Best Credit Cards in Canada for 2025

Top-ranked Canadian credit cards for cash back, travel rewards, no annual fee, and more — updated for 2025.

How We Ranked Canada's Best Credit Cards

Choosing the right credit card in Canada means weighing annual fees, interest rates, rewards rates, sign-up bonuses, and card-specific perks. With the average Canadian carrying $4,265 in credit card debt (TransUnion 2024), finding a card that works for your spending habits — without piling on unnecessary fees — is more important than ever.

We evaluated dozens of cards across six categories: cash back, travel, no-fee, student, secured, and business. Here are our top picks for 2025.

Best Overall: No-Fee Cash Back Cards

For most Canadians, a no-annual-fee card with solid cash back is the smartest choice. You keep every dollar of rewards without offsetting a $120+ annual fee first.

• Tangerine Money-Back Card — 2% cash back in 2 categories of your choice, 0.5% everywhere else. No annual fee.
• PC Financial World Mastercard — Up to 45 PC Optimum points per $1 at Loblaw stores. No annual fee.
• SimplyCash Card from American Express — 1.25% cash back on all purchases, no annual fee, no category restrictions.

Best Travel Credit Cards Canada 2025

Travel cards reward your flights, hotels, and dining — but typically carry annual fees of $120–$599. The best ones earn back that fee quickly through welcome bonuses and perks like airport lounge access.

Card	Sign-Up Bonus	Annual Fee	Best For
RBC Avion Visa Infinite	55,000 pts	$120	Flexible travel redemption
Scotiabank Gold Amex	60,000 Scene+ pts	$120	Groceries + travel combo
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite	50,000 Aeroplan pts	$139	Air Canada flyers
Amex Cobalt	Up to 30,000 MR pts	$155.88/yr	Dining and streaming

Best Cash Back Cards Canada 2025

Cash back cards are straightforward: spend money, earn a percentage back as statement credits or cheques. Top earners in Canada:

• Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite — 4% on groceries and transit, 2% on gas, 1% elsewhere. $120/yr fee.
• BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard — 5% on groceries (first 3 months), 3% ongoing. $120/yr fee.
• Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard — 3% cash back on USD purchases, 1.5% on everything else. No annual fee.

Best Student Credit Cards Canada

Student cards have lower income requirements (typically $6,000–$12,000/yr) and no annual fees. They're the best way to start building your credit score in Canada.

• BMO SPC CashBack Mastercard for Students — 3% on groceries, 1% everywhere else.
• CIBC Dividend Visa Card for Students — 2% on groceries, 1% on gas, 0.5% everywhere else.
• Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students — 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent, Scene rewards.

What Is a Good Credit Card Interest Rate in Canada?

The standard purchase interest rate at major Canadian banks is 19.99% annually. Some low-interest cards charge 8.99%–12.99% but usually carry annual fees. If you pay your balance in full each month, the interest rate is irrelevant — focus on rewards and perks instead.

Should You Get a Credit Card or Use KOHO?

KOHO is a free prepaid Visa card that works like a credit card but draws from your balance — meaning you can never go into debt. You earn 1% cash back on groceries and transportation, 0.5% everywhere else, with zero annual fee. KOHO doesn't build your credit score the same way, but it's an excellent tool for people who want the convenience of a card without the risk of interest charges.