RBC credit card alternatives you won't want to miss
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RBC has benefitted considerably from its brand, which is nothing less than a household name in Canada. But in terms of its credit card suite, is RBC exploiting its good name a little more than is justified? Perhaps. The best way to measure any credit card issuer’s value is to take a look at its most impressive and representative cards across several popular categories like cash back or travel, and then examine a comparative counterpart from the broader Canadian market.
So, how do the top RBC cards stack up against their competition?
| RBC Card | Card | RBC Card Alternative | Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard |
|
BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* MasterCard®* |
|
| RBC Cash Back Mastercard |
|
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card |
|
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite |
|
Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card |
|
| RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option |
|
MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard® credit card |
|
WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard vs. BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®*
WestJet’s premier travel card is issued by RBC. Bearing the World Elite name makes this card a beneficial tool for frequent fliers, but it also carries a relatively steep annual fee and high income requirement. Even so, it manages to provide justifiable value with a limited time offer of up to 450 WestJet dollars1 (a value of $450 CAD, when you spend a minimum of $5,000 in the first 3 months on your card)1 and fast WestJet dollars rewards. Cardholders earn 1.5% in WestJet dollars on everyday purchases8 and 2% on WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages using your card8, and enjoy perks like an annual companion voucher3, free checked bags for you and your companions4, and solid insurance coverage. While the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard is a good deal for those who fly WestJet exclusively, it’s less useful for those who fly outside of WestJet’s network. You’ll also find that perks like the companion voucher and bonus come with terms and conditions.
You can find better value on several fronts via the BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®*. BMO gives an exclusive 25% discount on one worldwide AIR MILES flight redemption during the calendar year*, and comes with complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass.* The card’s base earn rate is 1 Air Mile for every $12 you spend everywhere*, but there’s also accelerated earn rates. Get 3x the Miles for every $12 spent at participating AIR MILES Reward Partners* and 2x the Miles for every $12 spent at any eligible grocery store*.
- $120 annual fee (first year rebate)
- Get 3x the Miles for every $12 spent at participating AIR MILES Reward Partners* and 2x the Miles for every $12 spent at any eligible grocery store*; 1 Air Mile for every $12 spent everywhere else*
- 2,000-Mile sign-up bonus*
- Complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass*
- Comprehensive insurance*
- Exclusive 25% discount on one worldwide AIR MILES flight redemption during the calendar year.*
*Terms and conditions apply
RBC Cash Back Mastercard vs. Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
Cash back-loving cardholders are drawn to the RBC Cash Back Mastercard, a no annual fee card that provides a competitive cashback rate on common purchases. Cardholders earn up to 2% cash back on groceries² and up to 1% cash back on all other purchases including pre-authorized payments². But the RBC Cash Back Mastercard’s benefits basically end there, providing only standard purchase protection and extended warranty³ alongside its cashback rates.
Cash back-loving cardholders are drawn to the RBC Cash Back Mastercard, a no annual fee card that provides a competitive cashback rate on common purchases. Cardholders earn up to 2% cash back on groceries² and up to 1% cash back on all other purchases including pre-authorized payments². But the RBC Cash Back Mastercard’s benefits basically end there, providing only standard purchase protection and extended warranty³ alongside its cashback rates.
By comparison, a more diverse cashback option is the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card. Instead of earning 2% on groceries alone, you’re able to pick two purchase categories where you earn 2%. Aside from groceries these categories include gas, home improvement, restaurants, hotels and motels, drug stores, recurring bills, furniture, and more. You can get a third 2% category by signing up for a Tangerine Savings account, ensuring you earn at the accelerated rate for a wide range of your most common purchases.
The card also collects 0.50% cash back on everything that isn’t in your chosen categories, and has the same purchase assurance, extended warranties, and similar unlimited cash back policy as the RBC Cash Back Mastercard.
- Special 10% extra cash back rate on the first $1,000 spent with the card on everyday purchases (max. $100 cash back) in the first two months if you're approved, apply by July 5, 2023.*
- Earn 2% in 2 purchase categories of your choice
- Get a third 2% category with a Tangerine Savings Account
- Earn 0.50% on all other purchases
- $0 annual fee
- Unlimited cash back rewards
- Purchase assurance, extended warranties
*Terms and Conditions apply
RBC Avion Visa Infinite vs. Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite is more flexible than a WestJet or Air Miles card, collecting points that can be redeemed for travel with many airlines or against your statement. But aside from earning flexible travel rewards points, its extra perks and luxuries leave a lot to be desired. Cardholders get 1 Avion point per $1 spent* and 25% extra on travel-related purchases3, a limited time bonus offer of 35,000 welcome Avion points on approval* – Enough to fly anywhere in Canada & the U.S (Alaska and Hawaii require more points), and great insurance, but that’s about it.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite is more flexible than a WestJet or Air Miles card, collecting points that can be redeemed for travel with many airlines or against your statement. But aside from earning flexible travel rewards points, its extra perks and luxuries leave a lot to be desired. Cardholders get 1 Avion point per $1 spent* and 25% extra on travel-related purchases3, a limited time bonus offer of 35,000 welcome Avion points on approval* – Enough to fly anywhere in Canada & the U.S (Alaska and Hawaii require more points), and great insurance, but that’s about it.
Scotiabank offers a more valuable and travel-enhancing card at a comparable price point. With the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card, you’re paying a tiny bit more at $150 per year, but instead of flexible points that can be spent on many types of rewards, your Scene+ points can be used to retroactively pay off any travel-related purchase that appears on your statement. You’ll earn a rate of 2 points per $1 spent on eligible grocery stores, dining, entertainment purchases, and daily transit purchases. The card’s elite travel perks really put the RBC Avion Visa Infinite to shame: six complimentary airport lounge access; great travel insurance; and most importantly, no foreign transaction fees. This feature alone will save 2.50% on all purchases made in a foreign currency, the ultimate windfall for travellers.
- $150 annual fee
- You’ll earn 3X Scene+ points for each dollar charged to your account on all eligible purchases¹ at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés TradItIon, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op
- 2X points per $1 spent on other eligible grocery stores, dining, entertainment purchases, and daily transit purchases
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Complimentary Visa Airport Companion Program membership plus six complimentary lounge visits per year
- Comprehensive travel insurance
- Flexible travel redemption
Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card to learn more.
*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.
Rates, fees and other information are effective as of Jan.4, 2024. Subject to change.
BMO Rewards® Mastercard®*
Over its RBC comparison you can find better value in the BMO Rewards™ Mastercard®*, which has a $0 annual fee but doesn’t restrict rewards to a single purchase category. You’ll simply collect 1 BMO Rewards point per $1 spent everywhere*. This is already better than what RBC offers, but BMO adds in 25% off when renting vehicles at National®#† Car Rental and Alamo®*‡ Rent A Car locations worldwide*, and a 0.99% promotional interest rate on balance transfers (a rate which lasts 9 months, 2% balance transfer fee applies)*.
- Earn 1 point per $1 spent*
- 15,000-point bonus*
- 25% off at National Car Rental®† and Alamo Rent a Car®†† locations*
- 0.99% interest for 9 months on transferred balances (2% balance transfer fee applies)*
*Terms and conditions apply
RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option vs. MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard® credit card
When you have the luxury of a low purchase interest rate, it’s easier to make purchases with your card or use it for cash advances, and then carry this portion of your balance month-to-month in the event that you can’t pay it off in full. RBC customers choose the RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option for this purpose, as they pay just $20 per year to enjoy an 12.99% cash advance interest rate and 12.99% purchase interest rate. They also get purchase protection and extended warranties4 and instant Fuel Savings at Petro-Canada. But there are other credit cards out there with lower purchase interest rates—some of which have no annual fee.
This expectation is satisfied for applicants who are approved for the MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard® credit card—a credit card with a $39 annual fee and a significantly lower 8.99% regular interest rate on purchases. Cardholders with high expenses and who may need to carry their balance for a month or more can do so at a reasonable rate of interest, but also move their existing balances to the MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard® credit card. The low rate on purchases makes it a no brainer when using this card for every day buys and the annual fee is quite worth it if you consider the savings on your interest.
- $39 annual fee
- 8.99% regular interest rate on purchases and 8.99%✪ on balance transfers
- 3% balance transfer fee ($7.50 minimum)
- 24.99% interest on cash advances
- Fraud protection and 24/7 customer service
✪, Terms and Conditions apply.
This expectation is satisfied for applicants who are approved for the MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard® credit card—a credit card with a $39 annual fee and a significantly lower 8.99% regular interest rate on purchases. Cardholders with high expenses and who may need to carry their balance for a month or more can do so at a reasonable rate of interest, but also move their existing balances to the MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard® credit card. The low rate on purchases makes it a no brainer when using this card for every day buys and the annual fee is quite worth it if you consider the savings on your interest.
- $39 annual fee
- 8.99% regular interest rate on purchases and 8.99%✪ on balance transfers
- 3% balance transfer fee ($7.50 minimum)
- 24.99% interest on cash advances
- Fraud protection and 24/7 customer service
✪, Terms and Conditions apply.
MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard® credit card offer is not available for residents of Quebec.
Sponsored advertising. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) and TD is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete information on this MBNA credit card, please click on the “Apply Now” button.
The Toronto-Dominion Bank is the issuer of this credit card. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. ®MBNA and other-trademarks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.
BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information.Refer to RBC Page for up to date offer terms and conditions.
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