The Best Credit cards For Beginners
These credit cards are perfect for beginners.
It is therefore advised to keep a card like that, year after year, to improve your credit history.
Here is a table summarizing the different offers. For more details, read on or click on the name of a card.
American Express Cobalt™ Card
The American Express Cobalt™ Card is the best American Express Credit Card.
You can get a welcome bonus of up to 45,000 Membership Rewards points, that’s a $450 value:
- 2,500 points per month for the first 12 months, when you charge $500 to your Card each month
- 15,000 additional points when you charge $3,000 to your Card within the first 3 months
Considering the minimum spend requirement in the first 12 months, this is a $705 value in the first year! Read this post for more details.
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.
With the American Express Cobalt™ Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:
| Category | Points per dollar |
| Grocery | 5 |
| Food delivery | 5 |
| Restaurants and bars | 5 |
| Convenience stores | 5 |
| Gas station | 2 |
| Gas & Transit | 2 |
| Travel | 2 |
| Other | 1 |
Besides, this Card provides premium insurance: Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance, Baggage delay, Lost or Stolen Baggage, Flight delay, $250,000 Travel Accident, Hotel or motel burglary, Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan, Purchase Protection Guarantee.
SimplyCash™ from American Express
Would you like a cashback credit card with no-annual-fee and a high earning rate on all your purchases? Here is an option for you: SimplyCash™ from American Express.
With this Card, you earn a 1.25% cashback on all purchases.
Besides, during the first 6 months, you can get a 2.5% cash back, up to $150, with the SimplyCash™ from American Express.
And you’ll get insurance with it: $100,000 travel accident insurance, Purchase Protection® Plan, Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan.
BMO® AIR MILES® MasterCard®
With this exclusive offer for the BMO® AIR MILES® Mastercard®*, you earn 1,500 AIR MILES Bonus Miles after $1,000 in Card purchases, representing a $150 cash value. Besides, it’s a no-annual-fee credit card.
With the BMO® AIR MILES® Mastercard®*, you get 3x the Miles for every $25 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners. And 1 mile for every $25 you spend, Costco included.
Choice Card from American Express™
Would you like a travel rewards credit card with no annual fee? Here is an option for you: the Choice Card from American Express™.
By applying for the Choice Card from American Express™, you could earn a welcome bonus of 12,500 Membership Rewards points after $1,250 in Card purchases in the first three months. That’s a $125 value for travel or 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
With this no-fee Credit Card, you will also have access to online promotional offers to get points or rebates on your purchases.
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, Lost or Stolen Baggage, $500,000 Travel Accident, Flight delay, Hotel or motel burglary, Car Rental Theft and Damage, 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
MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard®
The MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard® is one of the best credit cards with no annual fee in Canada.
With this card, you earn 2 points per dollar on some purchases:
- gas
- grocery stores
- restaurants
One caveat: there is a $5,000 max annual spend per category. And 1 point per dollar everywhere else.
For a limited time, you can get 10,000 welcome bonus points, a $100 value on travel purchases charged to your Card.
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.