RBC ION+ Visa vs Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card: Which one is better?

RBC ION+ Visa

Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card
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
Earn 8% cash back† for your first 3 months up to $1,000 eligible spend.
Our Cash Offer
$50 Cash Rebate offer from FinlyWealth
Our Cash Offer
$50 Cash Rebate offer from FinlyWealth
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
$337.19
First Year Bonus Value
+
$7.29
Annual Fee
-
$0
Finly Rebate
+
$50Exclusive Offer
First Year Value
$394.48
$337.19 in years after
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
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
- 4% cash back on eligible restaurant, bar, and coffee shop purchases up to $5,000 spent per year†
- 1.5% cash back on gas, groceries, drugstore, and pre-authorized payments up to $15,000 spent per year†
- 0.5% cashback on all other purchases†
Insurance Included
Extended Warranty
Up to a yearPurchase Protection
90 daysMobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Insurance Included
Extended Warranty
Up to 1 yearPurchase Protection
Up to 90 days
Extra Benefits
Gas Discount
Save 3¢/L instantly at the pump and get 20% more Petro-Points and 20% more Avion pointsExtra 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:
20.99%2
Cash Advance:
22.99%2
Balance Transfer:
22.99%2
2 “Purchase” means any Transaction other than a Cash Advance, Balance Transfer or Convenience Cheque. “Cash” means a Cash Advance, Balance Transfer and Convenience Cheque. Interest rates may change from time to time.
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:
$15,000
Loyalty Program
Loyalty Program
N/A
Point Redemption Options
Most Optimal
Transfer to WestJet
1¢ / pointFinancial Products
0.83¢ / pointGift Cards
0.72¢ / pointMerchandise
0.7¢ / pointTravel
0.58¢ / pointStatement 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?
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
- 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
- Highest cashback rate on restaurant purchases in Canada!
- Decent cashback rate on high spent categories such as groceries and gas.
- No annual fee for a card with great rewards.
Cons
- The ION Avion membership isn't quite as flexible as regular Avion
- Insurance coverage is very limited
Cons
- No insurance and benefits other than the standard purchase protection and extended warranty.
- Cap on the rewards that can be earned on each category.


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Legal
^When you shop at Metro, Food Basics or Super C, and spend at least $60, you’ll get 1 additional Moi point for every 2 dollars you spend. When you shop at Brunet or Jean Coutu and spend at least $40 you’ll get 1 extra Moi point for every 2 dollars spent and when you shop at Premiere Moisson, and spend at least $20, you’ll get 1 extra Moi point for every 2 dollars spent.
1 “Up to $125 in groceries” represents the combined value of the following promotional offers when you apply by September 9, 2025 and are approved for the RBC ION+ Visa: (a) 14,000 Avion points, which can be redeemed for most $100 gift cards though Avion Rewards, including Metro gift cards, plus (b) 3,125 Moi points, which are worth $25 in value, based on a redemption rate of 500 Moi points for $4. Point redemption values may fluctuate. For complete terms and conditions that apply to the Moi Rewards program, please visit programmemoi.ca/en/program-terms. For complete terms and conditions that apply to the Avion Rewards Program, please visit avionrewards.com/terms-and-conditions or call 1-800-769-2512.
This offer only applies to new applications for an RBC ION+ Visa credit card submitted through rbc.com/moirewards by September 9, 2025 (“Offer Period”) and approved by Royal Bank of Canada (“Royal Bank”), subject to the conditions below. Additional cardholders(s) (co-applicant and authorized user(s)) on the RBC ION+ Visa credit card account, as well as existing cardholders on any RBC Royal Bank personal credit card transferring to an RBC ION+ Visa credit card during the Offer Period, are not eligible for this offer.
14,000 welcome Avion points (“Welcome Points”) will appear on your first credit card statement after your application has been approved, provided that your RBC ION+ Visa credit card account (“Credit Card Account”) remains open and in good standing at the time the Welcome points are credited to your account, “good standing” meaning that your Credit Card Account must not be past due for more than two (2) consecutive credit card account statement periods, closed, charged off or in credit revoked status. If you close or change your RBC ION+ Visa credit card for another type of RBC Royal Bank credit card before the Welcome Points have been credited to your account, you may lose the benefit of this offer. This offer may not be combined or used in conjunction with any other offer with the exception of offers available on rbc.com/moirewards. Royal Bank reserves the right to cancel, modify or withdraw this offer at any time without notice, even after your application has been approved, including if we suspect that you may be manipulating or abusing it, or engaging in any suspicious or fraudulent activity, as determined by Royal Bank in its sole discretion. For complete terms and conditions that apply to the Avion Rewards Program, please visit avionrewards.com/terms-and-conditions or call 1-800-769-2512.
To get $100 worth of gift cards/certificates, you will need a total of 14,000 Avion points, based on a minimum redemption of 1,400 Avion points for most $10 gift cards/certificates. Some exceptions apply. Point redemption values may fluctuate. For general redemption terms, conditions and restrictions that apply to the Avion Rewards program, as well as for current point redemption values, please visit avionrewards.com/terms-and-conditions or call 1-800-769-2512.
To be eligible to receive 3,125 Moi points ("Bonus Moi points"), your application for the RBC ION+ Visa must be submitted through rbc.com/moirewards by September 9, 2025 ("Offer Period") and be approved by us, and you must link your new RBC ION+ Visa to your Moi Rewards card within 30 days from the date your credit card application has been approved. Additional cardholder(s) (co-applicant and authorized users(s)) on the RBC ION+ Visa credit card account, as well as existing cardholders on any RBC personal credit card transferring to the RBC ION+ Visa as of the Offer Period, are not eligible for the Bonus Moi points. moi RBC Visa cardholders applying for the RBC ION+ Visa as of the Offer Period are not eligible for the Bonus Moi points. To link your new RBC ION+ Visa to your Moi account, you must be enrolled in RBC Online Banking or the RBC Mobile app. Card linking may take up to 2 business days to process. Please allow up to 2-9 weeks for the Bonus Moi points to be awarded to your linked Moi account. This offer may not be combined or used in conjunction with any other offer, with the exception of offers available on rbc.com/moirewards. Offer may be amended or withdrawn without notice at any time, prior to your acceptance. For complete details, including the definition of the capitalized terms used in the disclosures below, please see full Terms and Conditions.
To redeem your Moi points, you must have at least 500 Moi points to get $4 off your transaction at participating Moi Rewards stores. To redeem more than 500 Moi points in one transaction, you may only do so in increments of 125 Moi points thereafter, at a redemption rate of 125 Moi points for $1. Other conditions and restrictions apply. Moi point redemption values may fluctuate. For complete terms and conditions that apply to the Moi Rewards program, please visit programmemoi.ca/en/program-terms.
2 You will earn 3 Avion points for every $1.00 in Grocery, Dining, Food Delivery, Rides, Gas, Electric Vehicle Charging, Streaming, and Digital Gaming & Subscriptions Purchases you make on your RBC ION+ Visa credit card at merchants classified by Visa’s “Merchant Category Code” (MCC). Depending on how certain merchants are categorized by Visa’s “Merchant Category Code” (MCC) they may not qualify as an eligible MCC. Eligible MCCs are listed as:
(i) “Grocery Stores and Supermarkets” (MCC 5411), “Eating Place sand Restaurants” (MCC 5812), “Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) – Bars, Taverns, Nightclubs, Cocktail Lounges, and Discotheques” (MCC 5813), “Fast Food Restaurants” (MCC 5814), are “Grocery, Dining, and Food Delivery Purchases”. Government liquor agencies and package stores that sell beer, wine, and liquor do not qualify as part of the “Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)– Bars, Taverns, Nightclubs, Cocktail Lounges, and Discotheques” MCC;
(ii) “Service Stations (With or without Ancillary Services)” (MCC 5541), “Automated Fuel Dispensers” (MCC 5542), “Taxicabs and Limousines” (MCC 4121), “Local and Suburban Commuter Passenger Transportation, Including Ferries” (MCC 4111), “Electric Vehicle Charging” (MCC 5552) are “Rides, Gas & Electric Vehicle Charging Purchases”. Non-commuter passenger railway purchases and non-commuter bus line purchases do not qualify as part of “Rides, Gas & Electric Vehicle Charging Purchases”.
(iii) “Digital Goods Media – Books, Movies, Music” (MCC 5815), “Digital Goods – Games” (MCC 5816), “Digital Goods – Applications (Excludes Games)” (MCC 5817), “Digital Goods – Large Digital Goods Merchants” (MCC 5818), “Cable, Satellite and Other Pay Television/Radio/Streaming Services” (MCC 4899) are “Streaming, Digital Gaming & Subscriptions Purchases”. The “Digital Goods –Games” MCC does not include games of chance and gambling.
You will earn 1 Avion point for every $1.00 on all other purchases (including pre-authorized bill payments) you make on your RBC ION+ Visa credit card. Even though some merchants may sell Grocery, Dining, Food Delivery, Rides, Gas, Electric Vehicle Charging, Streaming, Digital Gaming & Subscriptions merchandise, purchases made at these locations may not necessarily qualify as Eligible MCCs if the merchant is not classified as such by Visa. Also, you may make a purchase at a merchant that is not classified as an Eligible MCC but is located on the premises of a merchant that is classified as an Eligible MCC, in which case your purchase would not qualify as an Eligible MCC. We cannot guarantee that any merchant, operating in whole or in part as a Grocery, Dining, Food Delivery, Rides, Gas, Electric Vehicle Charging, Streaming, and Digital Gaming & Subscriptions merchant is classified as an Eligible MCC and in no event will we be liable or responsible for any claims with respect to a Grocery, Dining, Food Delivery, Rides, Gas, Electric Vehicle Charging, Streaming, and Digital Gaming & Subscriptions Purchase made at a merchant that is not classified as an Eligible MCC. Avion points are earned on net purchases only; they are not earned on cash advances (balance transfers, cash-like transactions and bill payments that are not pre-authorized charges that you set up with a merchant), interest charges or fees, and credits for returns and adjustments will reduce or cancel the points earned by the amounts originally charged.
4 Each time you use your linked, eligible RBC payment card to pay for purchases at a Metro location or any participating store, you’ll earn 1 extra Moi point for every 2 dollars you spend^.
Please allow up to ninety (90) days from the date the transaction is posted on your credit card statement for the points to appear in your Moi Rewards account.
5 No points are awarded for purchases of the following products and services: tobacco products, lottery tickets, public transportation tickets and passes, gift cards and other prepaid cards, stamps, postal services, dry cleaning, film and video game rentals, any deposit fees and eco-contributions, SAQ products, alcoholic beverages outside of the province of Québec, order preparation and delivery charges, donations, utensils for ready to eat products, certain products offered on participating partner’s platforms, products offered through food waste reduction platforms, Fragrance Discovery Gift Sets, items linked to a fundraising campaign, prescription drug, other medication and other pharmacy or health care-related products and services according to laws in place in each province, taxes, ecofees and any items excluded by Metro in the future or forbidden by law. Excluded products may vary by province and Metro reserves the right at all times, to add or exclude, at its sole discretion, eligible items for points.
Refer to RBC page for up to date offer terms and conditions. The Website may engage in affiliate marketing, which is done by embedding tracking links into The Website. If you click on a link for an affiliate partnership, a cookie will be placed on your browser to track any sales for purposes of commissions.
†Terms and conditions apply. Click ‘Apply Now’ for complete details. Banking services are not available in Quebec.
This offer applies to the Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card. You can qualify for this offer if you apply and are approved for a new eligible card beginning May 14, 2025.
This 8% cash back offer (applies an incremental 4% cash back to the 4% cash back already awarded) on eligible restaurant, bar and coffee shop purchases and is available to new cardholders who apply and are approved for the Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card beginning May 14, 2025. The 4% incremental cash back applies on eligible restaurant, bar and coffee shop purchases made during your first 3 monthly statement periods beginning from your account open date or $1,000 in total restaurant, bar and coffee shop purchases (equal to $40 bonus cash back), whichever comes first. This offer will not result in any changes to the 4% cash back already earned on restaurant, bar and coffee shop purchases, and those purchases will be included within the $5,000 annual spend limit that earns 4% cash back.
This offer may be withdrawn or changed without prior notice at any time. Simplii Financial may, in its sole discretion, disqualify, limit or revoke this offer if you are believed to be abusing or manipulating it, or engaging in any suspicious or fraudulent activity. Simplii Financial may approve your application, but you are not eligible to receive this offer if you have opened or cancelled a Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card within the last 12 months.
*“Purchase” means any Transaction other than a Cash Advance, Balance Transfer or Convenience Cheque. “Cash” means a Cash Advance, Balance Transfer and Convenience Cheque. Interest rates may change from time to time.