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Published Dec 23, 2025 12:20 PM • 6 min read
If you're interested in low-interest credit cards, then there's a good chance you tend to be budget-conscious. With this in mind, we've put together a detailed list of the best low-interest credit cards in Canada, with a specific focus on low-fees, no-fees, and the best in balance transfers.
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
on MBNA's website
Welcome Bonus
0% rate on balance transfers for 12 months (3% fee applies). Not available for residents of Quebec.†
Rewards Rate
0%
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
12.99%* / 24.99%*
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
Cons
Rewards
Benefits
Details
Car Rental Discount
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best Low Interest Balance Transfers
on RBC's website
Welcome Bonus
Enjoy a 0.99% introductory interest rate for the first 10 months on balance transfers^ and no annual fee for the first year*
Rewards Rate
N/A
Annual Fee
$20 $0
Interest Rates
12.99% / 12.99%
A low-interest credit card in case you want to carry a balance every month. This card provides no rewards on purchases, however comes with a relatively lower interest rate compared to many other credit cards, so if you're unable to pay your balance in full every month, this card will save you a lot of money in interest payments.
Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
Extra points
Gas Discount
Discount
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best Affordable Travel Insurance
on Desjardins' website
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Rewards Rate
No Rewards
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
10.9% - 19.9 / 12.9%
If you plan to carry a balance on your credit card, this is one of the best no-fee, low-interest-rate credit cards in Canada. However, outside of this specific use case, the card doesn't offer many additional benefits.
Pros
Cons
Rewards
No rewards earned on this card
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Baggage Delay
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Mobile Device Insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best Balance Protection
on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus
0.99% interest on balance transfers for 9 months + first year fee rebate
Rewards Rate
0%
Annual Fee
$29 $0
Interest Rates
13.99%* / 13.99%*
This is a great card for those who carry a balance every month and want to take advantage of much lower interest rates compared to most other cards. It also comes with a great introductory balance transfer rate for a limited number of months.

Pros
Cons
Rewards
This card does not earn rewards on purchases but instead offers much lower interest rates.
Insurance
Coverage
Balance Protection
Benefits
Details
Car Rental Discount
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best Rewards and Premium Perks
on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 80,000 Scene+ points ($800 value)
Annual Fee
$399
Interest Rates
9.99% / 9.99%
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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance (65+)
Trip Cancellation
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Trip Interruption
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
Airport Lounge - Plaza Premium
Airport Lounge - Priority Pass
American Express® Experiences
Concierge Services
Discount
Status lift
Extra points
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best BMO
on BMO's website
Welcome Bonus
Get a 0% introductory interest rate on Balance Transfers for 9 months with a 0.99% transfer fee and we’ll waive the $29 annual fee for the first year.*
Rewards Rate
No Rewards
Annual Fee
$29 $0
Interest Rates
13.99%* / 15.99%*
If you plan to carry a balance on your credit card, this card offers a very low interest rate. However, there are other cards with no annual fee and slightly lower interest rates that you might want to consider as well.
Pros
Cons
Rewards
No rewards earned on this card
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
Discount
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
The Desjardins Odyssey World Elite Mastercard is a strong contender in the World Elite category, offering impressive rewards of up to 3% cash back on groceries and 2% on other popular categories. With a comprehensive insurance package, including coverage for seniors, and perks like free lounge access in Montreal, this card is great for frequent travelers and high spenders. However, the lack of a welcome bonus and high income requirements might deter some users.
Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Extended Warranty
Purchase Protection
Mobile Device Insurance
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Travel Medical Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance (65+)
Baggage Delay
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Priority Pass
Airport Lounge - Desjardins Odyssey
Boingo Wi-Fi hotspot
Car Rental Discount
Car Rental Discount
Concierge Services
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
If you're looking for the best overall low-interest credit card, look no further than the no-fee MBNA True Line Mastercard, also known as one of the best balance transfer credit cards in Canada. This low-interest contender grants you a 0% promotional annual interest rate on balance transfers for the first year, plus some low fixed interest rates, specifically on purchases. As for add-ons, cardholders can expect car rental discounts at Avis and Budget locations. Read more in our MBNA True Line Mastercard Review.
The RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option provides cardholders with a low-interest rate on balance transfers for the first several months of membership. The card also offers a low, fixed annual interest rate on purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers. For coverage, expect purchase protection and extended warranty insurance. Benefits include bonus Be Well points on Rexall purchases, gas discounts and extra point potential at Petro-Canada, plus a couple of DoorDash deals. Get the full details in our RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option Review.
For no annual fee, the Desjardins Flexi Visa Card boasts low interest rates on purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers. This impressive low-interest line up is accompanied by comprehensive travel insurance, which is rare for a no-fee card. Expect protections like trip interruption and trip cancellation insurance, travel medical insurance, and lost or stolen baggage coverage. Read more in our Desjardins Flexi Visa Card Review.
The Scotiabank Value Visa Card offers no interest for the first several months of membership before switching back to its usual rate, which is even lower than the MBNA True Line Mastercard. On top of all that, enjoy perks like balance protection and rental car discounts. The catch? Although it's waived in the first year, there is a small annual fee attached to this card. See more in our Scotiabank Value Visa Card Review.
The Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card is both one of the best no foreign transaction fee credit cards in Canada and best lounge credit cards in Canada. With the lowest interest rates in both cash advance and purchase categories, it's the best low-interest credit card for earning rewards (specifically Scene+ points). The card includes benefits like no foreign transaction fees, comprehensive travel insurance, mobile device insurance, and even luxury travel perks like airport lounge access. With a points system incentive, promising redemptions in popular categories, and some of the lowest permanent interest rates, could there really be a downside? Unfortunately, there's one caveat. With these premium perks comes a higher annual fee. Learn more in our Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card Review.
The BMO Preferred Rate Mastercard offers a low introductory interest rate on balance transfers within the first several months of membership, but the promo isn't exactly interest-free like it is for previous cards. The standard interest rates on this card for purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers are also relatively low. This contender comes with a small annual fee, but it's also waived in the first year. For perks, expect extended warranty and purchase protection insurance, plus some Instacart discounts. To learn more, read our BMO Preferred Rate Mastercard Review.
We covered the best low-interest credit card for points, now it's time to uncover the best low-interest credit card for cashback. The Desjardins Odyssey Visa: Game-Changing Travel Rewards Card offers the best BONUSDOLLARS cashback opportunities with low fixed interest rates on purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances. In terms of perks, the card comes with generous insurance policies, yearly passes to the Desjardins Odyssey Lounge and Priority Pass lounges, rental car discounts, and concierge services. However, like the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card, these benefits come with a cost, specifically a higher annual fee and high annual income requirements. Discover more in our Desjardins Odyssey Visa: Game-Changing Travel Rewards Card Review.
When you don't pay your credit card balance on time, you often tack on additional charges on top of the outstanding amount you owe. This is called interest.
Low-interest credit a cards provide a lower interest rate than traditional credit cards. This is extremely helpful for spenders who tend to carry a balance. With a lower interest rate, additional charges won't add up quite as much, especially if your low-interest credit card comes with a low- to no- interest promotional period.
Low-interest credit cards often come with low annual fees, some waiving the cost for the first year and others avoiding yearly charges altogether. Note, however, that many low-interest credit cards don't provide extensive rewards programs, coverage, or perks. That said, as you'll see in the list provided above, there are some exceptions.
To apply for a low-interest credit card in Canada, simply select one of the featured cards above. Below your credit card of choice, you'll find an "Apply Now" button. This button will transport you to the issuer's official website to begin the application process. Credit card applications typically ask for personal information (such as your birthdate, address, and email) and financial information (like your income, when applicable).
You'll want to start by selecting a credit card with the lowest interest rates that also satisfies your spending habits, desired perks (if any), and budget. To avoid interest rates altogether, you'll want to pay off your credit card balance in full by the due date each month.
Typically, the average interest rates fall between 19.99% and 23.99%. Rates will vary between the type of card and the issuer.
As seen in our list, even though it's a premium rewards card, you'll find that the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card offers some of the lowest permanent interest rates (for a price).
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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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Abid Salahi
Credit Card Expert
Abid leads the design and engineering of the FinlyWealth website, making sure everything runs smoothly and looks great. He’s a seasoned software engineer who follows best practices and designs interfa...
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