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Recurring Payments: The Best Credit Cards

Recurring Payments: The Best Credit Cards
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Recurring payments are part of everyday life. Subscriptions, telecommunications, insurance, and monthly bills recur, month after month. Yet, these expenses are often paid without a strategy, even though they can easily generate cash back or reward points.

By choosing a suitable credit card, you make your recurring payments a source of rewards, without changing your spending habits.

In this guide, we review the best credit cards for recurring payments and simple strategies to better optimize them.

What Is a Recurring Payment?

A recurring payment is an automatic debit made at regular intervals, such as monthly or annually.

It applies to several common expenses, including subscriptions to platforms like Netflix or Disney+, gym memberships, telecommunication services, internet, and certain insurance policies.

These payments are often called pre-authorized payments, as they require you to authorize the merchant to debit your card on specific dates, without your intervention.

Rent can also become a recurring payment. Thanks to services like Chexy, it is possible to pay rent, certain bills, or even taxes by credit card, for a fee. We will return to this later in the article.

To be recognized as a recurring payment, the debit must be authorized in advance by the merchant. It is recommended to verify or perform a test if necessary.

Benefits of a Credit Card for Recurring Payments

Using a credit card for your recurring payments allows you to accumulate points or cash back on essential expenses.

Some cards offer boosted rates for the recurring payments category. At the top of the list is the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite +* Card, which stands out with 4% cash back on eligible recurring payments. By consolidating these payments on a suitable card, rewards accumulate automatically.

Centralizing your recurring payments on a single card also simplifies budget management. You track all your expenses in one place and reduce the risk of oversight.

Finally, some cards include useful insurance. For example, paying your mobile phone bill can activate device repair or replacement protection.

Best Credit Cards for Recurring Payments

Best Credit Cards for Cash Back

Some credit cards clearly stand out for recurring payments, especially for cash back.

At the top of the list, the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite +* Card offers 4% cash back on eligible recurring payments, a rate difficult to match.

The TD Cash Back Visa Infinite* Card follows closely with 3%, making it an excellent high-performing alternative.

Other options offer 2%, including the CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card and the Tangerine® Money-Back World Mastercard®*.

If your primary goal is solely recurring payments, the Tangerine® Money-Back World Mastercard®* is particularly attractive, as it has no annual fee. It can be used exclusively for these expenses, while reserving other cards for more lucrative categories according to your strategy.

Annual fee
$0 $120
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$420
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$300Annual fee rebated$120Total$420Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to $300
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

The Scotia Momentum® VISA Infinite*+ card is recognized, year after year, as one of the best cash back credit cards in Canada. Milesopedia has even named it best cash back credit card in 2026.

Currently, thanks to this promotional offer, the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+ Card has no annual fee for the first year, including on additional cards. And you can get 15% cash back on all your purchases for the first three months (up to $2,000 in total purchases).

It also includes a new convenient benefit for travellers: enjoy 10 GB of free GigSky global mobile data for 15 days, as well as access to Travel Essentials to use essential apps like messaging, maps, and email while on the go. Cardholders also continue to receive 1 GB of free GigSky mobile data per year, plus a 20% discount on future GigSky purchases.

With the Scotia Momentum® VISA Infinite+ card, you get:

  • 4% cash back on grocery purchases and recurring payments
  • 2% cash back on gas purchases, public transit, carpooling, and food delivery
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases

For example, if you spend $1,000 per month on grocery purchases and/or recurring payments, you will get $40 cash back per month, or $480 per year, with this card, for this purchase category. And that’s not counting the other purchases you make with this card and the benefits it offers (including its excellent insurance coverage).

Also note that you can use your cash back at any time (the cash back balance must be at least $25).

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 4xGroceries
  • 4xBills & recurring payments
  • 4xTelecom
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xStreaming
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,212
2nd Year Value$408

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 15 days
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days
Annual fee
$0 $139
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$489
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$350Annual fee rebated$139Total$489Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to $350
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Apply Now

on TD's website

With the TD Cash Back Visa Infinite* Card, you earn 3% in Cash Back Dollars on:

  • Grocery stores
  • Gas, EV charging and public transit
  • Recurring bills, streaming services, digital media and games

And 1% cash back on all other purchases.

It’s the best TD cash back credit card, especially for gas purchases.

With this new welcome offer, you could earn 10% cash back on gas and grocery purchases and pre-authorized payments for the first three months (up to $3,500 in purchases). So you can earn up to $350 cash back, for a total value of up to $600 once the first-year Annual Fee rebate is included!

Plus, an Annual Fee rebate for the first year for the Primary and Additional Cardholders.

Finally, you have good insurance coverage, such as travel medical insurance, delayed or lost baggage insurance, collision/loss damage insurance for car rentals and mobile device insurance.

Annual fee

Primary card$139
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 3xGroceries
  • 3xGas & EV
  • 3xTransit
  • 3xBills & recurring payments
  • 3xStreaming
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,034
2nd Year Value$341

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $2,000,000 / 10 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $2,000,000 / 10 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $2,000,000 / 4 days
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days
Annual fee
$0 $120
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$420
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$300Annual fee rebated$120Total$420Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to $300
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Apply Now

on CIBC's website

The CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card is one of Canada’s best Visa cash back credit cards.

With this offer, get up to $400 in value:

  • A 10% cash back welcome bonus of up to $250 (first 4 statements)
  • A $50 cash back when setting up a pre-authorized payment (first 4 months)
  • A first year annual fee rebate (worth $120)

With this CIBC cash back credit card, you earn:

  • 4% cash back on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, and grocery purchases
  • 2% cash back on eligible transportation and dining purchases and on eligible recurring bill payments
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases

For example, if you spend $1,000 per month on groceries and/or gas and/or electric vehicle charging, you’ll earn $40 cash back per month or $480 cash back per year with this card for this category of purchases!

This CIBC cash back credit card offers many insurance coverages:

  • Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage Insurance
  • $500,000 Common Carrier Accident Insurance
  • Out-of-Province Emergency Travel Medical Insurance
  • Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 4xGas & EV
  • 4xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xBills & recurring payments
  • 2xTransit
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,044
2nd Year Value$391

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 10 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 10 days
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days
Annual fee
$0
Our valuation
$100
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$100Total$100Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to $100
Ends Sep 30, 2026
Apply Now

on Tangerine's website

If you have an individual income of $60,000 or a household income of $80,000, you can choose the Tangerine® Money-Back World Mastercard®*.

This credit card has no annual fee and allows you to earn cash back on your everyday purchases. With the current offer, you can get $100 when you spend $1,500 within your first three months††.

You get 2% unlimited cash back in 2 categories of your choice and 0.5% on all your other purchases. Plus, you can unlock a third 2% category when your cash back is deposited into a Tangerine Savings Account.

Choose from 13 spending categories (groceries, gas, restaurants, and more) and change them every 90 days to match your habits.

The card also includes useful protections, including purchase assurance and extended warranty5, as well as mobile device insurance and coverage for rental vehicles5.

Finally, you can transfer high-interest credit card balances and enjoy a promotional rate of 1.95% for 6 months (a 1% transfer fee applies)11.

Save on fuel with Shell

All Tangerine cardholders can get savings and rewards on fuel with Shell and Scene+ when you link your cards to your Shell Go+ account. Get up to 8¢/L in value with a linked Money-Back World Mastercard or Money-Back Credit Card:

  • Instant savings of 3¢ per litre on all grades of Shell fuel.
  • Earn up to 3¢ per litre in cash back with fuel selected as a 2% category.
  • Earn 1¢ per litre in Scene+ points value on all grades of Shell fuel, or 2¢ per litre in Scene+ points value on Shell V-Power® when you link your Scene+ Account to Shell Go+.

Annual fee

Primary card$0
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$50,000
Household$80,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 0.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$415
2nd Year Value$246

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceIncluded
Auto Rental CollisionIncluded

Best Credit Cards for Reward Points

Some cards offer rewards in the form of points, often travel-related. Their value varies depending on how you redeem them.

Scene+ points can be used to pay for travel expenses or even groceries, at a value of approximately 1 cent per point. However, a statement credit reduces this value. With the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card, the 3X Scene+ points on recurring payments can represent a return of up to 3%, depending on how the points are used.

MBNA Rewards points are flexible, but their maximum value is achieved through the MBNA travel portal, where each point is worth 1 cent. Thus, the MBNA Rewards® World Elite® Mastercard® can offer a return of up to 5% on certain recurring payments, such as digital subscriptions and household utilities.

The TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card and the National Bank World Elite Mastercard offer 4X and 2X points respectively on recurring payments. According to Milesopedia, this equates to a return of approximately 2%.

Finally, the American Express Cobalt® Card grants 3X points on streaming services, such as Netflix, Disney Plus, or Spotify. These points do not apply to traditional recurring payments, but their value can exceed 1 cent when transferred to partners, for a guaranteed minimum return of 3% on these subscriptions.

Sponsored
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$500
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$500Total$500Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 50,000 points
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card offers an excellent welcome bonus.

Until November 1, 2026, you can earn up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points, broken down as follows:

  • 30,000 Scene+ points by charging $2,000 in purchases to the card within the first 3 months
  • 20,000 Scene+ points by making $7,500 in purchases on the card in the first year

This represents a value of up to $500 for travel (including Airbnb).

With the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, you earn 6 points per dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà par IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! grocery stores. FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.

Also, you earn 5 points per dollar for:

  • Grocery stores
  • Restaurants
  • Entertainment centers

And 3 points per dollar on gas, transit and streaming services purchases.

You can redeem your points on travel purchases (flights, hotels, all-inclusive and even Airbnb). You can also use your points as cash back rewards with Scene+.

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card also offers no foreign transaction fees, excellent insurance for your travel or purchases, concierge service, exclusive American Express benefits like the Front of the Line program.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$29

Annual income required

Individual$12,000
Household$12,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 6xWith the partner brand
  • 5xGroceries
  • 5xEntertainment
  • 5xRestaurants
  • 3xStreaming
  • 3xTransit
  • 3xGas & EV
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,460
2nd Year Value$461

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $1,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $65,000 / 48 days
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$300
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$300Total$300Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 30,000 points
Apply Now

on MBNA's website

With the MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®, you can earn 5 points per dollar of purchases for:

  • Dining
  • Grocery purchases
  • Digital media purchases (Netflix, Spotify, etc.)
  • Memberships
  • Household utility purchases (electricity, etc.)

Everywhere else, you will get 1 point per dollar.

Enough to make the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard the best MBNA credit card for restaurants, groceries, digital media, subscriptions and household utilities.

Knowing that Mastercard recognizes Walmart Supercenters as grocery stores, this is the best credit card for Walmart customers!

Plus, depending on your province of residence, you’ll get a welcome bonus of between 20,000 and 30,000 points, a value of $200 to $300!

And each year, you will receive Birthday Bonus Points equal to 10% of the total number of Points the Account earned in the 12 months before the month of your birthday, to a maximum Birthday Bonus each year of 15,000 Points.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$80,000
Household$150,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xGroceries
  • 5xRestaurants
  • 5xBills & recurring payments
  • 5xStreaming
  • 5xTelecom
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,368
2nd Year Value$533

Travel insurance

Travel MedicalIncluded
Trip InterruptionIncluded
Delayed BaggageIncluded
Lost BaggageIncluded
Flight DelayIncluded
Travel AccidentIncluded

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionIncluded
Price protectionIncluded
Sponsored
Annual fee
$0 $139
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$939
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$800Annual fee rebated$139Total$939Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 160,000 points
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Apply Now

on TD's website

With the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card, you can earn up to 160,000 TD Rewards Points as well as an Annual Fee rebate for the first year:

  • 20,000 TD Rewards Points for the first purchase made with your card
  • 140,000 TD Rewards Points when you spend $7,500 within 180 days of account opening
  • A Birthday Bonus of up to 10,000 TD Rewards Points

Get an annual TD Travel Credit of $100 when you book at Expedia® For TD, and enjoy your time at the airport with global airport lounge access and 4 complimentary lounge visits with Visa Airport Companion Program (a value of up to $277).

With the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card, you earn:

  • 8 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend when you book travel through Expedia® For TD
  • 6 TD Rewards Points per dollar on your grocery, dining and public transit purchases
  • 4 TD Rewards Points per dollar on your recurring bill payments and purchases of streaming services as well as digital games and media
  • 2 TD Rewards Points per dollar on all other purchases made with your card

This card also allows you to enjoy a range of travel benefits, including an annual travel credit, complimentary airport lounge visits, and a birthday bonus that boosts your points each year.

Annual fee

Primary card$139
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 6xGroceries
  • 6xRestaurants
  • 6xTransit
  • 4xBills & recurring payments
  • 4xStreaming
  • 2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,430
2nd Year Value$531

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$160

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $2,000,000 / 21 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $2,000,000 / 21 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $2,000,000 / 4 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days
Exclusive
Annual fee
$0 $150
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$150
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueAnnual fee rebated$150Total$150Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
First Year Annual Fee Rebate
$150 annual fee rebated
Ends Nov 4, 2026
Apply Now

on National Bank's website

With Milesopedia, take advantage of an exclusive offer: your first-year annual fees are refunded with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard. This offer is exclusively available on the Milesopedia network, from June 30 to November 4, 2026.

  • Refund of the first-year annual fee (a $150 value) for the primary cardholder. This fee is charged to your new card account, then refunded as a credit on your statement within five months of opening your account, provided it remains open and in good standing.

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is the best Mastercard credit card offered by NBC.

With this card, you earn up to 5 points per dollar on your purchases:

  • 5 points per dollar for groceries and restaurants
  • 2 points per dollar on gas and electric recharge purchases
  • 2 points per dollar on recurring bills
  • 2 points per dollar on À la carte Travel
  • 1 point per dollar for all other purchases

And since it’s an NBC mycredit Mastercard, you can use it at Costco.

With this card, you have access to a $150 annual travel credit that you can use in any of these categories:

  • Airport parking
  • Baggage fees
  • Seat selection
  • Access to airport lounges
  • Airline ticket upgrades

What’s more, you can enjoy access to DragonPass airport lounges and unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau.

Finally, Milesopedia has named the National Bank World Elite Mastercard as the Best Travel Credit Card in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$80,000
Household$150,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xRestaurants
  • 5xGroceries
  • 2xTravel
  • 2xBills & recurring payments
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$778
2nd Year Value$923

Card benefits

Airport lounge access$400
Travel creditsIncluded

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 60 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 31 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Trip CancellationUp to $2,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Travel AccidentIncluded

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+2 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days
Annual fee
$191.88
Our valuation
$255
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 15,000 points
Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

The American Express Cobalt® Card is the best credit card from American Express, whether you want points for travel or cash back.

American Express Cobalt® Card welcome offer

The welcome bonus is paid out monthly over your first 12 months. You earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $750 in net purchases to your card, in any category (1X, 2X, 3X or 5X). That adds up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points over the year, a welcome offer we value at $255.

Earning the full bonus means $9,000 in net purchases spread across 12 monthly billing periods. This offer rewards steady monthly spending rather than one large purchase.

You can use these points as statement credits on everyday or travel purchases, at the same rate either way: 1,000 points = $10.

You can also transfer them to Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways and Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. With the full welcome bonus, that is a choice between:

  • 15,000 Aeroplan points
  • 15,000 Avios points
  • 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
  • 18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

If hotel points are what you are after, our ultimate guide to Marriott Bonvoy and our complete map of Marriott Bonvoy hotels by category show what those points can actually buy.

American Express Cobalt® Card benefits

Here is what the card gives you, starting with the benefits cardholders use most.

  • 5X points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada: groceries, restaurants and bars, home food delivery and convenience stores. A spend cap applies.
  • 3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada.
  • 2X points on eligible gas, public transit and ride sharing purchases in Canada.
  • 1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
  • 1X point per dollar on everything else, with no category restrictions.
  • Points that hold the same value either way: 1,000 points = $10 as a statement credit, or a 1:1 transfer to several airline and hotel loyalty programs.
  • No minimum income requirement, as with every American Express Canada card.
  • Additional cards at no extra cost: the first and every other supplementary card is $0.
  • The Hotel Collection: a room upgrade when available, 12pm check-in and late check-out when available, and up to $100 USD in hotel credit on amenities charged to the room for a stay of two or more consecutive nights, booked through American Express Travel.
  • Front Of The Line® presale and reserved tickets for concerts and theatre performances, plus offers and events curated for cardmembers through Amex Experiences.
  • A soft credit check before you apply: you can see whether you will be approved with no impact to your credit score. This applies to American Express personal card applications.

To see how it compares with the rest of the line-up, read our round-up of the best credit cards from American Express in Canada.

The 5X categories and where they apply

The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers four kinds of merchants:

  • Groceries: Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, Safeway, Whole Foods.
  • Restaurants and bars: sit-down meals, takeout and drinks.
  • Home food delivery.
  • Convenience stores: Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven.

The 2X rate covers gas stations such as Esso, Shell and Petro-Canada, along with public transit and ride sharing.

With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:

Category Points per dollar
Grocery (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.) 5
Home food delivery 5
Restaurants and bars 5
Convenience stores 5
Streaming services 3
Service station 2
Transport 2
Travel 1
Other 1

That works out to a 1 to 5% return on those purchases. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month across groceries, restaurants and food delivery, you earn $50 back per month, or $600 per year from that category alone. Transfer the points to a program such as Aeroplan instead and the return can be higher.

You can also stack these categories with the hundreds of stores that offer 5x points.

American Express Cobalt® Card insurance coverage

The card comes with a broad insurance package. The amounts below are the coverage limits; conditions, age limits and exclusions are set out in the certificate of insurance linked in the Insurance section above.

Travel insurance

  • Emergency medical: up to $5,000,000 for the first 15 days of a trip.
  • Travel accident: accidental death and dismemberment of up to $250,000 for you, your spouse and dependent children under age 23 when travelling on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and the tickets are charged to your card. Supplementary cardholders and their families are covered too.
  • Flight delay: up to $500 for necessary hotel, meal and sundry expenses bought within 48 hours when you are delayed or denied boarding for four hours or more and no other transportation is available. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and delayed baggage coverage.
  • Delayed baggage: up to $500 for essential clothing and sundries bought within four days when your outbound luggage is delayed six hours or more. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and flight delay coverage.
  • Lost or stolen baggage: up to $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined, for checked or carry-on baggage and personal effects in transit, when the airline tickets are charged to your card. Within that limit, jewellery is capped at $300 per occurrence and golf clubs, including golf bags, at $250 per occurrence.
  • Hotel and motel burglary: up to $500 against the loss of most personal items if your hotel or motel is burglarized, when the stay is charged to your card.

Rental car insurance

Theft and damage coverage is included for a rental car with an MSRP, for its model year, of up to $85,000 excluding all taxes, for rentals of up to 48 days. To use it, decline the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or any similar option from the rental company and charge the full rental to your card. There is no cost for this coverage, and it replaces the daily insurance the rental company charges, usually $16 to $23 per day.

Mobile device insurance

Your device is covered for up to $1,000 per occurrence when it is charged to the card, for up to two years from the date of purchase. The payout is based on the depreciated value of the device, which falls by 2% of the purchase price for every completed month, less a 10% deductible. Theft and accidental damage coverage starts on the 91st day after purchase, because the first 90 days are covered by purchase protection.

Purchase protection and extended warranty

Eligible items charged to your card are insured against accidental physical damage or theft for 90 days from the purchase date, up to $1,000 per occurrence for all items combined. The card also extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items, with indemnification limited to $10,000 per insured item and $25,000 per Cardmember per policy year for all items combined.

American Express Cobalt® Card fees

  • Card fee: $15.99 per month, which equals $191.88 per year, for residents outside Quebec. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year.
  • Additional cards: $0.
  • Purchase interest rate: 21.99%.
  • Cash advance interest rate: 21.99%.
  • Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%.
  • Minimum income required: none.

Because the fee is billed monthly rather than in one annual charge, you can stop and restart the cost in step with how much you are actually using the card.

Annual fee

Primary card$191.88
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xRestaurants
  • 5xGroceries
  • 5xConvenience
  • 3xStreaming
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,828
2nd Year Value$799

Transfer partners

  • AeroplanAirline
  • British Airways ClubAirline
  • Cathay Asia MilesAirline
  • Etihad GuestAirline
  • Flying BlueAirline
  • Hilton HonorsHotel
  • Marriott BonvoyHotel

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $250,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionUp to $1,000 / 90 days
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days
Annual fee
$0
Welcome offer
No current welcome offer
Apply Now

on Triangle's website

The Triangle World Elite Mastercard is the premium version of Canadian Tire’s Triangle card, with no annual fee, available to people with a personal income of at least $80,000. It boosts rewards on groceries and at the pump.

You earn 3% in CT Money on groceries (on the first $12,000 per year, excluding Costco and Walmart), 4% in CT Money at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark’s, Atmosphere, Party City and participating Sports Experts stores, plus 7¢ per litre in CT Money on premium gas and 5¢ per litre on other fuel types at participating Essence+, Gas+ and Husky stations.

The annual interest rate is 19.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances. A 2.5% foreign transaction fee applies to purchases made in a foreign currency.

Annual fee

Primary card$0
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$80,000
Household$150,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 4xCanadian Tire, Sport Chek and Mark's stores
  • 3xGroceries
  • 0.8xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$47
2nd Year Value$298

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years

How to Choose a Card for Your Recurring Payments

To choose a credit card suitable for recurring payments, you must evaluate several criteria to maximize rewards and facilitate the management of your finances.

Some cards offer boosted rates on recurring payments, such as monthly subscriptions or utilities. These cards allow you to accumulate more points or cash back, which can generate savings or benefits for your travels.

Before subscribing, compare the annual fees and the rewards offered. Cards with high fees can be worthwhile if the benefits outweigh the cost, but this is not always the case.

For example, twelve annual payments of $30 with the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite +* Card at 4% would yield less than $15. In this case, a Tangerine® Money-Back World Mastercard®* with no annual fee and offering 2% could be more profitable in the long run.

Finally, choose a card whose rewards program aligns with your goals. Travelers may prefer cards that offer points for flights or hotels. Cash back enthusiasts can opt for a card offering a percentage on recurring payments.

Comparison Table

Chexy and Recurring Payments

Chexy is a Canadian platform that allows you to pay certain recurring expenses by credit card, even when they do not directly accept it.

The service acts as an intermediary. You pay with your credit card, and Chexy then makes the payment to the payee, such as a landlord or a financial institution.

This approach allows you to accumulate rewards on significant payments, such as rent and taxes, which are usually excluded.

Recurring Payments with Chexy

Chexy allows you to pay for, among other things:

Terms and conditions may vary depending on the type of payment and the credit card used. It is therefore important to fully understand how it works before proceeding.

Fees and Profitability of Using Chexy

Chexy charges service fees on each transaction. These fees must be compared to the actual value of the points or cash back earned.

Thus, Chexy becomes particularly interesting in certain specific contexts:

  • reaching a spending threshold for a welcome bonus;
  • using a card offering a high rate on recurring payments;
  • centralizing a significant monthly payment on a single card.

To delve deeper into the topic, we have written several detailed guides, including a complete guide on Chexy, strategies for paying your taxes, as well as articles on rent, tuition fees, and use by small businesses.

Conclusion

Recurring payments represent a simple opportunity to optimize your personal finances, without additional daily effort. With the right credit card, your bills and subscriptions can generate rewards throughout the year.

Solutions like Chexy also expand possibilities, by allowing you to pay certain expenses otherwise inaccessible by credit card.

Ultimately, the key is to compare cards, understand the terms and conditions, and choose a strategy tailored to your profile and recurring expenses.

Annual fee
$0 $120
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$420
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$300Annual fee rebated$120Total$420Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to $300
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

The Scotia Momentum® VISA Infinite*+ card is recognized, year after year, as one of the best cash back credit cards in Canada. Milesopedia has even named it best cash back credit card in 2026.

Currently, thanks to this promotional offer, the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+ Card has no annual fee for the first year, including on additional cards. And you can get 15% cash back on all your purchases for the first three months (up to $2,000 in total purchases).

It also includes a new convenient benefit for travellers: enjoy 10 GB of free GigSky global mobile data for 15 days, as well as access to Travel Essentials to use essential apps like messaging, maps, and email while on the go. Cardholders also continue to receive 1 GB of free GigSky mobile data per year, plus a 20% discount on future GigSky purchases.

With the Scotia Momentum® VISA Infinite+ card, you get:

  • 4% cash back on grocery purchases and recurring payments
  • 2% cash back on gas purchases, public transit, carpooling, and food delivery
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases

For example, if you spend $1,000 per month on grocery purchases and/or recurring payments, you will get $40 cash back per month, or $480 per year, with this card, for this purchase category. And that’s not counting the other purchases you make with this card and the benefits it offers (including its excellent insurance coverage).

Also note that you can use your cash back at any time (the cash back balance must be at least $25).

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 4xGroceries
  • 4xBills & recurring payments
  • 4xTelecom
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xStreaming
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,212
2nd Year Value$408

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 15 days
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Recurring Payments – Frequently Asked Questions

What is a recurring credit card payment?

A recurring payment is an automatic payment charged regularly to a credit card, such as a subscription or a monthly bill.

Do recurring payments always earn rewards?

No. Some cards exclude specific categories. You must check the specific terms and conditions of each credit card.

Are payments made with Chexy considered recurring?

Yes, in most cases. However, the exact processing depends on the card issuer and the transaction category.

Can multiple cards be used for recurring payments?

Yes. However, centralizing your recurring payments facilitates tracking and optimizing rewards.

Is it possible to pay rent by credit card without Chexy?

Rarely. Most landlords do not directly accept credit cards, hence the benefit of a platform like Chexy.


Our featured card

Annual fee
$0 $120
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$420
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$300Annual fee rebated$120Total$420Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to $300
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

The Scotia Momentum® VISA Infinite*+ card is recognized, year after year, as one of the best cash back credit cards in Canada. Milesopedia has even named it best cash back credit card in 2026.

Currently, thanks to this promotional offer, the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+ Card has no annual fee for the first year, including on additional cards. And you can get 15% cash back on all your purchases for the first three months (up to $2,000 in total purchases).

It also includes a new convenient benefit for travellers: enjoy 10 GB of free GigSky global mobile data for 15 days, as well as access to Travel Essentials to use essential apps like messaging, maps, and email while on the go. Cardholders also continue to receive 1 GB of free GigSky mobile data per year, plus a 20% discount on future GigSky purchases.

With the Scotia Momentum® VISA Infinite+ card, you get:

  • 4% cash back on grocery purchases and recurring payments
  • 2% cash back on gas purchases, public transit, carpooling, and food delivery
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases

For example, if you spend $1,000 per month on grocery purchases and/or recurring payments, you will get $40 cash back per month, or $480 per year, with this card, for this purchase category. And that’s not counting the other purchases you make with this card and the benefits it offers (including its excellent insurance coverage).

Also note that you can use your cash back at any time (the cash back balance must be at least $25).

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 4xGroceries
  • 4xBills & recurring payments
  • 4xTelecom
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xStreaming
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,212
2nd Year Value$408

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 15 days
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Our editorial integrity

Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.