Canada’s Best Credit Card Offers – April 2025

Updated Apr 2, 2025

Discover Canada’s best credit card offers, specially selected to maximize your financial benefits. Compare rewards, annual fees, benefits and insurance to make the ideal choice for your needs.

Credit cards - The best

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Privilege Card, you’ll receive up to 80,000 Scene+ points (a value of $800):

  • 30,000 points by making at least $3,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months.
  • 30,000 bonus Scene+ points when you spend at least $20,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 6 months.
  • 20,000 bonus Scene+ points when you make at least one eligible purchase that is posted to your new Account during the 14th month after the month the Account was opened.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Privilege Card, you earn:

  • 3X the Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on eligible travel purchases.
  • 2X the Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on eligible dining and entertainment.
  • 1X the Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on all other eligible purchases.

Including on foreign purchases, with no foreign transaction fees.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Privilege Card is an excellent Visa credit card for this type of purchase.

These points can be used against any travel purchase at the rate of1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb). You can also redeem your points for cash back at Scene+, for example, at your local grocery store checkout at the same rate of 1,000 points = $10.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Privilege Card also offers:

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 10 complimentary airport lounge visits per year
  • $250 annual travel credit
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Concierge service
Learn More
Best No-FX Fee Credit Card In 2024

Your luxury experience starts with 80,000 Scene+ points

That’s up to $800 in value for your travels.

Rewards your way, with Scene+

  • Earn 3X the Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on eligible travel purchases. Plus, earn an extra 3X the points on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do when you book through Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia.
  • Earn 2X the Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on eligible dining and entertainment.
  • Plus, earn 1X the Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on all other eligible purchases.

$250 annual travel credit

If you’re the primary cardholder, each year you’ll get a $250 statement credit on your first travel booking with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia. This applies to flights, hotels, car rentals, and travel packages anywhere in the world.

Say goodbye to FX fees

Say goodbye to foreign transaction fees with the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card. Whether you’re shopping online or abroad, you’ll never pay a foreign transaction fee on foreign currency purchases.

Enjoy 10 complimentary airport lounge visits per year

With the Visa Airport Companion Program, you and each of your additional cardholders get access to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide. This includes 10 free lounge visits per year. Plus, you get exclusive airport dining and retail offers.

Exclusive airport perks

Save time and money with priority security and taxi lanes, discounted valet parking, and dedicated parking.

Upgrade your next getaway at Relais & Châteaux properties

As a Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite Privilege* cardholder, you’re eligible for premium benefits at over 200 Relais & Châteaux properties around the world.

Explore the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection

Enjoy 7 special benefits at over 900 hotels and an 8th exciting benefit at over 200 participating hotels, hand-selected for Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite Privilege* cardholders.

Feel at home, anywhere you go

Get exclusive benefits at over 60 Sandman, Sandman Signature, and Sutton Place Hotels across Canada with Visa RSVP Rewards.

Become an Avis®* President’s Club member

Spend less time in line and more time on the road with a complimentary yearly Avis President’s Club membership. This includes two car-class upgrades and the option to skip the line and go straight to your car at most Avis®* locations.

Comprehensive Travel Insurance coverage

  • Travel Emergency Medical Insurance
  • Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance
  • Flight delay insurance
  • Lost Baggage and Delayed Baggage Insurance
  • Rental Car Collision Loss/Damage Insurance
  • Hotel Burglary Insurance
  • Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
  • Mobile Device Insurance
  • Purchase Security Extended Warranty Protection
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*Conditions apply. Rates, fees and other information are effective as of January 3, 2025. Subject to change.

Earning Rate
  • Travel3Scene+ points
  • Air Canada3Scene+ points
  • Dining and Food delivery2Scene+ points
Value
  • Year 1 $1,144
  • Year 2+ $344
Best For
Transfer Partners
  • Scene+

Advantages

  • Annual Credit
  • VIP Lounges
  • Concierge
  • Wifi
  • Travel credit

Travel Insurance

Insurance Name
Included
Amount
Duration
Travel Medical Insurance
Travel medical insurance up to 54 years old
$5,000,000
31 day(s)
Travel medical insurance up to 64 years old
$5,000,000
31 day(s)
Travel medical insurance 65+
$5,000,000
10 day(s)
Trip Cancellation Insurance
$2,500
Trip Interruption Insurance
$5,000
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$500,000
Flight Delay Insurance
$1,000
Delayed Baggage Insurance
$1,000
Lost/Stolen Baggage Insurance
$2,500
Auto Rental Loss/Insurance
$65,000
48 day(s)
Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance
$2,500

Best Small Business Credit Cards

Here are the best Canadian business credit card offers of the month.

For more information on setting up a business in Canada and choosing your credit card, please read our Canadian business’s credit cards page.

Best Prepaid Credit Cards

Here are the best prepaid credit card offers in Canada this month.

About Credit Cards

How to choose a credit card in Canada

To choose a credit card in Canada, you need to know what you are looking for (and what you can get depending on your situation):

  • What is your income?
  • Rewards?
  • Benefits?
  • Insurance?
  • No-fee?
  • Low-interest?

You will then be able to choose the right credit card for you. To help you go through this, we compare more than 200 credit cards in Canada and rank them into nearly 30 categories.

Income required by credit cards in Canada

In Canada, credit card issuers generally require a minimum income to apply for a credit card.

It is a request from networks(American Express, Mastercard, Visa):

  • American Express: no minimum income – $12,000
  • Mastercard: $15,000 – $60,000 – $80,000
  • Visa: $15,000 – $60,000 – $200,000

As you can see, if your income is not high, your best chances to get a credit card is through the American Express network (American Express Canada or Scotiabank).

And if you are a student, there are student credit cards adapted to your situation.

This information can be found on every credit card page on milesopedia.

Also, if you are not an employee, you may qualify for one of the many credit card offers for self-employed, professionals or small business owners!

Credit cards rewards in Canada

There are three types of credit card rewards in Canada:

  • Cash back: the simplest way to go with a monthly/yearly credit to your credit card bill
  • Travel: all issuers offer travel reward cards. This category also includes airline programs such as Aeroplan or hotel programs such as Marriott Bonvoy. And some credit cards even allow you to use your points for Airbnb rentals.
  • Flexible: with some credit cards, you can redeem your points for cash back, travel rewards, or you can transfer them to other airline or hotel programs.

Credit card benefits in Canada

Credit cards in Canada often come with many benefits such as:

  • Zero liability guarantee in case of fraud
  • Pending transactions for car rentals, hotel bookings, etc.
  • Access to funds anywhere in the around the world
  • Contactless transactions
  • And more!

And travel benefits such as free wi-fi access with some Mastercard credit cards or VIP airport lounge passes!

Credit cards insurance in Canada

Most credit cards offer insurance for your purchases or travel. Generally, the higher the annual fee, the better the insurance.

For example, here are the insurances offered by the National Bank World Elite Mastercard, one of the best credit cards in Canada for insurance:

  • Out-of-province hospital insurance
  • Flight Cancellation
  • Trip Interruption Insurance
  • Flight delay
  • Baggage insurance in case of delay
  • Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance
  • Vehicle rental insurance
  • Theft of Personal Effects
  • Insurance against theft or breakage
  • Possibility of tripling the manufacturer’s warranty

Credit card annual fees in Canada

We generally advise you to start with a no-fee credit card. And to keep it as long as possible to help improve your credit score.

But you’ll soon realize that for rewards and benefits, it’s worth paying a credit card fee. You’ll earn more points as a welcome bonus, and for every purchase you charge to your card.

Take advantage of some credit card welcome offers waiving the first-year annual fee!

Credit card interest rates in Canada

Before earning rewards, it’s best to pay no interest on your credit card. For your information, here are the three types of credit card interest rates to be aware of:

  • Purchase interest rate: to pay your credit card balance, you have a grace period of 21 to 55 days, depending on the credit cards. If you pay only the minimum amount required, the interest rate shown will be calculated from the date of your purchases. Some issuers offer low-interest credit cards.
  • Cash Advance Interest Rate: This is the interest rate applied to ATM withdrawals made with your credit card.
  • Balance Transfer Interest Rate: This is the interest rate applied if you choose to transfer your credit balance from another institution to your credit card . Some credit cards have promotional balance transfer interest rates.

How we choose the credit card offers in our rankings

Each day, we analyze more than 200 credit card offers in Canada. We calculate the value you can get the first year with:

  • the welcome offer in points or cash rewards
  • the benefits coming with the credit card (statement credit, VIP airport lounge passes, etc)

Each rewards program offers points having a different value than the others. So, to simplify your search for a credit card in Canada, we evaluate each program to indicate a fair value, in Canadian dollars, for each type of point.

We update this value regularly: you can find it on each reward program page and the home page of milesopedia.

On this page, you’ll find the best credit card offers in Canada at the moment, by category, ranked according to the value of the offer.

For more suggestions, you can browse through each category or compare credit card offers with our search engine. This credit card search engine has many filters (network, issuer, reward type, loyalty program, annual fee, income, value, audience) to help you find the best credit card for your needs!

Frequently asked questions about the best credit cards in Canada

Here are some frequently asked questions in the milesopedia community about credit cards in Canada.

How can I avoid paying a credit card interest rate?

Here are some ways to avoid paying a credit card interest rate:

  1. Pay off your balance in full each month: If you pay off your balance in full each month, you won’t have to pay interest on your credit card debt.
  2. Use a zero-interest credit card: Some credit cards offer zero-interest rates for a limited time. If you are able to pay off your debt before the end of this period, you will not have to pay any interest rate.
  3. Transfer your debt to a zero-interest credit card: If you have high-interest debt on another credit card, you can transfer it to a zero-interest credit card to avoid paying interest. However, there is usually a balance transfer fee associated with this option.
  4. Negotiate a lower interest rate with your credit card issuer: If you have a good credit history and are a good customer for your credit card issuer, you can try to negotiate a lower interest rate.

How can I avoid paying credit card cash advance fees?

Here are some ways to avoid paying credit card cash advance fees:

  1. Avoid using the cash advance option: If you need cash quickly, it may be tempting to use the cash advance option on your credit card. However, this option usually comes with high fees and interest rates, so it’s best to avoid it if possible.
  2. Use a personal loan or line of credit: If you need cash, you may want to consider taking out a personal loan or opening a line of credit. These options can often offer better interest rates and fees than a cash advance on a credit card.
  3. Use a credit card that does not charge a cash advance fee: Some credit cards do not charge a cash advance fee. If you use such a card, you will not have to pay any additional fees when you use the cash advance option.
  4. Ask a friend or family member for financial help: If you need emergency cash, you can try asking a friend or family member for financial help. This option may be less expensive than advancing funds on a credit card.
  5. Use a savings account: If you have a savings account, you can try to withdraw money from it instead of using the cash advance option on your credit card. This option may be less expensive in the long run, although it may require some planning in the short term.

What is credit card cash back?

Credit card cash back is a reward offered by some credit cards that consists of a percentage of each purchase made with the card that is credited to the cardholder’s account. Cash back can be used to reduce the balance on the credit card or paid into a bank account.

Credit card cash back is typically offered on rewards credit cards, which are cards that offer rewards in the form of points or cash back for each purchase made with the card. Cash back rates generally range from 1% to 5% depending on the card and the type of purchase.

There are several ways to maximize credit card cash back. You can use your credit card to make purchases that offer higher cash back rates, or you can use your credit card to make purchases on which you already have a good price to get an additional reward. You can also try consolidating your purchases on one credit card to maximize the cash back you receive.

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