The Best Credit Cards in Canada for May 2023 – Updated

Are you looking for the best credit cards in Canada to maximize your rewards this year?

We have carefully sifted through the numerous cards on the market and provided you with the best credit card options for travel rewards, cash back rewards, zero annual fees, students, low-interest rates, balance transfers, bad credit, and more.

Use this list of the best Canadian credit cards to trim down your credit card options for 2023.

Canada’s Best Credit Cards in 2023

Category	Credit Card	Features	Annual Fee
Best No-Fee Credit Card	Tangerine Money-Back Card	2% cashback on 3 categories, 1.95% balance transfer; 10% promo cash back offer ($100 value)	$0
Best Cash Back Credit Card	Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite	4% grocery & bills, 2% gas & daily transit; comp. insurance; 10% cash back promo ($200 value)	$120; waived 1st year
Best Credit Card for Travel Rewards #1	Scotiabank Gold American Express	40,000 bonus points ($400 value), 5 pts/$1 grocery, dining & ent., 3pts/$1 gas, Travel emerg. med. 25 days; $0 FX fees	$120
Best Travel Credit Card #2	American Express Cobalt Card	30,000 bonus points ($300 value), 5pts/$1 grocery & dining, 3pts streaming; 2pts/$1 gas & transport	$155.88
Best Prepaid Credit Card	KOHO Prepaid Mastercard	No FX-markup fee, up to 5% cash back, access to early paycheque (+$20 bonus)	$0
Best No-FX fee Credit Card	Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite	35,000 bonus points ($350 value), 2pts/$1 grocery, dining, transport & entertainment, $0 FX markup	$150
Best Credit Card for Bad Credit	Neo Secured Mastercard	Guaranteed approval, $25 welcome bonus	$0
Best Credit Card for Roadside Assistance	Triangle World Elite Mastercard	Free roadside assistance (Gold Plan), 4% cash back at Canadian Tire, 3% groceries	$0
Best Balance Transfer Credit Card	MBNA True Line Mastercard	12.99% APR on purchases and balance transfers	$0
Best Low-Interest Rate Credit Card	Scotiabank Value Visa Card	12.99% APR on purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers	$29; waived in 1st year
Best Student Credit Card	BMO CashBack Mastercard	Up to 3% cash back (monthly limits apply)	$0
Best Aeroplan Credit Card	TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum	1 pt/$1 grocery, gas & drug store, 1 pt/$1.50 all others	$89; waived in 1st year
Best Air Miles Credit Card	BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard	1 mile/$10 all purchases	$120; waived in 1st year

Best No Fee Credit Card in Canada

1. Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card

• Promo: 15% cash back; 1.95% balance transfer
• Annual fee: $0
• Welcome offer: Extra 10% cash back on purchases (up to $100 value – limited time offer)
• Minimum income eligibility: $12,000 annually

Not ready to pay an annual fee for a card? You can still earn significant cash back rewards with the Tangerine Money-Back Credit card.

This card allows you to choose up to 3 specific spending categories and earn an unlimited 2% cash back when you make purchases.

Some money-back categories include grocery, gas, entertainment, home improvement, public transportation, hotel/motel, restaurants, and recurring bill payments.

For a limited period, new cardholders earn an extra 10% cash back on top of the 2% regular rate when they spend $1,000 in the first 2 months. This offer is worth an additional $100 in cash back.

For all other purchases outside of your favourite categories, you get 0.50% in cash back.

For a card that has no annual fees, the unlimited 2% cash back is awesome. In addition, you also get:

• 1.95% interest rate (for 6 months) on balance transfers
• Free additional cards
• Purchase protection (90 days from when you purchase) and extended warranty (up to an additional 1 year)
• Cashback is paid out monthly so you don’t have to wait till the end of the year to use your rewards

Note that the 2% cash back is generally available in two spending categories. However, if you open a free Tangerine Savings Account and deposit your cash back inside it, you automatically qualify for an additional money-back category, for a total of three 2% categories.

Apply for the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card or read the full review.

If you have a personal income of $60,000 or more, you can easily qualify for the no-fee Tangerine World Mastercard and get extra perks. If your income is lower, the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card offers the same level of cash back rewards and no annual fee.

The Tangerine World Mastercard® is an upgrade of the Tangerine Money-Back card.

In addition to the up to 2% cash back on three categories of spending, this Tangerine card also offers:

• No annual fee
• 10% bonus cash back offer
• 1.95% balance transfer rate for 6 months
• Rental car collision/loss damage insurance
• Mobile device insurance
• Mastercard Airport Experiences Provided by Loungekey
• Purchase protection and extended warranty

Apply for the Tangerine World Mastercard.

Best Cash Back Credit Card

2. Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card

• Promo: First year fee is waived; 10% promo cash back in the first 3 months valued at $200
• Annual fee: $120, waived in 1st year
• Minimum income eligibility: $60,000

The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite qualifies as a solid cash back card and comes with juicy premium benefits at a reasonable fee.

The biggest attraction is its regular 4% cash back on groceries and recurring bill and subscription payments, 2% cash back on gas and daily transit; and 1% cash back on everything else.

Other benefits of the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite:

• The $120 annual fee is waived in the first year
• Travel benefits include travel emergency medical insurance of up to 15 consecutive days if you are under 65 years, trip interruption, flight delay, travel accident, delayed and lost baggage insurance
• Mobile device insurance for up to $1,000
• Purchase security and extended warranty
• Rental car collision loss/damage insurance

The cash back rewards you can earn using this card are significant. Note that if you need supplementary cards, a $30 fee applies (also waived in the first year).

Apply for the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite card or read the full review.

Best Credit Card for Travel Rewards #1

3. Scotiabank Gold American Express

• Promo: 40,000 bonus points ($400 value)
• Annual fee: $120
• Minimum income eligibility: $12,000

The Scotiabank Gold American Express is one of the best travel rewards credit cards in Canada.

In addition to its high reward rate on popular spending categories (i.e. groceries and entertainment), this card offers an extraordinary level of travel insurance benefits. Here’s what you get:

• 5 points (5% rewards rate) on every $1 spent on groceries, dining, and entertainment
• 3 points for every $1 you spend on gas, daily transit, and streaming services
• No foreign transaction fees (a savings of 2.5%)
• 1 point on every $1 spent on everything else
• 20,000 bonus points ($200 travel value) when you spend up to $1,000 in the first 3 months, and an additional 20,000 bonus points when you spend $7,500 or more in the first year
• Comprehensive travel insurance, including travel emergency medical up to $1 million for up to 25 consecutive days (under 65 years) and up to 3 consecutive days (over 65 years), trip cancellation/interruption, delayed and lost baggage, travel accident (up to $1 million per incident), and hotel/motel burglary insurance
• Rental car collision loss and damage waiver (up to 48 consecutive days and $65,000 MSRP)
• Purchase security and extended warranty
• 35% discount on Priority Pass membership
• Easy to redeem travel rewards at 100 points = $1

For a card with an average annual fee, the Scotiabank Gold American Express does offer well-above-average benefits. You can read our full review.

Apply for the Scotiabank Gold American Express or read the full review.

Best Travel Credit Card #2

4. American Express Cobalt Card

• Promo: 30,000 bonus points
• Annual fee: $155.88
• Minimum income eligibility: N/A

The American Express Cobalt card is one of a kind, and if you want to earn significant travel rewards from your everyday spending, this card delivers that!

To start, you earn 5 points for every $1 spent on groceries and dining out. This covers purchases at restaurants, bars, cafes, and even food delivery. You get 3 points per $1 spent on streaming subscriptions; 2 points per $1 spent on transportation and gas; and 1 point for every $1 spent on everything else.

The regular 5% cash back earnings on groceries and dining is a top-of-the-line reward rate for this category of spending in Canada.

Additionally, every month you spend at least $500, you get an extra 2,500 points for up to 30,000 bonus points in the first year.

These bonuses alone are worth up to $300 in travel rewards!

Other benefits of the American Express Cobalt card are:

• Travel insurance benefits including emergency medical (up to a maximum of $5 million per insured person for 15 consecutive days), flight delay, baggage delay, hotel/motel burglary, lost or stolen baggage, and travel accident insurance (up to $250,000).
• Car rental theft and damage insurance with coverage for up to $85,000
• Purchase protection and extended warranty
• Front of The Line Access through AMEX Invites
• Ability to redeem your points for just about anything, including cash to pay for your purchases (statement credit).

Redeeming your points for travel rewards is your best option since 1,000 points are equivalent to $10 instead of a $7 statement credit when you redeem for other purchases.

Apply for the American Express Cobalt card or read the review.

Best Prepaid Credit Card

5. KOHO Visa

• Promo: $20 cash bonus when you sign up here (use our referral code CASHBACK)
• Annual fee: $0 for regular account
• Minimum income eligibility: $0

The KOHO Visa is a reloadable prepaid card that functions like a debit card and is usable worldwide wherever Visa is accepted. This card has many benefits and can save you a lot of money, especially if you frequently travel abroad.

• Up to 5% instant cash back on purchases
• 1.20% interest on your entire account balance when you set up a direct deposit
• Free budgeting app and automated roundup savings feature
• Access to a credit building service
• No foreign currency exchange fees (a savings of 2.5% upfront for KOHO Premium)

Apply for the KOHO Visa card or read our complete KOHO review.

Best Credit Card for Bad Credit

6. Neo Financial Secured Mastercard

• Rewards: Earn up to 5% cash back on purchases, plus a $25 welcome bonus
• Annual fee: $0
• Income eligibility: $0

The Neo Secured Card is the best secured credit card in Canada. It doubles up as a cash back credit card, offering up to 5% cash back when you shop online and in-store at thousands of locations.

If you are looking for a no-fee secured card to improve your credit rating, this card ticks all the boxes.

Approval for this card is guaranteed, and you only need a $50 deposit to get started on your way to growing your credit score.

You can easily redeem your cash back earnings as a statement credit at any time. Learn more about what it offers in this review.

Apply for the Neo Secured Card.

Best Credit Card for No Foreign Transaction Fees

7. Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card

• Promo: 35,000 bonus points ($350 value) 
• Annual fee: $150
• Minimum income eligibility: $60,000

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card offers up to $350 in bonus points in your first year. This card is popular among travellers for many good reasons that include:

• 2 points for every $1 spent on groceries, dining, entertainment, and daily transit
• 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases
• Zero (0$) foreign currency conversion markup
• 25,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in your first 3 months and an additional 10,000 points if you spend at least $40,000 annually, for a total of $350 in travel rewards
• Complimentary Priority Pass membership plus 6 free airport lounge access per year ($379 value/year)
• Comprehensive travel insurance benefits (very similar to the Scotiabank Gold AMEX)
• Rental car collision loss/damage waiver
• Purchase security, price protection, and extended warranty

While the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite costs about $20 per year more than its sibling (Scotiabank Gold American Express), the higher introductory offers and free lounge access more than cover the higher fee.

Apply for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card or read our review.

Best Credit Card for Roadside Assistance

8. Triangle World Elite Mastercard

• Highlight: Free roadside assistance membership
• Annual fee: $0
• Minimum income eligibility: $80,000

If you regularly shop at Canadian Tire, the Triangle World Elite Mastercard is an absolute must-have with 4% cash back (Canadian Tire Money) on your purchases at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark’s and Atmosphere stores, 3% on groceries, and 1% on everything else.

Other benefits that come with the card:

• Free Gold Plan roadside assistance
• Get up to 7 cents per litre when you purchase fuel at Gas+ locations
• Car rental collision/loss damage waiver insurance
• Purchase security and extended warranty
• No-fee, no-interest financing for up to 24 months when you make purchases of $200 or more

The main reason why I obtained the Triangle World Elite card was for the free roadside assistance. This saves me at least $100 in CAA membership annually and covers Canada and the United States with 5 service calls of up to 250 km and unlimited tows to any Canadian Tire auto shop.

If you are looking to get this card, note that the 3% cash back on groceries excludes purchases at Walmart and Costco.

Apply for the Triangle World Elite Mastercard.

Best Credit Card for Balance Transfers

9. MBNA True Line Mastercard

• Promo: 0% balance transfer for 12 months
• Annual fee: $0
• Minimum income eligibility: N/A

The MBNA True Line Mastercard offers a low rate of 12.99% on purchases and balance transfers and a 24.99% interest rate for cash advances.

New cardholders enjoy a 0% balance transfer rate for the first 12 months and 12.99% after the promotional period ends.

If you want to consolidate your credit card debt, this card offers some of the best balance transfer rates available in Canada.

Worthy mention: The Tangerine Money-Back Card offers a 1.95% balance transfer rate for 6 months, has no annual fees, and pays rewards on your purchases.

Apply for the MBNA True Line Mastercard.

Best Credit Card for Low-Interest Rates

10. Scotiabank Value Visa Card

• Annual fee: $29 (waived in the first year)
• Minimum income eligibility: N/A

The Scotiabank Value Visa Card is a low-interest credit card that offers one of the lowest rates for cash advances and purchase balances in Canada at 12.99%.

It also includes a 0% introductory interest rate on cash advances for the first 6 months (a limited-time offer).

This card is noteworthy because many other paid credit cards charge an annual interest rate of 19.99% or higher on purchases and cash advances. However, note that to take advantage of these rock-bottom rates, you must make your minimum payments on time.

Worthy mention: The MBNA True Line Gold Mastercard also offers an 8.99% rate on purchases and balance transfers and 24.99% on cash advances. The card has a $39 annual fee.

Apply for the Scotiabank Value Visa Card or read our full review.

Best Student Credit Card

11. BMO CashBack Mastercard

• Annual fee: $0
• Income requirement: None

The BMO CashBack Mastercard allows students to establish a credit history while earning some rewards. Even better, it is a no-fee credit card.

Benefits of this card include:

• 3% cash back on groceries; 1% on recurring bills; and 0.50% on all other purchases
• Purchase protection and extended warranty
• Free access to BMO Extra Deals

You can apply for this card even if you have no income or credit history, which makes it a top-rated credit card in the student category. Note that the 1% and 3% cash back categories have a monthly limit.

Worthy mention: Another great student credit card is the Scene+ Visa card. It has no annual fees, and you earn SCENE rewards you can redeem for free movies and food at participating restaurants.

Here is a list of the best student credit cards in Canada.

Apply for the BMO CashBack Mastercard.

Best Aeroplan Credit Card

12. TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum

• Annual fee: $89, waived in 1st year
• Minimum income eligibility: N/A

The TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum is a top-notch credit card for earning Aeroplan points. You get:

• The annual fee of $89 is waived in the first year
• 1 point for every $1 spent on eligible grocery, gas, and drug store purchases
• 1 point for every $1.50 spent on all other purchases
• 2 x points when you use your card with the Aeroplan membership card at participating retailers
• Travel insurance, including delayed and lost baggage, flight delay, and travel accident insurance
• Auto rental collision/loss damage with coverage up to 48 consecutive days
• Purchase security and extended warranty

The 10,000 bonus Aeroplan points are awarded when you make your first purchase with the card.

Lastly, this card gets you a discount when renting a car at participating Avis and Budget locations.

Apply for the TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum card.

Best Air Miles Credit Card

13. BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard

• Annual fee: $120, waived in 1st year
• Minimum income eligibility: $80,000

The BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard is the best Air Miles credit card in Canada. It offers:

• 1 Air Mile for every $10 spent on all purchases
• 15% discount on all Air Miles flights in North America
• Complimentary membership in Mastercard Airport Experiences provided by Loungekey, plus two free annual passes
• Comprehensive travel insurance benefits
• Rental car collision/damage insurance
• Purchase protection and extended warranty
• 25% discount on car rentals at participating National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car locations, plus 2x the reward miles

The BMO Air Miles World Elite is a well-rounded credit card for the savvy traveller and best-in-class if the Air Miles collection is part of your travel hacking strategies. 

Apply for the BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard.

How Do Credit Cards Work in Canada?

Credit cards are a type of short-term loan. They are typically unsecured loans, but some credit cards are secured.

When you purchase or withdraw cash from an ATM with your credit card, the issuer essentially lends you money. At the end of the month, you receive a statement for the amount you have borrowed, which you can then pay back by the payment date.

Credit cards are different from other loans because they have an interest-free period. If you pay for the charged purchases in full by the day your statement is due; you won’t have to pay any interest.

If you don’t pay it all back, however, you will start to pay interest on the unpaid balance. There is also a minimum payment requirement. This is the minimum amount that you have to pay back.

Credit card interest rate is expressed as the Annual Percentage Rate (APR). However, you are charged interest daily. Divide the APR by 365 to determine how much you are charged daily.

Credit card companies also charge annual fees and other fees like balance transfer fees, which we will look at in more detail later.

Types of Credit Cards in Canada

There are many different types of credit cards in Canada. Here are the main types you can choose from:

Rewards Credit Cards

Rewards credit cards are perhaps the most well-known and most popular. These credit cards give you rewards for using them. Rewards can take on various forms, like cashback and points.

Low-Interest Credit Cards

These credit cards have a lower APR. While a typical APR is around 20%, low-interest credit cards have an APR of about 12%. These can be useful for people who carry a balance and want to pay less interest each month.

Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Balance transfer credit cards allow you to transfer a balance from another credit card. In addition, they may offer a low interest rate or 0% interest for the first few months. This means you can pay off your debt sooner and for less.

Secured Credit Cards

Secured credit cards require a security deposit. They are typically targeted at people with poor credit scores or no credit history.

With these cards, you make a security deposit, and you can then borrow up to that amount on your credit card. They can be useful for people who want to build their credit scores.

Types of Credit Card Rewards in Canada

Many credit cards provide rewards for using them. As mentioned previously, they will typically provide you with more rewards the more you spend. Here are some of the most common rewards:

Cashback

Cashback is a popular reward where you receive a percentage of your spending on every purchase. The amount is usually quite low, between 0.5% and 3%, but welcome bonuses can give you up to 10% or more.

There is often an upper limit for the amount of cashback you can claim. In addition, some cards will pay out whenever you want, while others will only pay out monthly or when you reach a certain amount.

Reward Points

Many credit cards also have point programmes. With these, you can earn points for spending on your card and then use those points to get discounts and other bonuses.

Travel Rewards

Travel rewards are common. Some cards include travel insurance when you purchase the trip using the card. Others may give you discounts on trips, car rentals and hotels, while some cards allow you to earn miles when you spend.

Some cards have no foreign exchange fees and may provide free international withdrawals.

How to Maximize Credit Card Rewards in Canada

First, ensure you understand the process for getting rewards with your card. With cashback, for example, you can sometimes earn a higher rate for purchases in certain categories like groceries or gas.

The credit card usually lists participating stores and brands where you can earn more cashback or points. Find out where they are and do more of your shopping at these partners to earn higher rewards.

You can also benefit from welcome offers, so look out for these when you are choosing a new card. These may include extra cashback, bonus points or a longer low-interest rate to tempt you to apply.

Also, make sure you don’t lose your rewards. Some rewards programmes have expiration dates, so ensure you cash out your rewards before they expire.

How To Choose the Best Credit Cards

Choosing the best credit card comes down to what ‘best’ means in your case. However, there are a few factors to take into account:

Rewards Offered

As discussed already, there are many different types of rewards, so think about what you want from your credit card.

A certain reward programme may appeal to you, or you may prefer to use a card that provides cashback.

Don’t forget to consider any welcome offers. For example, if you’re planning to make a large purchase and a welcome offer provides a higher cashback rate in the first few months, it may be worth considering.

Interest Rate

If you already carry a balance or are likely to do so, a low-interest credit card or a balance transfer credit card may be a better option.

Compare these types of credit cards because you will find that some have better interest rates or longer periods with zero interest rates.

Credit Card Network

You should also consider the network, which will usually be Mastercard, Visa or American Express.

Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted, and it’s hard to pick a winner. If you shop at a certain store every week, you may want to check whether they accept all credit cards.

America Express is not as widely accepted, so you may not want to use this as your only credit card.

Requirements

Many cards will have minimum income requirements and a good credit score. If you don’t meet the requirements, this will limit your options.

Fees

Some cards have a high annual fee but lots of premium perks. Conversely, some cards have low or no fees but fewer or no rewards.

Always compare the total cost of the card, including fees, to calculate which card is best for you.

How To Apply for a Credit Card in Canada

Applying for a credit card in Canada is relatively straightforward:

• Decide which type of credit card you want.
• Compare similar cards to decide which is best for you.
• Study the application requirements (age, residency, minimum income, etc.)
• You may want to check your credit score first, which you can do for free using a service like Borrowell.
• Once you have chosen a card, apply for it (usually online) by filling out all the required information.
• The credit card issuer will then either approve or decline your application.

Fees to Watch for with Canadian Credit Cards

The main cost to keep in mind is the interest, which all credit cards will charge. But there are several other fees to consider:

• Annual fee – the fee you pay once a year for using the card.

• Balance transfer fee – you pay this when you transfer your balance from another card. It is usually expressed as a percentage (e.g. 2% of the total amount transferred.)

• Cash advance fee – most cards charge a fee for cash advances, and many charge a higher interest rate too.

• Late payment fee – if you make a payment late, you may be charged this fee.

• Foreign transaction fees – many cards charge extra fees when you spend in a foreign currency.

• Returned payment fee – a fee may be charged if the transaction cannot be processed.

• Overlimit fee – this fee is charged if you go over your credit limit.

• Inactive account fee – some credit cards have fees if you do not use your card for a certain period.

Pros of Credit Cards

• A good way to earn rewards and cashback for everyday spending. If you pay back your balance every month, you can get rewards that you would be missing out on otherwise.

• A convenient way to access money if you don’t have enough in your bank account.

• Most credit cards are unsecured, so you don’t have to put up any collateral. However, this is not the case for secured credit cards.

• Paying your monthly payments on time can help you improve your credit score.

• Some credit cards provide extra perks like extended warranties and travel insurance for extra peace of mind.

• Credit cards are a secure and convenient way to pay everyday expenses without carrying cash.

Cons of Credit Cards

• Credit cards typically charge high interest rates, which can be expensive if you carry a balance.

• It can be easy to spend too much using a credit card, which can be problematic if you do not carefully control your spending habits.

• Failing to make your payments on time can harm your credit score.

• You may have to pay a cash advance fee if you use an ATM, which you would not normally pay with a debit card.

Related: How Do Credit Cards Work in Canada?