RBC ION Visa vs RBC ION+ Visa
Two cards, one Standard Score rubric. The RBC ION+ Visa scores higher overall at 5.8/10 — but the right pick depends on which components match your spending.
The verdict
SituationalRBC's two entry Avion cards, $48 apart — and they reward different spending. The free ION earns 1.5x on a broad everyday set (groceries, gas, streaming); the $48 ION+ earns 2x but on a narrower list (dining, entertainment, subscriptions) and only 1x on groceries and gas, with a bigger welcome (up to 28,000 Avion points versus 14,000). Pick the ION+ if your spend skews to dining and subscriptions and you'll use the larger bonus; grocery-and-gas households often do better on the free ION.
See offer · current RBC ION+ Visa offer, direct from the issuer
Rewards math assumes you pay your balance in full every month — interest charges quickly exceed any rewards value.
| RBC ION Visa | RBC ION+ Visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Score | 5.5/10 · Pass | 5.8/10 · Situational |
| Annual fee | None | $48 |
| Welcome bonus | Up to 14,000 Avion points (7,000 on approval + 7,000 on $500 spend in the first 3 months) — offer ends November 4, 2026 | Up to 28,000 Avion points (7,000 on approval + 14,000 on $1,500/6 mo + 7,000 at first anniversary) — offer ends November 4, 2026 |
| Est. bonus value | ≈ $224 | ≈ $448 |
| First-year net value | ≈ $260 | ≈ $508 |
| Earn rates |
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| Points currency | RBC Avion | RBC Avion |
| No FX fees | No | No |
| Lounge access | No | No |
Where the RBC ION Visa wins
No component wins — its rival scores at least as well on every Standard Score component.
Where the RBC ION+ Visa wins
- Flexibility — scores 7.0/10 on this component
- Perk usability — scores 5.5/10 on this component
Read the full reviews: RBC ION Visa and RBC ION+ Visa, or see how both rank in Best Rewards Credit Cards in Canada.