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Best credit cards in Canada

For the average middle-income Canadian household’s card spending of $2,897 a month (Statistics Canada, 2023), the SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express is worth the most: $783 a year after its annual fee. Enter your own spending below to see the order for you. Every rate and fee comes from the issuer’s own pages, usually its information box, with the date we checked it.

We currently earn nothing from any card on this page. If that changes, commission will never change the order. How we get paid

Your monthly spending

Loaded with the average card spending of the middle 20% of Canadian households by income, from Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending (2023). Change any amount and the ranking updates as you type.

Total a month$2,897

See the ranking

Ranked only by what each card is worth to you. We currently earn nothing from any card on this site; if that changes, commission will never change the order. How we get paid

  1. 1SimplyCash Preferred card
    Best match for your spending

    SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express

    American Express

    Worth to you each year$783$903 rewards − $120 fee · $983 in year one
    Rewards
    4% on gas; 4% (up to $30,000 a year) on groceries; 2% on everything else
    Intro offer
    Not published
    Annual interest rate
    21.99% on purchases
    Annual fee
    $119.88

    The catchThe $9.99 monthly fee ($119.88 a year) is charged whether or not you use the card, and grocery cash back stops counting at $1,200 a year. Amex’s pages we saved don’t state a foreign currency conversion fee.

    Not forAnyone who carries a balance (21.99% on purchases), anyone who spends little (the $119.88 yearly fee needs about $6,000 of spending at 2% to pay for itself), and anyone who shops where Amex isn’t accepted.

    Apply on the issuer’s site We don’t earn from this card.
    How we worked this out
    Your yearly spending and what this card earns on it
    CategoryYou spend a yearYou earn
    Groceries$7,908$316
    Restaurants$3,216$64
    Gas$2,460$98
    Flights$972$19
    Hotels$492$10
    Other travel$1,020$20
    Streaming$288$6
    Pharmacy$1,176$24
    Entertainment$288$6
    Everything else$16,944$339
    • Annual fee: $120
    • Annual interest rate: 21.99% on purchases
    • Annual fee checked against the issuer’s simplycash preferred card from american express information box (application page) on October 21, 2026
    • All source checks for this card: October 21, 2026.
    • Card image from American Express, taken from its own page on October 21, 2026
    • You pay your full balance every month, so no interest is charged.
    • Grocery cash back is 4% up to $1,200 cash back a year, which is $30,000 of grocery spending. Amex’s page doesn’t say what grocery spending above that earns, so we count it as nothing.
    • Welcome offer: a bonus 10% cash back on up to $2,000 of purchases in the first 3 months (up to $200), plus a $50 statement credit for a purchase in month 13 (not counted). Current or former Cardmembers aren’t eligible.
    • Quebec residents pay $119 once a year instead of $9.99 a month ($119.88 a year). Additional cards are free.
    • Up to $60 in Instacart statement credits a year until December 31, 2027, and referral bonuses, are not counted.
    • 21.99% is Amex’s “preferred rate”. After 2 separate Missed Payments in 12 months the rates become 25.99%, and after 3 or more 29.99% (the card page’s footnote; the information box defines a Missed Payment).
    • The earn-rate footnotes on Amex’s card page open in a pop-up that our saved copy doesn’t contain, so any caps or exclusions they set aren’t recorded.
    • Balance transfers and Amex cheques cost up to 3% “if offered”: Amex doesn’t say every account can make one.
    • Quebec: Amex charges Quebec residents no dishonoured-payment fee ($15 elsewhere) and no over-limit fee ($29 elsewhere).
    • Welcome bonus counted because your spending meets the requirement within 3 months.
  2. 2Scotiabank Gold American Express Card credit card

    Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

    Scotiabank · American Express

    Worth to you each year$739$859 rewards − $120 fee
    Rewards
    5x points on groceries, 5x points on restaurants, 5x points on entertainment, 3x points on gas, 3x points on transit, 3x points on streaming (up to $50,000 a year combined, then 1x points); 1x points on everything else
    Intro offer
    Not published
    Annual interest rate
    21.99% on purchases
    Annual fee
    $120

    The catchThe $120 fee is charged every year unless you hold an eligible Scotiabank chequing package, the accelerated rates stop after $50,000 a year, and not every merchant takes American Express.

    Not forAnyone who carries a balance (21.99% on purchases), and anyone who shops where American Express isn’t accepted.

    Apply on the issuer’s site We don’t earn from this card.
    How we worked this out
    Your yearly spending and what this card earns on it
    CategoryYou spend a yearYou earn
    Groceries$7,908$395
    Restaurants$3,216$161
    Gas$2,460$74
    Flights$972$10
    Hotels$492$5
    Other travel$1,020$10
    Streaming$288$9
    Pharmacy$1,176$12
    Entertainment$288$14
    Everything else$16,944$169
    • Annual fee: $120
    • Annual interest rate: 21.99% on purchases
    • Annual fee checked against the issuer’s scotiabank gold american express card page on October 21, 2026
    • All source checks for this card: October 21, 2026.
    • Card image from Scotiabank, taken from its own page on October 21, 2026
    • You pay your full balance every month, so no interest is charged.
    • The bonus rates on groceries, dining, entertainment, gas, transit, streaming share one limit of CA$50,000 of spending a year. We assume your spending is spread evenly through the year, so the limit is used up across those categories in proportion to what you spend in each.
    • Points valued at 1 cent each, the issuer’s stated cash redemption value: Scotiabank: Scene+ points redeem at $10 for every 1,000 points on fuel at participating Shell locations (1 cent a point), the same rate it quotes for travel.
    • 6 Scene+ points per $1 at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, FreshCo and other Sobeys-family grocers is not counted; those purchases count at the 5-point grocery rate. The accelerated rates apply to the first $50,000 a year of accelerated purchases combined, and only to purchases in Canadian dollars.
    • Welcome offer: 30,000 bonus Scene+ points after $2,000 in the first 3 months and 20,000 more after $7,500 in the first year. American Express is accepted at fewer merchants than Visa or Mastercard in Canada and abroad.
    • Balance transfers are cash advances: they are charged the cash advance rate from the day they are made. A transfer under a promotional offer costs the offer’s fee (up to 3%, minimum $5).
  3. 3CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card credit card

    CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card

    CIBC · Visa

    Worth to you each year$571$691 rewards − $120 fee · $691 in year one
    Rewards
    4% on groceries, 4% on gas, 2% on transit, 2% on restaurants (up to $20,000 a year combined, then 1%); 1% on everything else
    Intro offer
    Not published
    Annual interest rate
    21.99% on purchases
    Annual fee
    $0 the first year, then $120

    The catchThe 4% and 2% rates stop after $20,000 a year of category spending, and the $120 fee applies from the second year.

    Not forAnyone spending under $3,000 a year on groceries and gas (4% of that is the $120 fee), anyone who carries a balance (21.99%), and anyone spending abroad (2.5% conversion fee).

    Apply on the issuer’s site We don’t earn from this card.
    How we worked this out
    Your yearly spending and what this card earns on it
    CategoryYou spend a yearYou earn
    Groceries$7,908$316
    Restaurants$3,216$64
    Gas$2,460$98
    Flights$972$10
    Hotels$492$5
    Other travel$1,020$10
    Streaming$288$3
    Pharmacy$1,176$12
    Entertainment$288$3
    Everything else$16,944$169
    • Annual fee: $120
    • Annual interest rate: 21.99% on purchases
    • Annual fee checked against the issuer’s cibc dividend visa infinite card page on October 21, 2026
    • All source checks for this card: October 21, 2026.
    • Card image from CIBC, taken from its own page on October 21, 2026
    • You pay your full balance every month, so no interest is charged.
    • The bonus rates on groceries, gas, transit, dining share one limit of CA$20,000 of spending a year. We assume your spending is spread evenly through the year, so the limit is used up across those categories in proportion to what you spend in each.
    • The 4% and 2% rates apply to the first $20,000 a year of purchases in the bonus categories combined, and stop once all card purchases reach $50,000 a year, whichever comes first; the calculator applies the $20,000 cap only. Recurring payments are not counted as a separate category, and 2% on CIBC by Expedia bookings is not counted.
    • Welcome offer: 10% cash back on purchases in the first 4 statement periods, up to $2,000 of purchases ($200), replacing the regular rates.
    • The first-year annual fee rebate comes with CIBC’s current welcome offer; the calculator ranks on the full fee.
    • Quebec residents pay a 21.99% cash rate and no cash advance fee; the rest-of-Canada figures are recorded.
    • Cash advances cost $5.00 each in Canada and $7.50 outside Canada, with interest from the day taken. Promotional balance transfers cost up to 5%, disclosed with the offer.
    • The annual fee is lower in the first year, so year-one value includes the difference. The ranking uses the fee you pay from year two.
  4. 4Capital One Quicksilver World Mastercard card

    Capital One Quicksilver World Mastercard

    Capital One · Mastercard

    Worth to you each year$555$555 rewards − $0 fee
    Rewards
    3% on groceries, gas; 1% on everything else
    Intro offer
    Not published
    Annual interest rate
    Not published
    Annual fee
    $0

    The catchYou only learn your rate, somewhere from 21.9% to 29.9%, at approval, superstores don’t earn the grocery rate, and Capital One doesn’t publish its cash advance or balance transfer fees.

    Not forAnyone who carries a balance (rates of 21.9% to 29.9%, set at approval), anyone whose groceries come mostly from Walmart or Costco (1%, not 3%), and anyone who qualifies for the World Elite version at 20.9%.

    Apply on the issuer’s site We don’t earn from this card.
    How we worked this out
    Your yearly spending and what this card earns on it
    CategoryYou spend a yearYou earn
    Groceries$7,908$237
    Restaurants$3,216$32
    Gas$2,460$74
    Flights$972$10
    Hotels$492$5
    Other travel$1,020$10
    Streaming$288$3
    Pharmacy$1,176$12
    Entertainment$288$3
    Everything else$16,944$169
    • Annual fee: $0
    • Annual interest rate: not published on the page we checked
    • Annual fee checked against the issuer’s quicksilver world mastercard page on October 21, 2026
    • All source checks for this card: October 21, 2026.
    • Card image from Capital One, taken from its own page on October 21, 2026
    • You pay your full balance every month, so no interest is charged.
    • Annual interest rates of 21.9% to 29.9% on purchases, balance transfers and cash advances, set at approval.
    • Cash back: 3% at eligible grocery stores (not superstores such as Walmart and Costco), 3% at eligible gas stations and EV charging stations, 1% on everything else, with no cap. Redeemed only as a statement credit (1 cash Reward = $1.00). Cash advances and balance transfers earn nothing.
    • First-year offer: Capital One matches all cash back earned in the first 365 days, dollar for dollar, credited within 2 billing periods after. Not counted. Capital One says it is “only available when displayed on this site”.
    • Capital One notes that this premium card “can impose higher card acceptance costs on merchants”.
    • Capital One doesn’t publish its cash advance, balance transfer or over-limit fees: the Cardholder Agreement says they are in the Disclosure statement you receive with the account.
  5. 5Capital One Quicksilver World Elite Mastercard card

    Capital One Quicksilver World Elite Mastercard

    Capital One · Mastercard

    Worth to you each year$555$555 rewards − $0 fee
    Rewards
    3% on groceries, gas; 1% on everything else
    Intro offer
    Not published
    Annual interest rate
    20.9% on purchases
    Annual fee
    $0

    The catchSuperstores such as Walmart and Costco don’t count as grocery stores, and Capital One doesn’t publish its cash advance or balance transfer fees. The rate is 20.9% on purchases, transfers and cash advances.

    Not forAnyone whose grocery spending is mostly at Walmart or Costco (superstores earn 1%, not 3%), anyone who carries a balance (20.9%), and anyone below the income minimum.

    Apply on the issuer’s site We don’t earn from this card.
    How we worked this out
    Your yearly spending and what this card earns on it
    CategoryYou spend a yearYou earn
    Groceries$7,908$237
    Restaurants$3,216$32
    Gas$2,460$74
    Flights$972$10
    Hotels$492$5
    Other travel$1,020$10
    Streaming$288$3
    Pharmacy$1,176$12
    Entertainment$288$3
    Everything else$16,944$169
    • Annual fee: $0
    • Annual interest rate: 20.9% on purchases
    • Annual fee checked against the issuer’s quicksilver world elite mastercard page on October 21, 2026
    • All source checks for this card: October 21, 2026.
    • Card image from Capital One, taken from its own page on October 21, 2026
    • You pay your full balance every month, so no interest is charged.
    • 20.9% applies to purchases, balance transfers and cash advances.
    • Cash back: 3% at eligible grocery stores (not superstores such as Walmart and Costco), 3% at eligible gas stations and EV charging stations, 1% on everything else, with no cap. Redeemed only as a statement credit (1 cash Reward = $1.00). Cash advances and balance transfers earn nothing.
    • First-year offer: Capital One matches all cash back earned in the first 365 days, dollar for dollar, credited within 2 billing periods after. Not counted. Capital One says it is “only available when displayed on this site”.
    • Capital One notes that this premium card “can impose higher card acceptance costs on merchants”.
    • Capital One doesn’t publish its cash advance, balance transfer or over-limit fees: the Cardholder Agreement says they are in the Disclosure statement you receive with the account.
  6. 6Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard credit card

    Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard

    Desjardins · Mastercard

    Worth to you each year$555$655 rewards − $100 fee
    Rewards
    4% (up to $10,000 a year) on groceries; 3% (up to $6,000 a year) on restaurants; 3% on entertainment; 1% on everything else
    Intro offer
    Not published
    Annual interest rate
    20.9% on purchases
    Annual fee
    $100

    The catchA $100 annual fee, and the 4% and 3% rates stop at $10,000 of groceries and $6,000 of restaurants a year. Cash back pays out only in $100 steps.

    Not forAnyone spending little on groceries and restaurants (the $100 fee eats the gain), anyone who carries a balance (20.90%), and anyone spending abroad (2.5% fee).

    Apply on the issuer’s site We don’t earn from this card.
    How we worked this out
    Your yearly spending and what this card earns on it
    CategoryYou spend a yearYou earn
    Groceries$7,908$316
    Restaurants$3,216$96
    Gas$2,460$25
    Flights$972$10
    Hotels$492$5
    Other travel$1,020$10
    Streaming$288$3
    Pharmacy$1,176$12
    Entertainment$288$9
    Everything else$16,944$169
    • Annual fee: $100
    • Annual interest rate: 20.9% on purchases
    • Annual fee checked against the issuer’s cardholder contract and information box, outside quebec (effective october 19, 2026) on October 21, 2026
    • All source checks for this card: October 21, 2026.
    • Card image from Desjardins, taken from its own page on October 21, 2026
    • You pay your full balance every month, so no interest is charged.
    • 4% on groceries applies to the first $10,000 a year and 3% at restaurants to the first $6,000; after that, 1%.
    • Not counted: 3% on “Alternative transportation” and, where offered, “Pre-authorized payments”, which have no calculator category.
    • Cash back is credited to the account each time it reaches $100. Each additional card costs $30 a year. Travel insurance for trips up to 3 days, mobile device insurance and Mastercard Travel Pass are not counted.
    • Category rates depend on the merchant category code Visa or Mastercard assigns. Annual caps reset each January 1.
    • Quebec residents sign a separate cardholder contract; the figures here are from the contract for residents outside Quebec. The minimum payment is 5% of the balance or $10.
44 cards aren’t ranked, and why

Rewards published, but no cash value we can use (24)

  • RBC U.S. Dollar Visa Gold: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. The card earns 1 Avion point per U.S. $1 and RBC values points in Canadian dollars (“Every 100 Avion points is worth $1 CAD towards travel”); a U.S.-dollar spend can’t be valued in the calculator without an exchange rate, so it is not counted.
  • RBC British Airways Visa Infinite: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. RBC states no dollar value for Avios on this card’s page, so the rewards are not valued (methodology: points count only at the issuer’s stated value).
  • RBC ION Visa: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. RBC states no fixed value for the ION Visa’s Avion points: its page says the value depends on the product held and the redemption. Not valued.
  • RBC ION+ Visa: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. RBC states no fixed value for the ION+ Visa’s Avion points: its page says the value depends on the product held and the redemption. Not valued.
  • TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. TD states no redemption value for Aeroplan points on its pages (its offer footnote counts 50,000 points as $1,000 of welcome-offer value, which is not a redemption rate). Not valued.
  • TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. TD states no redemption value for Aeroplan points on its pages (its offer footnote counts Aeroplan points as part of the welcome-offer value, which is not a redemption rate). Not valued.
  • TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum Credit Card: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. TD states no redemption value for Aeroplan points on this card’s page. Not valued.
  • CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. CIBC gives only “maximum redemption value” examples for this card’s Aventura Points (on flights from its Airline Rewards Chart), not a fixed redemption rate. Not valued.
  • CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. CIBC gives only “maximum redemption value” examples for this card’s Aventura Points (on flights from its Airline Rewards Chart), not a fixed redemption rate. Not valued.
  • CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. CIBC gives only “maximum redemption value” examples for this card’s Aventura Points (on flights from its Airline Rewards Chart), not a fixed redemption rate. Not valued.
  • CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura Gold Visa Card: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. The card earns Aventura Points on U.S.-dollar spending and CIBC values them in Canadian dollars; a U.S.-dollar spend can’t be valued in the calculator without an exchange rate. Not counted.
  • CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. CIBC states no redemption value for Aeroplan points on this card’s page. Not valued.
  • CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. CIBC states no redemption value for Aeroplan points on this card’s page. Not valued.
  • CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. CIBC states no redemption value for Aeroplan points on this card’s page. Not valued.
  • American Express Cobalt Card: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. Amex states a points value (1,000 points = $10 for eligible purchases), but the caps behind the Cobalt’s 5X, 3X and 2X categories sit in footnotes our saved page doesn’t contain, so the earn can’t be counted without overstating it. The earn rates are in the caveats.
  • Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. Amex states no dollar value for a Marriott Bonvoy point, so the earn can’t be counted (methodology: points are valued only at the issuer’s stated rate). The earn rates are in the caveats.
  • American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. Amex states no redemption rate for Aeroplan points that anyone can get: its $0.02 a point is what “the majority of current Aeroplan Cardmembers” received on flights, not a stated rate. The earn rates are in the caveats.
  • American Express Gold Rewards Card: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. The Gold Rewards page states no points value for a redemption anyone can make (its statement-credit redemption gives no rate), and the caps behind its 2X categories sit in footnotes our saved page doesn’t contain. The earn rates are in the caveats.
  • Capital One Smart Rewards Mastercard: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. Smart Rewards earns points on payments made towards the balance, not on spending, and the terms say the earn rate is “communicated to you by Capital One, from time to time” and that points have no cash value. Neither fits the calculator; the details are in the caveats.
  • Neo Mastercard: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. The Neo Mastercard earns cash back only at Neo partner merchants (“Rewards type Cashback at Partners”), at rates that vary by partner offer; there is no general earn rate to count.
  • Neo World Mastercard: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. Neo’s footnote setting the monthly spend limits on these cash back rates isn’t in the saved page, so the earn can’t be counted without overstating it. The rates are in the caveats.
  • Neo World Elite Mastercard: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. Neo’s footnote setting the monthly spend limits on these cash back rates isn’t in the saved page, so the earn can’t be counted without overstating it. The rates are in the caveats.
  • United MileagePlus Neo World Elite Mastercard: its rewards can’t be put in dollars. Neo states no dollar value for a MileagePlus mile, so the earn can’t be counted (points are valued only at the issuer’s stated rate). The earn rates are in the caveats.
  • Cathay World Elite Mastercard (Powered by Neo): its rewards can’t be put in dollars. Neo states no dollar value for an Asia Mile, so the earn can’t be counted (points are valued only at the issuer’s stated rate). The earn rates are in the caveats.

No rewards described on the pages we checked (20)

  • RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option: the pages we checked describe no rewards. The RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option earns no points or cash back.
  • RBC Visa Platinum: the pages we checked describe no rewards. The RBC Visa Platinum earns no points or cash back of its own; only RBC’s linked-card partner offers.
  • TD Low Rate Visa Card: the pages we checked describe no rewards. The TD Low Rate Visa earns no points or cash back.
  • TD U.S. Dollar Visa Card: the pages we checked describe no rewards. The TD U.S. Dollar Visa earns no points or cash back.
  • Scotiabank Value Visa Card: the pages we checked describe no rewards. The Scotiabank Value Visa earns no points or cash back.
  • Scotiabank U.S. Dollar Visa Card: the pages we checked describe no rewards. The Scotiabank U.S. Dollar Visa earns no points or cash back of its own.
  • CIBC Select Visa Card: the pages we checked describe no rewards. The CIBC Select Visa earns no points or cash back.
  • CIBC Classic Visa Card: the pages we checked describe no rewards. The CIBC Classic Visa earns no points or cash back.
  • National Bank Syncro Mastercard: the pages we checked describe no rewards. This card earns no points or cash back.
  • National Bank MC1 Mastercard: the pages we checked describe no rewards. This card earns no points or cash back.
  • Desjardins Flexi Visa: the pages we checked describe no rewards. The Flexi Visa earns no cash back or BONUSDOLLARS.
  • American Express Essential Credit Card: the pages we checked describe no rewards. The Essential Credit Card earns no points or cash back: its page lists a low rate, coverage and Amex Experiences, and no earn rate.
  • Capital One Guaranteed Mastercard: the pages we checked describe no rewards. The Guaranteed Mastercard earns no points or cash back: its page mentions none.
  • Capital One Guaranteed Secured Mastercard: the pages we checked describe no rewards. The Guaranteed Secured Mastercard earns no points or cash back: its page mentions none.
  • MBNA True Line Mastercard: the pages we checked describe no rewards. The True Line Mastercard earns no points or cash back: its page mentions none.
  • MBNA True Line Gold Mastercard: the pages we checked describe no rewards. The True Line Gold Mastercard earns no points or cash back: its page mentions none.
  • Home Trust Secured Visa (no annual fee): the pages we checked describe no rewards. The Secured Visa earns no points or cash back: its page mentions none.
  • Home Trust Secured Visa (low rate, $59 annual fee): the pages we checked describe no rewards. The Secured Visa earns no points or cash back: its page mentions none.
  • ATB Preferred Fixed-Rate Mastercard: the pages we checked describe no rewards. This card earns no points or cash back: its page mentions none.
  • ATB Alberta Mastercard: the pages we checked describe no rewards. This card earns no points or cash back: its page mentions none.

The starting spending is Statistics Canada’s average for the middle fifth of households by income (2023): groceries $659, dining out $268, gas $205, flights $81, hotels $41, other travel $85, streaming $24, pharmacy $98, entertainment $24, everything else $1,412 a month. Load another income group above, or enter your own.

What is a credit card worth to a real Canadian household?

We took the average card spending of each fifth of Canadian households by income, from the Statistics Canada Survey of Household Spending for 2023, and ran it through all 75 cards we can value. A household in the middle fifth spends about $2,897 a month on things people usually pay for by card. What holds across the incomes:

  1. The same card leads at every income: the SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express. The best card that pays one flat rate on everything comes within $118 to $435 a year of the leader.
  2. Here a card with an annual fee comes out ahead at every income. After its fee, the best fee card is worth $80 to $460 a year more than the best no-fee card, from the lowest fifth to the highest.
  3. Carry more than a few thousand dollars and no card’s rewards cover the interest. At each card’s published annual interest rate, the most any card can carry before a year’s interest outweighs its rewards is $1,898 for the lowest fifth and $7,638 for the highest.
Card value for each fifth of Canadian households by income (2023 spending), calculated from our approved card records
Household income before taxCard spending a monthCard worth most a yearLead over the best flat-rate cardBest fee card vs best no-fee cardLargest balance rewards still cover
Lowest 20% of incomes$1,666$417 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express$118 over Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard at $300$417 vs $337 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express$1,898 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express
Second 20%$2,405$648 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express$215 over Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard at $433$648 vs $479 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express$2,945 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express
Middle 20% of incomes$2,897$783 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express$261 over Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard at $521$783 vs $555 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express$3,559 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express
Fourth 20%$3,595$1,006 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express$359 over Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard at $647$1,006 vs $694 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express$4,686 Desjardins Odyssey Visa Infinite Privilege
Highest 20% of incomes$4,836$1,356 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express$435 over 2 tied flat-rate cards at $921$1,356 vs $896 SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express$7,638 Desjardins Odyssey Visa Infinite Privilege
How we turned the survey into card spending

The survey reports what households spend, by item, as an average for each fifth of incomes. We turn it into a month and count only spending people usually put on a card:

  • Groceries: Food purchased from stores
  • Restaurants: Food purchased from restaurants
  • Gas: Gas and other fuels (all vehicles and tools)
  • Flights: Airplane
  • Hotels: Hotels and motels
  • Other travel: Package trips; Rented automobiles, vans and trucks; Inter-city bus; Other inter-city passenger transportation services
  • Streaming: Digital services
  • Pharmacy: Prescribed medicines, pharmaceutical products and cannabis for medical use; Non-prescribed medicines, pharmaceutical products, health care supplies and equipment
  • Entertainment: Movie theatres; Live sporting and performing arts events; Admission fees to museums, zoos and other sites
  • Everything else: Telephone; Internet access services; Pet expenses; Household cleaning supplies and equipment; Paper, plastic and foil supplies; Garden supplies and services; Other household supplies; Household furnishings and equipment; Clothing and accessories; Tires, batteries, and other parts and supplies for vehicles; Maintenance and repairs of vehicles; Parking (excluding parking fees included in rent and traffic and parking tickets); City or commuter bus, subway, streetcar and commuter train; Taxi (including tips); Peer-to-peer ride services; Personal care; Computer equipment and supplies; Home entertainment equipment and services; Television and satellite radio services (including installation, service and pay TV charges); Use of recreational facilities and fees for other recreational activities; Alcoholic beverages purchased from stores; Reading materials and other printed matter

Left out: Shelter; Water, fuel and electricity for principal accommodation; Private and public vehicle insurance premiums; Purchase of automobiles, vans and trucks; Fees for leased automobiles, vans and trucks; Tuition fees; Child care; Health care services and insurance premiums; Income taxes; Personal insurance payments and pension contributions; Gifts of money, support payments and charitable contributions; Financial services; Tobacco and cannabis; Games of chance. Local transit, taxis and ride-hailing count as everyday spending, because the calculator has no transit input. Online shopping is recorded by item, not by where you buy, so it counts under the item. Values Statistics Canada marks as too unreliable to publish are never counted as zero.

These are averages (means), which large spenders pull up, not a typical household. Values are rewards minus the annual fee, every year after the first, for paying in full; the balance column uses each card’s published annual interest rate and simple interest. Card terms are from our approved records, checked automatically against each issuer’s saved terms.

Source: Statistics Canada, Table 11-10-0223-01 Household spending by household income quintile, Canada, regions and provinces (retrieved October 27, 2026; data file). Our calculation.

Is a card with an annual fee worth it?

Only if its credits and perks are worth more to you than the gap below. Our values count rewards and the fee, not travel credits, lounge access or insurance (what our values leave out), so for each fee card we can value, the table shows what those extras would have to be worth a year for the card just to match the best no-fee card, on each income group’s real spending. For a middle-income household, 4 fee cards already match or beat the best no-fee card on rewards alone. For the rest, the perks must be worth from $5 for the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard to $722 for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Privilege Card, which charges $599 a year.

What a fee card’s perks must be worth a year to match the best no-fee card, by household income
CardAnnual feeMiddle-income householdRange across incomes
SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express$120Already matches$0 to $0 least for the lowest 20%, most for the lowest 20%
CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card$120Already matches$0 to $35 least for the middle 20%, most for the lowest 20%
Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard$100Already matches$0 to $36 least for the middle 20%, most for the lowest 20%
Scotiabank Gold American Express Card$120Already matches$0 to $0 least for the lowest 20%, most for the lowest 20%
MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard$120$5$0 to $48 least for the fourth 20%, most for the lowest 20%
RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard$120$50$0 to $86 least for the highest 20%, most for the lowest 20%
PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard$120$61$34 to $69 least for the highest 20%, most for the lowest 20%
Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+ Card$120$66$35 to $77 least for the highest 20%, most for the lowest 20%
CIBC Dividend Platinum Visa Card$99$67$63 to $83 least for the fourth 20%, most for the lowest 20%
Desjardins Odyssey World Elite Mastercard$130$87$63 to $114 least for the highest 20%, most for the lowest 20%
Wealthsimple Visa Infinite+ Card$240$100$0 to $178 least for the highest 20%, most for the lowest 20%
Wealthsimple Visa Infinite Privilege Card$240$100$0 to $178 least for the highest 20%, most for the lowest 20%
WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard$139$121$85 to $142 least for the highest 20%, most for the lowest 20%
TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card$139$121$92 to $136 least for the highest 20%, most for the second 20%
TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card$139$133$131 to $137 least for the highest 20%, most for the lowest 20%
Scotia Momentum Visa Card$49$141$109 to $192 least for the lowest 20%, most for the highest 20%
Desjardins Odyssey Visa Infinite Privilege$395$185$0 to $293 least for the highest 20%, most for the lowest 20%
MBNA Smart Cash World Mastercard$39$186$117 to $294 least for the lowest 20%, most for the highest 20%
National Bank ECHO Cashback Mastercard$30$186$133 to $267 least for the lowest 20%, most for the highest 20%
TD Platinum Travel Visa Card$89$214$168 to $278 least for the lowest 20%, most for the highest 20%
WestJet RBC Mastercard$39$229$168 to $324 least for the lowest 20%, most for the highest 20%
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ Card$150$243$215 to $280 least for the lowest 20%, most for the highest 20%
Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card$399$259$134 to $337 least for the highest 20%, most for the lowest 20%
ScotiaGold Passport Visa Card$110$317$248 to $425 least for the lowest 20%, most for the highest 20%
RBC Avion Visa Infinite$120$321$255 to $420 least for the lowest 20%, most for the highest 20%
RBC Avion Visa Platinum$120$327$258 to $435 least for the lowest 20%, most for the highest 20%
Tangerine Rewards World Elite Mastercard$120$327$258 to $435 least for the lowest 20%, most for the highest 20%
Desjardins Odyssey Gold Visa$110$358$282 to $460 least for the lowest 20%, most for the highest 20%
National Bank World Elite Mastercard$150$396$288 to $616 least for the lowest 20%, most for the highest 20%
National Bank Platinum Mastercard$70$479$317 to $732 least for the lowest 20%, most for the highest 20%
National Bank World Mastercard$115$496$352 to $721 least for the lowest 20%, most for the highest 20%
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege$399$519$487 to $569 least for the lowest 20%, most for the highest 20%
Rogers Red World Legend Mastercard$495$529$520 to $542 least for the highest 20%, most for the fourth 20%
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Privilege Card$599$722$701 to $748 least for the lowest 20%, most for the fourth 20%

Gap = the best no-fee card’s rewards minus its fee, less this card’s, both a year from year two and on the same household’s spending (Statistics Canada Survey of Household Spending; see real Canadian households). A card with a lower first-year fee costs less in year one. 30 fee cards aren’t shown because we can’t put their points or miles in dollars, so we can’t say what their perks must be worth: RBC U.S. Dollar Visa Gold; RBC British Airways Visa Infinite; RBC ION+ Visa; RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option; TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card; TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card; TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum Credit Card; TD Low Rate Visa Card; TD U.S. Dollar Visa Card; Scotiabank Value Visa Card; Scotiabank U.S. Dollar Visa Card; CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card; CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card; CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card; CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura Gold Visa Card; CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card; CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card; CIBC Select Visa Card; National Bank Syncro Mastercard; American Express Cobalt Card; American Express Essential Credit Card; Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card; American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card; American Express Gold Rewards Card; MBNA True Line Gold Mastercard; Home Trust Secured Visa (low rate, $59 annual fee); Neo World Elite Mastercard; United MileagePlus Neo World Elite Mastercard; Cathay World Elite Mastercard (Powered by Neo); ATB Preferred Fixed-Rate Mastercard.

SimplyCash Preferred card

Which credit card is best in Canada for a middle-income household? The SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express

Why it wonIt is worth $783 a year on a middle-income household’s card spending of $2,897 a month: $903 in rewards minus a $120 annual fee. That is the most of the 75 Canadian cards we could value in dollars.

The catchThe $9.99 monthly fee ($119.88 a year) is charged whether or not you use the card, and grocery cash back stops counting at $1,200 a year. Amex’s pages we saved don’t state a foreign currency conversion fee.

Who can apply: A Canadian resident with a Canadian credit file, of the age of majority in the province or territory of residence. Amex offers an eligibility check with no impact to your credit score before you apply.

Not for: Anyone who carries a balance (21.99% on purchases), anyone who spends little (the $119.88 yearly fee needs about $6,000 of spending at 2% to pay for itself), and anyone who shops where Amex isn’t accepted.

The best credit card in Canada for each need

The best card depends on what you want it for. Each pick below follows a stated rule, applied to the figures each Canadian issuer publishes; the ones that depend on spending use the middle-income household’s $2,897 a month.

Our pick for each need, and the rule that chose it
NeedCardWhyThe catch
Most value for the example spendingSimplyCash Preferred Card from American ExpressWorth $783 a year for a middle-income household, after a $119.88 annual fee. Rewards: 4% on gas; 4% (up to $30,000 a year) on groceries; 2% on everything else. Rule: the highest yearly value after the annual fee, for the example spending.The $9.99 monthly fee ($119.88 a year) is charged whether or not you use the card, and grocery cash back stops counting at $1,200 a year. Amex’s pages we saved don’t state a foreign currency conversion fee.
No annual feeCapital One Quicksilver World MastercardWorth $555 a year for a middle-income household, after a $0 annual fee. Rewards: 3% on groceries, gas; 1% on everything else. Rule: the most value for the example spending among cards with no annual fee.You only learn your rate, somewhere from 21.9% to 29.9%, at approval, superstores don’t earn the grocery rate, and Capital One doesn’t publish its cash advance or balance transfer fees.
CashbackSimplyCash Preferred Card from American ExpressWorth $783 a year for a middle-income household, after a $119.88 annual fee. Rewards: 4% on gas; 4% (up to $30,000 a year) on groceries; 2% on everything else. Rule: the most value for the example spending among cards that pay cashback.The $9.99 monthly fee ($119.88 a year) is charged whether or not you use the card, and grocery cash back stops counting at $1,200 a year. Amex’s pages we saved don’t state a foreign currency conversion fee.
Points or travel rewardsScotiabank Gold American Express CardWorth $739 a year for a middle-income household, after a $120 annual fee. Rewards: 5x points on groceries, 5x points on restaurants, 5x points on entertainment, 3x points on gas, 3x points on transit, 3x points on streaming (up to $50,000 a year combined, then 1x points); 1x points on everything else. Rule: the most value for the example spending among cards that earn points, Aeroplan points or Scene+ points, at the value the issuer states.The $120 fee is charged every year unless you hold an eligible Scotiabank chequing package, the accelerated rates stop after $50,000 a year, and not every merchant takes American Express.
No overseas transaction feeScotiabank Gold American Express CardWorth $739 a year for a middle-income household, after a $120 annual fee. Rewards: 5x points on groceries, 5x points on restaurants, 5x points on entertainment, 3x points on gas, 3x points on transit, 3x points on streaming (up to $50,000 a year combined, then 1x points); 1x points on everything else. Rule: the most value for the example spending among cards that charge no fee on overseas purchases.The $120 fee is charged every year unless you hold an eligible Scotiabank chequing package, the accelerated rates stop after $50,000 a year, and not every merchant takes American Express.
Lowest purchase interest rateNational Bank Syncro Mastercard8.9% p.a. on purchases, with a $35 annual fee. Rule: the lowest purchase interest rate p.a. among cards that charge interest; a tie goes to the lower annual fee.No rewards, and the rate is variable: it moves with National Bank’s prime rate and never falls below 8.90% on purchases.
Moving a balance from another cardMBNA True Line Mastercard0% promotional rate on balance transfers for 12 months, then 17.99%. Rule: the longest promotional rate on balance transfers; a tie goes to the lower rate, then the lower annual fee.The 0% transfer still costs 3.00% (minimum $3.50) of each balance moved, and transfers revert to 17.99% after 12 statement periods. Cash advances cost 24.99%.

Every Canadian credit card we compared

The table shows each of the 119 cards’ annual fee, purchase and cash advance interest rates, overseas transaction fee and rewards, as the issuer publishes them, with the date we checked. “Not published” means the issuer doesn’t state that figure on the pages we checked; we never estimate it.

Canadian credit cards: each issuer’s published fees and rates, with the date we checked
CardWorth a year (middle income)Annual feePurchase rateCash advance rateOverseas feeRewardsChecked
SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express American Express$783$119.8821.99% p.a.21.99% p.a.Not published4% on gas; 4% (up to $30,000 a year) on groceries; 2% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Scotiabank Gold American Express Card Scotiabank$739$12021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.None5x points on groceries, 5x points on restaurants, 5x points on entertainment, 3x points on gas, 3x points on transit, 3x points on streaming (up to $50,000 a year combined, then 1x points); 1x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card CIBC$571$0 the first year, then $12021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%4% on groceries, 4% on gas, 2% on transit, 2% on restaurants (up to $20,000 a year combined, then 1%); 1% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Capital One Quicksilver World Mastercard Capital One$555$0Not publishedNot publishedNone3% on groceries, gas; 1% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Capital One Quicksilver World Elite Mastercard Capital One$555$020.9% p.a.20.9% p.a.None3% on groceries, gas; 1% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard Desjardins$555$10020.9% p.a.21.9% p.a.2.5%4% (up to $10,000 a year) on groceries; 3% (up to $6,000 a year) on restaurants; 3% on entertainment; 1% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard MBNA$550$12021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not published5x points (up to $50,000 a year each) on restaurants, groceries, streaming; 1x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
PC World Elite Mastercard PC Financial$529$021.99% p.a.22.97% p.a.2.5%30x points on groceries, pharmacies; 10x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard Rogers Bank$521$021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%1.5% on everythingOctober 21, 2026
SimplyCash Card from American Express American Express$512$021.99% p.a.21.99% p.a.Not published2% on gas; 2% (up to $15,000 a year) on groceries; 1.25% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Triangle World Elite Mastercard Canadian Tire Bank (Triangle)$506$021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%3x points (up to $12,000 a year) on groceries; 1x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard RBC Royal Bank$505$12021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not published3% on groceries, restaurants, gas, transit, streaming; 1% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard PC Financial$494$0 the first year, then $12021.99% p.a.22.97% p.a.2.5%40x points on groceries; 35x points on pharmacies; 10x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+ Card Scotiabank$489$0 the first year, then $12020.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%2% on gas, 2% on transit (up to $25,000 a year combined, then 1%); 4% (up to $25,000 a year) on groceries; 1% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Scotiabank American Express Card Scotiabank$489$021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%2x points on groceries, 2x points on restaurants, 2x points on entertainment, 2x points on gas, 2x points on transit, 2x points on streaming (up to $50,000 a year combined, then 1x points); 1x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
CIBC Dividend Platinum Visa Card CIBC$488$0 the first year, then $9921.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%3% on groceries, 3% on gas, 2% on transit, 2% on restaurants (up to $20,000 a year combined, then 1%); 1% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Desjardins Odyssey World Elite Mastercard Desjardins$468$13020.9% p.a.21.9% p.a.2.5%3x points (up to $10,000 a year) on groceries; 3x points (up to $6,000 a year) on restaurants; 2x points on entertainment; 2x points (up to $20,000 a year) on travel; 1x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Wealthsimple Visa Infinite+ Card Wealthsimple$455$24020.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.None2% on everythingOctober 21, 2026
Wealthsimple Visa Infinite Privilege Card Wealthsimple$455$24020.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.None2% on everythingOctober 21, 2026
PC World Mastercard PC Financial$438$021.99% p.a.22.97% p.a.2.5%20x points on groceries, pharmacies; 10x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
CIBC Costco Mastercard CIBC$437$021.75% p.a.22.49% p.a.2.5%3% on restaurants; 2% (up to $5,000 a year) on gas; 1% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard RBC Royal Bank$434$13920.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not published2x points on groceries, gas, transit; 1.5x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card TD Canada Trust$434$0 the first year, then $13921.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not published6x points (up to $25,000 a year each) on groceries, restaurants, transit; 4x points (up to $25,000 a year) on streaming; 2x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card TD Canada Trust$422$0 the first year, then $13921.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not published3% (up to $15,000 a year each) on groceries, gas, transit, streaming; 1% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Scotia Momentum Visa Card Scotiabank$414$4920.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%2% on groceries, 2% on gas, 2% on transit, 2% on pharmacies (up to $25,000 a year combined, then 1%); 1% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Simplii Financial$402$021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%1.5% on groceries, 1.5% on gas, 1.5% on pharmacies (up to $15,000 a year combined, then 0.5%); 4% (up to $5,000 a year) on restaurants; 0.5% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Desjardins Odyssey Visa Infinite Privilege Desjardins$370$39511.9% p.a.12.9% p.a.2.5%3x points on groceries; 4x points on restaurants, entertainment; 3x points (up to $25,000 a year) on travel; 1.5x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
National Bank ECHO Cashback Mastercard National Bank$369$3020.99% p.a.22.49% p.a.2.5%1.5% on groceries, gas, online shopping; 1% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
MBNA Smart Cash World Mastercard MBNA$369$3921.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not published2% on groceries, 2% on gas (up to $6,000 a year combined, then 1%); 1% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
American Express Green Card American Express$348$021.99% p.a.21.99% p.a.Not published1x points on everythingOctober 21, 2026
Home Trust Preferred Visa Home Trust$348$021.99% p.a.21.99% p.a.None1% on everythingOctober 21, 2026
Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard MBNA$348$021.74% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not published1% on everythingOctober 21, 2026
PC Mastercard PC Financial$348$021.99% p.a.22.97% p.a.2.5%10x points on everythingOctober 21, 2026
Rogers Red Mastercard Rogers Bank$348$021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%1% on everythingOctober 21, 2026
Rogers Red World Mastercard Rogers Bank$348$021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%1% on everythingOctober 21, 2026
Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card Scotiabank$348$021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%1x points on everythingOctober 21, 2026
Walmart Rewards Mastercard Walmart Rewards (Fairstone Bank)$348$021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%1x points on everythingOctober 21, 2026
Walmart Rewards World Mastercard Walmart Rewards (Fairstone Bank)$348$021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%1x points on everythingOctober 21, 2026
TD Platinum Travel Visa Card TD Canada Trust$341$0 the first year, then $8921.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not published4.5x points (up to $15,000 a year each) on groceries, restaurants, transit; 3x points (up to $15,000 a year) on streaming; 1.5x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
WestJet RBC Mastercard RBC Royal Bank$326$3920.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not published1.5x points on restaurants, streaming; 1x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
moi RBC Visa RBC Royal Bank$324$020.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not published2x points on restaurants, gas; 1x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
CIBC Dividend Visa Card CIBC$321$021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%2% on groceries, 1% on gas, 1% on transit, 1% on restaurants (up to $20,000 a year combined, then 0.5%); 0.5% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ Card Scotiabank$312$15020.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.None2x points on groceries, 2x points on restaurants, 2x points on entertainment, 2x points on transit (up to $50,000 a year combined, then 1x points); 1x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
RBC Cash Back Mastercard RBC Royal Bank$305$021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not published2% on groceries; 1% on gas, transit; 0.5% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card Scotiabank$296$3999.99% p.a.9.99% p.a.None2x points on everythingOctober 21, 2026
MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus Mastercard MBNA$264$021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not published2% on groceries, 2% on gas (up to $6,000 a year combined, then 0.5%); 0.5% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
TD Rewards Visa Card TD Canada Trust$257$021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not published3x points (up to $5,000 a year each) on groceries, restaurants, transit; 2x points (up to $5,000 a year) on streaming; 1x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Triangle Mastercard Canadian Tire Bank (Triangle)$253$021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%1.5x points (up to $12,000 a year) on groceries; 1 point per $2 on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
More Rewards RBC Visa Infinite RBC Royal Bank$243$020.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not published8x points on restaurants, gas; 4x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
ScotiaGold Passport Visa Card Scotiabank$238$0 the first year, then $11019.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%1x points on everythingOctober 21, 2026
RBC Avion Visa Infinite RBC Royal Bank$234$12020.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not published1.25x points on travel; 1x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
CIBC Adapta Mastercard CIBC$232$021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%1x points on everythingOctober 21, 2026
CIBC Aventura Visa Card CIBC$232$021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%1x points on groceries, gas, pharmacies; 1 point per $2 on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Meridian Visa Cash Back Card Meridian Credit Union$232$019.5% p.a.21.99% p.a.2.5%1% on groceries, gas, pharmacies; 0.5% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Scotia Momentum Mastercard Scotiabank$232$020.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%1% on groceries, gas, pharmacies; 0.5% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card Scotiabank$232$020.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%1% on groceries, 1% on gas, 1% on transit, 1% on pharmacies (up to $15,000 a year combined, then 0.5%); 0.5% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard MBNA$231$021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not published2x points (up to $10,000 a year each) on restaurants, groceries, streaming; 1x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
RBC Avion Visa Platinum RBC Royal Bank$228$12020.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not published1x points on everythingOctober 21, 2026
Tangerine Rewards World Elite Mastercard Tangerine$228$12020.95% p.a.22.95% p.a.2.5%1x points on everythingOctober 20, 2026
Desjardins Bonus Visa Desjardins$226$020.9% p.a.21.9% p.a.2.5%2x points (up to $3,600 a year) on restaurants; 2x points on entertainment; 1 point per $2 on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Desjardins Cash Back Mastercard Desjardins$226$020.9% p.a.21.9% p.a.2.5%2% (up to $3,600 a year) on restaurants; 2% on entertainment; 0.5% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Desjardins Cash Back Visa Desjardins$226$020.9% p.a.21.9% p.a.2.5%2% (up to $3,600 a year) on restaurants; 2% on entertainment; 0.5% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
TD Cash Back Visa Card TD Canada Trust$213$021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not published1% (up to $5,000 a year each) on groceries, gas, transit, streaming; 0.5% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
Desjardins Odyssey Gold Visa Desjardins$197$11020.9% p.a.21.9% p.a.2.5%2x points (up to $6,000 a year) on restaurants; 2x points on entertainment; 2x points (up to $15,000 a year) on travel; 1 point per $2 on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
National Bank mycredit Mastercard National Bank$190$020.99% p.a.22.49% p.a.2.5%1% on restaurants; 0.5% on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
National Bank Allure Mastercard National Bank$174$020.99% p.a.22.49% p.a.2.5%1 point per $2 on everythingOctober 21, 2026
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card Tangerine$174$020.95% p.a.22.95% p.a.2.5%0.5% on everythingOctober 20, 2026
Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard Tangerine$174$020.95% p.a.22.95% p.a.2.5%0.5% on everythingOctober 20, 2026
More Rewards RBC Visa RBC Royal Bank$173$020.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not published5x points on restaurants, gas; 3x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
National Bank World Elite Mastercard National Bank$159$15020.99% p.a.22.49% p.a.2.5%5x points on groceries, 5x points on restaurants, 2x points on gas, 1x points on everything else (up to $30,000 a year combined, then 2x points)October 21, 2026
National Bank Platinum Mastercard National Bank$76$0 the first year, then $7020.99% p.a.22.49% p.a.2.5%2x points on groceries, 2x points on restaurants, 1.5x points on gas, 1 point per $2 on everything else (up to $12,000 a year combined, then 1.5x points)October 21, 2026
National Bank World Mastercard National Bank$59$11520.99% p.a.22.49% p.a.2.5%1.25x points on everythingOctober 21, 2026
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege RBC Royal Bank$36$39920.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not published1.25x points on everythingOctober 21, 2026
Rogers Red World Legend Mastercard Rogers Bank$26$49521.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.None1.5% on everythingOctober 21, 2026
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Privilege Card Scotiabank-$167$59920.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.None3x points on travel; 2x points on restaurants, entertainment; 1x points on everything elseOctober 21, 2026
RBC U.S. Dollar Visa Gold RBC Royal BankNot ranked$6520.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not publishedEarns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
RBC British Airways Visa Infinite RBC Royal BankNot ranked$16520.5% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not publishedEarns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
RBC ION Visa RBC Royal BankNot ranked$020.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not publishedEarns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
RBC ION+ Visa RBC Royal BankNot ranked$4820.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not publishedEarns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option RBC Royal BankNot ranked$2012.99% p.a.14.99% p.a.Not publishedNone advertisedOctober 21, 2026
RBC Visa Platinum RBC Royal BankNot ranked$020.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not publishedNone advertisedOctober 21, 2026
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card TD Canada TrustNot ranked$0 the first year, then $13921.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not publishedEarns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card TD Canada TrustNot ranked$59921.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not publishedEarns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum Credit Card TD Canada TrustNot ranked$0 the first year, then $8921.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not publishedEarns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
TD Low Rate Visa Card TD Canada TrustNot ranked$0 the first year, then $2512.9% p.a.12.9% p.a.Not publishedNone advertisedOctober 21, 2026
TD U.S. Dollar Visa Card TD Canada TrustNot ranked$3921.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not publishedNone advertisedOctober 21, 2026
Scotiabank Value Visa Card ScotiabankNot ranked$0 the first year, then $2913.99% p.a.13.99% p.a.2.5%None advertisedOctober 21, 2026
Scotiabank U.S. Dollar Visa Card ScotiabankNot ranked$3519.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.Not publishedNone advertisedOctober 21, 2026
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card CIBCNot ranked$0 the first year, then $13921.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%Earns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card CIBCNot ranked$49921.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%Earns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card CIBCNot ranked$0 the first year, then $13921.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%Earns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura Gold Visa Card CIBCNot ranked$3521.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%Earns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card CIBCNot ranked$13921.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%Earns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card CIBCNot ranked$59921.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%Earns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card CIBCNot ranked$021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%Earns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
CIBC Select Visa Card CIBCNot ranked$0 the first year, then $2913.99% p.a.13.99% p.a.2.5%None advertisedOctober 21, 2026
CIBC Classic Visa Card CIBCNot ranked$021.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.5%None advertisedOctober 21, 2026
National Bank Syncro Mastercard National BankNot ranked$358.9% p.a.12.9% p.a.2.5%None advertisedOctober 21, 2026
National Bank MC1 Mastercard National BankNot ranked$020.99% p.a.22.49% p.a.2.5%None advertisedOctober 21, 2026
Desjardins Flexi Visa DesjardinsNot ranked$010.9% p.a.12.9% p.a.2.5%None advertisedOctober 21, 2026
American Express Cobalt Card American ExpressNot ranked$191.8821.99% p.a.21.99% p.a.2.5%Earns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
American Express Essential Credit Card American ExpressNot ranked$2512.99% p.a.12.99% p.a.Not publishedNone advertisedOctober 21, 2026
Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card American ExpressNot ranked$12021.99% p.a.21.99% p.a.Not publishedEarns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card American ExpressNot ranked$59921.99% p.a.21.99% p.a.Not publishedEarns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
American Express Gold Rewards Card American ExpressNot ranked$25021.99% p.a.21.99% p.a.Not publishedEarns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
Capital One Smart Rewards Mastercard Capital OneNot ranked$0Not publishedNot publishedNot publishedEarns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
Capital One Guaranteed Mastercard Capital OneNot ranked$029.9% p.a.29.9% p.a.Not publishedNone advertisedOctober 21, 2026
Capital One Guaranteed Secured Mastercard Capital OneNot ranked$029.9% p.a.29.9% p.a.Not publishedNone advertisedOctober 21, 2026
MBNA True Line Mastercard MBNANot ranked$012.99% p.a.24.99% p.a.Not publishedNone advertisedOctober 21, 2026
MBNA True Line Gold Mastercard MBNANot ranked$3910.99% p.a.24.99% p.a.Not publishedNone advertisedOctober 21, 2026
Home Trust Secured Visa (no annual fee) Home TrustNot ranked$019.99% p.a.19.99% p.a.2%None advertisedOctober 21, 2026
Home Trust Secured Visa (low rate, $59 annual fee) Home TrustNot ranked$5914.99% p.a.19.8% p.a.2%None advertisedOctober 21, 2026
Neo Mastercard Neo FinancialNot ranked$0Not publishedNot published3%Earns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
Neo World Mastercard Neo FinancialNot ranked$0Not publishedNot published3%Earns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
Neo World Elite Mastercard Neo FinancialNot ranked$149Not publishedNot published3%Earns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
United MileagePlus Neo World Elite Mastercard Neo FinancialNot ranked$89Not publishedNot published3%Earns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
Cathay World Elite Mastercard (Powered by Neo) Neo FinancialNot ranked$180Not publishedNot published3%Earns points; the issuer states no dollar valueOctober 21, 2026
ATB Preferred Fixed-Rate Mastercard ATB FinancialNot ranked$2910.9% p.a.10.9% p.a.2.9%None advertisedOctober 21, 2026
ATB Alberta Mastercard ATB FinancialNot ranked$019.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2.9%None advertisedOctober 21, 2026

What Canadian credit cards cost, from our records

Across the 119 Canadian credit cards we recorded from 20 issuers (RBC Royal Bank, TD Canada Trust, Scotiabank, CIBC, National Bank, Desjardins, Tangerine, Simplii Financial, PC Financial, Rogers Bank, Canadian Tire Bank (Triangle), Walmart Rewards (Fairstone Bank), American Express, Capital One, MBNA, Home Trust, Neo Financial, Wealthsimple, ATB Financial, Meridian Credit Union), here is what the issuers publish, checked between October 20, 2026 and October 21, 2026. These are the cards in our records, not every card sold in Canada.

55 of 119
cards charge no annual fee.Where a fee is charged, the median is $120 and the highest $599.
21.37% p.a.
is the median purchase interest rate (112 cards).Lowest 8.9%, highest 29.9%.
22.99% p.a.
is the median cash advance interest rate (112 cards), usually charged from the day you withdraw.
10 of 75
cards charge no fee on overseas purchases.The others charge a median of 2.5% of each overseas purchase.
35 of 119
cards pay cashback, and 40 earn points at a dollar value the issuer states.For 24, the issuer publishes points but no dollar value for them, so we can’t rank them on rewards. 20 earn no rewards.
9
cards advertise a promotional rate on balance transfers, the longest for 12 months.

How much does carrying a balance cost on a Canadian credit card?

A $3,000 balance paid off at $150 a month costs $742 in interest and takes 2 years 1 month at the median purchase rate in our records, 21.37% p.a. At the lowest rate, 8.9% p.a. (National Bank Syncro Mastercard), the same balance costs $259 in interest and takes 1 year 10 months, plus that card’s $35 annual fee.

Our calculation assumes the rate stays the same, interest is charged monthly at the rate ÷ 12, and nothing new is bought on the card. If you often carry a balance, look at the interest rate before the rewards.

What rate does a Canadian balance transfer go to when the offer ends?

9 of the 119 Canadian cards in our records advertise a promotional rate on balance transfers. For 6 of them, the issuer’s own terms say whatever is left when the offer ends is charged at the card’s cash advance rate, which is higher than its rate on purchases. A balance you haven’t cleared by then costs that rate from the day the offer ends, so check the “then” rate, not just the months. Each offer’s conditions (who qualifies, the fee, how much you can move) are in the issuer’s information box and in the card’s entry in the calculator above.

Balance transfer offers in our records: the offer, the rate after it, and the card’s own rates
CardOfferPurchase rateCash advance rateBalance transfer fee
MBNA True Line Mastercard MBNA0% promotional rate on balance transfers for 12 months, then 17.99%12.99% p.a.24.99% p.a.3% (minimum $3.50)
Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+ Card Scotiabank0% promotional rate on balance transfers for 12 months, then 22.99% Goes to the cash advance rate.20.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2%
CIBC Select Visa Card CIBC0% promotional rate on balance transfers for 10 months, then 13.99%13.99% p.a.13.99% p.a.1%
RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option RBC Royal Bank0.99% promotional rate on balance transfers for 10 months, then 14.99% Goes to the cash advance rate.12.99% p.a.14.99% p.a.0% (minimum $5)
Scotiabank Value Visa Card Scotiabank0% promotional rate on balance transfers for 9 months, then 13.99%13.99% p.a.13.99% p.a.1%
Scotia Momentum Visa Card Scotiabank0.99% promotional rate on balance transfers for 9 months, then 22.99% Goes to the cash advance rate.20.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2%
Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card Scotiabank0.99% promotional rate on balance transfers for 9 months, then 22.99% Goes to the cash advance rate.20.99% p.a.22.99% p.a.2%
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card Tangerine1.95% promotional rate on balance transfers for 6 months, then 22.95% Goes to the cash advance rate.20.95% p.a.22.95% p.a.1% for transfers in the first 30 days, then 3% (minimum $5)
Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard Tangerine1.95% promotional rate on balance transfers for 6 months, then 22.95% Goes to the cash advance rate.20.95% p.a.22.95% p.a.1% for transfers in the first 30 days, then 3% (minimum $5)

How we chose the best credit cards in Canada

  1. Your spending, by category. We apply each card’s cashback or points to what you spend in each category, with any limits the issuer states.
  2. Minus the annual fee. Cards are ranked by what they are worth each year after the fee.
  3. Only what can be put in dollars. Points, Aeroplan points and Scene+ points count only at a value the issuer itself states. Where it states none, the card isn’t ranked, and the calculator says why.
  4. Interest kept separate. The ranking assumes you pay the full balance each month. Each card’s purchase rate is shown beside it for anyone who doesn’t.
  5. No commission in the sum. We earn nothing from any card today. If that changes, the calculation still has no input for it.

Every figure comes from the issuer’s own information box, card page or rates and fees page, saved with the date we checked. The check is automatic, word for word, against a saved copy of each page. Insurance, lounge access, interest-free days and retailer deals aren’t counted. How we compare cards

Some issuers are missing: BMO (its site refused our network); Brim (its pages gave conflicting fees and no interest rates); Vancity and Coast Capital (their sites were unavailable when we checked). We don’t publish figures we can’t show the source of, so their cards will appear here once we can check them. These are the cards in our records, not every card sold in Canada: smaller banks and credit unions have cards we haven’t recorded.

Sources

This is general information about each card’s published terms, not financial advice. Approval, credit limits, interest rates and final terms are up to each issuer: read its information box before you apply.

Approved for publication by Matt Woodley on October 21, 2026. Content updated October 27, 2026. Figures are checked automatically against a saved copy of each issuer’s terms. How we check every figure