The best store credit cards in Canada for 2024
Discover the best store credit cards in Canada for making your daily spending work for you.
Best credit cards by category | Why we love it |
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Best for Loblaw-affiliated stores (including Shoppers Drug Mart) PC Financial World Elite Mastercard Annual fee: $0 | Highest rate of return on spending at one of the largest retail networks in the country |
Best for Canadian Tire-affiliated stores (including Sport Chek and Mark’s) Triangle Mastercard Annual fee: $0 | 4% cash back on purchases at a wide selection of stores |
Best for Amazon Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard Annual fee: $0 (Prime subscription required for full card benefits) | Prime members earn 2.5% on Amazon.ca and foreign currency transactions |
Best for Walmart Walmart Rewards World Mastercard Annual fee: $0 | 3% when shopping online at Walmart.ca and 1.25% when shopping in-store |
Best for Costco Rogers World Elite Mastercard Annual fee: $0 | The highest rate of return at the warehouse retailer, plus enough cash back to cover FX fees |
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The best store credit cards in Canada by category
Creatures of habit, rejoice! Your loyal shopping behaviours may just pay off, big time. If you shop regularly at certain retailers, using a store credit card can help you to earn discounts, free goods and exclusive perks by swiping or tapping for everyday purchases. Spending with a store credit card can even give you VIP access to sales. And if you already collect loyalty points, they’ll likely accumulate even quicker with a store credit card. Considering that these cards typically have no annual fee, the reasons to switch are racking up quicker than your latte charges.
If you spend at Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart and Esso
This credit card brings something more to the table–get it? Arguably the best no fee card credit for groceries in Canada, the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard earns you PC Optimum Points faster when you shop at any of the Loblaw banner stores (Loblaws, No Frills, Superstore, Fortinos, etc.), Shoppers Drug Mart and when you fill up at Esso and Mobil gas stations.
PC Financial World Elite Mastercard
- Annual fee: $0
- Earn rates: 45 PC Optimum points per $1 at Shoppers Drug Mart; 30 points per $1 at Loblaw banner grocery stores (including No Frills), and 10 points per $1 on everything else
- Welcome bonus: You can earn 20,000 PC Optimum points ($20 value).
- Annual income requirement: Personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000
- Point value: 10 PC points = $0.01 at Loblaws grocery network and Shoppers Drug Mart
- Recommended credit score for approval: 560 or higher
- Interest rates: 21.99% on purchases, 22.97% on cash advances (21.97% for residents of Quebec), 22.97% on balance transfers
How it works
You rack up the equivalent of 4.5% cash back in PC Optimum Points at Shoppers Drug Mart and 3% on groceries from Loblaws banner stores. You’ll also earn 30 Optimum Points per litre of gas at Esso and Mobil stations—making it one of the best retailer credit cards for gas on the market—and 1% in PC points everywhere else you swipe the card.
The loyalty system is easy to understand: 10,000 PC Optimum Points is equivalent to $10 redeemable in merchandise (or in other words, 10 points = $0.01 or 1%).
You can redeem your points at almost 2,500 participating retail locations including Loblaws banner stores and Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix locations. As soon as you reach over 10,000 points, you present your card at the register and the respective discount is deducted from your bill instantly.
Perks
This card doesn’t have an annual fee, and it offers free travel emergency medical insurance for up to $1 million for trips of 10 days or less. It also comes with car rental insurance, purchase assurance in case of theft, loss or damage after you buy an item with your card and extended warranty on certain items purchased with the card. It also has a free 24/7 concierge service for dinner reservations, event tickets, gift delivery and more. You can also stack any PC Optimum points you regularly earn on the credit card with personalized offers from the PC Optimum app, in-store points offers or flyers.
Drawbacks
Purchases on certain items, like tobacco, lottery tickets and prescriptions at stores, do not earn you PC Optimum Points. Also, while you can earn points at Esso and Mobil gas stations, you cannot redeem points for free gas.
To qualify for the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard, you need a minimum annual income of $80,000 or $150,000 as a household, as well as a minimum spend of $15,000 annually. However, if you don’t meet those requirements, you will automatically be considered for the PC Financial World or entry-level PC Financial Mastercard with lesser income and still earn PC Points on everyday spending.
If you shop at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek and Mark’s
If you spend a lot on items for your home, car, sports equipment and more, you could collect CT Money with those purchases. This card rewards you with CT Money while shopping at Canadian Tire and other stores under the Canadian Tire Corporation umbrella. It’s worth noting that CT Money has changed: it’s not the fun, Monopoly-style paper bills of an era gone by, and CT Money racks up electronically now.
Triangle Mastercard
- Annual fee: $0
- Earn rate: 4% back on purchases at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark’s/L’Équipeur, Atmosphere, Party City, Sports Rousseau, Hockey Experts, L’Entrepôt du Hockey and participating Sports Experts stores; 3% at grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Costco), up to $12,000 per year; 1% everywhere else; $0.05 to $0.07 back per litre at Gas+ and Essence+
- Annual income requirement: None
- Recommended credit score for approval: Not specified
- Interest rates: 19.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
How it works
The Triangle Mastercard lets you rack up the equivalent of 4% cash back in CT Money when you spend at stores under the Canadian Tire Corporation umbrella. Don’t forget, Canadian Tire offers auto services, so collecting (or redeeming) CT Money could be a silver lining to your next flat tire or oil change. What’s more, if you sign up for the new Triangle Select program, at a cost of $89 per year plus tax, you’ll get ten times the CT Money on everyday purchases made with your Triangle Mastercard in addition to your regular in-store Triangle credit card rewards.
In terms of rewards systems, it couldn’t be simpler: $1 in CT Money is equivalent to one redeemable dollar. You can use your CT Money by presenting your credit card to the cashier.
Perks
The Triangle Mastercard boasts no annual fee and also offers a no-receipt return policy at participating stores and exclusive savings events for members.
You can also take advantage of their no-fee, no-interest financing program on bigger purchases at Canadian Tire (and the aforementioned stores). Basically, when you spend $150 or more, you can split it into 24 equal monthly payments, as long as you pay your minimum balance due each month. It’s like layaway 2.0.
Drawbacks
The reward points are only applied to the price of the purchased items, meaning the 4% you’ll earn on purchases at Canadian Tire doesn’t include sales tax.
If you shop on Amazon
If going to the mall isn’t your thing, the Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard could be perfect for you. It lets you earn points to use towards discounts on your Amazon purchases (as well as for shopping at Whole Foods, grocery stores and restaurants).
Amazon Rewards Mastercard
- Annual fee: $0 (Prime subscription required for full card benefits)
- Earn rate: Prime members earn 2.5% on Amazon.ca and foreign currency transactions. Non-Prime members earn 1.5% back on Amazon.ca. Get 1% everywhere else
- Welcome offer: 5% back at Amazon.ca, Whole Foods Market stores for 6 months up to $3,000 in eligible purchases (for a value of $150)
- Income requirement: None specified
- Points value: Rewards come in the form of points which can be redeemed for Amazon.ca gift cards (1 point is worth 1% cash back savings off Amazon purchases)
- Recommended credit score for approval: 725 or higher
- Interest rates: 19.50% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances
How it works
Amazon Prime members get 2.5% in Amazon points on purchases at Amazon.ca and Whole Foods Market stores. If you’re not a Prime member, you get 1.5% on eligible purchases at Amazon.ca and Whole Foods stores. You also get 1% on eligible purchases elsewhere.
The system is simple: Rewards are automatically loaded into your Amazon account once you’ve earned 2,000 points (equivalent to $20). You can then use those points to redeem for Amazon gift cards.
Perks
This card has no annual fee and also offers a great welcome bonus: You get 5% back at Amazon.ca, Whole Foods Stores, grocery stores and restaurants for six months after approval or on the first $3,000 in eligible purchases, maxing out at $150 in rewards.
Cardholders also get 2.5% back on eligible foreign currency transactions, which helps to cover foreign transaction fees. If you’re not a Prime member, you get 1% back on foreign currency transactions.
Drawbacks
Compared to cards with a large network of stores, this is really only worth it if you’re a dyed-in-the-wool Amazon shopper. Plus, the Prime membership isn’t complimentary—it’s $79 a year.
If you shop at Walmart
If you love a good deal, you’re probably no stranger to the aisles of Walmart. Here’s how the Walmart Rewards World Mastercard can make those (already rolled-back) dollars go further for you.
Walmart Rewards World Mastercard
- Annual fee: $0
- Earn rate: 3% at Walmart.ca, 1.25% in-store in Canada, 1.25% at gas stations, 1% everywhere else
- Welcome offer:
- Annual income requirement: Household income of $100,000
- Recommended credit score for approval: Not specified
- Interest rates: % on purchases, % on cash advances (21.97% for residents of Quebec)
How it works
You’ll earn a hefty 3% when shopping online at Walmart.ca and 1.25% when shopping in-store at their brick-and-mortar locations. You’ll also get 1.25% when you fill up at any gas station (a definite plus if it’s not always feasible to gas up at the same chain). You’ll also earn 1% on purchases anywhere else.
Perks
This card starts paying off right away. You can start redeeming when you collect as little as $5 in rewards. It’s also very simple: $1 Walmart Dollar = $1 in discounts.
Drawbacks
This is another card you have to meet a minimum income requirement for ($100,000 annually as a household). If you don’t make the cut, you could still qualify for the entry-level Walmart Rewards Mastercard, but before you apply consider there are some better reward credit cards to use at Walmart.
At 3%, the Walmart Rewards World Mastercard also works best if you do a lot of online shopping at Walmart.ca. But if you prefer to shop in-person, again, there are better cards available that earn more rewards when spending at brick-and-mortar Walmart locations like the American Express SimplyCash Preferred or TD First Class Visa Infinite.
If you shop at Costco
The CIBC Costco Mastercard is a good choice for loyal Costco shoppers. However, if you want to earn the most cash back on your Costco purchases, there is a better option…
Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard
- Annual fee: $0
- Earn rate: 1.5% cash back on all purchases, or 2% back for Rogers, Fido and Shaw customers; 3% cash back on all purchases in USD
- Welcome bonus: You can This card does not have a welcome bonus at this time.
- Annual income requirement: Personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000
- Recommended credit score for approval: 725 or higher
- Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
How it works
This cash back card offers the highest rewards for Costco shoppers, even if it’s not specifically tailored to customers of the warehouse club chain. The CIBC Costco Mastercard gives you 3% cash back at restaurants and Costco gas stations (on your first $5,000 in purchases annually), 2% cash back at other gas stations (on your first $5,000 spent) and 2% back when you shop at Costco.ca (on your first $8,000 spent)—before returning to the base rate of 1%. In-store purchases nets you only 1% cash back. In comparison, the Rogers World Elite offers 1.5% cash back on all of your Costco purchases (both in store and online), and there’s absolutely no limit on the amount you can earn. Oh, and there’s no annual fee, either.
Perks
The Rogers World Elite Mastercard comes with an accelerated 3% earn rate on purchases in U.S. dollars. That covers the 2% foreign transaction fee. If you frequently shop in the U.S., it’s like having a no forex fee card. Card holders also get emergency medical insurance, trip cancellation and interruption protection, and rental car collision and damage coverage.
Drawbacks
One drawback of this card is the personal annual income requirement of $80,000, which is high compared to some other cards, but the same as other Mastercards with World Elite benefits. If the income requirement or credit score are difficult to achieve, the CIBC Costco Mastercard is a good alternative.
More of Canada’s best credit cards:
- Best travel credit cards in Canada
- Best cash back credit cards in Canada
- Best low-interest credit cards in Canada
- Overall best credit cards in Canada
- Best travel insurance credit cards in Canada
- Best cash back credit cards in Canada
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