RBC ION Visa vs RBC ION+ Visa: Which one is better?

RBC ION Visa
2.7

RBC ION+ Visa
3
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$258.39
RBC ION Avion
First Year Bonus
$35
RBC ION Avion
Annual Fee
$0
First Year Value
$293.39
$258.39 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$425.98
RBC ION Avion
First Year Bonus
$70
RBC ION Avion
Annual Fee
$48
First Year Value
$447.98
$377.98 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included
Extended Warranty
Up to a year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Insurance Included
Extended Warranty
Up to a year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Extra Benefits
Gas Discount
save 3¢/L on fuel and always earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada
Extra points
50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall
Extra Benefits
Gas Discount
save 3¢/L on fuel and always earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada
Extra points
50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall
Interest Rates
Purchase:
20.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Interest Rates
Purchase:
20.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Annual Fee
$0
Annual Fee
$48
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Welcome Bonus
Get 6,000 Avion points upon approval
Welcome Bonus
14,000 welcome Avion points (“Welcome Points”) will appear on your monthly credit card statement within sixty (60) days after your application has been approved, provided that your RBC ION+ Visa credit card account (“Credit Card Account”) remains open and in good standing at the time the Welcome points are credited to your account, “good standing” meaning that your Credit Card Account must not be past due for more than two (2) consecutive credit card account statement periods, closed, charged off or in credit revoked status.
Rewards Rate
- 1.5 points for every dollar in grocery, rides, gas, electric vehicle charging, streaming, digital gaming, subscriptions and more
- 1 point for all other purchases
Rewards Rate
- 3 points for every dollar in Grocery, Dining, Food Delivery, Rides, Gas, Electric Vehicle Charging, Streaming, and Digital Gaming & Subscriptions Purchases
- 1 point for everything else
Loyalty Program
Loyalty Program
Point Redemption Options
Most Optimal
Transfer to WestJet
1¢ / point
Financial Products
0.83¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.72¢ / point
Merchandise
0.7¢ / point
Travel
0.6¢ / point
Statement Credits (Cash)
0.58¢ / point
Point Redemption Options
Most Optimal
Transfer to WestJet
1¢ / point
Financial Products
0.83¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.72¢ / point
Merchandise
0.7¢ / point
Travel
0.6¢ / point
Statement Credits (Cash)
0.58¢ / point
Is this card worth it?
We actually don't like this card. It neither offers great benefits nor rewards, even for a free card. It's a very average card with many better and worse alternatives, both paid and free.
Is this card worth it?
This card is not by any means one of our favorite cards. For an annual fee it offers almost no notable benefits, with many no annual fee credit cards offering much more. The points earned are fine, but given the inflexibility of ION Avion points, it's very hard to get good value for the points earned, and it's much easier to earn more and do the same with some other credit card reward programs.
Pros
- Good savings on gas if you are a regular petro-Canada gas customer.
Pros
- Insurance coverage is very little for a card with annual fee. There are cards with no annual fee that offer even better benefits.
- Avion reward points are generally not very flexible and not as valuable if not used for WestJet travel; therefore, if that's not your plan, there are many better cards that can be used.
- The annual fee isn't justifiable based on the reward program this card offers.
Cons
- Insurance coverage is the most basic.
- Reward categories are not the best.
- Avion reward points are generally less valuable.
- Many other cards with no annual fee are available that are all-around better cards than ION Visa.
Cons
- Bonus saving of 3 cents per liter on gas at Petro-Canada stations.
- 12,000 avion points welcome bonus.