The Cards Canadians
Can't Stop Debating
We settle the most common credit card debates with real data, including earn rates, annual fees, transfer partners, perks, and a clear verdict on which card wins for which type of spender.
Amex Cobalt vs TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite
Canada's top two travel cards - compared head-to-head
American Express Canada
Amex Cobalt
Annual Fee: $191.88/yr ($15.99/mo)
Foodies and flexible travel redeemers
Earn Rates
- 5x on eats & drinks (up to $2,500 in purchases/month)
- 3x on eligible streaming
- 2x on gas, transit & rideshare
- 1x everywhere else
Key Perks
- Transfer to 5 airline programs incl. Aeroplan
- Amex Invites & entertainment access
- Travel insurance package
- Mobile device insurance
Watch Out For
- Monthly fee structure
- Not accepted everywhere (Amex)
Verdict
Best if you spend heavily on dining and want flexible transfer partner options
TD Bank
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite
Annual Fee: $139/yr
Air Canada loyalists and Aeroplan collectors
Earn Rates
- 1.5x Aeroplan on gas, EV charging, grocery & direct Air Canada purchases (up to $80,000/yr)
- 1x Aeroplan everywhere else
- 1,000 Status Qualifying Credits per $20,000 spent (up to 25,000 SQC/yr)
Key Perks
- First checked bag free on Air Canada for you and up to 8 companions on the same reservation
- NEXUS application fee rebate (up to $100)
- Comprehensive travel insurance
- Global Aeroplan network
Watch Out For
- Lower earn rate than Cobalt on dining
- Less flexible (Aeroplan only)
Verdict
Best if you fly Air Canada regularly and want direct Aeroplan earn plus free checked bags (no airport lounge access)
Our Verdict
Amex Cobalt wins on points value; TD Aeroplan wins on Air Canada perks
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Scotiabank Gold Amex vs CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite
Canada's top two cash back cards - which earns more for your spending?
Scotiabank
Scotiabank Gold American Express
Annual Fee: $120/yr
Dining, entertainment, and international shoppers
Earn Rates
- 6x Scene+ at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland & more
- 5x Scene+ on groceries, dining & entertainment
- 3x on gas, transit & streaming
- 1x everything else
Key Perks
- No foreign transaction fees
- Scene+ rewards ecosystem
- Comprehensive insurance package
Watch Out For
- Not accepted everywhere (Amex)
- 5% capped by Scene+ ecosystem
Verdict
Best for dining-heavy spenders and those who shop internationally or in USD online
CIBC
CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite
Annual Fee: $120/yr
Grocery and gas heavy spenders
Earn Rates
- 4% on groceries
- 4% on gas
- 2% on dining & daily transit
- 2% on recurring bills
- 1% everything else
Key Perks
- Accepted everywhere Visa is accepted
- Grocery/gas earn uncapped
- Travel & purchase insurance
- CIBC banking integration
Watch Out For
- Foreign transaction fee (2.5%)
- Lower earn on dining vs Scotiabank
Verdict
Best for families spending heavily on groceries and gas with a Visa preference
Our Verdict
Scotiabank Gold wins for dining & travel; CIBC Dividend wins for groceries & gas
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Rogers Red World Elite vs Tangerine Money-Back
Canada's best no-fee and low-fee cash back cards compared
Rogers Bank
Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard
Annual Fee: $0 ($80,000 personal or $150,000 household income required)
Rogers, Fido, Shaw or Comwave customers and flat-rate earners
Earn Rates
- 2% cash back on eligible purchases with an eligible Rogers, Fido, Shaw or Comwave service (1.5% otherwise)
- 3% on US-dollar purchases (before the 2.5% foreign currency fee, so about 0.5% net)
- Up to a $61,000 annual spending cap (1.5% after that)
- Until Nov 17, 2026: cash back redeemed against Rogers/Fido/Shaw purchases is worth 1.5x (effectively 3%)
- From Nov 18, 2026: 5% on eligible Rogers purchases; the 1.5x redemption bonus ends
Key Perks
- No annual fee
- Travel medical insurance (trip cancellation, interruption and delay coverage ends Nov 18, 2026)
- World Elite Mastercard benefits
- Cash back rewards redeem $1 for $1 toward eligible purchases or your Rogers, Fido, Comwave or Shaw bill
Watch Out For
- High income requirement ($80,000 personal or $150,000 household)
- Cash back must be redeemed in the Rogers Bank app ($10 minimum redemption)
- Without an eligible Rogers, Fido, Shaw or Comwave service you earn only 1.5%
- 2.5% foreign currency fee on purchases in US dollars and other currencies
Verdict
Best for Rogers, Fido, Shaw or Comwave customers: 2% flat-rate cash back with no annual fee, up to $61,000 in spending a year
Tangerine (Scotiabank)
Tangerine Money-Back Card
Annual Fee: $0
Anyone wanting simple, flexible cash back with a low income requirement
Earn Rates
- 2% on 2 chosen categories (or 3 with Tangerine Savings Account)
- 0.5% on everything else
- Categories: groceries, restaurants, gas, entertainment, furniture, hotel/motel, drug stores, recurring bills, home improvement, public transit & parking, e-games, fitness & sports clubs, foreign currency spend
Key Perks
- Low income requirement ($12,000 gross annual income)
- Cash back paid automatically every month
- Change your 2% categories every 90 days
- Foreign Currency Spend is one of the 2% category options (the 2.5% foreign currency fee still applies)
Watch Out For
- Low 0.5% on non-category spending
- Must choose categories wisely
Verdict
Best starter cash back card with a low income requirement, simple rewards, and flexible categories
Our Verdict
Rogers Red World Elite for Rogers, Fido, Shaw or Comwave customers; Tangerine for everyone else starting out
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Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Amex Gold (US)
The two most popular US travel rewards cards: which is better in 2025?
Chase (US)
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Annual Fee: $95/yr
Beginner-to-intermediate travel hackers
Earn Rates
- 3x on dining
- 3x on online grocery (excl. Walmart, Target)
- 2x on all travel
- 5x on Chase Travel portal
- 1x everywhere else
Key Perks
- 14 transfer partners (United, Hyatt, Air Canada Aeroplan)
- No foreign transaction fees
- $100 annual hotel credit
- Primary rental car insurance
- Trip cancellation $10K/trip
Watch Out For
- Lower dining rate vs Amex Gold
- Chase 5/24 rule limits who can apply
Verdict
Best entry-level travel card featuring solid transfer partners, low fee, and a great signup bonus
American Express (US)
American Express Gold Card
Annual Fee: $325/yr
High dining and grocery spenders who travel regularly
Earn Rates
- 4x at restaurants worldwide
- 4x at US supermarkets (up to $25K/year)
- 3x on flights
- 1x everywhere else
Key Perks
- $120 dining credit (Uber Cash, restaurants)
- $120 Uber Cash annual credit
- $100 hotel credit (Hotel Collection)
- Transfer to 20+ airline/hotel partners
- No foreign transaction fees
Watch Out For
- $325 annual fee
- Credits can be tricky to use fully
- Amex not accepted everywhere
Verdict
Best for dining-heavy US spenders who can maximize the $240 in annual credits
Our Verdict
Chase Sapphire Preferred wins on value for most; Amex Gold wins for heavy dining spenders
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These Comparisons Are Just a Starting Point
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