Best Credit Cards
in Canada (2026)

From premium travel rewards to everyday cashback, here are Canada's top credit cards. Sorted by category so you can find exactly what fits your spending.

Updated April 2, 2026 12 cards compared across 3 categories

Best cards for
travel & rewards

Premium cards with the highest earn rates, lounge access, travel insurance, and transferable points.

Scotiabank Gold Amex

Scotiabank
Annual Fee $120
Welcome Bonus 45,000 Scene+ pts
Top Earn Rate 6x Sobeys/Safeway
Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo6x
Dining, food delivery, other grocery5x
Everything else1x

Why we like it: Strong competitor to the Cobalt with Scene+ points transferable to Aeroplan. Great earn rates across everyday categories at a slightly lower annual fee.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite

TD Bank
Annual Fee $139
Welcome Bonus 45,000 Aeroplan pts
Top Earn Rate 1.5x gas & groceries
Air Canada & Aeroplan1.5x
Gas, groceries1.5x
Everything else1x

Why we like it: The go-to Aeroplan card if you prefer Visa acceptance. Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Air Canada. Strong insurance package.

BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite

BMO
Annual Fee $120
Welcome Bonus 70,000 BMO points
Top Earn Rate 5x groceries, dining, gas, transit
Groceries, dining, gas, transit5x
Everything else1x

Why we like it: Excellent multipliers with airport lounge access. BMO points are flexible — redeem for travel, statement credits, or merchandise. Competitive with Cobalt on dining.

Luxury cards with
elite perks

Higher annual fees, but serious perks — lounge access, concierge, top-tier insurance, and massive welcome bonuses. Worth it for frequent travellers.

American Express Platinum

American Express Canada
Annual Fee $799
Welcome Bonus 100,000 MR points
Top Earn Rate 2x travel & dining
Travel & dining2x
Everything else1x

Why we like it: The prestige card. Priority Pass + Centurion Lounge access, $200 annual travel credit, comprehensive insurance, hotel elite status with Marriott and Hilton, Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits. Best for luxury travellers who maximize the perks.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege

TD Bank
Annual Fee $599
Welcome Bonus 85,000 Aeroplan pts
Top Earn Rate 2x Air Canada
Air Canada2x
Gas, groceries, travel, dining1.5x
Everything else1.25x

Why we like it: The premium Aeroplan Visa for those who prefer Visa acceptance. Maple Leaf Lounge access, Priority Pass, Aeroplan 25K Status shortcut, $100 Nexus rebate, and companion fare. Strong alternative to the Amex Reserve if you need Visa everywhere.

CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege

CIBC
Annual Fee $499
Welcome Bonus 80,000 Aventura pts
Top Earn Rate 2x travel & transit
Travel, transit, gas2x
Groceries2x
Everything else1x

Why we like it: CIBC's top travel card with flexible Aventura points redeemable for any travel. Airport lounge access, comprehensive insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and a $150 annual travel credit. Good if you bank with CIBC.

Best no-fee
cashback cards

No annual fee, real cashback. These cards prove you don't need to pay to earn rewards.

Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard

Tangerine (Scotiabank)
Annual Fee $0
Bonus Categories 2% on 2-3 categories
Everything Else 0.5%

Why we like it: Choose your own bonus categories (groceries, gas, restaurants, recurring bills, etc.) and earn 2% on those. Get a third bonus category by depositing rewards into a Tangerine savings account.

Neo Financial Mastercard

Neo Financial
Annual Fee $0
Partner Stores 5%+ avg. cashback
Everything Else 1%

Why we like it: If you shop at Neo partner merchants (Hudson's Bay, Rexall, and hundreds more), the cashback is exceptional. No annual fee and a slick app experience make this a great secondary card.

Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard

Canadian Tire Bank
Annual Fee $0
CT Family Stores 4% in CT Money
Shell Gas 2%

Why we like it: 4% back at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark's, and Atmosphere. If you shop these stores regularly, no other card comes close. Pairs well with a flat-rate cashback card for everything else.

Quick
comparison

Card Annual Fee Top Earn Rate Welcome Bonus Best For
Scotia Gold Amex $120/yr 6x Sobeys / 5x dining 45,000 Scene+ pts Groceries
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite $139/yr 1.5x gas & groceries 45,000 Aeroplan pts Air Canada
BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite $120/yr 5x dining 70,000 BMO pts Dining
Amex Aeroplan Reserve $599/yr 3x travel & dining 85,000 Aeroplan pts Best premium
Amex Platinum $799/yr 2x travel & dining 100,000 MR pts Luxury
TD Aeroplan Visa Inf. Privilege $599/yr 2x Air Canada 85,000 Aeroplan pts Premium Visa
CIBC Aventura Visa Inf. Privilege $499/yr 2x travel 80,000 Aventura pts Flexible travel
Tangerine Money-Back MC $0 2% on chosen categories Customizable
Neo Mastercard $0 5%+ partner stores Partner cashback
CT Triangle MC $0 4% CT family stores Canadian Tire

All card details are based on publicly available information as of April 2026. Welcome bonuses, annual fees, and earn rates are subject to change. Always verify current terms directly with the card issuer before applying.

Maximize your
credit card rewards

01

Use a two-card strategy

Pair a premium rewards card (Amex Cobalt for food, 5x) with a no-fee flat-rate card (Rogers 1.5% on everything) for purchases where Amex isn't accepted. This covers all your spending at the highest possible rate.

02

Always meet the welcome bonus

Welcome bonuses are the single most valuable part of any credit card. Plan your application around a period of higher spending (moving, renovations, holiday season) to easily hit the minimum spend requirement.

03

Transfer points, don't redeem for cash

Amex MR points and Scene+ points can transfer to Aeroplan at strong ratios. A business class flight booked with points can be worth 5-10x more than a statement credit. Always check transfer value first.

04

Pay your balance in full

Credit card interest rates in Canada run 20-22%. No rewards program can outpace that. If you carry a balance, skip the rewards cards entirely and focus on a low-interest card until you're paying in full every month.

Find your
perfect card

Answer 2 quick questions about your spending habits and we'll recommend the best credit card for you.