Best Credit Cards in Canada for 2026

What you earn

4% and 2% apply to the first $20,000 a year of bonus-category spending (or $50,000 of total spending), then 1%.

4% on groceries, gas and EV charging. 2% on transit, rideshare, restaurants and recurring bills.

Good and not so good

• 4% back on groceries and gas is among the highest in Canada
• First-year fee rebated with the current offer
• $120 fee after year one
• 4% and 2% rates stop after $20,000 a year of bonus-category spending
• Needs $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income

Insurance

• Out-of-Province Emergency Travel Medical (first 10 days of a trip, age 64 or under, up to $5,000,000)
• Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage (vehicles up to $85,000 MSRP)
• Common Carrier Accident (up to $500,000)
• Purchase Security & Extended Protection (90 days theft/damage, plus up to 1 extra year of warranty)
• Mobile Device Insurance (up to $1,000, 2 years)

Perks

• Save up to 10 cents/L combined at Chevron, Ultramar and Pioneer stations via Journie Rewards (3 cents instant, plus 7 cents more after 300 Journie points)
• Visa Infinite Concierge (24/7), Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection, Dining, Music and Sports Series benefits
• CIBC Pace It installment plans
• CIBC Global Money Transfer with no transaction fee

What you earn

Each 4% and 2% category earns its bonus on the first $25,000 a year, then 1%.

4% on groceries and recurring bills (phone, internet, streaming). 2% on gas, EV charging, transit and rideshare. Restaurants earn 1%.

Good and not so good

• 4% on groceries and recurring bills (phone, internet, streaming)
• 2% on gas and transit
• Strong travel medical and mobile device insurance
• No bonus on restaurants
• 4% and 2% rates stop after $25,000 a year in each group

Insurance

• Mobile device insurance (up to $1,000)
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
• Travel emergency medical insurance (up to $1,000,000, under 65)
• Flight delay and baggage delay/loss insurance (up to $500 each)
• Travel accident insurance (up to $500,000)
• Rental car collision/loss damage insurance
• Purchase security and extended warranty protection

Perks

• Up to 7 cents/L savings on fuel at Shell (via GigSky/Scotia fuel offers)
• 10GB complimentary global mobile data annually via GigSky
• Visa Infinite Concierge (24/7) and Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection
• Up to 25% off Avis/Budget car rentals
• Scotia SelectPay installment plans

What you earn

Monthly limits: 5% on the first $500 of groceries, 4% on $300 of transit, 3% on $300 of gas, 2% on $500 of recurring bills. Then 1%.

5% groceries, 4% transit and rideshare, 3% gas and EV charging, 2% recurring bills. Restaurants earn 1%.

Good and not so good

• 5% on groceries (on up to $500 a month of spending)
• 4% on transit, taxis and rideshare
• Roadside assistance included
• $139 fee after year one
• Needs $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income

Insurance

• Out-of-province/out-of-country emergency travel medical (first 8 days of a trip, up to $5,000,000)
• Purchase Security Insurance (90 days against theft/damage)
• Extended Warranty Insurance (doubles manufacturer's warranty, up to 1 extra year)

Perks

• 5% cash back on groceries - the highest grocery cash back rate among mainstream Canadian cards
• Complimentary 6 months of Instacart+
• Mastercard Travel Pass (DragonPass) lounge membership - pay US$32 per person per visit
• Up to 30% off Avis, discounts on Budget and Enterprise car rentals
• $75/year market-value roadside assistance (battery boost, flat tire, lockout, towing)
• Optional Credit Card Balance Protection enrollment (up to $20,000 coverage)
• Mastercard Travel Pass by DragonPass membership included, but each lounge visit costs US$32/person (not free visits)

What you earn

Each 3% category earns its bonus on the first $15,000 a year, then 1%.

3% on groceries, gas, EV charging, transit, streaming and recurring bills. Restaurants earn 1%.

Good and not so good

• 3% on groceries, gas, transit, streaming and recurring bills
• Deluxe roadside assistance included
• 3% categories capped at $15,000 a year each
• Needs $60,000 personal income

Insurance

• Travel medical insurance (up to $2,000,000, first 10 days of a trip if under 65; 4 days if 65+)
• Auto rental collision/loss damage insurance
• Delayed/lost baggage insurance (up to $1,000)
• Purchase security and extended warranty protection
• Mobile device insurance (up to $1,000)

Perks

• Free Deluxe TD Auto Club membership with 24/7 roadside assistance
• Visa Infinite Concierge (24/7)
• Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection (7 exclusive benefits at 900+ properties)
• Avis/Budget car rental discounts (10% Canada/US, 5% international)
• TD Payment Plans on purchases of $100+ (6/12/18 months)

What you earn

Pick 2 categories to earn 2% (3 if your cash back goes into a Tangerine savings account): groceries, gas, restaurants, recurring bills, transit, drugstores, entertainment, furniture, home improvement or hotels. Everything else earns 0.5%. Our estimate picks your 2 biggest.

Good and not so good

• No annual fee and no income minimum
• You choose your 2% categories (3 if you deposit into a Tangerine savings account)
• Cash back paid monthly
• Only 0.5% on everything outside your categories
• Almost no insurance

Insurance

• Purchase Assurance & Extended Warranty (up to $60,000 lifetime max; 90-day coverage, extends manufacturer's warranty up to 1 year)
• Rental Car Collision/Loss Damage Insurance (up to 31 consecutive days)
• Mobile Device Insurance (up to $1,000 for loss, theft or accidental damage, 2 years)

Perks

• Shell Go+ integration: up to 8 cents/L combined savings (3 cents instant discount + 2% cash back + Scene+ points)
• FlexiRoam eSIM: 1GB complimentary global data annually
• $30 discount on Fubo TV Sports Quarterly plan for new subscribers (excludes Quebec)
• Discount on H&R Block online tax software
• Up to 5 free authorized users

What you earn

4% on the first $5,000 a year at restaurants; 1.5% on the first $15,000 a year in its categories. Then 0.5%.

4% at restaurants, bars and coffee shops. 1.5% on gas, groceries, drugstores and pre-authorized bills. 0.5% on everything else.

Good and not so good

• No annual fee
• 4% at restaurants, bars and coffee shops
• 4% is capped at $5,000 of spending a year
• 0.5% on most other purchases

Insurance

• Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance (extends manufacturer's warranty by up to 1 additional year)

Perks

• Mobile wallet support (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay)
• Click to Pay online checkout

What you earn

1.5% back on everything in Canadian dollars (2% if you have a Rogers, Fido or Shaw service) and 3% on purchases in U.S. dollars. Our estimate uses 1.5%.

Good and not so good

• No annual fee for a World Elite card
• Unlimited flat cash back on everything
• 3% back on U.S.-dollar purchases, which more than covers the 2.5% currency fee
• Needs $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income
• Lower rates if you don’t have other Rogers, Fido or Comwave services

Insurance

• Extended Warranty and Purchase Protection
• Rental Car Collision/Damage
• Out-of-Province/Out-of-Country Emergency Medical
• Trip Interruption and Cancellation

Perks

• 5 complimentary Roam Like Home international roaming days per year with an eligible Rogers mobile plan (up to $90 value)
• Mastercard Travel Pass membership (discounted, pay-per-visit access to 1,300+ airport lounges, not complimentary)
• Mastercard Identity Check
• Mastercard Zero Liability
• 1.5x cash back multiplier when redeemed against Rogers, Fido or Shaw bills
• Mastercard Travel Pass, discounted pay-per-visit access (not complimentary visits)

What you earn

45 points per $1 (4.5%) at Shoppers Drug Mart, 30 points per $1 (3%) at Loblaw-owned grocery stores and Joe Fresh, at least 3¢ a litre in points at Esso and Mobil, and 10 points per $1 (1%) everywhere else. 10,000 points = $10 off at the till ($7 if you take them as a statement credit). Our estimate uses 1% for groceries; if you shop at Loblaws, No Frills or Superstore, it’s worth more.

We value PC Optimum points at 0.1¢ each.

Good and not so good

• No annual fee
• 3% back in PC Optimum points at Loblaw-owned grocery stores
• 4.5% back at Shoppers Drug Mart
• Points only spend at Loblaw-family stores and Esso/Mobil
• Needs $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income

Insurance

• Travel Emergency Medical (up to 10 days from departure, under age 65)
• Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver
• Purchase Assurance
• Extended Warranty
• Identity Theft Assistance Service

Perks

• 24/7 Concierge Services
• Mastercard Global Service
• Points redeemable at 4,500+ stores
• Optional Payment Support Plan insurance available (job loss/disability/life)

What you earn

3% on groceries applies to the first $12,000 a year (not at Costco or Walmart), then 1%.

4% in CT Money at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark’s and Party City, 3% at grocery stores, 5–7¢ a litre at Gas+ and Petro-Canada, and 1% everywhere else.

We value CT Money points at 1¢ each.

Good and not so good

• No annual fee
• Up to 4% back in CT Money at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek and Mark’s
• Roadside assistance
• CT Money only spends at Canadian Tire-family stores
• 3% on groceries stops after $12,000 a year and excludes Costco and Walmart
• Needs $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income

Insurance

• Purchase Security (90 days theft/damage)
• Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver (up to 31 consecutive days)

Perks

• Roadside Assistance Gold Plan (towing up to 250 km per call, Canada/US)
• Personal 24/7 Concierge Services
• 0% interest, no-fee financing on purchases of $150+ at participating retailers
• Stackable with personalized weekly offers and bonus-multiplier events

What you earn

2 points per $1 at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, FreshCo, Foodland, Home Hardware and Cineplex; 1 point per $1 elsewhere. Our estimate uses 1 point for groceries because most people shop at more than one chain.

We value Scene+ points at 1¢ each.

Good and not so good

• No annual fee and no income minimum
• Scene+ points are easy to use for groceries, movies and travel
• Bonus points only at Sobeys-family grocery stores, Cineplex and Home Hardware
• Little insurance

Insurance

• Optional Scotia Credit Card Protection (opt-in, fee-based)

Perks

• Up to 10¢/L off at Shell stations via Journie Rewards
• Up to 25% off base rates at Avis and Budget
• Scotia SelectPay installment plans

What you earn

1.5 points per $1 applies to the first $80,000 a year in those categories, then 1.

1.5 points per $1 on gas, EV charging, groceries and Air Canada purchases. 1 point per $1 on everything else.

We value Aeroplan points at 1.5¢ each.

Good and not so good

• First checked bag free on Air Canada for you and up to 8 companions
• First-year fee rebated with the current offer
• Full travel insurance
• Aeroplan points are only worth it if you fly
• $139 fee after year one

Insurance

• Travel medical insurance up to $2 million (21 days per trip, or 4 days if 65+)
• Trip cancellation insurance up to $1,500/person (max $5,000)
• Trip interruption insurance up to $5,000/person (max $25,000)
• Flight/trip delay insurance up to $500/person (delay of 4+ hours)
• Delayed and lost baggage insurance up to $1,000/person
• Common carrier travel accident insurance up to $500,000
• Auto rental collision/loss damage insurance (up to 48 consecutive days)
• Hotel/motel burglary insurance up to $2,500 per occurrence
• Mobile device insurance up to $1,000
• Purchase security and extended warranty (theft/damage protection plus extra year on manufacturer's warranty)

Perks

• Free first checked bag on Air Canada/Air Canada Rouge/Air Canada Express for primary cardholder, one additional cardholder, and up to 8 companions
• Earn Status Qualifying Cash toward Aeroplan Elite Status (1,000 SQC per $20,000 net purchases, max 25,000 SQC/year)
• 24/7 Visa Infinite concierge service
• Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection benefits
• Visa Infinite Dining Series access
• Visa Infinite entertainment access (event tickets, TIFF benefits)
• Visa Infinite Troon Golf Silver Status at 95+ courses (10% off green fees, merchandise, lessons)
• Avis Preferred Plus and Hertz Gold Plus Five Star elite status upgrades
• World of Hyatt bonus points on eligible spend
• NEXUS application fee rebate (up to $100 CAD every 48 months)
• Aeroplan Family Sharing with up to 8 family members
• Aeroplan points do not expire while account is in good standing
• TD Payment Plans (convert purchases of $100+ into 6/12/18-month installments)

What you earn

1.5 points per $1 on gas, EV charging, groceries and Air Canada purchases. 1 point per $1 on everything else.

We value Aeroplan points at 1.5¢ each.

Good and not so good

• Free first checked bag on Air Canada
• First-year fee rebated with the current offer
• Aeroplan points are only worth it if you fly
• $139 fee after year one

Insurance

• Travel medical emergency insurance
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
• Flight delay and baggage delay/loss insurance
• Hotel burglary insurance
• Car rental collision/loss damage insurance
• Purchase security insurance
• Mobile device insurance
• Common carrier accident insurance
• CIBC Payment Protector insurance (optional, disability/job loss/critical illness/death)

Perks

• Free first checked bag on Air Canada flights for cardholder, authorized users, and up to 8 companions traveling on the same reservation
• 24-hour complimentary concierge service (Visa Infinite benefit)
• Visa Infinite hotel and dining privileges/offers
• Complimentary Avis Preferred Plus status upgrade
• 4th night free on hotel redemptions booked with Aeroplan points
• No additional carrier surcharges on Air Canada flight reward redemptions
• Aeroplan elite status qualification credits (1,000 per $20,000 in net purchases)
• Double Aeroplan points at 150+ Aeroplan partner brands and 170+ eStore retailers
• CIBC Mobile Banking/Online Banking spending and credit-limit alerts

What you earn

1 point per $1 on everything, plus 25% more on travel purchases.

We value points points at 1¢ each.

Good and not so good

• Big welcome offer
• Avion points transfer to British Airways Avios and WestJet
• Only 1 point per dollar on most spending
• $120 fee every year, no rebate

Insurance

• Out-of-province/out-of-country emergency medical insurance
• Travel accident insurance
• Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance
• Auto rental collision/loss damage waiver
• Delayed baggage insurance
• Flight delay insurance
• Hotel/motel burglary insurance
• Purchase security and extended warranty insurance
• Mobile device insurance

Perks

• Visa Infinite Hotel Collection (room upgrades, late checkout, breakfast)
• Visa Infinite dining series and event access
• 24/7 Visa Infinite concierge service
• Discounted GigSky eSIM data in 175+ countries (1GB/15 days complimentary, plus 20% off plans)
• Petro-Canada: 3¢/L off fuel and 20% more Petro-Points/Avion points when linked to a Petro-Points account
• No blackout dates or seat restrictions on Avion Reward flight redemptions
• Automatic Avion Rewards Elite membership status

What you earn

Bonus points apply to the first $50,000 a year of spending in those categories, then 1 point.

3 points per $1 at Sobeys-family grocery stores, 2 points per $1 at other grocers, restaurants, entertainment and transit, 1 point per $1 on everything else.

We value points points at 1¢ each.

Good and not so good

• No foreign transaction fee
• 6 free airport lounge visits a year
• Scene+ points are simple to redeem at 1¢ each
• $150 annual fee
• Needs $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income

Insurance

• Travel emergency medical insurance up to $2 million CAD
• Trip cancellation insurance up to $1,500/person (max $10,000/trip)
• Trip interruption insurance up to $2,500/person (max $10,000/trip)
• Flight delay insurance up to $500/insured person
• Delayed and lost luggage insurance up to $1,000
• Rental car collision/loss damage insurance (automatic when full rental cost is charged to the card)
• Hotel/motel burglary insurance up to $1,000
• Common carrier travel accident insurance up to $500,000/person, $1,000,000/trip
• Purchase security (90 days) and extended warranty (doubles manufacturer warranty up to 1 extra year)
• Optional Scotia Credit Card Protection (life, critical illness, hospitalization, disability, job loss, strike/lockout) - paid add-on, not included

Perks

• Up to 10¢/L in value on fuel purchases at Shell stations
• Complimentary Avis Preferred Plus membership with car rental discounts
• Complimentary 10GB GigSky global mobile data for 15 consecutive days every year
• Visa Infinite 24/7 concierge service
• Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection access
• Visa Infinite Dining Series access
• Annual fee rebate for Scotiabank Ultimate Package (full $150) or Preferred Package ($40) account holders
• First supplementary card free ($0/year)
• Visa Airport Companion Program membership: 6 complimentary lounge visits per year across a network of 1,200+ airport lounges worldwide.

What you earn

2 points per $1 on WestJet flights, groceries, gas, EV charging and transit. 1.5 points per $1 on everything else.

We value WestJet points points at 1¢ each.

Good and not so good

• Yearly round-trip companion voucher from $119 (plus taxes) in Canada and the U.S.
• Free first checked bag on WestJet
• Needs $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income
• Points are best used on WestJet

Insurance

• Trip cancellation insurance (new, effective Nov 5, 2025; up to $1,500/trip, $5,000 overall max)
• Mobile device insurance (new, effective Nov 5, 2025; up to $1,500)
• Travel accident insurance
• Auto rental collision/loss damage insurance
• Trip interruption insurance
• Purchase security and extended warranty insurance
• Delayed baggage insurance
• Flight delay insurance
• Out-of-province/out-of-country emergency medical insurance
• Hotel/motel burglary insurance

Perks

• Free first checked bag on WestJet-operated flights for the cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same reservation
• Annual round-trip companion voucher (from $119 CAD + taxes/fees) after $5,000 in annual card spend; exchangeable for a 30% flight discount, a $200 vacation-package credit, or two lounge passes
• $200 in WestJet Rewards tier-qualifying spend earned for every $5,000 charged to the card
• Complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription (up to 12 months)
• Save 3 cents/litre on fuel at Petro-Canada, plus 20% more Petro-Points when the RBC card is linked to a Petro-Points account
• Complimentary Mastercard Travel Pass membership (via DragonPass) providing access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, plus dining/spa offers; a per-visit charge of $32 USD applies (not unlimited free access).

What you earn

5 points per $1 applies to the first $2,500 a month of grocery and restaurant spending, then 2.

5 points per $1 on groceries and restaurants. 2 points per $1 on gas, EV charging, recurring bills and travel booked through National Bank. 1 point on everything else.

We value points points at 1¢ each.

Good and not so good

• 5 points per $1 on groceries and restaurants
• Up to $150 a year back on travel costs
• Lounge at Montréal–Trudeau airport
• $150 annual fee
• Needs $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income

Insurance

• Trip cancellation (up to $2,500 per person)
• Trip interruption (up to $5,000 per person)
• Out-of-province/Canada emergency medical (up to $5,000,000 per person, coverage period varies by age)
• Extended warranty
• Mobile device insurance (up to $1,000)

Perks

• Unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montréal–Trudeau Airport, with a guest and children 12 and under
• Up to $150/year travel expense rebate
• Unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montréal–Trudeau Airport (plus one guest and children 12 and under)

What you earn

1 point per $1 on everything, plus bonus points at rotating partner stores. Points are worth 1¢ against any purchase. We don’t count the welcome bonus because it depends on which partner stores you use.

We value points points at 1¢ each.

Good and not so good

• Lower foreign currency fee than most cards (1.5% instead of 2.5%)
• Points redeem against any purchase at 1¢ each
• Extra points at rotating partner stores
• $89 annual fee for a flat 1 point per $1
• Welcome bonus depends on shopping at partner stores

Insurance

• Emergency Travel Medical ($5,000,000; 15 days under age 65, 3 days age 65+)
• Trip Cancellation (up to $2,000/person)
• Trip Interruption or Trip Delay (up to $5,000/person)
• Common Carrier Accident (up to $150,000/person, $500,000/accident)
• Flight Delay (up to $500/person)
• Baggage delay/loss/damage (up to $1,000/person)
• Hotel Burglary (up to $2,500/occurrence)
• Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage (up to $85,000 MSRP, 48 days)
• Purchase Security & Extended Protection (90 days; doubles manufacturer warranty up to 1 extra year; up to $25,000/year)
• Mobile Device Insurance (up to $1,500/occurrence)
• Event Ticket Protector (up to $1,000/occurrence)

Perks

• Mastercard Travel Pass lounge access (pay-per-visit, $32 USD, no complimentary visits)
• Installment Pay (0% interest, 12-24 month terms)
• Real-time purchase notifications and card locking controls
• Mastercard Travel Pass, pay-per-visit only ($32 USD/visit)

What you earn

1% cash back on everything, paid as a statement credit each January.

Good and not so good

• No annual fee and no foreign transaction fee
• Simple 1% cash back
• Only 1% back, no bonus categories
• Cash back paid once a year, in January
• Not available in Quebec

Insurance

• Purchase Security (90 days theft/damage protection)

Perks

• No foreign transaction fees, including on online purchases in foreign currency
• Visa Zero Liability protection
• Digital wallet support (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay)
• Guaranteed hotel reservations

What you earn

No rewards.

We value none points at 1¢ each.

Good and not so good

• 12.99% interest on purchases, about 9 points lower than most cards
• No annual fee
• 0% on balance transfers for the first 12 months
• No rewards at all

Insurance

• Mastercard Zero Liability protection against unauthorized purchases

Perks

• Up to 9 additional/authorized cardholders at no extra annual fee
• Minimum 10% discount at Avis and Budget
• MBNA Payment Plans (6, 12 or 18-month terms) for purchases of $100+

What you earn

No rewards.

We value none points at 1¢ each.

Good and not so good

• Approval based on your deposit, not your credit history
• Reports to the credit bureaus, so on-time payments build your score
• You need to lock up a security deposit
• No rewards

Insurance

• Visa Zero Liability (unauthorized transaction protection)

Perks

• Compatible with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay
• Accepted at 200+ countries/territories via Visa network