Canadian Finance Hub

Best Credit Cards in Canada (2026)

Quick Answer: The highest cashback rate here is 5% on groceries with the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard. For travel, the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite leads. The best no-annual-fee card is the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard at 4.5% on loblaws shoppers.

We compare 19 Canadian credit cards across cashback rates, annual fees, welcome bonuses, and perks. Here are the top picks for 2026.

Best Cashback Credit Cards Canada

Card details verified October 9, 2026

CardAnnual FeeTop Earn RateApply
Best Pick

BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®

BMO · Mastercard

$120/yr5%on groceriesApply Now →

American Express Cobalt® Card

American Express · Amex

$191.88/yr5%on food and diningApply Now →

PC Financial® World Elite Mastercard®

PC Financial · Mastercard

No fee4.5%on loblaws shoppersApply Now →

Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa*

Simplii Financial · Visa

No fee4%on diningApply Now →

Rogers World Elite Mastercard®

Rogers Bank · Mastercard

No fee4%on foreign currencyApply Now →

CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite*

CIBC · Visa

$120/yr4%on groceriesApply Now →

TD Cash Back Visa Infinite*

TD Bank · Visa

$139/yr3%on groceriesApply Now →

MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard®

MBNA · Mastercard

No fee2%on restaurantsApply Now →

Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card

Tangerine · Mastercard

No fee2%on 3-categories-of-choiceApply Now →

BMO Student Mastercard*

BMO · Mastercard

No fee1%on everythingApply Now →

* Rates and offers subject to change. Verify with the card issuer before applying. We may earn a commission on approved applications at no cost to you.

Best No-Fee Credit Cards Canada

Card details verified September 28, 2026

CardAnnual FeeTop Earn RateApply
Best Pick

PC Financial® World Elite Mastercard®

PC Financial · Mastercard

No fee4.5%on loblaws shoppersApply Now →

Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa*

Simplii Financial · Visa

No fee4%on diningApply Now →

Rogers World Elite Mastercard®

Rogers Bank · Mastercard

No fee4%on foreign currencyApply Now →

TD Rewards Visa* Card

TD Bank · Visa

No fee4%on travel via expediaApply Now →

Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* for Students

Scotiabank · Visa

No fee4%on scene travel hotels carsApply Now →

MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard®

MBNA · Mastercard

No fee2%on restaurantsApply Now →

Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card

Tangerine · Mastercard

No fee2%on 3-categories-of-choiceApply Now →

Scotiabank Scene+™ Visa*

Scotiabank · Visa

No fee2%on scene partnersApply Now →

BMO Student Mastercard*

BMO · Mastercard

No fee1%on everythingApply Now →

* Rates and offers subject to change. Verify with the card issuer before applying. We may earn a commission on approved applications at no cost to you.

Best Travel Credit Cards Canada

Card details verified October 9, 2026

CardAnnual FeeTop Earn RateApply
Best Pick

TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite*

TD Bank · Visa

$139/yr8%on travel via expediaApply Now →

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

Scotiabank · Amex

$120/yr5%on groceriesApply Now →

American Express Cobalt® Card

American Express · Amex

$191.88/yr5%on food and diningApply Now →

National Bank World Elite Mastercard®

National Bank · Mastercard

$150/yr5%on groceriesApply Now →

Rogers World Elite Mastercard®

Rogers Bank · Mastercard

No fee4%on foreign currencyApply Now →

Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite+*

Scotiabank · Visa

$150/yr2%on groceriesApply Now →

CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite*

CIBC · Visa

$139/yr2%on travel via cibc rewardsApply Now →

Scotiabank Scene+™ Visa*

Scotiabank · Visa

No fee2%on scene partnersApply Now →

RBC Avion® Visa Infinite*

RBC · Visa

$120/yr1.25%on travelApply Now →

* Rates and offers subject to change. Verify with the card issuer before applying. We may earn a commission on approved applications at no cost to you.

Best Student Credit Cards Canada

No annual fee, no income requirement. These cards are designed for students building credit for the first time.

Card details verified September 28, 2026

CardAnnual FeeTop Earn RateApply
Best Pick

TD Rewards Visa* Card

TD Bank · Visa

No fee4%on travel via expediaApply Now →

Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* for Students

Scotiabank · Visa

No fee4%on scene travel hotels carsApply Now →

BMO Student Mastercard*

BMO · Mastercard

No fee1%on everythingApply Now →

* Rates and offers subject to change. Verify with the card issuer before applying. We may earn a commission on approved applications at no cost to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What credit score do I need for a premium credit card in Canada?

Most premium cards (like the BMO World Elite or Scotiabank Passport Infinite) require a credit score of 725+, considered 'good' by Canadian bureaus (Equifax/TransUnion). No-fee cards like the Tangerine Money-Back typically require 660+.

Are credit card rewards taxable in Canada?

Generally, no. The CRA treats most credit card cashback and points as a discount on purchases rather than income, so they are not taxable for personal use. Business reward redemptions may be different — consult a tax professional.

What's the best credit card for groceries in Canada?

The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite earns 6% on groceries — the highest of the 19 cards we compare. If you'd rather not pay an annual fee, the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard earns 2% with no fee.

Which Canadian credit card has no foreign transaction fees?

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite and the Rogers World Elite Mastercard both waive the standard 2.5% foreign transaction fee — essential for frequent travellers.

Can I have multiple credit cards in Canada?

Yes. Many Canadians hold 2–3 cards optimized for different spending categories. For example, a 5% grocery card + a no-fee everyday card + a travel card for flights.

Source: curated card list · 19 cards · verified October 9, 2026 · live sheet not in use (empty)

This is not financial advice. Credit card features, rates, and offers change frequently — always verify with the issuer before applying. We may receive a commission on approved applications, per Canada's Competition Act disclosure requirements.