Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards in Canada
No annual fee doesn’t have to mean no rewards. These cards earn real cash back or points on groceries, gas and everyday spending without a yearly charge, so anything you earn is pure gain. They’re a smart fit if you spend modestly or want a second card that never costs you anything.
Short answer: The Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard is our top-rated no-annual-fee card: 1.5% cash back on everything (2% with a Rogers, Fido, Shaw or Comwave service), 3% on U.S.-dollar purchases, and travel medical and trip cancellation insurance, which is rare on a $0 card. The catch is an $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income requirement, and there’s no welcome bonus. Without that income, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa (#3) needs only $15,000 household income, and the Simplii Cash Back Visa (#8) still pays the best no-fee rate at restaurants (4%). Card details last checked September 25, 2026 against issuer pages.
Our Picks, Ranked
among no-fee cards
Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard
Why it’s #1: Best overall $0-fee card. Highest-rated no-fee card we review. 1.5% cash back on everything (2% with a qualifying Rogers, Fido, Shaw or Comwave service), 3% on U.S.-dollar purchases, and a travel insurance suite that is rare on a $0 card. Needs $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income.
Good for
- ✓Travel insurance suite (medical, trip cancellation/interruption, rental car coverage)
- ✓3% cash back on U.S.-dollar purchases
Worth knowing
- !$80,000 personal / $150,000 household income requirement
- !No welcome bonus currently offered
among no-fee cards
Triangle World Elite Mastercard
Why it’s here: Best for Canadian Tire shoppers. 4% in CT Money at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark’s and other Triangle stores, 3% on groceries (up to $12,000 a year, excluding Costco and Walmart) and fuel savings at Canadian Tire Gas+ and Petro-Canada. CT Money is worth the most at Triangle stores. Needs $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income.
Good for
- ✓4% CT Money at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark’s and other Triangle-family stores
- ✓Roadside Assistance Gold Plan and car rental collision/loss damage waiver
Worth knowing
- !CT Money has narrow redemption value outside Triangle-family stores
- !$80,000 personal / $150,000 household income requirement
among no-fee cards
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card
Why it’s here: Best $0-fee Aeroplan card. 1 Aeroplan point per $1 on gas, EV charging, groceries and Air Canada purchases, a welcome offer of up to 10,000 points, and only a $15,000 household income minimum.
Good for
- ✓Purchase security, extended warranty and auto rental collision insurance despite no fee
- ✓Aeroplan points don’t expire while the account is open; Family Sharing available
Worth knowing
- !Below-average base earn rate (~0.67 points per $1) outside bonus categories
- !No travel medical, trip cancellation/interruption or baggage delay insurance
among no-fee cards
American Express Green Card
Why it’s here: Best $0-fee Amex points card. Earns transferable Membership Rewards points: 1 point per $1 on everything, uncapped, and 2 per $1 on hotels and car rentals booked through Amex Travel, plus 10,000 points after $1,000 in purchases in 3 months. Amex isn’t accepted everywhere.
Good for
- ✓Earns transferable Membership Rewards points
- ✓No fee for supplementary cards
Worth knowing
- !Flat 1 point per $1 on most everyday spending
- !Fewer travel perks and insurance benefits than Amex’s fee-based cards
among no-fee cards
Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard
Why it’s here: You choose two 2% cash back categories from 13 options (three if your cash back goes to a Tangerine Savings Account), and you can change them every 90 days. You need $50,000 personal or $80,000 household income, or $250,000 in Tangerine savings or investment funds.
Good for
- ✓2% cash back in up to 2-3 chosen categories
- ✓0.5% cash back on everything else, no annual fee
Worth knowing
- !Higher eligibility bar than the base Money-Back card ($50,000 personal/$80,000 household income or $250,000…
- !Only 2 bonus categories by default; 3rd requires redirecting rewards to a Tangerine Savings Account
among no-fee cards
American Express SimplyCash Card
Why it’s here: Simplest $0-fee cash back. 2% back on gas and groceries (up to $300 of bonus cash back a year) and 1.25% on everything else with no cap, applied automatically as a statement credit. New cardholders get 5% back for the first 3 months, up to $100.
Good for
- ✓Uncapped 1.25% cash back on everything else
- ✓Cash back applied automatically as a statement credit
Worth knowing
- !Gas and grocery bonus capped at $300 of cash back a year
- !Amex acceptance is narrower than Visa or Mastercard at some merchants
among no-fee cards
Scotiabank American Express Card
Why it’s here: Best $0-fee card for Sobeys shoppers. 3 Scene+ points per $1 at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, FreshCo and other Sobeys-family stores, 2 per $1 at other grocery stores and on dining, gas, transit and select streaming, and up to 10,000 bonus points.
Good for
- ✓Shell fuel savings (up to 11¢/L combined value)
- ✓Purchase security, extended warranty and mobile device insurance
Worth knowing
- !No travel insurance package
- !Amex acceptance is narrower than Visa or Mastercard at some merchants
among no-fee cards
Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card
Why it’s here: Best $0-fee dining rate. 4% cash back on restaurants and bars, up to $5,000 in eligible annual spend (max $200/year from this category); 1.5% on gas, groceries, drugstore purchases…
Good for
- ✓No annual fee for the primary cardholder or for up to 3 authorized users
- ✓Purchase security and extended protection insurance…
Worth knowing
- !No complimentary travel insurance of any kind — travel medical coverage is a paid add-on only
- !No mobile device insurance or rental car insurance included
Also Worth a Look
These three didn’t make our top seven on the MoneyMint Score, but each fills a gap the list above leaves.
Home Trust Preferred Visa CardAnnual fee: $0
A rare no-fee card with no foreign transaction fee, plus 1% cash back on everything, paid once a year in January. Needs $15,000 personal income and isn’t available in Quebec.
BMO CashBack MastercardAnnual fee: $0
3% cash back on groceries and 1% on recurring bills, each on the first $500 you spend per statement period, and 0.5% on everything else. Costco purchases earn only the base rate.
Tangerine Money-Back MastercardAnnual fee: $0
2% cash back in two categories you pick (such as groceries, gas, restaurants or recurring bills), or three if your cash back goes into a Tangerine Savings Account, and 0.5% on everything else. New cardholders can get 10% back for two months (up to $100) when they apply by November 30, 2026.
All 8 at a Glance
Compare any cards side by side →| # | Card | Annual fee | Welcome bonus (est.) | Rewards | FX fee | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard | $0 | — | ~1.5–2% everything | 2.5% | 4.8 ★ | Apply |
| 2 | Triangle World Elite Mastercard | $0 | — | ~3% groceries | 2.5% | 4.4 ★ | Apply |
| 3 | CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card | $0 | $200 | ~2% gas & groceries | 2.5% | 4.2 ★ | Apply |
| 4 | American Express Green Card | $0 | $170 | ~1.7% everything | 2.5% | 4.0 ★ | Apply |
| 5 | Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard | $0 | $120 | 2% in picked categories | 2.5% | 4.0 ★ | Apply |
| 6 | American Express SimplyCash Card | $0 | $100 | 2% gas & groceries | 2.5% | 4.0 ★ | Apply |
| 7 | Scotiabank American Express Card | $0 | $100 | ~3% Sobeys stores | 2.5% | 3.9 ★ | Apply |
| 8 | Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card | $0 | $100 | ~4% dining | 2.5% | 3.8 ★ | Apply |
Welcome bonus values use MoneyMint’s points valuations, not the issuer’s advertised “up to” figure. Rewards rates are estimated cash-equivalent values. Cards are ordered by MoneyMint Score; the star rating compares each card with the other no-fee cards we review. Methodology
What Is the Best No Annual Fee Credit Card in Canada?
On our scoring the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard comes out ahead: 1.5% to 2% cash back on everything, 3% on U.S.-dollar purchases and a travel insurance suite, all for $0. It needs $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income. If you don’t meet that, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa is the strongest pick without a high income bar, and the Simplii Cash Back Visa pays the most at restaurants.
What Do You Give Up by Not Paying an Annual Fee?
Mostly three things: lower earn rates outside one or two categories, tighter caps on those categories, and less insurance. Most no-fee cards include no travel medical or trip cancellation cover. The Rogers Red World Elite is the exception on this page, but it has a high income requirement.
Which No-Fee Card Earns the Most on Groceries?
The Triangle World Elite pays 3% in CT Money on groceries (up to $12,000 a year, excluding Costco and Walmart), but CT Money is worth the most at Canadian Tire stores. The Scotiabank American Express pays 3 Scene+ points per $1 at Sobeys-family stores and 2 at other grocery stores, and the Amex SimplyCash pays 2% on gas and groceries combined, up to $300 of bonus cash back a year.
Do No-Fee Cards Still Charge Foreign Transaction Fees?
Most do, and all seven on this page charge 2.5%. The Rogers Red World Elite pays 3% back on U.S.-dollar purchases, which more than covers the fee when you spend in USD. If you want no fee at all on foreign purchases, the Home Trust Preferred Visa has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee; our no foreign transaction fee page covers it and the other options.
Can I Switch My Current Card to a No-Fee One Without Reapplying?
Usually, yes. Most issuers will move you to another card in the same family as a product change, which keeps your account history and avoids a new credit check. It is worth asking before cancelling outright — closing an older account can shorten your average credit age.
Rates, fees and offers are as last verified by MoneyMint and may have changed — always confirm current terms on the issuer’s official page before applying. Some links on this page may be affiliate links, meaning MoneyMint could earn a commission if you apply through them, at no extra cost to you. This never affects which cards we feature or how we rank them. This is general information, not personalized financial advice. Where a card earns points, “estimated value” figures convert points to dollars using MoneyMint’s own point valuations — see our points value calculator.