Ontario is Canada’s most populous province and home to the country’s largest credit card market. Residents have access to every major Canadian credit card — and with Toronto, Ottawa, and Hamilton all major urban centres, Amex acceptance is strong throughout the province.
Top Credit Cards for Ontario Residents
| Card | Annual Fee | Best Earn | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Cobalt | $155 | 5x MR on dining & grocery | Best rewards card overall |
| Scotiabank Gold American Express | $120 | 6x Scene+ at grocery, dining | No FX fee; best Sobeys-area earner |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 | 1.5x Aeroplan on grocery, gas, dining | Best for Air Canada YYZ flyers |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite | $150 | 3x Scene+ on grocery; 6 DragonPass | Best all-round travel card |
| CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite | $120 | 4% cash back on grocery & gas | Best grocery cash back (any store) |
| BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard | $120 | 5% cash back on grocery | Highest grocery cash back |
| PC Financial World Elite Mastercard | $0 | 4.5% at Loblaws/PC banners | Best no-fee for Loblaws shoppers |
| Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card | $0 | 2% in chosen categories | Best flexible no-fee cash back |
| MBNA Smart Cash World Elite Mastercard | $120 | 5% grocery + gas | Best cash back for grocery + gas combo |
| Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa | $0 | 4% on restaurants/bars | Best no-fee dining card |
Ontario-Specific Considerations
Annual Fee HST (13%)
Ontario’s HST of 13% applies to credit card annual fees:
| Stated Annual Fee | Ontario Cost After HST |
|---|---|
| $0 | $0 |
| $89 | $100.57 |
| $120 | $135.60 |
| $139 | $157.07 |
| $150 | $169.50 |
| $399 | $450.87 |
| $799 | $902.87 |
Factor the HST cost when calculating whether a card pays for itself.
Grocery Store Coverage in Ontario
Ontario has the most diverse grocery landscape in Canada — choose your card based on where you shop most:
| Grocery Banner | Best Card | Earn Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Loblaws, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore | PC Financial World Elite | 4.5% (PC Optimum) |
| Sobeys, FreshCo, Foodland | Scotiabank Gold Amex | 6x Scene+ (~6¢/pt on flights) |
| Metro | BMO CashBack World Elite | 5% cash back (any grocery) |
| Farm Boy (Sobeys-owned) | Scotiabank Gold Amex | 6x Scene+ |
| Whole Foods | CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite | 4% cash back (any grocery) |
| Costco (Visa only) | TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite | 1.5x Aeroplan |
Air Canada at YYZ
Toronto Pearson (YYZ) is Air Canada’s largest hub. Ontario residents using Aeroplan cards benefit from:
- Free first checked bag (TD/CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite, cardholder + 8 companions)
- Priority check-in at YYZ Air Canada counters
- Maple Leaf Lounge access at YYZ (Amex Aeroplan Reserve; TD/CIBC Privilege)
Amex Acceptance in Ontario
American Express acceptance is stronger in Ontario than any other province — particularly in the GTA. Most Toronto restaurants, hotels, retailers, and grocery stores accept Amex. However, Costco only accepts Mastercard, and some smaller merchants may not take Amex.
NEXUS Application: St-Bernard-de-Lacolle (QC) and Fort Erie (ON) Enrollment Centres
Ontario residents can enroll at the Fort Erie border crossing (Niagara) or Pearson Airport enrollment centre. NEXUS saves 20–45 minutes on US border waits. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite and CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite both include the $100 NEXUS application fee rebate every 4 years.
Best No-Fee Cards for Ontario Residents
| Card | Annual Fee | Best Earning | Who It’s Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC Financial World Elite Mastercard | $0 | 4.5% at Loblaws/PC banners | GTA Loblaws shoppers; $80K income |
| Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card | $0 | 2% in 2–3 chosen categories | Flexible; choose grocery, gas, dining |
| Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa | $0 | 4% on restaurants | Toronto dining scene maximisers |
| BMO CashBack Mastercard | $0 | 3% at grocery | BMO clients; solid grocery earner |
| Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard | $0 | 1.5% everywhere; 3% on USD | Rogers/Fido customers; US shoppers |
| Neo Financial Mastercard | $0 | Up to 5% at Neo partners | Digital-first; bonus earn at partners |
Best Travel Cards for Ontario Residents
| Profile | Recommended Card | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Air Canada YYZ frequent flyer | TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 |
| International traveller; no FX fee | Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite | $150 |
| Maximum Aeroplan earn on dining/grocery | American Express Cobalt | $155 |
| Premium Air Canada + Maple Leaf Lounge | TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege | $599 |
| WestJet from Hamilton or Buffalo | WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard | $119 |
Building Credit in Ontario
First-time cardholders or new arrivals in Ontario:
- Best Student Credit Cards in Canada — for university and college students (Toronto, Ottawa, Waterloo, Hamilton, London)
- Best Credit Cards for Newcomers to Canada — for new permanent residents and workers
- Best Secured Credit Cards in Canada — for credit rebuilding
Ontario Credit Cards FAQ
Best credit card for grocery shopping in Ontario? Depends on where you shop: PC Financial World Elite (Loblaws banners), Scotiabank Gold Amex (Sobeys banners), BMO CashBack World Elite (any grocery — 5%), CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite (any grocery — 4%).
Does HST apply to credit card annual fees in Ontario? Yes — 13% HST applies. A $139 fee costs approximately $157.07 after tax.
Best Aeroplan card for YYZ flyers? TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite ($139) or CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite ($139). Compare welcome bonuses at time of application.
Best no-fee cash back card in Ontario? PC Financial World Elite (4.5% at Loblaws, no fee, $80K income) or Tangerine Money-Back (2% in chosen categories, flexible).
Related Articles
- Best Credit Cards in Canada — Full Guide
- Best Cash Back Credit Cards in Canada
- Best Travel Credit Cards in Canada
- Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards in Canada
- TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Review 2026
- Credit Scores in Canada
Card availability is subject to change. Ontario residents should verify HST and current welcome bonus terms with the issuer before applying. See our Advertiser Disclosure.