Best credit cards by category
The best credit cards offers of the month
In September 2020, six offers stand out from the competition by:
- offering more points, miles or cash back
- or a simple bonus you can get after the first purchase
HSBC World Elite® Mastercard®
The HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® is a great credit card with no foreign transaction fees, especially for travel purchases.
For a limited time, you can get:
- Quebec: up to 130,000 points (or $650) with no minimum spend requirement
- Outside Quebec: up to 100,000 points ($550) after $5,000 in Card purchases in 6 months and a First-Year Annual Fee Rebate
With the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard®,you earn:
- 6 points per dollar for travel purchases (flights, hotels, Airbnb, all-inclusive, etc.)
- 3 points per dollar for all other purchases
It’s a 1% to 3% value depending on your purchases!
You can apply your points on any travel purchase charged to your HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® (flights, hotels, Airbnb, all-inclusive, etc.). But you can also transfer your points to three airline loyalty programs: British Airways Executive Club, Asia Miles and Singapore Airlines Krisflyer.
Finally, with the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® you get:
- $100 annual travel credit (for airport lounges, for example)
- Unlimited access to Boingo WiFi hotspots around the world
- 10% discount for hotel bookings on Expedia or Agoda
- Premium insurance for your travels and purchases
Finally, the HSBC World Elite Mastercard does not charge any conversion fees for foreign exchange transactions: you save 2.5% for each transaction.
And it’s one of the best credit cards for Costco, earning 3 points per dollar there.
TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you earn 1.5 miles for every $1 spent on purchases for:
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you can earn up to 25,000 Aeroplan Miles:
- 15,000 Aeroplan Miles when you make your first Purchase with your Card
- 10,000 additional Aeroplan Miles (different rules depending on your province of residence)
- Plus, an Annual Fee Rebate for the Primary Cardholder (instead of $120)
- An Annual Fee Rebate for the 1st Additional Cardholder (instead of $50)
For Quebec Residents only: To receive the additional 10,000 Aeroplan Miles, you must keep your Account open, active and in good standing for 90 days after Account opening. Learn more and apply here.
For Residents outside of Quebec: To receive the additional 10,000 Aeroplan Miles, you must make $1,500 in Purchases on your Account, including your first Purchase, within 90 days of Account opening. Learn more and apply here.
Apply by November 7, 2020 to get an Annual Fee Rebate for the Primary and 1st Additional Cardholder for the first year!
American Express Cobalt™ Card
The American Express Cobalt™ Card is the best American Express Credit Card.
With the American Express Cobalt™ Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:
| Category | Points per dollar |
| Groceries | 5 |
| Food delivery | 5 |
| Restaurants and bars | 5 |
| Convenience stores | 5 |
| Gas station | 2 |
| Transportation | 2 |
| Travel | 2 |
| Other | 1 |
You can get up to 30,000 Membership Rewards Points as a Welcome Bonus, that’s a $300 value. You can earn 2,500 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $500 in net purchases on your Card.
So, if each month you spend $500 in the 5x categories, you could get up to 60,000 points or $600 during the first year! You can redeem your points in statement credits towards travel purchases, or even on your everyday purchases. Or you can transfer your points to Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors.
Besides, this Card provides premium insurance :
- Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance
- Baggage delay insurance
- Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance
- Flight delay insurance
- $250,000 Travel Accident Insurance
- Hotel or motel burglary insurance
- Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan
- Purchase Protection Guarantee
Best Western Rewards Mastercard
If you’re looking for a credit card with no annual fee but with a welcome bonus, the Best Western Rewards® Mastercard is the card for you!
You earn 20,000 Best Western points after your first purchase! It can get you at least one free hotel night.
With this card you earn:
- 5 points per dollar at Best Western properties
- 1 point per dollar anywhere else, including Costco
Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express® Card is the best credit card for free hotel nights.
You can earn 50,000 Welcome Bonus points, enough for several free hotel nights at one of the 7,000 Marriott Bonvoy properties around the world. And you can earn 2 points per dollar on all your purchases.
Besides, you will receive an Annual Free Night Award after your anniversary each year (35,000 points value) and 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year, counting for your Marriott Bonvoy status.
Finally, this Card has reliable insurance:
- Baggage delay insurance
- Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance
- $500,000 Travel Accident Insurance
- Flight delay insurance
- Hotel or motel burglary insurance
- Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance
- Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan
- Purchase Protection Guarantee
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card only requires a $12,000 minimum income and is therefore accessible to as many people as possible.
For a limited time, you can get 25,000 points after $1,000 in credit card purchases, which is a $250 value for travels including Airbnb rentals.
With the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card,you earn 5 points per dollar for:
- Grocery stores
- Restaurants
- Entertainment
You can redeem your points on travel purchases (flights, hotels, all-inclusive and even Airbnb).
Scotiabank’s American Express Gold Card also offers:
- no foreign currency transactions fee
- Premium insurance for your travels or purchases
- Concierge services
- Exclusive Benefits American Express (Front of the Line Program)
BMO® AIR MILES® MasterCard®
With the BMO® AIR MILES® Mastercard®*, you get 950 Bonus Miles after $1,000 in Card purchases, which has a $110 value, including minimum expenses. Besides, it’s a no-annual-fee credit card.
With the BMO® AIR MILES® Mastercard®*, you get 1 mile for every $20 you spend, Costco included.
And until December 31, 2020, you get 5x the Miles at Shell!
If you already have this credit card, you could get the same welcome offer for one of these no-annual-fee BMO AIR MILES credit cards:
SimplyCash™ Preferred from American Express
SimplyCash™ Preferred from American Express is one of the only credit cards in Canada to earn a 2% cashback on all purchases. And there’s no limit to how much cash back you can earn!
Besides, with this welcome offer, you earn 10% cashback in your first 4 months (up to $400 cash back).
This Card stands out for its premium insurance:
- Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance
- $100,000 travel accident insurance
- Emergency medical insurance (outside the province or country)
- Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance
- Flight delay insurance and misdirected baggage
- Hotel or motel burglary insurance
- Purchase Protection® Plan
- Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan
Other great offers
Frequent Asked Questions about credit cards
Here are frequently asked questions in the milesopedia community about credit cards in Canada.
What is the best credit card in Canada?
There are more than 200 credit cards in Canada. There is no “one best credit card” in Canada.
Several credit cards can match your needs:
What is the best American Express credit card in Canada?
There are more than 30 American Express credit cards in Canada. Check out our best American Express Credit Cards page.
What is the best Mastercard credit card in Canada?
There are more than 90 Mastercard credit cards in Canada. Check out our Best Mastercard Credit Cards page.
What is the best Visa credit card in Canada?
There are more than 80 Visa credit cards in Canada. Check out our Best Visa Credit Cards page.