The best Scene+ credit card for most Canadians is the Scotiabank Gold American Express — 6x on dining, 5x on groceries and streaming, no foreign transaction fee, and a $120 annual fee that the earn rates cover many times over. If you want lounge access on top of strong everyday earning, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite adds six airport lounge visits per year at $150.
All Scene+ credit cards are issued by Scotiabank. Here is every card ranked.
Best Scene+ Credit Cards at a Glance
| Card | Annual Fee | Dining | Grocery | Everything Else | FX Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotiabank Gold American Express | $120 | 6x | 5x | 1x | None | Best overall earner |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite | $150 | 3x | 2x | 1x | None | Travel + lounge access |
| Scotiabank Platinum American Express | $399 | 2x | 2x | 2x | None | Ultra-premium; flat rate |
| Scotiabank Scene+ Visa | $0 | 1x | 1x | 1x | 2.5% | No-fee entry card |
| Scotiabank Student Visa | $0 | 1x | 1x | 1x | 2.5% | Students |
Verify current earn rates and terms with Scotiabank before applying.
1. Scotiabank Gold American Express — Best Overall
Annual fee: $120 | Network: Amex | Income requirement: $12,000 personal
The Scotiabank Gold Amex is consistently rated one of the best credit cards in Canada, and the numbers explain why. Earning 6x Scene+ points on dining and 5x on groceries — at eligible merchants across Canada, not just Sobeys — it outperforms nearly every card in Canada in these categories. The no-FX fee is rare at this price point. At $120, most Canadian households recover the annual fee within the first few months of spending.
Earn Rates
| Category | Scene+ Points Earned |
|---|---|
| Restaurants and dining | 6x |
| Eligible groceries | 5x |
| Streaming services | 5x |
| Public transit | 5x |
| Gas and EV charging | 3x |
| All other purchases | 1x |
Category definitions verified with Scotiabank. Eligible grocery merchants include Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, FreshCo, Loblaws, Metro, and most major grocery chains.
Key Benefits
- No foreign transaction fee — all foreign currency purchases converted at Visa’s exchange rate with no surcharge
- Travel insurance — emergency medical, trip cancellation, trip interruption, flight delay, baggage delay
- Scene+ earn stacking — use the card at Sobeys-banner stores for both the card’s 5x earn and the in-store Scene+ bonus
- Amex Front of the Line — priority access to concert and event presales
- Purchase protection and extended warranty
Annual Fee Value Check
At $2,000/month in household spending with $800 on groceries and $400 dining:
| Category | Monthly | Rate | Monthly Points | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groceries | $800 | 5x | 4,000 | $40 |
| Dining | $400 | 6x | 2,400 | $24 |
| Everything else | $800 | 1x | 800 | $8 |
| Total | $2,000 | 7,200/mo | $72/mo = $864/yr |
$864/year in Scene+ value minus $120 annual fee = $744 net annual benefit on that spend profile.
Read the full Scotiabank Gold American Express review.
2. Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite — Best for Travellers
Annual fee: $150 | Network: Visa Infinite | Income requirement: $60,000 personal / $100,000 household
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is the right Scene+ card if airport lounge access matters to you. Six complimentary visits per year to the VISA Airport Companion lounge network — worth roughly $30–$40 per visit at pay-at-the-door rates — offset a meaningful portion of the $150 annual fee. The card also includes a comprehensive travel insurance package and no FX fee.
The trade-off: earn rates are lower than the Gold Amex (2x on grocery vs. 5x; 3x on dining vs. 6x). For high spenders in those categories, the Gold Amex accumulates points faster at $30 less per year.
Earn Rates
| Category | Scene+ Points Earned |
|---|---|
| Restaurants and dining | 3x |
| Eligible groceries | 2x |
| Entertainment | 3x |
| All other purchases | 1x |
Key Benefits
- No foreign transaction fee
- 6 complimentary airport lounge visits per year (VISA Airport Companion programme — Priority Pass equivalent)
- Comprehensive travel insurance — emergency medical (up to $2 million), trip cancellation, trip interruption, flight delay, baggage delay, rental car collision
- Visa Infinite benefits — Visa Infinite Dining Series, Visa Infinite Hotel Collection
- Scene+ earn on all spending
Who Should Choose This Over the Gold Amex?
Choose the Passport Visa Infinite if:
- You use airport lounges and want 6 free visits per year
- You want a Visa card (the Gold Amex is an Amex, which has slightly lower Canadian merchant acceptance)
- Your grocery and dining spending is lower and lounge access adds more value than the earn rate difference
Read the full Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite review.
3. Scotiabank Platinum American Express — Best for Flat-Rate Earners
Annual fee: $399 | Network: Amex | Income requirement: None published
The Scotiabank Platinum Amex is a premium card for cardholders who want maximum insurance coverage, unlimited airport lounge access, and a flat 2x Scene+ earn rate on every purchase — no category tracking required. At $399/year, it justifies its fee primarily through the lounge access (unlimited via Priority Pass, worth $300+/year for frequent travellers) and the comprehensive insurance suite.
Earn Rates
| Category | Scene+ Points Earned |
|---|---|
| All eligible purchases | 2x |
Key Benefits
- No foreign transaction fee
- Unlimited airport lounge access via Priority Pass (primary cardholder and one guest)
- Comprehensive premium travel insurance including extended emergency medical ($2 million), trip cancellation, baggage loss
- Concierge service
- Amex Front of the Line presale access
Who Is This Card For?
The Platinum Amex works for Canadians who fly frequently (8+ times per year, making unlimited lounge access genuinely valuable), want the strongest available insurance package on a Scotiabank card, and prefer flat-rate earning over category management.
For most Canadians, the Gold Amex delivers better value per dollar of annual fee due to its higher category earn rates.
Read the full Scotiabank Platinum American Express review.
4. Scotiabank Scene+ Visa — Best No-Fee Scene+ Card
Annual fee: $0 | Network: Visa | Income requirement: None published
The Scotiabank Scene+ Visa is the entry point into the Scene+ credit card ecosystem. It earns 1x Scene+ point on all purchases with no annual fee — a simple, accessible card for Canadians who want Scene+ earning without any cost commitment.
Earn Rates
| Category | Scene+ Points Earned |
|---|---|
| All eligible purchases | 1x |
Key Benefits
- No annual fee
- Scene+ earn on all purchases
- Basic Visa purchase protections
Limitations
- 2.5% foreign transaction fee — not suitable as a travel card
- 1x earn rate on all spending — earns significantly less than the Gold Amex or Passport
- No travel insurance
Best for: New credit card holders, students, or anyone who wants a no-cost way to earn Scene+ points. If you can qualify for the Gold Amex ($12,000 income threshold), that card delivers dramatically more value at $120/year.
Read the full Scotiabank Scene+ Visa review.
How to Choose the Right Scene+ Card
Most Canadians → Scotiabank Gold American Express The highest earn rates on grocery and dining at the lowest annual fee among the premium Scene+ cards. No FX fee. $12,000 income threshold means most working Canadians qualify. Start here.
Frequent travellers who value lounge access → Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Six free lounge visits per year, broader Visa acceptance over Amex, and no FX fee. Better if you fly often and the lounge access has concrete value in your travel patterns.
Ultra-frequent flyers → Scotiabank Platinum American Express Unlimited lounge access and the strongest travel insurance on a Scotiabank card. Only worth $399 if you use the lounge access enough to justify the premium over the Gold Amex.
No budget for annual fee → Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Basic earning at $0 cost. Upgrade to the Gold Amex when income allows.
Stacking Scene+ Points: Getting Maximum Value
Scene+ allows earn stacking in a way most programmes do not. At a Sobeys-banner store:
- Pay with your Scotiabank Gold Amex → earn 5x Scene+ points on the purchase
- Scan your Scene+ loyalty card at checkout → earn additional in-store Scene+ points
- Benefit from Scotiabank promotions → bonus points on featured categories
- In-store weekly bonus events → Sobeys periodically offers 10x or 20x points on specific items
During a 10x bonus event at Sobeys, a Gold Amex cardholder scanning their Scene+ loyalty card could earn 5x (card) + 10x (promo) = 15x points on select items — delivering 15¢ of value per dollar spent, a 15% cash back equivalent.
Best Scene+ Credit Cards FAQ
What is the best Scene+ credit card? The Scotiabank Gold American Express for most Canadians — 6x on dining, 5x on groceries and streaming, no FX fee, $120 annual fee.
Is the Gold Amex or Passport better? Gold Amex for most spenders due to higher earn rates and lower fee. Passport for those who specifically want airport lounge access and Visa acceptance.
Do Scene+ cards charge foreign transaction fees? The Gold Amex, Passport Visa Infinite, and Platinum Amex have no FX fee. The Scene+ Visa charges 2.5%.
What income do I need for the Scotiabank Gold Amex? $12,000 personal annual income — one of the lowest thresholds for a premium rewards card in Canada.
Can I earn Scene+ points at Loblaws or Metro? Yes. The Scotiabank Gold Amex earns 5x at eligible grocery merchants, which includes major chains like Loblaws and Metro — not just Sobeys-banner stores.
Related Scene+ Articles
- How Scene+ Works in Canada 2026
- Scene+ Points Value 2026
- Scotiabank Gold American Express Review 2026
- Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Review 2026
- Scotiabank Platinum American Express Review 2026
- Scene+ vs. Aeroplan: Which Is Better?
- Best Rewards Credit Cards in Canada 2026
Earn rates, annual fees, and benefits are subject to change. Always verify current terms with Scotiabank before applying.