The best no annual fee credit card in Canada depends on your spending. For cash back, the CIBC Dividend® Visa* Card earns up to 2% on groceries with no annual fee. For flexible categories, the Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard® * pays 2% in the categories you choose. To build your credit simply, the RBC ION Visa Card earns points with no fee. Compare the best no annual fee credit cards in Canada below.
Here are our 3 best no annual fee credit card offers:
Tangerine® Money-Back World Mastercard® *
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 warranty 5 , as well as mobile device insurance and coverage for rental vehicles 5 .
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 .
RBC ION Visa Card
With the RBC ION Visa card, earn up to 14,000 Avion points ^ , a value of up to $100 in gift cards † .
This RBC credit card with no annual fee lets you earn 1.5X Avion points per dollar in the following categories1 :
Groceries
Transit, gas, and electric vehicle charging
Streaming, digital games, and subscriptions
You also earn 1 Avion point per dollar on all other eligible purchases1 .
Plus, save 3¢ per litre on fuel at Petro-Canada and earn 20% more Petro-Points and Avion points when you pay with an eligible linked RBC card4 .
CIBC Dividend® Visa* Card
The CIBC Dividend® Visa* Card is one of the best no-fee cash-back Visa credit cards in Canada.
For a limited time, earn 5% cash back100 $
Plus, get :
2% cash back on eligible grocery purchases† 1% cash back on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, transportation, and dining purchases and on eligible recurring payments† 0.5% cash back on all other purchases†
This no-annual-fee CIBC credit card offers certain insurance coverages:
Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance
Frequently Asked Questions: no annual fee credit cards
Here are frequently asked questions in the Milesopedia community about no annual fee credit cards in Canada.
Is a no annual fee credit card worth it?
Yes, a no annual fee credit card is still worthwhile. Since it costs nothing to hold, you can keep it year after year to improve your credit history . In addition, many of these cards earn cash back or points, so they reward your everyday purchases without any membership fee.
Can you earn points with a no annual fee card?
Yes, several no annual fee credit cards let you earn points or cash back. For example, the RBC ION Visa Card earns RBC Rewards points on your purchases. The CIBC Dividend® Visa* Card instead gives you cash back that applies directly to your balance.
Is there a minimum income for a no annual fee card?
It depends on the card. Many no annual fee credit cards do not require a high minimum income. However, World Elite Mastercard versions, such as the upgraded Tangerine Money-Back card , ask for a personal income of $60,000 or a household income of $80,000.
How many no-fee cards should I hold?
There is no single ideal number. Since these cards cost nothing, you can hold several to cover different spending categories. Just keep your accounts active and pay your balances in full each month to maintain a healthy credit score.
Does a no annual fee card include insurance?
Some no annual fee credit cards offer basic protections, such as purchase assurance and extended warranty. Full travel coverage remains rare on this type of card. For broader travel insurance, see our best credit cards with insurance page instead.
How do I apply for a no annual fee credit card?
You can apply online in a few minutes. Click the Apply button shown next to each credit card on this page. To compare more options before you choose, visit our best credit cards page in Canada.
