Ranking of the best credit cards in Canada in 2023

Updated Apr 1, 2026

Discover our ranking of the best credit cards in Canada, designed to help you choose the ideal option based on your financial needs, whether for rewards, cash back, or advantageous interest rates.

2023 Ranking en 1

We present our ranking of the best credit cards in Canada in 2023.

You can find our methodology here.

2023 Awards Summary

Best Credit Cards For Everyday Life

In 2022-2023, the economic context profoundly changed consumer habits. In an inflationary environment, Canadians are looking for products that can help them save money on expenses such as groceries, gas, recurring bills or drugstore purchases.

The credit cards below all stood out in 2022 in their respective categories for offering more to their cardholders than their competitors. These are the ones we have selected as the best credit cards in Canada in 2023 for everyday life.

Best cash back credit card

Best cash back credit card

The CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card is the best cash back credit card in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • High cash back for common merchants: 4% on groceries and gas, 2% on transit, restaurants, and recurring bill payments, and 1% everywhere else
  • Statement credit available for as little as $25 cash back
  • Accepted at almost every retailer

Best No-Fee Cash Back Credit Card

Best no-fee cash back credit card

The Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card is the best no-annual-fee cash back credit card in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • Choice of two to three 2% earning categories from a list of 10 categories
  • The minimum cash back redemption amount is $1
  • Accepted at almost every retailer
  • No annual fee

Best credit card for everyday spending

Best Everyday Spending Credit Card

The MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® is the best credit card for everyday spending in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • 5 points per dollar for restaurants, groceries, digital media, subscriptions, and household utilities
  • Ease of redeeming points for a statement credit
  • Insurance
  • Accepted in all stores

Best Credit Card For Groceries

Best Grocery Credit Card

The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card is the best credit card for groceries in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • 6 points per dollar at IGA or Sobeys and 5 points per dollar at other grocery stores
  • Flexible rewards
  • No Foreign Transaction Fee
  • Full travel insurance

Best Credit Card For Gas And Transit

Best Gas and Transit Credit Card

The BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* is the best credit card for gas and transit in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • High cash back earning rate on everyday purchases: 5% on groceries, 4% on transit, 3% on gas and electric vehicle charging, 2% on recurring bills, and 1% on all other purchases.
  • The minimum cash back redemption amount is $1
  • Roadside assistance
  • Accepted at almost every retailer worldwide

Best Credit Card For Drugstores

Best drugstore credit card

The American Express® Gold Rewards Card is the best credit card for drugstores in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • 2 points per dollar on drugstore purchases
  • Flexible Rewards
  • Travel Partners (American Express Membership Rewards program)
  • No minimum income required

Best credit card for online purchases

Best Online Shopping Credit Card

The HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard® is the best credit card for online shopping in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • No annual fee
  • 1.5% cash back for online purchases
  • Insurance for Your Purchases
  • Accepted at almost every retailer

Best Credit Card For Dining

Best restaurant credit card

The American Express Cobalt® Card is the best credit card for restaurants in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • 5% cash back for restaurants, bars and home food delivery
  • Cash back as Statement Credit from 1,000 points accumulated ($10)
  • No minimum income required

Best Balance Transfer Credit Card

Best balance transfer credit card

The CIBC Select Visa* Card is the best credit card for balance transfers in 2023 in Canada:

  • Recurring offer of 0% interest on balance transfers for up to 10 months, subject to a 1% transfer fee.

Best Low-Interest Credit Card

Best Low Interest Rate Credit Card

The HSBC +Rewards™ Mastercard® is the best low-interest credit card in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • Low annual interest rate on purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers of 11.9%
  • 1 to 2 points per dollar of purchases (= 0.5 to 1% in travel rewards)
  • Accepted at almost every retailer worldwide

Best Prepaid Credit Card

Best prepaid credit card

The KOHO Premium Prepaid Mastercard is the best prepaid credit card in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • Cash back for everyday purchases: 2% on transit, groceries, and restaurants
  • No Foreign Transaction Fee
  • No credit check
  • No minimum income required

Best Travel Credit Cards

Since 2022, after two years of the pandemic, Canadians have been looking forward to getting away from it all: travel has resumed in earnest. But here too, the context has changed: we’ve noticed that travellers are looking for greater comfort, insurance and savings.

Credit cards offering airport lounge access, travel credits for enhanced comfort, insurance coverage for unforeseen events, or no foreign transaction fees have stood out in this ranking.

Since 2022, we have seen unprecedented welcome offers to equip travelers with payment solutions! Here are the best travel rewards credit cards in Canada in 2023.

Best Travel Credit Card

Best travel credit card

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard® is the best credit card for travel in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • Generous insurance coverage for travel and everyday purchases
  • Award-winning customer service
  • Up to $150 in annual travel credits
  • Accepted at almost every retailer worldwide

Best Flexible Travel Rewards Credit Card

Best flexible rewards credit card

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card is the best credit card for flexible rewards in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • Flexible Rewards
  • RBC Program Travel Partners Avion Rewards Partners: American Airlines, British Airways/Qatar Airways, WestJet, Cathay Pacific
  • Travel insurance
  • Accepted at almost every retailer worldwide

Best No-FX Fee Credit Card

Best no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card

The HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® is the best no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • Earning rate on travel purchases (6 points per dollar or 3%)
  • No Foreign Transaction Fee
  • $100 Annual Travel Credit
  • Flexible Rewards
  • Accepted at almost every retailer worldwide

Best Credit Card For Travel Insurance

Best Travel Insurance Credit Card

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard® is the best credit card for travel insurance in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • Generous insurance coverage for travel and everyday purchases
  • Award-winning customer service
  • Up to $150 in annual travel credits
  • Accepted at almost every retailer worldwide

Best no-annual-fee travel credit card

Best no-fee travel credit card

The American Express® Green Card is the best no-annual-fee travel credit card in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • Ease of point redemption
  • Travel Partners (American Express Membership Rewards program)
  • Flexibility in reward choices
  • No minimum income required

Best Hotel Credit Card

Best Hotel Credit Card

The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card is the best credit card for hotels in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • Points can be used at over 8,000 hotels worldwide
  • Annual free night certificate offered each year upon Card renewal
  • Rewards offered within the Marriott Bonvoy program (status and accelerated point accumulation)
  • No minimum income required

Best Premium Credit Card

Best Premium Credit Card

The American Express Platinum Card® is the best premium credit card in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • Access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
  • Status offered by several hotel loyalty programs
  • Reserved benefits at renowned hotels and restaurants
  • Flexible Rewards
  • Travel Partners (American Express Membership Rewards program)
  • Full travel insurance
  • No minimum income required

Best Credit Card For Frequent Flyers

Best frequent traveler credit card

The American Express®* Aeroplan® Reserve Card is the best credit card for frequent travelers in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • Air Canada benefits such as access to Maple Leaf lounges
  • Benefits for Aeroplan Status
  • Highest point earning rate for Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations purchases
  • Travel insurance

Best Credit Cards By Customer Profile

Every consumer profile is different, and evolves from year to year as needs change.

This year, thanks to the feedback we’ve received from members of the Milesopedia community, we’ve decided to refine our ranking to better suit each type of profile.

For example:

  • Students will need a card that saves them money on their day-to-day expenses and offers them benefits designed specifically for them;
  • Young professionals who do not yet have a high enough income to qualify for certain credit cards but are still looking to benefit more will be offered certain types of attractive products;
  • Families will have special needs for groceries, entertainment and travel (for example cards offering points applicable to Airbnb spending);
  • Snowbirds will need credit cards with no currency conversion fees;
  • etc.

This ranking also lists the best cards for entrepreneurs.

Here are the best credit cards in Canada in 2023 by customer profile.

Best Credit Card For Students

Best Student Credit Card

The CIBC Dividend® Visa* Card for Students is the best credit card for students in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • Cash back earning categories for everyday purchases
  • Free registration in the SPC program with student discounts
  • Insurance coverage
  • Accepted at almost every retailer
  • No minimum income required
  • No annual fee

Best Credit Card For Young Professionals

Best Young Professional Credit Card

The American Express Cobalt® Card is the best credit card for young professionals in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • Earning categories
  • Flexible Rewards
  • Travel Partners (American Express Membership Rewards program)
  • No minimum income required

Best credit card for families

Best Family Credit Card

The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card is the best credit card for families in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • 6 points per dollar at IGA or Sobeys and 5 points at other grocery stores
  • 5 points per dollar for entertainment and restaurants
  • 3 points per dollar for streaming services like Netflix or Disney+.
  • 3 points per dollar for gas and public transportation
  • Flexible rewards
  • No Foreign Transaction Fee
  • Full travel insurance

Best credit card for newcomers

Best Newcomer Credit Card

The NBC mycredit Mastercard is the best credit card for newcomers in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • Specific approval criteria from National Bank of Canada for Newcomers and its free 12-month support service on various topics: daily life, legal, housing, personal finance, and immigration
  • 1% cash back at restaurants and on recurring pre-authorized debits and 0.5% everywhere else
  • Accepted at almost every retailer worldwide
  • No annual fee

Best credit card for Snowbirds

Best snowbird credit card

The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card is the Best credit card for Snowbirds in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • No Foreign Transaction Fee
  • Generous insurance coverage
  • 6 annual airport lounge visits
  • Acceptance at merchants worldwide (including Costco in the United States)

Best credit card for startups

Best startup credit card

The American Express Business Edge™ Card is the best credit card for startups in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • Point accumulation categories for common business purchases: 3% for office supplies, electronics purchases, transit, gas, restaurants and bars, and 1% everywhere else
  • Cash back as Statement Credit from 1,000 points accumulated ($10)
  • Low Annual Fee for a Business Card

Best credit card for businesses

Best Business Credit Card

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is the best credit card for businesses in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • Access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
  • Travel Partners (American Express Membership Rewards program)
  • Cardholder benefits at renowned hotels and restaurants
  • Full travel insurance

Best credit cards according to the Milesopedia network

Milesopedia has significant monthly traffic both on its website (Milesopedia.com) and on its subdomains, which are used by our affiliate partners through our white-label credit card comparison tool. Thanks to this highly qualified traffic – since we’re talking about consumers looking for a financial product – we’re able to determine which credit cards are the most frequently consulted and, ultimately, the most subscribed to throughout our “Milesopedia network”.

We have decided to divide this part of the ranking based on the 3 main rewards programs in Canada and the 3 main credit card networks.

Here is the ranking of the best credit cards in Canada in 2023 according to the Milesopedia network (Milesopedia.com and affiliated partners).

Best Aeroplan credit card

Best Aeroplan Credit Card

The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is the best Aeroplan credit card in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • Air Canada Benefits for Cardholders
  • Rewards earned with everyday purchases
  • Insurance when using Aeroplan points
  • Accepted at almost every retailer

Best AIR MILES credit card

Best AIR MILES Credit Card

The BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard is the best AIR MILES credit card in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • AIR MILES benefits offered to Cardholders when booking flight rewards
  • Rewards earned with everyday purchases (AIR MILES partners)
  • Full travel insurance
  • Accepted at almost every retailer

Best Scene+ Credit Card

Best Scene+ credit card

The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card is the best Scene+ credit card in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • 6 points per dollar at IGA or Sobeys
  • Flexible rewards
  • No Foreign Transaction Fee
  • Full travel insurance

Best American Express Credit Card

Best American Express Credit Card

The American Express Cobalt® Card is the best American Express credit card in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • Earning categories
  • 5 points per dollar for restaurants and food delivery (equivalent to 5%)
  • Flexible Rewards
  • Travel Partners (American Express Membership Rewards program)
  • No minimum income required

Best Mastercard Credit Card

Best Mastercard Credit Card

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard® is the best Mastercard credit card in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • Generous insurance coverage for travel and everyday purchases
  • Up to 5 points per dollar for your purchases
  • Up to $150 in annual travel credits
  • Accepted at almost every retailer worldwide

Best Visa Credit Card

Best Visa credit card

The CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card is the Best Visa credit card in 2023 in Canada for these reasons:

  • 4 annual accesses to airport lounges
  • NEXUS Membership credit
  • Up to 2 Aventura points per dollar
  • Generous insurance coverage
  • Accepted at almost every retailer worldwide

Methodology

Since 2015, on Milesopedia, we’ve been analyzing nearly 200 credit cards available to Canadians. You can find them in our credit card comparison tool. This comparison tool has been taken over by Protégez-Vous, confirming the credibility of our data.

In addition to our studies, we are also credit card users: we have – or have had – most of these credit cards in our wallets. This allows us to confirm or deny theoretical information through practice. Finally, we analyze the feedback from tens of thousands of credit card holders who share their experiences within the Milesopedia Community about each of these products.

Every month, we update our rankings of the best credit card offers, so that Canadians can find the best credit card deal for their needs.

A credit card offer may be excellent at some times of the year, but less so at others: That’s why it’s essential to stay updated on current offers – especially via our weekly newsletter.

On this page, we will not talk about offers but rather an evaluation based on the overall characteristics of each credit card. Several factors are thus considered to choose the best credit card in 2023 in Canada by category such as:

  • Rewards earned on purchases (points, miles or cash back)
  • Benefits offered (lounge access, concierge, annual credit, etc.)
  • Insurance coverage (travel, purchases, etc.)
  • Fees (annual fee, currency conversion fee, balance transfer fee, additional card fee, etc.)
  • Travel Partners
  • Card acceptance in Canada and abroad
  • Income requirements
  • Usage statistics of our sub-affiliated partners’ credit card comparison tools (over 1 million cumulative monthly visits)
  • Feedback from thousands of readers and cardholders who share their experiences with us in the Milesopedia Community

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