If you prefer to only carry one credit card at a time, the Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard® is the card for you. It’s one of the rare Mastercards at the premium World Elite level that comes with no annual fee.The card earns 2% cash back on all purchases if you're an eligible Rogers, Fido, or Shaw customer, or 1.5% cash back on all purchases if you're not. This rate is higher than de facto benchmark for other World Elite Mastercards, and very lucrative for a card with no annual fee.Also, the card gives higher rewards on US-dollar purchases to offset the foreign exchange fee. This gives you peace of mind not to worry about extra costs if you’re doing any online shopping on US sites or going for a jaunt over the border.As a premium credit card, you’ll get some travel benefits, like 10 days of emergency medical coverage if you’re under the age of 65. The card’s insurance package won’t blow you away, but it’s very useful considering it doesn’t cost you anything.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.

The CIBC Aeroplan® Visa* Card is the most basic Aeroplan co-branded card out there, but it can still be quite useful for Aeroplan members.While not great for daily spending, it has a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points for making your first purchase. For no annual fee and no spending requirement, you’d be hard-pressed to find an easier way to earn towards a free flight!As for Aeroplan benefits, you’ll get a modest discount (8–15% on most routes, by our calculations) on Aeroplan flight rewards for Air Canada flights thanks to the preferred pricing benefit for cardholders.If you’re an avid collector of Aeroplan points, then by holding onto the no-fee CIBC Aeroplan® Visa* Card in perpetuity, you can ensure you’ll always receive the preferred pricing discount on all Aeroplan rewards – even if you decide to switch up your other higher-tier Aeroplan cards in the future.Aside from that, the biggest advantage of this card is that your Aeroplan points will never expire as long as you keep the card open and active.It’s also a great way for young adults to get started with collecting Aeroplan points. If you can’t qualify for the card or don’t meet the $15,000 annual household income requirement, CIBC offers an identical card just for students.

If you’re always on the go, the Scotiabank American Express® Card ticks all the boxes. You’ll get 2 Scene+ points per dollar spent on dining and groceries, gas and transit, and entertainment including movie theatres and streaming services, not to mention 3 Scene+ points per dollar spent at Empire grocery stores.It's great to have a no-fee card with a high earn rate on so many popular categories. Plus, Scene+ points are very easy to redeem for any travel expense booked any way.You'll also get the perks of being an American Express cardholder, such as Amex Offers, Front of the Line tickets, and exclusive event invites.

The TD Rewards Visa* Card is an excellent entry-level option for earning travel rewards on everyday spending.You'll earn the equivalent of 2% back on travel purchases via Expedia® for TD, 1.5% back on groceries and restaurants, 1% back on recurring payments, and 0.5% back on everything else. Those rates are all best-in-class for no-fee credit cards.TD Rewards Points can be redeemed for anything bookable on Expedia® for TD, including a multitude of flights, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages, and activities. If you need even more flexibility with your rewards, you can redeem for statement credit against any travel expense, albeit at a slightly reduced rate.

Most credit cards lock you into preset categories for bonus rewards. The Tangerine World Mastercard goes the other way, and lets you choose two categories (or three with a Tangerine Savings Account) for the 2% cash back rate.If you’re trying to maximize your earning rates on as many categories as possible, it’s best to pick ones that cover for the weak spots on your other credit cards. You can also adjust your categories once every three months. This could be very handy if you want to take advantage of a one-off expense in a category that doesn’t have bonuses on any other cards, such as home improvement or furniture stores.As an added bonus, the Tangerine World Mastercard comes with mobile device protection and rental car insurance, both nice benefits on a no-fee card. Plus, you’ll get Mastercard perks for travellers like DragonPass membership and Boingo Wi-Fi.If you don’t meet the thresholds of $60,000 annual personal income or $100,000 annual household income, you can instead apply for the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card. It has the exact same rewards structure, but lacks insurance and travel benefits.

The Canadian Tire Triangle World Elite Mastercard is the only card with no annual fee that also offers roadside assistance. For commuters or road-trippers, this is a great free perk that can save you a lot of money compared to an annual auto club membership.With this card, you get a free membership for the Canadian Tire Roadside Assistance Gold plan. It includes unlimited calls for 24-hour assistance, towing to the destination of your choice within 250 kilometres in Canada and the US, and services such as fuel delivery, flat tire changes, and jumpstarting your battery.This package is more flexible than what you get from other credit cards that offer roadside assistance, which often won’t tow you as far or as often. When you’re in a pinch, you’ll want the best help available, and half measures just won’t cut it when it comes to car trouble.As for rewards, the card earns 3% back as Canadian Tire Money on all grocery purchases up to $12,000 spent per year, and 1% back everywhere else. If you shop frequently at Canadian Tire or their affiliated brands, this no-fee card would also be quite strong for everyday use.

If you're an avid Costco shopper, the CIBC Costco Mastercard is a good choice.You'll earn 3% cash back on restaurants and Costco Gas, 2% back on Costco.ca online purchases and at other gas stations, and 1% back everywhere else.Rewards are paid out once per year in the form of a Costco coupon, and the card is only available to Costco members. It only makes sense to use as one of your core credit cards if you shop there frequently, but it can be quite beneficial for those who do.