Compare the top travel credit cards in Canada — welcome bonuses, earn rates, and travel perks that actually pay off.
If you travel even a few times a year, the right credit card can cover a flight, a hotel night, or a lounge visit — essentially for free. Updated June 2026, this guide breaks down the best travel credit cards in Canada right now, comparing welcome bonuses, earn rates, annual fees, and the perks that actually matter. Whether you are a frequent flyer chasing business class upgrades or a family road-tripper looking for flexible cash-back-style redemptions, there is a card built for your habits. We have done the number-crunching so you do not have to — here is everything you need to choose the travel card that pays you back the most.
The American Express Cobalt Card is the strongest all-around travel card we track — 5x food & drinks; 3x streaming; 2x transit & travel; 1x else for $155.88 ($12.99/mo)/year, billed monthly. For a more traditional annual-fee structure focused on flights, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite ($139/yr) and Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite ($150/yr) both offer flexible point redemptions plus travel insurance — always read the certificate of insurance, not just the marketing page, before relying on it.
Centsable's editorial team, fact-checked and updated August 2026.
Ranked by rate, fees, CDIC coverage, and overall value for Canadians.
The American Express Cobalt Card is the strongest everyday-spend travel card we track, thanks to its 5x rate on food and drink — but it's billed monthly rather than as a single annual charge, worth budgeting for.
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TD Bank The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite is the clearest choice for Canadians who fly Air Canada regularly and want to earn toward free flights without juggling a flexible-points strategy.
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Scotiabank The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite stands out for its no foreign transaction fee — a real, quantifiable saving for anyone who spends meaningfully in USD or while travelling.
Open Account →Rates as of August 21, 2026. Rates subject to change without notice. Promotional rates apply to new eligible deposits only. Centsable may earn a commission if you apply through our links — this does not affect our ratings.
All providers we track, sorted by rate. Click any column header to re-sort.
| Card | Rewards Rate | Annual Fee | Welcome Bonus | Income Req. | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Cobalt Card | N/A | $155.88 ($12.99/mo) | Up to 15,000 bonus points in first year | No stated minimum | Open → |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card | N/A | $139 | Up to 20,000 Aeroplan points | $60,000 personal / $100,000 household | Open → |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite | N/A | $150 | Up to 35,000 Scene+ points | $60,000 personal / $100,000 household | Open → |
Rates as of August 21, 2026. Promotional rates apply to eligible new deposits only.
Our editors' top picks from the full list below, based on rate, fees, and real-world value.
The American Express Cobalt Card is the strongest everyday-spend travel card we track, thanks to its 5x rate on food and drink — but it's billed monthly rather than as a single annual charge, worth budgeting for.
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite is the clearest choice for Canadians who fly Air Canada regularly and want to earn toward free flights without juggling a flexible-points strategy.
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite stands out for its no foreign transaction fee — a real, quantifiable saving for anyone who spends meaningfully in USD or while travelling.
Our full take on each pick — who it's for, what we like, and what to watch out for.
The American Express Cobalt Card is the strongest everyday-spend travel card we track, thanks to its 5x rate on food and drink — but it's billed monthly rather than as a single annual charge, worth budgeting for.
Best for: Dining & travel rewards maximizers | Rate: N/A | Fee: $155.88 ($12.99/mo) | CDIC:
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite is the clearest choice for Canadians who fly Air Canada regularly and want to earn toward free flights without juggling a flexible-points strategy.
Best for: Air Canada frequent flyers | Rate: N/A | Fee: $139 | CDIC:
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite stands out for its no foreign transaction fee — a real, quantifiable saving for anyone who spends meaningfully in USD or while travelling.
Best for: No-FX-fee travellers | Rate: N/A | Fee: $150 | CDIC:
Everything you need to know, answered clearly.
The American Express Cobalt Card rates highest among tracked travel cards, earning 5x points on food and drink, 3x on streaming, and 2x on transit and travel for $155.88/year (billed monthly at $12.99). For a fee-free-flights focus, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite and Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite are strong picks if you fly Air Canada or want flexible Scene+ points respectively.
Most premium travel cards include some combination of emergency medical, trip cancellation/interruption, flight delay, and baggage insurance — but coverage varies significantly by card and can exclude pre-existing conditions or trips beyond a certain length. Always read the certificate of insurance, not just the marketing page, before relying on it.
It depends on how you redeem them. Points redeemed for flights or hotels at strong value (often 1.5–2 cents/point) can outperform a flat 1–2% cash back card. Redeemed for statement credits or merchandise, points are usually worth less. If you don't travel often or don't want to manage redemptions, cash back is simpler and more predictable.
Not automatically — most Canadian travel cards still charge the standard ~2.5% foreign transaction fee unless the card explicitly advertises no FX fees. Check this specifically if you travel internationally often; it can offset a meaningful chunk of the rewards you're earning abroad.
Our editorial team researches and updates this page on a monthly basis. We evaluate products on five criteria: interest rate (weighted most heavily), fees and minimums, CDIC deposit insurance, ease of use, and additional account features. We do not accept payment to rank products — our recommendations are editorially independent. We may earn a commission if you apply through our links; this does not influence our ratings or which products appear on this page.
Data sources: We pull rates directly from each institution's website and verify them on the date shown. Promotional rates are noted separately and sourced from the institution's published offers at time of writing.
Read our full ratings methodology or browse our related guides.