Best Signup bonus Credit Cards in Canada For 2024
Kevin Shahnazari
•2 min read
Best Overall Signup Bonus Credit Card
American Express Gold Rewards Card®
4.25
Finly Rating
Welcome Bonus*
Up to 60,000 points
Annual Fee*
$250
Interest Rates*
21.99% / 21.99%
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*
Why we like it
Why we like it
The American Express® Gold Rewards Card is an excellent choice for travelers seeking an entry-level card that offers a strong balance of generous travel benefits without excessive costs. With a relatively low annual fee, this card provides flexibility and a range of perks that make it stand out among other options. It’s ideal for those who want to maximize their travel rewards without being tied to a specific airline or compromising on the benefits offered.
Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Flexible Rewards: Enjoy flexible Membership Rewards point conversion with up to 2 points per $1 spent.
- Travel Perks: Includes $100 annual travel credit and 4 free passes to Plaza Premium lounges in Canada.
- Comprehensive Insurance: Comes with 11 types of insurance coverage.
- Multiple Redemption Options: Offers 4 ways to redeem points for maximum value.
Cons
- High Annual Fee: The card comes with a $250 annual fee.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: A 2.5% fee applies to foreign transactions.
- Limited Travel Insurance for Seniors: No travel medical insurance coverage for those over 65.
- Lower Acceptance: As an American Express card, it may have lower acceptance compared to Visa or Mastercard.
Product Details
Product Details
Rewards*
- 2x points per $1 spent on gas, groceries and drugstore purchases
- 2x points per $1 spent on travel (eligible flights, hotels, tours and more)
- 1x point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
Insurance*
Coverage*
Emergency Out of province Medical
15 days
Trip Cancellation
$1,500 per person, $3,000 combined
Trip Interruption
$1,500 per person, $6,000 combined
Flight Delay
$500 after 4 hour delay
Baggage Delay
$500 after 6 hour delay
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Travel Accident
$500,000.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$85K, up to 48 days
Purchase Protection
90 days, Up to $1,000
Extended Warranty
1 year
Benefits*
Details*
.svg)
Travel Credit
$100
Nexus Application
$50 statement credit every 4 years
Airport Lounge - Priority Pass
Pass only. No Complimentary visits!Airport Lounge - Plaza Premium
4 Free complimentary visits
Complimentary Hotel Benefits
Hotels booked American Express Travel.svg)
Status lift
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® loyalty program
American Express Experiences
Extra points
Earn 2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases and extra points on American Express offers
Eligibility*
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
N/A
Best Overall Cashback Signup Bonus Credit Card
SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express
4.5
Finly Rating
Welcome Bonus*
Up to $250 ($200 in first year)
Annual Fee*
$119.88
Interest Rates*
21.99% / 21.99%
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*
Why we like it
Why we like it
The Simply Cash Preferred is one of the best cashback credit cards in Canada. The base cashback rate of 2% is great for all purchases, but the 4% on groceries and gas, which are two of the highest expenses for most people is the cherry on top of their great cashback program.
Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Highest cashback rate on groceries and gas in Canada
- Great base cashback rate for all purchases
Cons
- For a card with an annual fee, the insurance coverage could have been higher
- American Express has a lower merchant acceptance compared to Visa or Mastercard
Product Details
Product Details
Rewards*
- 4% cash back on eligible gas station purchases in Canada
- 4% cash back on eligible grocery purchases in Canada (up to $1,200 cash back annually)
- 2% cash back on all other eligible purchases
Insurance*
Coverage*
Emergency Out of province Medical
$5M/insured PersonFlight Delay
$500Baggage Delay
$500Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500Travel Accident
$100,000Car Rental Damage & Theft
$85K up to 48 days
Mobile Device Insurance
$1000Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 year
Benefits*
Details*
American Express Experiences
Eligibility*
Credit Score
Very GoodAnnual Income
N/A
Best Signup Bonuses Credit Cards for high spending individuals
American Express Platinum Card®
4
Finly Rating
Welcome Bonus*
Up to 100,000 points (70,000 in 1st year)
Rewards Rate*
1x - 2x Points
Annual Fee*
$799
Interest Rates*
21.99% - 30% / 21.99% - 30%
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*
Why we like it
Why we like it
If you're a frequent traveler, the Platinum card is an excellent choice. It's highly recommended for its extensive travel benefits, including unlimited lounge access for you and a guest at the American Express Lounge collection, making it the best card for lounge access in Canada. The card also offers unique perks not commonly found with other Canadian cards, such as status upgrades at Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton, dining and travel credits, concierge service, airport benefits, Nexus application reimbursement, and more. These benefits can more than offset the annual fee. However, if you don't travel often or are mainly looking for a card that maximizes rewards, this card may not be the best option for you.
Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Offers more perks than any other credit card in Canada, catering to premium users who value extensive benefits.
- Enjoy $400 in annual travel and dining credits, which can offset some of the card's cost.
- Gain unlimited access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, enhancing your travel experience.
- Multiple options for redeeming points for high value, giving you flexibility in how you use your rewards.
- Includes 11 types of insurance coverage, offering comprehensive protection for cardholders.
Cons
- As with other American Express cards, it may have lower acceptance in some locations compared to other networks.
- The high annual fee of $799 may be a barrier for some users, especially those who do not fully utilize the card's benefits.
- Some benefits are limited to specific airports and hotels.
Product Details
Product Details
Rewards*
- 2x points per $1 spent on eligible dining & food delivery purchases (restaurant, fast food, coffee shop, food delivery)
- 2x points per $1 spent on eligible travel purchases (flights, hotels, tours and more)
- 1x point per $1 spent for all other purchases
Insurance*
Coverage*
Emergency Out of province Medical
$5 Million per insured, 15 daysTrip Cancellation
$2500 per person, $5000 combinedTrip Interruption
$2500 per person, $6000 combinedFlight Delay
$1000 after 4 hour delayBaggage Delay
$1000 after 6 hour delayHotel Burglary Insurance
$1000Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1000Travel Accident
$500,000Car Rental Damage & Theft
$85K, up to 48 daysPurchase Protection
120 days, Up to $1KExtended Warranty
1 year
Benefits*
Details*
Travel Credit
$200
Dining Credit
$200 at Select RestaurantsNexus Application
$100 statement credit every 4 yearsAirport Lounge - American Express Global Lounge
Unlimited Access for you and a Guest!Complimentary Hotel Benefits
Hotels booked American Express TravelStatus lift
Upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold StatusStatus lift
Upgrade to Marriott BonvoyTM Gold Elite status
Airport Benefits
At Toronto Pearson Airport get Priority Security lane, Complimentary valet and 15% discount at the Express Park and daily park.svg)
Concierge Services
Trip and legal Assistance
American Express Experiences
Extra points
Earn 2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases and extra points on American Express offers
Eligibility*
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
N/A
American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
3.9
Finly Rating
Welcome Bonus*
Up to 85,000 Aeroplan points (60,000 in 1st year)
Annual Fee*
$599
Interest Rates*
21.99% / 21.99%
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*
Why we like it
Why we like it
If you are a frequent Air Canada traveler, having an Aeroplan card for perks like free checked bags and priority service can be very beneficial. Many financial institutions offer Aeroplan cards, but I don't believe the American Express version is the best one. Opting for another option might be better. However, the Amex card does have a very large sign-up bonus, making it a great choice for those specifically seeking that.
Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Generous rewards rate with up to 3 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on purchases, particularly beneficial for frequent flyers.
- Enjoy free checked bags when flying with Air Canada, reducing travel costs.
- Access to preferred pricing on Aeroplan flight awards, maximizing the value of your points.
- Unlimited access to Maple Leaf lounges when flying with Air Canada, providing a more comfortable travel experience.
- Extensive insurance coverage, including 11 types of insurance, offering peace of mind during your travels.
Cons
- As an American Express card, it may have limited acceptance compared to other credit cards, potentially limiting its use in some places.
- The most valuable rewards are generally tied to Air Canada flights, which may not appeal to travelers who fly with other airlines.
- The card comes with a high annual fee of $599, which may be a consideration for budget-conscious users.
- The unlimited lounge access is limited to Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafe lounges which don't have a great worldwide coverage.
Product Details
Product Details
Rewards*
- 3x Aeroplan points per $1 spent on eligible Air Canada® and Air Canada Vacations® purchases
- 2x Aeroplan points per $1 spent on eligible dining & food delivery purchases
- 1.25x Aeroplan points per $1 spent on all other purchases
Insurance*
Coverage*
Emergency Out of province Medical
$5M/insured up to 15 daysTrip Cancellation
$1.5K/person, $3K/tripTrip Interruption
$1.5K/person, $6K/tripFlight Delay
$1,000/person after 4 hoursBaggage Delay
$1K/person after 6 hoursLost or Stolen Baggage
$1KTravel Accident
$500,000Car Rental Damage & Theft
$85K Up to 48 consecutive rental daysHotel Burglary Insurance
$1000Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 years
Benefits*
Details*
Free first checked bag
First checked bag is free for primary cardholder on WestJet flight and up to 8 guestsNexus Application
$100 every 4 yearsAmerican Express Experiences
Extra points
Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and over 170 online retailers through the Aeroplan eStoreStatus lift
Reach Aeroplan Elite™ Status sooner by earning 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and one (1) Status Qualifying Segment for every $5,000 of net purchasesStatus lift
Complimentary upgrade to Avis® President's ClubStatus lift
Primary Cardholders who also hold Aeroplan Elite Status can roll over up to 200,000 Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) beyond the status level for which they’ve qualified, from the prior qualification year to qualify for status the next year.Status lift
Primary Cardholders who also hold Aeroplan Elite Status will benefit from an extra 12 months to use eUpgrade credits, for a total of 24 months from issuance.Airport Benefits
At Toronto Pearson airport get benefits such as Priority Security lane, Complimentary valet, premium parking spots, priorioty taxi and limo lane and discount for parking and car care.Airport Benefits
Get Priority Check-in, Priority Boarding and Priority Baggage Handling, Priority Airport Standby & Priority Airport Upgrades for you, your authorized users and up to 8 companions on the same flight (Only AirCanada)Airport Lounge - Priority Pass
Pass only. No Complimentary visits!Airport Lounge - Maple Leaf and AirCanada Cafes
Unlimited Access for you and one guest
Companion Voucher
Annual Worldwide Companion Pass from $99 to a max of $599 After spending $25,000 on your card
Free Extra Night at Hotels
Cardmembers can now get an extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points.
Eligibility*
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
N/A