PC Mastercard Review
The PC Mastercard is the most affordable and accessible PC credit card in Canada, allowing cardholders to tap into the PC Financial rewards program for no annual fee or income requirements.
May 26, 2026 6:39 PM
The Bottom Line
If you're looking to avoid annual fees and income requirements whilst still collecting PC points on eligible purchases, apply for the PC Mastercard. However if you are willing to pay a fee there are other alternatives that would give higher rewards and benefits.
Skip to: Detailed Review
on PC Financial's website
Welcome Bonus
20,000 PC points ($20 value)
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
21.99% - 26.99% (not for Quebec) / 22.97% - 27.97% (not for Quebec)
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
Rewards
- 25 points per $1 dollar spent at Shoppers Drug Mart® stores
- 19 points per $1 dollar spent at ESSO and Mobil (it's 30 points per liter and the assumption of average gas price of $1.6 was made)
- 10 points per $1 dollar spent for all other eligible purchases
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
1 year
Benefits
Details
Extra points
20 points per $1 spent in PC Travel
Eligibility
Credit Score
FairAnnual Income
N/A
Welcome Bonus Details
Earn 20,000 points when you get approved.
Card Details
Interest Rates
Purchase APR
21.99% - 26.99% (not for Quebec)
Cash Advance APR
22.97% - 27.97% (not for Quebec)
Fees
Annual Fee
$0
Additional Cards
0
Eligibility
Minimum Individual Income
N/A
Minimum Household Income
N/A
Credit Score Estimate
Fair
Type
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Decent optimization
- No annual fee
- Decent insurance
- Convenient point tracking
- Mobile app access
Cons
- Low base earn rate
- High interest rates
Our Detailed Review
How to Earn Rewards with the PC Mastercard
With your PC Mastercard, you can collect PC Financial points on the following:
- 25 points per $1 dollar spent at Shoppers Drug Mart® stores
- 19 points per $1 dollar spent at ESSO and Mobil (it's 30 points per liter and the assumption of average gas price of $1.6 was made)
- 10 points per $1 dollar spent for all other eligible purchases
How to Redeem Rewards with the PC Mastercard
Redeeming your PC points is simple. Once collected, cardholders can put their points towards groceries and Esso gas.
To learn more about this loyalty program, check out our PC Financial Credit Card Points Value Calculator.
Benefits and Perks
3 Benefits of the PC Mastercard
There are a few benefits that make the PC Mastercard one of the best PC credit cards in Canada.
To keep things affordable, the PC Mastercard avoids annual fees completely, making it very appealing to the budget-conscious.
On top of affordability, the PC Mastercard also boasts accessibility by dodging any annual income requirements.
Cardholders can also collect extra PC Financial points per dollar spent in PC Travel.
Drawbacks and Considerations
2 Downsides to the PC Mastercard
There are also some downsides to consider before committing.
While the reward rates are decent, compared to other PC competitors, the optimization on the PC Mastercard is quite low.
Relative to other PC credit cards in Canada, the PC Mastercard lacks extensive perks and coverage.
Compare to Similar Cards
To help you decide whether the PC Mastercard is the right PC credit card for you, we're comparing it against other PC credit cards in Canada, plus another no-fee alternative.
PC Financial
1.8
PC Financial
2.3
PC Financial
2.2
PC Financial
2.1
Simplii Financial™
4.3
Annual Fee
$0
$0
$120
$0 first year
$0
$0
Interest Rates
Purchase
21.99% - 26.99% (not for Quebec)
Cash advance
22.97% - 27.97% (not for Quebec)
Purchase
21.99%
Cash advance
22.97%
Purchase
21.99% - 26.99% (not for Quebec)
Cash advance
22.97% - 27.97% (not for Quebec)
Purchase
21.99% - 26.99% (not for Quebec)
Cash advance
22.97% - 27.97% (not for Quebec)
Purchase
20.99%*
Cash advance
22.99%*
Balance transfer
22.99%*
Rate details
Welcome Bonus
20,000 PC points ($20 value)
20,000 PC points ($20 value)
Up to 150,000 PC Optimum™ points ($150 value)
20,000 PC points ($20 value)
Double your cash back on Resturants, Bars and Coffee Shops in your first 3 months.†
Rewards
$263.65
First year rewards
$283.51
First year rewards
$431.04
First year rewards
$273.58
First year rewards
$438.18
First year rewards
on PC Financial's website
on PC Financial's website
on PC Financial's website
on PC Financial's website
on Simplii Financial™'s website
Welcome Bonus Details
Earn Rates
Insurance Coverage
Extra Benefits
Requirements
PC Mastercard vs PC World Elite Mastercard
Also available for no annual fee, the PC World Elite Mastercard earns cardholders more PC points on Shoppers Drug Mart, Esso, and Mobil purchases, plus more PC points per dollar spent on partner groceries. On top of purchase protection and extended warranty coverage, this card also includes car rental damage and theft insurance, plus travel medical insurance. These travel protections pair well with the extra points earned on PC Travel, plus other perks like concierge services. To qualify for this card, however, cardholders need to meet some high annual income requirements.
Bottom Line: For those that meet the income requirements, the PC World Elite Mastercard is the superior no-fee option on account of it's upgraded rewards program, coverage, and perks.
PC Mastercard vs PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard
To pocket the most PC Financial points, check out the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard, one of the best store credit cards in Canada. This card also boasts extra coverage. While there is a high annual fee, it's waived for the first year of membership. That said, applicants will still need to meet some high annual income requirements to qualify.
Bottom Line: The PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard is the most premium PC credit card in Canada, complete with the highest optimization opportunities, for a fee.
PC Mastercard vs PC World Mastercard
The PC World Mastercard gets you slightly more PC points on Shoppers Drug Mart and gas purchases, the same points on PC Travel purchases, and bonus PC points on partner groceries. While the coverage on this card is the same as the standard Mastercard, cardholders receive concierge services as an additional perk. To qualify for this card, note that there are some small income requirements.
Bottom Line: For those who qualify, the PC World Mastercard provides more point potential and better perks.
Learn more: Best PC Credit Cards in Canada
PC Mastercard vs Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card
For impressive cash back on eligible restaurant, bar, and coffee shop purchases, plus decent optimization on gas, groceries, drugstore, and pre-authorized payments, check out the Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card, one of the best dining credit cards in Canada. Just note that this alternative lacks any added perks and comes with a small annual income requirement.
Bottom Line: The Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card is a valuable and more flexible no-fee cashback alternative, especially for foodies.
Frequently Asked Questions
The PC Mastercard stands out amongst other PC credit cards because it avoids both annual fees and income requirements, making it both affordable and accessible.
Not really. While you can redeem your points towards statement credits to pay off your credit card bill, which offers some flexibility, this yields the lowest cent-per-point value, compared to groceries and gas.
About the author
Sara Skodak
Lead Writer
Since graduating from the University of Western Ontario, Sara has built a diverse writing portfolio, covering topics in the travel, business, and wellness sectors. As a self-started freelance content ...
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Abid Salahi
Co-founder
Abid leads the design and engineering of the FinlyWealth website, making sure everything runs smoothly and looks great. He’s a seasoned software engineer who follows best practices and designs interfa...
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