Canada’s 8 Best Cash Back Credit Cards

The SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express earns 4% cash back on gas and groceries (on up to $30,000 of groceries a year) and 2% cash back on all other purchases. While most cards have higher category rates, this card is unparalleled for everything else.

Plus, the fee is a reasonable $9.99 a month, or $119.88 a year, about the same as other premium cash back cards.

If you prefer a slim wallet and frequently shop at stores that take Amex, this card is without a doubt your best choice.

The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card can’t be beat when it comes to earn rates on everyday spending. If you live a fast-paced lifestyle, this is the ideal cash back card for you.

You’ll earn 6% at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, FreshCo, and other participating grocers, and 5% on other groceries, restaurants, and entertainment purchases, among the highest rates available on any card. The bonus points are capped at $50,000 spent per year in these categories, setting this card far apart from the competition.

As an added bonus, you’ll get a strong 3% earn rate on gas, transit, and streaming services, no foreign exchange fees, and the many benefits of being an American Express cardholder – including Front of the Line ticket access and exclusive Amex Offers.

While the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card is technically a travel card, its Scene+ points can be redeemed for cash-equivalent statement credits very easily. If the card’s earn rates and perks fit your needs, it’s absolutely worth considering.

The card's everyday earning rate is what makes it a shining star, so while the welcome bonus is usually quite appealing, I'd treat it like a cherry on top and not let a low welcome bonus hold you back if the card otherwise interests you.

The RBC® Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard is one of the strongest cash back Mastercards available in Canada, with a high earn rate across the categories most households spend on every week.

You’ll earn 3% cash back on groceries, dining and food delivery, gas and EV charging, rideshare and transit, and streaming and gaming, and 1% on everything else. With that many categories at 3%, most everyday purchases earn the higher rate, and there are no rotating categories to track.

The welcome offer adds 15% extra cash back for the first three months on up to $2,000 in purchases, worth up to $300 (apply by February 2, 2027). The annual fee is $120 ($50 for an additional card), and the card comes with standard World Elite benefits including extended warranty and purchase protection, plus savings of 3¢ per litre at Petro-Canada.

If you prefer the Mastercard network and most of your spending goes to groceries, dining, gas and getting around, this card sits comfortably at the top of the cash back Mastercard category.

The CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card is another jack of all trades, with 4% cash back on groceries and gas, and 2% back on restaurants, recurring bill payments, and transit. These are some of the most useful categories for bonus rewards because they typically make up the majority of most Canadians’ everyday purchases.

While other cards may offer similar rewards but with lower annual fees or higher spending limits, none have the same overall mix of category bonuses. If you’re looking for high rates on groceries, gas, and restaurants, don’t want to pay annual fees for more than one premium card, and can’t use American Express where you shop, the CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card is the total package.

Plus, since it’s issued by a major Canadian bank, you’ll get seamless integration with your chequing account if you also bank with CIBC. Although Desjardins and Meridian have similar cards with a lower annual fee, they don’t have as big of a national presence in case you need customer support.

If you don’t meet the minimum income requirements for this card, you can apply for the CIBC Dividend® Visa Platinum* Card instead. It has all of the same earn rates and fees, just weaker insurance, and only requires an annual personal income of $15,000.

The Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card earns bonus rewards on recurring bills. This includes any utility companies that accept credit cards and are set up as a recurring pre-authorized payment, as well as select streaming services. Note that as of October 22, 2026, rent and tax payments earn the regular 1% rate rather than the accelerated rate.

Eligible recurring transactions earn 4% cash back. That’s by far the highest available earn rate for your recurring bills. Also, with 4% cash back on groceries, this card is a great choice for families with many mouths to feed and large homes to heat.

Plus, new cardholders can often find an offer for their first-year annual fee waived and 15% cash back in the first three months, on up to $2,000 in purchases.

If you’re looking for a simple solution, the Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard® is the card for you. While other cards offer better category earn rates, there’s no better choice for a budget-conscious spender.

The card earns 2% cash back on all purchases if you're an eligible Rogers, Fido, or Shaw customer, or 1.5% cash back if you're not. This rate is slightly higher than the de facto benchmark for other World Elite Mastercards, but the Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard® has the advantage of having no annual fee. If you’re primarily concerned about keeping costs down, you won’t find another card with a better all-round cash back rate.

Also, the card gives higher rewards on US-dollar purchases to offset the foreign exchange fee. This gives you peace of mind not to fret about extra costs if you’re doing any online shopping on US sites or going for a jaunt over the border.

If you're an eligible Rogers, Fido, or Shaw customer, you'll get 50% bonus cash back when you redeem for a Rogers, Shaw, or Fido purchase. This results in an effective 3% cash back earning rate on all purchases. The bonus ends on November 18, 2026. From then, cash back redeems at face value, and eligible Rogers purchases, such as a Rogers or Fido mobile bill, earn up to 5% instead.

Whether you like the simplicity of only using one card, or a high earn rate on uncategorized spending at no extra cost, there’s a place for the Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard® in every wallet.

Brim is a small credit card issuer with lower foreign transaction fees on many of their cards. Their entry-level card with no annual fee, the Brim Mastercard, makes a great keeper or backup card for reducing foreign transaction fees, as it charges 1.5% instead of the industry-standard 2.5%.

This card earns equal rewards on all foreign purchases, a unique feature among cards with no annual fee. Also, as a Mastercard, you’ll find it’s very widely accepted around the world on all your foreign purchases.

For zero foreign transaction fees, you'd want a card from the No FX Fee page – but if you're a cash back earner who shops abroad occasionally, the Brim's 1% saving per transaction adds up. Even for use at home, you’ve got a decent all-round entry-level credit card in the Brim Mastercard.

The Tangerine® Money-Back World Mastercard®* stands out for combining no annual fee with a generous 2% cash back rate in up to six spending categories of your choice, including groceries, gas, dining, recurring bills, and transportation.

That flexibility sets it apart from most cash back cards, which lock you into predetermined categories. You choose where you earn the most, and everything else earns 0.5%.

The welcome offer of $120 cash back when you spend $1,500 in the first three months adds a nice starting bonus. You'll also get World Mastercard benefits like mobile device insurance – a perk that most no-fee cards don't include.

For a card with no annual fee, the Tangerine Money-Back World delivers an impressive combination of earning potential, flexibility, and everyday practicality.