Best RBC Credit Cards

Best RBC Credit Cards in Canada

Profile picture

Sara Skodak

Author

8 min read


If your credit card institution of choice is RBC, there are plenty of cards to choose from. Selecting the best card all depends on your spending habits.


In this blog post, we’ll highlight the best RBC credit cards across all categories, including the best for no annual fees, the best for everyday spending, and the best for travel.


Travellers have the widest selection of cards that cater to airlines like WestJet and British Airways, collecting rewards like Avios points along the way.


Still, there are a handful of cards that will be appealing to everyday spenders and budget-conscious cardholders.


Take your pick from the carefully-crafted compilation below.


Best Overall RBC Credit Card


RBC ION+ Visa

3

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

Up to 14,000 points

First Year Value

$447.98

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

Annual Fee

$48

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

This card is not by any means one of our favorite cards. For an annual fee it offers almost no notable benefits, with many no annual fee credit cards offering much more. The points earned are fine, but given the inflexibility of ION Avion points, it's very hard to get good value for the points earned, and it's much easier to earn more and do the same with some other credit card reward programs.

Pros


  • Insurance coverage is very little for a card with annual fee. There are cards with no annual fee that offer even better benefits.
  • Avion reward points are generally not very flexible and not as valuable if not used for WestJet travel; therefore, if that's not your plan, there are many better cards that can be used.
  • The annual fee isn't justifiable based on the reward program this card offers.

Cons


  • Bonus saving of 3 cents per liter on gas at Petro-Canada stations.
  • 12,000 avion points welcome bonus.

Rewards

  • 3 points for every dollar in Grocery, Dining, Food Delivery, Rides, Gas, Electric Vehicle Charging, Streaming, and Digital Gaming & Subscriptions Purchases
  • 1 point for everything else

Insurance

Coverage

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days

  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year

  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000

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


Why save the best for last? We’re starting off our list with the best overall RBC credit card, the RBC ION+ Visa Card.


For a low annual fee, this card offers decent rewards on everyday purchases like:


  • Groceries
  • Dining
  • Food delivery
  • Rides
  • Gas
  • Electric vehicle charging
  • Streaming
  • Digital gaming
  • Subscriptions

To help get you started, this card’s sign-up offer gets you extra Avion points upon approval.


You’ll also receive standard purchase protection and extended warranty coverage, with the inclusion of valuable mobile device insurance.


As far as benefits go, the RBC ION+ Visa earns you gas discounts and Petro-Points at Petro Canada, plus extra Be Well points per every dollar spent on eligible Rexall purchases.


Overall, the RBC ION+ Visa is the most well-balanced, budget-friendly RBC credit card that should be easily accessible to most applicants.


Best No-Fee RBC Credit Card


Technically, you can get even more budget-friendly than the RBC ION+ Visa Card – although you might miss out on some rewards, coverage, and benefits.


This next category focuses on all of RBC’s no-fee credit card options.


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


The RBC ION Visa offers the same earn categories as the RBC ION+ Visa Card, except you’ll receive about half the points with every purchase and half the welcome bonus Avion points – which is to be expected with a no-fee credit card.


As for insurance, the card comes with standard purchase protection and extended warranty coverage (minus mobile device insurance, which you receive with the RBC ION+ Visa Card).


For benefits, you’ll get the same gas discount and extra Petro-Points at Petro-Canada, plus Be Well points on every dollar spent on eligible Rexall purchases.


Ultimately, you might select this no-fee RBC contender if you want similar perks to the RBC ION+ Visa Card for no annual cost at the expense of getting much less rewards.


RBC Cash Back Mastercard

2.2

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

N/A

First Year Value

$253.86

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

Annual Fee

$0

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99% (for Quebec 21.99%)

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

The RBC Cash Back Mastercard is a solid no-fee option for those looking to earn 2% cash back on groceries and save on gas at Petro-Canada. However, the lower cash back rate on other purchases and limited insurance coverage make it a basic rewards card for everyday use. It’s great for those who prefer a no-annual-fee card with flexible cash back redemption options.

Pros


  • 2% cash back on groceries (up to $6,000 annually).
  • No annual fee.
  • Instant gas savings: Save 3¢ per litre at Petro-Canada locations and earn 20% more Petro-Points.
  • Flexible cash back redemption: Get your cash back on demand when you reach $25 in accumulated rewards.

Cons


  • Lower cash back rate: Only 0.5% cash back on non-grocery purchases up to $6,000, and 1% after.
  • Limited insurance coverage: Only basic extended warranty and purchase protection.

Rewards

  • 2% cash back on groceries (maximum $120 cash back yearly then 1%)
  • 0.5% cash back on all other purchases for the first $6k spent
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases after spending over $6k

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


This next no-fee contender is a cashback alternative, which are sometimes less complex than points credit cards – which is already a plus.


Specifically, the RBC Cash Back Mastercard collects decent cashback on groceries (capped yearly), plus a low base rate that becomes standard after you meet certain spending requirements.


The insurance is basic, offering both purchase protection and extended warranty coverage, like the RBC ION Visa.


Also like the RBC ION Visa, you can expect a gas discount and extra Petro-Points at Petro-Canada, as well as Be Well points on every dollar spent on eligible purchases at Rexall.


Unlike the RBC ION Visa, the RBC Cash Back Mastercard lacks a welcome bonus, which makes the RBC ION Visa a little more valuable in the first year.


All in all, you might pick the RBC Cash Back Mastercard over the RBC ION Visa if you want a no-fee RBC credit card that offers cashback instead of points, unless you were hoping for a sign-up bonus to boost your card’s first year value.


Best Cashback RBC Credit Cards


In the last category, we mentioned that cashback can be less complicated than points. If this perk piqued your interest, here’s a quick look at the best RBC credit cards.


RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard

2.9

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

N/A

First Year Value

$261

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

Annual Fee

$99

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

The RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard is a solid choice for those who want flat-rate cash back on all purchases without worrying about specific categories. With a 1.5% cash back rate on the first $25,000 spent annually, it offers competitive rewards. However, its high income requirements and limited insurance coverage may make it less appealing to those who need more comprehensive benefits. Still, for a premium card with a lower-than-average annual fee of $99, it provides decent value for everyday spending.

Pros


  • 1.5% cash back on all purchases up to $25,000 annually.
  • Redeem cash back anytime you have at least $25 accumulated.
  • Lower annual fee of $99 for a premium card compared to others in the same category.
  • RBC credit card benefits, including fuel savings at Petro-Canada and earning bonus Petro-Points.

Cons


  • High income requirements: $80,000 personal or $150,000 household.
  • Only 1% cash back after spending $25,000 annually.
  • Limited insurance coverage compared to other premium cards.

Rewards

  • 1.5% cash back on all purchases on the first $25k spent annually
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases after spending over $25k annually

Insurance

Coverage

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    120 days

  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 2 years

  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    yes

Benefits

Details

  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

    Access to +1300 Airport lounges with MasterCard DragonPass - complimentary visits not included

  • 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

  • wifi signal

    Boingo Wi-Fi hotspot

    Over 1 million hotspots worldwide

  • entertainment popcorn

    Mastercard On-Demand and Subscription Services

Eligibility

  • Credit Score

    Good

  • Annual Income

    $80,000 personal or $150,000 household


The cashback RBC credit card with the best overall value is the RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard.


The annual fee is reasonable, especially since this card tacks on extra benefits and coverage.


Like many of the RBC cards we’ve mentioned so far, the RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard is equipped with extended warranty and purchase protection insurance (both lasting much longer than any previous competitor), plus car rental damage and theft coverage.


For benefits, on top of gas discounts and extra Petro-Points at Petro-Canada, and Be Well points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases at Rexall, you’ll also get the airport lounge Dragon Pass (without any complimentary visits), access to the Boingo Wi-Fi hotspot, plus Mastercard On-Demand and Subscription Services.


For the ultimate flexibility, the RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard offers decent cashback on all purchases (capped annually before reverting to a slightly lower base rate).


Aside from the annual fee, there’s one catch: the card requires high annual incomes from its applicants – making it less accessible to all.


Therefore, you’ll likely choose the RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard if you’re a relatively high-earner who wants decent coverage, benefits and a flexible cashback rewards program.


RBC Cash Back Mastercard

2.2

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

N/A

First Year Value

$253.86

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

Annual Fee

$0

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99% (for Quebec 21.99%)

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

The RBC Cash Back Mastercard is a solid no-fee option for those looking to earn 2% cash back on groceries and save on gas at Petro-Canada. However, the lower cash back rate on other purchases and limited insurance coverage make it a basic rewards card for everyday use. It’s great for those who prefer a no-annual-fee card with flexible cash back redemption options.

Pros


  • 2% cash back on groceries (up to $6,000 annually).
  • No annual fee.
  • Instant gas savings: Save 3¢ per litre at Petro-Canada locations and earn 20% more Petro-Points.
  • Flexible cash back redemption: Get your cash back on demand when you reach $25 in accumulated rewards.

Cons


  • Lower cash back rate: Only 0.5% cash back on non-grocery purchases up to $6,000, and 1% after.
  • Limited insurance coverage: Only basic extended warranty and purchase protection.

Rewards

  • 2% cash back on groceries (maximum $120 cash back yearly then 1%)
  • 0.5% cash back on all other purchases for the first $6k spent
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases after spending over $6k

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


If you don’t meet the RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard’s high income requirements and you don’t want to pay an annual fee, the RBC Cash Back Mastercard is a good alternative.


Of course, if you swap your RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard for the RBC Cash Back Mastercard, you will cut back on some perks.


For one, you’ll have less coverage on both extended warranty and purchase protection insurance, plus you won’t have car rental damage and theft insurance.


While you will have the same Petro-Canada and Be Well benefits as the RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard, you’ll miss out on the Dragon Pass, Boingo Wi-Fi hotspot, and Mastercard On-Demand and Subscription Services.


If you know you’re going to use your RBC credit card for grocery purchases, then the RBC Cash Back Mastercard offers the good rates for this spend category. Otherwise, you’ll earn more on all eligible purchases with the RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard.


In summary, if you’re looking to optimize groceries, avoid income requirements and annual fees, and still get standard coverage and benefits, you might be content with the RBC Cash Back Mastercard over the RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard.


Best Travel RBC Credit Cards


Some of the top RBC credit cards are travel-oriented, which leads us to our next category.


If you’re an adventurous applicant, explore the best travel RBC credit cards below.


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


We’re going to start with the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard.


Conveniently, this travel credit card is a cashback credit card, earning cardholders decent cashback rates via WestJet dollars on WestJet flights and vacation packages, plus solid WestJet dollars on everything else.


The insurance on this card is admirable, with valuable coverage categories like trip interruption and emergency medical over 65 insurance.


Beyond Petro-Canada perks and Be Well points, there are also plenty of stand-out benefits on the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard. Some of these notable features include the Dragon Pass (complimentary visits not included), plus free first checked bags for the primary cardholder and 8 accompanying travellers on WestJet flights. One of the most important perks, however, is the companion voucher. A companion voucher allows cardholders to buy a discounted companion ticket for an accompanying traveller. The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard companion voucher is granted to cardholders each year and can be applied to eligible WestJet roundtrip flights. If you decide you don't want this voucher, you can exchange it for some complimentary airport lounge visits through the Dragon Pass.


The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard's annual fee is a little higher than what we’ve seen so far, but with all these coverages and benefits – you can certainly offset the cost in overall value. Keep in mind that there are also high income requirements attached to the card.


At the end of the day, this is a top travel cashback card for high-earning, frequent WestJet flyers who want to earn cashback on their vacation purchases. With good insurance and enticing benefits, there are plenty of reasons to apply.


RBC Avion Visa Infinite

3.8

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

Up to 55,000 Avion points

First Year Value

$698.2

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

Annual Fee

$120

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99% (for Quebec 21.99%)

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

This card is not by any means one of our favorite cards. For an annual fee it offers almost no notable benefits, with many no annual fee credit cards offering much more. The points earned are fine, but given the inflexibility of ION Avion points, it's very hard to get good value for the points earned, and it's much easier to earn more and do the same with some other credit card reward programs.

Pros


  • Generous welcome bonus of up to 55,000 points.
  • High point value when redeemed through the Air Travel Redemption chart, with up to 2.33 cents per point.
  • Comprehensive insurance package (12 types), including travel medical and mobile device insurance.
  • Access to Petro-Canada savings (save 3 cents per litre on fuel) and earn 20% bonus Petro-Points.

Cons


  • Only 1 point per $1 spent on most purchases (travel earns 1.25 points).
  • Requires using the Air Travel Redemption chart to get the highest point value; other redemptions yield lower returns.
  • High income requirements: $60,000 personal or $100,000 household.

Rewards

  • 1.25x points per $1 spent on eligible travel purchases
  • 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Insurance

Coverage

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days

  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year

  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,500

  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    15 days

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Medical Over 65

    3 days

  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $5,000

  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,500

  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $2,500

  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500

  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500

  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500

  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    yes

Benefits

Details

  • gas station

    Gas Discount

    save 3¢/L on fuel and always earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada and 20% more Avion points at Petro-Canada

  • reward cup

    Extra points

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

Eligibility

  • Credit Score

    Very Good

  • Annual Income

    $60,000 personal or $100,000 household


The second best RBC travel credit card is the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card.


With this card, you don’t need to book with WestJet to earn rewards, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card earns you Avion points on all eligible travel purchases.


Coverage for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card is also more extensive, adding lost or stolen baggage coverage, mobile device insurance, hotel burglary insurance, and trip cancellation coverage to the mix.


While the annual fees between the two cards are basically the same, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card’s income requirements are slightly lower than the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard.


In conclusion, you’ll probably opt for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card over the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard if you prefer points to cashback, if you want more travel coverage, and if you want to earn travel rewards with more flexibility without staying loyal to WestJet. Otherwise, WestJet enthusiasts will remain content with their cashback rewards and bounty of benefits.


RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege

3.3

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

Up to 55,000 Avion points

First Year Value

$494.43

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

Annual Fee

$399

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99% (for Quebec 21.99%)

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who want premium travel perks and high-value rewards. The welcome bonus, insurance coverage, and airport benefits offer significant value for those who qualify. However, the high annual fee and income requirements may limit its accessibility, and the reward rate outside of the travel chart is less competitive.

Pros


  • High-value points when redeemed via the Air Travel Redemption chart, with up to 2.33 cents per point.
  • Extensive insurance coverage including emergency medical, trip cancellation, and mobile device insurance.
  • Access to airport perks, including fast-track security and lounge access.
  • Flexible rewards that can be transferred to airline partners like British Airways and Cathay Pacific.

Cons


  • High annual fee of $399.
  • Requires a high personal or household income of $200,000 to qualify.
  • Only 1.25 points per $1 spent on all purchases, which is lower compared to other premium cards.
  • Limited redemption value outside of the Air Travel Redemption chart.

Rewards

  • 1.25x points per $1 spent on eligible purchases

Insurance

Coverage

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    120 days

  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 2 years

  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,500

  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    31 days

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Medical Over 65

    7 days

  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $5,000

  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $2,500

  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $3,000

  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $750

  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $2,500

  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $1,000

  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    yes

Benefits

Details

  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

    Visa Airport Companion membership + 6 complimentary airport lounge visits per year

  • gas station

    Gas Discount

    save 3¢/L on fuel and always earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada and 20% more Avion points at Petro-Canada

  • reward cup

    Extra points

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

  • concierge

    Concierge Services

    Connect to the Visa Infinite Privilege Concierge like having a personal assistant on call!

  • airport waiting room

    Priority Travel

    Enjoy global airport lounge access, airport security fast track lanes, and dedicated airport parking at select Canadian airports

  • exclusive

    Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits

    Dining series and Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection offers with benefits like late check out and upgrades

Eligibility

  • Credit Score

    Very Good

  • Annual Income

    $200,000 personal or $200,000 household


If you want to earn RBC Avion points on more than just eligible travel, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card will help you collect your points on all eligible purchases – offering more earn flexibility than the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card.


You’ll also have access to better insurance coverage, with better value in categories like emergency medical over 65, flight delay, and lost or stolen baggage insurance.


In terms of benefits, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card makes up for what the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card lacks. In addition to the Petro-Canada perks and the extra Be Well points, you’ll also receive Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits, the Dragon Pass with 6 complimentary visits per year, concierge services, and Priority Travel advantages at select Canadian airports.


Unfortunately, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card will cost you more annually than the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card – but with more benefits, better coverage, and flexible earnings, this makes sense. That said, you’ll also need to meet higher income requirements to qualify.


So, high-earners that are looking for an upgraded version of the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card will love the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card. If you can meet the income requirements and pay the annual fee, you’ll unlock more benefits, valuable coverage, and a rewards system with more variety.


RBC British Airways Visa Infinite

3

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

Up to 60,000 Avios points

First Year Value

$483.94

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

Annual Fee

$165

Interest Rates

20.50% / 22.99% (for Quebec 21.99%)

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

The RBC British Airways Visa Infinite is ideal for frequent international travelers who primarily fly with British Airways or oneworld alliance partners. The welcome bonus, Companion Voucher, and triple Avios earning potential on British Airways purchases make it valuable for high spenders. However, it may not be ideal for those looking for more flexibility in redeeming rewards or those who prioritize domestic travel.

Pros


  • Generous welcome bonus: Up to 60,000 Avios can translate to $1070 in travel value.
  • Triple Avios on British Airways flights, making it ideal for frequent travelers.
  • 10% discount on British Airways flights.
  • Companion Award eVoucher: Great value for frequent British Airways flyers.
  • 9 types of insurance included, such as travel accident, flight delay, and rental car insurance.
  • 3 cents per litre savings at Petro-Canada with linked cards.

Cons


  • High income requirements: Must have either $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income to qualify.
  • Limited flexibility: Avios can only be used with British Airways and oneworld alliance airlines, limiting options for domestic or non-alliance travel.
  • Companion Voucher requires $30,000 in annual spending, which may not be accessible for all cardholders.

Rewards

  • 3x Avios points per $1 CAD you spend on British Airways purchases
  • 2x Avios points per $1 CAD you spend on dining
  • 1x Avios point per $1 CAD you spend on all other qualifying purchases

Insurance

Coverage

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    31 days

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Medical Over 65

    7 days

  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000

  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    yes

  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500

  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500

  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500

  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $2,500

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days

  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 1 year

Benefits

Details

  • airplane love

    Companion Voucher

    Receive a Companion Award eVoucher when you spend $30,000 or more in any calendar year

  • discount

    Discount

    Enjoy 10% off British Airways flights when you book and pay with your card

  • 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

    Very Good

  • Annual Income

    $60,000 personal or $100,000 household


For a slightly lower annual fee, you can pick up the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card instead. As long as you’re willing to sacrifice some perks!


Earning Avios points instead of Avion points (which are a little less flexible redemption-wise), you can collect competitive Avios points per dollar spent on British Airways purchases, plus some Avios points per dollar spent on dining. Thus, the rewards program might be a bit more exclusive in terms of travel earnings – since you’ll need to travel with British Airways to optimize your earning. Still, earning some extra points on dining (a pricey expense) is a great bonus!


The RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card’s insurance coverage is less valuable and overall less extensive than the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card.


The RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card also lacks extensive benefits by comparison, offering only a companion voucher and a discount on British Airways flights in addition to the classic Petro-Canada and Be Well points perks. Still, the companion voucher is an important inclusion – which is awarded to cardholders once they meet a specified spending minimum within a calendar year. This voucher can be applied towards a companion ticket for a travel companion on the same Reward Flight or you can choose to use your companion voucher toward a solo Reward Flight booking, offering you a discount on the Avios fare.


To reflect this lack of certain features, the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card has a lower annual fee compared to the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card, and lower income requirements.


So, if you happen to be a frequent British Airways traveler, the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card might be a better fit. Otherwise, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card is more flexible, comes with more comprehensive and extensive insurance, and plenty more perks (for a higher annual price of course).


RBC Avion Visa Platinum

2.9

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

Up to 55,000 Avion points

First Year Value

$692.74

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

Annual Fee

$120

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99% (for Quebec 21.99%)

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

The RBC Visa Platinum Avion is a solid option for those who prefer flexible travel rewards without the high-income requirements of other premium cards. The welcome bonus, extensive insurance, and travel rewards flexibility offer good value for frequent travelers. However, the 1 point per $1 earn rate may be less appealing for those looking for higher rewards on everyday purchases.

Pros


  • 10 types of insurance coverage, including trip cancellation, travel accident, and rental car theft.
  • Save 3 cents per litre at Petro-Canada and earn bonus Petro-Points.
  • No income requirements, making it more accessible than the Infinite version.

Cons


  • Only earns 1 point per $1 on most purchases, with 1.25 points per $1 on travel.
  • Rewards are less valuable if not redeemed for flights or transferred to airline partners.

Rewards

  • 1x point per $1 spent on eligible purchases

Insurance

Coverage

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days

  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 1 year

  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000

  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $2,500

  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,000

  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $2,500

  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500

  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500

  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $1,000

  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    yes

Benefits

Details

  • gas station

    Gas Discount

    save 3¢/L on fuel and always earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada and 20% more Avion points at Petro-Canada

  • reward cup

    Extra points

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

Eligibility

  • Credit Score

    Very Good

  • Annual Income

    N/A


For an even lower annual fee than the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card, the RBC Avion Visa Platinum Card offers a flat rate of an Avion point per dollar spent on all eligible purchases rather than supplying any specialized categories. This offers some earning flexibility, but gives you less point potential overall on categories like dining purchases or travel (two earn categories optimized by the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card). The RBC Avion Visa Platinum Card also has more redemption categories than the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card, so you can spend your points more flexibly as well.


In terms of insurance, both cards cover similar categories, but with the RBC Avion Visa Platinum Card, flight delay insurance is more valuable, and instead of adding emergency medical over 65 and emergency out of province medical coverage (like the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card), the RBC Avion Visa Platinum Card adds trip interruption and trip cancellation insurance instead.


With the RBC Avion Visa Platinum Card, you’ll only get the standard gas discount and extra Petro-Points at Petro-Canada, plus Be Well points on Rexall purchases, whereas the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card includes a discount on British Airways flights and a companion voucher – if those are aspects that would be helpful to your travels.


Thankfully, the RBC Avion Visa Platinum Card doesn’t have any income requirements, making it more accessible to a wider range of applicants.


Conclusively, if you want more flexibility overall, value trip interruption and trip cancellation insurance, and only need the basics for benefits – the RBC Avion Visa Platinum Card could be best suited to you. Otherwise, if you plan on travelling with British Airways often and want a couple more benefits to optimize those trips, the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card could still be your top pick.


WestJet RBC Mastercard

2.6

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

Up to $100 WestJet Dollars

First Year Value

$301.6

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

Annual Fee

$39

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

The WestJet RBC Mastercard is an affordable travel card for frequent WestJet travelers. It offers solid perks like a companion voucher, WestJet dollars, and insurance at a low annual fee. However, the earning potential is limited for everyday purchases, making it less suitable for those who aren't frequent WestJet users.

Pros


  • Earn WestJet dollars that are easy to redeem for WestJet flights or vacation packages.
  • Annual companion voucher for travel within Canada and the Continental U.S., potentially offering significant savings.
  • Save 3 cents per litre on fuel at Petro-Canada and earn bonus Petro-Points.
  • Includes 7 types of insurance despite the low annual fee.

Cons


  • Limited earning potential with only 1% back on non-WestJet purchases.
  • Companion voucher costs $199 to use, making it less valuable for shorter trips.

Rewards

  • 1.5% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flight or WestJet Vacation package purchases
  • 1% back in WestJet dollars on all other eligible purchases

Insurance

Coverage

  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000

  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $65K up to 48 days

  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500/person, $2500/occurrence

  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500

  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $2,500

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days

  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 1 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

    Very Good

  • Annual Income

    N/A


Welcoming another WestJet contender in the travel category, the WestJet RBC Mastercard might be your travel card of choice if you frequently travel with WestJet.


This card comes with a substantially lower annual fee, cashback via WestJet dollars on WestJet flights and vacation packages, and the standard Petro-Canada perks and Be Well points at Rexall. These perks are optimized on the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard (the first card we mentioned in this category), with higher point rates and tons of benefits from the Dragon Pass to free first checked bags. That said, the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard is more expensive and has high income requirements.


Due to its lower annual fee, there are fewer coverage categories on the WestJet RBC Mastercard compared to the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard – but there are still useful protections like hotel burglary insurance and lost or stolen baggage insurance.


The WestJet RBC Mastercard also has no income requirements, so it’s more accessible than the upgraded WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard.


All things considered, you might choose the WestJet RBC Mastercard over the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard if you want a less-complicated WestJet-affiliated RBC travel card that still comes with solid coverage and cashback for a much lower price point and no income requirements.


Best RBC Credit Cards for Everyday Purchases


Not everyone has the time to travel, a lot of us are just trying to optimize our day-to-day expenses.


If this is the case for you, here’s our collection of the best RBC credit cards for everyday purchases.


RBC ION+ Visa

3

Finly Rating

Welcome Bonus

Up to 14,000 points

First Year Value

$447.98

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

Annual Fee

$48

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

This card is not by any means one of our favorite cards. For an annual fee it offers almost no notable benefits, with many no annual fee credit cards offering much more. The points earned are fine, but given the inflexibility of ION Avion points, it's very hard to get good value for the points earned, and it's much easier to earn more and do the same with some other credit card reward programs.

Pros


  • Insurance coverage is very little for a card with annual fee. There are cards with no annual fee that offer even better benefits.
  • Avion reward points are generally not very flexible and not as valuable if not used for WestJet travel; therefore, if that's not your plan, there are many better cards that can be used.
  • The annual fee isn't justifiable based on the reward program this card offers.

Cons


  • Bonus saving of 3 cents per liter on gas at Petro-Canada stations.
  • 12,000 avion points welcome bonus.

Rewards

  • 3 points for every dollar in Grocery, Dining, Food Delivery, Rides, Gas, Electric Vehicle Charging, Streaming, and Digital Gaming & Subscriptions Purchases
  • 1 point for everything else

Insurance

Coverage

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days

  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year