Canada’s 5 Best TD Credit Cards

TD Credit Cards: What You Need to Know

When choosing a TD credit card, you should familiarize yourself with what benefits a TD credit card can offer, what features to look out for, and how TD credit cards can fit into an optimized overall credit card strategy.

Why get a TD credit card?

TD credit cards are one of the best ways to earn Aeroplan points. As Aeroplan’s primary bank partner, TD’s co-branded cards often have bigger bonuses with easier spending requirements than their counterparts from CIBC and American Express.

Once you have your flights covered, TD Rewards Points are also a great way to cover your other travel expenses. You can use them for anything on Expedia, like hotels and car rentals, or even redeem them for statement credit for pretty much any out-of-province expense, including gas or restaurants.

TD generally values a strong relationship with their members. It can be harder to get approved initially, but longtime clients will find it easier to open additional products, sometimes even receiving pre-approvals.

If you already bank with TD, getting one of their credit cards is a no-brainer. On most cards, you can get your annual fee rebated every year if you have a TD All-Inclusive Chequing account. This is useful if you plan on keeping a Visa Infinite card year after year for its benefits and higher everyday earning rates.

What should you look for in a TD credit card?

TD has three different types of rewards on their credit cards, all on the Visa payment network:

• Aeroplan co-branded cards earn Aeroplan points and come with Air Canada benefits. They’re best for avid Aeroplan collectors who know how to stretch the value of their frequent flyer points, or who’ll benefit from travel insurance on Aeroplan award ticket bookings.
• TD Rewards cards earn points that can be used for travel expenses. You can book flights, hotels, car rentals, or anything else available on Expedia® for TD, at a rate of 0.5 cents per point. Otherwise, you can redeem points for statement credit against any other travel purchase at a rate of 0.4 cents per point. TD Rewards cards have decent earning rates on uncategorized transactions and excellent rates on travel.
• Cash Back can be redeemed any time you’ve accumulated at least $25. They’re the easiest rewards to use and understand, but the trade-off is that their value is limited. Compared to their peers, TD’s cash back cards are somewhat competitive for groceries, gas, and recurring payments, and weak for other purchases.

For each type of rewards, TD offers cards with a wide range of welcome bonuses, everyday rewards, annual fees, perks, and income requirements.

Any of these cards come with the standard benefits for their Visa tier:

• All Visa Infinite cards have access to Concierge services, the Luxury Hotel Collection, and the Dining Series & Wine Country program
• In addition, Visa Infinite Privilege cards come with a DragonPass membership which includes six annual visits to participating airport lounges and restaurants each year

TD regularly puts on First Year Free promotions for new signups for all cards at or below the Visa Infinite tier. It’s generally best to wait for one of these opportunities before applying.

What’s the optimal strategy for TD credit cards?

If you’re a dedicated traveller who wants to see as much of the world as possible by maximizing your credit cards, TD’s wide range of credit cards will undoubtedly have a significant presence in your wallet.

In an optimized credit card strategy, you would leverage TD’s Aeroplan credit cards (in conjunction with Aeroplan cards from CIBC and American Express) to collect a large balance of Aeroplan points, which you’d use towards booking international flights at a high value.

Meanwhile, you’d use the more flexible TD Rewards credit cards to cover your non-flight travel expenses, such as car rentals or non-chain hotels, by booking through the Expedia® for TD portal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some questions we frequently hear from readers about the best TD credit cards in Canada.

Can I have the TD Aeroplan Platinum, Infinite, and Privilege cards at the same time?

Yes, the cards are separate products. You can have any combination at the same time, and you can open them all and be eligible for all welcome bonuses. However, note that TD and Aeroplan may limit the number of credit card bonuses earned by a member if they deem this behaviour to be excessive.

Which credit bureau does TD check?

TD uses Equifax for credit inquiries, although they sometimes have pre-approvals for existing clients.

How do I apply for a TD credit card?

If you’re having technical difficulties getting approved when submitting a credit card application online, consider booking an appointment at a TD branch or applying by phone.