Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) is Canada’s largest pharmacy chain, with over 1,300 locations. It’s also one of the best places to stack loyalty rewards — combining PC Optimum points, credit card earn rates, and the SDM-exclusive bonus event system. Here’s how to maximise every dollar spent there.
Best Credit Cards for Shoppers Drug Mart
| Card | Annual Fee | SDM Earn Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC Optimum Mastercard | $0 | 45 PC Optimum points per $1 | Best SDM card; dedicated PC earner |
| Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa | $0 | 4% at pharmacies (first $5,000/year) | Best cash back at SDM; no fee |
| Amex SimplyCash Preferred | $119.88/yr | 2% everywhere | Consistent cash back; widely accepted |
| Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard | $0 | 2% if drug stores category selected | No-fee 2% option |
| BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard | $120 | 1% (general; SDM codes as pharmacy) | Better for grocery spend |
| Scotiabank Gold Amex | $120 | 1x Scene+ (general) | Better used elsewhere |
Top Pick: PC Optimum Mastercard
For Shoppers Drug Mart regulars, the PC Optimum Mastercard is the clear winner:
- 45 PC Optimum points per $1 at Shoppers Drug Mart
- 45 per $1 at all other Shoppers Drug Mart purchases
- 30 per $1 at PC Travel, Esso, Mobil
- 25 per $1 at all Loblaws-banner grocery stores
- 10 per $1 everywhere else
- No annual fee
At 45 points per $1, and 10,000 points = $10, the effective return is 4.5% at Shoppers Drug Mart — among the highest pharmacy earn rates on any Canadian no-fee card.
Stack tip: Present your PC Optimum card/app and pay with the PC Optimum Mastercard for a combined earn of 45 (card) + 15 (in-store base) = up to 60 points per $1 at Shoppers.
Best Cash Back Option: Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa
If you prefer straight cash back over loyalty points:
- 4% cash back on restaurants/bars/coffee shops and eligible drug store purchases (first $5,000/year combined)
- 1.5% on grocery and pre-authorized payments
- 0.5% everywhere else
- No annual fee
At 4% on pharmacy/drug store, Simplii delivers more straightforward CAD value than the PC Optimum Mastercard — if you don’t regularly shop at other Loblaws-banner stores where the PC card also earns well.
Amex at Shoppers: Important Caveat
American Express cards are accepted at corporate Shoppers Drug Mart locations (most of them), but not at all independently owned franchise locations. Before relying on an Amex card at SDM, verify your specific store’s policy.
Maximising Value at Shoppers Drug Mart
1. Load personalized PC Optimum offers every Thursday The SDM app surfaces offers like “Earn 5,000 bonus points when you spend $40+ on beauty.” These stack with your base card earn.
2. 20x points events Shoppers runs frequent “20x the points” events — bonus point multipliers on specific categories or all purchases. On a 20x event: 20 × 15 base points = 300 points per $1 = effectively 3% back in PC Optimum value. Combine with the PC Optimum Mastercard for additional multiplier.
3. Use Simplii for everyday non-SDM pharmacy purchases The Simplii 4% drug store rate applies broadly to pharmacy merchants. Use it when the PC Optimum stack isn’t available.
4. Beauty and cosmetics: SDM’s highest-value earn category Shoppers Optimum Beauty Boutique purchases earn elevated points rates. Stock up on beauty products during bonus events for maximum PC Optimum earn.
Related Articles
- Best Credit Cards for PC Optimum
- PC Optimum Bonus Events
- Best Cash Back Credit Cards in Canada
- Best Grocery Credit Cards in Canada
- No Annual Fee Credit Cards in Canada
Shoppers Drug Mart PC Optimum earn rates and bonus event terms subject to change. American Express acceptance varies by location. Verify current offers at pcoptimum.ca. See our Advertiser Disclosure.