Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card vs. Tangerine World Mastercard: How to Choose
Trying to decide between the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card and the Tangerine® Money-Back World Mastercard®*? Here’s what you need to know:
Both are rewards credit cards that earn cash back.
Neither Tangerine credit card charges an annual fee.
The cards have different income requirements: $12,000 per year for the Money-Back Card versus $50,000 per year for the World Mastercard
The Tangerine World Mastercard® has perks and benefits that aren’t offered by the Money-Back Card.
Here’s a side-by-side look at the details that matter most:
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card vs. Tangerine World Mastercard®
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.
NerdWallet’s pick: Tangerine World Mastercard®
Both of Tangerine’s rewards cards are solid choices if you’re looking to earn cash back. But if you meet the income requirements, the World Mastercard’s perks and benefits make it a no-brainer over the Money-Back.
Looking for a good credit card?
See NerdWallet’s picks for the best credit cards in Canada and start earning more rewards today.What Reddit has to say
Our Nerds know it can sometimes be helpful to hear what everyday cardholders think when making your decision. So, we took to Reddit to find out what users are saying about Tangerine’s credit cards across multiple threads.
Redditors mostly agree with NerdWallet's pick.
As of this writing, Redditors agree that the Tangerine World Mastercard® is the better choice of the two cash-back cards. Some users also say that if you apply for Tangerine’s Money-Back card but meet the World Mastercard’s income requirements, the issuer will automatically recommend upgrading.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the minimum income required for the Tangerine World Mastercard?
To be eligible for a Tangerine World Mastercard, a $60,000 (individual) annual income is required.
What credit score do you need for a Tangerine Money-Back Card?
Tangerine doesn’t publicly disclose its minimum credit score requirements for the Money-Back Card.
Which bank owns Tangerine?
Tangerine Bank is owned by The Bank of Nova Scotia, or Scotiabank.
Does Tangerine do a hard credit check?
Yes, when you apply for a credit card, Tangerine will perform a hard credit inquiry on your credit report. As with all hard credit inquiries, this could temporarily lower your credit score.
Does Tangerine Mastercard work at Costco?
Yes, Costco Canada accepts all Mastercards. (It doesn’t accept Visa or American Express cards.)
What are the Tangerine credit card spending categories?
Tangerine credit card holders can earn points on groceries, restaurants, gas, entertainment, furniture, hotels/motels, drug stores, recurring bill payments, home improvement, and public transportation and parking.
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