Shannon Terrell
Erica CorbinMany or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own.
Store credit cards reward brand enthusiasts and devoted shoppers. While you can usually use these co-branded cards anywhere, the highest rewards rates are often reserved for dollars spent at the retailer affiliated with the card.
Best store credit cards in Canada
Best for: Tims rewards
Tims Credit Card
With a variety of ways to earn points alongside a practical welcome bonus, the Tims Credit Card is sure to entice Timmies enthusiasts. Tims Rewards Points can only be redeemed for food and drink at Tim Hortons restaurants and insurance coverage is limited, but this card is still a solid play for Tims Rewards Points collectors.
Pros
- No annual fee.
- Earn up to 15 Tims Rewards Points per eligible dollar spent.
Cons
- Points can only be redeemed at Tim Hortons restaurants.
- Insurance limited to extended warranty and purchase protection.
- Earn Tims Rewards Points on everyday purchases with no annual fees.
- With the Tims Credit Card, you’ll earn points everywhere you shop and get 5 points per $1 on groceries, gas, EV charging, and transit (including taxis and ridesharing). Plus, earn 15 points per $1 at Tim Hortons restaurants when you scan for Tims® Rewards.
- Use your points to get free coffee and other menu items from Tims.
- Get up to $10 back when you use a Tims Credit Card to tap and pay on PRESTO devices for your Monday rides in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas.
- Use your Tims Credit Card to stream the latest originals from Crave™, HBO and HBO Max, with exclusive access to the entire HBO library, and the biggest Hollywood blockbusters.
- 24-hour TimBot chat support and live team members available 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. EST.
- Extend the manufacturer’s warranty for most items purchased on your Tims Credit Card for up to one year. Repair, replace or get reimbursed up to $1,000 per incident.
- Most items purchased with your Tims Credit Card can be repaired, replaced, or reimbursed up to $1,000 per incident. Protection is valid for 90 days after your purchase.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Best for: Canadian Tire rewards
Triangle™ World Elite Mastercard®
The Triangle™ World Elite Mastercard® is the ideal choice for shoppers hoping to collect and redeem as much Canadian Tire Money as possible. The roadside assistance package cardholders get access to is a nice perk, too.
Pros
- Solid Canadian Tire Money earn rates on groceries, sports equipment and other merchandise at participating stores.
- No annual fee.
- Access to various insurance plans.
Cons
- Not much added value if you don’t shop at Canadian Tire or its affiliated stores.
- Large families could burn through their accelerated earn rates on groceries sooner than they’d like.
- Earning Canadian Tire Money on gas purchases could be challenging if you don’t live near an eligible gas station.
- Collect 3% in Canadian Tire Money on the first $12,000 spent at eligible grocery stores per year and 1% on eligible grocery purchases after that.
- Collect 4% in Canadian Tire Money on qualifying purchases at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark’s/L’Equipeur, Atmosphere, Party City, Sports Rousseau, Hockey Experts, L’Entrepot du Hockey and participating Sports Experts stores.
- Collect 7 cents in Canadian Tire money per litre of premium fuel, and 5 cents per litre on all other fuel types purchased at Gas+/Essence+ locations.
- Canadian Tire Money can be redeemed at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Atmosphere, Sports Rousseau, Hockey Experts, L’Entrepot du Hockey and participating Mark’s/L’Equipeur and Sports Experts stores.
- No fee, no interest financing on qualifying purchases of $150 or more at participating stores. Conditions apply.
- No-receipt returns at participating stores.
- Access to member-only events and personalized offers.
- Priority queuing when calling the Triangle call centre.
- Enrollment in the Triangle World Elite Mastercard Roadside Assistance Gold Plan, which includes 5 service calls per year and unlimited tows to any Canadian Tire Auto Service Centre within towing limits.
- Car rental collision/loss damage waiver insurance.
- Extended warranty insurance for eligible purchases.
- Eligibility: Must be a Canadian resident and the age of majority in the province/territory of residence.
- No annual fee.
- No fee for obtaining a supplementary card on the same account.
- Interest rates: 19.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash transactions (21.99% in Quebec).
Best for: Costco members
CIBC Costco® Mastercard®
This card is ideal for Costco members with its cash back program that rewards everyday spending with cash back rewards that can be redeemed at Costco.
Pros
- Can serve as your Costco membership card.
- Payment plans available for purchases of $100 or more.
Cons
- Must have an existing Costco Wholesale membership to be eligible.
- Cash back gift certificates are only issued once annually.
- 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.
- No annual fee.
- Pay for purchases of $100 or more with CIBC Pace It low-rate Installment Plans, spreading payments over a fixed term. Take advantage of special Installment Plan interest rates with no installment fees on eligible Costco purchases in Canada and at Costco.ca.
- Make quick and secure payments using Apple Pay®, Google Pay™ and Samsung Pay® when you add your new card to your mobile wallet.
- Redeem your annual cash back gift certificate at any Canadian Costco warehouse.
- Get 0.25% cash back for every $1 spent on a CIBC Global Money Transfer™. There are no transaction fees, and interest won’t be charged, as long as the balance is paid by the payment due date.
- Preferred rates: 19.75% for purchases, 21.49% for cash advances.
- To be eligible, you must have a Canadian credit file and be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in the province or territory where you live. You must also have a valid Costco Wholesale membership.
Best for: Amazon and Whole Foods shoppers
Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard®
Ideal for Amazon shoppers with 2.5% back on all eligible Amazon.ca and Whole Foods purchases. Plus, Amazon Prime members get 2.5% back on eligible foreign currency transactions.
Pros
- No annual fee.
- Apply rewards to eligible Amazon.ca purchases.
Cons
- Amazon Prime membership required for higher earn rate.
- Get up to a $65 Amazon.ca Gift Card instantly upon approval.
- Plus earn 5% back on your first $3,000 in eligible purchases at Amazon.ca, Whole Foods Market stores, grocery stores, and restaurants.
- Earn rewards on eligible purchases at Amazon.ca — including Whole Foods Market stores in Canada.
- After the welcome offer ends, eligible Prime members get 2.5% back on eligible purchases at Amazon.ca and Whole Foods Market stores.
- Eligible Prime members always get 2.5% back on eligible foreign currency transactions to help cover foreign transaction fees.
- After the welcome offer ends, non-Prime members get 1.5% back on eligible purchases at Amazon.ca and Whole Foods Market stores. Always get 1% back on eligible foreign currency transactions to help cover foreign transaction fees.
- Receive 1% back on eligible purchases everywhere else Mastercard is accepted.
- Rewards can be redeemed at Amazon.ca and applied directly to eligible Amazon.ca items.
- No annual credit card fee.
- The MBNA Payment Plan can make it more convenient to pay for large purchases and manage a budget. Pay for eligible credit card purchases of $100 or over by making monthly payments. Choose from three Payment Plan terms: 6, 12 or 18 months. Conditions and fees apply.
- Preferred rates: 19.99% for purchases, 22.99% for cash advances.
- To be eligible, you must have a Canadian credit file and be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.
Best for: Hudson's Bay shoppers
Hudson’s Bay Mastercard
The Hudson’s Bay Mastercard is a no-fee credit card that earns both points and cash back — an uncommon combination that sets it apart from competitors. Card perks, like boosted cash-back rates, insurance coverage, wellness perks and more, are available for a monthly fee.
Pros
- No annual fee.
- Earns rewards points and cash back.
- Customizable card perks.
Cons
- Rewards points can only be redeemed for Hudson’s Bay purchases.
- No built-in insurance coverage.
- No annual fees.
- Use your Hudson’s Bay Mastercard in store and at thebay.com and get double the Rewards points—up to 4 Rewards points on almost every $1 you spend.
- Earn 2 Rewards points on almost every $1 you spend outside of Hudson’s Bay stores.
- Your Hudson’s Bay Rewards points can be redeemed instantly at Hudson’s Bay stores and thebay.com.
- Earn even more through member-only exclusive offers, events and specials throughout the year.
- Earn an average of 2% cash back at thousands of local and national Neo Financial partners and businesses, including most major gas and grocery stores, restaurants, gyms, coffee shops, and more.
- Access boosted cash back, insurance coverage, and other exclusive perks by adding reward perks for gas & groceries, travel, wellness, and more to your card.
- Manage your card right from the Neo app, freeze or replace your card, get proactive alerts and notifications in real time, and more. In addition to your physical card, you can add your card to Apple Pay or Google Pay to make contactless payments with your smartphone.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Best for: PC Optimum points
PC Insiders™ World Elite Mastercard
With accelerated earn rates at grocery stores and at gas pump, loyal Loblaws shoppers can get a lot of the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard.
Pros
- High earn rate (up to 50 PC Optimum points per CAD spent).
- Unlimited online grocery delivery and pickups for free.
- Includes insurance, such as travel and car rental coverage.
Cons
- Higher earn rates are only available at certain stores.
- Minimum income requirement may disqualify some applicants ($80,000 for individuals, or $150,000 per household).
- $120 annual fee.
- Earn 50 PC Optimum points per $1 at Shoppers Drug Mart stores, 40 points per $1 at Loblaw banner grocery stores, 10 points per $1 everywhere else, plus 7¢ per litre in points at Esso and Mobil stations in Canada.
- Travel emergency medical insurance included.
- Rental car coverage included.
- Additional cardholders are free.
- Mastercard Global Services replaces your card or offers a cash advance in emergencies.
- Unlimited free online grocery delivery and pickups (and complimentary PC Express Pass (valued at $99.99 per year).
Best for: Walmart shoppers
Walmart Rewards™ World Mastercard®
The Walmart Rewards World Mastercard rewards Walmart shoppers — both in-store and online — who want to maximize the value of money spent at this popular superstore. Cardholders earn Walmart Reward Dollars on everyday purchases and gain access to valuable perks, like free Boingo Wi-Fi.
Pros
- No annual fee.
- Earn up to 3% Walmart Reward Dollars on every eligible $1 spent.
Cons
- Higher interest rates.
- High annual income requirement for new applicants.
- Limited insurance coverage.
- Walmart Rewards Mastercard® has no annual fee and lets you easily spend your Walmart Reward Dollars like cash on your choice of virtually anything Walmart sells online and in store.
- You can earn Walmart Reward Dollars by using your Walmart Rewards Mastercard® or your Walmart Rewards World Mastercard® with every purchase you make on the card.
- Walmart Reward Dollars can be redeemed at Walmart stores in Canada and online at Walmart.ca. You can redeem Walmart Reward Dollars in $5 increments for virtually anything Walmart sells.
- Boingo Wi-Fi for Mastercard — access to over 1 million hotspots worldwide — all at no added cost, and no added fees or roaming charges.
- Purchase Assurance Protection against theft, loss or damage in the first 90 days on eligible purchases made on your card from the date of purchase.
- Extended Warranty Protection which doubles the manufacturer’s regular repair services warranty for up to an additional warranty year on eligible purchases made on your card.
- Existing Walmart Rewards Mastercard® cardholders can qualify for the World card by spending $15,000 or more on their card in the previous 12 months.
- New applicants for a Walmart Rewards Mastercard® will be eligible for the World card if they have an annual household income of $100,000 or more. Standard credit and other approval criteria apply.
Methodology to identify the best store credit cards
NerdWallet Canada selects the best store credit cards based on their overall consumer value as well as their suitability for specific kinds of consumers. Our evaluation methodology is weighted by the following factors: 50% rewards value, 25% intro offer, and 25% fees and interest. Rewards value considers earning rates, rewards structure, promotional rates and spending categories. The intro offer considers the welcome bonus value, promotional interest rates, and any waived fees. Fees and interest consider interest rates for purchases, balance transfers and cash advances, and additional costs such as foreign transaction fees. Other noteworthy features, such as insurance, special perks and extra benefits, earn unofficial bonus points. Only store credit cards were considered.
Summary of the best store credit cards in Canada
| CATEGORY | CARD | ANNUAL FEE | INTRO OFFER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for: Tims rewards. | Tims Credit Card. | $0. | Up to 10,000 Points. |
| Best for: Canadian Tire rewards. | Triangle World Elite Mastercard. | $0. | N/A. |
| Best for: Costco members. | CIBC Costco Mastercard. | $0. | N/A. |
| Best for: Amazon and Whole Foods shoppers. | Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard. | $0. | Up to $215. |
| Best for: Hudson's Bay shoppers. | Hudson’s Bay Mastercard. | $0. | Up to 25% off Hudson’s Bay purchases. |
| Best for: PC Optimum points. | PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard. | $120. | Up to 150,000 Points. |
| Best for: Walmart shoppers. | Walmart Rewards World Mastercard. | $0. | Up to $45 in Walmart Reward Dollars. |
Guide to store credit cards in Canada
Numerous retailers in Canada have co-branded store credit cards with brand-specific rewards. You can shop elsewhere with these cards, but expect the most attractive rewards rates on dollars spent with the co-branded retailer.
What is a store credit card?
Store credit cards have an affiliation with a specific company. These co-branded cards are designed to reward brand enthusiasts by earning points associated with an in-house rewards program, like Tims Reward Points or Canadian Tire Money. Or, they may offer a more generic reward, like cash back, with higher earn rates reserved for dollars spent at their respective establishments.
Which stores have credit cards in Canada?
Whether they earn in-house points or offer programs designed to reward loyal shoppers, there are numerous retailers in Canada with credit cards, including:
- Amazon.
- Canadian Tire.
- Costco.
- Home Depot.
- Hudson’s Bay.
- Loblaw.
- Tim Hortons.
- Walmart.
Did you know?
Some general rewards credit cards (i.e., not store-branded) also offer discounts or elevated rates at specific retailers. The Brim Mastercard, for instance, offers up to 30 points per dollar spent at certain stores in its eShop.
Benefits of store credit cards
Some of the perks associated with store credit cards include:
- No annual fees. Many store credit cards in Canada are available without an annual fee.
- Exclusive offers. You can take advantage of cardholder-exclusive store discounts and personalized special offers.
- Store rewards. Co-branded credit cards earn points for in-house rewards programs on each eligible dollar spent.
Drawbacks of store credit cards
Be wary of these potential store credit card drawbacks:
- Higher interest rates. Some co-branded credit cards carry higher interest rates than cards from traditional financial institutions.
- Less insurance coverage. Extended warranty and purchase protection come standard on many store cards but rental car, mobile device and travel insurance are less common.
Frequently asked questions about store credit cards
In general, opening new lines of credit too frequently can have a negative affect on your credit score. So while there’s nothing wrong with holding multiple store cards — especially if they have no annual fee — it’s best to space out your applications.
If you’re trying to decide between two store credit cards, like, say, the Amazon card versus Costco card, you’ll want to carefully consider the perks for each one, as well as how frequently you shop at the stores.
Any type of credit card has the potential to impact your credit. Practicing responsible credit card habits, like intentional spending, paying your card balance in full and keeping your credit utilization ratio below 30%, can help improve your credit score over time.
The most popular store credit cards in Canada tend to be for the country’s most visited retailers. Loblaws, Costco and Walmart, for instance, are among some of the most popular big-box stores, and Amazon is an extremely popular online retailer. The Apple Card has also been coveted by many Canadians but is unfortunately only available in the U.S. currently.
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