Best Grocery Credit Cards in Canada for 2023

0.97% Promotional balance transfers for 6 months

The President's Choice Financial MasterCard is a basic no-fee credit card that is ideal for families and individuals who frequent stores where President's Choice products are sold, including Joe Fresh, Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore, and more. It's a good way to get the most out of your weekly grocery run but may not be the best choice if you want to carry a balance or use your rewards for cash back or travel.

Easy application -With no annual fee and no minimum income requirement, this credit card appeals to young families.

• Decent return - For a no-fee card, it gives you a good return when you shop at affiliated stores.
• Transparent reward system -?The no-nonsense reward system makes it easy for you to calculate your potential rewards.
• Free additional cards - Get up to four free additional cards that you can link to your account to help boost your points.
• Purchase benefits - This credit card gives free purchase assurance in the first 90 days and doubles the manufacturer?s regular warranty for up to an additional year

Overall, the PC Financial Mastercard is a phenomenal choice! Not only does the card have no annual fee, card holders also benefit from easy to obtain PC points. Points can be earned when running your errands, such as filling up on gas and buying groceries. When you want to redeem them, you can go to eligible locations and get your food or other necessities for free!

 

All of the other fees, such as interest, over limit and returned payment fees, are fairly standard when compared to the industry benchmarks. However, most of these fees can be avoided so long as you manage the credit card responsibly by making payments on time and in full. Lastly, this card does not have any limitations or requirements aside from a routine credit check when you apply.

 

Another benefit to using this credit card is working with PC Financial. Unlike other traditional banks, PC Financial doesn't offer all the fancy services and gimmicks. Although, that means that your fees will naturally be lower since the bank doesn?t pay for things like physical branches and tons of employee?s salaries. Yet another thing to save on!

 

In conclusion, this credit card is affordable when compared to industry standards, rewards can be earned and redeemed on necessary purchases like food and gas, and it is accessible to essentially every Canadian. Let?s give it up for PC Financial's Mastercard!

President's Choice Financial Mastercard is a great credit card for those who like to earn and redeem Optimum points at all the partners locations.The President's Choice Financial MasterCard is a basic no-fee credit card that is ideal for families and individuals who frequent stores where President's Choice products are sold, including Joe Fresh, Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore, and more. It's a good way to get the most out of your weekly grocery run but may not be the best choice if you want to carry a balance or use your rewards for cash back or travel.


How to apply for a PC Mastercard

If you are considering obtaining a PC Financial Mastercard, there are certain conditions that you must meet to be approved. To begin, you must be of the legal age of majority in your province or territory and a Canadian resident.

In addition to this, you need to have a good credit score, as this is a requirement for the PC World Mastercard and PC World Elite Mastercard.

If your credit score is not up to par, you can look into credit cards for bad credit. Lastly, if you are looking to get the two more advanced versions of the card, you must meet the minimum income requirements. Applying for credit cards can affect your credit score, so if you do not meet these standards, you should wait before applying.

The President's Choice Financial Mastercard has 2 close cousins worth reading about:

 PC Financial World MasterCard

 PC Financial World Elite MasterCard

Our experts have compiled a list of the best cards in Canada in each major category, from cash back and low rate to balance transfers and more. Explore our top picks and find the best credit card for you.

Best Credit Cards in Canada
 

At no annual fee, the President?s Choice Financial World Elite MasterCard lets you get the fastest points towards free groceries. It also comes with other great offers ? a travel emergency medical insurance of up to 10 days and car rental collision or loss damage waiver insurance. With these added benefits at zero yearly cost, we consider this the best credit card for travel insurance coverage.

Easy application -With no annual fee and no minimum income requirement, this credit card appeals to young families.

• Decent return - For a no-fee card, it gives you a good return when you shop at affiliated stores.
• Transparent reward system - The no-nonsense reward system makes it easy for you to calculate your potential rewards.
• Free additional cards - Get up to four free additional cards that you can link to your account to help boost your points.
• Purchase benefits - This credit card gives free purchase assurance in the first 90 days and doubles the manufacturer?s regular warranty for up to an additional year.

Similarly to the PC Financial World Mastercard, this card shares a lot of the same features as the PC Financial Mastercard. However, this credit card also has income limitations. In order to obtain the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard, you must earn $80,000 per year yourself or $150,000 within your household. Alternatively, you can upgrade to this card if you?re a PC Financial World Mastercard user and you spend a minimum of $25,000 per year using it.

 

With this version of the PC Mastercard, you earn the most points on purchases out of all three types. Keep in mind that it?s fantastic to earn more points and reap more benefits, but it?s even better if you can avoid overspending where possible. It?s easy to get caught up in spending when there are benefits attached to it, but try not to lose sight of the importance of preservation of your personal finances. Credit cards are meant to compliment your financial habits, not make your life more stressful!

 

All in all, this credit card is cheap compared to the industry benchmarks and has easily accessible benefits.
Great credit card for those who like to earn and redeem Optimum points at all the partners locations.

In case you do not meet the income requirements for the PC Financial World Elite MasterCard please check 2 other PC Financial credit cards:

 PC Financial World MasterCard

 President's Choice Financial Mastercard

Apply for a Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card by January 31, 2024 and earn an extra 10% back (up to $100) when you spend up to $1,000 in everyday purchases within your first 2 months.*

1.95% interest on the transferred balance for the first 6 months

Regarded as one of the best credit card in Canada, Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card provides no annual fee, a lucrative 2% cash back in up to 3 merchant categories, and 0.5% on all other purchases with no caps, tiers or limits. It provides choice, value and convenience to beginner credit card users and even works great as a secondary credit card.

• No annual fee -The no annual fee for both primary and secondary holders means that you are not paying for your cash back.
• Unlimited rewards -Earn as much cash back rewards regardless of the category.
• Automatic monthly cash back redemption -Every month, Tangerine will either apply your cashback dollars against your credit card balance or deposit it directly into your Tangerine Savings Account.
• Flexibility - You can choose 2-3 categories for the 2% cash back and change categories once every 90 days to match your spending pattern.
• Get more cash back rewards -Maximize your credit card rewards by choosing another cash back credit card that has bonus categories and using your Tangerine card to expand and get more bonus categories.

If you've been looking for a credit card that offers money-back rewards, then the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card might be right for you. The card has no annual fee and is designed to offer cash back on all purchases made with the card - anytime during the year!

Great credit card for those who would like to maximize the cashback they earn by choosing their spend categories to earn more cashback.

Viewed as one of the best credit cards in Canada, Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card provides no annual fee, a lucrative 2% cash back in up to 3 merchant categories, and 0.5% on all other purchases with no caps, tiers or limits. It provides choice, value and convenience to beginner credit card users and even works great as a secondary credit card. 

While geared towards young people, the American Express Cobalt^® Card  has plenty features and benefits that make it appealing to a wide range of people. It offers 5x more points on eats and drinks from grocery shopping to dining out, and 2x points on travel and transit. Additionally, the ability to transfer points to hotel partners or to the Fixed Points Travel Program makes this the best travel credit card in Canada with a fee. If you spend a lot on food and travel, then this credit card deserves a place in your wallet.

• Generous first-year rewards - You have the ability to earn up to 30,000 bonus points in the first year.
• Redeem anything you want -Reward points can be redeemed for travel, restaurant, movies, and merchandise. Unlike other rewards card, you can use your points for almost anything you want.
• Transferability of points -You can transfer points into the Marriott Bonvoy rewards system which unlocks access to amazing rewards programs like British Airways, Aeroplan, and more than 30 other airline partners. You can also transfer to the Hilton Honors rewards program at 1:1 ratio.
• Monthly fee - Instead of paying for a one-time annual fee, you are charged every month, giving you time to test out the card and cancel it if it's not the right fit for your spending habits.
• Free supplementary card - This usually costs an additional $50 on most rewards card. Get one for an immediate family member and boost your earning potential.

The American Express Cobalt^® Card started out as a credit card designed for millennials and young professionals. Today, it’s one of the most flexible and versatile credit cards out there. In fact, it’s now commonly used by people from all walks of life because of the lucrative benefits. 

One reason the American Express Cobalt^® Card is so popular is because of the quick rewards that come with it. Points can be earned on everyday purchases which is what makes the earnings accumulate so rapidly. On food and drinks, such as grocery, restaurant, food delivery, bar and cafe purchases, cardholders earn five points per dollar spent. 

On transit and travel, cardholders earn two points per dollar spent. These rewards are not limited to vacation only, cardholders will earn points when they spend on public transit, taxis and Ubers too. All other purchases earn one point per dollar spent. As you can see, no matter what your lifestyle is, you’ll quickly rack up points! 

Points can be redeemed to cover the cost of flights and accommodation with 1,000 points being equivalent to $10. Flights don’t have any blackout dates and you can choose any airline you’d like. In addition, the points can be used to cover fees and taxes. If you don’t have an upcoming trip, you can also spend your points on events through Ticketmaster at a rate of 2,000 points to $20. As you probably noticed, the rate of return is the same when you spend on travel and events which is fantastic! For less bang for your buck, you can also use your points for gift cards or merchandise purchases. 

Cardholders benefit from travel insurance as well. The insurance covers things like travel accidents, car rental insurance, medical emergencies, flight interruption or delay among others. Last but not least, cardholders gain access to American Express Invites which are limited offer, exclusive events. 

All of these benefits sound amazing but there’s a cost for all the wonderful benefits. There’s a monthly fee of $12.99, which works out to be $155.88 per year. The monthly payment makes it easy for most to manage. Also, you need to make between $60,000 and $80,000 per year and have decent credit. The only disadvantage is the cap rate on the bonus points is 30,000. Another downside to this bonus is the points can’t be redeemed in a lump sum. This means there is a delay between when you earn the points and when you can redeem them. 

That being said, the American Express Cobalt^® Card is still an excellent option for those who travel a lot and make lots of eligible purchases.

If everything about this card sounds good to you, sign up today and receive an extra 2,500 points each month you spend $500 or more, an achievable spending rate for most! You can earn up to 30,000 Membership Rewards® points.

With a generous rewards rate of up to 6 points per dollar on gas, groceries, restaurants and entertainment, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card will help make your travel plans a reality. Plus, with a flexible points program, you can book you flights on your own schedule.

• Generous sign-up bonus -The Scotiabank Gold American Express® offers a way for new cardholders to quickly stockpile points. It lets you earn up to 45,000 bonus Scene+™ points in your first year (that’s up to $450 towards travel)   
• Flexible redemption options - With the Scotia Rewards Program, you can book your travel with any airline or hotel through its full-service travel agency. You can use your points to cover the whole cost of the trip, including taxes and fees, or combine your points and a charge to your card. Points can also be used to book hotels and rental cars.
• Travel convenience - Added features such as rental car discounts and hotel room upgrades are designed to make travel as convenient and comfortable as possible.
• Additional protection - This Amex credit card provides has one of the most comprehensive travel protection benefits with insurance against flight delays and lost baggage even insurance against burglaries.

With a generous rewards rate of up to 6 points per dollar on gas, groceries, restaurants and entertainment, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card will help make your travel plans a reality. Plus, with a flexible points program, you can book you flights on your own schedule.Excellent credit card with 7 types of travel coverage and great reward earn rates.

• Generous sign-up bonus -The Scotiabank Gold American Express offers a way for new cardholders to quickly stockpile points. It lets you earn 45,000 bonus Scene+™ points in your first year. 
• Flexible redemption options - With the Scotia Rewards Program, you can book your travel with any airline or hotel through its full-service travel agency. You can use your points to cover the whole cost of the trip, including taxes and fees, or combine your points and a charge to your card. Points can also be used to book hotels and rental cars.
• Travel convenience - Added features such as rental car discounts and hotel room upgrades are designed to make travel as convenient and comfortable as possible.
• Additional protection - This Amex credit card provides has one of the most comprehensive travel protection benefits with insurance against flight delays and lost baggage even insurance against burglaries.

For people who love to eat and drive, the Scotia Momentum VISA Infinite Card is the best rewards credit card with a fee. It provides an unrivaled 4% cash back on food and gas along with 2% on recurring payments and drugstore purchases, and 1% on the rest. On top of that, this card also comes with comprehensive insurance benefits and concierge benefits.

• Welcome bonus:Earn 10% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases). No annual fee in the first year, including on supplementary cards.
• No-nonsense rewards Rewards are clear, transparent, easy to earn and easy to redeem. Cash back rewards are paid out annually either as a deposit to eligible chequing or savings account or credited to your credit card statement.
• Enhanced insurance package The improved insurance package is comparable with other more premium cards. It provides comprehensive coverage on travel, including rental car collision loss or damage as well as purchase security and extended warranty protection.
• Additional Perks. Obtain exclusive offers from Scotiabank including concierge service, competitive hotel rates and upgrades, and access to dining and wine country programs.
• Annual Fee. Gain access to all of the above perks at the cost of $120 after the first year.

Excellent credit card with outstanding benefits and full insurance coverage.

The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite card was the winner of the MoneySense best cashback card with a fee in 2020 - and for good reasons! Card holders earn cash back on all purchases at varying rates. There are also other perks of card ownership including access to exclusive Scotiabank events and offers, plus ample insurance coverage.

• Special Welcome Offer. Earn 10% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases). No annual fee in the first year, including on supplementary cards.
• Tiered Cash Back Rates. Earn 4% cash back for every dollar spent on groceries and recurring bill payments. Earn 2% cash back for every dollar spent on gas and daily transit. Finally, earn 1% cash back for every dollar spent elsewhere.
• Additional Perks. Obtain exclusive offers from Scotiabank including concierge service, competitive hotel rates and upgrades, and access to dining and wine country programs.
• Insurance Coverage. Ample coverage comes with this credit card, such as new mobile device, trip cancellation, trip interruption, purchase protection insurance and much more.
• Annual Fee. Gain access to all of the above perks at the cost of $120 after the first year.

The World Mastercard offers new perks to their customers that are not available to Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard users. Mobile insurance of $1,000, rental car insurance worth $65,000 for 31 days and Mastercard airport experiences are perks that cardholders gain access to. Both of these insurance packages are beneficial for individuals who have a smartphone and are renting cars often.

The Tangerine World Mastercard is a new addition to Tangerine’s financial products. As with the Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard, there is no annual fee, 2% cash back on three categories and 0.5% cash back on all other purchases. Some of Tangerine’s spending categories include restaurants, furniture, groceries, gas, home improvement and entertainment.

Apply for a Tangerine World Mastercard® by January 31, 2024 and earn an extra 10% back* (up to $100) when you spend up to $1,000 in everyday purchases within your first 2 months.

The World Mastercard offers new perks to their customers that are not available to Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard users. Mobile insurance of $1,000, rental car insurance worth $65,000 for 31 days and Mastercard airport experiences are perks that cardholders gain access to. Both of these insurance packages are beneficial for individuals who have a smartphone and renting cars often. In addition, with the Mastercard LoungeKey membership, you can access airport lounges all over the world at a discounted rate.

 

All in all, the Tangerine World Mastercard is an excellent choice because of the cash back rewards and other perks. Start earning cash on your expenditures today!

Tangerine Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tangerine a good credit card?

Tangerine has two credit cards. The Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card and the Tangerine World Mastercard. Both offer no annual fee and a 19.95% interest rate. They offer purchase assurance and extended warranty on products fully purchased with their credit cards.

Tangerine also offers 2% Money-Back Rewards in two categories of your choice and 0.05% on all other everyday purchases. If you deposit your Money-Back directly into a Tangerine savings account, you unlock a third 2% Money-Back Rewards category. This credit card has no cap on the amount of Money-Back Rewards you can earn. The Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card is a great choice and is competitive with the credit card options of big banks. The Tangerine World Mastercard has added benefits and is harder to qualify for. Benefits include: Mastercard travel rewards, Mastercard airport experiences, mobile device insurance, car rental insurance, and worldwide wi-fi hotspot access.

How do I qualify for a Tangerine credit card?

Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card

To qualify for this credit card, you must have: a gross annual income of $12,000 plus, be the age of majority in your province or territory, be a permanent resident of Canada and be clear of bankruptcies over the past 7 years.

Tangerine World Mastercard

To qualify for this credit card, you must have: $60,000 plus gross annual income OR $100,000 plus household income OR $250,000 in Tangerine bank accounts. AND you must: be the age of majority in your province or territory, be a permanent resident of Canada and be clear of bankruptcies over the past 7 years.

Does Tangerine do a credit check?

Yes, Tangerine will do a credit check as you must agree to a credit check as part of your application process for either credit card Tangerine offers.

What credit bureau does Tangerine use?

Tangerine pulls credit history and credit scores using the TransUnion credit reporting agency.

How do I increase my Tangerine credit card limit?

Tangerine does not provide information on their website about how to increase credit card limits. In most cases, maintaining a good payment history and low borrowing load will welcome credit increases. Often banks and creditors will offer regular increases without requests, but you will be asked and must approve these increases. If you would like a credit increase, you can call and speak to Tangerine’s client service representatives, who can walk you through their specific process and submit your request for a credit increase. Tangerine, like most banks, has an online credit increase form you should be able to complete and submit on your own too.

How can I apply for a Tangerine credit card?

You can apply for a Tangerine credit card online, but you will need to register as a Tangerine client first. If you are already a Tangerine client, you can apply online or call now.

Tangerine Money Back vs World Mastercard®

Wondering what's the difference between the 2 cards? Compare the Tangerine Money Back vs World Mastercard®

 

Overview

National Bank’s most exclusive credit card is the World Elite Mastercard. Cardholders can take advantage of exclusive travel perks and earn points under the À la carte Rewards Plan at an accelerated rate. Check out the other benefits below.

Key Features and Benefits

• Annual fee of $150 and standard interest rates
• Earn points towards the À la carte Rewards Plan while you spend
• Earn 1.5 points per dollar spent on net purchases up to $40,000, earn 2 points per dollar spent on net purchases between $40,001 and $80,000, and earn 1.5 points per dollar spent over $80,001 in a year
• Eligibility for a travel expense refund
• Unlimited access to National Bank Lounge at the Montreal-Trudeau Airport for you and a guest
• Minimum annual income of $80,000 for an individual or $150,000 for a household, OR have a minimum of $400,000 in assets, OR be an existing client that spends at least $25,000 per year
• Extended warranty and comprehensive travel insurance coverage included

Pros

• Access to a special travel agency and a dedicated online store under the À la carte Rewards Plan
• Redeem points for merchandise, gift cards, vacation packages, plane tickets, travel experiences, À la carte Extras, or credit card statement credits
• National Bank is rated as one of the best banks for customer service support

Cons

• Tiered points earning system under the À la carte Rewards Plan
• Minimum annual incomes, expenditures, or savings are required to apply for this credit card
• Minimum credit limit of $5,000

Takeaway
The World Elite Mastercard is the most luxury credit card National Bank has to offer. There are tons of exclusive benefits that come with the card, but not everyone spends enough to take advantage of the perks or is willing to pay the annual fee. If you’re more concerned with affordability, consider other National Bank credit cards.

®Mastercard, and World Elite are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Authorized user: National Bank