Compare 140+ cards with our credit card comparison tool
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How to use our credit card comparison tool
Compare 140+ Canadian cards with our credit card comparison tool using these simple steps:
- 1. Input your Credit Score
- 2. Select your preferred Card Type or category
- 3. Select your preferred Issuer
- 4. Add in your personal or household Income
- 5. Select your Maximum Annual Fee
- 6. Select your preferred Network
You can also jump to our list of the best credit cards in Canada, learn about every major card in the Canadian market in our up-to-date credit card reviews, check out new promotional credit card offers, and compare every one of Canad's credit card loyalty programs.
Why you can trust our Credit Cards review methodology
To review over 140+ Canada's best credit cards by category, our proprietary scoring system uses 135 different metrics to analyze over 18,900 credit card data points, from welcome bonuses and rewards to travel insurance, airport perks to interest rates, hidden fees and more. The Star Rating (out of 5) for each card is an overall score, not how it performed in any specific category. For more, watch our video below and check our credit card review methodology.
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Compare credit cards by network
There are three major credit card networks in Canada: Amex, Mastercard, and Visa. Each network has its own requirements from income to credit score and varying levels of acceptance.
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Compare by category
How to compare credit cards by category
Your friends may want a travel credit card to book an upcoming vacation, while you'd rather earn cash back. Not to worry, there are hundreds of Canadian credit cards to serve each unique purpose. Here's what to look for in each of the main credit card categories.
Type
What to look for
0% APR
Pay attention to the introductory APR period and whether it applies to purchases, balance transfers or both. Most 0% APR credit cards offer between 3 and 12 months of no interest for new accounts.
Low interest
A low-interest credit card offers a very low standard interest rate on new purchases (typically between 8.49% and 12.99%). The rate is not promotional and doesn’t expire. If you tend to carry a balance or need to spread out your payments over several months, a low-interest credit card is a smart way to minimize the amount of interest you’ll pay.
No fee
A great no fee credit card, well, lacks an annual fee. When comparing no fee cards look at things like the ongoing purchase APR, hidden fees on transfers or foreign transactions and rewards.
Balance transfer
Like a 0% intro APR credit card, the best balance transfer credit cards should have a lengthy balance transfer promotional APR, sometimes with a low (or waived) balance transfer fee. Although a balance transfer can potentially save you a massive amount in interest payments, it’s not always a financially shrewd step in every circumstance, and you should weigh a number of important considerations before determining if a balance transfer is the right move for you.
No foreign transaction fees
Cards with no foreign transaction fees can save you big money when travelling or purchasing items abroad. Make sure you focus on things like travel insurance, rewards and premium options like airport lounge access, free bags and more.
Cash back rewards
Carefully weigh the annual fee, interest rates, and rewards earn rates when comparing cash back credit cards. The best cash back options may charge an annual fee but these cards offer huge cash back potential and robust spending caps.
Lifestyle rewards
The best rewards credit cards allows you to earn incentives for eligible purchases charged onto the card. Some cards are tied to one loyalty program (e.g. AIR MILES, Aeroplan, PC Optimum Points, Scotia Rewards, etc.), while others offer cash back, flight rewards, merchandise discounts, statement credits, free hotel stays, or other benefits. Some are even designed to remunerate specific spending categories – like groceries, gas, dining out, or travel. The pay-off is plenty!
Travel rewards
The best travel credit cards often feature perks that would especially appeal to globetrotters, such as premium travel insurance packages, airport lounge access and discounts on rental cars. The amount of the rewards generated by the card (the ‘earn rate’) can be a flat rate based on your overall spending or can vary depending on specific spending categories.
Student
A wonderful way to establish a credit score, student credit cards are designed specifically for university/college students who have no credit history and no regular income. They tend to have a low credit limit, less (but still attractive) reward-earning potential, an easy application process and no annual fee.
Bad credit
While lacking all the frills of a premium card, you’ll get the convenience and security of using a credit card. Unlike regular credit cards (AKA unsecured cards), secured credit cards require that cardholders provide a cash deposit—of an equal or greater amount than their credit limit—to guarantee repayment of their balance.
Secured
Secured cards are often issued to people with poor credit histories or have no credit whatsoever. Secured credit cards are backed by a cash deposit from the cardholder. But just like the regular credit cards, you have a monthly minimum payment and once you pay, your viable credit goes up again.
Business
Business credit cards focus on the specific needs of cardholders who run a company. Rather than offering rewards for spending on things like groceries or ride-share programs, they typically feature perks and up the earn rate of categories business owners can really use, like travel expenses, group cell phone plans, office supplies and internet use. Many have nice extras like zero-liability employee cards, longer interest-free grace periods and generous insurance packages.
Prepaid cards
Prepaid cards are best when you don’t want to risk going into debt. You preload the card with the amount you wish to spend. The drawback is that a prepaid card does not have any impact on your credit score.
Realistically, you probably won’t find one credit card that ranks #1 in every spending category, but you can cover all your bases by reading our guide: How many credit cards should I have?
How to compare credit cards FAQs
Last updated
June 05, 2025
Scott Birke
Content editor, Money.ca
Scott Birke is a financial content editor at Money.ca.
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