.

Indigo vs. Amazon Credit Card

The Amazon Rewards Visa from MBNA is a top competitor for book and online shopping purchases. Here’s how the pros and cons shake out:

Indigo Card Pros

No annual fee on basic card
5x rewards on books from Indigo
Points have no expiry

Amazon Card Pros

5% back on all Amazon purchases
2% back at restaurants, gas stations, drugstores
No FX fees on USD transactions

Indigo Card Cons

1x only on non-Indigo purchases
No rewards for foreign currency purchases

Amazon Card Cons

$79 annual fee after year 1
Redemptions only as Amazon credit

The Amazon Card is better for heavy Amazon users, including cross-border shopping. But the Indigo Card is ideal if you focus spending mainly with Indigo.

Indigo vs. Triangle Mastercard

For Canadian Tire fans, the Triangle Mastercard is a fierce competitor:

Indigo Card Pros

Can redeem points for monetary discounts
5x points bonus on books
$0 basic card annual fee

Triangle Card Pros

4% back in CT Money at Canadian Tire
2% back at Mark’s, SportChek, gas, groceries
21 day satisfaction returns

Indigo Card Cons

No bonuses beyond Indigo
19.99% interest rate

Triangle Card Cons

$99 annual fee
CT Money expires

The Triangle Mastercard is the better card for broad spending, while heavy Canadian Tire shoppers who want instant discounts will favor the Indigo Card.

Indigo vs. Costco Capital One Mastercard

For warehouse shopping, the Costco Capital One card is a major player:

Indigo Card Pros

Rich perks like airport lounge, concierge
Indigo-exclusive discounts and bonuses
No membership fee required

Costco Card Pros

3% back on restaurants, gas, Costco Travel
2% back at Costco and Costco.ca
Extended warranty on electronics

Indigo Card Cons

Requires Indigo shopping to maximize value
No bonus earn on gas, groceries, etc

Costco Card Cons

Requires paid Costco membership
No bonuses beyond Costco

The Costco card narrowly wins for general spending, while avid Costco members will gain more overall value from its robust rewards.

Indigo vs. Scene+ Visa Card

For entertainment lovers, the Scene+ Visa from Scotia Bank makes for an exciting comparison:

Indigo Card Pros

No fee basic card available
5x points on Indigo bookstore purchases
Points don’t expire while card is open

Scene+ Card Pros

Earn Scene+ points on entertainment purchases
Extra points for Cineplex movies
Points can be converted to other programs

Indigo Card Cons

Few extras beyond Indigo shopping
No bonuses on entertainment or dining

Scene+ Card Cons

$120 annual fee
Scene+ points expire after 1 year

Avid movie fans and entertainment buffs get more value with the Scene+ card, while voracious Indigo shoppers benefit more from the Indigo Card.

The Bottom Line

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the best retail credit card. The Indigo Card shines when your spending concentrates heavily on Indigo stores. The accelerated earn rates and flexible Plum Rewards redeemable for instant discounts provide robust value.

For broader spending across categories, competitors like the Amazon, Costco, and Scene+ cards offer advantages.

But their annual fees and restrictive rewards compared to Indigo Plum Rewards make it less universally valuable. Analyze your unique spending profile and brand loyalty to decide which suits you best.