Best Tangerine Credit Cards in Canada
Tangerine is among the most popular digital banks in Canada. With its no-frills product lineup and no-fee approach to everyday banking, it’s amassed over two million clients across Canada.
Tangerine’s credit card lineup is limited, making comparison shopping all the easier. A Tangerine credit card is worth a look for anyone seeking a straightforward card with no annual fees.
Best Tangerine credit cards
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownCash back on up to three categories.
Cash back on everything else.
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeTangerine lets you pick up to three categories from a pool of 10 that you’ll earn 2% back on, making it one of the more flexible cash-back programs on the market. Other cash-back cards offer higher earn rates on similar categories, but the Tangerine Money-Back card doesn’t have caps — so, you could earn unlimited 2% back on furniture, for example, throughout the year. Best for: People who spend big in unusual categories and want a simple cash-back card.
Pros
- No annual fee.
- Choose the 2% cash-back categories based on your spending.
- 15% off H&R Block.
Cons
- Other cards offer higher rates on similar categories.
- Must have a Tangerine savings account to unlock 3rd cash-back category.
Card details
Card details- Earn 10% cash back¹⁰ for 2 months (Up to $100) – That’s on top of regular cash back. Plus, get a promo rate on balances you transfer for a limited time. Offer Expires April 30, 2026.
- Two Categories – 2% Money-Back Rewards on purchases in two categories of your choice. OR Three categories Deposit your Rewards into a Tangerine Savings Account and get a third 2% Money-Back category. 13 Categories to explore – Groceries, gas, and beyond, choose from 13 categories to suit your spending. And change them up every 90 days to match your purchases.◊
- 0.50% on everything else.
- Redeem cash back monthly as a statement credit or deposited into a Tangerine Savings Account.
- No annual fee.
- Transfer balances within your first 30 days and pay only 1.95% interest on the transferred balance for the first six months (22.95% after that). 1% balance transfer fee applies to the amount transferred.
- Get free cards for any authorized users on your account.
- It only includes purchase assurance and extended protection insurance. For more insurance, consider the Tangerine® Money-Back World Mastercard®* which requires a minimum personal income of $60,000. If you meet this requirement, you will automatically be considered for the World card if you apply for the Money-Back card.
- Preferred rates: 20.95% for purchases, 22.95% for cash advances (including balance transfers).
- To be eligible, a $12,000 (individual) annual income is required. Also, 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.
- *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.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownCash back in two 2% categories of your choice.
Cash back on all your other everyday purchases.
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeYou can earn unlimited 2% cash back in up to three categories of your choice, making it one of the more flexible cash-back programs in Canada. The card comes with more perks than the Money-Back version — mobile phone and rental car coverage, as well as discounted airport lounge access and a complimentary data roaming plan with Flexiroam. But the $50,000 minimum income requirements may be restrictive for some users. Best for: Travellers who spend big in unique categories and want a flexible cash-back program.
Pros
- No annual fee.
- Choose the 2% cash-back categories based on your spending.
- Mobile phone and rental car insurance.
Cons
- Must have a Tangerine savings account to unlock 3rd cash-back category.
Card details
Card details- Get $120 with a Money-Back World Mastercard®* Spend $1,500 in your first 3 months to enjoy this Bonus. It’s the no annual fee Credit Card with the most cash back categories to choose from ††. Offer Expires April 30, 2026.
- Two Categories – 2% Money-Back Rewards on purchases in two categories of your choice. OR Three categories Deposit your Rewards into a Tangerine Savings Account and get a third 2% Money-Back category. 13 Categories to explore – Groceries, gas, and beyond, choose from 13 categories to suit your spending. And change them up every 90 days to match your purchases.◊
- 0.5% on everything else.
- With Mastercard Travel Rewards, you can unlock cashback offers and get a rebate applied directly to your statement, by using your Tangerine® Money-Back World Mastercard®* at select merchants that accept Mastercard while travelling outside of Canada.
- Save on the things you love with your Tangerine® Money-Back World Mastercard®*. Enjoy special benefits and offers from a growing lineup of on-demand apps and subscription services made available to you as a Tangerine® Money-Back World Mastercard®* cardholder.
- Make the most of your travel with Mastercard® Travel Pass Provided by DragonPass. Your complimentary membership gives you exclusive dining, retail and spa offers in over 650 airports worldwide, along with access to over 1,300 airport lounges at $32 USD per visit. Learn more at Mastercard® Travel Pass.
- Rental Car Collision/Loss Damage Insurance**: Damage and theft protection for your car rental when you rent for up to 31 consecutive days and charge the full cost of your rental to your Card.
- Mobile Device Insurance**: Protection on new cell phones, smartphones or tablets when you charge the full cost to your Card, or when you purchase it through a plan and charge all of your wireless bill payments to your Card. Covers up to $1,000 if your mobile device is lost, stolen, accidentally damaged or experiences mechanical failure.
- Preferred rates: 20.95% for purchases, 22.95% for cash advances (including balance transfers).
- To be eligible, a $50,000 (individual) annual income is required. Also, 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.
Methodology
BACK TO TOPWhat to know about Tangerine’s credit cards
Online bank Tangerine was launched in 1997 as ING Direct and acquired by Scotiabank in 2012. Tangerine offers a variety of personal and business banking products, including chequing accounts, savings accounts, investments, lending products and credit cards.
As a digital bank, Tangerine doesn’t have any brick-and-mortar branches. Banking is done online or by phone. Thanks to its parent bank, Tangerine customers have free access to 3,500 Scotiabank ABMs nationwide.
As of this writing, Tangerine has two credit cards in its roster. The Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card is a no-frills cash-back card with no annual fees but limited features. The Tangerine World Mastercard®’s offerings are similar to that of the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card, but also includes some insurance coverage and travel perks.
Benefits and drawbacks of Tangerine credit cards
Both of Tangerine’s credit cards offer cash-back rewards alongside several attractive perks — but these cards aren’t without shortcomings.
Benefits
No annual fees. Neither of Tangerine’s credit cards charges an annual fee.
Welcome bonuses. Get an extra 10% back on up to $1,000 spent within the first two months of card membership.
Up to 2% cash back year-round. Earn 2% cash back on up to three Money-Back categories of your choice.
Wide variety of 2% eligible categories. Both cards include typical rewards categories like groceries and gas, as well as less common ones like furniture, home improvements, and public transportation and parking.
Ability to change categories. Planning a large purchase in a specific rewards category? You can easily update your Money-Back categories to match your spending.
Low introductory balance transfer APRs. Both cards offer rock-bottom introductory balance transfer APRs of just 1.95% for the first six months (22.95% after that point), though you’ll need to make the transfer within 30 days of opening your card and a 1% balance transfer fee will apply.
No cash-back earning caps. Earn cash back on every purchase without worrying about spending limits or earning caps.
Some insurance coverage. Extended warranty and purchase protection come standard with Tangerine credit cards. The World card also comes with up to $1,000 in mobile device insurance.
Drawbacks
No travel insurance. Neither of Tangerine’s cards offers travel insurance, but the World card comes with rental car collision/loss damage insurance, which could be handy for some travellers.
Limited travel benefits. If you’re seeking premium travel perks like free access to airport lounges, concierge support, baggage discounts and the like, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
Tangerine credit card categories
Tangerine has ten Money-Back categories that qualify for 2% rewards. Cardholders select two categories when they sign up. Any spending in these categories earns 2% cash back, while all other purchases earn 0.5% cash back. Cardholders can add a third 2% Money-Back category by depositing cash-back rewards into a Tangerine savings account.
Tangerine’s Money-Back categories include:
Groceries.
Furniture.
Restaurants.
Hotels/motels.
Gas.
Recurring bill payments.
Drug stores.
Home improvement.
Entertainment.
Public transportation and parking.
How to earn rewards
When you submit your Tangerine credit card application, you select your 2% Money-Back categories. Each time you use your card and spend money in any of your chosen categories, you’ll earn 2% cash back. All other purchases earn 0.5% cash back.
How to redeem rewards
Cash back rewards will appear on your monthly Tangerine credit card statement with their corresponding transactions. You have two Money-Back reward redemption options:
Deposit your rewards to a Tangerine savings account (and enjoy 2% in three categories).
Apply your rewards as a credit to your Tangerine credit card account (and stick with earning 2% on spending in two categories).
You’ll choose one option when you sign up, though you can change it anytime through your Tangerine account.
How to change Tangerine Money-Back categories:
You can change your Money-Back categories by logging into your Tangerine account and selecting Manage Rewards.
Your first Money-Back category change request will take effect immediately. All other category change requests will take effect on the first billing date following a 90-day hold period. You can make as many change requests as you’d like during that period, but requests will not be implemented until the hold period ends. If you submit multiple requests during a hold period, Tangerine implements the most recent change request.
Tangerine credit card features
Understanding Tangerine credit card features can help you better understand your card options.
Tangerine credit card promotions
Both of Tangerine’s credit cards come with the same introductory offer:
Earn an extra 10% cash back on up to $1,000 in purchases made within the first two months of card membership.
Receive a low promotional interest rate of 1.95% on balance transfers to a Tangerine credit card for the first six months. A balance transfer fee of 1% of the transferred amount applies.
This offer is only available to new Tangerine cardholders. (Offer expires April 30, 2025; terms and conditions apply).
Tangerine credit card interest rates
Tangerine credit cards carry the following interest rates, as of this writing:
Purchase: 20.95%.
Cash advance: 22.95%.
Balance transfer intro: 1.95% for the first six months, 22.95% after that.
Penalty: 25.95% on purchases and 27.95% on cash advances (including balance transfers) if you miss two consecutive payments.
Tangerine credit card fees
Tangerine cardholders can expect the following fees, as of this writing:
Annual fee: $0
Balance transfer fee: 3% of the amount transferred, a minimum of $5.00.
Cash advance fee: $3.50 to $5 per transaction.
Foreign transaction fee: 2.5% of the transaction amount.
Dishonoured payment fee: $25.
Over-limit fee: $25
Tangerine credit card limit
Tangerine credit card limits vary by cardholder. You may be able to increase your credit limit by contacting Tangerine to request a limit increase. Tangerine may occasionally offer to increase your credit limit, but no increase occurs without the cardholder’s consent.
Tangerine credit card insurance
Tangerine credit cards offer the following types of insurance as of this writing.
Extended warranty
Tangerine credit cards automatically extend the warranty of any eligible new item you purchase, up to a maximum of one year, so long as you charge the item to your Tangerine credit card.
Purchase protection
Receive coverage for repair or replacement costs if an item bought with your Tangerine credit card is damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase.
Additional coverage
The Tangerine World card comes with added insurance:
Rental car theft and damage for up to 31 days.
Mobile device protection that covers up to $1,000 if your mobile device is lost, stolen, accidentally damaged or experiences mechanical failure.
How to choose the best Tangerine card for you
When considering any credit card, you should weigh important factors, such as the interest rate, annual fee and rewards program. But Tangerine’s cards are identical in those categories, so comparing them against each other won’t help you decide. Instead, consider the cards’ key differences to determine which one is a better fit for your wallet:
Eligibility criteria. Annual income and credit score requirements are standard eligibility criteria for credit cards. The World card requires a gross annual income of $50,000, a household income of $80,000 or at least $250,000 in savings or investments at Tangerine. The Money-Back card only requires a gross annual income of $12,000, making it easier to qualify.
Desired coverage. Both cards offer the same Money-Back rewards, but the World card also offers mobile device coverage, rental car coverage and other benefits.
Tangerine World Mastercard vs. Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
The Tangerine World Mastercard® and Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card have much in common. In fact, only two significant factors separate these cards: travel perks and insurance coverage.
Tangerine World Mastercard | Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card | |
|---|---|---|
Annual fee | No annual fee. | No annual fee. |
Rewards |
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Benefits |
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Insurance coverage |
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Eligibility requirements |
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Types of Tangerine credit cards
Tangerine Bank offers two different credit cards:
Tangerine World Mastercard®: A no-fee cash-back rewards card with some travel perks.
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card: A no-frills cash-back rewards card with no annual fee.
While the bank does not offer a wide variety of cards, consumers seeking specific types of credit cards may find a suitable option:
Card type | Tangerine's offering |
|---|---|
Cash back credit card | Both Tangerine credit cards offer up to 2% cash-back rewards on spending. |
Rewards credit card | Both Tangerine credit cards offer cash-back rewards on spending. |
No-fee credit card | Neither of Tangerine’s cards has an annual fee. |
Travel credit card | Tangerine World Mastercard. |
Student credit card | There is no student-branded Tangerine credit card, but we think the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card is a suitable fit for many students. |
Secured credit card | Not available. |
Both of Tangerine’s credit cards frequently offer promotional balance transfer interest rates. | |
Business credit card | Not available. |
Debit card | Yes, through the No-Fee Daily Chequing Account. |
How to apply for a Tangerine credit card
Eligibility requirements
You must be a Canadian resident and at least the age of majority for your province or territory to be eligible for a Tangerine credit card. You must also not have declared bankruptcy over the past 7 years. You’ll also need to meet credit score and income requirements.
Like most other banks in Canada, Tangerine doesn’t publicly disclose credit score requirements for its credit cards online. This makes it hard to know your chances of approval when comparing credit cards. Higher scores have better chances of approval, which is true no matter what type of credit you’re applying for.
Want to learn more? Visit our “What Credit Score is Needed for a Credit Card?” page.
Steps to apply
Since Tangerine is a digital bank, the credit card application must be completed from Tangerine’s website. Enter any personal, employment or financial information requested. Review the card’s terms and conditions before applying.
Alternatives to consider if you are not approved
If you aren’t approved for a Tangerine credit card, there are numerous credit card alternatives on the market, including:
If you’ve been rejected for a credit card, don’t panic. Before you submit another application, learn more about how to improve your credit score.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get a Tangerine credit card with bad credit?
Since Tangerine doesn’t disclose its credit score requirements, an applicant with a lower credit score may be approved for a Tangerine credit card. If your card application is rejected and you think it’s because of your credit history, secured and prepaid cards are two options that might work for you.
How long does it take to receive a Tangerine credit card?
It typically takes five to seven business days for a Tangerine credit card to arrive by mail following application approval.
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