For the past few years, the Frugal Flyer team has reviewed the Canadian credit card market to determine what cards we think are worthy of extra recognition, through our annual “Best Credit Card Awards”. We consider the winners of these awards to be shining stars within the options available to Canadians, for a number of reasons, which we will cover in each award section.
As we look to the year ahead, let’s dive into our selections for Frugal Flyer’s Best Credit Card Awards of 2026.
Our Process for Selecting the Best Credit Cards for 2026
At the onset of the year, we look at all of the credit cards that are available in the Canadian market. We look at all of the attributes of the cards, including earning rates, benefits, and insurance coverages. We do not consider welcome bonuses when we are selecting our winners, as these fluctuate over time and are not necessarily part of what makes a great credit card.
When we first launched our “Best Credit Card” awards in 2023, we started out with 4 categories of awards. Since then, we have expanded to 15 different awards to keep with our goal of showcasing the best cards that financial institutions in Canada have to offer, and the value that they can bring current and future cardholders.
With our 2026 awards, we have kept true to our previous lists with awards focused on credit card insurance, travel benefits, spending categories, airport lounge access, and more, while slightly shifting some awards to better capture what cardholders are looking for in the Canadian market.
Without further ado, we are excited to present Frugal Flyer’s Best Credit Card Awards for 2026.
Frugal Flyer’s Best Credit Card Awards for 2026
We’ve summarized all of our award winners in the table below, but read on to learn why we chose each winner for their award.
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Overall Travel Credit Card | Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card |
| Best Credit Card for Airport Lounge Access | American Express Platinum Card |
| Best Air Canada Aeroplan Credit Card | American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card |
| Best Airline Co-Branded Credit Card | BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard |
| Best Credit Card for Foreign Transactions | Wealthsimple Visa Infinite Card |
| Best Overall Insurance Credit Card | National Bank World Elite Mastercard |
| Best Flexible Points Travel Credit Card | RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card |
| Best Fixed Value Points Credit Card | Scotiabank Gold American Express Card |
| Best Cash Back Credit Card | Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard |
| Best Customizable Cash Back Credit Card | Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard |
| Best Points Credit Card for Grocery Purchases | American Express Cobalt Card |
| Best Cash Back Credit Card for Grocery Purchases | Neo World Elite Mastercard |
| Best Secured Credit Card | Neo Secured World Elite Mastercard |
| Best Balance Transfer Credit Card | CIBC Select Visa Card |
| Best Small Business Travel Card | American Express Business Platinum Card |
Best Overall Travel Credit Card
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card has received the “Best Overall Travel Credit Card” award for 2026.
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card offers benefits such as no foreign transaction fees and six annual complimentary airport lounge access passes.
Check out our Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card review for more details.
Earn when you apply through Frugal Flyer.
60,000 Scene+ points
$40,000
$750+
$150
No
Jul 1, 2026
While we speak highly of the value that many premium credit cards offer for the frequent traveler or miles and points enthusiast, we are often asked what card we would recommend for the average traveler. The traveler who takes a few vacations a year and wants to improve their travels with minimal effort via a credit card.
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card is the one that we recommend the most when it comes to the best overall travel credit card for Canadians, as it offers six complimentary airport lounge passes plus no foreign transaction fees. Additionally, since the card is on the Visa network, cardholders can expect strong merchant acceptance worldwide.
We also believe that the Scene+ points program is one of the best for travelers of any kind, as it is easy to redeem points for maximum value, whether you are redeeming for ‘Book Any Way Travel’ or through Scene+ Travel. No matter the redemption method, when used for travel, Scene+ points are worth 1 cent per point.
For the traveler who only needs access to airport lounges a handful of times a year, wants to save on any purchases in foreign currencies, and desires access to an easy-to-redeem points currency while paying a reasonable annual fee of $150, this card is an absolute keeper.
Best Credit Card for Airport Lounge Access
The American Express Platinum Card has received the “Best Credit Card for Airport Lounge Access” award for 2026.
The American Express Platinum Card is a premium card that offers benefits including a $200 travel credit, a $200 dining credit, airport lounge access, instant elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, and more.
Check out our American Express Platinum card review for more details.
100,000 Membership Rewards points
$10,000
$2,000+
$799
Yes
–
While the American Express Platinum card is a premium card that comes with a high annual fee of $799, it offers nearly unrestricted airport lounge access thanks to access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection encompasses over 1,550 airport lounges that Platinum cardholders can access for free, oftentimes also being allowed to bring at least one guest in at no additional charge. Travelers can usually find at least one eligible airport lounge at most airports, making it a great card to hold consistently in your wallet if you are a frequent traveler.
Airport lounge access offered by this card also includes American Express Centurion Lounges, which are some of the nicest airport lounges in North America.
We will note that while this card has won this award for 2026, airport lounge access on this card is changing for 2027. As of January 1, 2027, American Express Platinum cardholders will only receive six complimentary lounge visits to Plaza Premium and Priority Pass lounges, and can unlock unlimited access to these lounges by spending $20,000 in a calendar year.
While this change hasn’t impacted our award for 2026, it is important to be aware of whether you were considering adding this card to your wallet or if you already hold the Platinum card, as it is a significant nerf to this benefit. Access to Centurion Lounges, Escape Lounges, and airline-operated lounges within the Global Lounge Collection is not impacted by this upcoming change.
Best Air Canada Aeroplan Credit Card
The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card has received the “Best Air Canada Aeroplan Credit Card” award for 2026.
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve card offers Air Canada benefits including Priority Airport Services, Eligible free first checked bags, and access to Maple Leaf Lounges™* across North America.
Check out our American Express Aeroplan Reserve card review for more details.
85,000 Aeroplan points
$10,000
$1,785+
$599
Yes
–
The American Express Aeroplan Reserve card comes with a plethora of benefits tied to Air Canada, including priority services (check-in, boarding, and baggage), Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge access, and the first free checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight guests on the same itinerary.
The card also offers benefits that positively impact membership in the Aeroplan loyalty program, including the ability to earn 1,000 status qualifying credits (SQC) towards Air Canada Aeroplan for every $5,000 in eligible net purchases made on the account, up to 25,000 SQC. Aeroplan members can also roll over SQC and eUpgrade credits.
Since the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card is a premium credit card, it does come with a $599 annual fee. However, it has no minimum income requirements, making it an achievable premium Aeroplan credit card for anyone who can stomach the annual fee. This aspect alone makes it edge out the other Aeroplan credit cards in the market, offering an achievable card with excellent Air Canada benefits for the broader Canadian population.
Best Airline Co-Branded Credit Card
The BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard has received the “Best Airline Co-Branded Credit Card” award for 2026.
The BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard offers benefits including VIPorter Venture membership and the opportunity to earn an annual round-trip companion pass through spending.
Earn when you apply through Frugal Flyer.
70,000 VIPorter points
$18,000
$1,175+
$199 (FYF)
Yes
Oct 31, 2026
When the BMO VIPorter Mastercards were launched in 2025, we were shocked at the value that they offered and openly stated that it was the best new Canadian credit card that had launched in quite some time.
While the card has pretty good earning rates (even with the annual caps), where it shines is that it offers Venture Membership status within the VIPorter loyalty program simply for holding the card.
This means that cardholders, and up to eight guests on the same itinerary, will receive 1 complimentary checked bag, 1 complimentary carry-on bag on all fare classes, free PorterClassic seat selection, priority re-accommodation for flight delays, and priority check-in, security, and boarding on all Porter Airlines flights.
Whether you travel solo or with a large family, those benefits will add up quickly in actual cost savings and quality of travel improvements. When you consider that you receive all of these benefits for a reasonable annual fee of $199, the value will quickly eclipse the cost of the annual fee even if you are an infrequent flyer.
We’ve also had several reports of Frugal Flyer writers who were upgraded to PorterReserve class simply due to their elite status as a result of this card. Full stop, if you fly on Porter Airlines or live in an area that is serviced by Porter Airlines, this is a card that you need to add to your wallet today.
Best Credit Card for Foreign Transactions
The Wealthsimple Visa Infinite Card has received the “Best Credit Card for Foreign Transactions” award for 2026.
The Wealthsimple Visa Infinite Card earns 2% cash back on ALL eligible purchases. The card comes with no foreign transaction fees. The annual fee can be waived for Premium or Generation Wealthsimple clients, or by making an eligible direct deposit each month.
$0 cash back
$0
$0+
$240
No
–
When traveling abroad or making purchases in foreign currencies, the typical 2.5% foreign exchange fee charged by most Canadian credit cards can quickly eat into your budget. The Wealthsimple Visa Infinite card eliminates this fee entirely, making it an outstanding choice for international travelers and cross-border shoppers.
What sets the Wealthsimple card apart from other no foreign transaction fee cards is its industry-leading 2% cash back earning rate on all purchases, including foreign currency transactions. Most competing cards with no FX fees typically offer only 1% or 1x points per dollar spent. This means that when you use the Wealthsimple card abroad, you’re not only saving the 2.5% foreign transaction fee but also earning a robust 2% cash back—resulting in a net 4.5% advantage over standard credit cards.
For frequent travelers or those who make regular purchases from international merchants, the value proposition is compelling. On a $2,000 vacation spend, you’ll save $50 in foreign exchange fees while earning $40 in cash back, totaling $90 in value. The card’s Visa network also ensures strong merchant acceptance worldwide, making it a reliable companion wherever your travels take you.
While the Wealthsimple Visa Infinite card carries a $240 annual fee (charged as $20 per month), this fee can be waived if you’re a Wealthsimple Premium or Generation client (with $100,000+ or $500,000+ in assets, respectively) or if you have $4,000 or more in monthly direct deposits into your Wealthsimple Chequing account. For those who can qualify for the fee waiver, this becomes the most valuable no foreign exchange fee card available in Canada.
Read more: Review of the Wealthsimple Visa Infinite and Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card
Best Overall Insurance Credit Card
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard has received the “Best Overall Insurance Credit Card” award for 2026.
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard offers benefits that include an annual $150 travel credit and access to the National Bank VIP airport lounge in the Montreal Airport International terminal.
Check out our National Bank World Elite Mastercard review for more details.
35,000 À la carte Rewards
$20,000
$350+
$150
Yes
Jun 29, 2026
For the third year in a row, this card was the obvious choice for the best overall insurance credit card. The insurance benefits are significant and best-in-class, from travel insurance to purchase protection to mobile device insurance.
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard would likely also win the category of ‘best travel insurance card’. Not only is the card’s travel insurance competitive in terms of coverage amounts, but its coverage is more flexible than other cards in the market, for example, including medical coverage for cardholders up to 74 years of age (most cards cover up to 65 only).
Furthermore, the National Bank World Elite is one of a select few credit cards that provide coverage for award flights. So you can use this card to pay for taxes and fees on an award booking and still be eligible for coverage.
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is no slouch when it comes to other card features, too. It offers a very strong earning rate of 5 À la carte rewards points per dollar spent at grocery stores and restaurants, and comes with a $150 travel enhancement credit that can be used quite flexibly.
Best Flexible Points Travel Credit Card
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card has received the “Best Flexible Points Travel Credit Card” award for 2026.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite card earns 1.25 Avion points on all travel purchases. Avion points can be redeemed against travel purchases or transferred to popular frequent flyer programs.
Check out our RBC Avion Visa Infinite card review for more details.
55,000 Avion points
$5,000
$1,045+
$120
Yes
Jun 15, 2026
Avion points are one of the most valuable point currencies in Canada as they can be redeemed for a number of travel-related options, including:
- Flights utilizing the RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule
- Redemptions through the flexible travel rewards chart
- Transferring to other frequent flyer loyalty programs including American Airlines AAdvantage, British Airways Avios, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, and WestJet Rewards
We usually recommend transferring Avion to partner frequent flyer programs to get the most value out of Avion points. The Frugal Flyer Team is a big fan of transferring to American Airlines AAdvantage and British Airways Avios for maximum value; for example, Jeff redeemed AAdvantage Miles for an amazing Etihad First Class redemption.
Whether you are transferring Avion to British Airways Avios to book a Japan Airlines business class flight, or transferring your Avion points to WestJet Rewards to book a WestJet Premium Economy flight, the value and flexibility are there when it comes to making travel redemptions with Avion points.
Plus, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card is very accessible for most Canadians, as it only has a minimum annual personal income requirement of $60,000 while offering a powerful rewards currency in Avion points.
Best Fixed Value Points Credit Card
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card has received the “Best Fixed Value Points Credit Card” award for 2026.
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card earns up to 6x Scene+ points at Empire grocery stores and charges no foreign exchange fees on purchases made in foreign currencies.
Check out our Scotiabank Gold American Express card review for more details.
Earn when you apply through Frugal Flyer.
45,000 Scene+ points
$7,500
$600+
$120
No
Jul 1, 2026
The Scotiabank Gold American Express card continues to stand out in this category due to its exceptional rewards structure and the straightforward redemption process offered through the Scene+ loyalty program.
Cardholders can accumulate 6x Scene+ points when shopping at Empire-owned grocery stores, while earning 5x Scene+ points across a wide range of categories, including non-Empire grocery stores, restaurants, fast food, drinking establishments, food delivery services, food box subscriptions, and eligible entertainment purchases. Additionally, the card provides 3x Scene+ points on eligible gas, daily transit services, rideshare services, and select streaming services.
The elevated earning categories are available on up to a combined purchase limit of $50,000 per calendar year, positioning this card as an excellent choice for households with substantial monthly expenditures.
Not only does this card have stellar earning rates across the board, but Scene+ points are one of the best fixed-value points currencies in Canada. They can easily be redeemed at a rate of 1 cent per point against all travel purchases booked by the cardholder, making the Scotiabank Gold American Express card a powerful workhorse.
Best Cash Back Credit Card
The Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard has received the “Best Cash Back Credit Card” award for 2026.
With the Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard, Rogers, Fido, Shaw, and Comwave postpaid consumer customers can earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases and get a 1.5x redemption bonus on eligible Rogers, Fido, Shaw, and Comwave purchases – a 3% cash back value.
Earn when you apply through Frugal Flyer.
$0 cash back
$0
$50+
$0
Yes
–
The Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard has edged out other cash back credit cards for this award as a result of the total value proposition it offers, and not necessarily a strict comparison of cash back earning rates.
First of all, the card has no annual fee, and if you are a Rogers, Fido, Shaw, or Comwave postpaid customer, the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard earns 2% cash back on all purchases regardless of spending category.
The value of your cash back rewards is also multiplied by 1.5x when redeeming towards Rogers, Fido, Shaw, and Comwave purchases, making that 2% cash back rate an effective 3% cash back rate. Cash back can be redeemed once the cardholder earns a minimum of $10.
While less exciting, the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard earns 3% cash back on purchases made in U.S. dollars, but it does charge a 2.5% foreign exchange fee on those transactions, resulting in a net 0.5% cash back. For those who are not Rogers, Fido, Shaw, or Comwave customers, the card earns 1.5% on all other non-U.S. dollar purchases.
Consistent earning rates that effectively improve when redeeming towards certain purchases, coupled with no annual fee, make this card a standout for anyone who is a customer of any of the eligible services.
Best Customizable Cash Back Credit Card
The Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard has received the “Best Customizable Cash Back Credit Card” award for 2026.
The Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard offers cardholders the ability to choose up to three accelerated spending categories to increase their cash back earnings.
Check out our Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard review for more details.
Earn when you apply through Frugal Flyer.
$120 cash back
$1,500
$280+
$0
Yes
Apr 30, 2026
If you want a credit card that earns cash back, but value the flexibility in how you can approach maximizing your cash back earnings, the Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard is the best option in Canada.
Cardholders can select up to three bonus spending categories that earn 2% cash back and can adjust these categories as they desire. Two bonus categories are available by default, with a third bonus spending category unlocked when the cardholder chooses to have their cash back rewards deposited to a Tangerine Savings account.
This means that if you know you have a big purchase coming up in a different category, you can proactively switch to the desired bonus category at least one billing cycle in advance to earn the elevated cash back rate. Or, you can just keep the three bonus spending categories the same if your top purchase categories are very similar month over month.
Cash back is paid monthly via a statement credit to the credit card account or as a deposit to a Tangerine savings account, meaning you won’t need to wait too long to access your earned rewards.
Best Points Credit Card for Grocery Purchases
The American Express Cobalt Card has received the “Best Points Credit Card for Grocery Purchases” award for 2026.
The American Express Cobalt Card gives cardholders the opportunity to earn 5x Membership Rewards on eligible restaurant, food delivery, and grocery store purchases.
Check out our American Express Cobalt card review for more details.
15,000 Membership Rewards points
$9,000
$300+
$191.88
Yes
–
Those who have been involved in the miles and points game for any length of time know that the American Express Cobalt card is the undisputed best option for cardholders who are looking to earn valuable Membership Rewards points en masse.
This card earns 5x Membership Rewards points on eligible food and drink purchases in Canada, which includes restaurants, food delivery, and grocery stores (up to a $2,500 in spending per month). This means that if you regularly shop at grocery stores and restaurants that accept American Express, you could earn 12,500 Membership Rewards per month if you spend enough to reach the cap.
While the 5x earning rate makes this card a standout, it gets even better since Membership Rewards are the most valuable transferable points currency available to Canadians.
The Membership Rewards loyalty program has eight frequent flyer and hotel loyalty program transfer partners, including the popular Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways Avios, and Air France KLM Flying Blue, all of which transfer at a rate of 1:1, this is not only the best points credit card to use for grocery purchases, but a powerful tool to unlock aspirational travel redemptions worldwide.
Best Cash Back Credit Card for Grocery Purchases
The Neo World Elite Mastercard has received the “Best Cash Back Credit Card for Grocery Purchases” award for 2026.
The Neo World Elite Mastercard offers 5% cash back on groceries, 4% on recurring bills, and 3% on gas purchases.
Check out our Neo World Elite Mastercard review for more details.
Earn when you apply through Frugal Flyer.
$0 cash back
$0
$125+
$125
Yes
–
If you would prefer to earn cash back instead of points, the Neo World Elite Mastercard has the highest cash back rate on grocery purchases, as it earns 5% cash back for every dollar spent on grocery purchases (up to $1,000 in spend monthly). All purchases past the monthly cap earn 1% cash back.
If you were to meet this cap each month, you would earn a total of $600 in cash back in a year, which is a tidy sum for doing nothing more than swiping a credit card. Plus, since it is a Mastercard, acceptance at grocers should be more widespread than some of the alternative cards.
The Neo World Elite Mastercard also makes it easy for cardholders to redeem their cash back, as it can be redeemed at any time as long as they have a minimum balance of $1.00 in cash back rewards earned.
Best Secured Credit Card
The Neo Secured World Elite Mastercard has received the “Best Secured Credit Card” award for 2026.
The Neo Secured World Elite Mastercard offers guaranteed approval with no hard credit check, plus an earning rate of 5% cash back on groceries, 4% on recurring bills, and 3% on gas purchases.
Earn when you apply through Frugal Flyer.
$0 cash back
$0
$100+
$125
Yes
–
This is a secured version of the Neo World Elite Mastercard which won the “Best Cash Back Credit Card for Grocery Purchases” award above. The Neo Secured World Elite Mastercard offers all of the same earning rates as the normal version, making it easily the most powerful secured credit card in Canada.
If you are interested in a secured credit card to build your credit, the Neo Secured World Elite Mastercard is the best choice, as it guarantees approval with no hard credit check.
Best Balance Transfer Credit Card
The CIBC Select Visa Card has received the “Best Balance Transfer Credit Card” award for 2026.
The CIBC Select Visa card is a low annual fee credit card with low purchase and cash interest rates, and a promotional balance transfer rate of 0% for 10 months (1% transfer fee).
0 None
$0
$0+
$29 (FYF)
Yes
–
Balance transfers serve as a valuable strategy for consolidating or restructuring existing debt, especially when taking advantage of promotional rates that can drop to 0% for limited timeframes of 6-12 months.
Looking solely at publicly available options, the CIBC Select Visa card stands out as one of Canada’s top balance transfer offerings, featuring a promotional 0% APR for 10 months paired with just a 1% fee on transferred balances. This promotion must be activated during the application process, and caps transfers at 50% of your granted credit line. While the card carries a $29 yearly fee, it’s waived during the initial year.
For existing CIBC cardholders, the bank periodically extends personalized transfer promotions. These customized offers may appear in your online account dashboard or be presented during calls with customer service representatives, sometimes in conjunction with a CIBC product change. The terms fluctuate but frequently include 0% APR for 10 months with transfer fees ranging from 1-2%, making them similarly attractive to the CIBC Select Visa card’s public promotion.
It’s worth noting that while CIBC generally restricts balance transfers to 50% of your available credit limit (referred to as the ‘cash limit’), some customers have reported successfully negotiating transfers up to their full credit limit when making their request by phone.
Best Small Business Travel Card
The American Express Business Platinum Card has received the “Best Small Business Travel Card” award for 2026.
The American Express Business Platinum Card is a premium card that offers benefits including a $200 travel credit, airport lounge access, a $100 NEXUS membership credit, and more.
Check out our American Express Business Platinum card review for more details.
120,000 Membership Rewards points
$15,000
$2,400+
$799
Yes
–
While Canada offers numerous small business credit cards worthy of recognition, the American Express Business Platinum card stands out as our top choice due to its impressive suite of benefits: a $200 annual travel credit provided at each card anniversary, unrestricted access to airport lounges through the Amex Global Lounge Collection (although this is changing starting in 2027), automatic elite status granted with Marriott Bonvoy Gold status and Hilton Honors Gold status, and robust travel insurance protection.
Additionally, the card accumulates Membership Rewards points at a consistent rate of 1.25x across all categories. Membership Rewards are widely regarded as Canada’s most versatile rewards currency for transfers to airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Although the Business Platinum card maintains its leading position, we’re optimistic that 2026 will bring increased competition in the small business credit card market, providing entrepreneurs and business owners with a broader selection of cards to optimize their rewards earnings.
Conclusion
Congratulations to all of the winners of Frugal Flyer’s Best Credit Card Awards for 2026! If you are looking for a new credit card to add to your wallet, consider any of the award-winning cards mentioned in this article, as they stand above all others in their winning category.
Josh Bandura
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Reed Sutton
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