By country · fees in CAD · 8 cards ranked

Best Credit Cards in Canada 2026

Canadian cards ranked: cash back, Aeroplan, Avion and Scene+ travel, no-fee, newcomer and student cards from RBC, TD, Scotiabank, CIBC, BMO, Amex and Tangerine.

See the ranking Read the guide
Typical purchase rate19.99% – 21.99%
Foreign fee (typical)2.5%
Infinite / World Elite incomeC$60k – C$100k
RegulatorFCAC
The CN Tower and illuminated skyscrapers in the Toronto skyline at dusk

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Ranked 1–8 at a glance

RankCardAnnual feeRewardsWelcome offerForeign feeWho qualifiesScore
1
American Express Cobalt CardFoodies and renters maximising dining and grocery rewards
 C$155/yr 5x on dining and groceries, 3x on streaming, 2x on travel Earn points monthly through a welcome bonus period 2.5% on foreign currency p… Good to excellent credit 4.7
2
Scotiabank Gold American Express CardDiners and grocery shoppers who travel abroad
 C$120/yr 5x on groceries, dining and entertainment; 3x on gas/transit Large Scene+ points welcome bonus after spend 0% on foreign currency pur… Good to excellent credit 4.6
3
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite CardAir Canada travellers wanting Aeroplan points
 C$139/yr 1.5x points on grocery, gas and Air Canada purchases Large Aeroplan points bonus after qualifying spend 2.5% on foreign currency p… Good to excellent credit 4.5
4
BMO CashBack World Elite MastercardGrocery-heavy households wanting premium cashback
 C$120/yr 5% on groceries, 4% on transit, 3% on gas (capped) Elevated cashback rate for the first months 2.5% on foreign currency p… Good to excellent credit 4.4
5
TD Cash Back Visa Infinite CardFamilies with heavy grocery, gas and bill spending
 C$139/yr 3% on gas, groceries and recurring bills; 1% elsewhere Elevated cashback rate for the first months 2.5% on foreign currency p… Good to excellent credit 4.4
6
RBC Avion Visa Infinite CardTravellers wanting flexible, blackout-free redemptions
 C$120/yr 1.25 points per CAD1 on travel, 1 point elsewhere Avion points welcome bonus after qualifying spend 2.5% on foreign currency p… Good to excellent credit 4.3
7
Tangerine Money-Back Credit CardNo-fee cashback seekers who want category control
 None 2% in chosen categories, 0.5% on everything else Occasional elevated cashback promotion 2.5% on foreign currency p… Good credit 4.3
8
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite CardTravellers wanting flexible any-airline redemptions
 C$139/yr Up to 2 points per CAD1 on travel via the portal Aventura points welcome bonus after qualifying spend 2.5% on foreign currency p… Good to excellent credit 4.2

Points & Rewards in Canada

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Travel Rewards in Canada

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Cash Back in Canada

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The guide

How to choose: Credit Cards in Canada

Canada's market runs through the Big Five banks and three loyalty ecosystems — Aeroplan, Avion and Scene+ — with American Express and Tangerine as the strong independents. Our Canadian rankings weight foreign-fee waivers (rare here), income thresholds and how cash back is paid, because those are what separate cards that look alike on paper.

The Canadian rankings at a glance

  • Cash back — Tangerine Money-Back (no fee, 2% categories), BMO CashBack World Elite and TD Cash Back Visa Infinite for heavy grocery and gas spend.
  • Travel — TD and CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite for Air Canada; RBC Avion for flexibility; Amex Cobalt as the highest everyday earner.
  • Rewards — Scotiabank Gold Amex (Scene+, no foreign fee), Amex Cobalt.
  • No fee — Tangerine, Amex SimplyCash, Home Trust Preferred (no foreign fee).

What to check before applying in Canada

Income thresholds for Visa Infinite and World Elite tiers (C$60,000 personal or C$100,000 household is typical), the 2.5% foreign transaction fee that almost every card charges, and whether cash back is paid monthly (Tangerine, Amex) or once a year (TD, CIBC, Scotiabank). Newcomers can get a first card through bank newcomer programmes without Canadian history.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best credit card in Canada?

For no-fee cash back, Tangerine Money-Back. For rewards, Amex Cobalt (highest grocery and dining earn). For Air Canada flyers, TD or CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite. The rankings above show the current order by category.

Which Canadian credit cards have no foreign transaction fee?

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite, Scotiabank Gold Amex, Home Trust Preferred Visa and some Brim cards. Most Big Five cards charge 2.5%.

What income do I need for a Visa Infinite card in Canada?

Typically C$60,000 personal or C$100,000 household; World Elite Mastercards often require C$80,000 personal or C$150,000 household.

Guides for this ranking

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