Top 10 Recurring Transaction Credit Cards of 2026 in Canada
Published Oct 14, 2026 6:01 PM • 8 min read
One common expense Canadians have are recurring transactions. Think continuous monthly costs like streaming services, subscriptions, and bill payments. In this blog post, we'll highlight the best credit cards in Canada that optimize this category.
Data-driven rankings of 120+ credit cards using a proprietary algorithm
Comprehensive analysis using 25+ data points including terms and conditions, points programs, and more
Objective editorial approach - we strive for unbiased reviews following our editorial guidelines
FinlyWealth's credit cards content, including rankings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of engineers and writers who specialize in credit cards, banking, and personal finance. Our work has been featured in The Globe and Mail, GoBankingRates, and AOL. Our proprietary analysis systems evaluate product features, terms, and conditions to deliver comprehensive reviews and comparisons while maintaining strict editorial standards for accuracy and integrity.
Our choice for: Best Overall
on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus
Earn 15% Cash Back on all purchases for the first 3 months, a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers, and no annual card fees in the first year
Annual Fee
$120 $0
Interest Rates
20.99% / 22.99%
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
4.6/5
The 4% cashback offered on groceries and recurring purchases is the highest among all other credit cards. With the first year's annual fee waived, and with the right transactions used on this credit card, a high amount of cashback could be earned.
Pros
- High grocery optimization
- High recurring payment optimization
- High insurance coverage
- First-year fee rebate
- Car rental discounts
Cons
- Low base earn rate
- Income requirements
Rewards
- 4% for every $1 you spend on grocery store purchases, recurring bill payments and subscription purchases
- 2% for every $1 you spend on gas and daily transit purchases
- New 2% Cash Back earn category: You will earn 2% on all eligible purchases of Food Delivery4
- 1% cash back on all other purchases with no cashback limit
- New Cash Back Anytime feature: Redeem your cash back that you’ve earned whenever you need it, through the Scotia app or Scotia Online ($25.00 minimum redemption)¹
- Rates, fees and other information are effective as of July 2, 2026. Subject to change.
Insurance
Coverage
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$500,000
Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)
15 days
Trip Interruption
$2,000
Trip Cancellation
$1,500
Flight Delay
$500
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500Baggage Delay
$500.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
48 days
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
1 year
Benefits
Details
Car Rental Discount
25% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car
Discount11
Yearly GigSky 1GB/15-Day plan, 20% off future purchases, and 10GB of global data for 15 days with Travel Essentials
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits
Yes.svg)
Gas Discount12
Get up to 7¢/L in value on fuel purchases at Shell stations
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$60,000 personal or $100,000 household
Our choice for: Best for Boosted Cashback
on Neo Financial's website
Finly Special Offer
Welcome Bonus
$0 First-Year Annual Fee and $100 Welcome Bonus
Annual Fee
$149 $0
Interest Rates
19.99% - 26.99%□ / 22.99% - 28.99%
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
4.6/5
This card offers some of the highest cash back rates in Canada for gas, groceries, and recurring purchases, 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, if you're the average person whose spending is generally below $12k per year in groceries, $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.
Awards & Recognition
Best Cash Back Credit Card
2026
Pros
- High cashback rates
- Premium insurance coverage
- Airport lounge membership
- Boosted partner cashback
- Instant approval and access
Cons
- High income requirements
- Spending caps
- Annual fee
Rewards
- 5% cash back on grocery purchases up to $1,000 spending per month
- 4% cash back on recurring purchases up to $500 spending per month
- 3% cash back on gas purchases up to $1,000 spending per month
- 1% cash back on all other purchases with no spending caps
- Up to 15% boosted cashback at thousands of partners across Canada - on top of base cashback rates
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)
Up to $1,000,000Trip Cancellation
$1,000Trip Interruption
$1,000Flight Delay
$500Baggage Delay
$1,000
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000
Car Rental Accident
$100,000 for cardholder, up to $10,000 per Spouse or Dependent ChildCar Rental Damage & Theft
Yes.svg)
Car Rental Personal Effects
$1,000Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 yearLost or Stolen Baggage
$1,000
Mastercard Zero Liability Protection
Yes
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Pass only - pay $32 USD per visit
No Foreign Transaction Fees1
You can get all FX fees rebated up to $10K spending per month with a Neo Grow membership ($12.99/month cost or $0 with $20K across your Neo accounts)
World Mastercard Benefits
Including discounting with participating partners and DragonPass airport lounge access.
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$80,000 personal or $150,000 household
Our choice for: Best for Streaming Services
Welcome Bonus
Up to 15,000 Membership Rewards® points
Annual Fee
$191.88⁕
$15.99 Paid Monthly
⁕ For Quebec, $191.88/year
Interest Rates
21.99%* / 21.99%*
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
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
- 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
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
$500Baggage Delay
$500Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$250,000Car Rental Damage & Theft
yesMobile Device Insurance
$1,000Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended 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™
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
N/A
Our choice for: Best for Household Utility Purchases
on MBNA's website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 30,000 points ($245 in cash back value or $300 when redeemed for MBNA Travel)††
Annual Fee
$120
Interest Rates
21.99% / 22.99%
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
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
- 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
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
$1,000Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 yearCar Rental Damage & Theft
31 daysFlight Delay
$500/person after 4 hoursCommon Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$1,000,000Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)
$2M for 21 daysLost or Stolen Baggage
$1,000/personBaggage 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
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Concierge Services
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$80,000 personal or $150,000 household
Our choice for: Best for Rogers Customers
on Rogers Bank's website
Rogers, Fido, Shaw or Comwave customer?
Eligible customers unlock boosted rewards on this card
Welcome Bonus
Welcome Bonus varies
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
21.99% - 25.99%* / 22.99% - 27.99%*
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
4.5/5
This card is one of the best in Canada, especially if you have 1 qualifying service with Rogers, Fido, Shaw or Comwave. With a qualifying service, you can effectively receive up to 2% cashback rate, which competitive against other no-fee contenders. 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!
Awards & Recognition
Best No Fee Cash Back Credit Card
2026
Pros
- Top no-fee contender
- Member earning boosts
- USD optimization
- Comprehensive coverage
- Airport lounge membership
- Roam Like Home days
Cons
- High income requirements
- Annual spending caps
Rewards
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible non-U.S. dollar purchases if you have 1 qualifying service with Rogers, Fido, Shaw or Comwave. Otherwise, earn 1.5% cash back on eligible non-U.S. dollar purchases.
- Plus, earn up to 3% cash back on eligible U.S. dollar purchases.
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)
Up to 10 daysTravel Medical Insurance (65 to 75)
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
Discounted access to over 1300 airport lounges with Mastercard Travel Pass. Pass only, complimentary visits not included.
Roam Like Home Days
Get 5 Roam Like Home days at no cost, every year, with an eligible Rogers mobile plan.
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$80,000 personal or $150,000 household
Our choice for: Best for Mid-Tier Cashback
on TD's website
Welcome Bonus
Earn up to $600 in total value† including an Annual Fee rebate for the first year†. Conditions apply.
Annual Fee
$139 $0
Interest Rates
21.99% / 22.99%□
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
4/5
This is a great keeper card, especially for recurring bills and subscriptions. A main notable benefit is the roadside assistance, which is a great valuable perk to have.
Pros
- Roadside assistance
- First-year fee rebate
Cons
- Low base earn rate
- Basic travel insurance
Rewards
- Earn 3% in Cash Back Dollars on Grocery, Gas & Electric Vehicle Charging, Public Transit Purchases.†(max $450 cashback per year, then 1% earning applies)
- Earn 3% in Cash Back Dollars on Recurring Bill Payments, and Streaming, Digital Gaming & Media Purchases†. (max $450 cashback per year, then 1% earning applies)
- Earn 1% in Cash Back Dollars on all other Purchases
- Redeem your Cash Back Dollars to help pay down your Accounts balance whenever you please - the choice is yours†!
- 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)†
$2M, 10 daysTravel Medical Insurance (65 to 75)†
$2M, 4 daysLost or Stolen Baggage†
$1000Baggage Delay†
$1000Car Rental Damage & Theft†
IncludedMobile Device Insurance†
$1000Purchase Protection†
90 daysExtended Warranty†
1 year
Benefits
Details
Extra points†
Earn more at Starbucks: Link your eligible Card to earn more Starbucks Stars at participating Starbucks stores. Conditions applyConcierge Services†
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits†
Roadside Assistance†
Receive 24/7 Roadside Assistance with Free Deluxe TD Auto Club membershipCar Rental Discount†
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$60,000 personal or $100,000 household
Our choice for: Best for Extensive Earning Opportunities
on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus
Earn up to $950 in welcome offers, first year rewards and savings value, and up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points.
Annual Fee
$120
Interest Rates
21.99% / 22.99%
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
5/5
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 fees
- Well-rounded rewards
- Shell Fuel Savings
- Comprehensive insurance
- Flexible redemptions
- Instant decision. No credit impact.
Cons
- Limited acceptance
- No lounge access
- Annual fee
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
- Rates, fees and other information are effective as of July 2, 2026. Subject to change.
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)
$1M, Up to 25 daysTravel Medical Insurance (65 to 75)
$1M, Up to 3 daysTrip Cancellation
$1,500/person, $10,000/tripTrip Interruption
$1,500/person, $10,000/tripLost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1,000/tripBaggage Delay
$500/person, $1,000/trip After 4 hoursFlight Delay
$500/personCommon Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$500K/person, $1M/occurrenceCar Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 daysHotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000/occurrenceMobile Device Insurance
$1,000Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
Up to 1 year
Benefits
Details
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Avoid the 2.5% foreign transaction fees incurred when spending in non $CADGas Discount2
Get up to 12¢/L in value on fuel purchases at Shell stationsAmerican Express® Experiences
Concierge Services
Discount
Discount on PriorityPass Membership
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$12,000 personal or $12,000 household
Our choice for: Best for Customizable Cashback
on Tangerine's website
Welcome Bonus
Get $120 with a Tangerine® Money-Back World Mastercard®* and a limited time promo rate on balance transfers
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
20.95%* / 22.95%*
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
4.6/5
While we think Tangerine World Mastercard isn't the best single credit card to own, it's still a valuable card to have in your arsenal for maximizing your rewards. It offers one of the highest cashback rates for pharmacy and recurring bill payments, areas where your other credit cards might not provide significant rewards. For no annual fees
Pros
- Customizable cashback
- No annual fee
- Unique cashback categories available
- High recurring transactions optimization
- High pharmacy purchase optimization
- Airport lounge membership
Cons
- Income requirements
- Low base earn rate
Rewards
- 2% Money-Back Rewards on your choice of two categories from the 13 offered by Tangerine (Grocery, Restaurants, Gas, Entertainment, Furniture, Hotel-Motel, Drug Store, Reccurring Bill Payments, Home Improvement, Public Transportation and Parking and more). Change them up every 90 days to match spending habits.
- Have your Money-Back Rewards deposited into a Tangerine Savings Account and get a third 2% Money-Back Category.
- 0.5% cashback on all other eligible purchases.
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 yearMobile Device Insurance
$1,000Car Rental Damage & Theft
31 days
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Pass only. No Complimentary visits!Wireless Credit
FlexiRoam 1GB Global Data Roaming Plan and 15% off on purchase of Data Plans.
Mastercard On-Demand and Subscription Services
Access 50+ live-stream sports channels and save $30 on your first three months of Fubo (excludes Quebec)
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$50,000 personal or $80,000 household
Our choice for: Best for Benefits
on BMO's website
Welcome Bonus
Get up to $650 in value*
Annual Fee
$139 $0
Interest Rates
21.99% / 23.99%□
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
4.1/5
If you're seeking a cashback credit card, the BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard® stands out for its excellent balance between rewards and benefits. It offers a robust rewards program and a comprehensive benefits list, making it a solid choice. The high first-year value is enhanced by the annual fee waiver, and those with a BMO Premium Chequing Account can enjoy continued fee waivers. While it's highly ranked for rewards alone, it may not be the absolute top choice if benefits are less important to you.
Awards & Recognition
Best Roadside Assistance Card Credit Card
2026
Pros
- Impressive cashback rates
- Rare roadside assistance
- Comprehensive insurance and benefits
- High first-year value
Cons
- Lacks restaurant optimization
- Low monthly cashback caps
Rewards
- 5% cash back on groceries (capped at $500 spending per statement, maximum of $25 in cashback per statement cycle)*
- 4% cash back on daily transit (capped at $300 spending per statement, maximum of $12 in cashback per statement cycle)*
- 3% cash back on gas (capped at $300 spending per statement, maximum of $9 in cashback per statement cycle)*
- 2% cash back on recurring payments (capped at $500 spending per statement, maximum of $10 in cashback per statement cycle)*
- 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases*
Insurance
Coverage
Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)
$5M up to 8 days per covered person*Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$500,000Flight Delay
$500 After 4 hours delay*Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1,000 maximum*Baggage Delay
$500/person, $1,000 maximum After 6 hours*Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000Car Rental Damage & Theft
$65K MSRP up to 48 days*Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 year
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass. As a member enjoy lounge access for a fee of just US$32 per person, per visit.*Roadside Assistance
Complimentary Roadside Assistance Program*; Including battery boosts, flat-tire change, lockout service and towing – a $75/year value.*Car Rental Discount
Save up to 20% on National Car Rental® and Alamo Rent A Car® and up to 5% on Enterprise Rent-A-Car® at locations worldwide using the Car Rental Booking tool.*Discount
Enjoy six months of Instacart+ and a $10 monthly Instacart credit when you enroll your eligible BMO Credit Card.*
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$80,000 personal or $150,000 household
Our choice for: Best for No-Fee Boosted Cashback
on Neo Financial's website
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
19.99% - 29.99%□ / 22.99% - 31.99%
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
3.4/5
This card offers balanced rewards for everyday purchases. There's a secured version of this card too, which would be beneficial for those wanting to build credit and earn cash back at the same time at only $7.99/month.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Boosted partner cashback
- Instant approval and access
Cons
- Basic insurance coverage
- Spending caps
- Income requirements
Rewards
- 2% cash back on grocery purchases up to $1,000 spending per month
- 2% cash back on gas purchases up to $1,000 spending per month
- 2% cash back on recurring purchases up to $500 spending per month
- 0.5% cash back on all other purchases up to $2,500 spending per month
- Up to 15% boosted cashback at thousands of partners across Canada - on top of base cashback rates
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 yearMastercard Zero Liability Protection
Yes
Benefits
Details
No Foreign Transaction Fees1
You can get all FX fees rebated up to $10K spending per month with a Neo Grow membership ($12.99/month cost or $0 with $20K across your Neo accounts)World Mastercard Benefits
Including discounting with participating partners and DragonPass airport lounge access.
Eligibility
Credit Score
FairAnnual Income
$50,000 personal or $80,000 household
From our editors: the top recurring transaction credit cards in Canada
1. Best Overall: Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite + Card
The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite + Card offers impressive cashback rates on common categories like recurring purchases and groceries, so you can optimize bill payments and restocking the refrigerator at the same time. Topped off with strong insurance coverage, car rental discounts, and a first-year-annual-fee rebate, it's no wonder this Visa card takes first place.
Note, however, that there are some annual income requirements you'll need to meet to qualify. Get the full breakdown in our Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite + Card Review.
2. Best for Boosted Cashback: Neo World Elite Mastercard – Gas & Grocery
Sometimes, with Canadian credit cards, what you see isn't what you get. At first glance, the Neo World Elite Mastercard – Gas & Grocery's cashback rates on recurring purchases, groceries, and gas are already tempting, but there's more than meets the eye. You can actually collect extra cashback on these categories, as well as others, when purchasing from Neo Partners, making it one of the best cashback credit cards in Canada. This means that recurring purchases, like subscription fees from Netflix, Spotify, and Amazon Prime, can be optimized even further.
The catch? This card comes with high annual income requirements, making it a little less accessible. Learn more in our Neo World Elite Mastercard – Gas & Grocery Review.
3. Best for Streaming Services: Amex Cobalt Card
Eager to optimize streaming services specifically? Look no further than the American Express Cobalt Card, one of the best credit cards in Canada. With solid points per dollar spent on eligible streaming services in Canada, you can optimize every couch binge. The card also offers amazing points per dollar spent on eligible dining, grocery, and food delivery purchases. Note, however, that the Cobalt's high point rate applies to eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada, while other recurring bills, like your phone or utilities, earn the base rate.
Aside from rewards, cardholders can also expect commendable coverage and a hotel travel credit, just mind the annual fee. Find out more in our American Express Cobalt Card Review.
4. Best for Household Utility Purchases: MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard
This contender grants you strong points per dollar spent on household utility purchases, plus digital media, and membership purchases, all of which can be considered recurring transactions. The MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard is also recognized as one of the best grocery credit cards in Canada. These reward rates are complemented by perks like an annual birthday bonus, car rental discounts, and price protection.
To qualify for this card, however, you'll need to pay an annual fee and meet high annual income requirements. See more in our MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard Review.
5. Best for Rogers Customers: Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard
Perhaps you're a qualifying Rogers, Fido, Comwave or Shaw customer. If so, you should consider the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard, also know as one of Canada's best no annual fee credit cards. Qualifying members receive extraordinary cashback on all USD and non-USD purchases.
As if that wasn't enough, this card also includes an airport lounge Dragon Pass, no cost roaming opportunities, and valuable travel insurance like trip interruption, trip cancellation, and emergency medical coverage (which is rare for a no-fee card!). Of course, all of these perks come with a couple of caveats: high annual income requirements and an annual spending cap. Discover more in our Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard Review.
6. Best for Best for Mid-Tier Cashback: TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card
Sure, we've examined plenty of credit cards that optimize recurring purchases more than the TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card, but this contender doesn't require high annual income requirements or memberships to collect that cashback, making it a good mid-tier option.
For relatively lower annual income requirements, cardholders receive admirable cashback on recurring bill payments and streaming, plus other common categories like gas, groceries, and transit. Another notable addition to this card is roadside assistance, offering 24-hour emergency road services through a Deluxe TD Auto Club membership. Read more in our TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card Review.
7. Best for Customizable Cashback: Tangerine World Mastercard
Looking for more more control over how you earn cashback? The Tangerine World Mastercard has you covered, allowing cardholders to select 2 cashback categories out of the 13 offered by Tangerine, plus a third when you deposit your rewards into a Tangerine Savings Account. One of these available categories, of course, is recurring bill payments.
To tempt you even further, the Tangerine World Mastercard offers a Dragon Pass membership, avoids annual fees, and provides valuable coverage like mobile device insurance. Just make sure you meet the annual income requirements. For more information, check out our Tangerine World Mastercard Review.
8. Best for Benefits: BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard
If you want a handful of helpful benefits on top of recurring transaction optimization, then the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard is for you. On top of decent cashback rates on recurring payments, plus solid rates on groceries, transit, and gas, this card includes valuable perks like an airport lounge Dragon Pass, roadside assistance, a global data roaming plan, and discounts on gas and rental cars.
To make the card more enticing, the first year fee is completely waived and BMO Premium Chequing Account holders can receive continuous yearly fee waivers. Just note that the card comes with high annual income requirements. Get all the information in our BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard Review.
9. Best for No-Fee Boosted Cashback: Neo World Mastercard – Gas & Grocery
If you liked the cashback-boosting opportunities presented by the Neo World Elite Mastercard – Gas & Grocery, budget-friendly cardholders will love the Neo World Mastercard – Gas & Grocery. For no annual fee and much smaller annual income requirements, this card offers decent cashback rates on recurring purchases, groceries, and gas. Both the specialized categories and additional categories can also receive extra cashback at Neo Partners, effectively earning you bonus cashback when you use your card for eligible subscription fees. Read the full report in our Neo World Mastercard – Gas & Grocery Review.
Recurring payment reward rates compared
Here's how the rewards on recurring bills and subscriptions stack up across our picks:
$200 cash offer
Scotiabank
4.6
$100 cash offer
Neo Financial
4.6
$75 cash offer
American Express
4.9
$100 cash offer
MBNA
5.0
Rogers Bank
4.5
$200 cash offer
Scotiabank
5.0
Annual Fee
$120
$0 first year
$149
$0 first year
$191.88
$120
$0
$139
$0 first year
$120
$0
$139
$0 first year
$0
Interest Rates
Purchase
20.99%
Cash advance
22.99%
Balance transfer
22.99%
Purchase
19.99% - 26.99%
19.99% - 23.99%
Cash advance
22.99% - 28.99%
Balance transfer
22.99% - 31.99%
Purchase
21.99%*
Cash advance
21.99%*
Rate details
Purchase
21.99%
Cash advance
22.99%
Balance transfer
22.99%
Purchase
21.99% - 25.99%*
Cash advance
22.99% - 27.99%*
Balance transfer
22.99% - 27.99%*
Rate details
Purchase
21.99%
Cash advance
22.99%
21.99%
Purchase
21.99%
Cash advance
22.99%
Balance transfer
22.99%
Purchase
20.95%*
Cash advance
22.95%*
Balance transfer
22.95%*
Rate details
Purchase
21.99%
Cash advance
23.99%
21.99%
Balance transfer
23.99%
21.99%
Purchase
19.99% - 29.99%
19.99% - 23.99%
Cash advance
22.99% - 31.99%
Balance transfer
22.99% - 31.99%
Welcome Bonus
Earn 15% Cash Back on all purchases for the first 3 months, a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers, and no annual card fees in the first year
$0 First-Year Annual Fee and $100 Welcome Bonus
Up to 15,000 Membership Rewards® points
Up to 30,000 points ($245 in cash back value or $300 when redeemed for MBNA Travel)††
Welcome Bonus varies
Earn up to $600 in total value† including an Annual Fee rebate for the first year†. Conditions apply.
Earn up to $950 in welcome offers, first year rewards and savings value, and up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points.
Get $120 with a Tangerine® Money-Back World Mastercard®* and a limited time promo rate on balance transfers
Get up to $650 in value*
—
Rewards
$931.33
First year rewards
$725.48
First year rewards
$1,147.38
First year rewards
$867.76
First year rewards
$360
First year rewards
$604.57
First year rewards
$1,178.68
First year rewards
$477.86
First year rewards
$1,125.28
First year rewards
$302.26
First year rewards
Finly Offer
Exclusive cash back
—
on Scotiabank's website
on Neo Financial's website
on American Express' website
Apply with Confidence — won't impact your credit score
on MBNA's website
on Rogers Bank's website
on TD's website
on Scotiabank's website
on Tangerine's website
on BMO's website
on Neo Financial's website
Welcome Bonus Details
Earn Rates
Insurance Coverage
Extra Benefits
Requirements
If you prefer cash back, the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite + Card and the Neo World Elite Mastercard – Gas & Grocery lead the pack with high rewards on recurring payments. Alternatively, if you'd rather earn points, the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard's strong points per dollar spent on household utility, digital media, and membership purchases is hard to beat. And if you'd rather not pay an annual fee, the Neo World Mastercard – Gas & Grocery and the Tangerine World Mastercard both earn solid rewards on recurring payments.
How we picked these cards
To determine the best recurring transaction credit cards in Canada, our editors analyzed each card’s reward rate on recurring purchases such as streaming services, phone bills, and subscriptions. We also considered whether cards offered additional value in other essential spending categories like groceries and gas. Annual fees, ease of redeeming rewards, and accessibility based on income requirements played an important role, along with valuable perks such as insurance coverage, airport lounge access, and travel or mobile protection. Finally, we looked at which cards provided the most flexibility for Canadians who automate bill payments or prefer customized cashback options.
Best Credit Cards for utilities
Utilities are considered a recurring purchase or a non-recurring purchase depending on whether you allow the payment to be taken automatically from your credit card or not.
So, if you have pre-authorized payments in place for your utility bills, then most of the cards above are your good options, especially the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard, which optimizes household utilities specifically.
What recurring transactions and bills qualify for increased rewards?
When you allow a merchant to automatically deduct money from your credit card for their product or service, this is considered a recurring transaction. Cards that optimize recurring transactions will effectively reward you for those payments. These are also commonly called pre-authorized or automatic payments.
A few examples of recurring transactions are:
- Subscriptions
- Phone bills
- Internet bills
- Streaming and audio services (Spotify, Netflix, etc)
- Membership (Gym memberships)
Some of these services might ask you to pay directly from your online banking. For example, many utilities don't take credit cards; therefore, when you pay from direct banking, you would not qualify for credit card rewards. Also, if some of these services offer you month-to-month payments manually instead of setting up automatic billing, your transaction might not qualify as a recurring transaction.
Reasons to avoid paying recurring transactions and recurring bills using a credit card
When you are given the option to pay your bills (like utilities) with your credit card, it's good to check whether there are any additional fees when you choose this option.
Most companies try to choose direct payments because they have very few fees, but if they choose to accept credit cards, associated fees can typically range between 1% and 3% to the credit card processors. Because of this, in many cases, companies may choose to pass on this fee to you, which makes the transaction more expensive than direct payments.
In these cases, do the math and see whether it's worth the rewards you get in return with a recurring transaction credit card or not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most of the time, yes! Simply because you would miss out on credit card rewards.
But as previously mentioned, there are some cases, when direct payment from the bank is available, where paying with a credit card might come with some additional fees. In these cases, do some calculations and see whether the rewards you get from your credit card are higher than the fees.
When you authorize recurring payments, you're allowing a merchant to charge your credit card number periodically for a service or subscription. If you get a new card (due to expiration, loss, or fraud), the recurring charges might initially fail because the card details have changed.
However, there are certain exceptions to this rule. Some credit card issuers participate in an account updater service which automatically provides the merchant with your new card info. That said, we don't recommend you to wait and see if this happens.
If you don't want the services you are using to be interrupted, we recommend changing your credit card info for your recurring payments proactively.
Yes, you are allowed to contact your credit card company and stop a recurring payment.
Be advised, though, that cancelling your automatic payments does not mean that your contract with your service provider is also cancelled. If you have a contract that requires payments in the future, it's better to check with the service provider or merchant so that you don't incur penalties or future bills.
It depends on whether the merchant or service provider accepts American Express or not. Because American Express usually charges merchants more than Mastercard or Visa, many choose not to accept American Express.
You can check this yourself by going to the merchant's payment portal and see if you see American Express as a payment option or not. You can also contact the merchant directly for confirmation.
Recurring payments themselves don't directly impact your credit score. The only indirect way they might affect your credit score is if you don't make on-time payments on those transactions, which then could cause your credit score to decrease.
Yes, as long as the bill is charged to your credit card automatically. Some cards reward these payments at a boosted rate. For example, the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite + Card earns generous cash back on recurring bill payments and subscriptions, while the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard earns strong points per dollar spent on eligible household utility, digital media, and membership purchases.
If you pay a bill manually or through online banking instead, it usually won't count as a recurring transaction, and you may only earn your card's base rate or nothing at all.
Among our picks, the Neo World Mastercard – Gas & Grocery earns solid cash back on recurring purchases with no annual fee. The Tangerine World Mastercard is another no-fee option, earning notable cash back once you choose Recurring Bill Payments as one of your specialized categories.
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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Kevin Shahnazari
Co-founder
Kevin started FinlyWealth and juggles a bit of everything—digging into data, running our marketing, and keeping the finances on track. Before this, he spent years as a data scientist at tech companies...
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