Advertiser Disclosure

The content on this website includes links to our partners and we may receive compensation when you sign up, at no cost to you. This may impact which products or services we write about and where and how they appear on the site. It does not affect the objectivity of our evaluations or reviews. Read our disclosure.

RBC ION Visa Credit Card Review (2023)

The new RBC ION Visa credit card from the Royal Bank of Canada covers the basics if you want a no-annual-fee card that earns competitive rewards.

Cardholders earn up to 1.5 Avion points per dollar spent on everyday purchases and get access to other perks.

This RBC ION Visa review covers its top features, benefits, and alternative credit cards.

RBC ION Visa Overview

  • $0 annual fee
  • $0 annual fee for additional cards
  • 19.99% interest rate on purchases
  • 22.99% interest rate on cash advances and balance transfers (21.99% if you reside in Quebec)
  • Earn 1.5x Avion points per $1 spent on grocery, gas, daily transit, rideshares, streaming, and digital subscriptions
  • Earn 1x Avion point per $1 spent everywhere else
  • 6,000 bonus Avion points on approval for a limited time

RBC ION Visa Card Benefits

For a no-annual-fee credit card, the RBC ION Visa has a comparably good earning rate.

1. Welcome bonus: New cardholders earn 6,000 bonus Avion points on approval for a limited time.

2. Earn Avion Points: You earn 1.5 Avion points per $1 spent on the following purchase categories:

  • Groceries
  • Gas
  • Public transit, rideshare, and electric vehicle charging
  • Streaming, digital gaming, and digital subscriptions

For all other purchases using your card, the earn rate is 1 Avion point per $1 spent.

3. Save at Petro-Canada: When you link the RBC ION Visa to your Petro-Points account and pay with the card, you save 3 cents per litre on gas or diesel purchases at Petro-Canada and earn 20% more Petro-Points and Avion points.

4. Complimentary DashPass Subscription: Cardholders get a 3-month complimentary DashPass subscription valued at almost $30. This subscription includes unlimited $0 delivery fees on orders of $15 or more when you pay with your RBC credit card.

5. Standard insurance coverage: This card comes with purchase security and extended warranty insurance coverage.

6. Other Perks: RBC credit card users can link a Be Well card and earn 50 Be Well points per $1 spent on eligible purchases at Rexall.

Downsides of the RBC ION Visa

The RBC ION Visa does not include comprehensive or travel insurance coverage benefits, but this is typical for entry-level credit cards.

Also, there is a minimum redemption threshold of $10 when redeeming your Avion points.

Lastly, this card requires a good credit score to qualify.

How To Redeem Avion Points

You can redeem Avion points as a statement credit to pay off your credit card balance or for merchandise and gift cards.

For gift card redemptions, the conversion rate is 1 Avion point = 0.71 cents.

Avion points can be used to pay for travel via the Avion Rewards website with the conversion rates below.

Source: Avionrewards.com

How To Apply For The RBC ION Visa Card

You can apply for the RBC ION Visa by visiting their website (refer to the RBC page for up-to-date offer terms and conditions).

While there is no published minimum income requirement, you will need a good credit score to qualify.

RBC ION Visa Alternatives

For no-annual-fee cash back card alternatives, you can also look at the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card and RBC Cash Back Mastercard.

Alternatively, you can pay a small monthly fee for the RBC ION+ Visa for access to additional benefits.

Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card: This Tangerine credit card has no annual fee. Cardholders earn 2% unlimited cash back in 2-3 purchase categories and 0.50% cash back on all other spending. Learn more.

Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card

Rewards: Earn up to 2% unlimited cash back in up to 3 spending categories and 0.50% on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Get an extra 10% cash back on up to $1,000 in spending in the first 2 months ($100 value); 1.95% balance transfer rate for 6 months.

Interest rates: 19.95% for purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances.

Annual fee: $0

RBC Cash Back Mastercard: This no-annual-fee RBC credit card pays 2% cash back on groceries (on up to $6,000 spent annually), and 0.50% to 1% cash back on all other purchases. Learn more in this review.

RBC ION+ Visa: A step up from the RBC ION Visa, the RBC ION+ Visa Card has a $4 monthly fee and offers:

  • 3x Avion points per $1 spent on grocery, dining, food delivery, gas, rideshares, daily public transit, EV charging, streaming, digital gaming, and digital subscriptions
  • 1 Avion point per $1 spent on everything else

This card also includes mobile device insurance, purchase security, and extended warranty insurance.

Get more details in this review.

Is the RBC ION Visa For You?

If you are looking for an entry-level credit card with no annual fees and easy-to-understand rewards, the RBC ION Visa may be for you.

For a $4 monthly fee, you can earn double the points on groceries, gas, daily transit, and streaming subscriptions, by opting for the RBC ION+ Visa instead.

Alternatively, the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card also works well for earning cash back on everyday purchases, and it does not have an annual fee.

Related:

Best Credit Offers in September 2023

Earn up to 5% cashback and grow your savings + $20 bonus

Best free prepaid reloadable Mastercard plus a $20 welcome bonus.

No credit check and free budgeting app with automatic savings features.

Increase your credit score with an optional credit building add-on.

Earn up to 2.00% interest on your entire balance.*

Get this guaranteed approval credit card for any credit score ($25 bonus)

Get an instant $25 welcome bonus.

Earn 5% unlimited average cash back at thousands of locations.

Guaranteed approval for poor and bad credit scores. Takes 3 minutes.

No monthly fees and up to 15% cashback on your first purchases.

Enjoy up to 5% cash back at over 10,000 retail locations ($25 Bonus)

Get a $25 bonus when you are approved for the Card.

Earn up to 5% unlimited cash back at 10,000+ participating stores.

No annual account fees.

Guaranteed instant approval credit card with 600+ credit score.

Retirement 101 eBook - 3D

Author

Gravatar for Enoch Omololu, MSc (Econ)
Enoch Omololu, MSc (Econ)

Enoch Omololu is a personal finance expert and a veterinarian. He has a master’s degree in Finance and Investment Management from the University of Aberdeen Business School (Scotland) and has completed several courses and certificates in finance, including the Canadian Securities Course. He also has an MSc. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Manitoba and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Ibadan. Enoch is passionate about helping others win with their finances and has been writing about money matters for over a decade. He has been featured or quoted in Forbes, The Globe and Mail, Business Insider, Winnipeg Free Press, Wealthsimple, CBC News, Financial Post, Toronto Star, CTV News, Canadian Securities Exchange, Credit Canada, and many other personal finance publications. You can learn more about him on the About Page.

His top investment tools include Wealthsimple and Questrade. He earns cash back on purchases using KOHO, monitors his credit score for free using Borrowell, and earns interest on savings through EQ Bank.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • No monthly fees.
  • Get up to 5% cash back on purchases.
  • $20 welcome bonus with CASHBACK referral code.
  • Your balance earns interest.*
*Limited time offer. Terms and conditions apply.
Best No Annual Fee Prepaid Cash Back Card
Best No Annual Fee Prepaid Cash Back Card
No monthly fees. Get up to 5% cash back on purchases. $20 bonus with CASHBACK code.
*Limited time offer. Terms and conditions apply.