American Express Cobalt® Card
Rewards: Earn 5 Membership Rewards per dollar spent on groceries (up to $30,000 annually), 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada, 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on rideshares, transit and gas in Canada 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases and 1 additional Membership Rewards point for every dollar spent on eligible hotel or car rental bookings made with American Express Travel.
Welcome Offer: In your first year as a new Cobalt Cardmember, you can earn 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in net purchases on your Card. This could add up to 15,000 points in a year. That’s up to $150 towards a weekend getaway or concert tickets
Annual Fee: $155.88 ($12.99 per month)
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card offers a stellar earn rate on grocery spending and impressive benefits like thorough travel insurance coverage. That said, it does have a high annual fee. Amex is not accepted everywhere and there is a tier of credit cards out there with an even higher welcome bonus.
Neo World Elite® Mastercard
Get a great cash-back rate on groceries, and you can raise it as long as you have the right Neo Savings Account balance.
Rewards: Earn 3% cash back on gas, 4% on recurring payments, 5% on groceries and 1% on all other eligible purchases without banking with Neo. Earn 3.50% on gas with a $5,000 balance in a Neo Everyday Account and 4% with a $10,000 balance Earn 4.50% on recurring payments with a $5,000 balance in a Neo Everyday Account and 5% with a $10,000 balance and finally, earn 6% on groceries with a $5,000 balance in a Neo Everyday Account and 7% with a $10,000 balance
Welcome Offer: Up to 15% cashback on first-time partner network purchases.
Annual Fee: $125
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: While you can raise your cash-back rate on groceries, you need a $5,000 monthly balance in a Neo Savings Account to get 6% and $10,000 monthly balance there to get 7%. You’ll also only get the top earn rate on groceries (5% to 7%) on the first $1,000 in grocery purchases.
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BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card
Earn BMO points on your essential spending and a whopping 5 points per dollar on many essential purchase categories.
Rewards: 5 points per dollar on groceries, gas, dining, travel and drugstore purchases. 1 point per dollar on everything else.
Welcome Offer: Earn up to 120,000 BMO Rewards points. Earn 50,000 points will be applied after you spend a minimum of $6,000 within the first three months. Receive an additional 30,000 BMO Rewards points in the first six months after you spend a minimum of $30,000. Finally, receive 40,000 BMO Rewards in the first year after you spend $75,000.
Annual Fee: $499
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Along with a steep annual fee, the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege comes with potentially prohibitive income requirements for some. You need to earn either $150,000 in annual personal income or $200,000 in household income to remain eligible for the card. Still, if you can meet these requirements and pay the annual fee, the value of the card’s additional benefits may be worth it, such as the six complimentary airport lounge visits each year or the $200 annual statement credit.
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CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card
The CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card earns fuss-free cash back at an impressive rate on both groceries and gas spending.
Rewards: Earn 4% cash back on gas, EV charging and groceries, 2% on dining, transportation and recurring bills and 1% on all other purchases.
Welcome Offer: Earn a 10% cash back welcome bonus of up to $250 for the first 4 statements.†
This offer does not apply to residents of Quebec. †Terms and conditions apply.
Annual Fee: $120 (rebated in the first year)†. (Purchase Interest Rate†:20.99%; Cash Interest Rate†:22.99%)
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: You’ll also save $0.10 per litre at select gas stations when you link your Journie Rewards. You’ll also get travel insurance coverage and mobile device insurance. However, this card has an annual fee, a fairly high income requirement and Visa still isn’t accepted at Costco or Loblaws stores.
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Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
Earn Scene+ points on all essential spending.
Rewards: 6 points per dollar on groceries at select grocery stores, 5 points per dollar at grocery stores, restaurants, bars and food delivery. Plus, 3 points per dollar on gas and transit, 3 points per dollar on streaming services and 1 point per dollar everywhere else.
Welcome Offer: Earn up to 40,000 Scene+ points. Earn 20,000 points by making at least $2,000 in eligible purchases in the first three months and get an additional 20,000 points after spending at least $7,500 in the first year. Must open account by July 1, 2025 to qualify.
Annual Fee: $120
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card offers flexible cash back on all your essential spending. However, it falls short when it comes to the annual fee, spending caps and its less than stellar travel insurance.
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BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®*
The BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* earns flexible cash back on all your essential spending—and a very high rate on grocery spends.
Rewards: 5% back on groceries, 4% on transit, 3% on gas, 2% on recurring bills and 1% on all other purchases.
Welcome Offer: Earn up to 10% cash back for the first three months on qualified purchases (up to $2,600).
Annual Fee: $120 (waived in the first year)
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: While this card offers solid earnings, plus perks like purchase security, there’s a cap of $5,000 per year on the groceries and gas earn rate.
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CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
Earn Aeroplan points on your grocery spending.
Rewards: 1.5 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on groceries, gas, and Air Canada vacations. 1 point per dollar on everything else.
Welcome Offer: Get a total of up to 40,000 Aeroplan points (up to $800 in travel value) and an Air Canada Buddy Pass, entiling your travel companion to a $0 base fare on any flight.
Annual Fee: $139 (rebated the first year if you have a CIBC Smart Plus™ Account)
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: While the Aeroplan points are earned at a good rate and this card comes with decent travel insurance, the points are not the most flexible. Plus, there’s a moderately high annual fee.
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CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card
Earn Aventura points on groceries and other essentials.
Rewards: Collect 2 points per dollar on travel purchases with the CIBC Rewards Centre, 1.5 points per dollar spent at gas and EV charging stations, grocery stores and drug stores and 1 point per dollar on everything else.†
Welcome Offer: Get up to $1,450 in value including a first year annual fee rebate!†. Earn up to 45,000 Aventura Points (up to $900 in travel value†): 15,000 Aventura Points after making your first purchase and 30,000 Aventura Points after spending $3,000 or more in net purchases in the first 4 monthly statement periods. †Terms and conditions apply. This offer is not available to residents of Quebec.
Annual Fee: $139 (Rebated in the first year)† (Purchase Interest Rate†:20.99%; Cash Interest Rate†:22.99%)
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card earns Aventura points, and comes with decent travel insurance and airport lounge access†. However, the points are not the most flexible and there’s a moderately high annual fee.
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Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card
The Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card earns cash back while getting good travel insurance coverage.
Rewards: 4% cash back on groceries, recurring bills and subscriptions. You’ll also get 2% back on gas and transit and 1% back on everything else.
Welcome Offer: 10% cash back in the first 3 months on your first $2,000 in total purchases ($200 value).
Annual Fee: $120 (waived in the first year)
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card offers a high earn rate, comprehensive travel insurance, mobile device insurance and discounts on rental cars. The annual fee, strict cash back redemption rules and moderate income requirement hold it back.
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CIBC Dividend Platinum® Visa* Card
This card earns on groceries and offers a few extra perks.
Rewards: Collect 3% cash back on gas, electric vehicle charging and groceries, 2% on dining, transportation and recurring bills or subscriptions and 1% on all other purchases.
Welcome Offer: Earn a 10% cash back welcome bonus of up to $250 for the first 4 statements.† This offer does not apply to residents of Quebec. †Terms and conditions apply
Annual Fee: $99 (rebated in the first year)†
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: While this card offers decent cash back, it is does not compare favorably as far as other perks go, with the exception of some travel insurance coverage. Plus, it still has an annual fee.
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American Express Marriott Bonvoy
A card that earns on all spending and offers some travel perks.
Rewards: 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 on all spending and 5 points per dollar on spending at Marriott Bonvoy.
Welcome Offer:Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards points after you charge $1,500 in purchases to your Card in your first three months of Cardmembership. Subject to change at any time.
Annual Fee: $120
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card comes in last because, while it offers good earnings and some travel perks like insurance, it’s only of really good use to people who stay at the Marriott hotel chain.
Data research and analysis provided by Debra Toews.
The information for the CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The information for the CIBC Dividend Platinum® Visa* Card has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.