The Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Card Offers – October 2024

Updated Oct 7, 2024
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Best offers of the month - no annual fee
To the point Here are the best credit card offers with no annual fee to build your credit history!

When you’re just starting or don’t have a great credit history, it’s best to apply for a credit card with no annual fee that you’ll keep from year to year! Thus, this credit card will be the basis of your credit history, a major asset in establishing your credit score!

To help you find your way around, we’ve divided them into dozens of categories such as Aeroplan, AIR MILES, Airbnb, Business, Grocery, Cash Back, No Annual Fee, No FX-Fee, Scene+, Travel and more.

And to simplify your choice, we’ve compiled the best no-annual-fee credit card offers of the month in this article.

If you want more information about a card, click on the card’s name or image!

Rogers Mastercard®

The Rogers Red Mastercard® is one of the best no-annual-fee credit cards in Canada, especially for Rogers, Fido or Shaw customers.

Right now, you can earn $60 cash back by making one purchase with your mobile wallet in the first 90 days AND 6 automatic payments from your Rogers, Fido or Shaw postpaid service in the first 8 months.

With the Rogers Red Mastercard®, by having a single qualifying service with Rogers, Fido or Shaw, you can earn 2% unlimited cash back on all your purchases. Eligible services include :

  • Rogers Mobile
  • Fido Mobile
  • Rogers, Fido, or Shaw Home (Internet, TV, home phone, home monitoring, or satellite)

This card is now also available to Quebec residents with a mobile service with Rogers or Fido!

Plus, you get 1.5x more cash back on Rogers, Fido and Shaw purchases – that’s a 3% cash back value.

Plus, as a Rogers Red Mastercard® cardholder, you’ll get 5 days’ free access to Everywhere at Home, every year, on Rogers mobile plans (a value of up to $75).

If you’re not a Rogers, Fido or Shaw customer, you’ll earn 2% cash back on U.S. dollar purchases and 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases.

RBC ION Visa Card

With the RBC ION Visa card, you can get a welcome bonus of 6,000 Avion points on approval.

With this no-annual-fee RBC credit card, you can earn 1.5 Avion points per dollar for :

  • Groceries
  • Travel, fuel and recharging for electric vehicles
  • Streaming, Digital Gaming & Subscriptions

And 1 Avion point per dollar for all other purchases. Plus, save 3¢/L on gas at Petro-Canada and earn 20% more points when you pay with a linked RBC card.

Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®

The Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard® is one of the best no-annual-fee cash-back credit cards in Canada.

With the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard, you get 2% cash back on all purchases (including at Costco) if you are an eligible Rogers, Fido or Shaw customer.

Alternatively, earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on all eligible purchases in currencies other than U.S. dollars.

Receive 3% cash back on all purchases in U.S. dollars (this credit card is therefore particularly suitable for snowbirds) and 50% more cash back every time you redeem for Rogers, Fido or Shaw purchases.

What’s more, Rogers customers have 5 days’ free access to Roam Like Home roaming plan when they travel (a value of up to $75).

As the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard is a World Elite Mastercard, you benefit from a complimentary Mastercard Travel Pass (offered by DragonPass) giving access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide (US$32 per person per visit).

Finally, you’re protected by a wide range of insurance coverages, such as :

  • Extended Warranty and Purchase Protection
  • Rental Car Collision/Damage
  • Out-of-Province/Out-of-Country Emergency Medical
  • Trip Interruption Insurance
  • Trip Cancellation Insurance

MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard®

The MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard® is one of Canada’s best no-annual-fee credit cards.

With this card, you can earn 2 points per dollar on:

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

And 1 point per dollar everywhere else. This is the best MBNA credit card with no annual fee.

For a limited time, you can get 10,000 welcome bonus points, a $100 value on travel purchases charged to your Card.

Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card

Are you looking for a Scene+ credit card with no annual fee? The Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa Card is ideal for students or those who don’t want to pay an annual fee.

For a limited time, you can earn up to 5,000 Scene+ points in the first three months. That’s $50 off a trip or groceries!

With the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa Card, you earn 2 points per dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.

You’ll also earn 2 points for every dollar you spend at Home Hardware stores!

And you get 1 Scene+ point on all your other purchases.

It’s a great Visa credit card with no annual fee for earning Scene+ points.

BMO eclipse rise Visa* Card

The new BMO eclipse rise Visa* Card is a no-annual-fee travel rewards credit card with no minimum income required.

With this offer, you can earn up to 25,000 points as a welcome bonus:

  • 20,000 points after $1,500 in purchases in the first 3 months
  • 2,500 bonus points for redeeming at least 12,000 points annually towards your statement balance with Pay with points
  • 2,500 bonus points for paying your full credit card balance on time for 12 consecutive months

Moreover, you can get a 0.99% introductory interest rate on Balance Transfers for 9 months (a 2% fee applies to balance amounts transferred).

With the new BMO eclipse rise Visa* Card, you get :

  • 5 points for every two dollars spent on recurring bill payments
  • 5 points for every two dollars spent at the grocery store
  • 5 points for every two dollars in dining and takeout purchases
  • 1 point per two dollars spent on everything else

You can use BMO Rewards points for all travel purchases made through the agency or website of your choice (flights, hotels, car rentals, all-inclusive resorts, Airbnb, etc.) or for rewards and gift cards on the BMO Rewards platform.

The new BMO eclipse rise Visa* Card also offers:

  • Mobile Device Insurance
  • Purchase Protection
  • Extended warranty insurance

SimplyCash® Card from American Express

Do you want a cash back credit card with no annual fee and a great earning rate for everyday purchases? Here’s an option for you: the SimplyCash® Card from American Express.

With this no-annual-fee credit card, you earn:

  • 2% cash back on gas purchases
  • 2% cash back on grocery purchases
  • 1.25% cash back on all other purchases

And with this welcome offer, you can earn 5% cash back on all purchases (up to $2,000 in purchases) for the first 3 months (up to $100 in Statement credit).

You benefit from several types of insurance : $100,000 travel accident, Purchase Protection, Purchase Security.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Scotiabank American Express® Card

The Scotiabank American Express® Card is one of the best no-annual-fee credit cards in Canada.

For a limited time, you can earn up to 5,000 points in the first three months, representing a $50 value for travel (including Airbnb).

With the Scotiabank American Express® Card, you earn 3 points per dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.

Also, you get 2 points per dollar for:

  • Grocery stores
  • Restaurants
  • Entertainment centers
  • Gas stations
  • Transit
  • streaming services

And 1 point per dollar of purchase for all other purchases.

These points can be used for any travel purchase (air tickets, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb) or with Scene+ partners for cash back.

CIBC Dividend® Visa* Card

The CIBC Dividend® Visa* Card is one of the best no-fee Visa cashback credit cards in Canada.

For a limited time, earn an annual interest rate of 9.99% on purchases and 20.99% on cash for 10 months.

Plus, get :

  • 2% cash back on eligible grocery purchases
  • 1% cash back on eligible gas, EV charging, transportation, dining purchases and recurring payments
  • 0.5% cash back on all other purchases

This no-annual-fee CIBC credit card offers certain insurance coverages:

  • $100,000 Common Carrier Accident Insurance
  • Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance

CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card

The CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card is one of the best no-fee Visa credit cards with travel rewards in Canada.

Get up to 10,000 Aventura Points (up to $100 in travel value)

  • 2,500 Aventura Points when you complete all five activities within 60 days of your CIBC Aventura® Visa* account approval.
  • 7,500 Aventura Points after you make your first purchase within first 4 months.

With this no annual fee CIBC Aventura Credit Card, you get:

  • 1 point for every $1 spent at eligible gas stations, EV charging, grocery stores and drug stores
  • 1 point for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre
  • 1 point for every $2 spent on all other purchases

And this no-annual-fee CIBC Credit Card offers some insurance coverage:

  • Auto Rental Collision and Loss Damage Insurance
  • $100,000 Common Carrier Accident Insurance
  • Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance

MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus® Mastercard®

The MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus® Mastercard® is one of the best cash-back credit cards with no annual fee in Canada.

With this card, you can get 2% on:

  • gas purchases
  • grocery purchases

Until the total gas and grocery purchases in the applicable month reaches $500. And 0.5% everywhere else.

For a limited time, you can earn 5% cash back for the first six months, a $150 value. This is the best no-fee MBNA credit card with cash back.

BMO AIR MILES®† Mastercard®*

With this exclusive offer for the BMO AIR MILES® Mastercard®*, you earn 1,500 AIR MILES after $1,000 in purchases in the first three months. You’ll also earn an additional 800 miles when you spend at least $400 at eligible wholesale clubs and alcohol retailers. That’s a total cash value of $242.

This credit card has no annual fee.

With the BMO® AIR MILES® Mastercard®*, you get 3x the Miles for every $25 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners. Plus, you’ll earn 2X miles for every $25 spent at any eligible grocery store, wholesale club (warehouse like Costco) and liquor retailer*. For everything else, you earn 1 AIR MILES for every $25 in purchases.

Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card

The Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card has no annual fee and offers cash back.

With this limited-time welcome offer, you can earn an additional 10% cash back (up to $100) when you spend up to $1,000 on everyday purchases during the first 2 months.

You can choose two to three categories that interest you (groceries, gas, furniture, home improvement, recurring bills, pharmacy, etc.) to earn 2% cash back! And there is no annual cash back limit. It is one of the best credit cards for renovations.

In addition, the Tangerine Mastercard offers several insurance coverages for your purchases :

  • 90 days purchase insurance
  • One year extended warranty

Finally, during your first 30 days, transfer balances and pay only 1.95% interest on the transferred balance for the first 6 months.

Who can benefit from no-annual-fee credit cards?

No-fee credit cards, also known as no-annual-fee cards, are aimed at various groups of people, including:

  • Beginners and students: Those new to the world of credit cards, such as university students or young adults, can opt for a no-fee card to establish and build their credit history without incurring additional costs.
  • People on a Limited Budget: Those who don’t want to or can’t pay an annual fee for a credit card may prefer a no-fee card. These cards avoid unnecessary costs for people who don’t use their cards regularly or who don’t spend enough to justify an annual fee.
  • Occasional users: Those who don’t use their credit card frequently or have another main card with fees may opt for a no-fee card as a back-up or for specific expenses.
  • People looking for Simple Rewards: Many no-fee cards offer simple rewards programs. These programs can be interesting for those who want to accumulate points or cashback without the hassle of complex reward structures or limitations.
  • Travellers: Some travellers opt for no-annual-fee cards with no foreign transaction fees. These cards are ideal for occasional travellers who don’t want to pay extra for purchases abroad.
  • People looking for a Complementary Card: Some credit cardholders choose a no-fee card as a complementary card for specific spending categories not covered by their primary card.
  • Individuals in Transition: For those who have just closed another credit card or are looking for a temporary solution, a no-annual-fee card may be an attractive option while they determine their long-term credit card needs.

It’s always important to note that even if a credit card has no annual fee, other costs may be associated, such as high interest rates on outstanding balances or payments for different types of transactions. It is, therefore, essential to read the terms and conditions carefully and understand all the features and potential charges before applying for a credit card.

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
Jean-Maximilien Voisine

Jean-Maximilien Voisine

Jean-Maximilien Voisine
Jean-Maximilien is an expert in Canada and France about Loyalty programs, Credit cards and Travel. He is the Founding President of Milesopedia.
All posts by Jean-Maximilien Voisine
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