Starting a family changes everything—including which credit card is best for you. Your most-used spending categories might shift from dining out to groceries, and your credit card points might be used to book family vacations rather than a flight to Europe. The best credit card for your family will meet your new needs.
Best credit card by category | Why we love it |
---|---|
Best for families overall CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Annual fee: $120 | Between 2% and 4% cash back across five major spending categories, plus easy redemptions |
Best for families on a budget Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card Annual fee: $0 | 2% cash back in up to three categories of your choice, with no annual fee Get $100 cash bonus upon approval with Ratehub.ca |
Best for no-fee cash back SimplyCash Card by American Express Annual fee: $0 | At least 1.25% back on all purchases, with no annual fee |
Best for entertainment Scotiabank Gold American Express Annual fee: $120 (waived for the first year) | 5 Scene+ points per $1 spent on dining and entertainment |
Best for family vacations Marriott Bonvoy American Express Annual fee: $120 | Redemptions for free stays at over 30 hotel brands (from Marriott to Ritz-Carlton), plus point transfers to partner airline programs |
Why trust us
MoneySense is an award-winning magazine, helping Canadians navigate money matters since 1999. Our editorial team of trained journalists works closely with leading personal finance experts in Canada. To help you find the best financial products, we compare the offerings from over 12 major institutions, including banks, credit unions and card issuers. Learn more about our advertising and trusted partners.
Best overall credit card for families
CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite
Annual fee: $120 (rebated first year)
- 4% cash back on eligible gas, EV charging and grocery purchases
- 2% on dining, daily transit and recurring payments
- 1% on everything else
Welcome offer: Earn 10% cash back (up to $300 in cash back on your first four statements), plus a first-year annual fee rebate. Offer not available to Quebec residents.
Card details
Interest rates | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers |
Income required | Personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000 |
Credit score | 725 or higher |
- Groceries and gas are undoubtedly two of the biggest expenses for busy families, so why not use a card that rewards your spending in those categories? When you use the CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite to buy groceries, gas or pay for EV charging, you’ll get a whopping 4% cash back (one of the best rates on the market).
- A 2% return on dining out, transportation and recurring bills sweetens the pot, and the 1% base rate with no limit to how much you can earn means you’ll get money back no matter where you spend it. And, when you link and use your CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite with Journie Rewards, you can save up to 10 cents per litre at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stations—a huge benefit with today’s fuel prices.
- Just how much can a family earn with this card? To put it into perspective, consider a family that spends $1,000 on groceries and $150 on gas monthly. They would get a return of $46 per month, or $552 annually, on just those two expenses.
Best credit card for families on a budget
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
Annual fee: $0
- 2% in up to 3 categories of your choice (including groceries, gas and dining)
- 0.5% cash back on everything else
Welcome offer: Earn an extra 10% cash back during the first two months (up to $100 in cash back).
Card details
Interest rates | 20.95% on purchases, 22.95% on cash advances and 22.95% on balance transfers |
Income required | Personal or household income of $12,000 |
Credit score | 660 or higher |
- If an annual credit card fee feels like a hundred-odd dollars that could be better spent on diapers or hockey equipment, this card is for you. The Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card is a no-fee Mastercard that still offers substantial cash back.
- You will earn 2% cash back on up to three spending categories of your choice. When you sign up for this card, you can select two spending categories to receive 2% cash back, from this list: groceries, gas, restaurants, drug stores, recurring bills, parking/public transportation, entertainment, home improvement, furniture, and hotel/motel. If you set up an automatic deposit of your cash back into a Tangerine savings account, you’ll get a third spending category at 2% cash back. All other spends earn 0.5% cash back.
- A family that spends $1,000 on groceries and $150 on gas monthly would get a return of $23 monthly, or $276 annually, on just those two expenses. Tangerine also has a welcome bonus of 10% on purchases up to $1,000 ($100 cash back) in the first two months (offer ends May 2, 2023).
Best no-fee cash back card for families
SimplyCash from American Express
Annual fee: $0
- 2% cash back on gas and groceries
- 1.25% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome offer: Earn a bonus 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in purchases during your first three months (up to $100 in bonus cash back).
Card details
Interest rates | 21.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances |
Income required | None specified |
Credit score | 725 or higher |
- If you’re looking to simplify your life (and who isn’t?), you might consider a card that offers you the same flat rate on cash back no matter what you use it for. Our pick is the SimplyCash Card by American Express, which offers 2% cash back on eligible gas and grocery purchases (up to $300 annually) and 1.25% cash back on everything else you buy, with no limit to how much you can earn. This is a no-fee card, so you can furnish your family with additional cards and see the money rack up even faster.
- Unlike some other no-fee cards, the SimplyCash Card by American Express comes with some travel and flight insurance, and because it’s an Amex card, you’ll have access to American Express Experiences and special bonus offers.
Best credit card for family entertainment
Scotiabank Gold American Express
Annual fee: $120
- 6 points per $1 at Sobeys-affiliated stores
- 5 points per $1 on dining, entertainment and groceries
- 3 points per $1 on gas, transit and streaming
- 1 point per $1 on everything else
- Pay no FX fees on foreign purchases
Welcome offer: Earn up to $950 in value in the first 12 months, including up to 45,000 bonus Scene+ points. Offer ends Dec. 31, 2024.
Card details
Interest rates | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers |
Income required | $12,000 per year |
Credit score | 725 or higher |
Point value | 1 Scene+ point = $0.01 when redeemed for travel on any airline or hotel (including Airbnbs). |
- If your family likes to go out for dinners and movies, you probably already know about Scotiabank’s Scene+ rewards. This loyalty points program started out with rewards that Canadians could redeem for movies at Cineplex theatres and meals at family-friendly restaurants like Swiss Chalet, but it has since expanded to include new rewards like travel, gift cards and statement credits.
- When you use the Scotiabank Gold American Express, you’ll earn 5x the Scene+ points on entertainment purchases and groceries, restaurants and drinking establishments; 3x the points on streaming services, gas and transit; and 1x the points on everything else. New cardholders can get a big head start with up to 40,000 Scene+ points.
- With these earn rates and bonuses, it won’t be long before you can treat the family to a day out at Playdium or even book a vacation through Scene+ Travel. This card comes with even more benefits, like no foreign transaction fees—a perk that will save you 2.5% to 3% on purchases made in other currencies, online or in person. Travel and shopping insurance and access to American Express benefits round out the package nicely.
Best credit card for family vacations
Marriott Bonvoy American Express
Annual fee: $120
- 5 points per $1 at Marriott properties
- 2 points per $1 everywhere else
Welcome offer: earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
Card details
Interest rates | 21.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances |
Income required | None specified |
Credit score | 725 or higher |
Point value | 1 Marriott Bonvoy point = $0.0117 on average when redeemed for eligible flights or hotel stays. |
- Everybody loves a vacation, but when it comes to planning (and budgeting for) a getaway for the entire family, it pays to have a little help. That’s where the Marriott Bonvoy American Express comes in.
- With a $100 statement credit and perks like an annual Free Night award and complimentary Silver Elite status, this card gets you access to luxury hotels, first-class dining, and five-star spas and attractions with one of the best travel programs in the country. With an earn rate of 5x the Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend at Marriott and 2x the points on purchases made everywhere else, you can harness your everyday spending to ensure your family vacation is… well, anything but everyday.
- In addition to the Marriott Bonvoy rewards, this card also gets you travel insurance including car rental and hotel burglary coverage and access to American Express Invites, Amex Front of the Line and Amex Offers.
Our methodology: How we determine the best cards
The MoneySense editorial team selects the best credit cards by assessing the value they provide to Canadians across various categories. Our best overall credit cards ranking is based on an extensive list of card details and features, including annual fees, interest rates, welcome offers, rewards earn rates and redemption options, annual income requirements, approval likelihood and speed, and perks such as insurance coverage, purchase protection, roadside assistance, rebates, discounts and airport lounge access. We have also considered the pros and cons of each card to help you determine which ones best suit your financial needs. Our rankings are an unbiased source of information for Canadians. The addition of links from affiliate partners has no bearing on the results. Read more about how MoneySense makes money.
Can you add family members as additional cardholders?
Whether you’re earning cash back or collecting rewards points, it’s a great idea to get additional credit cards for family members. These cards allow everyone to accumulate cash or points on the same account, multiplying your earning potential. Some cards, like the SimplyCash Card by American Express, offer supplementary cards for free, while others, like the CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite, charge a fee. (Be aware that although these are individual cards for each family member, the account holder is ultimately responsible for paying the balance.) With a little preparation, you can maximize your family’s earnings and be well on your way to your goals.