The strongest everyday earner in Canada for food spend. If you can work around Amex acceptance, the Cobalt out-earns nearly every premium card at a fraction of the fee.
Ranking basis: $3,139.24 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: People who spend heavily on groceries, restaurants, and delivery and want maximum transferable points per dollar.
Skip if: Your main grocery stores don't take Amex, or you want a simple card with no monthly-fee bookkeeping.
$191.88 annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $1,712.12 · Amex Membership Rewards · See offer
A starter card that earns like a premium one: 3x Avion points on most everyday spending for $48 a year. The Avion Visa Infinite adds a bigger bonus and travel insurance, not a better everyday earn rate.
Ranking basis: $2,118 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Younger or newer-to-credit applicants who want an entry point into the Avion points ecosystem for a low fee.
Skip if: Most of your spending falls outside groceries, dining, gas, transit and streaming, or you want the Avion Visa Infinite's bigger bonus and travel insurance.
$48 annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $1,171 · RBC Avion · See offer
A balanced mid-premium card that pairs well with the Cobalt. Good value with the travel credit, but rarely the single best card on its own.
Ranking basis: $1,916 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Travellers who want strong MR earning and real travel insurance without the Platinum's $799 commitment.
Skip if: Most of your spend is groceries and dining; the Cobalt is the better Amex.
$250 annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $1,528 · Amex Membership Rewards · See offer
A first-year-value play: the bonus plus fee waiver is genuinely large, but the ongoing program is portal-locked and mediocre.
Ranking basis: $1,789 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: TD clients who book travel anyway and want a large, simple first-year haul without learning points programs.
Skip if: You value flexibility; TD Rewards can't transfer anywhere.
$139 annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $1,364 · TD Rewards · See offer
A step-up card that mostly makes sense during elevated offers or for clients who value the lounge access; otherwise the standard Infinite is the smarter Avion play.
Ranking basis: $1,666 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: RBC premium clients who want lounge access and a bigger Avion bonus inside their existing bank.
Skip if: The standard Avion Infinite captures most of the program's value at 30% of the fee.
$399 annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $913 · RBC Avion · See offer
A dependable flexible-points program with sneaky-good chart redemptions. Strongest inside the RBC ecosystem; middling as a pure earner.
Ranking basis: $1,580 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: RBC clients who take short-haul North American flights and will use the redemption chart.
Skip if: You want maximum earn per dollar; Amex MR cards accumulate faster.
$120 annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $1,110 · RBC Avion · See offer
Good multipliers on a weak currency. Fine as a BMO client's everyday card; rarely the cross-market winner.
Ranking basis: $1,540 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Everyday spenders in the BMO ecosystem who want high multipliers on a Visa without a premium fee.
Skip if: You compare real cents per dollar: 5x at 0.67¢ is ~3.35%, which strong cash-back cards approach with none of the portal friction.
$120 annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $931 · BMO Rewards · See offer
A capable, broad-earning World Elite card that rewards everyday spend well. The points currency is the limiting factor, not the earn rate.
Ranking basis: $1,428 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: National Bank clients who want broad 5x categories, and, if they fly internationally out of Montréal, genuinely useful lounge access.
Skip if: You want transferable points; Amex MR or Aeroplan cards offer more redemption upside for a similar fee.
$150 annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $714 · National Bank Rewards · See offer
A quietly strong everyday earner with the market's broadest 5x list. The birthday bonus rewards loyalty in a way few cards do.
Ranking basis: $1,404 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: High utility/subscription spenders: the 5x category list covers bills most cards ignore.
Skip if: You want a premium program or big welcome bonus; this card wins on earn, not on splash.
$120 annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $827 · MBNA Rewards · See offer
A perk-forward card in an average points program. The lounge visits and NEXUS rebate carry the value; the points are the supporting act.
Ranking basis: $1,317 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: CIBC clients who want travel perks (lounge visits and NEXUS rebates) bundled into a mainstream card.
Skip if: You're optimizing point value; Aventura sits a tier below the majors.
$139 annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $1,103 · CIBC Aventura · See offer
A strong 5x travel multiplier and a useful perk bundle, wrapped around a below-average points currency. Buy it for the multipliers and perks, not the points.
Ranking basis: $1,134 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Travellers who put real spend on travel and will use the lounge passes and NEXUS credit, over point-value optimization.
Skip if: You compare points per dollar in real cents; BMO Rewards' low point value undercuts the big multipliers.
$150 annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $793 · BMO Rewards · See offer
The cleanest free on-ramp to RBC Avion. Upgrade to the ION+ once your spend justifies the fee.
Ranking basis: $1,088 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Anyone who wants to start earning transferable Avion points with zero annual fee.
Skip if: You spend enough to justify the ION+'s $48 fee; its higher earn rate and added perks pay for themselves quickly.
No annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $656 · RBC Avion · See offer
A strong no-fee Scene+ grocery card for Empire-banner shoppers. The 3x grocery rate is genuinely good; Amex acceptance is the only real friction.
Ranking basis: $1,060 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Shoppers at Sobeys-family grocers who want a no-fee Scene+ earner and can work around Amex acceptance.
Skip if: Your grocery store doesn't take Amex, or you want travel insurance built in.
No annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $580 · Scene+ · See offer
A capable mid-tier TD Rewards travel card with excellent everyday accelerators. The missing emergency medical coverage is the notable gap for a card called 'Travel'.
Ranking basis: $1,043 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Travellers who want strong grocery/dining/transit earn and a first-year-free mid-tier card, and who'll book travel through Expedia For TD.
Skip if: You need travel medical coverage built in, or you want transferable points with higher redemption value.
$89 annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $691 · TD Rewards · See offer
Not a serious earner on its own, but a legitimate zero-cost way to start accumulating transferable MR points, especially for applicants who don't yet qualify for the paid Amex cards.
Ranking basis: $1,010 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Anyone who wants a free foot in the door to Amex Membership Rewards (including eventual Aeroplan transfers) without any income bar or fee.
Skip if: You already qualify for the Cobalt or Gold Rewards; those cards earn dramatically more MR points for a modest monthly or annual cost.
No annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $600 · Amex Membership Rewards · See offer
A large welcome bonus attached to a young program. Promising on paper, but treat the redemption value as unproven until Blue Rewards has a track record.
Ranking basis: $954 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Shoppers at Blue Rewards partner merchants who want a large points bonus and don't mind an unproven, brand-new loyalty program.
Skip if: You want a mature, well-understood points program; Aeroplan or Amex MR cards have a longer redemption track record.
$150 annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $653 · BMO Blue Rewards · See offer
A reasonably priced World Elite card for Desjardins members based in or flying through Quebec. The points ceiling and single-airport lounge limit its appeal outside that footprint.
Ranking basis: $820 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Desjardins members who fly through Montreal-Trudeau and want World Elite travel insurance at a modest fee.
Skip if: You're not a Desjardins member, or you don't transit YUL; the lounge access has no value elsewhere.
$130 annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $410 · Desjardins BONUSDOLLARS · See offer
A notable first for Tangerine: its first paid card, and the first non-Scotiabank-branded way into Scene+. Solid if lounge access and Scene+ redemptions matter to you; the no-fee Money-Back Card still wins on pure simplicity.
Ranking basis: $692 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Tangerine banking clients who want Scene+ points and lounge access without opening an account at Scotiabank directly.
Skip if: You're loyal to Tangerine specifically for its no-fee lineup; the Money-Back Card remains the free option.
$120 annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $596 · Scene+ · See offer
The lounge access is real but capped at six visits a year, and Aventura's redemption ceiling doesn't improve much between tiers. Pay for this one only if you'll actually use the lounges often.
Ranking basis: $669 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: CIBC clients who travel often enough to use six lounge visits a year and want to stay inside the Aventura program.
Skip if: The standard Aventura Visa Infinite's four lounge visits already cover your travel frequency; save the $360 fee difference.
$499 annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $647 · CIBC Aventura · See offer
A capable no-fee everyday earner with an unusually broad 2x list and a birthday bonus. Redeem for travel to get the most from the points.
Ranking basis: $668 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Anyone who wants a no-fee points card with broad 2x categories and doesn't mind ~0.5¢ cash redemptions.
Skip if: You want higher redemption value or uncapped categories; a flat cash-back card may net more.
No annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $359 · MBNA Rewards · See offer
Broad 5x earning and credible premium benefits, but the high fee and weak points currency make it conditional rather than a default luxury-card winner.
Ranking basis: $592 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: High-spend travellers who will use the annual lifestyle credit and six lounge visits and can clear the demanding offer thresholds.
Skip if: You want transferable points, will not use the annual credit, or cannot organically spend $75,000 in the first year.
$599 annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $564 · BMO Rewards · See offer
A fine no-cost way to dabble in Aventura points. Serious travellers should graduate to the Visa Infinite.
Ranking basis: $576 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Occasional travellers who want free, flexible travel points without an annual fee.
Skip if: You spend enough to clear the Aventura Visa Infinite's fee; its bonus categories and insurance pay for themselves.
No annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $366 · CIBC Aventura · See offer
A solid no-fee TD Rewards earner. The 3x grocery/dining/transit rate is genuinely good; just redeem through Expedia For TD to get full value.
Ranking basis: $552 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Anyone who wants a no-fee everyday points card with strong grocery, dining, and transit earn and no income requirement.
Skip if: You want maximum point value or transferable rewards; TD Rewards redeem best only through Expedia For TD.
No annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $314 · TD Rewards · See offer
A genuinely strong top-tier card for Desjardins members, let down for everyone else by the fixed-value points ceiling and steep non-member fee.
Ranking basis: $482 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Desjardins members who spend heavily on dining, groceries, and travel and want the richest Odyssey tier's lounge access and concierge perks.
Skip if: You're not a Desjardins member; the $395 non-member fee is hard to justify against Amex Platinum or Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Privilege.
$395 annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $241 · Desjardins BONUSDOLLARS · See offer
The Cash Back Visa paid in BONUSDOLLARS instead of cash. The rates are identical and a BONUSDOLLAR is worth $1, so the choice comes down to redeeming through Desjardins or getting a credit on your account. Most people should take the cash.
Ranking basis: $324 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: People who want a free Desjardins card and would rather redeem BONUSDOLLARS through Desjardins than receive cash back.
Skip if: You'd be just as happy with cash: the Cash Back Visa pays the same rates as a credit to your account.
No annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $162 · Desjardins BONUSDOLLARS · See offer
The weakest rung of the Odyssey ladder: no welcome offer, no confirmed fee waiver, capped 2% categories, and a 0.65% base rate. The gap to the World Elite Mastercard is small enough that most members should skip straight there.
Ranking basis: $256 modelled value over 24 months
Best for: Desjardins members whose spend concentrates in the 2% categories and stays under the annual caps.
Skip if: Much of your spend falls outside those categories; 0.65% on everything else is weak, and the World Elite Mastercard adds lounge passes and higher rates for $20 more.
$110 annual fee · Modelled first year ≈ $128 · Desjardins BONUSDOLLARS · See offer
Rewards math assumes you pay your balance in full every month — interest charges quickly exceed any rewards value.
Benchmark monthly spend: $800 groceries, $500 dining, $100 travel, $100 gas/transit and $300 other. Values use expected informed point valuations, structured caps, modelled welcome conditions and two annual fees where applicable; unstructured perks and benefits are excluded. Use the Card Finder for your own spending.