Best Cash Back Credit Cards in Canada for 2025

Earn real money back on groceries, gas, dining, and everyday spending — Canada's top cash back cards compared.

Why Cash Back Cards Beat Points for Most Canadians

Points programs can be lucrative — but they come with blackout dates, limited seat availability, and complex redemption rules. Cash back is simple: earn a percentage of what you spend and receive it as a statement credit, cheque, or account deposit. No expiry, no restrictions.

For the average Canadian spending $2,000/month on their credit card, a 2% cash back card earns $480/year in rewards. A 4% grocery card can earn even more if your grocery bill is high.

Best Cash Back Credit Cards Canada — Ranked

Card	Top Earn Rate	Annual Fee	Best Category
Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite	4%	$120	Groceries + transit
BMO CashBack World Elite MC	5% (intro), 3% ongoing	$120	Groceries
CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite	4%	$120	Groceries + gas
Tangerine Money-Back	2%	$0	Your chosen categories
Rogers Red World Elite MC	3% (USD), 1.5% (CAD)	$0	USD purchases
KOHO Prepaid Visa	1%	$0	Groceries + transit

Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite — Best for Families

The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite earns 4% cash back on groceries and recurring bills (including streaming subscriptions), 2% on gas and daily transit, and 1% on everything else. The $120 annual fee is waived in the first year.

A Canadian family spending $1,000/month on groceries would earn $480/year in grocery cash back alone — more than covering the annual fee. Also includes comprehensive travel and purchase insurance.

BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard

BMO's premium cash back card earns 5% on groceries for the first 3 months (up to $2,500 in spending), then 3% ongoing. You also earn 2% on transit, 2% on gas, 2% on streaming services, and 1% elsewhere. The $120 annual fee is waived in year one.

Comes with airport lounge access (4 visits/yr via DragonPass), travel insurance, and extended warranty protection.

CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite

CIBC's Dividend Visa Infinite offers 4% cash back on groceries, 4% on gas, 2% on dining and transportation, and 1% on everything else. Cash back is earned as a percentage and redeemed annually in January — or more frequently if you accumulate $25+.

Best No-Fee Cash Back: Tangerine vs Rogers

If you don't want to pay an annual fee, the Tangerine Money-Back Card (2% in 2 categories) and the Rogers World Elite Mastercard (1.5% flat, 3% on USD) are the clear leaders. Tangerine wins if most of your spending falls into its eligible categories (groceries, gas, restaurants, recurring bills). Rogers wins if you have significant USD spending or prefer flat-rate simplicity.

KOHO: Cash Back Without Credit Card Risk

KOHO's free prepaid Visa earns 1% cash back on groceries and transportation, 0.5% on everything else. Since it's a prepaid card, you can't overspend or accumulate interest charges. It's the perfect option for Canadians who want cash back rewards but want to avoid the risk of credit card debt entirely.

Tips for Maximizing Cash Back in Canada

• Pair a high-grocery card with a flat-rate card for non-category spending.
• Use your cash back card for all regular bills (groceries, gas, utilities) to maximize earn.
• Don't carry a balance — 19.99% interest wipes out any cash back earned.
• Check if your card offers rotating bonus categories for extra cash back periods.
• Stack cash back cards with in-store loyalty programs (PC Optimum, Air Miles, Scene+).