The Amazon.ca Mastercard (issued by MBNA) is Canada’s primary co-branded Amazon credit card — a no-annual-fee Mastercard that earns 2.5% back on Amazon.ca purchases and 1.5% on all other eligible spending. For Canadian households that shop frequently on Amazon.ca, it is one of the most rewarding no-fee cards for that single retailer. The key limitation: Amazon.ca cash back is redeemable as Amazon.ca promotional credit — not as a general statement credit that offsets any purchase.
Quick Verdict
Best for: Frequent Amazon.ca shoppers who want to earn meaningful rewards on their Amazon spending without paying an annual fee, and who are comfortable with Amazon.ca promotional credit as their rewards currency.
Not ideal for: Those who want flexible cash back redeemable against any purchase (Rogers Red Mastercard, Tangerine Money-Back, Amex SimplyCash deliver unrestricted cash back at similar rates without restricting redemptions to Amazon).
Key Card Details
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Additional cardholder fee | Verify at amazon.ca/mastercard |
| Purchase interest rate | Verify at amazon.ca/mastercard |
| Cash advance rate | Verify at amazon.ca/mastercard |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.5% (typical) — verify at amazon.ca/mastercard |
| Income requirement | None stated |
| Network | Mastercard |
| Issuer | MBNA (TD Bank subsidiary) |
| Rewards | Amazon.ca promotional credit |
| Welcome bonus | Verify current offer at amazon.ca/mastercard |
Card terms, earn rates, and all features are subject to change. Verify all current details at amazon.ca/mastercard before applying.
Welcome Bonus
Amazon.ca and MBNA typically offer a welcome bonus for new cardholders — often a one-time Amazon.ca credit or elevated earn during a promotional period. Verify the current welcome offer at amazon.ca/mastercard.
Earn Rates
| Spending Category | Cash Back Rate |
|---|---|
| Amazon.ca purchases | 2.5% — verify at amazon.ca/mastercard |
| All other eligible purchases | 1.5% — verify at amazon.ca/mastercard |
Annual cash back estimate: Amazon.ca focus
| Monthly Amazon.ca Spend | Annual Amazon.ca Spend | Amazon.ca Credit Earned (2.5%) |
|---|---|---|
| $100 | $1,200 | $30 |
| $250 | $3,000 | $75 |
| $500 | $6,000 | $150 |
| $1,000 | $12,000 | $300 |
Plus: 1.5% cash back on all other spending (applied as Amazon.ca credit).
The Amazon.ca Promotional Credit System
Cash back earned on the Amazon.ca Mastercard is redeemable as Amazon.ca promotional credits — a key distinction from general cash back cards:
What this means:
- Credits appear in your Amazon.ca account balance
- Usable on Amazon.ca purchases (Canadian marketplace)
- Cannot be applied against your Mastercard statement directly
- Cannot be transferred to cash or other merchants
Why this matters:
For heavy Amazon.ca shoppers, this restriction is not a problem — you’ll spend the credits on your next Amazon.ca order. For those who shop infrequently on Amazon.ca, the credits may accumulate without a natural redemption opportunity — making a general cash back card (Rogers Red, Tangerine) more practical.
Amazon.ca Mastercard vs. General No-Fee Cash Back Cards
| Card | Annual Fee | Amazon Earn | Other Earn | Redemption |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.ca Mastercard | $0 | 2.5% | 1.5% | Amazon.ca credits only |
| Rogers Red Mastercard | $0 | 1.5% (everywhere) | 1.5% | Any purchase (statement credit) |
| Tangerine Money-Back | $0 | 2% (if online shopping chosen) | 0.5–2% | Any purchase (statement credit) |
| Amex SimplyCash | $0 | 1.25% | 1.25% | Any purchase (statement credit) |
| BMO CashBack Mastercard | $0 | 1% (all other) | 3% grocery | Any purchase (statement credit) |
Key finding: The Amazon.ca Mastercard’s 2.5% on Amazon.ca is the highest available rate on Amazon.ca purchases from a Canadian card — but 1.5% on other spending is competitive without being exceptional. Its Achilles heel is the Amazon.ca-only redemption restriction.
For those who only want the best deal on Amazon.ca specifically: Amazon.ca Mastercard is the winner.
For those who want the best overall no-fee cash back card: Rogers Red or Tangerine is more flexible.
Fees and Rates
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Purchase interest rate | Verify at amazon.ca/mastercard |
| Cash advance rate | Verify at amazon.ca/mastercard |
| Foreign transaction fee | Verify at amazon.ca/mastercard (typically 2.5%) |
Foreign Transaction Fees on Amazon.ca
Canadians shopping on Amazon.ca in CAD will not incur FX fees (Canadian dollar transactions). However, if you shop on Amazon.com (US) or other Amazon international sites and purchases are billed in USD/other foreign currencies, a 2.5% foreign transaction fee typically applies. Verify the current FX fee policy at amazon.ca/mastercard.
Who Is the Amazon.ca Mastercard Best For?
Ideal cardholders:
- Canadians who spend $200–$1,000+/month on Amazon.ca (household essentials, electronics, books, clothing, Prime Video subscriptions)
- Those who want to maximize rewards on Amazon.ca spending specifically without paying an annual fee
- Households that regularly have Amazon.ca orders to which they can apply earned promotional credits
- Those who are comfortable with the Amazon.ca-only redemption restriction
Less suitable if:
- You want flexibility to redeem rewards on any purchase — Rogers Red or Tangerine provides unrestricted cash back
- You rarely shop on Amazon.ca — the primary advantage is the 2.5% Amazon.ca rate, which is irrelevant for non-Amazon shoppers
- You want to earn rewards transferable to airline miles (Aeroplan, etc.) — MBNA True Line or an Aeroplan card is a better fit
Alternatives
| Card | Annual Fee | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon.ca Mastercard | $0 | 2.5% on Amazon.ca, 1.5% elsewhere |
| Rogers Red Mastercard | $0 | 1.5% everywhere, unrestricted cash back |
| Tangerine Money-Back | $0 | 2% on 2–3 chosen categories |
| PC Financial World Elite MC | $0 | PC Optimum points at Loblaws/Shoppers |
Bottom Line
The Amazon.ca Mastercard is Canada’s best no-fee credit card for Amazon.ca purchases — earning 2.5% back on all Amazon.ca spending is meaningfully above the 1–1.5% offered by general cash back cards. For Canadian households that shop on Amazon.ca weekly, the annual credit accumulation is substantial.
The trade-off is clear: Amazon.ca promotional credits only. If you shop Amazon.ca frequently, this restriction doesn’t matter. If you prefer flexible cash back, the Rogers Red Mastercard or Tangerine Money-Back card offers more useful rewards.
Card terms, earn rates, promotional credit terms, and all features are subject to change. Verify all current details at amazon.ca/mastercard before applying.