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Compare Credit Cards in Canada and Find the Best Credit Card for You
Finly offers the most personalized and advanced solution to What credit card is best for me?
We've implemented extensive features in our tool to help you find your best credit cards.
Compare and Find
We've gathered nearly all credit cards in Canada into one place, complete with their details about benefits, insurance options, rewards, and requirements. You can input specific information about yourself to quickly narrow down the best credit cards.
Rewards Calculator
FinlyWealth's Advanced Calculator tool provides a clear estimate of the cashback or points you can earn with each card. Since rewards are often the most significant differentiating factor for many people when choosing a card, we have focused on making this feature as accurate as possible, whether you are seeking the best points-based or cashback credit card.
Compare Credit Cards
Rewards Calculator Algorithm
You can either estimate rewards by inputting your spending habits manually or creating secure bank connections through our trusted financial partner mx.com and letting Finly analyze your spending in the past year.
Finly factors in all the reward limits and fine prints of every single credit card so you can be sure your results are as accurate as possible.
Note: The bank connections are not perfect, meaning that occasionally the connection may fail. This happens when the MX bank connector is unable to establish the link, which is beyond our control. If this occurs, please feel free to inform us and use the manual method as an alternative.
Your Spending
Modify your spending numbers and click update to get the most accurate reward estimates.
$2,000
Restaurant, Fast Food & Coffee Shop
$
Grocery
$
Recurring Purchases (Bills, Subscriptions, Rent via Chexy)
$
Gas
$
Transportation
$
Entertainment (Movies, Concerts, etc.)
$
Foreign Purchases (Non $CAD)
$
Travel (Flights, Hotels, etc.)
$
Pharmacy
$
Online Shopping
$
Home Improvement (Renovation, Furniture)
$
Purchases at Canadian Tire, Sport Check, Lquipeur, Atmosphere, Party City, SportsRousseau, HockeyExperts, LentrepduHockey
$
Other Purchases Not Specified
$
Linked Credit Cards
Connect your existing credit cards starting with your most used one. After a successful connection, view all Canadian credit cards with their rewards ranked using your true spending habits.
Credit Card Preferences
Cash Back or Points
Annual Fee
Special Rebates
Subscription Bonuses
Select all options which you're currently subscribed to (i.e. account owner). The corresponding card reward values will change based on your selection.
Credit & Income Info
Income
Personal
N/A
Household
N/A
Net Annual Rewards
Credit Cards (112)
Your rewards based on $2,000 in average spendingAmerican Express Cobalt® Card
First Year Value:
$1,255.2
5/5
Annual Fee
$155.8
$0
Learn More
First Year Bonus
$315
Modify spending to satisfy bonus requirement
Net Annual Rewards
$940.2
Annual fee deducted
Earn 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in purchases on your Card in the first Year
Card Information
Card Type
PointsInstitution
American ExpressCard Network
Amex Canada
Fees
Annual Fee
$155.8First Year Free
NoAdditional Card Fee
$0
Interest Rates
Purchase
21.99%1Cash Advance
21.99%1Balance Transfer
N/A
Eligibility
Estimated Credit Score
GoodMin Income - Personal
N/AMin Income - Household
N/A
How to earn rewards
- 5x points per $1 spent on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery (up to 12,500 points per month)
- 3x points per $1 spent on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
- 2x points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit & ride share in Canada
- 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus
Earn 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in purchases on your Card in the first Year
Insurance
Coverage
Emergency Out of province Medical
15 days
Flight Delay
$500Baggage Delay
$500
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Travel Accident
$250,000.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
Up to 1 year
Benefits
Amex Experiences™
Access Front Of The Line® Amex Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts and theatre performances and special offers and events curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™.svg)
Travel Credit
Book two or more consecutive nights at participating properties through The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel to receive a $100 credit for amenities or a complimentary room upgrade, if available.
This card was voted 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 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
- Points can be transferred to Air Canada Aeroplan® at a 1:1 ratio, making this card a solid Aeroplan® points earner as an alternative to Aeroplan® branded credit cards
- Generous welcome bonus of up to 15,000 points
- 4+ different ways of redeeming your points for great value
- 10 different types of insurance, including travel
- Often referred to as the Best Credit Card in Canada
Cons
- Less acceptance of American Express at different merchants across Canada
- Not all types of travel insurance are covered, especially trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
First Year Value:
$1,024.5
$100
4.9/5
Annual Fee
$120
$0
Learn More
First Year Bonus
$400
Modify spending to satisfy bonus requirement
Net Annual Rewards
$524.5
Annual fee deducted
Card Information
Card Type
PointsInstitution
ScotiabankCard Network
Amex CanadaLoyalty
Fees
Annual Fee
$120First Year Free
NoAdditional Card Fee
$29
Interest Rates
Purchase
20.99%Cash Advance
22.99%Balance Transfer
22.99%
Eligibility
Estimated Credit Score
GoodMin Income - Personal
$12,000Min Income - Household
$12,000
How to earn rewards
- Earn 6x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more
- Earn 5x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on dining, food delivery and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.
- Earn 5x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend in Canada eligible entertainment purposes. Includes movies, theatre and ticket agencies stores.
- Earn 3x Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible gas and daily transit options. Includes rideshares, buses, subway, taxis and more
- Earn 3x Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible select streaming services
- Plus earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
- Earn additional benefits + up to 4x Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia
Welcome Bonus
Earn 20,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $2,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, for a limited time, you are eligible to earn a 20,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $7,500 in everyday eligible purchases in your first year.
Insurance
Coverage
Emergency Out of province Medical
$1M, Up to 25 daysEmergency Medical Over 65
$1M, Up to 3 days
Trip Cancellation
$1500/person, $10000/trip
Trip Interruption
$1500/person, $10,000/tripLost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1000/tripBaggage Delay
$500/person, $1,000/trip After 4 hoursFlight Delay
$500/personTravel Accident
$500K/person, $1M/occurrenceCar Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 daysHotel Burglary Insurance
$1000/occurrenceMobile Device Insurance
$1,000Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
Up to 1 year
Benefits
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Avoid the 2.5% foreign transaction fees incurred when spending in non $CADAmerican Express® Experiences
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Concierge Services
Discount
Discount on PriorityPass Membership
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
- No foreign transaction fee saves you 2.5% on all non-CAD purchases.
- Rewards cover all high-spending categories, including food, groceries, entertainment, and gas.
- Comprehensive coverage of all travel insurance.
Cons
- The card network is American Express, which might not be widely accepted in some countries, making it a bit harder to use the no foreign transaction fee benefit.
- Having a lounge pass would have made this card even more perfect, but there is access to a discount code for lounge access pass purchases.
MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
First Year Value:
$777.84
4/5
Annual Fee
$120
$0
Learn More
First Year Bonus
$300
Modify spending to satisfy bonus requirement
Net Annual Rewards
$477.84
Annual fee deducted
10,000 points for going Paperless. 20,000 points after spending $2,000 after 90 days of account opening
Card Information
Card Type
PointsInstitution
MBNACard Network
MastercardLoyalty
Fees
Annual Fee
$120First Year Free
NoAdditional Card Fee
$50
Interest Rates
Purchase
19.99%Cash Advance
24.99%Balance Transfer
N/A
Eligibility
Estimated Credit Score
Very GoodMin Income - Personal
$80,000Min Income - Household
$150,000
How to earn rewards
- 5 points on restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases (maximum $50,000 spend annually per category)
- 1 point for everything else
Welcome Bonus
10,000 points for going Paperless. 20,000 points after spending $2,000 after 90 days of account opening
Insurance
Coverage
Mobile Device Insurance
$1000Purchase Protection
Up to 90 daysExtended Warranty
Up to a yearCar Rental Damage & Theft
31 daysFlight Delay
$500/person after 4 hoursTravel Accident
$1,000,000Emergency Out of province Medical
$2M for 21 daysLost or Stolen Baggage
$1000/personBaggage Delay
$1000/person
Benefits
Annual Birthday Bonus
10% of the Points earned the 12 months prior to the primary cardholder's birthday month (up to a max 15,000 bonus points per year)
Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationally
Trip and legal Assistance
Concierge Services
Price Protection
$500/item, $1000/account per year
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
- Both restaurants and groceries, two of the most commonly spent categories, earn decent rewards.
- Great annual birthday bonus with up to $150 in value.
- A solid list of travel insurance and benefits.
- Price protection, a rare feature not offered by many other cards.
- Good value for many of the card's redemption options.
Cons
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, two great benefits are missing from this card.
- Not the best card for gas purchases.
American Express® Green Card
First Year Value:
$677.86
3.9/5
Annual Fee
$0
$0
Learn More
First Year Bonus
$210
Modify spending to satisfy bonus requirement
Net Annual Rewards
$467.86
Annual fee deducted
Earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 months.
Card Information
Card Type
PointsInstitution
American ExpressCard Network
Amex Canada
Fees
Annual Fee
$0First Year Free
NoAdditional Card Fee
$0
Interest Rates
Purchase
21.99%1Cash Advance
21.99%1Balance Transfer
N/A
Eligibility
Estimated Credit Score
GoodMin Income - Personal
N/AMin Income - Household
N/A
How to earn rewards
- 1x point per $1 spent on all purchases
Welcome Bonus
Earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 months.
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
Up to a year
Benefits
Amex Experiences™
With Amex Experiences™ and Front Of The Line® Amex Presale Tickets, American Express Cardmembers get access to amazing events in Canada
Extra points
2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases
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
- No Spending Limits: Earn unlimited rewards with no caps.
- Flexible Redemption: Transfer points to other loyalty programs for maximum value.
- VIP Perks: Access a variety of exclusive benefits through Amex Experiences™.
- Eco-Friendly: The card is made from 99% recycled plastic.
Cons
- Lower Reward Rates: Earn rates are lower compared to other no-fee cards.
- Limited Travel Perks: Lacks some of the travel benefits and insurance options provided by other cards.
SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express
First Year Value:
$614.35
4.6/5
Annual Fee
$119.88
$0
Learn More
First Year Bonus
$200
Modify spending to satisfy bonus requirement
Net Annual Rewards
$414.35
Annual fee deducted
Earn a bonus 10% cash back on all purchases for your first 3 months (up to $2,000 in purchases). Plus, earn a $50 statement credit when you make a purchase in month 13. This could add up to $250 in bonus value in your first 13 months.
Card Information
Card Type
Cash BackInstitution
American ExpressCard Network
Amex CanadaLoyalty
Cash Back
Fees
Annual Fee
$119.88First Year Free
NoAdditional Card Fee
$0
Interest Rates
Purchase
21.99%1Cash Advance
21.99%1Balance Transfer
N/A
Eligibility
Estimated Credit Score
GoodMin Income - Personal
N/AMin Income - Household
N/A
How to earn rewards
- 4% cash back on eligible gas station purchases in Canada
- 4% cash back on eligible grocery purchases in Canada (up to $1,200 cash back annually)
- 2% cash back on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus
Earn a bonus 10% cash back on all purchases for your first 3 months (up to $2,000 in purchases). Plus, earn a $50 statement credit when you make a purchase in month 13. This could add up to $250 in bonus value in your first 13 months.
Insurance
Coverage
Emergency Out of province Medical
$5M/insured PersonFlight Delay
$500Baggage Delay
$500Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500Travel Accident
$100,000Car Rental Damage & Theft
$85K up to 48 daysMobile Device Insurance
$1,000Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 year
Benefits
Amex Experiences™
Access events and special offers curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™
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
- Highest cashback rate on groceries and gas in Canada
- Great base cashback rate for all purchases
- 10 different insurance types included
Cons
- Cash back is only paid out to you once a year
- American Express has a lower merchant acceptance compared to Visa or Mastercard
- Compare Credit Cards
- Best Credit Card in Canada
- Cashback Credit Cards
- Best Rewards (Points) and Best Flexible Redemption Credit Card
- Best Signup Bonus Credit Cards
- Best Travel Credit Cards
- Best Insurance Credit Card
- Best Credit Cards based on Spending Categories
- Best Credit Cards with Rare perks and benefits
- Best Student Credit Card
- Best Secured Credit Card
- Best Low Interest Credit Card
- Best Balance Transfer Credit Card
- Best Prepaid Card
- Best Credit Cards in Canada By Network
- Best Credit Cards in Canada By Financial Institutions
- How Do Credit Cards Work?
- How Does Credit Card Interest work?
- Different Types of Credit cards
- How Credit Card Rewards Work?
- How Many Credit Cards should you have?
- Who is the Best Credit Card issuer in Canada?
- Best Credit Cards Methodology
- FAQ
Best Credit Card in Canada
American Express Cobalt® Card
5
Finly Rating
Welcome Bonus*
Up to 15,000 points
Annual Fee*
$155.8
Interest Rates*
21.99% / 21.99%
This card was voted 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 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
- Points can be transferred to Air Canada Aeroplan® at a 1:1 ratio, making this card a solid Aeroplan® points earner as an alternative to Aeroplan® branded credit cards
- Generous welcome bonus of up to 15,000 points
- 4+ different ways of redeeming your points for great value
- 10 different types of insurance, including travel
- Often referred to as the Best Credit Card in Canada
Cons
- Less acceptance of American Express at different merchants across Canada
- Not all types of travel insurance are covered, especially trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Rewards*
- 5x points per $1 spent on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery (up to 12,500 points per month)
- 3x points per $1 spent on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
- 2x points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit & ride share in Canada
- 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Insurance*
Coverage*
Emergency Out of province Medical
15 daysFlight Delay
$500Baggage Delay
$500Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500Travel Accident
$250,000Car Rental Damage & Theft
yesMobile Device Insurance
$1,000Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
Up to 1 year
Benefits*
Details*
Amex Experiences™
Access Front Of The Line® Amex Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts and theatre performances and special offers and events curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™Travel Credit
Book two or more consecutive nights at participating properties through The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel to receive a $100 credit for amenities or a complimentary room upgrade, if available.
Eligibility*
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
N/A
When someone asks, "What's the best credit card for me?" the Amex Cobalt is usually the first card that comes to mind. It offers a winning combination of high reward rates, valuable perks, a reasonable annual fee, and flexible point redemption options. Plus, it's easy to qualify for, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
For rewards, the Cobalt card takes the crown for 80% of FinlyWealth users. It consistently outperforms other cards, often by a significant margin. Even when using points for cash back—which isn’t the most valuable way to redeem them—the Cobalt still outpaces most traditional cashback cards in overall returns.
This card doesn’t just excel in rewards; it offers all the essential benefits for everyday purchases and goes above and beyond with its impressive travel perks. It’s a well-rounded card that covers every angle.
Therefore, if you don't have a specific benefit you're looking to maximize or aren't focused on optimizing just one reward category, the Amex Cobalt is likely the best choice for you.
Cashback Credit Cards
I currently have or may soon have an eligible Rogers, Fido or Shaw service as the primary or level 1 authorized user
Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
4.8
Finly Rating
Welcome Bonus
N/A
I currently have or may soon have an eligible Rogers, Fido or Shaw service as the primary or level 1 authorized user
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
19.99% / 22.99%
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
- Voted the Best Cash Back Card in Canada for Rogers, Fido and Shaw customers by FinlyWealth.
- Voted the Best No Annual Fee Credit Card in Canada by FinlyWealth.
- There is no annual fee which is a notable benefit for a card with such high rewards. Most cards with slightly lower reward rates typically include yearly fees.
- Many favorable benefits for travelers.
- Many benefits, such as trip cancellation insurance, are only available on credit cards with an annual fee. It is rare to see these benefits on a no-annual-fee card!
- Offers the flexibility to redeem cash towards Rogers, Shaw, or Fido services, potentially increasing your rewards.
- The roam-like benefit is a benefit unique only to this card.
- It is accepted at nearly all locations as it's a Mastercard.
Cons
- Harder to qualify due to the high credit score and income requirements.
- Out of all possible travel insurances, this card is missing Baggage delay and Hotel Burglary insurance. If these two insurances are essential to someone, this card needs to be paired with another travel card to cover them.
Rewards
- 3% cash back on all U.S dollar purchases
- 2% cash back on all regular purchases if you have 1 qualifying Rogers, Fido or Shaw service as the account owner
- 1.5% cash back on all purchases if you do not have 1 qualifying service
- 1.5x redemption bonus on your earned cash back value when used on Rogers, Fido and Shaw purchases – that’s a 3% cash back value
Insurance
Coverage
Emergency Out of province Medical
$1M, Up to 10 daysEmergency Medical Over 65
$1M, Up to 3 daysTrip Cancellation
$1,000/person, $5,000 maximumTrip Interruption
$1,000/person, $5,000 maximumCar Rental Damage & Theft
31 days, $65,000 car MSRPPurchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 year
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Pass only, complimentary visits not included
No Cost roaming
5 days
Eligibility
Credit Score
Very GoodAnnual Income
$80,000 personal or $150,000 household
Even though the Rogers World Elite card does not have an annual fee, it earns the highest overall cashback rate on all purchases. It also gives tons of benefits which are great for travelers. The big catch is that you have a qualifying Rogers, Shaw or Fido Service and if not then the rewards earned on this card wouldn't be as high. In addition there is an income requirement for this card which not everyone qualifies for. If you have the service but not the income requirement you can go for the Rogers Red Mastercard instead.
Neo World Elite® Mastercard®
4.6
Finly Rating
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Annual Fee
$125
Interest Rates
19.99% - 26.99% (or 19.99% - 23.99% in Newfoundland and Quebec) / 22.99% - 28.99%
This card offers one of the highest cash back rates in Canada for gas (up to 4%), grocery (up to 7%) and recurring purchases (up to 5%) 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, for a typical person who's spending is generally below $12k per year in grocery, $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.