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Published Sep 18, 2025 1:47 AM UTC
You don’t need to pay a fee to get a great credit card. There are many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer decent rewards and benefits. Some of the best options are listed below.
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 No Annual Fee Cashback Credit Card
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Rewards Rate
1.5% - 3%
Cash Back
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
Emergency Medical Term
Emergency Medical (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: Balance Transfer
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: Points and Travel
on American Express' website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 10,000 points ($210 value)
Rewards Rate
1x point
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
Our choice for: Dining and Restaurant
on Simplii Financial™'s website
Welcome Bonus
8% cash back† up to $1,000 in spending
Rewards Rate
0.5% - 4%
Cash Back
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: Secured Credit Card
on Neo Financial's website
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Rewards Rate
0.5% - 4% cashback
Cash Back
Annual Fee
$60
$5 Paid Monthly
Interest Rates
19.99% - 29.99%□ / 22.99% - 31.99%□
Most secured cards give you very low to no rewards for using your card as you build your score over time. This card however offers balanced rewards for everyday purchases and with the cash back boost of up to 4% on groceries, it can easily beat most other no fee cash back credit cards as long as you're willing to keep 10k in a Neo everyday account. This is a fantastic card to help build your score while you also get to earn a high cash back rate.
Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Free Roadside Assistance
on Canadian Tire's website
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Rewards Rate
1x - 4x CanadianTire Dollars
Points
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
21.99% / 22.99%
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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Benefits
Details
Gas Discount
Concierge Services
Roadside Assistance
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Flexible Credit Card
on Tangerine's website
Welcome Bonus
10% Cash Back (up to $100 value) + 1.95% balance transfer promo rate for 6 months
Rewards Rate
0.5% - 2%
Cash Back
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
About the author
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...
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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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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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