5 Excellent Travel Rewards Credit Cards of 2026

on MBNA's website

Welcome Bonus

Up to 30,000 points ($245 in cash back value or $300 when redeemed for MBNA Travel)††

Rewards Rate

1x - 5x

Annual Fee

$120

Interest Rates

21.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300

Poor

560

Fair

660⁎

Good

725⁎

Very Good

760⁎

Excellent

⁎Estimates based on Equifax scoring

American Express Cobalt® Card

Our Rating

5/5

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.

Awards & Recognition

Best Rewards Credit Card

2026

Pros & Cons

Pros

High grocery optimization
High dining optimization
Annual birthday bonus
Solid travel insurance
Rare price protection
Good redemption values

Cons

Missing key insurance categories
Low gas optimization
Annual fee
High income requirements

Card Details

Rewards

Earn 5 points^‡ for every $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases until $50,000 is spent annually in the applicable category.
1 point^‡ for every $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Each year, you will receive Birthday Bonus Points^‡ equal to 10% of the total number of Points the Account earned in the 12 months before the month of the primary cardholder's birthday, to a maximum Birthday Bonus each year of 15,000 Points.

Insurance

Coverage

Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
1 year
Car Rental Damage & Theft
31 days
Flight Delay
$500/person after 4 hours
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$1,000,000
Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)
$2M for 21 days
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1,000/person
Baggage Delay
$1,000/person
Price Protection
$500/item, $1,000/account per year

Benefits

Details

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

Eligibility

Credit Score
Good
Annual Income
$80,000 personal or $150,000 household

^**, ††, ‡, ✪, ***, ††††, Terms and Conditions apply. This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. Sponsored advertising. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) and TD is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete information on this MBNA credit card, please click on the “Apply Now” button. The Toronto-Dominion Bank is the issuer of this credit card. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. ®MBNA and other-trademarks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. Check here for full details and current product information.

If you're looking for a credit card that earns some of the highest travel rewards in Canada, this card is a great choice. You can redeem your points for flights, hotel stays, vacation packages, and rental cars at a fixed point value, making redemption simple and predictable. Since it’s part of the Mastercard network, it's also widely accepted internationally.

Best Overall Travel Rewards Credit Card for Air Miles & Points

Our choice for: Best travel points earning credit card in Canada

4.9

on American Express' website

Welcome Bonus

Up to 15,000 Membership Rewards® points

Rewards Rate

1x - 5x

Annual Fee

$191.88⁕

$15.99 Paid Monthly

⁕ For Quebec, $191.88/year

Interest Rates

21.99%* / 21.99%*

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300

Poor

693

Fair

743⁎

Good

790⁎

Very Good

833⁎

Excellent

⁎Estimates based on TransUnion scoring

American Express® Green Card

Our Rating

4.9/5

This card was voted one of 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 amex cobalt bonus 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.

Awards & Recognition

Best Travel Rewards Credit Card

2026

Pros & Cons

Pros

Impressive optimization
1:1 Aeroplan point transfer
Generous welcome bonus
Flexible high value redemptions
Comprehensive coverage
Highly ranked
Instant decision. No credit impact.

Cons

Limited acceptance
Lacks valuable coverage categories

Card Details

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

Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)
15 days, up to $5M (if under age 65)
Flight Delay
$500
Baggage Delay
$500
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$250,000
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
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
Good
Annual Income
N/A

^**Terms and conditions apply. If you have 2 separate missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate missed payments, the applicable rates will be 29.99%. American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment. Check here for full details and current product information.

If you're willing to put in the time to hunt for great deals across different airline and hotel programs, the Cobalt is one of the best cards you can get. It offers one of the highest overall earning rates for most Canadians, and its points are among the most flexible in the country.

For example, you can transfer your points to programs like Aeroplan, KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Delta SkyMiles, Etihad Guest, as well as Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors. This makes it incredibly versatile—but you do need to be strategic about how you redeem your points to get the best value.

Best Overall No Fee Travel Rewards Credit Card

2.8

on American Express' website

Welcome Bonus

Up to 10,000 Membership Rewards® points

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Interest Rates

21.99%* / 21.99%*

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300

Poor

693⁎

Fair

743⁎

Good

790⁎

Very Good

833⁎

Excellent

⁎Estimates based on TransUnion scoring

TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

Our Rating

2.8/5

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

Pros

No spending limits
Flexible redemption options
VIP perks
Eco-friendly plastic
Instant decision. No credit impact.

Cons

Lower reward rates
Limited travel perks
Limited acceptance

Card Details

Rewards

1x point per $1 spent on all purchases

Insurance

Coverage

Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
Up to a year

Benefits

Details

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

Eligibility

Credit Score
Fair
Annual Income
N/A

You earn points in a way similar to the Cobalt, but this card has no annual fee. However, the trade-off is that the points you earn are significantly lower compared to the Cobalt’s much higher earning rates.

Best Overall Travel Rewards Credit Card for Aeroplan

4.5

on TD's website

Welcome Bonus

Up to $1,450 in value† including up to 45,000 Aeroplan points†

Rewards Rate

1x - 1.5x

Annual Fee

$139 $0

Interest Rates

21.99% / 22.99%□

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300

Poor

560

Fair

660⁎

Good

725⁎

Very Good

760⁎

Excellent

⁎Estimates based on Equifax scoring

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

Our Rating

4.5/5

The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Card* is an excellent choice for frequent Air Canada travelers looking to maximize their rewards with Aeroplan points. With perks like free checked bags, Preferred Pricing, and a first-year fee rebate, it’s ideal for users who value Air Canada-specific benefits. However, the card’s high income requirement and limited non-Air Canada redemption options may not appeal to everyone.

Awards & Recognition

Best Aeroplan Credit Card

2026

Pros & Cons

Pros

Decent rewards
First-year fee rebate
Comprehensive insurance
Impressive travel perks

Cons

Relatively lower reward rates
Limited airline loyalty
Annual fee
Income requirements

Card Details

Rewards

Earn 1.5 points^†for every $1 spent on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, grocery and direct through Air Canada^®purchases (including Air Canada Vacations^®) made with your Card.
Earn 1 point^†for every $1 spent on all other Purchases made with your Card
Earn points twice when you pay with your Card and provide your Aeroplan number at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and at 200+ online retailers via the Aeroplan eStore (www.aeroplan.com/estore).
Your Aeroplan Points do not expire as long as you are a TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Cardholder in good standing.
Earn more at Starbucks: Link your eligible Card to earn more Starbucks Stars at participating Starbucks stores. Conditions apply.

Insurance

Coverage

Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)^†
21 days
Travel Medical Insurance (65 to 75)^†
4 days
Trip Cancellation^†
$1,500
Trip Interruption^†
$5,000
Flight Delay^†
$500
Baggage Delay^†
$1,000
Lost or Stolen Baggage^†
$1,000
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance^†
$500,000
Car Rental Damage & Theft^†
yes
Hotel Burglary Insurance^†
$2,500
Purchase Protection^†
90 days
Extended Warranty^†
1 year
Mobile Device Insurance^†
$1,000

Benefits

Details

Free first checked bag^†
First checked bag is free for primary cardholder on Aircanada flights and up to 8 guests
Nexus Program Rebate^†
$100 every 4 years
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits^†
Concierge Services^†
Golf Benefit^†
Troon Rewards Golf benefits like discounts at over 95 resorts and courses around the world plus access to select private clubs across the U.S
Extra points^†
Link your eligible Card to earn more Starbucks Stars at participating Starbucks stores. Conditions apply.  
Extra points^†
Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and over 200 online retailers through the Aeroplan eStore
Status lift^†
Reach Aeroplan Elite™ Status sooner by earning 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and one (1) Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 of net purchases
Car Rental Discount^†
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car
Trip and legal Assistance^†

Eligibility

Credit Score
Good
Annual Income
$60,000 personal or $100,000 household

^*†Terms and conditions apply. Sponsored advertising. The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on this TD credit card, please click the Apply Now button. Check here for full details and current product information.

If you travel with Air Canada frequently and want to earn points while enjoying added perks on your flights, this card is an excellent fit.

Best Overall Travel Rewards Credit Card with no foreign transaction fees

Our choice for: Great rewards, travel benefits and no FX fees

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

4.9

on Scotiabank's website

Welcome Bonus

Earn up to $850 in welcome offers

Rewards Rate

1x - 6x

Annual Fee

$120

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300

Poor

560

Fair

660⁎

Good

725⁎

Very Good

760⁎

Excellent

⁎Estimates based on Equifax scoring