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The PC Optimum program offers Canadian consumers a unified platform to earn and redeem PC Optimum points at over 2,500 locations across the country.
With over 15 million active members, this rewards program allows you to save on your everyday purchases at Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart, Esso, and several other participating retailers. Members can accumulate points on their purchases and redeem them for discounts of up to several hundred dollars per transaction.
To start enjoying the program, you must first obtain your Optimum Maxi card or PC Optimum card. Registration is free and can be done in three ways:
Once you have your card, activation is done simply by creating your PC account online with your email address.
Registering your card is essential to access all the program features. Go to the website or download the PC Optimum app, create your account with a valid email address, then enter the unique number of your physical card. This step will allow you to check your balance, access personalized offers, and manage your preferences.
In February 2018, Loblaw Companies Limited revolutionized the Canadian loyalty program landscape by merging PC Plus and Shoppers Optimum. This strategic merger created the current PC Optimum program, allowing members to benefit from the advantages of both previous programs without losing their accumulated points. Shoppers Optimum cardholders were able to automatically transfer their points to the new unified platform.
A major change is coming in 2026: EQB, owner of EQ Bank, will acquire PC Financial and become the exclusive financial partner of the program. This transition promises to bring even more benefits and ways to accumulate points for Canadian members.
The PC Optimum program is run by the Loblaws supermarket chain, and offers the chance to earn points through purchases of products under the “President’s Choice” banner.
PC members can now earn and redeem PC Optimum points at various stores. This includes popular brands such as Real Canadian Superstore, Loblaws, and many other Loblaw-affiliated retailers, as well as Maxi, Provigo, Shoppers Drug Mart, Joe Fresh, Esso and Mobil in Quebec.
The PC Optimum program has rapidly gained in popularity since its launch. Today, it boasts over 10 million members in Canada, testifying to its relevance and added value for Canadian consumers.
As a loyal buyer, you can access personalized and exclusive offers visible on optimum.ca or the Optimum PC application. To download the application, go to Google Play or Apple.
To register and create your account, you must provide some personal information, such as an e-mail address and your name. You can link your unique identification number if you already have a card in the store. The application is easy to use, and you can add offers to your favorites. Thanks to the application, you can optimize your savings according to the products you buy.
The primary way to earn PC Optimum points is to make purchases at participating stores and present your PC Optimum card. Each purchase earns you PC Optimum points, which can be exchanged for rewards. From time to time, special promotions are organized, offering members the chance to earn bonus points. It’s a good idea to keep an eye out for these offers to maximize your earnings.
However, it is recommended to combine your membership in this loyalty program with a subscription to one of the President’s Choice Financial credit cards. This action will allow you to optimize your spending and quickly multiply your points.
Here are the different ways to accumulate and maximize your PC Optimum points.
Since the PC Optimum program was originally the Shoppers Optimum program, it’s not surprising that some of the best ways to earn and redeem points are offered by Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix.
With your PC Optimum card, you can earn a base rate of 15 points per dollar spent at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix locations across the country.
In addition to the regular PC Optimum earning rate, Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix also offers promotional offers and special earning events throughout the year, such as the famous 20x the points events.
By timing your major purchases and product stockpiling with these events, you have the opportunity to quickly accumulate a large number of points.
It’s a good idea to regularly check the PC Optimum app to stay informed about personalized PC Optimum program offers that give you bonus points on specific items or even free items.
Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix typically offers bonus points if you sign up for promotional emails or text messages and spend a certain amount.
While this is a one-time offer and you must spend money to earn these points, it’s an easy way to increase your account balance.
Discover our best tips to save at Shoppers Drug Mart with the PC Optimum program.
You can earn PC Optimum points at the following grocery stores in Canada:
While you don’t accumulate points based on amounts spent, you can earn a good number by purchasing specific promotional items in-store, thanks to weekly offers and your personalized offers that you can find in the app.
If you prefer to shop from home, you can still accumulate PC Optimum points when you order your groceries online through PC Express, and bonus points are often offered if you choose to subscribe to the PC Express Pass.
One of the easiest ways to accumulate PC Optimum points on all your purchases is to use one of the four available PC Financial credit cards:
As a cardholder, you accumulate points with every use and benefit from a multi-tier earning rate, up to 45 PC Optimum points per dollar spent.
To help you choose the card that best suits your needs and goals, consult our guide to the best PC Financial credit cards.
The PC Mastercard is the entry-level card from President’s Choice Financial. This card has no annual fee and no minimum income requirement.
The PC® Mastercard® offers a 20,000 PC Optimum™ welcome bonus after you spend $50 in the first two months, all with no annual fee. It’s an ideal entry-level card to start earning points within the Loblaw ecosystem.
This way, you earn between 1% and 3% back on your purchases at PC Optimum stores. Your points can then be redeemed for discounts at checkout or a $7 credit per 10,000 points applied directly to your card balance.
With its 90-day purchase assurance, extended warranty, and Mastercard Global Service, this card offers valuable protections for a no-annual-fee card.
The PC World Mastercard is the mid-tier card from President’s Choice Financial. This card has no annual fee, but requires a minimum income of $60,000 for an individual and $100,000 for a household.
With a welcome bonus of 20,000 PC Optimum points after spending $50 in the first two months and no annual fee, the PC World Mastercard is a solid option for regular customers in the Loblaw ecosystem. Here’s what it offers:
In practical terms, this represents between 1% and 3.5% back on your purchases at PC Optimum partner stores. Your points can be redeemed for discounts at checkout or converted into a $7 statement credit for every 10,000 points.
The card also includes a 24/7 concierge service, 90-day purchase assurance, an extended warranty, and Mastercard Global Service in case of emergency — all without paying a single dollar in annual fees.
The PC Insiders™ World Elite Mastercard® is the premium card from President’s Choice Financial. This card has no annual fee, but requires a minimum income of $80,000 for an individual and $150,000 for a household.
The PC World Elite Mastercard currently offers a 20,000 PC Optimum points welcome bonus after spending $50 in the first two months, with no annual fee. With this Card:
This means you get between 1% and 4.5% back on your purchases made at PC Optimum stores. You can then use your points for discounts at checkout or convert them into $7 credit per 10,000 points directly on your card balance.
Additionally, this card includes travel medical insurance, rental car collision insurance, a concierge service, and 90-day purchase assurance—rare benefits for a no-annual-fee card.
You can also accumulate PC Optimum points by opening and using a PC Money Account.
Scan your PC Optimum card when you fill up at over 4,500 Esso and Mobil gas stations in Canada and accumulate points as follows:
Plus, combine these rewards with the additional points you earn with your PC Financial credit card and watch your balance grow!
In addition to the special points events featured by Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix, you can also watch for another key points event that is offered at a greater number of banners and locations: PC Optimum Plus Days.
PC Optimum Plus Days have always offered exclusive deals, such as the opportunity to earn 50% more points on specific items, at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix, Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstores, Esso, Mobil, and more.
PC Insiders is a subscription service that offers subscribers additional benefits and higher point earning rates within the PC Optimum program.
Registration for the PC Optimum Insiders program is not currently available due to high demand. Here are the features for reference.
Yes
Priority time slots
A fun way to accumulate a few extra PC Optimum points is to download and use the PC Health app.
This app helps you manage your health through resources and support, and it typically offers the opportunity to accumulate PC Optimum points when you first sign up and when you participate in health programs and challenges.
As a general rule, PC Optimum points are worth 0.1 cents each and must typically be redeemed in increments of 10,000.
However, there are a few exceptions, particularly for obtaining added value or adding bonus points to your redemptions.
One of the most common ways to use PC Optimum points is to redeem points in-store to save on your bill at participating grocery stores. Discover our best tips at Maxi, for example.
Points can be redeemed at the rate of 10,000 points = $10 when you check out, and they must be redeemed in increments of 10,000.
It’s worth paying attention to special event redemption days, as they offer additional value for your points.
Remember that you cannot accumulate or redeem points on the following items: tobacco, lottery tickets, alcohol, gift cards, prepaid card products, passport photos, transit tickets and passes, event tickets, and a few other items.
You can redeem points at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix at the regular rate of 10,000 points = $10, but if you want to get the most out of your PC Optimum points, it’s best to wait for one of the Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix Spend Your Points events.
These events offer bonus points when you redeem a certain number of points. For example, at previous events, you could redeem 70,000 points for $70 plus $30 in bonus points, giving you a value of $100.
You can also redeem your PC Optimum points at the Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix online store, which gives you access to a number of products that are not available in physical stores.
PC Optimum points can also be redeemed for a discount the next time you fill up your vehicle at participating Esso or Mobil gas stations.
By redeeming 4,000 points, you get $0.10 off per whole liter of fuel (up to 40 liters), which is a value equivalent to the 10,000 points = $10 redemption you can get at grocery stores and pharmacies.
You can also redeem 10,000 points for a car wash package of your choice at the same gas stations. Depending on the package you choose, this redemption can be worth more than $10, making it a good use of your points.
For those looking to refresh their wardrobe, PC Optimum points can also be redeemed at Joe Fresh at the regular rate of 10,000 points = $10.
If you hold one of the 4 PC Financial credit cards, you can redeem your PC Optimum points for a statement credit to help cover your expenses at the rate of 10,000 points = $7.
It is highly recommended to redeem points during a promotional period when redemption rates are attractive. This will allow you to have a higher cash return for the same number of points.
With this in mind, we recommend that you apply for all categories of financial products offered by PC Optimum to get the best possible return on your spending.
Thus, by combining the PC Optimum loyalty card, a PC Financial credit card, and the PC Money Account, you will get an optimal return of PC points on your everyday spending.
Based on the observations in this article, we note that PC Optimum offers a most interesting loyalty program with a fine range of financial products, simple and generous points collection, and regular, tempting promotional offers.
PC Financial credit cards are attractive to Canadian consumers due to the absence of annual fees, an attractive rewards earning rate, and the presence of insurance coverage. The PC Money account also has several benefits such as no management fees and a welcome offer of 50,000 PC points.
However, while this program has several advantages, a few elements could be improved. In our opinion, PC Optimum credit cards are excellent, but we cannot say the same about the PC Optimum card and the Money Account. The latter do not particularly stand out in terms of PC Optimum point accumulation or real benefits.
Ownership of these two products is maximized when combined with President’s Choice Financial credit cards, but the fact remains: for us, a higher accumulation rate would have been appreciated. All in all, we find the PC optimum points program an excellent avenue for Canadian consumers who make frequent purchases at Maxi, Provigo, Joe Fresh, Shoppers Drug Mart and Esso.
Membership of the three financial products offered by this loyalty program will enable you to quickly earn rewards that can then be exchanged for attractive cash rebates. If you are only a casual shopper at one of these establishments, it may not be beneficial for you to apply for this points program, as your cash returns will be only modest.
PC Optimum points do not expire, but they may be lost if your account remains inactive for more than two years, as it could be closed. It is important to earn or redeem points at least once to keep them active.
Visit the PC Optimum website or download the mobile app. Create an account with your email address, then enter the unique number of your physical card to activate it and start accumulating points.
Check your balance via the PC Optimum app (displayed on the home page), on the pcoptimum.ca website after logging in, or directly on your receipts after each purchase at participating stores.
To become a member of the PC Optimum program, you can register online or via the mobile application. You will need a valid e-mail address to complete the registration process.
You must first download the PC Optimum application from your mobile app store to use the program via the mobile application. Once installed, open the application and log in using your unique identifier, usually your e-mail address.
To redeem your points, you can visit participating stores such as Shoppers Drug Mart, Real Canadian Superstore or Loblaws. You can also redeem your points via the app by following the instructions provided.
You can register in-store or online to become a Maxi member and benefit from the PC Optimum program. Once registered, you’ll receive a Maxi points card that you can use to earn PC Optimum points.
You can check your PC Optimum points balance by logging into your account via a web browser or using the mobile application. Your points balance will be displayed in the “My Account” section.
If you have any questions or concerns about the PC Optimum program, you can contact PC Optimum support at 1-866-727-6468.
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