Best Rewards Credit Cards in Canada for March 2026

Think about your spending habits and goals. Planning a honeymoon and want the rewards to pay for the flights? A card that earns miles on your favourite airline might be worthwhile.

Alternatively, if you spend big at the grocery store, a card that earns cash back on food purchases (or a co-branded store credit card that earns discounts) might save you more.

If you’re trying to decide between cards with similar rewards, the tiebreaker can often be the sign-up bonus. Some cards offer a generous intro offer that can jump-start your reward-earning journey with thousands of extra points or miles.

Here’s what to look out for when comparing welcome offers:

When comparing rewards cards, look at the interest rates that might apply:

If you’re firmly against the idea of paying an annual fee, you’ll instantly narrow down your choices to no-fee credit cards. That said, rewards credit cards that have an annual fee typically come with extra benefits that could ‘cover’ the cost.

For example: If the annual fee is $150, but you could earn $2,000 in cash back each year, the fee may be worth it.

The base earn rate is the lowest amount of cash-back, points or miles you can earn on the card, and typically applies to everyday spending. But most rewards credit cards also have bonus rates — accelerated earn rates in specific categories.

Store rewards cards usually offer higher earn rates on purchases at that particular store. General rewards credit cards, on the other hand, tend to boost earn rates on general categories like groceries, gas or pharmacies.

Choosing a card with bonus earn rates that line up with your spending habits can boost the amount of rewards you earn.

Note: Most rewards cards come with spending caps on bonus earn rates. For example, a 5x points rate on groceries might only apply to the first $500 you spend each month.

Having a lot of points is meaningless if it’s hard to redeem them. Look for a loyalty program that fits your needs and lifestyle. For example:

General rewards are points earned through everyday spending, like gas or grocery purchases, which can then be redeemed for a variety of products and services, such as entertainment, merchandise, gift cards, cash back or travel bookings.

Are you a student or newcomer? Some issuers offer rewards cards specifically to students and people new to Canada.

Airline credit cards earn points or miles for specific frequent flyer programs, like Aeroplan, Westjet or Porter.

Depending on the card tier, you may get additional perks like free checked bags, priority boarding or increased status.

If you’re not loyal to one specific airline or hotel chain, a general travel rewards program may interest you. Points earned can be used for any type of travel redemption.

Hotel rewards cards are typically tied to a specific hotel chain and include benefits to make your stay more comfortable, like upgrades, free breakfasts and late check-outs.

Many major retailers have their own loyalty programs, and some even have co-branded credit cards, like the CIBC Costco®† Mastercard® or the PC Insiders™ World Elite® Mastercard®. These cards earn accelerated points at the affiliated stores and may offer access to exclusive deals and discounts.

Cash-back cards earn (you guessed it) cash back on purchases you make. Depending on the card, you can typically earn between 1% and 5% back on eligible purchases.

In general, cash-back is usually redeemed as a statement credit, helping to lower your credit card bill. Some cards also let you deposit the rewards into an eligible bank or investment account.