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Published Sep 12, 2025 5:38 AM UTC • 9 min read
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.
One of the main expenses everyone has is recurring transactions. Things like streaming services like Netflix, software like Spotify and many more things we pay for each month.
One exciting thing about these types of transactions is that you can earn increased rewards on some credit cards.
In fact, because I also have many recurring transactions, I have optimized my cards for these transactions netting me a few hundred dollars in cashback each year and want you to make the best choice too!
In this blog, we briefly go through what makes a transaction a recurring one in the context of credit card transaction types to make sure you know which ones would be qualified for increased rewards or not and then we will rank the best credit cards for recurring transactions in Canada and discuss their pros and cons.
When you allow a merchant to automatically deduct money from your credit card for their product or service, that would be a recurring transaction; that transaction is considered recurring when getting rewards from credit cards. There are no additional things you need to do after entering your credit card info, and things will automatically keep getting deducted from everyone until you decide to stop the payments.
A few good examples of these transactions would be:
Now, some of these services might ask you to pay directly from your online banking. For example, many utilities don't take credit cards; therefore, when you pay from direct banking, you would not qualify for credit card rewards. Also, if some of these services offer you month-by-month payments manually instead of setting up automatic billing, your transaction might not qualify as a recurring transaction.
When you are given the option to pay your bills (like utilities) with your credit card, it's good to check whether there are any additional fees when you choose this option.
Most companies try to choose direct payments because they have very few fees, but if they choose to accept credit cards, they must pay a fee typically between 1% and 3% to the credit card processors. Because of this in many cases they might choose to pass this fee to you which makes the transaction more expensive than direct payments.
In these cases, do the math and see whether it's worth the rewards you get in return or not.
Let's go through the results:
Our choice for: Best value on recurring bills and groceries
on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus
10% Cash Back (up to $200 value)
Rewards Rate
1% - 4%
Cash Back
Annual Fee
$120 $0
Interest Rates
20.99% / 22.99%
The 4% cashback offered on groceries and recurring purchases is the highest among all other credit cards. With the first year's annual fee waived, and with the right transactions used on this credit card, a high amount of cashback could be earned.
Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Mobile Device Insurance
Travel Accident
Emergency Out of province Medical
Trip Interruption
Trip Cancellation
Flight Delay
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Baggage Delay
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
Car Rental Discount
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
If you have a high amount on your recurring transactions per year, then the Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card would be the best card for your recurring transactions. The reason is simple. They have the highest reward rate in this category, which is 4%. No other card in this category comes close to this card.
One other benefit of this card is that it is a great card for your grocery purchases (4% on that category as well), which could be attractive for many.
on Rogers Bank's website
Welcome Bonus
Up to $60 cash back ($90 if redeemed for Rogers, Fido or Shaw purchases)^
Rewards Rate
1% - 3%
Cash Back
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
20.99% - 25.99%* / 22.99% - 27.99%*
This card is one of our top-ranked options in terms of rewards, especially if you are a Rogers, Fido, or Shaw customer. With those services, you can effectively get a 3% cashback rate, which is a higher rate than almost any other card offers, even those with annual fees! If you have a high income of $80K or a household income of $150K, you can apply for the World Elite version of this card, which comes with additional insurance and benefits like a lounge pass.
Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Balance Protection
Benefits
Details
No Cost roaming
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
The Rogers Mastercard is unique because its reward rate depends on whether you have a qualifying Rogers, Fido, or Shaw Service card. If you don't have one, getting this card is not recommended because the rewards rate won't be that high. However, if you do, you can get a 3% cashback rate on all your purchases, including recurring ones.
This is another reason why we think this is one of the best credit cards for recurring transactions and consider it one of the best credit cards in Canada overall for people with a qualifying service.
If you have small amounts of recurring transactions, then you better go for a card with no annual fee. There are some great options to look at:
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
If you don't travel a lot, a great option is the Tangerine Cashback Credit Card. The unique feature of Tangerine cards is that you get to choose bonus categories, including recurring purchases, where you can earn 2% cashback. Among the free cards (excluding Rogers), this card has the highest cashback rate, making it an excellent choice.
If you have a high income, you can also apply for the World Elite version of this card. It offers identical rewards with no annual fee but includes additional benefits like lounge pass access and mobile insurance, making it a well-rounded 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 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
Boingo Wi-Fi hotspot
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
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)
Rewards Rate
1x - 6x Scene+ points
Points
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
Emergency Out of province Medical
Emergency Medical Over 65
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Baggage Delay
Flight Delay
Travel Accident
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
If you have many streaming services from this list, a flexible rewards card to earn bonus rewards on streaming services is the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card. You will earn three Scene points for payments towards the services on that list, which can be redeemed at $0.03, giving an effective cashback rate of 3%. The one notable downside is that you don't get the 3% on any other recurring purchases, only from the merchants on that list.
Besides this, the card is very solid, with many unique benefits, such as no foreign transaction fees, which are not offered by almost any other card, and a great rewards program, making it one of the best options to carry in your wallet.
If you don't want to pay an annual fee, you can choose the Scotia American Express Card, which will earn you 2 points instead of 3 on these purchases.
on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 7,500 Scene+ points ($75 value)
Rewards Rate
1x - 3x Points
Points
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
19.99% / 22.99%
If you're looking to earn travel rewards without an annual fee, the Scotiabank American Express® Card is a great choice. It offers flexible Scene+ points on everyday purchases, allowing you to redeem rewards for travel, entertainment, and more—all while enjoying plenty of perks at no extra cost.
Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Mobile Device Insurance
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
American Express® Experiences
Car Rental Discount
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
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
If you are a traveler and are open to using your points for air travel and hotels, then the American Express® Green Card is a perfect option for a travel credit card. With no annual fee, you gain 1 point per dollar spent which could be redeemed at $0.021 for travel, effectively giving you a 2.1% cashback rate which is great for a free card. The main disadvantage of the American Express card is that it might not be accepted as a payment option everywhere, so you need to check before you go for this card.
As previously mentioned, utilities could be considered as a recurring purchase or a non-recurring purchase depending on whether you allow the payment to be taken automatically from your credit card or not.
So, if you have pre-authorized payments, then the cards that were previously discussed are your best options. But if you don't have them pre-authorized, then a card with high cashback rate is what you are looking for because that transaction could be considered as uncategorized in terms of credit card rewards. So you will need a card that gives a good rewards rate on the other categories.
Most of the time, yes! Simply because you would miss out on credit card rewards.
But as previously mentioned, there are some cases where direct payment from the bank is available; paying with a credit card might come with some additional fees. In these cases do some calculations and see whether the rewards you get from your credit card is higher than the fees or not and then make the decision.
When you authorize recurring payments, you're allowing a merchant to charge your credit card number periodically for a service or subscription. If you get a new card (due to expiration, loss, or fraud), the recurring charges might initially fail because the card details have changed.
There are some exceptions to this however which is some credit card issuers participate in an account updater service which they automatically provide the merchant with your new card info. We don't recommend you to wait and see if this happens or not and if you don't want the services you are using to be interrupted, we recommend changing your credit card infos for your recurring payments proactively.
Yes, you are allowed to contact your credit card company and stop a recurring payment.
Be advised, though, that cancelling your automatic payments does not mean that your contract with your service provider is also cancelled. If you have a contract that requires payments in the future, it's better to check with the service provider or merchant so that you don't incur penalties or future bills.
It depends on whether the merchant or service provider accepts American Express or not. Because American Express usually charges merchants more than Mastercard or Visa, many choose not to accept American Express, but there are some that still continue to accept it.
You can check this yourself by going to the merchant's payment portal and see if you see American Express as a payment option or not.
Recurring payments themselves don't directly impact your credit score. The only indirect way they might affect your credit score is if you don't make on-time payments on those transactions which then could cause your credit score decrease but that does not relate to the recurring nature of those transactions.
There aren't that many cards that give great rewards on recurring transactions and recurring bills, but the few that do offer very decent rewards. Different cards might be suitable for you depending on the amount of recurring transactions you have in the month.
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...
SEE FULL BIOAbout the editor
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 BIO