Compare Credit Cards in Canada and Find the Best Credit Card for You

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We've gathered nearly all credit cards in Canada into one place, complete with their details about benefits, insurance options, rewards, and requirements. You can input specific information about yourself to quickly narrow down the best credit cards.

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Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card

Up to 40,000 Scene+ points

Expires: May 31, 2025

$100 $150 Finly Rebate

BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard®∗

Get up to 70,000 VIPorter points and a round-trip companion pass.* Plus receive $1,000 in Qualifying Spend.*

Expires: May 31, 2025

$75 $125 Finly Rebate

BMO VIPorter Mastercard®∗

Get up to 40,000 VIPorter points and a 35% off flight voucher.*

Expires: May 31, 2025

$50 $100 Finly Rebate

Neo High-Interest Savings Account

Expires: May 21, 2025

$15 $50 Finly Rebate

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Best Credit Card in Canada

Our choice for: Overall Best Credit Card in Canada, great at earning points to be used for travelling

American Express Cobalt® Card

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to American Express' website

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 15,000 points

First Year Value

$1,255.2

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee*

$155.88

$12.99 Paid Monthly

Interest Rates

21.99%* / 21.99%*

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

This card was voted 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 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.

Pros

Points can be transferred to Air Canada Aeroplan® at a 1:1 ratio, making this card a solid Aeroplan® points earner as an alternative to Aeroplan® branded credit cards
Generous welcome bonus of up to 15,000 points
4+ different ways of redeeming your points for great value
10 different types of insurance, including travel
Often referred to as the Best Credit Card in Canada

Cons

Less acceptance of American Express at different merchants across Canada
Not all types of travel insurance are covered, especially trip cancellation and interruption insurance

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*

Emergency Out of province Medical
15 days
Flight Delay
$500
Baggage Delay
$500
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Travel Accident
$250,000
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
Up to 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
Fair
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 28.99%. 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.

When someone asks, "What's the best credit card for me?" the Amex Cobalt is usually the first card that comes to mind. It offers a winning combination of high reward rates, valuable perks, a reasonable annual fee, and flexible point redemption options. Plus, it's easy to qualify for, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

For rewards, the Cobalt card takes the crown for 80% of FinlyWealth users. It consistently outperforms other cards, often by a significant margin. Even when using points for cash back—which isn’t the most valuable way to redeem them—the Cobalt still outpaces most traditional cashback cards in overall returns.

This card doesn’t just excel in rewards; it offers all the essential benefits for everyday purchases and goes above and beyond with its impressive travel perks. It’s a well-rounded card that covers every angle.

Therefore, if you don't have a specific benefit you're looking to maximize or aren't focused on optimizing just one reward category, the Amex Cobalt is likely the best choice for you.

Cashback Credit Cards

Our choice for: Flat cash back rate with some travel perks

Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®

4.8

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to Rogers Bank's website

$50 Cash Rebate From FinlyWealth

I currently have or may soon have an eligible Rogers, Fido or Shaw service as the primary or level 1 authorized user

Welcome Bonus*

N/A

First Year Value

$410

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee*

Interest Rates

20.99% - 25.99%* / 22.99% - 27.99%*

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

This card is one of the best in Canada, especially if you are a Rogers, Fido, or Shaw customer. With those services, you can effectively get a 3% cashback rate, which is higher than what almost any other card offers, even those with annual fees! 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!

Pros

Voted the Best Cash Back Card in Canada for Rogers, Fido and Shaw customers by FinlyWealth.
Voted the Best No Annual Fee Credit Card in Canada by FinlyWealth.
There is no annual fee which is a notable benefit for a card with such high rewards. Most cards with slightly lower reward rates typically include yearly fees.
Many favorable benefits for travelers.
Many benefits, such as trip cancellation insurance, are only available on credit cards with an annual fee. It is rare to see these benefits on a no-annual-fee card!
Offers the flexibility to redeem cash towards Rogers, Shaw, or Fido services, potentially increasing your rewards.
The roam-like benefit is a benefit unique only to this card.
It is accepted at nearly all locations as it's a Mastercard.

Cons

Harder to qualify due to the high credit score and income requirements.
Out of all possible travel insurances, this card is missing Baggage delay and Hotel Burglary insurance. If these two insurances are essential to someone, this card needs to be paired with another travel card to cover them.

Rewards*

Earn 3% unlimited cash back on all eligible purchases made in U.S. dollars.^{^}
Earn 2% unlimited cash back on all eligible non-U.S. dollar purchases if you have 1 qualifying service with Rogers, Fido or Shaw.^{^}
Otherwise earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on eligible non-U.S. dollar purchases.^{^}
Get 1.5 times more cash back every time you redeem for Rogers, Fido or Shaw purchases.^{^}
5 Roam Like Home days at no cost with an eligible Rogers mobile plan ever year (up to $80 value).^{^}

Insurance*

Coverage*

Emergency Out of province Medical
$1M, Up to 10 days
Emergency Medical Over 65
$1M, Up to 3 days
Trip Cancellation
$1,000/person, $5,000 maximum
Trip Interruption
$1,000/person, $5,000 maximum
Car Rental Damage & Theft
31 days, $65,000 car MSRP
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
1 year

Benefits*

Details*

Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Pass only, complimentary visits not included
No Cost roaming
5 days

Eligibility*

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

^**, ^, Terms and conditions apply. Rogers Bank is not responsible for maintaining or controlling the accuracy of the information published on this website. For full and up-to-date product information, visit Rogersbank.com. Standard rate on Purchases and Fees: 20.99%. Standard rate on Cash Advances, Cash-like Transactions and Balance Transfers: 22.99%. If you are not approved for an Account at the above rates and you reside outside Quebec, we (Rogers Bank) may still issue you an Account at our alternate interest rates, as follows: Standard Rate for Purchases and Fees: 25.99%, Standard Rate for Cash Advances, Cash-like Transactions and Balance Transfers: 27.99%. ®/TM Mastercard and World Elite are registered trademarks and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Used under license. TM Rogers and Mobius Design, Rogers Bank and related marks, logos and brand names are trademarks of Rogers Communications Inc., or an affiliate, used under license. © 2025 Rogers Bank. Rogers Bank is the issuer of this credit card. Check here for full details and current product information.

Even though the Rogers World Elite card does not have an annual fee, it earns the highest overall cashback rate on all purchases. It also gives tons of benefits which are great for travelers. The big catch is that you have a qualifying Rogers, Shaw or Fido Service and if not then the rewards earned on this card wouldn't be as high. In addition there is an income requirement for this card which not everyone qualifies for. If you have the service but not the income requirement you can go for the Rogers Red Mastercard instead.

Our choice for: High cash back on groceries & gas

Neo World Elite® Mastercard®

4.6

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to Neo Financial's website

$60 Cash Rebate From FinlyWealth

Welcome Bonus

N/A

First Year Value

$558.18

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee

$125

Interest Rates

19.99% - 26.99% (or 19.99% - 23.99% in Newfoundland and Quebec) / 22.99% - 28.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

This card offers one of the highest cash back rates in Canada for gas (up to 4%), grocery (up to 7%) and recurring purchases (up to 5%) 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, for a typical person who's spending is generally below $12k per year in grocery, $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.

Pros

Highest cash back rates in Canada for highest spending categories like Grocery (up to 7%), especially if you keep at least $5k in a Neo everyday account
12 different types of insurance coverage
Airport lounge access with DragonPass with $32 USD per visit
Additional cash back earning at over 10,000 Neo partners

Cons

High income requirements of $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
Cash back spend caps can limit your rewards
Having to keep at least $5k in an everyday account to boost your cash back tier

Rewards

5% cash back on grocery purchases up to $1,000 spending per month (6% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 7% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
4% cash back on recurring purchases up to $500 spending per month (4.5% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 5% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
3% cash back on gas purchases up to $1,000 spending per month (3.5% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 4% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
1% cash back on all other purchases with no spending caps
5% average cash back at Neo Partners

Note: our reward calculations use the base cash back rates assuming you do not hold any money in a Neo everyday account to earn the higher tier (boosted) cash back rates, otherwise the reward estimates may be higher.

Insurance

Coverage

Emergency Out of province Medical
Up to $1,000,000
Trip Cancellation
$1,000
Trip Interruption
$1,000
Flight Delay
$500
Baggage Delay
$1,000
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1,000
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000
Car Rental Accident
$100,000 for cardholder, up to $10,000 per Spouse or Dependent Child
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Yes
Car Rental Personal Effects
$1,000
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
1 year

Benefits

Details

Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Pass only - pay $32 USD per visit

Eligibility

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

With massive cashback on groceries and gas and recurring purchases, a very high cashback rate on other purchases, and a good coverage of benefits, the Neo World Elite is another alternative cashback card if the Rogers card is not for you or you don't have any qualifying service.

Best Rewards (Points) and Best Flexible Redemption Credit Card

Our choice for: Overall Best Credit Card in Canada, great at earning points to be used for travelling

American Express Cobalt® Card

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to American Express' website

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 15,000 points

First Year Value

$1,255.2

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee*

$155.88

$12.99 Paid Monthly

Interest Rates

21.99%* / 21.99%*

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

Pros

Points can be transferred to Air Canada Aeroplan® at a 1:1 ratio, making this card a solid Aeroplan® points earner as an alternative to Aeroplan® branded credit cards
Generous welcome bonus of up to 15,000 points
4+ different ways of redeeming your points for great value
10 different types of insurance, including travel
Often referred to as the Best Credit Card in Canada

Cons

Less acceptance of American Express at different merchants across Canada
Not all types of travel insurance are covered, especially trip cancellation and interruption insurance

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*

Emergency Out of province Medical
15 days
Flight Delay
$500
Baggage Delay
$500
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Travel Accident
$250,000
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
Up to 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
Fair
Annual Income
N/A

Sometimes, you're unsure how you want to use your rewards—you might want the flexibility to convert them into cash, gift cards, or use them for travel. The American Express points that come with this card offer excellent flexibility in how they can be redeemed. Additionally, with the massive rewards earned by the Cobalt card, it stands out as the best option for both point redemption and overall rewards.

American Express Gold Rewards Card®

4.2

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to American Express' website

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 60,000 points

First Year Value

$1,629.03

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee*

$250

Interest Rates

21.99%* / 21.99%*

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

The American Express® Gold Rewards Card is an excellent choice for travelers seeking an entry-level card that offers a strong balance of generous travel benefits without excessive costs. With a relatively low annual fee, this card provides flexibility and a range of perks that make it stand out among other options. It’s ideal for those who want to maximize their travel rewards without being tied to a specific airline or compromising on the benefits offered.

Pros

Flexible Rewards: Enjoy flexible Membership Rewards point conversion with up to 2 points per $1 spent.
Travel Perks: Includes $100 annual travel credit and 4 free passes to Plaza Premium lounges in Canada.
Comprehensive Insurance: Comes with 11 types of insurance coverage.
Multiple Redemption Options: Offers 4 ways to redeem points for maximum value.

Cons

High Annual Fee: The card comes with a $250 annual fee.
Foreign Transaction Fees: A 2.5% fee applies to foreign transactions.
Limited Travel Insurance for Seniors: No travel medical insurance coverage for those over 65.
Lower Acceptance: As an American Express card, it may have lower acceptance compared to Visa or Mastercard.

Rewards*

2x points per $1 spent on gas, groceries and drugstore purchases
2x points per $1 spent on travel (eligible flights, hotels, tours and more)
1x point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases

Insurance*

Coverage*

Emergency Out of province Medical
15 days
Trip Cancellation
$1,500 per person, $3,000 combined
Trip Interruption
$1,500 per person, $6,000 combined
Flight Delay
$500
Baggage Delay
$500
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Travel Accident
$500,000
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
Up to 1 year

Benefits*

Details*

Travel Credit
$100
Nexus Program Rebate
$50 statement credit every 4 years
Airport Lounge - Priority Pass
Pass only. No Complimentary visits!
Airport Lounge - Plaza Premium
4 Free complimentary visits
Complimentary Hotel Benefits
Hotels booked American Express Travel
Status lift
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® loyalty program
American Express® Experiences
Extra points
Earn 2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases and extra points on American Express offers

Eligibility*

Credit Score
Fair
Annual Income
N/A

The American Express Gold Rewards Card currently offers the best signup bonus among all credit cards. With spending requirements that align with the average budget, this is the top choice if you're seeking significant first-year value.

American Express® Green Card

3.9

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to American Express' website

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 10,000 points ($210 value)

First Year Value

$677.86

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee*

Interest Rates

21.99%* / 21.99%*

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

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

No Spending Limits: Earn unlimited rewards with no caps.
Flexible Redemption: Transfer points to other loyalty programs for maximum value.
VIP Perks: Access a variety of exclusive benefits through Amex Experiences™.
Eco-Friendly: The card is made from 99% recycled plastic.

Cons

Lower Reward Rates: Earn rates are lower compared to other no-fee cards.
Limited Travel Perks: Lacks some of the travel benefits and insurance options provided by other cards.

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
Good
Annual Income
N/A

If you're looking to avoid fees but still want a substantial signup bonus, the Green card is the perfect choice for this situation.

Best Travel Credit Cards

Best Overall Travel Card

Our choice for: Premium Travel Perks and Lounge Access

Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card

4.8

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to Scotiabank's website

$100 $150 Cash Rebate From FinlyWealth expiring on

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 40,000 Scene+ points

First Year Value

$643.9

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee*

$150

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is a strong choice for frequent travelers, especially those who value flexibility and premium perks. It stands out with its rare benefit of no foreign transaction fees, making international purchases more cost-effective. Additionally, the card offers a valuable blend of travel perks, including airport lounge access, comprehensive insurance coverage, and flexible rewards, making it an ideal companion for those who frequently travel abroad and want to avoid extra fees while enjoying premium benefits.

Pros

High Rewards on Select Purchases: Earn up to 3 points per $1 spent on select categories.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: Shop abroad without additional charges.
Comprehensive Insurance: Includes 11 types of insurance coverage.
Airport Lounge Access: Enjoy up to 6 airport lounge passes per year through the Visa Airport Companion program.

Cons

High Income Requirements: Requires $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income.
Lower Overall Rewards: Rewards potential is lower compared to premium credit cards.
High Annual Fee: Comes with a significant annual fee.
Average Insurance Coverage: Insurance benefits are standard, not exceptional.
Mediocre Earnings Potential: The card’s rewards structure might not offer the highest returns for every spender.

Rewards*

Earn 3x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland and participating Co-ops and more
Earn 2x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on other eligible grocery stores, dining, eligible entertainment purchases and eligible daily transit options(including rideshares, buses, subways taxis and more)
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

Insurance*

Coverage*

Emergency Out of province Medical
$2M/insured up to 25 days
Emergency Medical Over 65
$2M/insured up to 3 days
Trip Cancellation
$1,500/person, $10,000/trip
Trip Interruption
$2,500/person, $10,000/trip
Flight Delay
$500/person after 4 hours
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1000
Baggage Delay
$1000
Travel Accident
$500,000/insured, $1M combined
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$65,000 up to 48 days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
1 year

Benefits*

Details*

No Foreign Transaction Fees
Avoid the usual 2.5% forex fees on your purchases when you travel outside of Canada
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
6 Free complimentary visits
Status lift
Avis® Preferred Plus membership
Concierge Services
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits

Eligibility*

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

^*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information. Check here for full details and current product information.

If you're looking for a card with strong insurance coverage and travel-related benefits, the Scotia Passport card is the best option that offers all of these!

Best Lounge Access Credit Cards

For Unlimited Lounge Access

Our choice for: Travel Perks, Luxurious Travel, and Unlimited Lounge Access

American Express Platinum Card®

4.5

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to American Express' website

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 100,000 Membership Rewards® points (70,000 in 1st year)

Rewards Rate*

1x - 2x Points

Annual Fee*

$799

Interest Rates

21.99% - 30%* / N/A*

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

If you're a frequent traveler, the Platinum card is an excellent choice. It's highly recommended for its extensive travel benefits, including unlimited lounge access for you and a guest at the American Express Lounge collection, making it the best card for lounge access in Canada. The card also offers unique perks not commonly found with other Canadian cards, such as status upgrades at Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton, dining and travel credits, concierge service, airport benefits, Nexus application reimbursement, and more. These benefits can more than offset the annual fee. However, if you don't travel often or are mainly looking for a card that maximizes rewards, this card may not be the best option for you.

Pros

Offers more perks than any other credit card in Canada, catering to premium users who value extensive benefits.
Enjoy $400 in annual travel and dining credits, which can offset some of the card's cost.
Gain unlimited access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, enhancing your travel experience.
Multiple options for redeeming points for high value, giving you flexibility in how you use your rewards.
Includes 11 types of insurance coverage, offering comprehensive protection for cardholders.

Cons

As with other American Express cards, it may have lower acceptance in some locations compared to other networks.
The high annual fee of $799 may be a barrier for some users, especially those who do not fully utilize the card's benefits.
Some benefits are limited to specific airports and hotels.

Rewards*

2x points per $1 spent on eligible dining & food delivery purchases (restaurant, fast food, coffee shop, food delivery)
2x points per $1 spent on eligible travel purchases (flights, hotels, tours and more)
1x point per $1 spent for all other purchases

Insurance*

Coverage*

Emergency Out of province Medical
15 days
Trip Cancellation
$2,500
Trip Interruption
$2,500
Flight Delay
$1,000
Baggage Delay
$1,000
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1000
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1,000
Travel Accident
$500,000
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Yes
Purchase Protection
120 days
Extended Warranty
1 year

Benefits*

Details*

Airport Lounge - American Express Global Lounge
Take full advantage of The American Express Global Lounge Collection™ which unlocks access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide. This includes The Centurion® Lounge network, Plaza Premium Lounges, and hundreds of other domestic and international lounges designed to enhance your travel experience.
Travel Credit
$200
Dining Credit
$200 at Select Restaurants
Nexus Program Rebate
$100 statement credit every 4 years
Complimentary Hotel Benefits
Hotels booked American Express Travel
Status lift
Upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold Status
Status lift
Upgrade to Marriott BonvoyTM Gold Elite status
Priority Travel
At Toronto Pearson Airport get Priority Security lane, Complimentary valet and 15% discount at the Express Park and daily park
Concierge Services
Trip and legal Assistance
American Express® Experiences
Extra points
Earn 2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases and extra points on American Express offers

Eligibility*

Credit Score
Fair
Annual Income
N/A

^**Terms and conditions apply. This Charge Card requires full payment of the Due in Full balance each month, with a 30% interest rate on late payments. The Flexible Payment Option balance has a 21.99% interest rate, which increases to 25.99% after two missed payments and 28.99% after three or more within 12 months. A 21-day interest-free grace period applies to new transactions if the full balance is paid by the due date. 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 are a frequent traveler and go to lounges a lot, the best credit card for you would be the Platinum Card. There is only one credit card in Canada that offers unlimited lounge access, which is the Aeroplan Reserve card. However, that card only covers unlimited lounge access to Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés, which aren't very useful worldwide. On the other hand, the American Express Platinum has much wider coverage, with over 1,400 airports offering lounges that cardholders can use! In addition, you can bring one person in without fee, making it an even better deal for couples!

For Lounge Access with a few complimentary visits

Sometimes you are not willing to spend a huge amount on annual fees and only want to access lounges a few times a year. In these cases here are a few of the best options:

Our choice for: Premium Travel Perks and Lounge Access

Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card

4.8

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to Scotiabank's website

$100 $150 Cash Rebate From FinlyWealth expiring on

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 40,000 Scene+ points

First Year Value

$643.9

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee*

$150

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

Pros

High Rewards on Select Purchases: Earn up to 3 points per $1 spent on select categories.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: Shop abroad without additional charges.
Comprehensive Insurance: Includes 11 types of insurance coverage.
Airport Lounge Access: Enjoy up to 6 airport lounge passes per year through the Visa Airport Companion program.

Cons

High Income Requirements: Requires $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income.
Lower Overall Rewards: Rewards potential is lower compared to premium credit cards.
High Annual Fee: Comes with a significant annual fee.
Average Insurance Coverage: Insurance benefits are standard, not exceptional.
Mediocre Earnings Potential: The card’s rewards structure might not offer the highest returns for every spender.

Rewards*

Earn 3x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland and participating Co-ops and more
Earn 2x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on other eligible grocery stores, dining, eligible entertainment purchases and eligible daily transit options(including rideshares, buses, subways taxis and more)
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

Insurance*

Coverage*

Emergency Out of province Medical
$2M/insured up to 25 days
Emergency Medical Over 65
$2M/insured up to 3 days
Trip Cancellation
$1,500/person, $10,000/trip
Trip Interruption
$2,500/person, $10,000/trip
Flight Delay
$500/person after 4 hours
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1000
Baggage Delay
$1000
Travel Accident
$500,000/insured, $1M combined
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$65,000 up to 48 days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
1 year

Benefits*

Details*

No Foreign Transaction Fees
Avoid the usual 2.5% forex fees on your purchases when you travel outside of Canada
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
6 Free complimentary visits
Status lift
Avis® Preferred Plus membership
Concierge Services
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits

Eligibility*

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

With the many travel perks Scotia Passport offers, one of the best is the generous lounge access benefit, which includes six free visits!

For Lounge Pass

Having a Lounge pass allows you to access lounges for a small fee (usually $32 USD). Without the pass, you would need to pay for a membership before being able to purchase individual visits.

Our choice for: Flat cash back rate with some travel perks

Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®

4.8

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to Rogers Bank's website

$50 Cash Rebate From FinlyWealth

I currently have or may soon have an eligible Rogers, Fido or Shaw service as the primary or level 1 authorized user

Welcome Bonus*

N/A

First Year Value

$410

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee*

Interest Rates

20.99% - 25.99%* / 22.99% - 27.99%*

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

Pros

Voted the Best Cash Back Card in Canada for Rogers, Fido and Shaw customers by FinlyWealth.
Voted the Best No Annual Fee Credit Card in Canada by FinlyWealth.
There is no annual fee which is a notable benefit for a card with such high rewards. Most cards with slightly lower reward rates typically include yearly fees.
Many favorable benefits for travelers.
Many benefits, such as trip cancellation insurance, are only available on credit cards with an annual fee. It is rare to see these benefits on a no-annual-fee card!
Offers the flexibility to redeem cash towards Rogers, Shaw, or Fido services, potentially increasing your rewards.
The roam-like benefit is a benefit unique only to this card.
It is accepted at nearly all locations as it's a Mastercard.

Cons

Harder to qualify due to the high credit score and income requirements.
Out of all possible travel insurances, this card is missing Baggage delay and Hotel Burglary insurance. If these two insurances are essential to someone, this card needs to be paired with another travel card to cover them.

Rewards*

Earn 3% unlimited cash back on all eligible purchases made in U.S. dollars.^{^}
Earn 2% unlimited cash back on all eligible non-U.S. dollar purchases if you have 1 qualifying service with Rogers, Fido or Shaw.^{^}
Otherwise earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on eligible non-U.S. dollar purchases.^{^}
Get 1.5 times more cash back every time you redeem for Rogers, Fido or Shaw purchases.^{^}
5 Roam Like Home days at no cost with an eligible Rogers mobile plan ever year (up to $80 value).^{^}

Insurance*

Coverage*

Emergency Out of province Medical
$1M, Up to 10 days
Emergency Medical Over 65
$1M, Up to 3 days
Trip Cancellation
$1,000/person, $5,000 maximum
Trip Interruption
$1,000/person, $5,000 maximum
Car Rental Damage & Theft
31 days, $65,000 car MSRP
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
1 year

Benefits*

Details*

Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Pass only, complimentary visits not included
No Cost roaming
5 days

Eligibility*

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

The Rogers World Elite Mastercard offers a free lounge pass with no annual fee, a benefit typically reserved for cards that do have an annual fee.

Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Cards

Our choice for: Great rewards and travel benefits

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

4.9

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to Scotiabank's website

$100 Cash Rebate From FinlyWealth

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 40,000 Scene+ points ($400 value)

First Year Value

$1,024.5

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee*

$120

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

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 fee saves you 2.5% on all non-CAD purchases.
Rewards cover all high-spending categories, including food, groceries, entertainment, and gas.
Comprehensive coverage of all travel insurance.

Cons

The card network is American Express, which might not be widely accepted in some countries, making it a bit harder to use the no foreign transaction fee benefit.
Having a lounge pass would have made this card even more perfect, but there is access to a discount code for lounge access pass purchases.

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

Insurance*

Coverage*

Emergency Out of province Medical
$1M, Up to 25 days
Emergency Medical Over 65
$1M, Up to 3 days
Trip Cancellation
$1500/person, $10000/trip
Trip Interruption
$1500/person, $10,000/trip
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1000/trip
Baggage Delay
$500/person, $1,000/trip After 4 hours
Flight Delay
$500/person
Travel Accident
$500K/person, $1M/occurrence
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1000/occurrence
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
Up to 1 year

Benefits*

Details*

No Foreign Transaction Fees
Avoid the 2.5% foreign transaction fees incurred when spending in non $CAD
American Express® Experiences
Concierge Services
Discount
Discount on PriorityPass Membership

Eligibility*

Credit Score
Good
Annual Income
$12,000 personal or $12,000 household

The Scotiabank Gold American Express card is a very well-rounded card. With a comprehensive list of travel benefits that work alongside your no foreign transaction fee benefit and a great reward program, this card is recommended for everyone, but especially for travelers!

Our choice for: Premium Travel Perks and Lounge Access

Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card

4.8

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to Scotiabank's website

$100 $150 Cash Rebate From FinlyWealth expiring on

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 40,000 Scene+ points

First Year Value

$643.9

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee*

$150

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

Pros

High Rewards on Select Purchases: Earn up to 3 points per $1 spent on select categories.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: Shop abroad without additional charges.
Comprehensive Insurance: Includes 11 types of insurance coverage.
Airport Lounge Access: Enjoy up to 6 airport lounge passes per year through the Visa Airport Companion program.

Cons

High Income Requirements: Requires $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income.
Lower Overall Rewards: Rewards potential is lower compared to premium credit cards.
High Annual Fee: Comes with a significant annual fee.
Average Insurance Coverage: Insurance benefits are standard, not exceptional.
Mediocre Earnings Potential: The card’s rewards structure might not offer the highest returns for every spender.

Rewards*

Earn 3x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland and participating Co-ops and more
Earn 2x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on other eligible grocery stores, dining, eligible entertainment purchases and eligible daily transit options(including rideshares, buses, subways taxis and more)
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

Insurance*

Coverage*

Emergency Out of province Medical
$2M/insured up to 25 days
Emergency Medical Over 65
$2M/insured up to 3 days
Trip Cancellation
$1,500/person, $10,000/trip
Trip Interruption
$2,500/person, $10,000/trip
Flight Delay
$500/person after 4 hours
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1000
Baggage Delay
$1000
Travel Accident
$500,000/insured, $1M combined
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$65,000 up to 48 days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
1 year

Benefits*

Details*

No Foreign Transaction Fees
Avoid the usual 2.5% forex fees on your purchases when you travel outside of Canada
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
6 Free complimentary visits
Status lift
Avis® Preferred Plus membership
Concierge Services
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits

Eligibility*

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

One small note about the Scotiabank Gold card is that because it's American Express, it may not be as widely accepted as Visa, especially in some European countries. In these cases, the Scotiabank Passport card can be a really great alternative to go for.

For Airlines

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to RBC's website

Welcome Bonus

Get up to 70,000 WestJet points

First Year Value

$841.6

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee

$119

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99%□

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

If you travel frequently with WestJet, you must get this card because you are missing out on many benefits, even if you don't use this card for rewards. The round-trip companion voucher, status lift, and free checked bag benefits alone more than make up for the annual fee. For WestJet purchases, this card is great for earning rewards, but for all other categories, we recommend pairing it with another card.

Pros

A no-brainer if you are a frequent WestJet traveler. The first free checked bag, annual companion pass, and status lift benefits alone make up more than the amount paid for the annual fee.
A very good list of travel insurance in addition to WestJet-specific benefits.

Cons

Not the best card for rewards accumulation, so it's better if paired with another card that offers higher rewards on non-WestJet purchases.
Rewards can only be used on WestJet, making them less flexible.

Rewards

Earn 2 points per $1 spent on WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages using your card
Earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on everyday purchases

Insurance

Coverage

Emergency Out of province Medical
15 days
Emergency Medical Over 65
3 days
Travel Accident
$500K
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 days
Trip Interruption
$5K/person, $25K/trip
Flight Delay
$250/person, $500/occurrence
Baggage Delay
$500/person, $2500/occurrence
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
1 year

Benefits

Details

Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Pass only, complimentary visits not included! Companion Voucher can be exchanged for 4 visits.
Companion Voucher
Travel within Canada or to the continental U.S. (excluding Hawaii), from $119 CAD, Travel to Hawaii or Mexico from $399 CAD, Travel to the rest of the WestJet network from $399 CAD
Status lift
Eern $500 in tier qualifying spend which applies towards achieving the next WestJet Rewards tier for every $15,000 CAD in Eligible Purchases on your WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard (up to a maximum of $1,500 in tier qualifying spend in a qualifying year)
Free first checked bag
First checked bag is free for primary cardholder on WestJet flight and up to 8 guests
Discount
Member Exclusive fares: Exclusive discounts when you pay the full base fare with WestJet dollars
Boingo Wi-Fi hotspot
Gas Discount
save 3¢/L on fuel and always earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada
Extra points
50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall

Eligibility

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

If you travel with WestJet often, this card is the best for this Airline. It offers free checked bags for you and 8 people travelling with you and many other benefits

TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

3.2

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to TD's website

Welcome Bonus

Up to 40,000 Aeroplan® points

First Year Value

$1,381.37

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee

$139 $0

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

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 waiver, 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.

Pros

Earn up to 40,000 Aeroplan points (welcome bonus offer ends January 6, 2025).
1.5 points per $1 on gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases.
Free checked bags and Preferred Pricing on Air Canada rewards flights.
Extensive insurance coverage with 12 types of insurance.

Cons

The rewards rate on this card is not that high. There are non-Aeroplan cards with much better reward programs, and their points can later be transferred to this card, making them better options if you are looking to gather Aeroplan points.
You lose the flexibility to use other airlines if you want to take advantage of the benefits of this card.

Rewards

1.5x Aeroplan points per $1 spent on gas, groceries, Air Canada and Air Canada vacations (maximum 120,000 points annually)
1x Aeroplan point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases

Insurance

Coverage

Emergency Out of province Medical
21 days
Emergency Medical Over 65
4 days
Trip Cancellation
$1,500
Trip Interruption
$5,000
Flight Delay
$500
Baggage Delay
$1,000
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1,000
Travel Accident
$500,000
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$2500
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
Earn 50% more Stars and 50% more Aeroplan points at participating Starbucks stores
Extra points
Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and over 170 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
Very Good
Annual Income
$60,000 personal or $100,000 household

And if you travel with AirCanada often this card would be a great choice for the many benefits it provides.

For Luxurious Travel

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege*

2.9

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to TD's website

Welcome Bonus

Up to 85,000 points (55,000 in 1st year)

First Year Value

$422.85

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee

$599

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

If you travel a lot throughout the year with Air Canada, the benefits of this card can significantly enhance your experience. It can help you achieve the next status level with Aeroplan and provide a better airport experience, therefore it can be worth the price tag. However, if you don't frequently fly with Air Canada, the benefits may not justify the card's expensive price tag.

Pros

Premium experience for Elite Air Canada travelers with many benefits and status upgrades.
High coverage limit on insurance.
Numerous luxury benefits and statuses available for use.

Cons

The rewards rate on this card is not that high. There are non-Aeroplan cards with much better reward programs, and their points can later be transferred to this card, making them better options if you are looking to gather Aeroplan points.
You lose the flexibility to use other airlines if you want to take advantage of the benefits of this card.
The high price tag makes this card a poor choice if you don't frequently travel with Air Canada.
The unlimited lounge access is limited to Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafe lounges which don't have a great worldwide coverage.

Rewards

2 points on Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations if they are in the first $100k transactions of the year
1.5 points on Gas, Groceries, Travel and Dining if they are in the first $100k transactions of the year
1.25 Point on everything else

Insurance

Coverage

Emergency Out of province Medical
$5M/insured up to 31 days
Emergency Medical Over 65
$5M/insured up to 4 days
Trip Cancellation
$2.5K/person, $5K/trip
Trip Interruption
$5K/person, $25K/trip
Flight Delay
$1,000/person after 4 hours
Baggage Delay
$1K/person after 4 hours
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$2.5K/person
Travel Accident
$500,000
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Up to 48 consecutive rental days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$2500
Purchase Protection
120 days
Extended Warranty
2 years
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,500

Benefits

Details

Free first checked bag
First checked bag is free for primary cardholder on AirCanada flight 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
Earn 50% more Stars and 50% more Aeroplan points at participating Starbucks stores
Extra points
Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and over 170 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 $5,000 of net purchases
Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car
Trip and legal Assistance
Extra points
Earn 2 Aeroplan points for every $1 you spend on eligible purchases with Rocky Mountaineer, Plus, cardholders could receive a GoldLeaf Upgrade, and a hotel room upgrade
Status lift
Complimentary upgrade to Avis® President's Club
Status lift
Primary Cardholders who also hold Aeroplan Elite Status can roll over up to 200,000 Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) beyond the status level for which they’ve qualified, from the prior qualification year to qualify for status the next year.
Status lift
Primary Cardholders who also hold Aeroplan Elite Status will benefit from an extra 12 months to use eUpgrade credits, for a total of 24 months from issuance.
Status lift
Diamond Status with Visa RSVP Rewards™ Benefit. Benefits at 60+ participating Sandman, Sandman Signature and Sutton Place Hotels from coast-to-coast in Canada and beyond.
Priority Travel
At Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal airports get benefits such as Priority Security lane, Complimentary valet, premium parking spots, priorioty taxi and limo lane and discount for parking.
Priority Travel
Get Priority Check-in, Priority Boarding and Priority Baggage Handling, Priority Airport Standby & Priority Airport Upgrades for you, your authorized users and up to 8 companions on the same flight (Only AirCanada)
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
6 Free complimentary visits
Airport Lounge - Maple Leaf and AirCanada Cafes
Unlimited Access for you and one guest
Companion Voucher
Annual Worldwide Companion Pass from $99 to a max of $599 After spending $25,000 on your card

Eligibility

Credit Score
Excellent
Annual Income
$150,000 personal or $200,000 household

If you like priority service at the airport, this card will give you faster security check-in, priority service, and many more benefits, making you feel special throughout your travel.

For Perks

Our choice for: Travel Perks, Luxurious Travel, and Unlimited Lounge Access

American Express Platinum Card®

4.5

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to American Express' website

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 100,000 Membership Rewards® points (70,000 in 1st year)

Rewards Rate*

1x - 2x Points

Annual Fee*

$799

Interest Rates

21.99% - 30%* / N/A*

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

Pros

Offers more perks than any other credit card in Canada, catering to premium users who value extensive benefits.
Enjoy $400 in annual travel and dining credits, which can offset some of the card's cost.
Gain unlimited access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, enhancing your travel experience.
Multiple options for redeeming points for high value, giving you flexibility in how you use your rewards.
Includes 11 types of insurance coverage, offering comprehensive protection for cardholders.

Cons

As with other American Express cards, it may have lower acceptance in some locations compared to other networks.
The high annual fee of $799 may be a barrier for some users, especially those who do not fully utilize the card's benefits.
Some benefits are limited to specific airports and hotels.

Rewards*

2x points per $1 spent on eligible dining & food delivery purchases (restaurant, fast food, coffee shop, food delivery)
2x points per $1 spent on eligible travel purchases (flights, hotels, tours and more)
1x point per $1 spent for all other purchases

Insurance*

Coverage*

Emergency Out of province Medical
15 days
Trip Cancellation
$2,500
Trip Interruption
$2,500
Flight Delay
$1,000
Baggage Delay
$1,000
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1000
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1,000
Travel Accident
$500,000
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Yes
Purchase Protection
120 days
Extended Warranty
1 year

Benefits*

Details*

Airport Lounge - American Express Global Lounge
Take full advantage of The American Express Global Lounge Collection™ which unlocks access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide. This includes The Centurion® Lounge network, Plaza Premium Lounges, and hundreds of other domestic and international lounges designed to enhance your travel experience.
Travel Credit
$200
Dining Credit
$200 at Select Restaurants
Nexus Program Rebate
$100 statement credit every 4 years
Complimentary Hotel Benefits
Hotels booked American Express Travel
Status lift
Upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold Status
Status lift
Upgrade to Marriott BonvoyTM Gold Elite status
Priority Travel
At Toronto Pearson Airport get Priority Security lane, Complimentary valet and 15% discount at the Express Park and daily park
Concierge Services
Trip and legal Assistance
American Express® Experiences
Extra points
Earn 2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases and extra points on American Express offers

Eligibility*

Credit Score
Fair
Annual Income
N/A

Back again in the travel credit card section! In addition to unlimited lounge access, the Amex Platinum offers everything you need to enjoy numerous perks while traveling. These include travel credits, concierge service, priority travel, status upgrades, and so much more.

Best Insurance Credit Card

BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to BMO's website

$75 Cash Rebate From FinlyWealth

Welcome Bonus*

10% cash back in your first 3 months up to $200

First Year Value

$759.78

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee*

$120 $0

Interest Rates

21.99% / 23.99%□

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

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.

Pros

Offers one of the highest cashbacks on groceries and gas, two of the most frequently spent categories, compared to other credit cards in Canada.
Includes roadside assistance, a rare but valuable benefit for people on the road.
Provides a comprehensive list of insurance coverage and benefits.
High first-year value.

Cons

Does not include restaurant purchases as a reward category, which is one of the most important spending categories.
Monthly limits on cash back could be higher

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*

Emergency Out of province Medical
$5M up to 8 days per covered person
Travel Accident
$500,000
Flight 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
$1,000
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 days
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended 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
Including battery boosts, flat-tire change, lockout service and towing – a $69/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
Hotel Booking Discount
Save up to 7% on your Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookings at booking.com/mastercardcanada.
Global Data Roaming plan
With FlexiRoam, stay connected around the world without a SIM card and get up to 15% off a Global Data Roaming plan plus up to 3GB of data, without any additional charges, if apply.
Gas Discount
Get up to 7 cents off per litre on Shell® fuel, only for BMO cardholders.

Eligibility*

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

^*BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information. Check here for full details and current product information.

The BMO Cashback World Elite offers one of the most comprehensive lists of insurance coverage and a strong rewards program, securing its position as the top choice in this category.

Best Credit Cards based on Spending Categories

For Food Purchases

Our choice for: Overall Best Credit Card in Canada, great at earning points to be used for travelling

American Express Cobalt® Card

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to American Express' website

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 15,000 points

First Year Value

$1,255.2

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee*

$155.88

$12.99 Paid Monthly

Interest Rates

21.99%* / 21.99%*

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

Pros

Points can be transferred to Air Canada Aeroplan® at a 1:1 ratio, making this card a solid Aeroplan® points earner as an alternative to Aeroplan® branded credit cards
Generous welcome bonus of up to 15,000 points
4+ different ways of redeeming your points for great value
10 different types of insurance, including travel
Often referred to as the Best Credit Card in Canada

Cons

Less acceptance of American Express at different merchants across Canada
Not all types of travel insurance are covered, especially trip cancellation and interruption insurance

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*

Emergency Out of province Medical
15 days
Flight Delay
$500
Baggage Delay
$500
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Travel Accident
$250,000
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
Up to 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
Fair
Annual Income
N/A

One of the reasons the Cobalt card is considered one of the best overall cards in Canada is its massive rewards on food purchases. Since food is one of the top spending categories for most people, it makes sense to optimize your rewards in this area.

For Grocery Purchases

BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to BMO's website

$75 Cash Rebate From FinlyWealth

Welcome Bonus*

10% cash back in your first 3 months up to $200

First Year Value

$759.78

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee*

$120 $0

Interest Rates

21.99% / 23.99%□

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

Pros

Offers one of the highest cashbacks on groceries and gas, two of the most frequently spent categories, compared to other credit cards in Canada.
Includes roadside assistance, a rare but valuable benefit for people on the road.
Provides a comprehensive list of insurance coverage and benefits.
High first-year value.

Cons

Does not include restaurant purchases as a reward category, which is one of the most important spending categories.
Monthly limits on cash back could be higher

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*

Emergency Out of province Medical
$5M up to 8 days per covered person
Travel Accident
$500,000
Flight 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
$1,000
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 days
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended 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
Including battery boosts, flat-tire change, lockout service and towing – a $69/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
Hotel Booking Discount
Save up to 7% on your Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookings at booking.com/mastercardcanada.
Global Data Roaming plan
With FlexiRoam, stay connected around the world without a SIM card and get up to 15% off a Global Data Roaming plan plus up to 3GB of data, without any additional charges, if apply.
Gas Discount
Get up to 7 cents off per litre on Shell® fuel, only for BMO cardholders.

Eligibility*

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

^*BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information. Check here for full details and current product information.

There are many different grocery chains, such as Costco, Loblaws, and Walmart. It's important to note that Costco only accepts Mastercard, and some of these chains are not classified as grocery stores by Visa and American Express. Therefore, having a Mastercard is crucial for maximizing your cashback on grocery purchases. The BMO Cashback Mastercard is an excellent fit for this category, as it offers one of the highest cashback rates among credit cards.

For Gas Purchases

Our choice for: High cash back on groceries & gas

Neo World Elite® Mastercard®

4.6

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to Neo Financial's website

$60 Cash Rebate From FinlyWealth

Welcome Bonus

N/A

First Year Value

$558.18

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee

$125

Interest Rates

19.99% - 26.99% (or 19.99% - 23.99% in Newfoundland and Quebec) / 22.99% - 28.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

Pros

Highest cash back rates in Canada for highest spending categories like Grocery (up to 7%), especially if you keep at least $5k in a Neo everyday account
12 different types of insurance coverage
Airport lounge access with DragonPass with $32 USD per visit
Additional cash back earning at over 10,000 Neo partners

Cons

High income requirements of $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
Cash back spend caps can limit your rewards
Having to keep at least $5k in an everyday account to boost your cash back tier

Rewards

5% cash back on grocery purchases up to $1,000 spending per month (6% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 7% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
4% cash back on recurring purchases up to $500 spending per month (4.5% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 5% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
3% cash back on gas purchases up to $1,000 spending per month (3.5% cash back if you have $5k in a Neo everyday account, or 4% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to 1% cash back after hitting spend cap
1% cash back on all other purchases with no spending caps
5% average cash back at Neo Partners

Insurance

Coverage

Emergency Out of province Medical
Up to $1,000,000
Trip Cancellation
$1,000
Trip Interruption
$1,000
Flight Delay
$500
Baggage Delay
$1,000
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1,000
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000
Car Rental Accident
$100,000 for cardholder, up to $10,000 per Spouse or Dependent Child
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Yes
Car Rental Personal Effects
$1,000
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
1 year

Benefits

Details

Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Pass only - pay $32 USD per visit

Eligibility

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

This card will give you one of the highest, if not the highest cashback rate on gas purchases.

For recurring purchases and Subscriptions

Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to Scotiabank's website

$100 Cash Rebate From FinlyWealth

Welcome Bonus*

10% Cash Back (up to $200 value)

First Year Value

$707.15

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee*

$120 $0

Interest Rates

20.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

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

Highest Cashback rates on Groceries and Recurring purchases compared to other cashback credit cards.
High insurance coverage.
First year annual fee waived.

Cons

The base cashback rate (1%) is low for most high spent categories, especially after the first year when the card's annual fee kicks in.

Rewards*

4% cashback on groceries, recurring payments (maximum $1000 cashback per year)
2% cashback on gas, daily transit (maximum $500 cashback per year)
1% cashback on all other credit card purchases (unlimited).

Insurance*

Coverage*

Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Travel Accident
$500,000
Emergency Out of province Medical
15 days
Trip Interruption
$2,000
Trip Cancellation
$1,500
Flight Delay
$500
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Baggage Delay
$500
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
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits
Yes

Eligibility*

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

When it comes to recurring purchases, no other credit card can match the high cashback you can earn with this card on those purchases. With a massive 4 percent cashback, this card is the best to use for these types of transactions.

Best Credit Cards with Rare perks and benefits

For Roadside Assistance

Triangle World Elite Mastercard

3.5

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to Canadian Tire's website

Welcome Bonus

N/A

First Year Value

$340.5

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee

Interest Rates

21.99% / 22.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

This card is the only one with no annual fee that provides a roadside assistance benefit, which can be a lifesaver for people who travel on the road a lot. The main reason to apply for this card is to have free access to this benefit, given that the rewards are not great in most categories (except for Canadian Tire and grocery purchases).

Pros

The only credit card in Canada that offers the highly valuable benefit of roadside assistance!

Cons

This card has a very low acceptance rate based on prior user applications.
It's not a great option to have as your primary credit card, either in terms of rewards or benefits. However, it's a good card to complement your other credit cards.

Rewards

4% back in CanadianTire dollars on almost everything at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark’s, L’Équipeur, Party City, Pro Hockey Life, Atmosphere, Sports Rousseau, Hockey Experts, L’Entrepôt du Hockey, and participating Sports Experts stores
3% back in CanadianTire dollars on Groceries (Max 360) Except Costco and Walmart
1% back in CanadianTire on all other purchases

Insurance

Coverage

Purchase Protection
Up to 90 days
Car Rental Damage & Theft
31 days

Benefits

Details

Gas Discount
Save 7¢/L on premium fuel and 5¢/L on all other fuel types at Gas+ and Petro-Canada locations on gas
Concierge Services
Roadside Assistance
Roadside Assistance Gold Plan: With the Triangle World Elite Mastercard Roadside Assistance Gold Plan, you get towing distance of up to 250 km per service call to the destination of your choice (within Canada or the US)

Eligibility

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

No one likes getting stuck on the road and paying a hefty fee for roadside assistance. With the Triangle World Elite Mastercard, you can enjoy free roadside assistance with a no-fee credit card!

For Price Protection

Our choice for: Highest rewards on groceries & dining

MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to MBNA's website

$120 Cash Rebate From FinlyWealth

Welcome Bonus*

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

First Year Value

$957.62

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee*

$120

Interest Rates

19.99% / 24.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

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.

Pros

Both restaurants and groceries, two of the most commonly spent categories, earn the most rewards.
Great annual birthday bonus with up to $150 in value.
A solid list of travel insurance and benefits.
Price protection, a rare feature not offered by many other cards.
Good value for many of the card's redemption options.

Cons

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, two great benefits are missing from this card.
Not the best card for gas purchases.

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
$1000
Purchase Protection
Up to 90 days
Extended Warranty
Up to a year
Car Rental Damage & Theft
31 days
Flight Delay
$500/person after 4 hours
Travel Accident
$1,000,000
Emergency Out of province Medical
$2M for 21 days
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1000/person
Baggage Delay
$1000/person

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
Price Protection
$500/item, $1000/account per year

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.

Have you ever purchased something, only to see a big discount the very next day? With price protection, you can safeguard yourself against these fluctuations and get reimbursed for the price difference when this happens.

Best Student Credit Card

Our choice for: Highest cashback for students

BMO CashBack® Mastercard® for Students

4.8

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to BMO's website

$35 Cash Rebate From FinlyWealth

Welcome Bonus*

5% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,500 in spend

First Year Value

$367.35

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee*

Interest Rates

21.99% / 23.99%□

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

We consider this card to be the best student credit card in Canada for it's competitive cashback rewards (3% on groceries, 1% on recurring bills), no annual fee and a generous welcome bonus. Plus, cashback redemption is flexible so no need to wait a year each time you want to get your cashback paid out.

Pros

No annual fee, making it a cost-effective option for all students.
Up to 3% cash back on groceries and 1% on recurring bill payments, giving fantastic rewards to students.
Save up to 7 cents per litre at Shell stations when linked with Air Miles.

Cons

Low base earn rate of 0.5% cash back on non-bonus purchases.
Limited insurance coverage (extended warranty and purchase protection only).

Rewards*

3% cash back on grocery purchases (maximum $15 per statement)
1% cash back on recurring payments like bills or subscriptions (maximum $5 per statement)
0.5% cash back on all other purchases

Insurance*

Coverage*

Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
1 year

Benefits*

Details*

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.
Gas Discount
Save up to 7 cents per litre at Shell stations when linked with Air Miles
Discount
Get 20% off admission to Cirque du Soleil shows touring Canada, and 15% off resident shows in Las Vegas.
Hotel Booking Discount
Save up to 7% on your Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookings at booking.com/mastercardcanada.

Eligibility*

Credit Score
Poor
Annual Income
N/A

^*BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information. Check here for full details and current product information.

For students, the aim is to get a card with easy approval and best cashback, and the BMO Cashback Mastercard for students is easily the best card to fulfill that purpose.

Best Secured Credit Card

Our choice for: Guaranteed approval and earning cashback

Neo Secured Mastercard®

Neo Secured Mastercard®

4.5

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to Neo Financial's website

Welcome Bonus

N/A

Rewards Rate

1% - 4%

Annual Fee

$60

$5 Paid Monthly

Interest Rates

19.99% - 29.99%□ / 22.99% - 31.99%□

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

If you have a poor credit score and are looking to rebuild it with a secured card, then the Neo Financial Secured Credit Card is the best card to go for. This card offers so much more compared to other secured credit cards on the market, including no monthly fees, a low deposit amount needed to get started, and it is the only credit card that offers some rewards on your purchases!

Pros

The minimum deposit requirement is only $50, making it accessible to all consumers
High cashback rates of up to 5% on average at Neo Partners

Cons

Interest rate could go really high for some customers
A monthly fee of $5

Rewards

1% cash back on grocery purchases up to $500 spending per month (3% cash back with $5k in a Neo everyday account, and 4% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to the 0.5-1% cash back tier after hitting spend cap
1% cash back on gas purchases up to $500 spending per month (3% cash back with $5k in a Neo everyday account, and 4% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to the 0.5-1% cash back tier after hitting spend cap
0% cash back on all other purchases with $0 in a Neo everyday account, or 0.5% cash back with $5k in a Neo everyday account up to $1,667 spending per month, or 1% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account up to $1,667 spending per month - drops to 0% cash back again after hitting spend cap
+5% earned on average at Neo Partners.

Benefits

Details

Neo Premium ($4.99/month)
optional
Neo Travel Benefits ($4.99/month)
optional
Neo Food Cashback boost ($1.99/month)
optional
Neo Mind and Body Perks ($9.99/month)
optional

Eligibility

Credit Score
Poor
Annual Income
N/A

The Neo Secured Card is the only secured credit card that offers rewards comparable to its unsecured counterpart, along with numerous benefits. This is something that almost no other secured card even comes close to offering!

Best Low Interest Credit Card

Our choice for: Luxury Travel + No FX Fees

Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card

3.8

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to Scotiabank's website

$200 Cash Rebate From FinlyWealth

Welcome Bonus*

Up to 80,000 Scene+ points ($800 value)

First Year Value

$1,046.58

Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

Annual Fee*

$399

Interest Rates

9.99% / 9.99%

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

The Scotiabank Platinum American Express is the perfect choice for those seeking a super premium credit card without steep income requirements. With a high flat rate of rewards on all purchases, extensive insurance coverage, and flexible travel redemption options, it offers full-featured perks that cater to frequent travelers and savvy spenders alike.

Pros

Low Interest Rate: Offers a competitive interest rate of 9.99%.
Strong Rewards: Earn 2x Scene+ points on all purchases.
Airport Lounge Access: Enjoy 10 complimentary lounge visits, including Plaza Premium Lounges, through Priority Pass (membership required).
Comprehensive Travel Insurance: Includes extensive coverage for travel-related needs.
Flexible Travel Rewards: Points can be redeemed for travel bookings with any provider.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: Shop internationally without extra charges.

Cons

High Annual Fee: The annual fee is steep compared to similar cards offering similar perks.
Limited Premium Perks: Lacks top-tier travel benefits like free checked baggage and priority boarding.

Rewards*

Earn 2x Scene+ points for every $1 spent on all other eligible 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

Insurance*

Coverage*

Emergency Out of province Medical
$2M, Up to 31 days
Emergency Medical Over 65
$2M, Up to 10 days
Trip Cancellation
$2500/person, $10000/trip
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1000/trip
Trip Interruption
$5000/person, $25000/trip
Baggage Delay
$1000 After 4 hours
Flight Delay
$1000/person
Travel Accident
$500K/person, $1M/occurrence
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1000/occurrence
Mobile Device Insurance
$1000
Purchase Protection
120 days
Extended Warranty
Up to a year

Benefits*

Details*

No Foreign Transaction Fees
Airport Lounge - Plaza Premium
10 visits, 4 visits for secondary card (combined with the Priority pass)
Airport Lounge - Priority Pass
10 visits, 4 visits for secondary card (combined with the Plaza Premium)
American Express® Experiences
Concierge Services
Discount
Discount on PriorityPass Membership
Status lift
Hertz #1 Club Gold Member
Extra points
Extra 4 Scene+ points per Canadian dollar spent on hotel and car rental bookings made through Scene+ Travel using your Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card

Eligibility*

Credit Score
Good
Annual Income
$12,000 personal or $12,000 household

The Scotia Platinum card offers an interest rate lower than that of some lines of credit. Additionally, it provides many premium rewards and benefits, making it our top choice in this category.

Best Balance Transfer Credit Card

Our choice for: Balance transfer and interest savings

MBNA True Line® Mastercard®

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to MBNA's website

$100 Cash Rebate From FinlyWealth

Welcome Bonus*

0% rate on balance transfers for 12 months (3% fee and not available in Quebec)†

Rewards Rate*

Annual Fee*

Interest Rates

12.99%* / 24.99%*

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

Even though this card offers no benefits or rewards, the amount you can save on interest is substantial, making it an excellent option for reducing your monthly payments.

Pros

Great to reduce monthly interest payments during the promotional period.
Low purchase interest rate for people planning to put some balance on their credit card.

Cons

A flat fee has to be paid on the balance to make the transfer happen.
Not a good card other for purposes other than balance transfer.

Rewards*

No rewards earned on purchases.
Standard Annual Interest Rates of 12.99% on eligible purchases, 17.99% on balance transfers^✪, and 24.99% on cash advances.
You could get a 0% promotional annual interest rate (“AIR”)^† for 12 months on balance transfers^✪ completed within 90 days of account opening, with a 3% transfer fee. This offer is not available for residents of Quebec.
Use available credit on your credit card to transfer funds right to your chequing account.
Around-the-clock fraud protection.

Benefits*

Details*

Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationally

Eligibility*

Credit Score
Good
Annual Income
N/A

^*†, ✪, 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. Balance transfers will be fulfilled in the order listed and are treated as balance transfers in accordance with your Account Agreement. The total value of balance transfers cannot exceed your authorized credit limit. If the value is greater, MBNA may send a partial payment to the named creditor/designated account. THERE WILL BE A TRANSACTION FEE EQUAL TO 3.00% OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF EACH BALANCE TRANSFER INITIATED WITH THIS APPLICATION. A MINIMUM FEE OF $7.50 WILL APPLY TO EACH BALANCE TRANSFER TRANSACTION. A balance transfer may not be used to pay off or down your account balance or any other balances with us (including our affiliates, which would include any member of the TD Bank Group). Check here for full details and current product information.

With the promotional welcome offer on this card, you'll be able to significantly reduce your monthly interest rate payments. Be sure to take advantage of it while the offer lasts!

Best Prepaid Card

EQ Bank Card

3.7

Finly Rating

APPLY NOW

go to EQ Bank's website

Welcome Bonus

N/A

Rewards Rate

0.5% cash back on every purchase

Annual Fee

Interest Rates

N/A / N/A

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300

Poor

560

Fair

660

Good

725

Very Good

760

Excellent

Get your free credit score

The EQ bank card is not a credit card; it's a prepaid card, so you will not be able to get the same level of rewards as when using a credit card and it will not build credit. But if getting a prepaid card is your goal, then this card is, without a doubt, the best choice. Voted the best "Prepaid Card" in Canada, this card offers rewards and benefits that are mostly not offered by other prepaid cards. Earning interest on balance, rewards on purchases, no foreign transaction fee, and especially the unique no ATM fee that no other card provides, makes this card the best among prepaid cards.

Pros

Voted the best prepaid card in Canada by FinlyWealth.
The no ATM fee feature allows you to withdraw cash from any out-of-network ATMs without incurring any fees. This unique benefit can save you a lot of money when you need cash.
Unlike other prepaid cards, this card offers rewards and benefits such as earning interest on balance and no foreign transaction fee.

Cons

For a prepaid card, there are no cons to note for this card.

Rewards

0.5% cash back on every purchase

Benefits

Details

No Foreign Transaction Fees
Free ATM withdrawal
Interest on Balance
Same interest as your personal account until spent

Eligibility

Credit Score
N/A
Annual Income
N/A

The EQ card is the best prepaid card with many benefits that aren't provided by almost any other prepaid card, making it an excellent choice for this category.

Best Credit Cards in Canada By Network

Visa:

Mastercard:

American Express:

Best Credit Cards in Canada By Financial Institutions

American Express: American Express Cobalt® Card

BMO: BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®

Brim: BRIM Mastercard

Canadian Tire: Triangle World Elite Mastercard

CIBC: CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

Desjardins: Desjardins Cash Back World Elite® Mastercard®

Home Trust: Home Trust Preferred Visa

KOHO: KOHO Extra

MBNA: MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®

National Bank: NationalBank World Elite Mastercard

Neo: Neo Credit Card

RBC: RBC ION+ Visa

Rogers: Rogers Red Mastercard®

Scotiabank: Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

Simplii Financial: Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card

Tangerine: Tangerine World Mastercard

TD Bank: TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

Walmart: Walmart Rewards™ World Mastercard®

How Do Credit Cards Work?

Credit is essentially a financial agreement that allows you to borrow money to make purchases with the understanding that you’ll repay the borrowed amount later. When you use credit, like with a credit card, you're temporarily using the lender's money, which you’ll need to pay back by a specified date. Typically, you’re given a grace period, which is between 21 and 25 days, to pay off the balance. If you repay the full amount within this period and by the due date, no interest is charged.

Here’s a quick breakdown of a typical credit card transaction when, for example, you purchase a coffee at your favourite coffee shop:

You use your credit card to buy the coffee.
Your card details are sent to the store's bank, known as the acquiring bank.
The acquiring bank seeks payment approval. This request is forwarded to the payment network associated with your card, such as Visa, Mastercard, or American Express.
The transaction is approved.
The amount for your coffee is deducted from your available credit. You then see the purchase on your credit card statement, along with the due date and the minimum payment required. If you settle the entire balance, no interest will be charged.

How Does Credit Card Interest work?

In Canada, credit card interest is applied when the full balance is not paid by the due date. The most common types of interest rates include the payment interest rate, which ranges between 19% and 23%, and is charged on the remaining balance after paying the minimum payment amount.

There are also penalty rates for missed payments, higher rates for cash advances, and promotional rates that offer temporary low or zero interest. Interest is calculated annually (APR), but you can approximately estimate it monthly by dividing the APR by twelve.

To avoid paying interest, pay off the full balance each month and avoid cash advances because credit card interest payments can quickly grow. If you want to learn more about this topic you can read the blog how credit card interest works to learn more.

Finding the best credit card can save you hundreds, and potentially thousands, each year. Finding a credit card can be complicated, but we'll give you the information necessary so that you can match yourself with the best credit card for your needs.

Different Types of Credit cards

When choosing the right credit card, it's important to know the various types available, especially if you're interested in earning cashback, points, or improving your credit. Here's a breakdown of the most common credit card options:

Cashback and Points Credit Cards

Cashback credit cards give you a percentage back on your purchases, typically in categories like groceries, gas, or dining. Some offer a flat rate on all spending, while others provide higher rewards for specific categories. Points cards allow you to accumulate points that can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, or gift cards, making them ideal for those who want flexibility in how they use their rewards.

Student Credit Cards

Student credit cards are a great starting point for young adults building credit. They typically have low fees and offer simple rewards like cashback on daily expenses. Some cards even provide bonuses for maintaining good grades. By using these cards responsibly, students can establish a strong credit history for future financial needs.

High-Limit Credit Cards (Charge Cards)

If you have a strong credit score, high-limit credit cards or charge cards provide the ability to make larger purchases without negatively impacting your credit utilization. Charge cards, which often come with no pre-set spending limit, require that you pay the balance in full each month. These cards are useful for big purchases but demand disciplined financial management.

Secured Credit Cards

For individuals looking to build or rebuild their credit, secured credit cards are a valuable tool. These cards require a security deposit, which serves as your credit limit. While they may not offer many rewards, they report to credit bureaus and can help improve your credit score over time. Once your credit improves, you may transition to unsecured cards.

Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Balance transfer credit cards are designed to help people pay off high-interest debt by offering a 0% APR for a set period on transferred balances. This allows you to consolidate your debt and pay it off interest-free, saving money in the long run. Just be mindful of any balance transfer fees and the terms after the introductory period ends.

Starter Cards for Building Credit

In addition to secured cards, starter credit cards are available for those new to credit or rebuilding their score. These cards typically have lower limits and fewer rewards but offer an essential stepping stone to building a solid credit history.

Travel Credit Cards

Travel credit cards, including airline-branded and hotel-branded cards, are perfect for frequent travelers. Airline cards often include perks like free checked baggage and priority boarding, while hotel cards offer points for free nights and upgrades. Both types usually have sign-up bonuses, allowing you to earn rewards quickly.

Selecting the right card, whether for cashback, travel, or improving your credit, can help you maximize your financial goals. Be sure to compare your options and choose the one that fits your lifestyle and spending habits.

How Credit Card Rewards Work?

Credit card rewards come in a variety of forms, but the two most common are cash back and points or miles. Cash back rewards allow you to reduce your balance or deposit the amount directly into your bank account. Some cards even give the option to receive it as a check. Meanwhile, points or miles can be exchanged for travel, merchandise, gift cards, or even statement credits. Both types of rewards help you benefit from your everyday purchases, but the right option depends on how you prefer to redeem your earnings.

There are two primary types of rewards programs: fixed-rate rewards and category-based rewards. With a fixed-rate program, you earn the same rate on all purchases—such as 3% back or 3 points per dollar, regardless of where you shop. This type of card is simple to use and great for people who want consistent earnings. Category-based programs provide a base rate, like 1%, on all purchases but offer higher rates for specific spending, such as 5% on groceries or gas. Some cards even feature rotating categories that change every few months, letting you earn higher rewards in areas that shift quarterly.

Each credit card issuer sets up its own rewards structure, and it's important to understand how each one works. Flat-rate rewards offer consistent earnings, ideal for people who don't want to track specific categories. Category-based cards go a step further by offering enhanced rewards in areas like dining, groceries, or travel. For instance, one card may offer 5% back on grocery store purchases while giving 1% back on everything else. This structure can help you earn more, but it requires you to pay attention to where and how you're spending.

How Many Credit Cards should you have?

When deciding how many credit cards to have in Canada, the answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. The ideal number of cards depends on your financial situation, spending habits, and how well you manage them. Some Canadians may get by just fine with one card, while others might find value in carrying multiple to take advantage of different rewards and benefits. It’s important to consider your goals—whether you want to maximize rewards for specific purchases like travel, groceries, or gas—or simply maintain a good credit score. The right setup will differ for each individual, and there’s no set rule for how many cards you should have.

Managing multiple cards effectively requires careful attention to a few key factors. For instance, avoid maxing out any card to keep your credit utilization low, and always pay your balance in full each month to avoid interest. Keeping older credit card accounts open can help lengthen your credit history, which contributes positively to your credit score. However, opening too many cards at once can have a negative impact on your score due to multiple credit inquiries. For many Canadians, managing 3-5 cards is a practical approach, allowing you to earn rewards in different categories while keeping your finances organized. As long as you stay disciplined with payments and track your spending, multiple cards can offer substantial benefits without leading to financial trouble.

Who is the Best Credit Card issuer in Canada?

There are many credit cards available from different issuers in Canada. Your top priority should be finding the card that best suits your needs, with the credit card issuer being a secondary consideration. However, it's important to ensure that the issuer is responsive and can address your concerns quickly when needed. To gauge their support, you can read reviews of credit card issuers on review websites and forums. In our experience, American Express stands out as the best credit card issuer, offering excellent customer service, often connecting you with a representative in less than a minute.

Best Credit Cards Methodology

The team at FinlyWealth uses a data-driven approach to provide you with unbiased recommendations to find the card that best suits your needs. Our sophisticated algorithm accurately calculates the rewards earned by each card, taking into account annual fees, sign-up bonuses, reward flexibility, and the perks and benefits that come with each card to help determine the best choice for you.

The top-scoring cards in each category are showcased within their respective categories.

FAQ

What is the best Credit Card in Canada?

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to credit cards, as the ideal card depends on your personal spending patterns, financial objectives, and credit score. If you have a strong credit profile, you’re likely eligible for cards that offer perks like cash back, points, or travel miles. These types of cards are most beneficial when you pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges that could offset the rewards. However, if you typically carry a balance or need to finance a large purchase, a card with an introductory 0% APR might be a better fit, allowing you to spread payments without paying interest for a set period.

For individuals aiming to build or repair their credit, secured cards or those specifically designed for people with limited credit histories can be a solid choice. While these cards may not offer as many perks, they can help improve your credit over time, especially if they report to all three major credit bureaus. In the end, the right credit card should align with your financial habits and goals, whether you’re looking to earn rewards, minimize interest costs, or strengthen your credit profile.

What is the Easiest Credit Card to get in Canada?

If you don't have a high credit score or are just starting out, secured credit cards, newcomer credit cards, and student credit cards are the easiest to qualify for.

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