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Published Nov 18, 2025 6:52 PM
In many cases, your credit card is supporting purchases not only for yourself, but also for your entire family. With this in mind, you’ll need a card that helps out the whole household – whether that be with groceries, gas, dining out, travelling the world, or weekends packed with entertainment. Below, you’ll find a compilation of credit cards that complement all of the above categories – plus a few budget-friendly options.
Data-driven rankings of 120+ credit cards using a proprietary algorithm
Comprehensive analysis using 25+ data points including terms and conditions, points programs, and more
Objective editorial approach - we strive for unbiased reviews following our editorial guidelines
FinlyWealth's credit cards content, including rankings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of engineers and writers who specialize in credit cards, banking, and personal finance. Our work has been featured in The Globe and Mail, GoBankingRates, and AOL. Our proprietary analysis systems evaluate product features, terms, and conditions to deliver comprehensive reviews and comparisons while maintaining strict editorial standards for accuracy and integrity.
Our choice for: Best Overall Credit Card for Families
on MBNA's website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 30,000 points ($245 in cash back value or $300 when redeemed for MBNA Travel)††
Annual Fee
$120
Interest Rates
21.99% / 22.99%
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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Mobile Device Insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Flight Delay
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Baggage Delay
Benefits
Details
Annual Birthday Bonus
Car Rental Discount
Trip and legal Assistance
Concierge Services
Price Protection
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best for traveler families
on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 45,000 Scene+ points ($450 value)
Annual Fee
$150
Interest Rates
20.99% / 22.99%
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.

Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance (65+)
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Flight Delay
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Baggage Delay
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Status lift
Concierge Services
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best cashback for families
on Neo Financial's website
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Annual Fee
$125
Interest Rates
19.99% - 26.99%□ / 22.99% - 28.99%
This card offers some of the highest cash back rates in Canada for gas, groceries, and recurring purchases, 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, if you're the average person whose spending is generally below $12k per year in groceries, $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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Car Rental Accident
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Car Rental Personal Effects
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best no-fee card for families
on Tangerine's website
Welcome Bonus
$120 bonus after spending $1.5k in 3 months†† + 1.95% balance transfer promo rate for 6 months†
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
20.95%* / 22.95%*
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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Mobile Device Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Wireless Credit
Mastercard On-Demand and Subscription Services
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best for Rogers, Shaw, or Fido Customers
on Rogers Bank's website
Welcome Bonus
Get $60 in cash back value(1)
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
20.99% - 25.99%* / 22.99% - 27.99%*
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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance (65+)
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
No Cost roaming
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best No fee for frequent diners
on Simplii Financial™'s website
Welcome Bonus
8% cash back† up to $1,000 in spending
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
20.99%* / 22.99%*
If you dine out a lot and don't want to pay an annual fee for your credit card, the Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card will undoubtedly be one of your best friends with its 4% cashback. Additionally, the card offers a decent cashback rate (1.5%) for gas, pharmacy, and groceries, making it one of the best no-annual-fee cashback credit cards in Canada. However, there are limits on how much you can earn in these categories. Therefore, you need to be careful not to exceed those limits; otherwise, your cashback rate will drop to 0.5% after those spending limits are reached.
Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best for travel rewards
on American Express' website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 15,000 Membership Rewards® points
Annual Fee
$191.88⁕
$15.99 Paid Monthly
⁕ For Quebec, $191.88/year
Interest Rates
21.99%* / 21.99%*
This card was voted one of 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 amex cobalt bonus 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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Mobile Device Insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
Amex Experiences™
Travel Credit
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best travel points earning credit card in Canada
on American Express' website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 15,000 Membership Rewards® points
Annual Fee
$191.88⁕
$15.99 Paid Monthly
⁕ For Quebec, $191.88/year
Interest Rates
21.99%* / 21.99%*
This card was voted one of 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 amex cobalt bonus 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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Mobile Device Insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
Amex Experiences™
Travel Credit
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Familiar to a first-place title, the American Express Cobalt Card (aka the best credit card in Canada) is the top overall credit card for families.
Why?
Firstly, this card earns you tons of American Express Membership Rewards points on dining, groceries, and food deliveries, followed by solid points per dollar spent on eligible Canadian streaming subscriptions, gas, and transit.
Still curious about much your Cobalt's points are worth? Calculate your yearly value now.
Regardless, when it comes to earning potential, this card is about as balanced (and valuable) as it gets.
However, you might be asking yourself: what about family trips?
While the American Express Cobalt Card doesn’t have an explicit travel earn category, it’s great for travel-point accumulation. How? For starters, American Express Membership Rewards points are most valuable when redeemed towards travel, and with plenty of point potential on everyday spending, the Cobalt card is perfect for collecting those travel-oriented rewards. To top it off, the Cobalt card also comes with a hotel travel credit when you book two or more consecutive nights at participating properties through the Hotel Collection with American Express Travel.
As for insurance coverage, this top-contender is equipped with trip protections like flight and baggage delay insurance, hotel burglary insurance, and travel accident insurance. Not to mention, useful everyday-coverage like mobile device insurance.
So, to sum it all up, the American Express Cobalt Card is the best overall credit card for families because it supports everyday errands, dining, and travel – earning you high value on and towards these popular categories.
Maybe you were hoping to cut back on annual costs – something you unfortunately cannot avoid with the American Express Cobalt Card.
If that’s the case, consider the following family-friendly credit cards for no annual fee:
on Tangerine's website
Welcome Bonus
10% Cash Back (up to $100 value)†† + 1.95% balance transfer promo rate for 6 months†
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
20.95%* / 22.95%*
While we think Tangerine 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. This card only requires a Fair credit score, making it an excellent choice for people who don't have a high credit score yet.
Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
If you’re in the market for something that’s budget-conscious, customizable, and cashback-focused, check out the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card.
The best part about this cashback card is the fact that it can be catered to your household spending habits, allowing you to choose 2 earn categories from the 10 offered by Tangerine. Plus, if you happen to have a Tangerine savings account, you can select a third bonus earn category.
Tangerine earn category options include:
No matter which two (or three!) categories you pick, you’ll pocket decent cashback for a no-fee credit card.
For busy families who just want a boost on everyday errands, this card also stands out for its simplicity, offering no additional benefits and standard extended warranty and purchase protection insurance.
Ultimately, the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card may be the perfect choice for families who want some control over their earn categories and an uncomplicated commitment for no annual fee.
on American Express' website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 10,000 Membership Rewards® points
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
21.99%* / 21.99%*
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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
Amex Experiences™
Extra points
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Perhaps you’d rather stick to points. If so, the American Express Green Card is a great no-fee family contender.
Like the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card, this card is simple, earning cardholders a flat-rate of 1 American Express Membership Rewards point per dollar spent on all purchases.
While this might not seem like much, remember: American Express Membership Rewards points are extremely valuable. So, slipping this card into your wallet is a great affordable way to start earning points from one of the most competitive loyalty programs in Canada.
Also like the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card, the American Express Green Card offers only purchase protection and extended warranty insurance. However, this points-alternative sports a couple of benefits (unlike its competitor), namely American Express Experiences and bonus points on Amex Travel Online purchases.
So, if you’re looking for an uncomplicated no-fee cashback card that allows you choose your earn categories, stick with the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a flexible no-fee points card that earns you a valuable point for every purchase possible, plus some entertainment and travel perks, opt for the American Express Green Card instead.
on RBC's website
More Rewards is a loyalty program with over 700 participating locations primarily based in Western Canada is best suited for residents in this region. This product is not available to residents of Quebec.
Welcome Bonus
Get 20,000 bonus More Rewards points! [1]
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
20.99% / 22.99%□
The More Rewards RBC Visa is a decent no annual fee entry card that can earn you More Rewards points really fast on all your purchases. Points are best used for travel, groceries or gift cards. If you frequently shop at More Rewards partner stores like Save-On-Foods, Urban Fare, etc. then you can rack up points really quickly and save a lot each year on groceries when you redeem your points.
Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Mobile Device Insurance
Extended Warranty
Purchase Protection
Benefits
Details
Gas Discount
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
For those looking for a card that – like the Cobalt card – prioritizes point potential on everyday earn categories like groceries, gas, and dining, consider the no-fee More Rewards RBC Visa Card.
To earn plenty of More Rewards points on groceries, you’ll need to frequent partnered grocers like Save-On-Foods, Qualify Foods, Buy-Low Foods, PriceSmart Foods, Urban Fare, Nester Market – plus other partners in travel, wellness, dining and more. In general, you can also collect tons of points on qualifying gas, EV charging and other dining purchases, topped off by an above-average earn rate on all other eligible purchases.
Unlike the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card or the American Express Green Card, the More Rewards RBC Visa Card adds mobile device insurance to its coverage categories, plus it boasts a gas discount and extra Petro-Points when you pay with your linked card.
All in all, this no-fee option has some great point-potential for everyday expenses (especially through partner retailers), plus it comes with mobile device insurance and gas benefits to support every shopping trip, technology mishap, road trip or after-school carpool routine.
Speaking of groceries, here’s a more in-depth look at the best credit cards to satisfy every family's grocery list:
Our choice for: Best travel points earning credit card in Canada
on American Express' website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 15,000 Membership Rewards® points
Annual Fee
$191.88⁕
$15.99 Paid Monthly
⁕ For Quebec, $191.88/year
Interest Rates
21.99%* / 21.99%*
This card was voted one of 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 amex cobalt bonus 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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Mobile Device Insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
Amex Experiences™
Travel Credit
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Back at the top is none other than the American Express Cobalt Card with its high point potential on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries.
Our choice for: High cash back on groceries & gas
on Neo Financial's website
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Annual Fee
$125
Interest Rates
19.99% - 26.99%□ / 22.99% - 28.99%
This card offers some of the highest cash back rates in Canada for gas, groceries, and recurring purchases, 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, if you're the average person whose spending is generally below $12k per year in groceries, $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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Car Rental Accident
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Car Rental Personal Effects
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
New to this post, is the Neo World Elite Mastercard – a top overall cashback contender. In this case, the card stands out for its high earn rate on grocery purchases (capped per month). While the initial earn rate is already excellent, cardholders can also boost this rate by up to 2% higher when they save enough inside of a Neo everyday account. The same boosting opportunities are available for other earn categories, including recurring purchases, EV charging, and gas purchases, with the potential to increase rates anywhere from .5% to 1%.
That’s not all! You can also tack on bonus cashback when you purchase your groceries from grocers partnered with Neo, which is ideal for families who shop at Loblaws Companies, Walmart Supercentre, and the Real Canadian Superstore.
Of course, you will want to factor in that the card comes with an annual fee and high annual income requirements. Still, as far as the annual cost goes, the annual reward potential on average spending alone more than offsets the yearly fee.
So, if your family is looking for the best cashback card for groceries, they should look no further than the Neo World Elite Mastercard (more information here). If points are preferable, then apply for the Cobalt card instead.
Our choice for: Highest rewards on groceries & dining
on MBNA's website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 30,000 points ($245 in cash back value or $300 when redeemed for MBNA Travel)††
Annual Fee
$120
Interest Rates
21.99% / 22.99%
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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Mobile Device Insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Flight Delay
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Baggage Delay
Benefits
Details
Annual Birthday Bonus
Car Rental Discount
Trip and legal Assistance
Concierge Services
Price Protection
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
These next few cards cater to some specific grocers, most of which are popular stops for families. Let’s start with Walmart.
While there is a Walmart Rewards Mastercard, the best credit card for Walmart shoppers is actually the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard.
This card allows you to collect plenty of points per dollar spent on groceries, as well as restaurant, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases (capped annually).
You can earn 5 points per $1 spent on eligible grocery purchases at pretty much every retailer that is coded as "Grocery" under Mastercard's merchant category codes, including Walmart Supercenters. Walmart Supercenters don't fall under the "Grocery" category when you use a Visa or Amex card, instead they view them as department stores. That's why shopping at Walmart with a Mastercard, specifically the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard, is so essential.
MBNA World Elite Reward points are valued at 0.83¢ per point, meaning you're yielding a 4.15% return on your grocery purchases. Plus, the annual spending cap on groceries to earn 5x the points is $50,000, a limit so high compared to most other cards that you don't have to worry too much about hitting it.
If you’d rather earn cashback each time you shop at Walmart, remember that the Neo World Elite Mastercard includes Walmart as a Neo partner, earning you extra cashback on Walmart purchases on top of the initial or boosted grocery earn rate.
Notable benefits on the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard include the annual birthday bonus, which grants you a percentage of the points earned within the 12 months prior to your birthday month.
Like the Neo World Elite Mastercard, however, the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard has a similar annual fee and high annual income requirements. Using up the card’s rewards and benefits to their full potential can make up for the yearly cost, but you’ll want to make sure your income aligns with the requirements before applying.
So, if you’re specifically looking to “save money” and “live better” (a nod to Walmart’s famous slogan), opt for a Mastercard with amazing point potential that classifies Walmart as a grocery store rather than a department store. If you’d rather optimize your Walmart purchases with cashback, then consider the Neo World Elite Mastercard instead.
Our choice for: Flat cash back rate with some travel perks
on Rogers Bank's website
Welcome Bonus
Get $60 in cash back value(1)
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
20.99% - 25.99%* / 22.99% - 27.99%*
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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance (65+)
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
No Cost roaming
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
For many households, you can’t go wrong with Costco. With great deals, and opportunities to buy in bulk, it’s no wonder this wholesale retailer is a family favourite.
Again, you might be expecting the co-branded CIBC Costco Mastercard to be the top card in this subcategory. Truth is, in this case, the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard is actually the better option.
The Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard lacks a specialized category for groceries, but it does provide a base cashback rate on all purchases that is higher than most cards. Thankfully, this all-encompassing category includes groceries from Costco. You can optimize this base rate even further if you have a qualifying Rogers, Fido or Shaw service. For the full rundown, see card details.
While this Mastercard avoids any annual fees, it unfortunately comes with some high annual income requirements. If you or your household cannot meet these high annual income requirements, you can also consider the Rogers Red Mastercard, this card’s respective runner-up. This contender still earns you a good base rate on all purchases (including your Costco groceries), but only if you also have a qualifying Rogers, Fido or Shaw service to boost the cashback rate above average (find the full review here).
Therefore, if you meet its high annual income requirements, the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard is the best credit card for grocery purchases at Costco, but the Rogers Red Mastercard is still available for qualifying Rogers, Fido or Shaw customers if the high annual income requirements are unattainable.
on RBC's website
More Rewards is a loyalty program with over 700 participating locations primarily based in Western Canada is best suited for residents in this region. This product is not available to residents of Quebec.
Welcome Bonus
Get 20,000 bonus More Rewards points! [1]
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
20.99% / 22.99%□
The More Rewards RBC Visa is a decent no annual fee entry card that can earn you More Rewards points really fast on all your purchases. Points are best used for travel, groceries or gift cards. If you frequently shop at More Rewards partner stores like Save-On-Foods, Urban Fare, etc. then you can rack up points really quickly and save a lot each year on groceries when you redeem your points.
Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Mobile Device Insurance
Extended Warranty
Purchase Protection
Benefits
Details
Gas Discount
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Back from the previous section, you’ll recall that the More Rewards RBC Visa Card optimizes grocery purchases made at partnered grocers like Save-On-Foods, Qualify Foods, Buy-Low Foods, PriceSmart Foods, Urban Fare, and Nester Market – all for no annual income requirements and no annual fees.
So, the More Rewards RBC Visa Card is probably the best budget-friendly family grocery contender, as long as you frequent the affiliated grocers.
What goes with groceries and running around town in general? Gas optimization.
Below, you’ll find the best gas credit cards for families:
Our choice for: Best travel points earning credit card in Canada
on American Express' website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 15,000 Membership Rewards® points
Annual Fee
$191.88⁕
$15.99 Paid Monthly
⁕ For Quebec, $191.88/year
Interest Rates
21.99%* / 21.99%*
This card was voted one of 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 amex cobalt bonus 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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Mobile Device Insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
Amex Experiences™
Travel Credit
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
At this point, you probably shouldn’t be shocked to see the American Express Cobalt Card featured in this category as well – as long as you’re looking to collect points on fuel purchases.
Initially, it might not seem like the American Express Cobalt Card overly optimizes its gas category, but when you consider how much American Express Membership Rewards points are worth overall, plus the other perks associated with this card, it all starts to make sense.
Of course, the best earn categories on this card are its dining, groceries, and food delivery categories, followed by eligible Canadian streaming subscriptions, but it also boasts specialized categories for gas, transit, and ride shares.
So, if you’re looking to earn high value points on your gas expenses, and perhaps later redeem those points towards travel, the Cobalt card definitely has you covered.
Our choice for: Highest cash back for everyday spending
on American Express' website
Welcome Bonus
Up to $250 ($200 in first year)
Annual Fee
$119.88⁕
$9.99 Paid Monthly
⁕ For Quebec, $119/year
Interest Rates
21.99%* / 21.99%*
The Simply Cash Preferred is one of the best cashback credit cards in Canada. The base cashback rate of 2% is great for all purchases, but the 4% on groceries and gas, which are two of the highest expenses for most people is the cherry on top of their great cashback program.
Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Mobile Device Insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
Amex Experiences™
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
The truth is, there are some extremely competitive cashback cards when it comes to gas optimization, let’s start with the SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express.
This card unlocks some of the highest cashback rates on gas (4%), not to mention similarly high rates on groceries, plus an above-average base rate on all other eligible purchases. For the first few months of membership, members receive even higher cashback rates on all purchases, including those made at the gas pump.
What makes this gas credit card superior to its closest competitors is the fact that you don't need to do anything extra to achieve its high gas reward rate. Alternatively, other options require savings or partner purchases to achieve similar optimization.
Thus, for exceptional gas optimization up-front (especially during the first few months of membership), apply for the SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express.
Our choice for: High cash back on groceries & gas
on Neo Financial's website
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Annual Fee
$125
Interest Rates
19.99% - 26.99%□ / 22.99% - 28.99%
This card offers some of the highest cash back rates in Canada for gas, groceries, and recurring purchases, 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, if you're the average person whose spending is generally below $12k per year in groceries, $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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Car Rental Accident
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Car Rental Personal Effects
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
The cool thing about the Neo World Elite Mastercard is that you can actually boost your gas cashback even higher than the SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express – for a catch.
The standard cashback rate on gas for this card is 3%, but if you maintain a balance of $5k-$10k in a Neo everyday account, that rate gets boosted up to 3.5% or as high as 4%. A similar boost can be applied to other reward categories on the card.
You can also optimize your gas cashback rates even further by purchasing gas from a Neo partner. Gas chain Neo partners include Shell, Esso, and Petro Canada. These bonus rates are applied on top of the rates provided by the card's rewards program.
Technically, with the SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express, you’ll earn more cashback on gas initially than the Neo World Elite Mastercard, unless of course you save $10k inside of a Neo everyday account, in that case, the cashback rates on gas between the two cards becomes identical. Likewise, if you happen to purchase your gas from Neo partners like Shell, Esso, and/or Petro Canada, you can boost your cashback rates even further (by an extra 1-2% depending on the brand and amount spent).
Keep in mind, however, that the SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express is slightly more affordable annually than the Neo World Elite Mastercard, plus it doesn’t have any annual income requirements.
In conclusion, if it's cashback you're after, you’ll likely select the Neo World Elite Mastercard if you plan on keeping some extra cash inside of a Neo everyday account and/or purchase fuel from partners like Shell, Esso, and Petro Canada to boost your gas cashback category significantly. Otherwise, if you want high cashback on gas without a catch, stick with the SimplyCash Preferred Card.
Our choice for: Premium card for frequent Porter airline travelers
on BMO's website
Welcome Bonus
Get up to 70,000 VIPorter points and a round-trip companion pass.* Plus receive $1,000 in Qualifying Spend.*
Annual Fee
$199 $0
Interest Rates
21.99% / 23.99%□
This is easily the best credit card in Canada for frequent Porter airline (and its partners) travelers. Earning 2x VIPorter points on common everyday purchases like groceries, dining and transportation is a massive benefit, allowing you to rack up points really fast and enjoy travel via Porter and it's airline partners. The premium benefits of this card make your travels smooth as you get priority security screening, early boarding and priority re-accommodation for flight delays, one complimentary checked bag, a carry-on bag with every fare type (including Basic), and complimentary PorterClassic seat selection.

Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Extended Warranty
Purchase Protection
Travel Medical Insurance
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Free first checked bag
Companion Voucher
Priority Travel
Car Rental Discount
Hotel Booking Discount
Mastercard On-Demand and Subscription Services
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
The BMO Cashback World Elite Mastercard gets you decent cashback on gas (at a slightly higher rate than the initial gas rate provided by the Neo World Elite Mastercard unless you purchase from a Neo partner), plus cents off per litre on Shell fuel.
To get this card, you will need to meet some higher annual income requirements (also similar to the Neo World Elite Mastercard). That said, the BMO Cashback World Elite Mastercard’s annual fee is slightly lower than the Neo World Elite Mastercard and it’s waived for the first year of membership.
Overall, the BMO Cashback World Elite Mastercard is best for families who want both gas optimization and a gas discount (specifically on Shell fuel). Of course, if you happen to save money inside a Neo everyday account and purchase gas from a Neo partner (like Shell), you can optimize your gas cashback even further.
Now that we’ve covered the essentials, let’s dive into the credit cards that help families with those costly experiential purchases – like dining out.
Our choice for: Best travel points earning credit card in Canada
on American Express' website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 15,000 Membership Rewards® points
Annual Fee
$191.88⁕
$15.99 Paid Monthly
⁕ For Quebec, $191.88/year
Interest Rates
21.99%* / 21.99%*
This card was voted one of 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 amex cobalt bonus 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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Mobile Device Insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
Amex Experiences™
Travel Credit
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Of course, this category begins with the American Express Cobalt Card.
As mentioned, this top-contender earns you tons of American Express Membership Rewards points on dining.
Top that off with access to exclusive Amex Experiences, where you can indulge in select food festivals and tastings at the hottest restaurants as part of the Dining with American Express program, and you have yourself the perfect credit card to complement family feasts.
Our choice for: Great rewards, travel benefits and no FX fees
on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 50,000 Scene+ points ($500 value)
Annual Fee
$120 $0
Interest Rates
20.99% / 22.99%
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.

Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance (65+)
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Baggage Delay
Flight Delay
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Mobile Device Insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
No Foreign Transaction Fees
American Express® Experiences
Concierge Services
Discount
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Alongside plenty of other popular spend categories, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card earns cardholders an impressive amount of Scene+ points per dollar spent on dining purchases.
Later on, your earned Scene+ points can also be redeemed towards restaurant purchases, a redemption category the American Express Cobalt Card lacks. Still, the American Express Membership Rewards loyalty program has better redemption opportunities for flight and hotel bookings.
Luckily, this contender costs less annually than the American Express Cobalt Card, but unlike the Cobalt Card, it comes with some low annual income requirements.
So, for families who want high-point optimization on their restaurant bills, plus points that can cover future restaurant bills, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is the best option. Otherwise, families who want to earn points on dining out but redeem those points towards travel instead will find more value through the American Express Cobalt Card.
Our choice for: Highest rewards on groceries & dining
on MBNA's website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 30,000 points ($245 in cash back value or $300 when redeemed for MBNA Travel)††
Annual Fee
$120
Interest Rates
21.99% / 22.99%
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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Mobile Device Insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Flight Delay
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Baggage Delay
Benefits
Details
Annual Birthday Bonus
Car Rental Discount
Trip and legal Assistance
Concierge Services
Price Protection
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
With similar point-potential on dining purchases as both the Cobalt Card and the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard is also worth mentioning in this category. Overall though, MBNA Rewards points are worth less than both American Express Membership Rewards points and Scene+ points.
Note that this contender also has the same annual fee as the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, but higher annual income requirements.
Still, if you’d rather avoid American Express’s lower acceptance rate (particularly within Europe and at small-scale retailers), then you might want to use the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard for your meals abroad or feasts at small family restaurants.
At the end of the day, unless you’re trying to avoid Amex’s lower acceptance rate, you might find a bit more value and income accessibility with the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, rather than the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard.
on Simplii Financial™'s website
Welcome Bonus
8% cash back† up to $1,000 in spending
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
20.99%* / 22.99%*
If you dine out a lot and don't want to pay an annual fee for your credit card, the Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card will undoubtedly be one of your best friends with its 4% cashback. Additionally, the card offers a decent cashback rate (1.5%) for gas, pharmacy, and groceries, making it one of the best no-annual-fee cashback credit cards in Canada. However, there are limits on how much you can earn in these categories. Therefore, you need to be careful not to exceed those limits; otherwise, your cashback rate will drop to 0.5% after those spending limits are reached.
Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
For a budget-conscious cashback option, families can also consider the Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card.
For no annual fee, you can expect solid cashback on eligible restaurant, bar, and coffee shop purchases (capped annually).
There are some small annual income requirements to consider, but otherwise, this card is perfect for families who want to save on annual fees and still optimize dining out.
There’s a whole catalogue of top travel credit cards to consider, but we’ve selected the following contenders based on factors like optimal point accumulation (because you need more points to support more travellers) and trip perks that apply to the entire family.
Our choice for: Premium Travel Perks and No FX Fees
on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 45,000 Scene+ points ($450 value)
Annual Fee
$150
Interest Rates
20.99% / 22.99%
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.

Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance (65+)
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Flight Delay
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Baggage Delay
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Status lift
Concierge Services
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card collects strong points per dollar spent at partnered grocers like Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland and more, plus solid Scene+ points per dollar spent on purchases made at other grocery stores, dining, eligible entertainment, and transit. You can also earn bonus Scene+ points on every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and arrangements made through Scene+ Travel, powered by Expedia. In the end, all these points can be applied towards travel.
For peace of mind, cardholders are also protected by comprehensive travel insurance, including valuable categories like trip interruption and trip cancellation insurance, hotel burglary insurance, and emergency medical over 65 insurance.
There are also a handful of benefits to get excited about, primarily the no foreign transaction fees perk (which allows you to avoid the 2.5% fee that comes with shopping internationally), followed by concierge services, a handful of airport lounge complimentary access through Dragon Pass, plus an Avis Preferred Plus membership for expedited and exclusive rental car services.
There are other travel credit cards with more insurance, point-potential, and a lower annual fee and income requirements (particularly the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card), but the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card gains the upper hand by coming from the Visa network rather than American Express. Visa cards are more widely-accepted internationally, whereas Amex cards aren't as commonly accepted as payment in certain places within Asia and Europe, limiting its usefulness during travel.
All things considered, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card takes first place as best overall travel credit card in Canada (and therefore perhaps the best option for your family vacation) because it's well-balanced, widely-accepted, and full of helpful perks. Learn more here.
Our choice for: Best travel points earning credit card in Canada
on American Express' website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 15,000 Membership Rewards® points
Annual Fee
$191.88⁕
$15.99 Paid Monthly
⁕ For Quebec, $191.88/year
Interest Rates
21.99%* / 21.99%*
This card was voted one of 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 amex cobalt bonus 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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Mobile Device Insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
Amex Experiences™
Travel Credit
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
As previously stated, while the Cobalt Card doesn’t have a travel earn category, it does allow for some valuable travel redemptions, coverage, and provides a hotel travel credit.
If you happen to travel with Air Canada, it’s also worth mentioning that the Cobalt Card’s American Express Membership Rewards points can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to Aeroplan – making it a top competitor against Aeroplan branded credit cards.
Since you can collect loads of points on the Cobalt Card’s everyday earn categories, this card is one of the best options for travel-point accumulation.
Our choice for: Great rewards, travel benefits and no FX fees
on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 50,000 Scene+ points ($500 value)
Annual Fee
$120 $0
Interest Rates
20.99% / 22.99%
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.

Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance (65+)
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Baggage Delay
Flight Delay
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Mobile Device Insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
No Foreign Transaction Fees
American Express® Experiences
Concierge Services
Discount
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Similar to the Cobalt Card (although available for a lower annual fee), the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card allows you to collect tons of points on everyday earn categories that can later be redeemed towards travel (although there are technically better travel redemption options with the Cobalt Card). That said, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card actually has a travel earn category as well, whereas the Cobalt Card does not.
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card also features more travel insurance, adding emergency medical over 65, and trip interruption and trip cancellation insurance. Some shared categories, like hotel burglary insurance, travel accident insurance, and emergency out of province medical insurance also offer more coverage through the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card.
While the two Amex cards share Amex Experiences, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card adds benefits like no foreign transaction fees, concierge services, and a Priority Pass membership discount.
Keep in mind, however, that the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card has some annual income requirements (although low), unlike the Cobalt Card.
Therefore, if you’re looking for more earn categories (including one that caters specifically to travel), better coverage, and slightly more travel-oriented perks, then the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card might be a better travel contender for you over the Cobalt Card. Otherwise, if you want points with higher travel redemption value and to avoid income requirements altogether, then stick to the Cobalt Card.
Our choice for: Travel Perks, Luxurious Travel, and Unlimited Lounge Access
on American Express' website
Welcome Bonus
Earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards® points
Annual Fee
$799
Interest Rates
21.99% - 30%* / N/A*
If you're a frequent traveler, the Platinum card is an excellent choice. It's highly recommended for its extensive travel benefits, including unlimited lounge access for you and a guest at the American Express Lounge collection, making it the best card for lounge access in Canada. The card also offers unique perks not commonly found with other Canadian cards, such as status upgrades at Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton, dining and travel credits, concierge service, airport benefits, Nexus application reimbursement, and more. These benefits can more than offset the annual fee. However, if you don't travel often or are mainly looking for a card that maximizes rewards, this card may not be the best option for you.
Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - American Express Global Lounge
Travel Credit
Dining Credit
Nexus Program Rebate
Complimentary Hotel Benefits
Status lift
Status lift
Priority Travel
Concierge Services
Trip and legal Assistance
American Express® Experiences
Extra points
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Maybe you’d like your family to experience luxury travel at its finest. In that case, you’ll want to focus on travel perks, and there’s no better travel perks credit card than the American Express Platinum Card.
While the point potential on this card is decent and includes a travel earn category, the family will be most impressed by the pampering they’ll receive in one of the airport lounges available through this card’s exclusive American Express Global Lounge Collection.
Within this network of over 1,400 partnered airport lounges at over 500 airports across the globe, cardholders and their travel companions can expect the following access permissions (subject to change, availability, and location):
As you can see, some lounges, particularly the Executive Lounges by Swissport and those that allow more than one guest for free are exceptionally family-friendly.
Aside from lounge access, enjoy perks like annual travel and dining credits, hotel status lifts, a Nexus program rebate, and Priority Travel advantages.
While you might be alarmed by the annual cost of the card, if you take full advantage of all of the Platinum Card’s benefits, you will offset the yearly fee and can even gain substantial value (depending on how much you spend and travel).
Ultimately then, the American Express Platinum Card is best for families who travel frequently and who want the most luxurious travel experience.
Our choice for: Premium card for frequent Porter airline travelers
on BMO's website
Welcome Bonus
Get up to 70,000 VIPorter points and a round-trip companion pass.* Plus receive $1,000 in Qualifying Spend.*
Annual Fee
$199 $0
Interest Rates
21.99% / 23.99%□
This is easily the best credit card in Canada for frequent Porter airline (and its partners) travelers. Earning 2x VIPorter points on common everyday purchases like groceries, dining and transportation is a massive benefit, allowing you to rack up points really fast and enjoy travel via Porter and it's airline partners. The premium benefits of this card make your travels smooth as you get priority security screening, early boarding and priority re-accommodation for flight delays, one complimentary checked bag, a carry-on bag with every fare type (including Basic), and complimentary PorterClassic seat selection.

Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Extended Warranty
Purchase Protection
Travel Medical Insurance
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Free first checked bag
Companion Voucher
Priority Travel
Car Rental Discount
Hotel Booking Discount
Mastercard On-Demand and Subscription Services
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
The next few cards are affiliated with specific airlines, so, ideally, you’d select the card that caters to the airline you fly with most.
If your family is constantly flying with Porter Airlines, consider the BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard.
This card will earn you nice VIPorter points per dollar spent on eligible Porter purchases made via flyporter.com, gas, transportation, groceries, dining, and eligible hotel accommodation purchases. After you’ve accumulated enough points, you can redeem them exclusively towards Porter airline and partner airline plane tickets.
For accompanying travellers, the BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard provides perks like an annual companion voucher when you meet minimum spending requirements, and free first check bags for up to 9 travellers on the same flight (including the primary cardholder). These family-friendly benefits are accompanied by other perks like a Dragon Pass membership, Priority Travel perks, and hotel booking discounts.
As with most World Elite Mastercards, the BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard comes with some high annual income requirements and a higher annual fee. On the plus side, the annual fee is completely waived for the first year of membership.
In summary, the BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard is great for families who fly Porter and who want accommodating travel benefits like an annual companion voucher and free first checked bags for the whole travelling party (if said party is only 9 people).
Our choice for: Best premium card for Air Canada frequent travellers
on American Express' website
Welcome Bonus
Earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan® points
Annual Fee
$599
Interest Rates
21.99%* / 21.99%*
If you are a frequent Air Canada traveler, having an Aeroplan card for perks like free checked bags and priority service can be very beneficial. Many financial institutions offer Aeroplan cards, but I don't believe the American Express version is the best one. Opting for another option might be better. However, the Amex card does have a very large sign-up bonus, making it a great choice for those specifically seeking that.
Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
Free first checked bag
Nexus Program Rebate
Amex Experiences™
Extra points
Status lift
Status lift
Status lift
Status lift
Priority Travel
Priority Travel
Airport Lounge - Priority Pass
Airport Lounge - Maple Leaf and AirCanada Cafes
Companion Voucher
Free Extra Night at Hotels
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Similarly, the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card is a great option for families who fly with Air Canada and other Aeroplan-affiliated airlines.
This card earns you Aeroplan points directly on Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations purchases.
While it’s true that cards like the American Express Cobalt Card can actually indirectly earn you more Aeroplan points on everyday purchases (since American Express Membership Rewards points can be transferred to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio), the American Express Aeroplan Reserve card comes with more travel related benefits. These benefits include status lifts, priority travel perks, an airport lounge priority pass membership, unlimited access for you and one guest to Maple Leaf lounges and Air Canada cafes, an annual companion pass when you meet certain spending requirements on your card, free extra nights at hotels, and of course free first checked bags for nine travellers (including the primary cardholder).
Note, however, that this card comes with a high annual fee to account for all of its perks.
Overall, the American Express Aeroplan Reserve card is a great option for families who fly frequently with Air Canada and who want to take advantage of tons of Aeroplan associated benefits as long as they don't mind paying the high annual fee.
Our choice for: Best credit card for frequent WestJet travellers
on RBC's website
Welcome Bonus
Get up to 70,000 WestJet points
Annual Fee
$139
Interest Rates
20.99% / 22.99%□
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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance (65+)
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Trip Interruption
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Mobile Device Insurance
Trip Cancellation
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Companion Voucher
Status lift
Free first checked bag
Discount
Boingo Wi-Fi hotspot
Gas Discount
Extra points
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Let's say your family prefers flying with WestJet. if so, the WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard is a great alternative.
While the card earns you some points per dollar spent on WestJet flights or WestJet vacation packages, the real appeal is the card's benefits. These benefits include a companion voucher or complementary visits to airport lounges through the Dragon Pass, a WestJet reward status lift, and free first checked bags for the primary card holder on WestJet flights and up to eight travel companions.
Like the American Express Aeroplan Reserve card, the WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard comes with some high income requirements, but a lower annual fee.
In conclusion, families who tend to travel with WestJet should consider the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard for its valuable perks that benefit the whole family, especially those that apply to everyone individually, like the free first checked bags for up to 9 travellers.
Our choice for: Frequent Marriott Bonvoy Hotel Chain Visitors
on American Express' website
Welcome Bonus
Earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points
Annual Fee
$120
Interest Rates
21.99%* / 21.99%*
The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is a standout for frequent travelers who value luxury and flexibility in their rewards. With access to over 7,000 participating hotels, cardholders can earn generous points on both Marriott Bonvoy bookings and everyday purchases. The card's annual free night award and complimentary Silver Elite status make it even more appealing, offering service upgrades and extra points on eligible stays. For those who frequently stay at Marriott properties and want to maximize their travel perks, this card is a top choice.
Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Baggage Delay
Flight Delay
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Benefits
Details
Free Extra Night at Hotels
Free Extra Night at Hotels
Status lift
Status lift
American Express® Experiences
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Moving on from flights, you might be more concerned about the cost of hotel stays. In this case, a hotel-branded credit card would be most beneficial.
In this scenario, the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is your best option. The card provides you with admirable points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, plus free extra nights at hotels annually, automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status, and a potential upgrade to Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status.
Sure, there’s an annual fee, but if you take advantage of those free nights and the lucrative rewards program, you’re essentially putting money back into the family vacation fund – enough to offset the yearly cost.
So, if you’re the type of household who wants to optimize hotel stays, consider the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card. You can even tack it on as a supplementary card to another travel credit card.
Finally, let’s shift the focus to family entertainment – because having fun can be expensive too!
Our choice for: Great rewards, travel benefits and no FX fees
on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 50,000 Scene+ points ($500 value)
Annual Fee
$120 $0
Interest Rates
20.99% / 22.99%
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.

Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance (65+)
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Baggage Delay
Flight Delay
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Hotel Burglary Insurance
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The best entertainment credit card for families is none other than the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card.
As you’ll recall, this contender earns you tons of Scene+ points on partnered grocery retailer purchases, dining, other grocery stores, gas, transit, streaming services, Scene+ Travel and – most notably in this category – entertainment (including movie, theatre, and other ticket purchases).
One of the most valuable ways to redeem your Scene+ points is also towards entertainment. Entertainment redemption opportunities include using points at activity zones like Rec Room or Playdium – two venues that will engage the entire family! On the other hand, if you’d like something a little more mellow, you can also use your Scene+ points to purchase tickets to the latest Cineplex screenings and use them to cover concession stand snacks and beverages.
All in all, if you want to avoid paying for play, motion pictures, and popcorn, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is ideal for both family game night and family movie night.
About the author

Sara Skodak
Lead Writer
Since graduating from the University of Western Ontario, Sara has built a diverse writing portfolio, covering topics in the travel, business, and wellness sectors. As a self-started freelance content ...
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Kevin Shahnazari
Credit Card Expert
Kevin started FinlyWealth and juggles a bit of everything—digging into data, running our marketing, and keeping the finances on track. Before this, he spent years as a data scientist at tech companies...
SEE FULL BIOEarn up to 50,000 Scene+ points + an exclusive $150 cash back offer with the Scotiabank Amex Gold!
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