Choose The Best Credit Card For You
I’ve personally tried almost all of the best credit cards in Canada so that you don’t have to. Learn the pros and cons of the most popular cards so you can pick the best one for you.
Warning ⚠️ just having a credit card will not automatically improve your credit score. If you’re looking to improve your credit score you should first start with KOHO credit building.
My Favourite Credit Card In Canada
I’ve personally tried almost all of the best credit cards in Canada so that you can make an informed decision.
Neo Financial is my go-to favourite Canadian credit card that I use for almost all of my personal spending.
Neo Credit Card
Instant virtual card access
Earn 1 – 8% cashback
Earn high interest on savings
TLDR:
What Are The Best Credit Cards In Canada?
You need to understand how to compare credit cards before you choose a card.
I’ve researched and tried out Canada’s most popular credit cards to help you choose the right one. I found that my favourite overall credit card was Neo Financial.
| Neo Financial | TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite | Amex Aeroplan Reserve Card | KOHO | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $139 | $599 | $0 |
| Interest on Purchases | 19.99% – 26.99% | 20.99% | 20.99% | 0% |
| Best For | students, cash back | travel | travel | credit building, cash back |
| Credit or Pre Paid | both | credit | credit | pre paid |
| Cash back | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Rewards program | cash back | aeroplan points | aeroplan points | cash back |
| Mark’s Rating | 4/5 | 2/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Check out these top cards first
Top 3 Credit Cards With Low Interest
The best low interest credit cards offer you a combination of competitive interest rates, low or preferably no annual fees, and valuable perks or rewards.
Some low interest credit cards and fintech companies offer cash back, points, or other rewards programs to provide even more value for you. These are the best low interest credit cards offer a cost-effective and convenient way to make purchases and manage debt.
My Top 3 Low Interest Credit Cards in Canada:
KOHO
$0 Annual fee / 0% interest
Pre-paid card (no debt!)
Credit building tool
Desjardins Flexi Visa
$0 Annual fee
10.9% Interest rate
No point system
HSBC +Rewards™ Mastercard®
$25 Annual fee
11.9% Interest rate
Travel points
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Best for zero fees!
Top No Fee Credit Cards In Canada
Just so we are clear, and practice good financial habits the best no fee credit cards still charge you interest on your purchases! You just get to avoid the $20 – $2,000 yearly fees that people will pay just to have some credit cards.
So my favourite no-fee credit cards are below! I hope you enjoy the custom research that I’ve put into testing and trialing out these products by myself.
My Top 3 No Fee Credit Cards in Canada:
Neo Financial
$0 Annual fee
Earn high interest on savings
19.99% – 26.99% interest on purchases
KOHO
$0 Annual fee
Pre-paid card (no debt!)
Credit building tool
Wealthsimple Cash
$0 Annual fee
Pre-paid card (no debt!)
Cash back on all spending
What Makes The Best Canadian Credit Card?
What credit card is the easiest to get in Canada?
Neo Financial was the easiest credit card that I’ve ever signed up for. I was instantly approved with a virtual card ready for instant activation on my Apple Pay / Google Pay. Plus their app is the easiest to use that I’ve ever seen. With $0 annual fee and the ability to help you earn interest on your savings with their high interest cash account I would recommend Neo Financial as one of the best credit cards in Canada.
What card is best for Canada?
The best card for you depends on your situation. If you have troubles staying out of debt, or are a new comer to Canada then you may have issues getting approved for most credit cards. So I would recommend using a pre paid card like KOHO. Or on the flip side if you manage your money well, earn a high income and are looking to maximize your travel hacking points I would recommend the American Express® Aeroplan® Reserve Card.
Does cancelling a card hurt your credit score?
Cancelling a card has the potential to hurt your score, but does not necessarily mean it will impact your score. When handling credit you should ensure you’re not opening and closing a lot of accounts in a short amount of time. Plus make sure you pay the full balance off every month, and never spend more than 30% of the maximum credit available to you.
Follow Mark’s credit card protocol for optimal results
⚠️Caution: Most Credit Cards Are Not Used Optimally
Don’t fall for the common credit traps, and make sure that you learn how to use and compare credit cards. Mark has boiled down the best credit score advice into his credit card protocol. Which will maximize your travel hacking points and minimize the risk of impacting your credit score.
University and College is where your wealth starts
Best 3 Student Credit Cards
As students we tend to run on tight budgets, so each dollar counts when looking for the best credit card. Most students will be getting their first credit card, which is the start of a positive or negative relationship with credit / debt.
Follow these tips when searching for a student credit card in Canada. You should look for one that offers cash back on all purchases, has no annual fee, and offers low interest rates. Ideally it would be great to earn high interest on your savings too.
You can take your financial responsibility one step further and use an app like KOHO that makes it impossible for your to accumulate debt, while still building your credit score. Choose a card that fits your financial needs and offers responsible usage practices like auto-pay, and spending notifications.
My Top 3 Student Cards:
Neo Financial
$0 Annual fee
Earn high interest on savings
Easy to use app
KOHO
$0 Annual fee
Pre-paid card (no debt!)
Credit building tool
Wealthsimple
$0 Annual fee
Pre-paid card (no debt!)
Earn interest on your savings
Best for those who want to fly and explore the globe!
Top Credit Cards For Travel Hacking
The best credit cards in Canada for travel will offer generous rewards programs, such as Aeroplan Points or rewards that can be redeemed for flights, or hotels.
Most of these cards also offer perks such as airport lounge access, travel insurance, and no foreign transaction fees, making them ideal for frequent travellers. It’s important to consider the annual fee and interest rates when choosing a travel credit card, as well as any spending requirements or restrictions on earning rewards.
Financial providers will sometimes lure us in with big signup bonuses, but not have any great ongoing rewards program. So keep your eye on the fine print to understand exactly what these cards require, so you can maximize your perks.
My Top 3 Travel Rewards Cards:
Amex Aeroplan® Reserve Card
$599 Annual fee
70k – 150,000 signup bonus points
Min 1.25x points on all spending
TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
$139 Annual fee
55,000 bonus points
Min 1x points on all spending
American Express Cobalt Card
$155.88 Annual fee
30,000 bonus points
Min 1x points on all spending
For those who want more money in the bank.
Credit Cards That Are Best For Cash Back
The best credit cards in Canada for travel will offer generous rewards programs, such as Aeroplan Points or rewards that can be redeemed for flights, or hotels.
Most of these cards also offer perks such as airport lounge access, travel insurance, and no foreign transaction fees, making them ideal for frequent travellers. It’s important to consider the annual fee and interest rates when choosing a travel credit card, as well as any spending requirements or restrictions on earning rewards.
Financial providers will sometimes lure us in with big signup bonuses, but not have any great ongoing rewards program. So keep your eye on the fine print to understand exactly what these cards require, so you can maximize your perks.
My Favourite Cash Back Cards:
Neo Financial
Earn 1 – 8% cashback
Earn high interest on savings
$0 Annual fee
KOHO
Earn 1 – 8% cashback
Pre-paid card (no debt!)
$0 Annual fee
SimplyCash Preferred Card – Amex
Earn 2% cash back on everything!
Earn 4% cash back on gas & groceries
$119.88 Annual fee
Secured cards for no debt, but still building your credit score!
Top Secured Credit Cards
Secured credit cards are designed for Canadians who are looking to build or rebuild their credit score. They require a security deposit, which is typically equal to the credit limit, and can be used like a regular credit card to make purchases and build credit.
The best secured credit cards in Canada offer low fees and interest rates, as well as tools to help you build your credit score. Which is why I recommend Neo Financial for their secured cards. Or KOHO for a pre-paid credit card with the $10/mo credit building feature.
My Favourite Secured Cards:
Neo Secured Card
$50 Min deposit
Earn 1 – 8% cashback
Earn high interest on savings
KOHO Credit Building
$10/mo – no min deposit
Pre-paid card (no debt!)
Earn high interest on savings
Home Trust Secured Visa Card
Min $500 deposit
14.99% / 19.99% interest rate
$0 / $49 Annual fee
Having bad credit doesn’t mean there’s no options.
Bad Credit? Checkout These Cards
Credit cards for people with bad credit are designed to help you rebuild your credit score, but they often come with higher interest rates and fees. The best credit cards for bad credit in Canada offer manageable fees and interest rates, as well as tools to help you build your credit.
Which is why I recommend KOHO primarily. As they are a pre-paid card with a credit building service at $10/mo. Using KOHO allows you to only spend exactly how much money you have. You can also make a budget and savings plans for your goals.
Top Cards For Bad Credit:
KOHO Credit Building
$10/mo – no min deposit
Pre-paid card (no debt!)
Earn high interest on savings
Neo Secured Card
$50 Min deposit
Earn 1 – 8% cashback
Earn high interest on savings
Home Trust Secured Visa Card
Min $500 deposit
14.99% / 19.99% interest rate
$0 / $49 Annual fee
Need a card RIGHT NOW?
Instant Approval & Instant Access
Instant approval credit cards are for those who need a credit card quickly. These types of cards allow you to receive a decision on your application within minutes or even seconds.
It’s important to note that instant approval doesn’t necessarily mean instant access to credit. The time it takes to receive your physical card and activate it may vary depending on the card issuer. However you can get virtual cards instantly with popular fintech companies in Canada.
Get Access Instantly:
KOHO Credit Card
Instant virtual card access
Pre-paid card (no debt!)
Earn high interest on savings
Neo Credit Card
Instant virtual card access
Earn 1 – 8% cashback
Earn high interest on savings
Wealthsimple Cash Card
Instant virtual card access
Pre-paid card (no debt!)
Earn high interest on savings
The Best Credit Card Canada Summary
I’ve personally tried almost all of the best credit cards in Canada so that you can make an informed decision.
Neo Financial is my go-to favourite Canadian credit card that I use for almost all of my personal spending.
My Favourite Credit Card: Neo Financial!
Instant virtual card access
Earn 1 – 8% cashback
Earn high interest on savings
