
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 Mastercard® is one of Canada’s best no-annual-fee credit cards, especially for Rogers, Fido or Shaw customers.
Right now, you can earn 10% cash back for the first 3 months, up to a maximum of $100.
With the Rogers Mastercard®, and if you are actively subscribed to only one eligible 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)
So this card is now also available to Quebec residents with a mobile service with Rogers or Fido!
You’ll also receive 30% more cash back every time you redeem it for Rogers, Fido or Shaw products. Plus, as a Rogers Mastercard® credit cardholder, you’ll get five Roam Like Home days at no cost every year for Rogers mobile plans (up to $75 value).
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.
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.
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 a $10 statement credit for each monthly billing period in which you spend $300 in purchases on your Card in the first 10 months ( up to $100 in statement credits).
And you benefit from several coverages: $100,000 travel accident, Purchase Protection, and Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan.
Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.
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.
You can earn 5,000 bonus Scene+ points in the first year. 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.
This is a perfect no-fee Visa credit card to earn cash back.
RBC ION Visa Card
With the RBC ION Visa card, you can earn a welcome bonus of 3,500 Avion points upon approval and get a 0.99% interest rate on cash advances and balance transfers for the first 10 months.
With this no-annual-fee RBC credit card, you can earn 1.5 Avion points per dollar for :
- Grocery
- Rides, Gas & EV Charging
- 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
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 5% cash back (up to $100 cash back)†.
With this no annual fee CIBC Credit Card, you 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†
And this no-annual-fee CIBC Credit Card offers some insurance coverage:
- $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 Bonus Miles after $1,000 in Card purchases, 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.
Also, you can get a 0.99% introductory rate on balance transfers for 9 months (a 2% fee applies to balance amount transferred).
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.