RBC ION+ Visa vs CIBC Costco Mastercard: Which one is better?
RBC ION+ Visa
4.2
CIBC Costco Mastercard
2.8
Welcome Bonus*
Get up to $125 in groceries(1). Apply by September 9, 2025. Get 14,000 Avion points upon approval – that’s up to $100 of value in gift cards(1). Get 3,125 Moi points upon linking to your Moi Rewards card – a value of $25(1)
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Our Cash Offer
$50 Cash Rebate offer from FinlyWealth
Our Cash Offer
N/A
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$425.98
RBC Avion Premium
First Year Bonus Value
+
$140
RBC Avion Premium
Annual Fee
-
$48
Finly Rebate
+
$50Exclusive Offer
First Year Value
$567.98
$377.98 in years after
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$347.33
First Year Bonus Value
+
$0
Annual Fee
-
$0
First Year Value
$347.33
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
While the first year bonus value here may show $0, the actual welcome bonus offer for this credit card is , which we value at $NaN when you meet the minimum spending or other listed requirements. The value of $0 here was derived based on numbers in the spending inputs and whether you meet the minimum listed requirements.
How to Earn Rewards*
- Earn 3X Avion points for every $1 spent on groceries, dining, gas, food delivery, rideshare, streaming services and more2
- Earn 1X Avion point for every $1 spent on all other qualifying purchases2
How to Earn Rewards
- 3% cash back on Restaurants
- 3% cash back on Costco Gas stations and 2% cash back on non-Costco Gas up to a combined maximum of $5,000 in spending (max $150 cashback per year)
- 2% cash back on Costco.ca purchases up to $8,000 in spending (max $160 cashback per year)
- 1% on everything else
Insurance Included*
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Extended Warranty
Up to a year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Insurance Included
Mobile Device Insurance
$1000Extended Warranty
Up to a yearPurchase Protection
Up to 90 days
Extra Benefits*
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Gas Discount
Save 3¢/L instantly at the pump and get 20% more Petro-Points and 20% more Avion points
Extra points
Earn 1 extra Moi point for every $2 spent at participating Moi Rewards stores (minimum purchase required)Extra points
50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall
Extra Benefits
N/A
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
20.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Interest Rates
Purchase:
20.75%
Cash Advance:
22.49%
Balance Transfer:
22.49%
Annual Fee*
$48
Annual Fee
$0
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
$15,000
Min Household Income:
N/A
Loyalty Program*
Loyalty Program
N/A
Point Redemption Options*
Most Optimal
Transfer to WestJet
1¢ / point
Financial Products
0.83¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.72¢ / point
Merchandise
0.7¢ / point
Travel
0.58¢ / point
Statement Credits (Cash)
0.58¢ / point
Point Redemption Options
Not Applicable
Is this card worth it?
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.
Is this card worth it?
The CIBC Costco Mastercard offers one of the highest cashback rates on restaurant purchases in Canada, making it an excellent choice for optimizing rewards in this specific category, especially since it has no annual fees. If you use Costco Gas or shop on Costco Online, there is a decent cashback rate as well. However, for other categories, the cashback rate is average. Notably, you will be better off using other credit cards for warehouse Costco purchases, as you will only earn 1% cashback. If you are looking for no annual fee credit cards only, this is a good card to go for.
Pros
- Save on fuel at Petro-Canada locations, with an overall 7 cents per litre value
- Great welcome bonus offer
- 3x points per $1 spent on high spend categories
Pros
- Decent reward rate for a no annual fee credit card
- One of the highest cashback rates for restaurant purchases in Canada
- Has Mobile insurance
Cons
- The ION Avion membership isn't quite as flexible as regular Avion
- Insurance coverage is very limited
Cons
- Doesn't come with a lot of benefits
- Doesn't earn much on Costco Warehouse purchases!
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