Best store credit cards in Canada

Partners on this page provide us earnings.

The best things in life, as they say, are free. The second-best things? They’re the things you scored with a sweet deal. The right store credit card can unlock access to exclusive offers and help you save more money in stores where you already shop.

Let’s be clear, we’re not talking about a lame retail credit card that only offers financing on big purchases—we’re talking about top store cards you can use to earn points or cash back no matter where you shop. Shopaholics, deal hunters, and coupon clippers take note: Here’s our take on the best store credit cards in Canada that genuinely reward your business.

Quickly compare the best store credit cards in Canada

Card Name Store Rewards Get Started
PC® Mastercard® Best for groceries & gas in Canada
◦ $0 annual fee
◦ 25 points per $1 at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix
◦ 10 points per $1 spent everywhere else
◦ 2c per litre in PC Optimum points at Esso and Mobil
Apply Now
CIBC Costco®† Mastercard® Best for Cosco® shoppers
◦ $0 annual fee
◦ 3% cash back at Costco gas
◦ 2% back at Costco.ca (spending limits apply)
◦ 1% on all other purchases including at Costco
Apply Now
Walmart Rewards Mastercard® Best for Walmart shoppers
◦ $0 annual fee
◦ 1.25% on Walmart Canada purchases
◦ 1% on all other purchases
Apply Now
Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard Best for Amazon.ca shoppers
◦ $0 annual fee
◦ 5% back at Amazon.ca & Whole Foods, and on foreign currency transactions for Amazon Prime members (1.5% back for non-members)
◦ 1% back on all other purchases
Apply Now
Hudson’s Bay Mastercard® Best for Hudson Bay frequent shoppers
◦ $0 annual fee
◦ Up to 4 points per $1 spent on Hudson’s Bay purchases in-store or online
◦ Up to 2 points on all other purchases
Apply Now

†Terms and conditions apply.

PC Mastercard

10 points Earn 10 points per $1 spent everywhere

2 cents Earn 2c per litre in PC Optimum points at Esso and Mobil

30 points Earn 30 points per $1 when purchasing travel through President’s Choice

25 points Earn 25 points per $1 at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix

$0 Annual Fee

21.99% Purchase APR *Standard Rate. *Basic rates may apply; see details on provider's site.

22.97% Cash Advance APR

22.97% Balance Transfer Rate

Good Recommended Credit Score

Welcome Offer

Earn 10 points per $1 spent at PC grocery stores

Learn more

There’s a good chance you’re already collecting PC Optimum™ points; using the PC® Mastercard® can supercharge the number of points you earn. Combined with the PC Optimum™ program cardholders can get a total of up to 25 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix; at least 30 points per litre of gas purchased at Esso™ and Mobil™ stations in Canada; 20 points per $1 spent on PC® travel services; and 10 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.

New cardholders who sign up for the PC® Mastercard® can enjoy a welcome offer of 100,000 PC Optimum points. Offer ends May 16, 2024.

The PC® Mastercard® comes with purchase assurance and extended warranty coverage (conditions apply to all benefits), and cardholders can also benefit from special points promotions.

Key features

  • Annual fee: $0
  • Welcome bonus: 100,000 PC Optimum points
  • Reward structure: Up to a total of 25 points per $1 spent at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix; at least 30 points per litre of gas purchased at Esso™ and Mobil™ stations in Canada; 20 points per $1 spent on PC travel services; and 10 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Additional perks: Purchase Assurance for 90 days; Extended Warranty for up to one year. Conditions apply.
  • Interest rates: Purchases 20.97% (standard rate*), Cash Advances 22.97% (21.97% in Quebec) (standard rate*). *Basic rates may apply; see details on provider’s site.

To learn more read our complete PC® Mastercard® review.

Sponsored advertising. President’s Choice Financial® Mastercard® is provided by President’s Choice Bank. The PC Optimum™ program is provided by President's Choice Services Inc. President’s Choice Bank is not responsible for the contents of this site, including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete information regarding the PC® Mastercard®, PC® World Mastercard®, or PC® World Elite Mastercard®, please click on the “Apply Now” or other applicable button.

CIBC Costco®† Mastercard®

3% cash back at restaurants and at Costco gas

2% cash back at other gas stations and at Costco.ca

1% cash back on all other purchases including at Costco

$0 Annual Fee Up to 3 additional cardholders for $0

20.75% Purchase APR non-Quebec residents†

22.49% Cash Advance APR non-Quebec residents†

Good Recommended Credit Score

$15,000 Required Annual Personal Income

Welcome Offer

Earn up to 3% cash back on eligible purchases everywhere Mastercard is accepted.

Learn more

The CIBC Costco®† Mastercard® itself doesn’t carry an annual fee, but you do need to be a Costco member to sign up. A basic Gold Star membership costs $60 annually (check out our guide to whether or not a Costco membership is worth the cost).

The best part of the CIBC Costco®† Mastercard® is the high amount of cash back you can earn on Costco Gas and purchases made on Costco.ca, but there’s a catch: These high rates are capped at a maximum annual spend. The 3% cash back at Costco Gas and 2% at other gas stations is capped at $5,000 in spending per year. You’ll earn 2% cash back from Costco.ca up to $8,000 spent per year. Once you max out, the rate will drop to 1% for each of those categories until a new year resets. On the plus side, there is no cap on the 3% cash back on restaurants, and all other purchases outside those special categories earn 1% cash back.

Redeeming your cash back is simple but not particularly flexible. A Costco Canada gift certificate is issued once a year in January, equal to the amount you earned back from your card in the previous year.

The CIBC Costco®† Mastercard® offers standard Purchase Security and Extended Warranty insurance, but also includes the unexpected perk of up to $1,000 in Mobile Device Insurance, which is a rarity for a credit card without an annual fee.

Key features

  • Annual fee: $0 for primary and secondary card holders (must have Costco membership)
  • Welcome offer: None
  • Rewards structure: 3% cash back at restaurants; 3% back at Costco Gas and 2% at other gas stations up to $5,000/year; 2% back at Costco.ca up to $8,000/year; 1% back on all other purchases.
  • Additional perks: Purchase Security for 90 days; Extended Warranty for up to one year; Mobile device insurance up to $1,000
  • Interest rate: Purchases 19.75%; Cash Advances 21.49%.

To learn more read our complete CIBC Costco Mastercard review

Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard®

1.25% back in Walmart Rewards on all purchases made in-store or online at Walmart

1% back in Walmart Rewards at any gas station

1% everywhere else

$0 Annual Fee

20.89% - 26.99% Variable APR 20.89 for Quebec residents

22.97% - 27.99% Cash Advance APR 21.97% for Quebec residents

2.50% Foreign Transaction Fee

Good Recommended Credit Score

$12,000 Required Annual Personal Income

The Walmart RewardsTM Mastercard® earns a respectable 1.25% back on all Walmart purchases made in-store or online at Walmart.ca and 1% back on all other purchases. Walmart Reward Dollars are simple to use – 1 Walmart Reward dollar equals $1 to spend on virtually anything that Walmart sells – and they can be redeemed in $5 increments online or at the register in any Walmart store across Canada.

The card is an accessible option for frugal shoppers, and signing up is incentivized via a respectable welcome offer: New cardholders can get up to $45 as a welcome bonus—$20 in rewards after you make a $50+ purchase, $15 in Reward Dollars after one purchase at Walmart and one anywhere else, and $10 in Reward Dollars after signing up for paperless statements.

Unfortunately, the Walmart Mastercard doesn’t offer much in terms of other practical benefits. They’ve opted to reserve standard perks like purchase assurance and extended warranty for the higher-tier Walmart RewardsTM World Mastercard®. If you meet its $100,000 minimum annual income requirement, you would then earn 3% back online from Walmart.ca, 1.25% in store, 1.25% at any gas station, and 1% on all other purchases.

Key features

  • Annual fee: $0
  • Welcome offer: Up to $40 in Bonus Walmart Reward Dollars.
  • Rewards structure: 1.25% on Walmart Canada purchases in-store or online at Walmart.ca. 1% on all other purchases. Redeem Walmart Reward Dollars in-store or online.
  • Additional perks: None
  • Interest rate: Purchases 19.89%, Cash Advances 22.97% (21.97% for Quebecers)

Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard

2.5% cash back (unlimited) at Amazon.ca, Whole Foods and no foreign currency fees for Prime members

1.5% cash back (unlimited) for non-prime members at Amazon.ca and Whole Foods

10% rental car discounts at Avis and Budget Rent A Car locations in North America

$0 Annual Fee

19.99% Purchase APR

22.99% Cash Advance APR

Fair Recommended Credit Score

$0 Required Annual Personal Income

$0 Required Annual Household Income

Welcome Offer

Get up to a $65 Amazon.ca Gift Card instantly upon approval

Learn more

The Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard from MBNA is an excellent option if you already have an Amazon Prime membership.

As a welcome bonus, cardholders can get up to a $65 Amazon.ca Gift Card instantly upon approval, plus 5% back on the first $3,000 in eligible purchases from Amazon.ca, Whole Foods, grocery stores, and restaurants made in the first six months. After the welcome period ends Prime members can earn 2.5% back on eligible purchases from Amazon.ca, Whole Foods and on foreign currency transactions. Non-Amazon Prime members only get 1.5% back on Amazon.ca and Whole Foods purchases. All cardholders, regardless of whether or not they have a Prime membership, get 1% back on all other purchases outside those categories. Any rewards you rack up using the card can be applied directly to purchases on Amazon.ca.

For a credit card with no annual fee, the Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard doesn’t skimp on useful perks. Purchase assurance will cover your purchases from damage or theft for 90 days and the extended warranty will add one year of coverage in addition to the original manufacturer’s warranty. You can also enjoy a minimum 10% off base rental car rates in Canada and at least 5% off rental rates in the U.S. at participating Avis and Budget locations. All told, the Amazon.ca Mastercard is among  the very best credit cards for online shopping in Canada today.

Key features

  • Annual fee: $0
  • Welcome offer: $65 Amazon.ca Gift Card, plus 5% back on first $3,000 in eligible purchases at Amazon.ca, Whole Foods Market, grocery stores, and restaurants for six months.
  • Rewards structure: 5% back on eligible purchases at Amazon.ca, Whole Foods, and on foreign currency transactions for Amazon Prime members. 1.5% back on eligible purchases at Amazon.ca and Whole Foods for non-Prime members. 1% back on all other purchases for all cardholders.
  • Additional perks: Purchase assurance for 90 days; Extended Warranty for up to one year; rental car discounts.
  • Interest rates: Purchases 19.99%; Cash Advances, Balance Transfers and Access Cheques 22.99%

Learn more by reading our complete Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard review.

Hudson's Bay Mastercard by Neo Financial

4 Up to 4 Rewards points on almost every $1 you spend in Hudson's Bay stores* and at thebay.com

2 Rewards points on almost every $1 you spend outside of Hudson’s Bay stores.*

2% Earn an average of 2% cashback* at thousands of local and national Neo Financial™ partners and businesses; think major gas and grocery stores, restaurants, gyms, coffee shops, and more.

$0 Annual Fee

19.99% - 29.99% Variable APR Purchase Credit Rate / APR

22.99% - 31.99% Cash Advance APR Cash Advance Rate / APR

Good Recommended Credit Score

The Hudson’s Bay Mastercard® is the oldest North American company's most recent offering. The Bay gives 15% off first-day purchases when you sign up for the no annual fee store card. You earn up to 4 Hudson’s Bay Rewards points on every dollar spent on purchases made in-store and on thebay.com, and 2 points per dollar spent outside The Bay. The  Hudson Bay credit card is issued by Neo Financial, so on top of the points you earn from your regular spending with the card, you can also earn extra cash back from thousands of Neo partners across Canada. Check out our review of Neo Financial to learn more about Neo’s partners.

This rewards program takes a bit to unpack, because the points you earn depend on an annual spend that resets each year. For the basic Hudson’s Bay Rewards tier, cardholders collect 2 points for every dollar spent from $0-$399.99. At the middle Hudson’s Bay Reward Plus tier, you collect 3 points per dollar spent between $400 and $1,199.99. At the top Hudson’s Bay Rewards VIP tier, you collect 4 points per dollar when you spend $1,200+ per year.

Every 1,000 Hudson’s Bay Rewards points can be redeemed for $5 in store and online. Points can also be converted to AIR MILES or RBC Rewards points for some added flexibility, but points expire after 24 months of account inactivity. Any cash back you earn through Neo partners can be redeemed toward your card balance. As for perks, you can enjoy savings from free shipping on items sold by Hudson’s Bay (no purchase minimums) and earn an extra 20% on both Hudson’s Bay Reward points and Petro-Points if you link your two accounts together.

Key features

  • Annual fee: $0
  • Welcome offer: 15% off on first-day purchases.
  • Rewards structure: Earn up to 4 points per $1 spent on Hudson’s Bay purchases in-store or online at thebay.com and 2 points per $1 on all other purchases.3 Average 2% cash back from Neo Financial partners. Average based on current offers at select partners.
  • Additional perks: Free shipping, with no purchase minimum. 20% bonus Hudson’s Bay Rewards Points and 20% bonus Petro-Points when you link the accounts together
  • Interest rates: Purchases 19.99%-24.99%*, Cash Advances 21.99%-26.99%* (rate assigned depends on an assessment of your creditworthiness)

Related articles:

FAQs about store credit cards

  • Is Walmart credit card Canada worth it?

    +

    Earn rewards without an annual fee. Receive a minimum of 1% back in Walmart Rewards on all purchases. Compared to other no-fee cards, it offers a favorable rate of return, making it potentially worthwhile depending on your spending habits and preferences.

  • What is the difference between a store credit card and a regular credit card?

    +

    Store cards are exclusive to specific retailers, offering rewards and discounts within their stores. Regular cards provide broader acceptance and benefits, usable at various merchants worldwide. Consider your spending habits and preferences when choosing between them.

  • Are store cards bad for credit?

    +

    While they can initially boost your credit with responsible use, their high-interest rates and limited usability may lead to overspending and debt accumulation, potentially harming your credit score if payments are missed or balances remain high.

  • Are store credit cards worth it?

    +

    Store credit cards offer perks like discounts and rewards specific to the retailer. However, their higher interest rates and limited usability outside the store should be weighed against your spending habits and financial goals to determine if they are worthwhile for you.

Daniel Teo is a personal finance expert and travel writer based in Toronto. With a passion for financial literacy and a wanderlust that has brought him to over 30 countries, his stories touch on what’s possible when you achieve financial goals. His work has appeared in The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, CBC and on BNN.

Disclaimer

The content provided on Money.ca is information to help users become financially literate. It is neither tax nor legal advice, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to the data provided, the timeliness thereof, the results to be obtained by the use thereof or any other matter.