Rewards credit cards in Canada span several distinct loyalty ecosystems — Aeroplan (Air Canada), Scene+ (Scotiabank), Amex Membership Rewards, Avion (RBC), and retail programmes like PC Optimum. Choosing the right card means matching a programme to your lifestyle: where you fly, where you shop, and how much effort you want to put into redemptions.
Top Picks at a Glance
| Card | Annual Fee | Programme | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Cobalt Card | $156 | Amex MR | Best overall rewards earn |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 | Aeroplan | Best Aeroplan mid-tier card |
| Scotiabank Gold American Express | $120 | Scene+ | Best Scene+ everyday earn |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 | Aeroplan | Best Aeroplan for CIBC customers |
| American Express Gold Rewards Card | $250 | Amex MR | Best Amex MR with travel credits |
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite | $120 | Avion / Avios | Best for RBC customers; Avios transfers |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite | $150 | Scene+ | Best Scene+ travel card |
| PC Financial World Elite Mastercard | $0 | PC Optimum | Best for Loblaws/Shoppers shoppers |
| American Express Platinum Card | $799 | Amex MR | Best ultra-premium rewards card |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege | $599 | Aeroplan | Best premium Aeroplan card |
Best Amex Membership Rewards Cards
American Express Cobalt Card — Best Everyday Earn
Annual fee: $156 | Earn rates: 5x eats & drinks, 3x streaming, 2x travel & transit, 1x other
The Cobalt’s 5x earn on eligible food and drink purchases is unmatched in Canada. Amex MR transfers to Aeroplan at 1:1 — meaning 5x on restaurant spend converts to 5 Aeroplan miles per dollar, worth approximately 7.5–10 cents in Air Canada economy value. The monthly fee structure ($12.99/month = $155.88/year) provides flexibility and keeps the entry cost lower than a lump-sum annual fee.
American Express Gold Rewards Card
Annual fee: $250 | Earn rates: 2x travel, 2x grocery, 2x dining, 1x other
Higher earn on travel than the Cobalt, plus strong insurance package and Amex Front of the Line presale access. The $250 annual fee reflects a more premium benefits package. Amex MR transfers to Aeroplan, Avios, and other programmes.
Full Amex Gold Rewards Review →
Best Aeroplan Cards
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite — Best Mid-Tier
Annual fee: $139 | Earn rates: 1.5x grocery/gas/drug stores, 1x other; bonus miles on Air Canada
The gold standard for mid-tier Aeroplan cards. First checked bag free on Air Canada, preferred boarding, and a complete travel insurance suite. For Canadians who fly Air Canada several times per year, the checked bag benefit alone ($30+ per trip) can offset a substantial portion of the annual fee.
Full TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Review →
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite — Best for CIBC Customers
Annual fee: $139 | Near-identical benefits to TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite
Same earn structure, same Air Canada perks, same travel insurance framework as the TD card. Choose based on your primary banking relationship. CIBC offers a 10-cents-per-litre gas discount at Journie Rewards (Ultramar, Pioneer, Chevron, Fas Gas) as a differentiator.
Full CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Review →
American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card — Best Premium Aeroplan
Annual fee: $599 | Access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges, Concierge service, premium travel insurance
For frequent Air Canada flyers who want lounge access without paying for status, the Amex Aeroplan Reserve provides Maple Leaf Lounge access at $599/year — less than the TD Aeroplan Infinite Privilege at $599 but without the status mile accrual. Best for occasional premium travellers.
Full Amex Aeroplan Reserve Review →
Best Scene+ Cards
Scotiabank Gold American Express — Best Everyday Scene+ Earn
Annual fee: $120 | Earn rates: 6x grocery/dining/entertainment, 3x gas/transit/travel, 1x other
Six Scene+ points per dollar at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, FreshCo, restaurants, and entertainment venues — with no foreign transaction fee. Scene+ points redeem at 1 cent each for any travel booking, grocery bill, or Cineplex purchase.
Full Scotiabank Gold Amex Review →
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite — Best Scene+ Travel Card
Annual fee: $150 | Earn rates: 3x eligible grocery/dining/entertainment/transit, 2x other
Visa acceptance (wider than Amex), 6 lounge passes, and comprehensive travel insurance alongside Scene+ earn. The better choice for travellers who want Visa acceptance and lounge access.
Full Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Review →
Best Avion Rewards Card
RBC Avion Visa Infinite
Annual fee: $120 | Earn rates: 1.75x eligible travel, 1.25x other
Avion points can be transferred to British Airways Avios, enabling short-haul award tickets at competitive rates — a useful strategy for Canadian city-pairs and US destinations. Also redeemable through RBC’s travel portal at competitive rates.
Full RBC Avion Visa Infinite Review →
Best PC Optimum Card
PC Financial World Elite Mastercard
Annual fee: $0 | Earn rates: 45 PC Optimum pts/$1 everywhere; enhanced at Loblaws/Shoppers
PC Optimum points redeem for free groceries at Loblaws, No Frills, Superstore, and free purchases at Shoppers Drug Mart. At the enhanced earn rates at Loblaws banners and Shoppers, frequent shoppers at these chains earn at an effective rate well above 1%. The no annual fee removes any breakeven concern.
Full PC Financial World Elite Mastercard Review →
How Rewards Programme Values Compare
| Programme | Conservative Value | Premium Redemption | Transfer to Aeroplan? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aeroplan | 1.5¢/pt (economy) | 3–5¢/pt (business/first) | N/A (it is Aeroplan) |
| Amex MR | 1.0¢/pt (travel portal) | 2–4¢/pt (via Aeroplan) | Yes, 1:1 |
| Scene+ | 1.0¢/pt | 1.0¢/pt (fixed) | No |
| Avion | 1.0¢/pt (travel portal) | 2–3¢/pt (via Avios) | No (transfers to Avios) |
| PC Optimum | 1.0¢/pt (redemption) | 1.0¢/pt | No |
| TD Rewards | 0.5¢/pt (Expedia for TD) | 0.5¢/pt | No |
| BMO Points | 0.71¢/pt (travel redemption) | 1.0¢/pt | No |
Card terms, earn rates, and programme rules are subject to change. Verify with the issuer and loyalty programme before applying.