Best Current Sign-Up Bonuses (March 2026)
Top Welcome Offers
| Card |
Welcome Bonus |
Spend Requirement |
Annual Fee |
Bonus Value |
| Amex Platinum |
80,000 MR points |
$6,000/3 months |
$799 |
~$800-1,200 |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite |
50,000 Aeroplan |
$4,000/3 months |
$139 |
~$500-750 |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite |
40,000 Scene+ |
$1,000/3 months |
$150 |
~$400-600 |
| CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite |
30,000 Aventura |
$3,000/4 months |
$139 |
~$300-450 |
| Amex Cobalt |
30,000 MR (ongoing) |
2,500/month × 12 |
$156 |
~$300-450 |
| BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite |
50,000 points |
$3,000/3 months |
$120 |
~$350-500 |
Bonuses change frequently. Verify current offers before applying.
Best Cash Back Welcome Offers
| Card |
Welcome Bonus |
Spend Requirement |
Annual Fee |
| Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite |
10% cash back (up to $2,000) |
$2,000/3 months |
$120 |
| SimplyCash Preferred from Amex |
$400 cash back |
$750/3 months |
$99 |
| CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite |
$200 cash back |
$1,000/4 months |
$99 |
| TD Cash Back Visa Infinite |
$100 cash back |
$1,000/3 months |
$139 |
Best No-Fee Card Bonuses
| Card |
Welcome Bonus |
Spend Requirement |
| SimplyCash from Amex |
$50-100 |
Varies |
| Tangerine Money-Back |
$50-100 |
Account signup |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa |
5,000-10,000 pts |
Varies |
| Neo Financial |
Up to $25 |
First purchase |
How to Maximize Sign-Up Bonuses
Meeting Spend Requirements
| Strategy |
How It Works |
| Time large purchases |
Wait for new card for planned expenses |
| Prepay bills |
Prepay insurance, phone, internet |
| Gift cards |
Buy gift cards for future use |
| Group expenses |
Put household spending on one card |
| Don’t overspend |
Never spend more than you would otherwise |
Timing Your Applications
| Factor |
Recommendation |
| Space applications |
3-6 months apart |
| Check your credit score |
Before applying |
| Apply when income is strong |
Better approval odds |
| Avoid before mortgage |
Multiple inquiries can hurt |
Understanding Bonus Value
Points Valuation
| Points Type |
Approximate Value |
Best Redemption |
| Aeroplan |
1.5-2.5¢ per point |
Flight redemptions |
| Amex MR |
1-2¢ per point |
Transfer to partners |
| Scene+ |
0.8-1¢ per point |
Travel, movies |
| TD Rewards |
0.8-1¢ per point |
Travel |
| BMO Rewards |
0.7-1¢ per point |
Travel |
Example Bonus Calculation
| Card |
Bonus |
Valuation |
First-Year Fee |
Net Value |
| TD Aeroplan VI |
50,000 pts |
$750-1,000 |
$139 |
$611-861 |
| Amex Platinum |
80,000 pts |
$800-1,200 |
$799 |
$1-401 |
| SimplyCash Preferred |
$400 cash |
$400 |
$99 |
$301 |
Card-by-Card Breakdown
Amex Platinum Card
| Feature |
Details |
| Welcome bonus |
~80,000 MR points |
| Spend requirement |
$6,000 in 3 months |
| Annual fee |
$799 |
| Perks |
Lounge access, hotel status, travel credits |
| Best for |
Frequent travelers who use perks |
Worth it if: You value lounge access and travel perks beyond the bonus.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite
| Feature |
Details |
| Welcome bonus |
~50,000 Aeroplan points |
| Spend requirement |
$4,000 in 3 months |
| Annual fee |
$139 |
| Earning rate |
1.5 pts/$ Air Canada, 1 pt/$ other |
| First checked bag |
Free on Air Canada |
Worth it if: You fly Air Canada or Star Alliance.
Amex Cobalt Card
| Feature |
Details |
| Welcome bonus |
~30,000 MR points (monthly earning) |
| How to earn |
2,500 pts/month × 12 spending $500/month |
| Annual fee |
$155.88 ($12.99/month) |
| Ongoing earning |
5x restaurants, 2x groceries/transit |
| Best for |
Food enthusiasts, everyday spending |
Worth it if: You spend heavily on dining and groceries.
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite
| Feature |
Details |
| Welcome bonus |
~40,000 Scene+ points |
| Spend requirement |
$1,000 in 3 months |
| Annual fee |
$150 |
| No FX fee |
Yes — saves 2.5% abroad |
| Best for |
Travelers wanting no FX fee |
Worth it if: You travel internationally and want no FX fees.
Churning: Is It Worth It?
What Is Churning?
| Concept |
Details |
| Definition |
Opening cards for bonuses, then closing |
| Canadian rules |
Less lucrative than US |
| Amex lifetime rule |
One welcome bonus per card, ever |
| Bank restrictions |
Some banks restrict welcome bonuses |
Risks of Churning
| Risk |
Impact |
| Credit score impact |
Multiple inquiries lower score |
| Lender blacklisting |
May be denied future products |
| Annual fee waste |
Forget to cancel before fee hits |
| Overspending |
Spending to meet requirements |
Sustainable Approach
| Strategy |
Action |
| 2-3 cards per year |
Manageable, limited score impact |
| Keep cards aligned |
Only cards you’d keep long-term |
| Track fee dates |
Calendar reminders |
| Focus on value |
Total card value, not just bonus |
Checklist Before Applying
| Step |
Action |
| 1 |
Check your credit score |
| 2 |
Research current offers |
| 3 |
Calculate if you can meet spend requirement |
| 4 |
Consider if card fits your spending |
| 5 |
Calculate first-year net value |
| 6 |
Apply at right time (no recent inquiries) |