This page lines up every credit card we track in one place: the annual fee, the earn rate and the income requirement, grouped by the kind of card. Below the tables is a short method for choosing among them by what a card is worth to you after its fee. The category roundups go deeper on each type, and our credit card reviews and roundups cover individual cards; if you’d rather start from one named pick per category, see the best credit cards in Canada.
Compare credit cards side by side
Fees, earn rates and income requirements come from each issuer’s card page and are updated when the issuer changes them. Interest rates, foreign transaction fees and other charges are explained in the guide to credit card fees.
Cash back cards with an annual fee
| Card | Annual fee | Earn rate | Income requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+ Card | $120/year | 4% groceries/recurring bills/subscriptions (first $25,000/yr), 2% gas/EV/transit/rideshare/food delivery (first $25,000/yr), 1% everything else | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household |
| CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card | $120/year | 4% gas/EV charging/groceries, 2% transportation/dining/recurring payments/CIBC by Expedia travel, 1% everything else (bonus rates on the first $20,000 of bonus-category or $50,000 of total spending a year) | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household |
| TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card | $139/year | 3% groceries, gas & EV charging, public transit, and recurring bills/streaming/digital media (first $15,000/yr in each category), 1% everything else | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household |
| BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard | $139/year | 5% groceries (capped $500/mo), 4% daily transit (capped $300/mo), 3% gas (capped $300/mo), 2% recurring payments (capped $500/mo), 1% everything else | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household |
| SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express | $119.88/year ($9.99/mo) | 4% gas and groceries (on up to $30,000/yr, up to $1,200 cash back), 2% everything else | None |
| RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard | $99/year | 1.5% flat cash back on first $25,000/yr net purchases, 1% thereafter (uncapped) | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household |
| CIBC Dividend Platinum Visa Card | $99/year | 3% gas/EV charging/groceries, 2% transportation/dining/recurring payments/CIBC by Expedia travel, 1% everything else | $15,000 household minimum (no separate personal-income figure published) |
No annual fee cash back cards
| Card | Annual fee | Earn rate | Income requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card | $0 | 2% cash back in 2 categories you choose (3 with rewards paid into a Tangerine Savings Account), 0.5% on everything else | $12,000 personal |
| Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard | $0 | 3% on U.S. dollar purchases; 2% on other purchases with a qualifying Rogers/Fido/Shaw/Comwave service (1.5% without); first $61,000/yr, then 1.5% | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household |
| Rogers Red World Mastercard (non-Elite tier) | $0 | 2% USD purchases; 2% non-USD with a qualifying service (1% without) | None |
| Rogers Mastercard (a.k.a. Rogers Red Mastercard) | $0 | 2% cash back w/ a qualifying Rogers/Fido/Shaw/Comwave service (up to ~3% via redemption boost), 2% USD / 1% non-USD without one | None |
| BMO CashBack Mastercard | $0 | 3% groceries and 1% recurring bills (first $500 per statement each), 0.5% everything else | None |
| CIBC Dividend Visa Card | $0 | 2% groceries, 1% gas/EV charging/transportation/dining/recurring payments, 0.5% everything else | $15,000 household |
| TD Cash Back Visa Card (no annual fee) | $0 | 1% groceries/gas & EV charging/public transit/recurring bills/streaming & digital media (first $5,000/yr in each category), 0.5% everything else | None |
| SimplyCash Card from American Express (no annual fee) | $0 | 2% gas and groceries (on up to $15,000/yr, up to $300 cash back), 1.25% everything else | None |
| Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card | $0 | 4% restaurant/bar/coffee shop (first $5,000/yr), 1.5% gas/groceries/drugstore/pre-authorized payments (first $15,000/yr), 0.5% everything else | $15,000 household |
| RBC Cash Back Mastercard | $0 | 2% groceries (capped $120/yr then 1%), 0.5% everything else up to $6k/yr spend then 1% | None |
| Brim Mastercard (no annual fee) | $0 | Flat 0.5% cash back on all purchases | None |
| Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard | $0 | 2.5% Amazon.ca/Whole Foods/foreign currency (Prime members), 1.5%/1% without Prime, 1% everything else | None |
| CIBC Costco Mastercard | $0 (+ Costco membership) | 3% restaurants, 3% Costco Gas / 2% non-Costco gas, 2% Costco.ca, 1% everything else (no bonus for in-person Costco warehouse purchases) | $15,000 personal (no household requirement) |
| Triangle World Elite Mastercard | $0 | 4% Canadian Tire Money at Canadian Tire/Sport Chek/Mark's, 3% grocery (excludes Costco/Walmart), 1% everything else | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household |
| Home Trust Preferred Visa | $0 | 1% cash back on all eligible purchases (no cash back on foreign-currency spend; 0% FX markup) | None |
Points and travel cards
| Card | Annual fee | Earn rate | Income requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Cobalt Card | $191.88/year ($15.99/mo) | 5x food & drink (groceries, dining, food delivery, capped $2,500/mo combined), 3x streaming, 2x gas/transit/rideshare, 1x everything else | None |
| American Express Gold Rewards Card | $250/year | 2x gas/groceries/drugstore, 2x travel, 1x everything else | None |
| Scotiabank Gold American Express Card | $120/year | 6x Scene+ at Sobeys/Safeway/Freshco/Foodland, 5x dining/food delivery/other grocery/entertainment, 3x gas/transit/streaming, 1x everything else | $12,000 personal or household |
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite | $120/year | 1x Avion points everywhere, 1.25x on travel | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household |
| CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card | $139/year | 2x travel via CIBC Rewards Centre, 1.5x gas/EV charging/groceries/drug stores, 1x everything else | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household |
| TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card | $139/year | 8x travel via Expedia For TD, 6x groceries/dining/public transit (first $25,000/yr each), 4x recurring bills/streaming/digital media (first $25,000/yr), 2x everything else | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household |
| BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card | $120/year | 5x BMO Rewards points on groceries and dining (first $6,000/yr each), gas and transit (first $20,000/yr each), 1x everything else | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household (or $15,000 annual card spending) |
| BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard | $150/year | 5x BMO Rewards points on travel (first $15,000/yr), 3x dining/entertainment/recurring bills (first $10,000/yr each), 1x everything else | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household |
| MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard | $120/year | 5x points on restaurant/grocery/digital media/membership/household utility, 1x everything else (no gas or transit bonus) | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household |
| National Bank World Elite Mastercard | $150/year | 5x grocery/restaurant purchases, 2x gas/EV charging/recurring bills/À La Carte travel, 1x everything else | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household |
| Brim World Elite Mastercard | $89/year | Flat 1% cash back on all purchases | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household |
| TD Platinum Travel Visa Card | $89/year | 6x travel via Expedia For TD, 4.5x groceries/dining/public transit (first $15,000/yr each), 3x recurring bills/streaming/digital media (first $15,000/yr), 1.5x everything else | None |
| WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard | $139/year | 2 WestJet points per $1 on WestJet/Sunwing Vacations, groceries and transportation, 1.5 points per $1 everywhere else | $80,000 personal |
| RBC British Airways Visa Infinite | $165/year | 3 Avios/$1 British Airways/BA Holidays, 2 Avios/$1 dining, 1 Avios/$1 everywhere else | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ Card | $150/year | 3x Scene+ at Sobeys/Safeway/IGA/Foodland/Co-op, 2x other grocery/dining/entertainment/daily transit, 1x everything else | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household |
| BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard | $150/year | 10 Blue Points per $1 at partners, 2 on groceries/gas/EV charging/wholesale/alcohol, 1 on everything else | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household |
Aeroplan cards
| Card | Annual fee | Earn rate | Income requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum Card | $89/year | 1 pt/$1 gas/EV charging/groceries/direct Air Canada purchases (first $80,000/yr), 1 pt/$1.50 everything else | None |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card | $139/year | 1.5x gas/EV charging/groceries/direct Air Canada purchases (first $80,000/yr), 1x everything else | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card | $139/year | 1.5x direct Air Canada/AC Vacations purchases and gas/EV charging/groceries (on the first $80,000 of total card purchases a year), 1x everything else | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household |
| American Express Aeroplan Card | $120/year | 2x direct Air Canada purchases, 1.5x dining/food delivery, 1x everything else | None |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card | $599/year | 2x direct Air Canada/AC Vacations purchases, 1.5x gas/EV charging/groceries/travel & transit/dining (bonus rates on the first $100,000/yr), 1.25x everything else | $150,000 personal or $200,000 household |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card | $599/year | 2x direct Air Canada/AC Vacations purchases, 1.5x gas/EV charging/groceries/travel/dining (bonus rates on the first $100,000 of total card purchases a year), 1.25x everything else | $150,000 personal or $200,000 household |
| American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card | $599/year | 3x direct Air Canada/AC Vacations purchases, 2x dining & food delivery, 1.25x everything else | None published |
Premium cards
| Card | Annual fee | Earn rate | Income requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Platinum Card | $799/year | 2x points on dining and food delivery in Canada, 2x on travel, 1x everything else | None published |
| CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card | $499/year | 3x travel via CIBC Rewards Centre, 2x dining/entertainment/gas/transportation/groceries, 1x everything else | $150,000 personal or $200,000 household |
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege | $399/year | Flat 1.25x Avion points on all purchases | $200,000 personal or $200,000 household |
| BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card | $599/year | 5x BMO Rewards points on dining and travel (first $25,000/yr each), groceries (first $20,000/yr), gas and drugstore (first $15,000/yr each), 1x everything else | $150,000 personal or $200,000 household |
No annual fee points cards
| Card | Annual fee | Earn rate | Income requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| TD Rewards Visa Card (no annual fee) | $0 | 4x travel via Expedia For TD, 3x groceries/dining/public transit (first $5,000/yr each), 2x recurring bills/streaming/digital media (first $5,000/yr), 1x everything else | None |
| RBC ION Visa (no annual fee) | $0 | 1.5x Avion points on groceries/gas & EV charging/daily transit/rideshare/streaming & digital gaming, 1x everything else | None |
| RBC ION+ Visa | $48/year | 3x Avion points on groceries/gas/dining/food delivery/rideshare/streaming, 1x everything else | None |
| Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card | $0 | 2x partner groceries (Sobeys/Safeway/IGA/Foodland/Freshco), 2x Home Hardware, 2x Cineplex, 1x everything else | None |
| PC Mastercard (no annual fee) | $0 | 10 PC Optimum points per $1, 25 points per $1 at Shoppers Drug Mart | Set by PC Financial at application |
| PC World Mastercard | $0 | 20 PC Optimum points per $1 at participating grocery stores, 35 per $1 at Shoppers Drug Mart, 10 per $1 everywhere else | $50,000 personal or $80,000 household |
| PC World Elite Mastercard | $0 | 30 PC Optimum points per $1 at participating grocery stores, 45 per $1 at Shoppers Drug Mart, at least 3 cents per litre in points at Esso and Mobil, 10 per $1 everywhere else | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household |
| PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard | $120/year | 4% grocery (Loblaw banners), 5% Shoppers Drug Mart, up to 7¢/L Esso/Mobil, 4% Joe Fresh, 1% everywhere else | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household |
| MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard | $0 | 2x restaurant/grocery/digital media/membership/utility purchases (capped $10k/yr combined, then 1x), 1x everything else | None |
| BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard | $0 | 5 Blue Points per $1 at partners, 1 on groceries/gas/EV charging/wholesale/alcohol, 0.5 on everything else | %!s(<nil>) |
Low interest cards
| Card | Annual fee | Earn rate | Income requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBNA True Line Gold Mastercard | $39/year | No rewards program — low-interest card (10.99% purchase APR) | None |
| MBNA True Line Mastercard | $0 | No rewards program — low-interest card (12.99% purchase APR) | None |
| BMO Preferred Rate Mastercard | $29/year | No rewards program — low-interest card (13.99% purchase APR) | None |
| RBC RateAdvantage Visa | $0 | No rewards program; variable low-interest rate (Prime + 4.99% to Prime + 8.99%) | None (requires 'Very Good' credit score estimate) |
| TD Low Rate Visa Card | $25/year | No rewards program; low-interest card (12.90% purchase and cash advance APR) | None |
| CIBC Select Visa Card | $29/year | No rewards program — low-interest card (13.99% flat APR) | None |
| Scotiabank Value Visa Card | $29/year | No rewards program — low-interest card (13.99% flat APR) | None |
Student cards
| Card | Annual fee | Earn rate | Income requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMO CashBack Mastercard for students | $0 | 3% groceries (capped $15/statement), 1% recurring bills (capped $5/statement), 0.5% everything else | None |
| Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students | $0 | 2x partner groceries (Sobeys/Safeway/IGA/Foodland/Freshco), 2x Home Hardware, 2x Cineplex, 1x everything else | None |
Secured, credit-builder and prepaid cards
| Card | Annual fee | Earn rate | Income requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Trust Secured Visa | $0 (or $59/yr for a reduced rate) | No rewards program (0% cash back) | None |
| Neo Secured Mastercard | $0 card fee + $9.99/mo Build membership | Up to 15% cash back at Neo partner merchants (personalized offers, no guaranteed base rate) | None |
| Capital One Guaranteed Mastercard | $0 | No rewards program (0% cash back) | None |
| Capital One Smart Rewards Mastercard | $0 | 5x points per $1 paid toward your balance (unique structure, not per dollar spent) | None |
| KOHO Essential Mastercard | $0/mo | 1% groceries/eating & drinking/transportation, 0% other purchases, up to 6.5% extra at partner merchants | None |
| KOHO Extra Mastercard | $144/year ($12/mo) | 1.5% groceries/eating & drinking/transportation, 0.25% other purchases, up to 6.5% extra at partner merchants | None |
| KOHO Everything Mastercard | $177/year ($14.75/mo) | 2% groceries/eating & drinking/transportation, 0.5% other purchases, up to 6.5% extra at partner merchants | None |
| Wealthsimple Prepaid Mastercard | $0 | No rewards program (prepaid card); up to 2.25% interest on linked account balance instead | None |
Business cards
| Card | Annual fee | Earn rate | Income requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Business Gold Rewards Card | $199/year | 1x on everything (no bonus categories) | None |
| American Express Business Platinum Card | $799/year | 1.25x on everything (no travel-specific bonus) | None |
Each type has its own roundup: cash back cards, no annual fee cards, points and rewards cards, travel cards, Aeroplan cards, premium cards, low interest cards, student cards, secured cards, prepaid cards and business cards. For balance transfer promotions, which change too often for a standing table, see the balance transfer card roundup.
How to choose a credit card
Step 1: Know where your money goes
Look at three months of statements and total your spending by category: groceries, gas and transit, dining, recurring bills and subscriptions, travel, and everything else. The card that suits you pays its higher rates in your biggest categories. The budget calculator can help sort the numbers.
Step 2: Pick the kind of card
| Your situation | Type of card that usually fits |
|---|---|
| Large grocery, gas or bill spending | A cash back card with matching categories |
| Travel a few times a year | A travel or points card, ideally with no foreign transaction fee |
| Fly Air Canada | An Aeroplan card |
| Modest spending | A no annual fee card |
| Sometimes carry a balance | A low interest card |
| Paying down existing card debt | A balance transfer card |
| No credit history, or rebuilding | A student, secured or guaranteed-approval card |
Cash back is simple and predictable. Points can be worth more per dollar when redeemed for travel, but their value depends on how you redeem them; the points vs cash back comparison works out the break-even, and the rewards programs guides set out what each program’s points are worth.
Step 3: Compare net value, not the fee
Net annual value = rewards earned on your spending + insurance and perks you would actually use − annual fee
A fee card can beat a no-fee card when its higher rates earn more than the fee on your spending:
On $30,000 a year of spending, a no-fee card earning 1.5% returns $450. A card earning 2% with a $120 fee returns $480 after its fee. At half that spending the order flips: $225 for the no-fee card against $180 for the fee card.
Run the same sum with your own categories, using the earn rates in the tables above or the cash back calculator. Welcome offers can tip a first-year comparison but don’t last; how welcome offers work covers their conditions. Whether a high-fee card’s perks are worth it is the subject of the premium card roundup.
Step 4: Check you’ll be approved
Many Visa Infinite and World Elite Mastercard cards set a minimum personal or household income, shown in the tables above, and most rewards cards expect a credit score in the good range. Applying for a card you’re unlikely to get adds a hard inquiry for nothing. If your file is thin, the first credit card guide and the easiest cards to get list cards with low requirements, and the guide to time between applications explains how to space them out.
Step 5: Compare the costs you might pay
If there’s any chance you’ll carry a balance, the interest rate matters more than the rewards: a few months of interest at a standard rate cancels a year of cash back. A low-rate card, or paying in full every month, avoids that. If you travel, the foreign transaction fee on purchases abroad adds up; the no foreign transaction fee card roundup lists the cards without one. How interest is charged is explained in how credit card interest works.
Related pages
Sources
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them between September 5, 2026 and October 6, 2026. How we check facts.
- americanexpress.com: Cash Back Credit Cards | Amex Canada
- americanexpress.com: American Express® No Annual Fee Credit Cards | Amex CA
- americanexpress.com: Gold Rewards Card | Upgrade | American Express
- americanexpress.com: Cobalt Card Benefits | American Express CA
- americanexpress.com: American Express® Membership Rewards® Cards | Amex Canada
- americanexpress.com: Compare Aeroplan Cards | Credit Cards | American Express Canada
- americanexpress.com: The Platinum Card® | Amex CA
- americanexpress.com: American Express® Business Gold Rewards Card | Amex CA
- americanexpress.com: Business Platinum Card® From American Express | Amex CA
- BMO: BMO Credit Cards Cost of Borrowing
- BMO: Terms & Conditions
- BMO: BMO CashBack Mastercard: Up to 3% Cash Back – BMO Canada
- BMO: Apply for BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard – Premium Travel Benefits - BMO Canada
- BMO: Apply for BMO Blue Reward Mastercard with No Annual Fee – BMO Canada
- CIBC: Credit Card Rewards Calculator | CIBC
- CIBC: CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Card - CERTIFICATES OF INSURANCE
- neofinancial.com: Paid
- neofinancial.com: Neo Mastercard | Apply Online in Minutes | Neo Financial™
- pcfinancial.ca: PC® Mastercard®: Earn up to 4.5% back in PC® Optimum™ Points | PC Financial
- pcfinancial.ca: PC Insiders™ World Elite® Mastercard® | PC Financial
- RBC: RBC Avion Visa Infinite - Premium Travel Credit Card | RBC Royal Bank of Canada
- RBC: WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard Travel Credit Card | RBC Royal Bank of Canada
- RBC: RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege - Luxury Travel Credit Card | RBC Royal Bank of Canada
- RBC: RBC ION Visa - No Monthly Fee Rewards Credit Card | RBC Royal Bank of Canada
- RBC: RBC ION+ Visa - Low Monthly Fee Rewards Credit Card | RBC Royal Bank of Canada
- rogersbank.com: Rogers red worldelite mastercard
- Scotiabank: Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card | Scotiabank Canada
- Scotiabank: Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card | Scotiabank Canada
- Scotiabank: How to Earn and Redeem Scene Points with Scotiabank Scene+ Rewards | Scotiabank Canada
- Scotiabank: Passport® Visa Infinite +* Card
- Scotiabank: Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card | Scotiabank Canada
- simplii.com: Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card | Simplii Financial
- Tangerine: Cash Back Credit Card: Bonus 10% Cash Back for 2 months* | Tangerine
- TD: TD Cash Back Visa Infinite* Card | TD Canada Trust
- TD: Apply for a TD Cash Back Visa* Card | TD Canada Trust
- TD: TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite* Card | TD Canada Trust
- TD: Apply for a TD Platinum Travel Visa* Card | TD Canada Trust
- TD: TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum Credit Card | TD Canada Trust
- TD: AEROPLAN TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR TD CREDIT CARDS
- TD: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Credit Card | TD Canada Trust
- TD: TD Rewards Visa* Credit Card | TD Canada Trust