The best rewards credit card in Canada for most people is the American Express Cobalt: 5 points per $1 on groceries, restaurants and food delivery, for $15.99 a month. If you want a Visa, the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite pays 5x on groceries, dining, gas and transit. For simple cash back, the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+ pays 4% on groceries and recurring bills, and the Tangerine Money-Back card is the best with no fee. Every rate below comes from the issuer’s own page.
Key takeaways
- 5x is the top everyday rate. The Amex Cobalt, Scotiabank Gold Amex and BMO eclipse Visa Infinite all pay 5 points per $1 in their main categories.
- Caps decide the winner for big spenders. The Cobalt caps 5x at $2,500 a month. The Scotiabank Gold covers $50,000 a year. The eclipse caps groceries and dining at $6,000 a year each.
- Cash back is easier to value. The Momentum Visa Infinite+ pays 4% on groceries and recurring bills, but rent and tax payments no longer count as recurring bills.
- Flying Air Canada? The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite earns Aeroplan points and gives you a free first checked bag.
How we picked these cards
We compared how much each card earns on the biggest everyday categories (groceries, dining, gas and bills), the caps on those rates, the annual fee and how easy the rewards are to use. Every rate and fee comes from the issuer’s own card page or terms. We don’t value points the same across programs, so we show what each card earns. See how we rate cards.
The best rewards credit cards in Canada
1. American Express Cobalt, best overall rewards card
The Cobalt pays 5 Membership Rewards points per $1 at restaurants, coffee shops and bars, stand-alone grocery stores and on food and grocery delivery in Canada. Those share one cap of $2,500 in purchases a month, then earn 1 point per $1. It also pays 3x on streaming subscriptions and 2x on gas, transit and ride share in Canada.
Best suited for: People who spend most on food and want flexible points. Not every store takes Amex, so carry a backup card. See which stores accept Amex.
Details: American Express Cobalt (official page)
2. Scotiabank Gold American Express, best for Scene+ and spending abroad
The Scotiabank Gold Amex pays 6 Scene+ points per $1 at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and their sister stores, and 5 points on dining, food delivery, other grocery stores and entertainment. It pays 3 points on gas, transit and streaming. These rates cover the first $50,000 a year in bonus categories, the highest cap on this list. It also has no foreign transaction fee.
Best suited for: Big spenders, Sobeys-family shoppers and travellers. Scene+ points are worth 1¢ each on purchases. See what Scene+ points are worth.
Details: Scotiabank Gold American Express (official page)
3. BMO eclipse Visa Infinite, best Visa rewards card
The eclipse pays 5 BMO Rewards points per $1 on groceries, dining, takeout and food delivery, gas and transit in Canada. It’s a Visa, so almost every store takes it. The 5x rate applies to the first $6,000 a year on groceries and on dining, and the first $20,000 on gas and on transit. Everything else earns 1 point per $1.
Best suited for: People who want 5x everywhere Visa is taken.
Details: BMO eclipse Visa Infinite (official page)
4. TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite, best for Air Canada flyers
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite pays 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 on gas, EV charging, groceries and Air Canada purchases, on up to $80,000 a year, and 1 point per $1 on everything else. You and up to 8 companions on the same booking get your first checked bag free on Air Canada flights.
Best suited for: Travellers who fly Air Canada and check bags. See all Aeroplan cards compared and what Aeroplan points are worth.
Details: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite (official page)
5. Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+, best cash back rewards card
The Momentum Visa Infinite+ pays 4% cash back on groceries and recurring bills, on up to $25,000 a year combined, and 2% on gas, EV charging, transit, rideshare and food delivery, on up to $25,000. Everything else earns 1%. Since October 22, 2026, rent and tax payments don’t count as recurring bills.
Best suited for: Families with big grocery and bill spending who want cash. Read about the rent and tax change.
Details: Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+ (official page)
6. Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card, best no-fee rewards card
Tangerine pays 2% cash back in 2 categories you choose, or 3 if your cash back goes into a Tangerine Savings Account, with no cap. Categories include groceries, restaurants, gas, recurring bill payments and public transit. Everything else earns 0.5%. You can change your categories.
Best suited for: Anyone who wants rewards with no annual fee. Read our Tangerine credit card review.
Details: Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card (official page)
Side-by-side comparison
| Card | Annual fee | Best earn rate | Reward type | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Cobalt | $191.88 | 5x food and groceries | Membership Rewards points | Amex |
| Scotiabank Gold American Express | $120 | 6x Sobeys-family stores | Scene+ points | Amex |
| BMO eclipse Visa Infinite | $120 (first year free) | 5x groceries, dining, gas, transit | BMO Rewards points | Visa |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 (first year rebated) | 1.5x gas, groceries, Air Canada | Aeroplan points | Visa |
| Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+ | $120 (first year free) | 4% groceries and bills | Cash back | Visa |
| Tangerine Money-Back | $0 | 2% in 3 categories | Cash back | Mastercard |
Calculator: what would each card earn you?
Rewards calculatorEnter what you spend in a typical month. See what each card on our list would earn you in a year.
Your monthly spending
What each card earns in a year
| Card | You earn | Annual fee |
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Best credit cards by category
Want the best card for one kind of spending? Each of our shortlists compares the top cards for that category, checked against the issuers’ own pages.
- Best credit cards for groceries: up to 6x at the grocery store
- Best credit cards for dining: 5x at restaurants and on delivery
- Best credit cards for gas and EV charging: the most at the pump
- Best credit cards for recurring bills: phone, internet and subscriptions
- Best travel credit cards: points, lounges and travel insurance
- Best Aeroplan credit cards: for Air Canada flyers
- Best no foreign transaction fee cards: spend abroad without the 2.5% fee
- Best no-fee credit cards: rewards with no annual fee
- Best credit card for Costco: what Costco accepts and what earns most
- Cash back vs travel points: which type of rewards suits you
Points or cash back?
Points cards earn more per dollar on paper, but what they’re worth depends on how you redeem them. Cash back is worth exactly what it says. If you fly often and like planning trips, points can be worth more. If you want rewards without the homework, pick cash back. Our cash back vs travel points guide compares the two, and the cents per point calculator shows what a redemption is worth.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best rewards credit card in Canada?
For most people, the American Express Cobalt. It pays 5 points per $1 on groceries, restaurants and food delivery in Canada, on up to $2,500 a month, for $15.99 a month.
What is the best Visa rewards card in Canada?
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite pays 5 points per $1 on groceries, dining, gas and transit, within yearly caps. The $120 annual fee is waived in the first year.
What is the best no-fee rewards credit card?
The Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card pays 2% cash back in up to 3 categories you choose, with no cap and no annual fee. Everything else earns 0.5%.
What is the best cash back rewards card?
The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+ pays 4% on groceries and recurring bills, on up to $25,000 a year, and 2% on gas, transit and food delivery. It costs $120 a year.
Are points or cash back better?
Cash back is simpler and worth exactly what it says. Points can be worth more if you redeem them for travel, but their value depends on how you use them.
Which rewards card has no foreign transaction fee?
The Scotiabank Gold American Express, from our list. The others charge a foreign transaction fee on purchases in other currencies.
Related reading
- Best grocery credit cards: the shortlist
- Best dining credit cards: 5x at restaurants
- Best travel credit cards: for frequent travellers
- Best no-fee credit cards: rewards with no annual fee
- Cash back vs travel points: which type earns you more
How we checked: Earn rates, caps, fees, interest rates, income requirements and welcome offers come from each issuer’s own card page and terms: American Express for the Cobalt, Scotiabank for the Gold American Express and the Momentum Visa Infinite+, BMO for the eclipse Visa Infinite, TD for the Aeroplan Visa Infinite and Tangerine for the Money-Back card. The Scene+ value of 1¢ per point is for purchase redemptions. The calculator assumes the same spending each month and uses ongoing annual fees. Welcome offers change often, so check the issuer’s page before you apply. This list is general information, not financial advice. Sources: American Express Cobalt; Scotiabank Gold American Express; BMO eclipse Visa Infinite; BMO card terms; TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite; Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+; Momentum Visa Infinite+ cash back terms; Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card. Last checked October 2026.
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