Canadian Credit Card Comparison
15 Canadian credit cards ranked on your own spending. Each shows its first-year value with the welcome bonus, what it earns from year 2 once the bonus and fee waivers are gone, the 3-year total and the month it pays for itself. Terms are entered by hand from each issuer's page.
Advertiser disclosure. Some card links may earn us a commission. Cards are ranked only by the value worked out from your spending, never by commission. Approval isn't guaranteed and we don't estimate approval odds. How we make money.
| Card | Year 1 | Year 2+ | 3 years | Break-even | Fee | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express SimplyCash Preferred 4% groceries | $1,136 | $936 | $3,058 | Month 1 | $119.88 | |
| TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite 6x groceries, dining and takeout, transit and rideshare | $1,615 | $676 | $2,966 | Month 1 | $139 (yr 1 free) | |
| Scotiabank Gold American Express 5x groceries, dining and takeout | $940 | $940 | $2,819 | Month 2 | $120 | |
| Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite 4% groceries, phone, internet and utilities, streaming | $1,184 | $764 | $2,713 | Month 1 | $120 (yr 1 free) | |
| CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite 4% gas and ev charging, groceries | $1,087 | $767 | $2,620 | Month 1 | $120 (yr 1 free) | |
| BMO eclipse Visa Infinite 5x groceries, gas and ev charging, transit and rideshare, dining and takeout | $922 | $682 | $2,285 | Month 1 | $120 (yr 1 free) | |
| PC Financial PC World Elite Mastercard 30x groceries | $619 | $619 | $1,858 | Month 1 | $0 | |
| Rogers Bank Red World Elite Mastercard 1.5% on everything | $603 | $603 | $1,809 | Month 1 | $0 | |
| CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite 1.5x gas and ev charging, groceries, drugstoresMostly welcome bonus | $1,089 | $350 | $1,788 | Month 1 | $139 (yr 1 free) | |
| American Express Gold Rewards Card 2x gas and ev charging, groceries, drugstores | $995 | $395 | $1,786 | Month 2 | $250 | |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite 1.5x gas and ev charging, groceries | $978 | $339 | $1,655 | Month 1 | $139 (yr 1 free) | |
| American Express Cobalt Card 5x dining and takeout | $616 | $466 | $1,547 | Month 2 | $191.88 | |
| Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card 2% groceries, dining and takeout | $517 | $417 | $1,351 | Month 1 | $0 | |
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite 1.25x flights, hotels and car rentals | $437 | $118 | $759 | Month 1 | $120 | |
| American Express Platinum Card 2x dining and takeoutMostly welcome bonus | $541 | −$159 | $523 | Month 3 | $799 |
Rates and terms are set by the issuer and may change. Check the issuer's page before you apply. Values are estimates from your spending, after fees.
Worked examples
The ten cards worth the most over 3 years on the family preset (CAD, points redeemed as cash, typical use of credits).
| Card | Year 1 | Year 2+ | 3 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express SimplyCash Preferred | $1,136 | $936 | $3,058 |
| TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite | $1,615 | $676 | $2,966 |
| Scotiabank Gold American Express | $940 | $940 | $2,819 |
| Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite | $1,184 | $764 | $2,713 |
| CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite | $1,087 | $767 | $2,620 |
| BMO eclipse Visa Infinite | $922 | $682 | $2,285 |
| PC Financial PC World Elite Mastercard | $619 | $619 | $1,858 |
| Rogers Bank Red World Elite Mastercard | $603 | $603 | $1,809 |
| CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite | $1,089 | $350 | $1,788 |
| American Express Gold Rewards Card | $995 | $395 | $1,786 |
Frequently asked questions
Why are Year 1 and Year 2+ so different?
Year 1 adds the welcome bonus, any first-year fee waiver, one-time credits and intro APR savings. From year 2 a card only has what it earns on your spending and its ongoing credits, minus the full annual fee. A card that ranks first in year 1 can be an average card after that.
Which Canadian card is worth the most for a typical family?
On the family preset ($3,350 a month, points redeemed as cash), American Express SimplyCash Preferred is worth the most over 3 years at $3,058. From year 2, Scotiabank Gold American Express earns the most, $940 a year after fees. Your own spending can change the order, so set it above.
How are points and miles valued?
By how you redeem them. Cash back counts each point at its cash value; travel uses the issuer's own travel booking; transfer partners use published valuations: American Express Membership Rewards (Canada) 2.2 cents, RBC Avion 2 cents. Choose "set point values myself" to slide every program between its low and high value and see the ranking change.
Which cards are mostly their welcome bonus?
On the family preset, 2 cards get more than 60% of their 3-year value in year 1: CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite, American Express Platinum Card. They're marked "Mostly welcome bonus" in the table.
How are statement credits counted?
At the share a typical cardholder uses, not face value: a broad travel credit counts nearly in full, a monthly credit at one merchant counts at a third or less. Each card page lists the share used for every credit, and you can count all, half or none of them instead.
Do you show approval odds?
No. Approval depends on your credit file and the issuer's rules, which we can't see. Values assume you're approved for the card as advertised.
Sources
Estimates for information only; not tax, legal or financial advice. See our methodology.