Compare Credit Cards in Canada and Find the Best Credit Card for You

Finly offers the most personalized and advanced solution to What credit card is best for me?

We've implemented extensive features in our tool to help you find your best credit cards.

Compare and Find

We've gathered nearly all credit cards in Canada into one place, complete with their details about benefits, insurance options, rewards, and requirements. You can input specific information about yourself to quickly narrow down the best credit cards.

Rewards Calculator

FinlyWealth's Advanced Calculator tool provides a clear estimate of the cashback or points you can earn with each card. Since rewards are often the most significant differentiating factor for many people when choosing a card, we have focused on making this feature as accurate as possible, whether you are seeking the best points-based or cashback credit card.

Credit Cards

Compare Credit Cards

Rewards Calculator Algorithm

You can either estimate rewards by inputting your spending habits manually or creating secure bank connections through our trusted financial partner mx.com and letting Finly analyze your spending in the past year.

Finly factors in all the reward limits and fine prints of every single credit card so you can be sure your results are as accurate as possible.


Your Spending

Modify your spending numbers and click update to get the most accurate reward estimates.

$2,000

Restaurant, Fast Food & Coffee Shop

$

Grocery

$

Recurring Purchases (Bills, Subscriptions, Rent via Chexy)

$

Gas

$

Transportation

$

Entertainment (Movies, Concerts, etc.)

$

Foreign Purchases (Non $CAD)

$

Travel (Flights, Hotels, etc.)

$

Pharmacy

$

Online Shopping

$

Home Improvement (Renovation, Furniture)

$

Purchases at Canadian Tire, Sport Check, Lquipeur, Atmosphere, Party City, SportsRousseau, HockeyExperts, LentrepduHockey

$

Other Purchases Not Specified

$


Credit Card Preferences

Cash Back or Points

Annual Fee

Special Rebates


Subscription Bonuses

Select all options which you're currently subscribed to (i.e. account owner). The corresponding card reward values will change based on your selection.

rogers

Primary Rogers, Fido or Shaw service account owner


amazon-prime

Amazon Prime


tangerine

Tangerine Savings Account


Credit & Income Info

Credit Score

Income

Personal

Household



Credit Cards (115)

Your rewards based on $2,000 in average spending

American Express Cobalt® Card

American Express Cobalt® Card

First Year Value:

$1,255.2

Annual Fee

$155.8

$0

Learn More

First Year Bonus

$315

Modify spending to satisfy bonus requirement

Net Annual Rewards

$940.2

Annual fee deducted

Earn 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in purchases on your Card in the first Year

5/5

Our Rating

Card Information


Fees

  • Annual Fee

    $155.8
  • First Year Free

    No
  • Additional Card Fee

    $0

Interest Rates

  • Purchase

    21.99%1
  • Cash Advance

    21.99%1
  • Balance Transfer

    N/A
1 If you have 2 separate missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate missed payments, the applicable rates will be 28.99%.

Eligibility

  • Estimated Credit Score

    Good
  • Min Income - Personal

    N/A
  • Min Income - Household

    N/A

How to earn rewards

  • 5x points per $1 spent on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery (up to 12,500 points per month)
  • 3x points per $1 spent on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
  • 2x points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit & ride share in Canada
  • 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus

Earn 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in purchases on your Card in the first Year

Insurance

Coverage

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    15 days
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $500
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $250,000
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    yes
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 1 year

Benefits

  • Amex logo

    Amex Experiences™

    Access Front Of The Line® Amex Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts and theatre performances and special offers and events curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™
  • travel

    Travel Credit

    Book two or more consecutive nights at participating properties through The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel to receive a $100 credit for amenities or a complimentary room upgrade, if available.

This card was voted the Best Credit Card in Canada by FinlyWealth. The rewards earned on this card for a person with average spending exceed those of other credit cards in Canada by a huge margin! In addition, this card has a good benefits coverage, a flexible points redemption program (1:1 transfer to Aeroplan® or Avios), making it the best candidate to become the main credit card for the majority of people.

Pros

  • Points can be transferred to Air Canada Aeroplan® at a 1:1 ratio, making this card a solid Aeroplan® points earner as an alternative to Aeroplan® branded credit cards
  • Generous welcome bonus of up to 15,000 points
  • 4+ different ways of redeeming your points for great value
  • 10 different types of insurance, including travel
  • Often referred to as the Best Credit Card in Canada

Cons

  • Less acceptance of American Express at different merchants across Canada
  • Not all types of travel insurance are covered, especially trip cancellation and interruption insurance

American Express Cobalt® Card

First Year Value:

$1,255.2

American Express Cobalt® Card

5/5

Annual Fee

$155.8

$0

Learn More

First Year Bonus

$315

Modify spending to satisfy bonus requirement

Net Annual Rewards

$940.2

Annual fee deducted

Earn 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in purchases on your Card in the first Year



Card Information


Fees

  • Annual Fee

    $155.8
  • First Year Free

    No
  • Additional Card Fee

    $0

Interest Rates

  • Purchase

    21.99%1
  • Cash Advance

    21.99%1
  • Balance Transfer

    N/A
1 If you have 2 separate missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate missed payments, the applicable rates will be 28.99%.

Eligibility

  • Estimated Credit Score

    Good
  • Min Income - Personal

    N/A
  • Min Income - Household

    N/A

How to earn rewards

  • 5x points per $1 spent on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery (up to 12,500 points per month)
  • 3x points per $1 spent on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
  • 2x points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit & ride share in Canada
  • 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus

Earn 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in purchases on your Card in the first Year

Insurance

Coverage

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    15 days
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $500
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $250,000
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    yes
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 1 year

Benefits

  • Amex logo

    Amex Experiences™

    Access Front Of The Line® Amex Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts and theatre performances and special offers and events curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™
  • travel

    Travel Credit

    Book two or more consecutive nights at participating properties through The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel to receive a $100 credit for amenities or a complimentary room upgrade, if available.

This card was voted the Best Credit Card in Canada by FinlyWealth. The rewards earned on this card for a person with average spending exceed those of other credit cards in Canada by a huge margin! In addition, this card has a good benefits coverage, a flexible points redemption program (1:1 transfer to Aeroplan® or Avios), making it the best candidate to become the main credit card for the majority of people.

Pros

  • Points can be transferred to Air Canada Aeroplan® at a 1:1 ratio, making this card a solid Aeroplan® points earner as an alternative to Aeroplan® branded credit cards
  • Generous welcome bonus of up to 15,000 points
  • 4+ different ways of redeeming your points for great value
  • 10 different types of insurance, including travel
  • Often referred to as the Best Credit Card in Canada

Cons

  • Less acceptance of American Express at different merchants across Canada
  • Not all types of travel insurance are covered, especially trip cancellation and interruption insurance

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

First Year Value:

$1,094.5

Annual Fee

$120

$0

Learn More

First Year Bonus

$450

Modify spending to satisfy bonus requirement

Net Annual Rewards

$524.5

Annual fee deducted

Earn 25,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, for a limited time, you are eligible to earn a 20,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $7,500 in everyday eligible purchases in your first year.

4.9/5

Our Rating

Card Information

  • Card Type

    Points
  • Institution

    Scotiabank
  • Card Network

    Amex Canada
  • Loyalty


Fees

  • Annual Fee

    $120
  • First Year Free

    Yes
  • Additional Card Fee

    $29

Interest Rates

  • Purchase

    20.99%
  • Cash Advance

    22.99%
  • Balance Transfer

    22.99%

Eligibility

  • Estimated Credit Score

    Good
  • Min Income - Personal

    $12,000
  • Min Income - Household

    $12,000

How to earn rewards

  • 6 Points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland & Participating Co-ops
  • 5 Points per $1 spent on eligible dining, other grocery stores, entertainment purchases including movies, theatre, and ticket agencies
  • 3 Points per $1 spent on rides which includes rideshare, buses, taxis, subways and more
  • 3 Points per $1 spent on eligible streaming service payments (Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, Crave and more)
  • 1 Point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases

Welcome Bonus

Earn 25,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, for a limited time, you are eligible to earn a 20,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $7,500 in everyday eligible purchases in your first year.

Insurance

Coverage

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $1M, Up to 25 days
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Medical Over 65

    $1M, Up to 3 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1500/person, $10000/trip
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $1500/person, $10,000/trip
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500/person, $1000/trip
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500/person, $1,000/trip After 4 hours
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500/person
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500K/person, $1M/occurrence
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $65K up to 48 days
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $1000/occurrence
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 1 year

Benefits

  • exchange money

    No Foreign Transaction Fees

    Avoid the 2.5% foreign transaction fees incurred when spending in non $CAD
  • Amex logo

    American Express® Experiences

  • concierge

    Concierge Services

  • discount

    Discount

    Discount on PriorityPass Membership

The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card is one of our favorite cards. It has a very solid rewards program, earning one of the highest rewards among all credit cards in Canada. In addition, it offers comprehensive travel benefits, including the rare and valuable no foreign transaction fee benefit, making it a great and balanced credit card in terms of both rewards and benefits. The first-year annual fee waiver is the cherry on top, providing even greater value to cardholders.

Best Overall Travel Credit Card in 2024

Pros

  • No foreign transaction fee saves you 2.5% on all non-CAD purchases.
  • Rewards cover all high-spending categories, including food, groceries, entertainment, and gas.
  • Comprehensive coverage of all travel insurance.

Cons

  • The card network is American Express, which might not be widely accepted in some countries, making it a bit harder to use the no foreign transaction fee benefit.
  • Having a lounge pass would have made this card even more perfect, but there is access to a discount code for lounge access pass purchases.

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

First Year Value:

$1,094.5

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

4.9/5

Annual Fee

$120

$0

Learn More

First Year Bonus

$450

Modify spending to satisfy bonus requirement

Net Annual Rewards

$524.5

Annual fee deducted

Earn 25,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, for a limited time, you are eligible to earn a 20,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $7,500 in everyday eligible purchases in your first year.



Card Information

  • Card Type

    Points
  • Institution

    Scotiabank
  • Card Network

    Amex Canada
  • Loyalty


Fees

  • Annual Fee

    $120
  • First Year Free

    Yes
  • Additional Card Fee

    $29

Interest Rates

  • Purchase

    20.99%
  • Cash Advance

    22.99%
  • Balance Transfer

    22.99%

Eligibility

  • Estimated Credit Score

    Good
  • Min Income - Personal

    $12,000
  • Min Income - Household

    $12,000

How to earn rewards

  • 6 Points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland & Participating Co-ops
  • 5 Points per $1 spent on eligible dining, other grocery stores, entertainment purchases including movies, theatre, and ticket agencies
  • 3 Points per $1 spent on rides which includes rideshare, buses, taxis, subways and more
  • 3 Points per $1 spent on eligible streaming service payments (Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, Crave and more)
  • 1 Point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases

Welcome Bonus

Earn 25,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, for a limited time, you are eligible to earn a 20,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $7,500 in everyday eligible purchases in your first year.

Insurance

Coverage

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $1M, Up to 25 days
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Medical Over 65

    $1M, Up to 3 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1500/person, $10000/trip
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $1500/person, $10,000/trip
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500/person, $1000/trip
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500/person, $1,000/trip After 4 hours
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500/person
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500K/person, $1M/occurrence
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $65K up to 48 days
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $1000/occurrence
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 1 year

Benefits

  • exchange money

    No Foreign Transaction Fees

    Avoid the 2.5% foreign transaction fees incurred when spending in non $CAD
  • Amex logo

    American Express® Experiences

  • concierge

    Concierge Services

  • discount

    Discount

    Discount on PriorityPass Membership

The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card is one of our favorite cards. It has a very solid rewards program, earning one of the highest rewards among all credit cards in Canada. In addition, it offers comprehensive travel benefits, including the rare and valuable no foreign transaction fee benefit, making it a great and balanced credit card in terms of both rewards and benefits. The first-year annual fee waiver is the cherry on top, providing even greater value to cardholders.

Best Overall Travel Credit Card in 2024

Pros

  • No foreign transaction fee saves you 2.5% on all non-CAD purchases.
  • Rewards cover all high-spending categories, including food, groceries, entertainment, and gas.
  • Comprehensive coverage of all travel insurance.

Cons

  • The card network is American Express, which might not be widely accepted in some countries, making it a bit harder to use the no foreign transaction fee benefit.
  • Having a lounge pass would have made this card even more perfect, but there is access to a discount code for lounge access pass purchases.

Neo World Elite® Mastercard®

First Year Value:

$592.21

Annual Fee

$125

$0

Learn More

First Year Bonus

$0

Modify spending to satisfy bonus requirement

Net Annual Rewards

$492.21

Annual fee deducted

4.6/5

Our Rating

Card Information

  • Card Type

    Cash Back
  • Institution

    Neo Financial
  • Card Network

    Mastercard
  • Loyalty

    Cash Back

Fees

  • Annual Fee

    $125
  • First Year Free

    No
  • Additional Card Fee

    N/A

Interest Rates

  • Purchase

    19.99% - 26.99% (or 19.99% - 23.99% in Newfoundland and Quebec)
  • Cash Advance

    22.99% - 28.99%
  • Balance Transfer

    N/A

Eligibility

  • Estimated Credit Score

    Good
  • Min Income - Personal

    $80,000
  • Min Income - Household

    $150,000

How to earn rewards

  • 5% cash back on grocery purchases up to $12,000 spending per year (6% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 7% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
  • 4% cash back on recurring purchases up to $6,000 spending per year (4.5% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 5% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
  • 3% cash back on gas purchases up to $12,000 spending per year (3.5% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 4% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases up to $40,000 spending per year
  • 5% average cash back at Neo Partners

Note: our reward calculations use the base cash back rates assuming you do not hold any money in a Neo everyday account to earn the higher tier (boosted) cash back rates, otherwise the reward estimates may be higher.

In addition, the extra cash back rate from transactions made at Neo partners has been estimated to boost your overall rate by 0.7% in the calculator.


Welcome Bonus

N/A

Insurance

Coverage

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    Up to $1,000,000
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,000
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $1,000
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $1,000
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $1,000
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $1,000
  • car accident

    Car Rental Accident

    $100,000 for cardholder, up to $10,000 per Spouse or Dependent Child
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    Yes
  • luggage insurance

    Car Rental Personal Effects

    $1,000
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

Benefits

  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

    Pass only - pay $32 USD per visit

This card offers one of the highest cash back rates in Canada for gas (up to 4%), grocery (up to 7%) and recurring purchases (up to 5%) which is pretty hard to beat. While the cash back rates are very high, you need to mind the spend caps set for each category to see if your earning potential is really that high compared to most other credit cards. However, for a typical person who's spending is generally below $12k per year in grocery, $6k per year in recurring bills and $12k per year in gas then you'll be doing pretty well, especially with the great insurance and benefit offers.

Pros

  • Highest cash back rates in Canada for highest spending categories like Grocery (up to 7%), especially if you keep at least $5k in a Neo everyday account
  • 12 different types of insurance coverage
  • Airport lounge access with DragonPass with $32 USD per visit
  • Additional cash back earning at over 10,000 Neo partners

Cons

  • High income requirements of $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
  • Cash back spend caps can limit your rewards
  • Having to keep at least $5k in an everyday account to boost your cash back tier

Neo World Elite® Mastercard®

First Year Value:

$592.21

Neo World Elite® Mastercard®

$100

4.6/5

Annual Fee

$125

$0

Learn More

First Year Bonus

$0

Modify spending to satisfy bonus requirement

Net Annual Rewards

$492.21

Annual fee deducted



Card Information

  • Card Type

    Cash Back
  • Institution

    Neo Financial
  • Card Network

    Mastercard
  • Loyalty

    Cash Back

Fees

  • Annual Fee

    $125
  • First Year Free

    No
  • Additional Card Fee

    N/A

Interest Rates

  • Purchase

    19.99% - 26.99% (or 19.99% - 23.99% in Newfoundland and Quebec)
  • Cash Advance

    22.99% - 28.99%
  • Balance Transfer

    N/A

Eligibility

  • Estimated Credit Score

    Good
  • Min Income - Personal

    $80,000
  • Min Income - Household

    $150,000

How to earn rewards

  • 5% cash back on grocery purchases up to $12,000 spending per year (6% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 7% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
  • 4% cash back on recurring purchases up to $6,000 spending per year (4.5% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 5% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
  • 3% cash back on gas purchases up to $12,000 spending per year (3.5% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 4% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases up to $40,000 spending per year
  • 5% average cash back at Neo Partners

Note: our reward calculations use the base cash back rates assuming you do not hold any money in a Neo everyday account to earn the higher tier (boosted) cash back rates, otherwise the reward estimates may be higher.

In addition, the extra cash back rate from transactions made at Neo partners has been estimated to boost your overall rate by 0.7% in the calculator.


Welcome Bonus

N/A

Insurance

Coverage

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    Up to $1,000,000
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,000
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $1,000
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $1,000
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $1,000
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $1,000
  • car accident

    Car Rental Accident

    $100,000 for cardholder, up to $10,000 per Spouse or Dependent Child
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    Yes
  • luggage insurance

    Car Rental Personal Effects

    $1,000
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

Benefits

  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

    Pass only - pay $32 USD per visit

This card offers one of the highest cash back rates in Canada for gas (up to 4%), grocery (up to 7%) and recurring purchases (up to 5%) which is pretty hard to beat. While the cash back rates are very high, you need to mind the spend caps set for each category to see if your earning potential is really that high compared to most other credit cards. However, for a typical person who's spending is generally below $12k per year in grocery, $6k per year in recurring bills and $12k per year in gas then you'll be doing pretty well, especially with the great insurance and benefit offers.

Pros

  • Highest cash back rates in Canada for highest spending categories like Grocery (up to 7%), especially if you keep at least $5k in a Neo everyday account
  • 12 different types of insurance coverage
  • Airport lounge access with DragonPass with $32 USD per visit
  • Additional cash back earning at over 10,000 Neo partners

Cons

  • High income requirements of $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
  • Cash back spend caps can limit your rewards
  • Having to keep at least $5k in an everyday account to boost your cash back tier

MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®

MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®

First Year Value:

$777.84

Annual Fee

$120

$0

Learn More

First Year Bonus

$300

Modify spending to satisfy bonus requirement

Net Annual Rewards

$477.84

Annual fee deducted

10,000 points for going Paperless. 20,000 points after spending $2,000 after 90 days of account opening

4.7/5

Our Rating

Card Information

  • Card Type

    Points
  • Institution

    MBNA
  • Card Network

    Mastercard
  • Loyalty


Fees

  • Annual Fee

    $120
  • First Year Free

    No
  • Additional Card Fee

    $50

Interest Rates

  • Purchase

    19.99%
  • Cash Advance

    24.99%
  • Balance Transfer

    N/A

Eligibility

  • Estimated Credit Score

    Very Good
  • Min Income - Personal

    $80,000
  • Min Income - Household

    $150,000

How to earn rewards

  • 5 points on restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases (maximum $50,000 spend annually per category)
  • 1 point for everything else

Welcome Bonus

10,000 points for going Paperless. 20,000 points after spending $2,000 after 90 days of account opening

Insurance

Coverage

  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1000
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    Up to 90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    31 days
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500/person after 4 hours
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $1,000,000
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $2M for 21 days
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $1000/person
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $1000/person

Benefits

  • birthday cake

    Annual Birthday Bonus

    10% of the Points earned the 12 months prior to the primary cardholder's birthday month (up to a max 15,000 bonus points per year)
  • car rental

    Car Rental Discount

    10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationally
  • gavel

    Trip and legal Assistance

  • concierge

    Concierge Services

  • price protection

    Price Protection

    $500/item, $1000/account per year

The MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® is one of the best reward credit cards in Canada, offering high rewards on frequently spent categories such as groceries and restaurant purchases. The annual birthday bonus, unique to this card, also provides a significant boost to your yearly earnings. Additionally, the card features a comprehensive list of benefits, including price protection—a rare and valuable perk not found with many other cards in Canada. These factors make this card one of the best to have in Canada.

Pros

  • Both restaurants and groceries, two of the most commonly spent categories, earn decent rewards.
  • Great annual birthday bonus with up to $150 in value.
  • A solid list of travel insurance and benefits.
  • Price protection, a rare feature not offered by many other cards.
  • Good value for many of the card's redemption options.

Cons

  • Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, two great benefits are missing from this card.
  • Not the best card for gas purchases.

MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®

First Year Value:

$777.84

MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®

4.7/5

Annual Fee

$120

$0

Learn More

First Year Bonus

$300

Modify spending to satisfy bonus requirement

Net Annual Rewards

$477.84

Annual fee deducted

10,000 points for going Paperless. 20,000 points after spending $2,000 after 90 days of account opening



Card Information

  • Card Type

    Points
  • Institution

    MBNA
  • Card Network

    Mastercard
  • Loyalty


Fees

  • Annual Fee

    $120
  • First Year Free

    No
  • Additional Card Fee

    $50

Interest Rates

  • Purchase

    19.99%
  • Cash Advance

    24.99%
  • Balance Transfer

    N/A

Eligibility

  • Estimated Credit Score

    Very Good
  • Min Income - Personal

    $80,000
  • Min Income - Household

    $150,000

How to earn rewards

  • 5 points on restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases (maximum $50,000 spend annually per category)
  • 1 point for everything else

Welcome Bonus

10,000 points for going Paperless. 20,000 points after spending $2,000 after 90 days of account opening

Insurance

Coverage

  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1000
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    Up to 90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    31 days
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500/person after 4 hours
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $1,000,000
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $2M for 21 days
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $1000/person
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $1000/person

Benefits

  • birthday cake

    Annual Birthday Bonus

    10% of the Points earned the 12 months prior to the primary cardholder's birthday month (up to a max 15,000 bonus points per year)
  • car rental

    Car Rental Discount

    10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationally
  • gavel

    Trip and legal Assistance

  • concierge

    Concierge Services

  • price protection

    Price Protection

    $500/item, $1000/account per year

The MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® is one of the best reward credit cards in Canada, offering high rewards on frequently spent categories such as groceries and restaurant purchases. The annual birthday bonus, unique to this card, also provides a significant boost to your yearly earnings. Additionally, the card features a comprehensive list of benefits, including price protection—a rare and valuable perk not found with many other cards in Canada. These factors make this card one of the best to have in Canada.

Pros

  • Both restaurants and groceries, two of the most commonly spent categories, earn decent rewards.
  • Great annual birthday bonus with up to $150 in value.
  • A solid list of travel insurance and benefits.
  • Price protection, a rare feature not offered by many other cards.
  • Good value for many of the card's redemption options.

Cons

  • Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, two great benefits are missing from this card.
  • Not the best card for gas purchases.

American Express® Green Card

American Express® Green Card

First Year Value:

$677.86

Annual Fee

$0

$0

Learn More

First Year Bonus

$210

Modify spending to satisfy bonus requirement

Net Annual Rewards

$467.86

Annual fee deducted

Earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 months.

3.9/5

Our Rating

Card Information


Fees

  • Annual Fee

    $0
  • First Year Free

    No
  • Additional Card Fee

    $0

Interest Rates

  • Purchase

    21.99%1
  • Cash Advance

    21.99%1
  • Balance Transfer

    N/A
1 If you have 2 separate missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate missed payments, the applicable rates will be 28.99%.

Eligibility

  • Estimated Credit Score

    Good
  • Min Income - Personal

    N/A
  • Min Income - Household

    N/A

How to earn rewards

  • 1x point per $1 spent on all purchases

Welcome Bonus

Earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 months.

Insurance

Coverage

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year

Benefits

  • Amex logo

    Amex Experiences™

    With Amex Experiences™ and Front Of The Line® Amex Presale Tickets, American Express Cardmembers get access to amazing events in Canada
  • reward cup

    Extra points

    2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases

The American Express® Green Card is a great option for those looking for a no-frills card that earns rewards on all purchases without any annual fee or minimum income requirement. It's an accessible card with no cap on rewards, making it ideal for those who want to earn points without the higher costs and complexities of premium cards. However, it does come with lower rewards earnings across most categories and a modest welcome bonus.

Pros

  • No Spending Limits: Earn unlimited rewards with no caps.
  • Flexible Redemption: Transfer points to other loyalty programs for maximum value.
  • VIP Perks: Access a variety of exclusive benefits through Amex Experiences™.
  • Eco-Friendly: The card is made from 99% recycled plastic.

Cons

  • Lower Reward Rates: Earn rates are lower compared to other no-fee cards.
  • Limited Travel Perks: Lacks some of the travel benefits and insurance options provided by other cards.

American Express® Green Card

First Year Value:

$677.86

American Express® Green Card

3.9/5

Annual Fee

$0

$0

Learn More

First Year Bonus

$210

Modify spending to satisfy bonus requirement

Net Annual Rewards

$467.86

Annual fee deducted

Earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 months.



Card Information


Fees

  • Annual Fee

    $0
  • First Year Free

    No
  • Additional Card Fee

    $0

Interest Rates

  • Purchase

    21.99%1
  • Cash Advance

    21.99%1
  • Balance Transfer

    N/A
1 If you have 2 separate missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate missed payments, the applicable rates will be 28.99%.

Eligibility

  • Estimated Credit Score

    Good
  • Min Income - Personal

    N/A
  • Min Income - Household

    N/A

How to earn rewards

  • 1x point per $1 spent on all purchases

Welcome Bonus

Earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 months.

Insurance

Coverage

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year

Benefits

  • Amex logo

    Amex Experiences™

    With Amex Experiences™ and Front Of The Line® Amex Presale Tickets, American Express Cardmembers get access to amazing events in Canada
  • reward cup

    Extra points

    2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases

The American Express® Green Card is a great option for those looking for a no-frills card that earns rewards on all purchases without any annual fee or minimum income requirement. It's an accessible card with no cap on rewards, making it ideal for those who want to earn points without the higher costs and complexities of premium cards. However, it does come with lower rewards earnings across most categories and a modest welcome bonus.

Pros

  • No Spending Limits: Earn unlimited rewards with no caps.
  • Flexible Redemption: Transfer points to other loyalty programs for maximum value.
  • VIP Perks: Access a variety of exclusive benefits through Amex Experiences™.
  • Eco-Friendly: The card is made from 99% recycled plastic.

Cons

  • Lower Reward Rates: Earn rates are lower compared to other no-fee cards.
  • Limited Travel Perks: Lacks some of the travel benefits and insurance options provided by other cards.

Best Credit Card in Canada


American Express Cobalt® Card

5

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 15,000 points

First Year Value

$1,255.2

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee*

$155.8

Interest Rates*

21.99% / 21.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

This card was voted the Best Credit Card in Canada by FinlyWealth. The rewards earned on this card for a person with average spending exceed those of other credit cards in Canada by a huge margin! In addition, this card has a good benefits coverage, a flexible points redemption program (1:1 transfer to Aeroplan® or Avios), making it the best candidate to become the main credit card for the majority of people.

Pros

  • Points can be transferred to Air Canada Aeroplan® at a 1:1 ratio, making this card a solid Aeroplan® points earner as an alternative to Aeroplan® branded credit cards
  • Generous welcome bonus of up to 15,000 points
  • 4+ different ways of redeeming your points for great value
  • 10 different types of insurance, including travel
  • Often referred to as the Best Credit Card in Canada

Cons

  • Less acceptance of American Express at different merchants across Canada
  • Not all types of travel insurance are covered, especially trip cancellation and interruption insurance

Rewards*

  • 5x points per $1 spent on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery (up to 12,500 points per month)
  • 3x points per $1 spent on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
  • 2x points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit & ride share in Canada
  • 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Insurance*

Coverage*

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    15 days
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $500
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $250,000
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    yes
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 1 year

Benefits*

Details*

  • Amex logo

    Amex Experiences™

    Access Front Of The Line® Amex Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts and theatre performances and special offers and events curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™
  • travel

    Travel Credit

    Book two or more consecutive nights at participating properties through The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel to receive a $100 credit for amenities or a complimentary room upgrade, if available.

Eligibility*

  • Credit Score

    Good
  • Annual Income

    N/A
*American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment. Check here for full details and current product information.

When someone asks, "What's the best credit card for me?" the Amex Cobalt is usually the first card that comes to mind. It offers a winning combination of high reward rates, valuable perks, a reasonable annual fee, and flexible point redemption options. Plus, it's easy to qualify for, making it accessible to a wide range of users.


For rewards, the Cobalt card takes the crown for 80% of FinlyWealth users. It consistently outperforms other cards, often by a significant margin. Even when using points for cash back—which isn’t the most valuable way to redeem them—the Cobalt still outpaces most traditional cashback cards in overall returns.


This card doesn’t just excel in rewards; it offers all the essential benefits for everyday purchases and goes above and beyond with its impressive travel perks. It’s a well-rounded card that covers every angle.


Therefore, if you don't have a specific benefit you're looking to maximize or aren't focused on optimizing just one reward category, the Amex Cobalt is likely the best choice for you.


Cashback Credit Cards


Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®

I currently have or may soon have an eligible Rogers, Fido or Shaw service as the primary or level 1 authorized user

Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®

4.8

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

N/A

First Year Value

$410

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee

$0

Interest Rates

19.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

This card is one of the best in Canada, especially if you are a Rogers, Fido, or Shaw customer. With those services, you can effectively get a 3% cashback rate, which is higher than what almost any other card offers, even those with annual fees! Additionally, for a no-fee card, you gain access to an extensive list of travel benefits, many of which are typically offered only with cards that have annual fees. Therefore, we recommend this card to anyone who meets the income requirements, even if you are not a Rogers customer!

Pros

  • Voted the Best Cash Back Card in Canada for Rogers, Fido and Shaw customers by FinlyWealth.
  • Voted the Best No Annual Fee Credit Card in Canada by FinlyWealth.
  • There is no annual fee which is a notable benefit for a card with such high rewards. Most cards with slightly lower reward rates typically include yearly fees.
  • Many favorable benefits for travelers.
  • Many benefits, such as trip cancellation insurance, are only available on credit cards with an annual fee. It is rare to see these benefits on a no-annual-fee card!
  • Offers the flexibility to redeem cash towards Rogers, Shaw, or Fido services, potentially increasing your rewards.
  • The roam-like benefit is a benefit unique only to this card.
  • It is accepted at nearly all locations as it's a Mastercard.

Cons

  • Harder to qualify due to the high credit score and income requirements.
  • Out of all possible travel insurances, this card is missing Baggage delay and Hotel Burglary insurance. If these two insurances are essential to someone, this card needs to be paired with another travel card to cover them.

Rewards

  • 3% cash back on all U.S dollar purchases
  • 2% cash back on all regular purchases if you have 1 qualifying Rogers, Fido or Shaw service as the account owner
  • 1.5% cash back on all purchases if you do not have 1 qualifying service
  • 1.5x redemption bonus on your earned cash back value when used on Rogers, Fido and Shaw purchases – that’s a 3% cash back value

Insurance

Coverage

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $1M, Up to 10 days
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Medical Over 65

    $1M, Up to 3 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,000/person, $5,000 maximum
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $1,000/person, $5,000 maximum
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $65,000
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

Benefits

Details

  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

    Pass only, complimentary visits not included
  • mobile phone wifi

    No Cost roaming

    5 days

Eligibility

  • Credit Score

    Very Good
  • Annual Income

    $80,000 personal or $150,000 household

Even though the Rogers World Elite card does not have an annual fee, it earns the highest overall cashback rate on all purchases. It also gives tons of benefits which are great for travelers. The big catch is that you have a qualifying Rogers, Shaw or Fido Service and if not then the rewards earned on this card wouldn't be as high. In addition there is an income requirement for this card which not everyone qualifies for. If you have the service but not the income requirement you can go for the Rogers Red Mastercard instead.


SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express

4.6

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus*

Up to $250 ($200 in first year)

First Year Value

$614.35

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee*

$119.88

Interest Rates*

21.99% / 21.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

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

  • Highest cashback rate on groceries and gas in Canada
  • Great base cashback rate for all purchases
  • 10 different insurance types included

Cons

  • Cash back is only paid out to you once a year
  • American Express has a lower merchant acceptance compared to Visa or Mastercard

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*

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $5M/insured Person
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $500
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $100,000
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $85K up to 48 days
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

Benefits*

Details*

  • Amex logo

    Amex Experiences™

    Access events and special offers curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™

Eligibility*

  • Credit Score

    Good
  • Annual Income

    N/A
*American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment. Check here for full details and current product information.

With massive cashback on groceries and gas, a very high cashback rate on other purchases, and a good coverage of benefits, the SimplyCash Preferred is another alternative cashback card if the Rogers card is not for you or you don't have any qualifying service.


Best Rewards (Points) and Best Flexible Redemption Credit Card


American Express Cobalt® Card

5

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 15,000 points

First Year Value

$1,255.2

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee*

$155.8

Interest Rates*

21.99% / 21.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

This card was voted the Best Credit Card in Canada by FinlyWealth. The rewards earned on this card for a person with average spending exceed those of other credit cards in Canada by a huge margin! In addition, this card has a good benefits coverage, a flexible points redemption program (1:1 transfer to Aeroplan® or Avios), making it the best candidate to become the main credit card for the majority of people.

Pros

  • Points can be transferred to Air Canada Aeroplan® at a 1:1 ratio, making this card a solid Aeroplan® points earner as an alternative to Aeroplan® branded credit cards
  • Generous welcome bonus of up to 15,000 points
  • 4+ different ways of redeeming your points for great value
  • 10 different types of insurance, including travel
  • Often referred to as the Best Credit Card in Canada

Cons

  • Less acceptance of American Express at different merchants across Canada
  • Not all types of travel insurance are covered, especially trip cancellation and interruption insurance

Rewards*

  • 5x points per $1 spent on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery (up to 12,500 points per month)
  • 3x points per $1 spent on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
  • 2x points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit & ride share in Canada
  • 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Insurance*

Coverage*

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    15 days
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $500
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $250,000
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    yes
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 1 year

Benefits*

Details*

  • Amex logo

    Amex Experiences™

    Access Front Of The Line® Amex Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts and theatre performances and special offers and events curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™
  • travel

    Travel Credit

    Book two or more consecutive nights at participating properties through The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel to receive a $100 credit for amenities or a complimentary room upgrade, if available.

Eligibility*

  • Credit Score

    Good
  • Annual Income

    N/A
*American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment. Check here for full details and current product information.

Sometimes, you're unsure how you want to use your rewards—you might want the flexibility to convert them into cash, gift cards, or use them for travel. The American Express points that come with this card offer excellent flexibility in how they can be redeemed. Additionally, with the massive rewards earned by the Cobalt card, it stands out as the best option for both point redemption and overall rewards.


Best Signup Bonus Credit Cards


American Express Gold Rewards Card®

4.2

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 60,000 points

First Year Value

$1,629.03

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee*

$250

Interest Rates*

21.99% / 21.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

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

  • 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.

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*

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    15 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,500 per person, $3,000 combined
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $1,500 per person, $6,000 combined
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500 after 4 hour delay
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500 after 6 hour delay
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $500
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $85K, up to 48 days
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days, Up to $1,000
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 1 year

Benefits*

Details*

  • travel

    Travel Credit

    $100
  • border guard

    Nexus Program Rebate

    $50 statement credit every 4 years
  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Priority Pass

    Pass only. No Complimentary visits!
  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Plaza Premium

    4 Free complimentary visits
  • hotel

    Complimentary Hotel Benefits

    Hotels booked American Express Travel
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® loyalty program
  • Amex logo

    American Express® Experiences

  • reward cup

    Extra points

    Earn 2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases and extra points on American Express offers

Eligibility*

  • Credit Score

    Good
  • Annual Income

    N/A
*American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment. Check here for full details and current product information.

The American Express Gold Rewards Card currently offers the best signup bonus among all credit cards. With spending requirements that align with the average budget, this is the top choice if you're seeking significant first-year value.


Best No Fee Signup Bonus Credit Card


American Express® Green Card

3.9

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 10,000 points ($210 value)

First Year Value

$677.86

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee*

$0

Interest Rates*

21.99% / 21.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

The American Express® Green Card is a great option for those looking for a no-frills card that earns rewards on all purchases without any annual fee or minimum income requirement. It's an accessible card with no cap on rewards, making it ideal for those who want to earn points without the higher costs and complexities of premium cards. However, it does come with lower rewards earnings across most categories and a modest welcome bonus.

Pros

  • No Spending Limits: Earn unlimited rewards with no caps.
  • Flexible Redemption: Transfer points to other loyalty programs for maximum value.
  • VIP Perks: Access a variety of exclusive benefits through Amex Experiences™.
  • Eco-Friendly: The card is made from 99% recycled plastic.

Cons

  • Lower Reward Rates: Earn rates are lower compared to other no-fee cards.
  • Limited Travel Perks: Lacks some of the travel benefits and insurance options provided by other cards.

Rewards*

  • 1x point per $1 spent on all purchases

Insurance*

Coverage*

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year

Benefits*

Details*

  • Amex logo

    Amex Experiences™

    With Amex Experiences™ and Front Of The Line® Amex Presale Tickets, American Express Cardmembers get access to amazing events in Canada
  • reward cup

    Extra points

    2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases

Eligibility*

  • Credit Score

    Good
  • Annual Income

    N/A
*American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment. Check here for full details and current product information.

If you're looking to avoid fees but still want a substantial signup bonus, the Green card is the perfect choice for this situation.


Best Travel Credit Cards


Best Overall Travel Card


Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card

4.8

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 35,000 Scene+ points

First Year Value

$443.9

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee*

$150

Interest Rates*

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is a strong choice for frequent travelers, especially those who value flexibility and premium perks. It stands out with its rare benefit of no foreign transaction fees, making international purchases more cost-effective. Additionally, the card offers a valuable blend of travel perks, including airport lounge access, comprehensive insurance coverage, and flexible rewards, making it an ideal companion for those who frequently travel abroad and want to avoid extra fees while enjoying premium benefits.

Best Foreign Exchange Credit Card in 2024

Pros

  • High Rewards on Select Purchases: Earn up to 3 points per $1 spent on select categories.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees: Shop abroad without additional charges.
  • Comprehensive Insurance: Includes 11 types of insurance coverage.
  • Airport Lounge Access: Enjoy up to 6 airport lounge passes per year through the Visa Airport Companion program.

Cons

  • High Income Requirements: Requires $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income.
  • Lower Overall Rewards: Rewards potential is lower compared to premium credit cards.
  • High Annual Fee: Comes with a significant annual fee.
  • Average Insurance Coverage: Insurance benefits are standard, not exceptional.
  • Mediocre Earnings Potential: The card’s rewards structure might not offer the highest returns for every spender.

Rewards*

  • 3 Points on on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland & Participating Co-ops
  • 2 Points dining and at other eligible grocery stores, entertainment purchases which includes movies, theatre, and ticket agencies and Rides which includes rideshare, buses, taxis, subways and more
  • 1 Point on everything else

Insurance*

Coverage*

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $2M/insured up to 25 days
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Medical Over 65

    $2M/insured up to 3 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,500/person, $10,000/trip
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $2,500/person, $10,000/trip
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500/person after 4 hours
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $1000
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $1000
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000/insured, $1M combined
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $65,000 up to 48 days
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $1,000
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

Benefits*

Details*

  • exchange money

    No Foreign Transaction Fees

    Avoid the usual 2.5% forex fees on your purchases when you travel outside of Canada
  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

    6 Free complimentary visits
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Avis® Preferred Plus membership
  • concierge

    Concierge Services

  • exclusive

    Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits

Eligibility*

  • Credit Score

    Good
  • Annual Income

    $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information. Check here for full details and current product information.

If you're looking for a card with strong insurance coverage and travel-related benefits, the Scotia Passport card is the best option that offers all of these!


Best Lounge Access Credit Cards


For Unlimited Lounge Access


American Express Platinum Card®

4.5

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 140,000 Membership Rewards® points (100,000 in 1st year)

Rewards Rate*

1x - 2x Points

Annual Fee*

$799

Interest Rates*

21.99% - 30% / 21.99% - 30%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

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

  • 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 1,400 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.

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*

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    15 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $2,500
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $2,500
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $1,000
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $1,000
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $1000
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $1,000
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    Yes
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    120 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

Benefits*

Details*

  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - American Express Global Lounge

    Take full advantage of The American Express Global Lounge Collection™ which unlocks access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide. This includes The Centurion® Lounge network, Plaza Premium Lounges, and hundreds of other domestic and international lounges designed to enhance your travel experience.
  • travel

    Travel Credit

    $200
  • food location

    Dining Credit

    $200 at Select Restaurants
  • border guard

    Nexus Program Rebate

    $100 statement credit every 4 years
  • hotel

    Complimentary Hotel Benefits

    Hotels booked American Express Travel
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold Status
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Upgrade to Marriott BonvoyTM Gold Elite status
  • airport waiting room

    Priority Travel

    At Toronto Pearson Airport get Priority Security lane, Complimentary valet and 15% discount at the Express Park and daily park
  • concierge

    Concierge Services

  • gavel

    Trip and legal Assistance

  • Amex logo

    American Express® Experiences

  • reward cup

    Extra points

    Earn 2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases and extra points on American Express offers

Eligibility*

  • Credit Score

    Good
  • Annual Income

    N/A
*American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment. Check here for full details and current product information.

If you are a frequent traveler and go to lounges a lot, the best credit card for you would be the Platinum Card. There is only one credit card in Canada that offers unlimited lounge access, which is the Aeroplan Reserve card. However, that card only covers unlimited lounge access to Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés, which aren't very useful worldwide. On the other hand, the American Express Platinum has much wider coverage, with over 1,400 airports offering lounges that cardholders can use! In addition, you can bring one person in without fee, making it an even better deal for couples!


For Lounge Access with a few complimentary visits

Sometimes you are not willing to spend a huge amount on annual fees and only want to access lounges a few times a year. In these cases here are a few of the best options:


Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card

4.8

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 35,000 Scene+ points

First Year Value

$443.9

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee*

$150

Interest Rates*

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is a strong choice for frequent travelers, especially those who value flexibility and premium perks. It stands out with its rare benefit of no foreign transaction fees, making international purchases more cost-effective. Additionally, the card offers a valuable blend of travel perks, including airport lounge access, comprehensive insurance coverage, and flexible rewards, making it an ideal companion for those who frequently travel abroad and want to avoid extra fees while enjoying premium benefits.

Best Foreign Exchange Credit Card in 2024

Pros

  • High Rewards on Select Purchases: Earn up to 3 points per $1 spent on select categories.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees: Shop abroad without additional charges.
  • Comprehensive Insurance: Includes 11 types of insurance coverage.
  • Airport Lounge Access: Enjoy up to 6 airport lounge passes per year through the Visa Airport Companion program.

Cons

  • High Income Requirements: Requires $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income.
  • Lower Overall Rewards: Rewards potential is lower compared to premium credit cards.
  • High Annual Fee: Comes with a significant annual fee.
  • Average Insurance Coverage: Insurance benefits are standard, not exceptional.
  • Mediocre Earnings Potential: The card’s rewards structure might not offer the highest returns for every spender.

Rewards*

  • 3 Points on on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland & Participating Co-ops
  • 2 Points dining and at other eligible grocery stores, entertainment purchases which includes movies, theatre, and ticket agencies and Rides which includes rideshare, buses, taxis, subways and more
  • 1 Point on everything else

Insurance*

Coverage*

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $2M/insured up to 25 days
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Medical Over 65

    $2M/insured up to 3 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,500/person, $10,000/trip
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $2,500/person, $10,000/trip
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500/person after 4 hours
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $1000
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $1000
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000/insured, $1M combined
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $65,000 up to 48 days
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $1,000
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

Benefits*

Details*

  • exchange money

    No Foreign Transaction Fees

    Avoid the usual 2.5% forex fees on your purchases when you travel outside of Canada
  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

    6 Free complimentary visits
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Avis® Preferred Plus membership
  • concierge

    Concierge Services

  • exclusive

    Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits

Eligibility*

  • Credit Score

    Good
  • Annual Income

    $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information. Check here for full details and current product information.

With the many travel perks Scotia Passport offers, one of the best is the generous lounge access benefit, which includes six free visits!


For Lounge Pass


Having a Lounge pass allows you to access lounges for a small fee. Without the pass, you would need to pay for a membership before being able to purchase individual visits.


Tangerine World Mastercard

I currently have or may soon have a Tangerine Savings account

Tangerine World Mastercard

4.1

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

10% Cash Back up to $100 value

First Year Value

$468.79

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee

$0

Interest Rates

20.95% / 22.95%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

While we think Tangerine World Mastercard isn't the best single credit card to own, it's still a valuable card to have in your arsenal for maximizing your rewards. It offers one of the highest cashback rates for pharmacy and recurring bill payments, areas where your other credit cards might not provide significant rewards. For no annual fees

Pros

  • Allows you to change the categories, and you get a 2% reward depending on how your spending is changing every 90 days.
  • 2% cashback on recurring Transactions and pharmacy purchases. One of the highest cashback rates on these categories among credit cards in Canada. 
  • Has cashback on Furniture and Home Improvement categories. Two categories that are not covered by any other card in Canada.
  • Overall, it is a good no-annual-fee cashback credit card, especially if you have a Tangerine Savings account.
  • A few benefits such as free DragonPass for lounge access, Boingo Wi-Fi, and insurances like mobile insurance and car rental theft and damage insurance.

Cons

  • With these income and credit score requirements, there are cards with no annual fees that offer much higher rewards and benefits.
  • Very low cashback rate on the other categories not selected.

Rewards

  • 2% on the choice of two categories chosen from the 10 offered by Tangerine (3 if you have Tangerine's Savings account)
  • 0.5% cashback on all other credit card purchases.

Insurance

Coverage

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1000
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    31 days

Benefits

Details

  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

    Pass only. No Complimentary visits!
  • wifi signal

    Boingo Wi-Fi hotspot

Eligibility

  • Credit Score

    Good
  • Annual Income

    $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
* Check here for full details and current product information.

The Tangerine World Mastercard offers a free lounge pass with no annual fee, a benefit typically reserved for cards that do have an annual fee.


Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Cards


Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

4.9

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 45,000 Scene+ points ($450 value)

First Year Value

$1,094.5

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee*

$120

Interest Rates*

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card is one of our favorite cards. It has a very solid rewards program, earning one of the highest rewards among all credit cards in Canada. In addition, it offers comprehensive travel benefits, including the rare and valuable no foreign transaction fee benefit, making it a great and balanced credit card in terms of both rewards and benefits. The first-year annual fee waiver is the cherry on top, providing even greater value to cardholders.

Best Overall Travel Credit Card in 2024

Pros

  • No foreign transaction fee saves you 2.5% on all non-CAD purchases.
  • Rewards cover all high-spending categories, including food, groceries, entertainment, and gas.
  • Comprehensive coverage of all travel insurance.

Cons

  • The card network is American Express, which might not be widely accepted in some countries, making it a bit harder to use the no foreign transaction fee benefit.
  • Having a lounge pass would have made this card even more perfect, but there is access to a discount code for lounge access pass purchases.

Rewards*

  • 6 Points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland & Participating Co-ops
  • 5 Points per $1 spent on eligible dining, other grocery stores, entertainment purchases including movies, theatre, and ticket agencies
  • 3 Points per $1 spent on rides which includes rideshare, buses, taxis, subways and more
  • 3 Points per $1 spent on eligible streaming service payments (Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, Crave and more)
  • 1 Point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases

Insurance*

Coverage*

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $1M, Up to 25 days
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Medical Over 65

    $1M, Up to 3 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1500/person, $10000/trip
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $1500/person, $10,000/trip
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500/person, $1000/trip
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500/person, $1,000/trip After 4 hours
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500/person
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500K/person, $1M/occurrence
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $65K up to 48 days
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $1000/occurrence
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 1 year

Benefits*

Details*

  • exchange money

    No Foreign Transaction Fees

    Avoid the 2.5% foreign transaction fees incurred when spending in non $CAD
  • Amex logo

    American Express® Experiences

  • concierge

    Concierge Services

  • discount

    Discount

    Discount on PriorityPass Membership

Eligibility*

  • Credit Score

    Good
  • Annual Income

    $12,000 personal or $12,000 household
*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information. Check here for full details and current product information.

The Scotiabank Gold American Express card is a very well-rounded card. With a comprehensive list of travel benefits that work alongside your no foreign transaction fee benefit and a great reward program, this card is recommended for everyone, but especially for travelers!


Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card

4.8

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 35,000 Scene+ points

First Year Value

$443.9

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee*

$150

Interest Rates*

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is a strong choice for frequent travelers, especially those who value flexibility and premium perks. It stands out with its rare benefit of no foreign transaction fees, making international purchases more cost-effective. Additionally, the card offers a valuable blend of travel perks, including airport lounge access, comprehensive insurance coverage, and flexible rewards, making it an ideal companion for those who frequently travel abroad and want to avoid extra fees while enjoying premium benefits.

Best Foreign Exchange Credit Card in 2024

Pros

  • High Rewards on Select Purchases: Earn up to 3 points per $1 spent on select categories.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees: Shop abroad without additional charges.
  • Comprehensive Insurance: Includes 11 types of insurance coverage.
  • Airport Lounge Access: Enjoy up to 6 airport lounge passes per year through the Visa Airport Companion program.

Cons

  • High Income Requirements: Requires $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income.
  • Lower Overall Rewards: Rewards potential is lower compared to premium credit cards.
  • High Annual Fee: Comes with a significant annual fee.
  • Average Insurance Coverage: Insurance benefits are standard, not exceptional.
  • Mediocre Earnings Potential: The card’s rewards structure might not offer the highest returns for every spender.

Rewards*

  • 3 Points on on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland & Participating Co-ops
  • 2 Points dining and at other eligible grocery stores, entertainment purchases which includes movies, theatre, and ticket agencies and Rides which includes rideshare, buses, taxis, subways and more
  • 1 Point on everything else

Insurance*

Coverage*

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $2M/insured up to 25 days
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Medical Over 65

    $2M/insured up to 3 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,500/person, $10,000/trip
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $2,500/person, $10,000/trip
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500/person after 4 hours
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $1000
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $1000
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000/insured, $1M combined
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $65,000 up to 48 days
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $1,000
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

Benefits*

Details*

  • exchange money

    No Foreign Transaction Fees

    Avoid the usual 2.5% forex fees on your purchases when you travel outside of Canada
  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

    6 Free complimentary visits
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Avis® Preferred Plus membership
  • concierge

    Concierge Services

  • exclusive

    Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits

Eligibility*

  • Credit Score

    Good
  • Annual Income

    $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information. Check here for full details and current product information.

One small note about the Scotiabank Gold card is that because it's American Express, it may not be as widely accepted as Visa, especially in some European countries. In these cases, the Scotiabank Passport card can be a really great alternative to go for.


For Airlines


WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

4

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

Up to $450 WestJet Dollars

First Year Value

$691.6

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee

$119

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

If you travel frequently with WestJet, you must get this card because you are missing out on many benefits, even if you don't use this card for rewards. The round-trip companion voucher, status lift, and free checked bag benefits alone more than make up for the annual fee. For WestJet purchases, this card is great for earning rewards, but for all other categories, we recommend pairing it with another card.

Pros

  • A no-brainer if you are a frequent WestJet traveler. The first free checked bag, annual companion pass, and status lift benefits alone make up more than the amount paid for the annual fee.
  • A very good list of travel insurance in addition to WestJet-specific benefits.

Cons

  • Not the best card for rewards accumulation, so it's better if paired with another card that offers higher rewards on non-WestJet purchases.
  • Rewards can only be used on WestJet, making them less flexible.

Rewards

  • 2% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages
  • 1.5% back in WestJet dollars on other purchases

Insurance

Coverage

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    15 days
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Medical Over 65

    3 days
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500K
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $65K up to 48 days
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $5K/person, $25K/trip
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $250/person, $500/occurrence
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500/person, $2500/occurrence
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

Benefits

Details

  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

    Pass only, complimentary visits not included! Companion Voucher can be exchanged for 4 visits.
  • airplane love

    Companion Voucher

    Travel within Canada or to the continental U.S. (excluding Hawaii), from $119 CAD, Travel to Hawaii or Mexico from $399 CAD, Travel to the rest of the WestJet network from $399 CAD
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Eern $500 in tier qualifying spend which applies towards achieving the next WestJet Rewards tier for every $15,000 CAD in Eligible Purchases on your WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard (up to a maximum of $1,500 in tier qualifying spend in a qualifying year)
  • luggage

    Free first checked bag

    First checked bag is free for primary cardholder on WestJet flight and up to 8 guests
  • discount

    Discount

    Member Exclusive fares: Exclusive discounts when you pay the full base fare with WestJet dollars
  • wifi signal

    Boingo Wi-Fi hotspot

  • gas station

    Gas Discount

    save 3¢/L on fuel and always earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada
  • reward cup

    Extra points

    50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall

Eligibility

  • Credit Score

    Good
  • Annual Income

    $80,000 personal or $150,000 household

If you travel with WestJet often, this card is the best for this Airline. It offers free checked bags for you and 8 people travelling with you and many other benefits


TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

3.5

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

Up to 40,000 Aeroplan® points

First Year Value

$1,137.37

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee

$139

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Card* is an excellent choice for frequent Air Canada travelers looking to maximize their rewards with Aeroplan points. With perks like free checked bags, Preferred Pricing, and a first-year fee waiver, it’s ideal for users who value Air Canada-specific benefits. However, the card’s high income requirement and limited non-Air Canada redemption options may not appeal to everyone.

Pros

  • Earn up to 40,000 Aeroplan points (welcome bonus offer ends January 6, 2025).
  • 1.5 points per $1 on gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases.
  • Free checked bags and Preferred Pricing on Air Canada rewards flights.
  • Extensive insurance coverage with 12 types of insurance.

Cons

  • The rewards rate on this card is not that high. There are non-Aeroplan cards with much better reward programs, and their points can later be transferred to this card, making them better options if you are looking to gather Aeroplan points.
  • You lose the flexibility to use other airlines if you want to take advantage of the benefits of this card.

Rewards

  • 1.5x Aeroplan points per $1 spent on gas, groceries, Air Canada and Air Canada vacations (maximum 120,000 points annually)
  • 1x Aeroplan point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases

Insurance

Coverage

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    21 days
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Medical Over 65

    4 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,500
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $5,000
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $1,000
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $1,000
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    yes
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $2500
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000

Benefits

Details

  • luggage

    Free first checked bag

    First checked bag is free for primary cardholder on WestJet flight and up to 8 guests
  • border guard

    Nexus Program Rebate

    $100 every 4 years
  • exclusive

    Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits

  • concierge

    Concierge Services

  • golf clubs

    Golf Benefit

    Troon Rewards Golf benefits like discounts at over 95 resorts and courses around the world plus access to select private clubs across the U.S
  • reward cup

    Extra points

    Earn 50% more Stars and 50% more Aeroplan points at participating Starbucks stores
  • reward cup

    Extra points

    Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and over 170 online retailers through the Aeroplan eStore
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Reach Aeroplan Elite™ Status sooner by earning 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and one (1) Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 of net purchases
  • car rental

    Car Rental Discount

    10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car
  • gavel

    Trip and legal Assistance

Eligibility

  • Credit Score

    Very Good
  • Annual Income

    $60,000 personal or $100,000 household

And if you travel with AirCanada often this card would be a great choice for the many benefits it provides.


For Luxurious Travel


TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege*

3.2

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

Up to 100,000 points (70,000 in 1st year)

First Year Value

$1,472.85

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee

$599

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

If you travel a lot throughout the year with Air Canada, the benefits of this card can significantly enhance your experience. It can help you achieve the next status level with Aeroplan and provide a better airport experience, therefore it can be worth the price tag. However, if you don't frequently fly with Air Canada, the benefits may not justify the card's expensive price tag.

Pros

  • Premium experience for Elite Air Canada travelers with many benefits and status upgrades.
  • High coverage limit on insurance.
  • Numerous luxury benefits and statuses available for use.

Cons

  • The rewards rate on this card is not that high. There are non-Aeroplan cards with much better reward programs, and their points can later be transferred to this card, making them better options if you are looking to gather Aeroplan points.
  • You lose the flexibility to use other airlines if you want to take advantage of the benefits of this card.
  • The high price tag makes this card a poor choice if you don't frequently travel with Air Canada.
  • The unlimited lounge access is limited to Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafe lounges which don't have a great worldwide coverage.

Rewards

  • 2 points on Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations if they are in the first $100k transactions of the year
  • 1.5 points on Gas, Groceries, Travel and Dining if they are in the first $100k transactions of the year
  • 1.25 Point on everything else

Insurance

Coverage

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $5M/insured up to 31 days
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Medical Over 65

    $5M/insured up to 4 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $2.5K/person, $5K/trip
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $5K/person, $25K/trip
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $1,000/person after 4 hours
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $1K/person after 4 hours
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $2.5K/person
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    Up to 48 consecutive rental days
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $2500
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    120 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    2 years
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,500

Benefits

Details

  • luggage

    Free first checked bag

    First checked bag is free for primary cardholder on WestJet flight and up to 8 guests
  • border guard

    Nexus Program Rebate

    $100 every 4 years
  • exclusive

    Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits

  • concierge

    Concierge Services

  • golf clubs

    Golf Benefit

    Troon Rewards Golf benefits like discounts at over 95 resorts and courses around the world plus access to select private clubs across the U.S
  • reward cup

    Extra points

    Earn 50% more Stars and 50% more Aeroplan points at participating Starbucks stores
  • reward cup

    Extra points

    Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and over 170 online retailers through the Aeroplan eStore
  • star fall

    Status 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 purchases
  • car rental

    Car Rental Discount

    10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car
  • gavel

    Trip and legal Assistance

  • reward cup

    Extra points

    Earn 2 Aeroplan points for every $1 you spend on eligible purchases with Rocky Mountaineer, Plus, cardholders could receive a GoldLeaf Upgrade, and a hotel room upgrade
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Complimentary upgrade to Avis® President's Club
  • star fall

    Status 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.
  • star fall

    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.
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Diamond Status with Visa RSVP Rewards™ Benefit. Benefits at 60+ participating Sandman, Sandman Signature and Sutton Place Hotels from coast-to-coast in Canada and beyond.
  • airport waiting room

    Priority Travel

    At Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal airports get benefits such as Priority Security lane, Complimentary valet, premium parking spots, priorioty taxi and limo lane and discount for parking.
  • airport waiting room

    Priority Travel

    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)
  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

    6 Free complimentary visits
  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Maple Leaf and AirCanada Cafes

    Unlimited Access for you and one guest
  • airplane love

    Companion Voucher

    Annual Worldwide Companion Pass from $99 to a max of $599 After spending $25,000 on your card

Eligibility

  • Credit Score

    Excellent
  • Annual Income

    $150,000 personal or $200,000 household

If you like priority service at the airport, this card will give you faster security check-in, priority service, and many more benefits, making you feel special throughout your travel.


Best Insurance Credit Card


BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®

4.2

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

Up to $200

First Year Value

$690.78

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee

$120

Interest Rates

20.99% / 23.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

If you're seeking a cashback credit card, the BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard® stands out for its excellent balance between rewards and benefits. It offers a robust rewards program and a comprehensive benefits list, making it a solid choice. The high first-year value is enhanced by the annual fee waiver, and those with a BMO Premium Chequing Account can enjoy continued fee waivers. While it's highly ranked for rewards alone, it may not be the absolute top choice if benefits are less important to you.

Pros

  • Offers one of the highest cashbacks on groceries and gas, two of the most frequently spent categories, compared to other credit cards in Canada.
  • Includes roadside assistance, a rare but valuable benefit for people on the road.
  • Provides a comprehensive list of insurance coverage and benefits.
  • High first-year value.

Cons

  • Does not include restaurant purchases as a reward category, which is one of the most important spending categories.

Rewards

  • 5% cashback on groceries (maximum $25 per statement)
  • 4% cashback on daily transit (maximum $12 per statement)
  • 3% cashback on gas (maximum $9 per statement)
  • 2% cashback on recurring payments (maximum $10 per statement)
  • 1% cashback on all other credit card purchases.

Insurance

Coverage

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $5M up to 8 days per covered person
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500 After 4 hours delay
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500/person, $1000 maximum
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500/person, $1000 maximum After 6 hours
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $1000
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $65,000 up to 48 days
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year

Benefits

Details

  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

    Pass only, complimentary visits not included
  • tire

    Roadside Assistance

    Includes free battery boosts, flat-tire change, lockout service and towing
  • car rental

    Car Rental Discount

    25% off base rate of participating National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car
  • gas station

    Gas Discount

    Get up to seven cents off per litre on Shell® fuel
  • discount

    Hotel Booking Discount

    Save up to 7% on your Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookings
  • wifi signal

    Boingo Wi-Fi hotspot

Eligibility

  • Credit Score

    Good
  • Annual Income

    $80,000 personal or $150,000 household

The BMO Cashback World Elite offers one of the most comprehensive lists of insurance coverage and a strong rewards program, securing its position as the top choice in this category.


Best Credit Cards based on Spending Categories


For Food Purchases


American Express Cobalt® Card

5

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 15,000 points

First Year Value

$1,255.2

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee*

$155.8

Interest Rates*

21.99% / 21.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

This card was voted the Best Credit Card in Canada by FinlyWealth. The rewards earned on this card for a person with average spending exceed those of other credit cards in Canada by a huge margin! In addition, this card has a good benefits coverage, a flexible points redemption program (1:1 transfer to Aeroplan® or Avios), making it the best candidate to become the main credit card for the majority of people.

Pros

  • Points can be transferred to Air Canada Aeroplan® at a 1:1 ratio, making this card a solid Aeroplan® points earner as an alternative to Aeroplan® branded credit cards
  • Generous welcome bonus of up to 15,000 points
  • 4+ different ways of redeeming your points for great value
  • 10 different types of insurance, including travel
  • Often referred to as the Best Credit Card in Canada

Cons

  • Less acceptance of American Express at different merchants across Canada
  • Not all types of travel insurance are covered, especially trip cancellation and interruption insurance

Rewards*

  • 5x points per $1 spent on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery (up to 12,500 points per month)
  • 3x points per $1 spent on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
  • 2x points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit & ride share in Canada
  • 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Insurance*

Coverage*

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    15 days
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $500
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $250,000
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    yes
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 1 year

Benefits*

Details*

  • Amex logo

    Amex Experiences™

    Access Front Of The Line® Amex Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts and theatre performances and special offers and events curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™
  • travel

    Travel Credit

    Book two or more consecutive nights at participating properties through The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel to receive a $100 credit for amenities or a complimentary room upgrade, if available.

Eligibility*

  • Credit Score

    Good
  • Annual Income

    N/A
*American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment. Check here for full details and current product information.

One of the reasons the Cobalt card is considered one of the best overall cards in Canada is its massive rewards on food purchases. Since food is one of the top spending categories for most people, it makes sense to optimize your rewards in this area.


For Grocery Purchases


BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®

4.2

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

Up to $200

First Year Value

$690.78

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee

$120

Interest Rates

20.99% / 23.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

If you're seeking a cashback credit card, the BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard® stands out for its excellent balance between rewards and benefits. It offers a robust rewards program and a comprehensive benefits list, making it a solid choice. The high first-year value is enhanced by the annual fee waiver, and those with a BMO Premium Chequing Account can enjoy continued fee waivers. While it's highly ranked for rewards alone, it may not be the absolute top choice if benefits are less important to you.

Pros

  • Offers one of the highest cashbacks on groceries and gas, two of the most frequently spent categories, compared to other credit cards in Canada.
  • Includes roadside assistance, a rare but valuable benefit for people on the road.
  • Provides a comprehensive list of insurance coverage and benefits.
  • High first-year value.

Cons

  • Does not include restaurant purchases as a reward category, which is one of the most important spending categories.

Rewards

  • 5% cashback on groceries (maximum $25 per statement)
  • 4% cashback on daily transit (maximum $12 per statement)
  • 3% cashback on gas (maximum $9 per statement)
  • 2% cashback on recurring payments (maximum $10 per statement)
  • 1% cashback on all other credit card purchases.

Insurance

Coverage

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $5M up to 8 days per covered person
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500 After 4 hours delay
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500/person, $1000 maximum
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500/person, $1000 maximum After 6 hours
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $1000
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $65,000 up to 48 days
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year

Benefits

Details

  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

    Pass only, complimentary visits not included
  • tire

    Roadside Assistance

    Includes free battery boosts, flat-tire change, lockout service and towing
  • car rental

    Car Rental Discount

    25% off base rate of participating National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car
  • gas station

    Gas Discount

    Get up to seven cents off per litre on Shell® fuel
  • discount

    Hotel Booking Discount

    Save up to 7% on your Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookings
  • wifi signal

    Boingo Wi-Fi hotspot

Eligibility

  • Credit Score

    Good
  • Annual Income

    $80,000 personal or $150,000 household

There are many different grocery chains, such as Costco, Loblaws, and Walmart. It's important to note that Costco only accepts Mastercard, and some of these chains are not classified as grocery stores by Visa and American Express. Therefore, having a Mastercard is crucial for maximizing your cashback on grocery purchases. The BMO Cashback Mastercard is an excellent fit for this category, as it offers one of the highest cashback rates among credit cards.


For recurring purchases and Subscriptions


Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card

4

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus*

10% Cash Back (up to $200 value)

First Year Value

$607.15

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee*

$120

Interest Rates*

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

The 4% cashback offered on groceries and recurring purchases is the highest among all other credit cards. With the first year's annual fee waived, and with the right transactions used on this credit card, a high amount of cashback could be earned.

Pros

  • Highest Cashback rates on Groceries and Recurring purchases compared to other cashback credit cards.
  • High insurance coverage.
  • First year annual fee waived.

Cons

  • The base cashback rate (1%) is low for most high spent categories, especially after the first year when the card's annual fee kicks in.

Rewards*

  • 4% cashback on groceries, recurring payments (maximum $1000 cashback per year)
  • 2% cashback on gas, daily transit (maximum $500 cashback per year)
  • 1% cashback on all other credit card purchases (unlimited).

Insurance*

Coverage*

  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    15 days
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $2,000
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,500
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    48 days
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

Benefits*

Details*

  • car rental

    Car Rental Discount

    25% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car
  • exclusive

    Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits

    Yes

Eligibility*

  • Credit Score

    Good
  • Annual Income

    $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information. Check here for full details and current product information.

When it comes to recurring purchases, no other credit card can match the high cashback you can earn with this card on those purchases. With a massive 4 percent cashback, this card is the best to use for these types of transactions.


Best Credit Cards with Rare perks and benefits


For Roadside Assistance


Triangle World Elite Mastercard

3.5

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

N/A

First Year Value

$340.5

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee

$0

Interest Rates

21.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

This card is the only one with no annual fee that provides a roadside assistance benefit, which can be a lifesaver for people who travel on the road a lot. The main reason to apply for this card is to have free access to this benefit, given that the rewards are not great in most categories (except for Canadian Tire and grocery purchases).

Pros

  • The only credit card in Canada that offers the highly valuable benefit of roadside assistance!

Cons

  • This card has a very low acceptance rate based on prior user applications.
    It's not a great option to have as your primary credit card, either in terms of rewards or benefits. However, it's a good card to complement your other credit cards.

Rewards

  • 4% back in CanadianTire dollars on almost everything at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark’s, L’Équipeur, Party City, Pro Hockey Life, Atmosphere, Sports Rousseau, Hockey Experts, L’Entrepôt du Hockey, and participating Sports Experts stores
  • 3% back in CanadianTire dollars on Groceries (Max 360) Except Costco and Walmart
  • 1% back in CanadianTire on all other purchases

Insurance

Coverage

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    Up to 90 days
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    31 days

Benefits

Details

  • gas station

    Gas Discount

    Save 7¢/L on premium fuel and 5¢/L on all other fuel types at Gas+ and Petro-Canada locations on gas
  • concierge

    Concierge Services

  • tire

    Roadside Assistance

    Roadside Assistance Gold Plan: With the Triangle World Elite Mastercard Roadside Assistance Gold Plan, you get towing distance of up to 250 km per service call to the destination of your choice (within Canada or the US)

Eligibility

  • Credit Score

    Excellent
  • Annual Income

    $80,000 personal or $150,000 household

No one likes getting stuck on the road and paying a hefty fee for roadside assistance. With the Triangle World Elite Mastercard, you can enjoy free roadside assistance with a no-fee credit card!


For Price Protection


MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®

4.7

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

Up to 30,000 points ($300 value)

First Year Value

$777.84

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee

$120

Interest Rates

19.99% / 24.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

The MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® is one of the best reward credit cards in Canada, offering high rewards on frequently spent categories such as groceries and restaurant purchases. The annual birthday bonus, unique to this card, also provides a significant boost to your yearly earnings. Additionally, the card features a comprehensive list of benefits, including price protection—a rare and valuable perk not found with many other cards in Canada. These factors make this card one of the best to have in Canada.

Pros

  • Both restaurants and groceries, two of the most commonly spent categories, earn decent rewards.
  • Great annual birthday bonus with up to $150 in value.
  • A solid list of travel insurance and benefits.
  • Price protection, a rare feature not offered by many other cards.
  • Good value for many of the card's redemption options.

Cons

  • Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, two great benefits are missing from this card.
  • Not the best card for gas purchases.

Rewards

  • 5 points on restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases (maximum $50,000 spend annually per category)
  • 1 point for everything else

Insurance

Coverage

  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1000
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    Up to 90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    31 days
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500/person after 4 hours
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $1,000,000
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $2M for 21 days
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $1000/person
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $1000/person

Benefits

Details

  • birthday cake

    Annual Birthday Bonus

    10% of the Points earned the 12 months prior to the primary cardholder's birthday month (up to a max 15,000 bonus points per year)
  • car rental

    Car Rental Discount

    10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationally
  • gavel

    Trip and legal Assistance

  • concierge

    Concierge Services

  • price protection

    Price Protection

    $500/item, $1000/account per year

Eligibility

  • Credit Score

    Very Good
  • Annual Income

    $80,000 personal or $150,000 household

Have you ever purchased something, only to see a big discount the very next day? With price protection, you can safeguard yourself against these fluctuations and get reimbursed for the price difference when this happens.


Best Student Credit Card


RBC ION Visa

2.7

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

6,000 points ($60 value)

First Year Value

$293.39

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee

$0

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

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.

Pros

  • Good savings on gas if you are a regular petro-Canada gas customer.

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.

Rewards

  • 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

Insurance

Coverage

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year

Benefits

Details

  • gas station

    Gas Discount

    save 3¢/L on fuel and always earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada
  • reward cup

    Extra points

    50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall

Eligibility

  • Credit Score

    Good
  • Annual Income

    N/A

For students, the aim is to get a card with easy approval and decent benefits, and the RBC ION card is one of the best cards to fulfill that purpose.


Best Secured Credit Card


Neo Secured Mastercard®

4.5

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

N/A

First Year Value

$292.12

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee

$60

Interest Rates

19.99% - 29.99% (for Quebec 19.99% - 24.99%) / 22.99% - 31.99% (for Quebec 22.99% - 25.99%)

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

If you have a poor credit score and are looking to rebuild it with a secured card, then the Neo Financial Secured Credit Card is the best card to go for. This card offers so much more compared to other secured credit cards on the market, including no monthly fees, a low deposit amount needed to get started, and it is the only credit card that offers some rewards on your purchases!

Pros

Cons

Rewards

Benefits

Details

  • red diamond

    Neo Premium ($4.99/month)

  • travel

    Neo Travel Benefits ($4.99/month)

  • food location

    Neo Food Cashback boost ($1.99/month)

  • care day

    Neo Mind and Body Perks ($9.99/month)

Eligibility

  • Credit Score

    Poor
  • Annual Income

    N/A

The Neo Secured Card is the only secured credit card that offers rewards comparable to its unsecured counterpart, along with numerous benefits. This is something that almost no other secured card even comes close to offering!


Best Low Interest Credit Card


Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card

3.5

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 60,000 Scene+ points ($600 value)

First Year Value

$646.58

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards.

Annual Fee*

$399

Interest Rates*

9.99% / 9.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

The Scotiabank Platinum American Express is the perfect choice for those seeking a super premium credit card without steep income requirements. With a high flat rate of rewards on all purchases, extensive insurance coverage, and flexible travel redemption options, it offers full-featured perks that cater to frequent travelers and savvy spenders alike.

Pros

  • Low Interest Rate: Offers a competitive interest rate of 9.99%.
  • Strong Rewards: Earn 2x Scene+ points on all purchases.
  • Airport Lounge Access: Enjoy 10 complimentary lounge visits, including Plaza Premium Lounges, through Priority Pass (membership required).
  • Comprehensive Travel Insurance: Includes extensive coverage for travel-related needs.
  • Flexible Travel Rewards: Points can be redeemed for travel bookings with any provider.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees: Shop internationally without extra charges.

Cons

  • High Annual Fee: The annual fee is steep compared to similar cards offering similar perks.
  • Limited Premium Perks: Lacks top-tier travel benefits like free checked baggage and priority boarding.

Rewards*

2 points on all eligible purchases

Insurance*

Coverage*

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $2M, Up to 31 days
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Medical Over 65

    $2M, Up to 10 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $2500/person, $10000/trip
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500/person, $1000/trip
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $5000/person, $25000/trip
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $1000 After 4 hours
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $1000/person
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500K/person, $1M/occurrence
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $65K up to 48 days
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $1000/occurrence
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1000
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    120 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year

Benefits*

Details*

  • exchange money

    No Foreign Transaction Fees

  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Plaza Premium

    10 visits, 4 visits for secondary card (combined with the Priority pass)
  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Priority Pass

    10 visits, 4 visits for secondary card (combined with the Plaza Premium)
  • Amex logo

    American Express® Experiences

  • concierge

    Concierge Services

  • discount

    Discount

    Discount on PriorityPass Membership
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Hertz #1 Club Gold Member
  • reward cup

    Extra points

    Extra 3 Scene+ points per Canadian dollar spent on hotel and car rental bookings made through Scene+ Travel using your Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card

Eligibility*

  • Credit Score

    Excellent
  • Annual Income

    $12,000 personal
*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information. Check here for full details and current product information.

The Scotia Platinum card offers an interest rate lower than that of some lines of credit. Additionally, it provides many premium rewards and benefits, making it our top choice in this category.


Best Balance Transfer Credit Card


MBNA True Line® Mastercard®

5

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

12 months 0% promotional interest rate

Rewards Rate

0%

Annual Fee

$0

Interest Rates

12.99% / 24.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

Even though this card offers no benefits or rewards, the amount you can save on interest is substantial, making it an excellent option for reducing your monthly payments.

Pros

  • Great to reduce monthly interest payments during the promotional period.
  • Low purchase interest rate for people planning to put some balance on their credit card.

Cons

  • A flat fee has to be paid on the balance to make the transfer happen.
  • Not a good card other for purposes other than balance transfer.

Rewards

No Rewards on This Card

Eligibility

  • Credit Score

    Good
  • Annual Income

    N/A
* Check here for full details and current product information.

With the promotional welcome offer on this card, you'll be able to significantly reduce your monthly interest rate payments. Be sure to take advantage of it while the offer lasts!


Best Prepaid Card


EQ Bank Card

3.7

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

N/A

Rewards Rate

0.5% cash back on every purchase

Annual Fee

$0

Interest Rates

N/A / N/A

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

The EQ bank card is not a credit card; it's a prepaid card, so you will not be able to get the same level of rewards as when using a credit card and it will not build credit. But if getting a prepaid card is your goal, then this card is, without a doubt, the best choice. Voted the best "Prepaid Card" in Canada, this card offers rewards and benefits that are mostly not offered by other prepaid cards. Earning interest on balance, rewards on purchases, no foreign transaction fee, and especially the unique no ATM fee that no other card provides, makes this card the best among prepaid cards.

Pros

  • Voted the best prepaid card in Canada by FinlyWealth.
  • The no ATM fee feature allows you to withdraw cash from any out-of-network ATMs without incurring any fees. This unique benefit can save you a lot of money when you need cash.
  • Unlike other prepaid cards, this card offers rewards and benefits such as earning interest on balance and no foreign transaction fee.

Cons

  • For a prepaid card, there are no cons to note for this card.

Rewards

  • 0.5% cash back on every purchase

Benefits

Details

  • exchange money

    No Foreign Transaction Fees

  • atm

    Free ATM withdrawal

  • grwoth

    Interest on Balance

    Same interest as your personal account until spent

Eligibility

  • Credit Score

    N/A
  • Annual Income

    N/A

The EQ card is the best prepaid card with many benefits that aren't provided by almost any other prepaid card, making it an excellent choice for this category.


Best Credit Cards in Canada By Network


Visa:


  1. TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
  2. RBC ION+ Visa
  3. Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card

Mastercard:


  1. Rogers World Elite Mastercard
  2. MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
  3. Desjardins Cash Back World Elite® Mastercard®

American Express:


  1. American Express Cobalt® Card
  2. Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
  3. American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

Best Credit Cards in Canada By Financial Institutions


American Express: American Express Cobalt® Card

BMO: BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®

Brim: BRIM Mastercard

Canadian Tire: Triangle World Elite Mastercard

CIBC: CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

Desjardins: Desjardins Cash Back World Elite® Mastercard®

Home Trust: Home Trust Preferred Visa

KOHO: KOHO Extra

MBNA: MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®

National Bank: NationalBank World Elite Mastercard

Neo: Neo Credit Card

RBC: RBC ION+ Visa

Rogers: Rogers Red Mastercard®

Scotiabank: Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

Simplii Financial: Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card

Tangerine: Tangerine World Mastercard

TD Bank: TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

Walmart: Walmart Rewards™ World Mastercard®


How Do Credit Cards Work?


Credit is essentially a financial agreement that allows you to borrow money to make purchases with the understanding that you’ll repay the borrowed amount later. When you use credit, like with a credit card, you're temporarily using the lender's money, which you’ll need to pay back by a specified date. Typically, you’re given a grace period, which is between 21 and 25 days, to pay off the balance. If you repay the full amount within this period and by the due date, no interest is charged.


Here’s a quick breakdown of a typical credit card transaction when, for example, you purchase a coffee at your favourite coffee shop:


  1. You use your credit card to buy the coffee.
  2. Your card details are sent to the store's bank, known as the acquiring bank.
  3. The acquiring bank seeks payment approval. This request is forwarded to the payment network associated with your card, such as Visa, Mastercard, or American Express.
  4. The transaction is approved.
  5. The amount for your coffee is deducted from your available credit. You then see the purchase on your credit card statement, along with the due date and the minimum payment required. If you settle the entire balance, no interest will be charged.

How Does Credit Card Interest work?


In Canada, credit card interest is applied when the full balance is not paid by the due date. The most common types of interest rates include the payment interest rate, which ranges between 19% and 23%, and is charged on the remaining balance after paying the minimum payment amount.


There are also penalty rates for missed payments, higher rates for cash advances, and promotional rates that offer temporary low or zero interest. Interest is calculated annually (APR), but you can approximately estimate it monthly by dividing the APR by twelve.


To avoid paying interest, pay off the full balance each month and avoid cash advances because credit card interest payments can quickly grow. If you want to learn more about this topic you can read the blog how credit card interest works to learn more.


Finding the best credit card can save you hundreds, and potentially thousands, each year. Finding a credit card can be complicated, but we'll give you the information necessary so that you can match yourself with the best credit card for your needs.


Different Types of Credit cards


When choosing the right credit card, it's important to know the various types available, especially if you're interested in earning cashback, points, or improving your credit. Here's a breakdown of the most common credit card options:


Cashback and Points Credit Cards


Cashback credit cards give you a percentage back on your purchases, typically in categories like groceries, gas, or dining. Some offer a flat rate on all spending, while others provide higher rewards for specific categories. Points cards allow you to accumulate points that can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, or gift cards, making them ideal for those who want flexibility in how they use their rewards.


Student Credit Cards


Student credit cards are a great starting point for young adults building credit. They typically have low fees and offer simple rewards like cashback on daily expenses. Some cards even provide bonuses for maintaining good grades. By using these cards responsibly, students can establish a strong credit history for future financial needs.


High-Limit Credit Cards (Charge Cards)


If you have a strong credit score, high-limit credit cards or charge cards provide the ability to make larger purchases without negatively impacting your credit utilization. Charge cards, which often come with no pre-set spending limit, require that you pay the balance in full each month. These cards are useful for big purchases but demand disciplined financial management.


Secured Credit Cards


For individuals looking to build or rebuild their credit, secured credit cards are a valuable tool. These cards require a security deposit, which serves as your credit limit. While they may not offer many rewards, they report to credit bureaus and can help improve your credit score over time. Once your credit improves, you may transition to unsecured cards.


Balance Transfer Credit Cards


Balance transfer credit cards are designed to help people pay off high-interest debt by offering a 0% APR for a set period on transferred balances. This allows you to consolidate your debt and pay it off interest-free, saving money in the long run. Just be mindful of any balance transfer fees and the terms after the introductory period ends.


Starter Cards for Building Credit


In addition to secured cards, starter credit cards are available for those new to credit or rebuilding their score. These cards typically have lower limits and fewer rewards but offer an essential stepping stone to building a solid credit history.


Travel Credit Cards


Travel credit cards, including airline-branded and hotel-branded cards, are perfect for frequent travelers. Airline cards often include perks like free checked baggage and priority boarding, while hotel cards offer points for free nights and upgrades. Both types usually have sign-up bonuses, allowing you to earn rewards quickly.


Selecting the right card, whether for cashback, travel, or improving your credit, can help you maximize your financial goals. Be sure to compare your options and choose the one that fits your lifestyle and spending habits.


How Credit Card Rewards Work?


Credit card rewards come in a variety of forms, but the two most common are cash back and points or miles. Cash back rewards allow you to reduce your balance or deposit the amount directly into your bank account. Some cards even give the option to receive it as a check. Meanwhile, points or miles can be exchanged for travel, merchandise, gift cards, or even statement credits. Both types of rewards help you benefit from your everyday purchases, but the right option depends on how you prefer to redeem your earnings.


There are two primary types of rewards programs: fixed-rate rewards and category-based rewards. With a fixed-rate program, you earn the same rate on all purchases—such as 3% back or 3 points per dollar, regardless of where you shop. This type of card is simple to use and great for people who want consistent earnings. Category-based programs provide a base rate, like 1%, on all purchases but offer higher rates for specific spending, such as 5% on groceries or gas. Some cards even feature rotating categories that change every few months, letting you earn higher rewards in areas that shift quarterly.


Each credit card issuer sets up its own rewards structure, and it's important to understand how each one works. Flat-rate rewards offer consistent earnings, ideal for people who don't want to track specific categories. Category-based cards go a step further by offering enhanced rewards in areas like dining, groceries, or travel. For instance, one card may offer 5% back on grocery store purchases while giving 1% back on everything else. This structure can help you earn more, but it requires you to pay attention to where and how you're spending.


How Many Credit Cards should you have?


When deciding how many credit cards to have in Canada, the answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. The ideal number of cards depends on your financial situation, spending habits, and how well you manage them. Some Canadians may get by just fine with one card, while others might find value in carrying multiple to take advantage of different rewards and benefits. It’s important to consider your goals—whether you want to maximize rewards for specific purchases like travel, groceries, or gas—or simply maintain a good credit score. The right setup will differ for each individual, and there’s no set rule for how many cards you should have.


Managing multiple cards effectively requires careful attention to a few key factors. For instance, avoid maxing out any card to keep your credit utilization low, and always pay your balance in full each month to avoid interest. Keeping older credit card accounts open can help lengthen your credit history, which contributes positively to your credit score. However, opening too many cards at once can have a negative impact on your score due to multiple credit inquiries. For many Canadians, managing 3-5 cards is a practical approach, allowing you to earn rewards in different categories while keeping your finances organized. As long as you stay disciplined with payments and track your spending, multiple cards can offer substantial benefits without leading to financial trouble.


Who is the Best Credit Card issuer in Canada?


There are many credit cards available from different issuers in Canada. Your top priority should be finding the card that best suits your needs, with the credit card issuer being a secondary consideration. However, it's important to ensure that the issuer is responsive and can address your concerns quickly when needed. To gauge their support, you can read reviews of credit card issuers on review websites and forums. In our experience, American Express stands out as the best credit card issuer, offering excellent customer service, often connecting you with a representative in less than a minute.


Best Credit Cards Methodology


The team at FinlyWealth uses a data-driven approach to provide you with unbiased recommendations to find the card that best suits your needs. Our sophisticated algorithm accurately calculates the rewards earned by each card, taking into account annual fees, sign-up bonuses, reward flexibility, and the perks and benefits that come with each card to help determine the best choice for you.


The top-scoring cards in each category are showcased within their respective categories.


FAQ


What is the best Credit Card in Canada?


There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to credit cards, as the ideal card depends on your personal spending patterns, financial objectives, and credit score. If you have a strong credit profile, you’re likely eligible for cards that offer perks like cash back, points, or travel miles. These types of cards are most beneficial when you pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges that could offset the rewards. However, if you typically carry a balance or need to finance a large purchase, a card with an introductory 0% APR might be a better fit, allowing you to spread payments without paying interest for a set period.


For individuals aiming to build or repair their credit, secured cards or those specifically designed for people with limited credit histories can be a solid choice. While these cards may not offer as many perks, they can help improve your credit over time, especially if they report to all three major credit bureaus. In the end, the right credit card should align with your financial habits and goals, whether you’re looking to earn rewards, minimize interest costs, or strengthen your credit profile.


What is the Easiest Credit Card to get in Canada?


If you don't have a high credit score or are just starting out, secured credit cards, newcomer credit cards, and student credit cards are the easiest to qualify for.


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