The best store credit cards in Canada for 2025
January 2, 2025
Store credit cards help shoppers save in addition to other perks such as extended warranty or purchase protection. If you are a frequent shopper at the retailer, signing up may be worthwhile. Here is our round-up of the best store credit cards in Canada.
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Natasha Macmillan, Business Unit Director - Everyday Banking
Canada’s best store credit cards by category
Store credit card | Best for | Annual fee |
PC World Elite Mastercard | Best overall | $0 |
---|---|---|
Tangerine Money-back Credit Card | Cash back | $0 |
CIBC Costco Mastercard | Costco Canada | $0 |
Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard | USD shopping | $0 |
Best overall store credit card
based on spending $2,200/mo after $0 annual fee
- Earn rewards
10pts – 45pts / dollar spent
- Welcome bonus
20,000 points (a $20 value)
- Annual fee
$0
Perks of the PC® World Elite Mastercard®
Perks | Details | |
---|---|---|
Lounge access | Not included | You’ll gain complimentary passes to airport lounges. The number of passes and lounges you have access to will vary. |
Waived foreign transaction fees | Not included | A surcharge that credit card holders pay for purchases made in a foreign currency (typically 2.5%). |
Travel accident insurance | Not included | If you suffer a loss as a result of an accidental bodily injury sustained while occupying a common carrier, you are eligible for this coverage. |
Travel emergency medical | For trips up to 10 days from date of departure, for those under age 65. | If you require urgent medical care while on a trip outside of your home province, you will be covered for any eligible medical expenses incurred. |
Car rental insurance | Collision damage and theft protection for your car rental needs. | Credit card rental car insurance usually covers theft, loss and damage to your rental car in the case of an accidental collision. |
Trip cancellation | Not included | If you have to cancel your trip before it’s even started, your prepaid travel costs will be covered up to a maximum amount if the cause of cancellation is eligible for the insurance. |
Trip interruption | Not included | If your trip has to be cut short or is delayed after the scheduled departure date, you will be covered up to a maximum amount for an eligible cause of interruption or delay. |
Flight delay insurance | Not included | If your flight departure is delayed by a certain number of hours, you’ll be reimbursed a certain amount for necessary and reasonable expenses. |
Baggage loss insurance | Not included | If your checked bag cannot be located by a common carrier, you’ll be reimbursed for a portion of the replacement cost of lost personal property. |
Baggage delay insurance | Not included | If your checked bag is not delivered within a specified time upon your arrival, you’ll be reimbursed for the cost to replace essential items. |
Hotel/motel burglary | Not included | Provides protection, while you’re checked in, for your personal belongings when left unattended in your room up to a certain dollar amount. |
Mobile insurance | Not included | Reimburses a portion of your cell phone in the event it’s damaged or lost. Device coverage is limited to a certain period of time after purchasing with your credit card. |
Purchase assurance | In the event of theft, loss or damage in the first 90 days when you pay in full with your PC Financial Mastercard credit card. | Automatically protects new purchases by insuring them for 90 days from the date of purchase in the event of loss, theft or damage. |
Extended warranty | Doubles the manufacturer's regular warranty for up to an additional year on items purchased with your PC Financial Mastercard credit card. | Either doubles the length of the item’s manufacturer’s warranty coverage or extends it by 1 year, whichever is less. |
Price protection | Not included | If, within a certain amount of time of purchasing an item, its price drops or you find an identical item offered for a lower retail price than what you paid, you will be reimbursed for the difference. |
Other perks
- Award-winning, no annual fee rewards credit card
- Get up to $750 in PC Optimum™ points every year (for illustrative purposes only; results may vary.)
- Earn at least 3 cents per litre in PC Optimum™ points on gas at Esso™ and Mobil™ stations
- Earn 45 PC Optimum™ points per $1 spent at Shoppers Drug Mart® stores
- Earn 30 PC Optimum™ points for every $1 spent at Loblaw affiliated grocery stores
- Earn 30 PC Optimum™ points for every $1 spent at Joe Fresh® stores
- Earn 10 PC Optimum™ points for every $1 spent everywhere else you shop
- No limits on points earning and points don’t expire
- Welcome offer of bonus PC Optimum™ points to kickstart your rewards journey
Ratehub’s take
If you are looking for a credit card that will help you save money on groceries, the PC World Elite Mastercard is a great choice, especially for those who frequently shop at Loblaws-owned stores and Shoppers Drug Mart.
Pros
- No annual fee: For a rewards card, charging no annual fee is a major perk and can help you ramp up your earnings even more
- High return on spending: Your points are valuable at Loblaws-affiliated stores and for gas purchases because of high earn rates on everyday spending
- Points stacking: Stack your points by showing your PC Optimum card at Loblaw-affiliated stores and paying with your PC Financial World Elite Mastercard
- Competitive earn rates: Earn rates are high compared to other no-fee credit cards
- Added travel insurance: Offers travel insurance benefits adding value to cardholders
Cons
- Limited rewards outside of Loblaws: While PC Financial Mastercards offer excellent rewards at Loblaw stores, they do not provide great benefits when shopping anywhere else
- Restrictive redemption rules: Points can only be redeemed in increments of 10,000 (10,000 = $10). Points cannot be used to pay for purchases at non-Loblaws retailers or redeemed against a statement balance. Plenty of other rewards cards on the market offering more flexibility
Eligibility requirements
Minimum credit score: 560
Minimum income: $80,000/yr
Interest rates
Purchase interest: 21.99%
Cash advance: 22.97%
Balance transfer: N/A
The PC World Elite Mastercard is a great choice if you find great value in the PC Optimum program. Not only do you earn more PC points from shopping at Loblaw-affiliated stores, but you’ll also earn bonus PC points on gas at Esso and Mobil, as well as 10 PC points on all other purchases (equivalent to 1% cash back.)
Best store credit card for cash back
Best for Flexible spending
based on spending $2,200/mo after $0 annual fee
- Earn rewards
0.5% – 10% / dollar spent
- Welcome bonus
$100
- Annual fee
$0
Perks of the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
Perks | Details | |
---|---|---|
Lounge access | Not included | You’ll gain complimentary passes to airport lounges. The number of passes and lounges you have access to will vary. |
Waived foreign transaction fees | Not included | A surcharge that credit card holders pay for purchases made in a foreign currency (typically 2.5%). |
Travel accident insurance | Not included | If you suffer a loss as a result of an accidental bodily injury sustained while occupying a common carrier, you are eligible for this coverage. |
Travel emergency medical | Not included | If you require urgent medical care while on a trip outside of your home province, you will be covered for any eligible medical expenses incurred. |
Car rental insurance | Not included | Credit card rental car insurance usually covers theft, loss and damage to your rental car in the case of an accidental collision. |
Trip cancellation | Not included | If you have to cancel your trip before it’s even started, your prepaid travel costs will be covered up to a maximum amount if the cause of cancellation is eligible for the insurance. |
Trip interruption | Not included | If your trip has to be cut short or is delayed after the scheduled departure date, you will be covered up to a maximum amount for an eligible cause of interruption or delay. |
Flight delay insurance | Not included | If your flight departure is delayed by a certain number of hours, you’ll be reimbursed a certain amount for necessary and reasonable expenses. |
Baggage loss insurance | Not included | If your checked bag cannot be located by a common carrier, you’ll be reimbursed for a portion of the replacement cost of lost personal property. |
Baggage delay insurance | Not included | If your checked bag is not delivered within a specified time upon your arrival, you’ll be reimbursed for the cost to replace essential items. |
Hotel/motel burglary | Not included | Provides protection, while you’re checked in, for your personal belongings when left unattended in your room up to a certain dollar amount. |
Mobile insurance | Not included | Reimburses a portion of your cell phone in the event it’s damaged or lost. Device coverage is limited to a certain period of time after purchasing with your credit card. |
Purchase assurance | Not included | Automatically protects new purchases by insuring them for 90 days from the date of purchase in the event of loss, theft or damage. |
Extended warranty | Not included | Either doubles the length of the item’s manufacturer’s warranty coverage or extends it by 1 year, whichever is less. |
Price protection | Not included | If, within a certain amount of time of purchasing an item, its price drops or you find an identical item offered for a lower retail price than what you paid, you will be reimbursed for the difference. |
Other perks
- Ratehub.ca’s 2023 Award Winner – Best No Fee Cash Back Credit Card
- Life’s back in session. Enjoy it with an extra 10% back.*
- Apply for a Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card by January 31, 2025 and earn an extra 10% back (up to $100) when you spend up to $1,000 in everyday purchases within your first 2 months.*
- Earn 2% Money-Back Rewards on purchases in two 2% Money-Back Categories of your choice, and 0.50% Money-Back Rewards on all other purchases.
- Earn extra rewards – have your Money-Back Rewards deposited into a Tangerine Savings Account, and get a 3rd 2% Money-Back Category.
- No limit on the amount of Money-Back Rewards you can earn.
- Change your 2% Money-Back Categories to suit your spending.
Ratehub’s take
While the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card is a no annual fee card, what really sets it apart is the ability to customize your rewards. With this card, you can choose your own bonus categories (which will earn you a strong cash back rate of 2% per dollar spent). This is rare in the credit card market and means you can avoid being locked into a bonus category that you can’t take full advantage of, or that doesn’t align with your spending habits.
Pros
- Customizable bonus categories: Flexibility to pick up to three bonus categories to earn 2% cash back on (out of a total of 10 options), which is in sharp contrast to most other cards where you have fixed bonus categories that you have no control over. Users are also given the freedom to change the bonus categories at any time (changes will take up to 90 days to come into effect)
- High cash back earning rate: 2% cash back per dollar on bonus categories is one of the richest earn rates for a no-fee card, plus your rewards are unlimited and don’t have monthly or annual maximums
- Wide acceptance: Widely accepted almost everywhere including No Frills and Costco
- Additional cards at no cost: Free supplementary cards for authorized users
- Frequent cash back reimbursement: Cash back is refunded on a monthly basis, instead of the standard annual reimbursement
Cons
- Limited cash back for non-bonus categories: For all purchases that aren’t categorized under one of your chosen bonus categories, you’ll earn just 0.5% cash back
- Limited travel insurance and perks: No travel medical insurance or any substantial side perks
Eligibility requirements
Minimum credit score: 660
Minimum income: $12,000/yr
Interest rates
Purchase interest: 20.95%
Cash advance: 22.95%
Balance transfer: 22.95%
While the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card isn’t a true co-branded store card, it’s one of the most flexible cards around, letting you each 2% cash back on two categories of your choice. This includes groceries, furniture, drug stores, and even home improvement — making it a great alternative to a specific store credit card.
Best Costco credit card in Canada
The CIBC Costco Mastercard is the best choice for a Costco credit card in Canada. Costco Canada exclusively accepts Mastercard credit cards, but Costco isn’t recognized as a grocery store for cards that offer bonus earn rates on groceries.
Best credit card for USD shopping
based on spending $2,200/mo after $0 annual fee
- Earn rewards
1.5% – 3% / dollar spent
- Annual fee
$0
Perks of the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard
Perks | Details | |
---|---|---|
Lounge access | Not included | You’ll gain complimentary passes to airport lounges. The number of passes and lounges you have access to will vary. |
Waived foreign transaction fees | Not included | A surcharge that credit card holders pay for purchases made in a foreign currency (typically 2.5%). |
Travel accident insurance | Not included | If you suffer a loss as a result of an accidental bodily injury sustained while occupying a common carrier, you are eligible for this coverage. |
Travel emergency medical | $1,000,000 for first 10 days (under 65) | If you require urgent medical care while on a trip outside of your home province, you will be covered for any eligible medical expenses incurred. |
Car rental insurance | MSRP of up to $65,000, for 31 days | Credit card rental car insurance usually covers theft, loss and damage to your rental car in the case of an accidental collision. |
Trip cancellation | Up to $1,000 per person | If you have to cancel your trip before it’s even started, your prepaid travel costs will be covered up to a maximum amount if the cause of cancellation is eligible for the insurance. |
Trip interruption | Up to $1,000 per person | If your trip has to be cut short or is delayed after the scheduled departure date, you will be covered up to a maximum amount for an eligible cause of interruption or delay. |
Flight delay insurance | Not included | If your flight departure is delayed by a certain number of hours, you’ll be reimbursed a certain amount for necessary and reasonable expenses. |
Baggage loss insurance | Not included | If your checked bag cannot be located by a common carrier, you’ll be reimbursed for a portion of the replacement cost of lost personal property. |
Baggage delay insurance | Not included | If your checked bag is not delivered within a specified time upon your arrival, you’ll be reimbursed for the cost to replace essential items. |
Hotel/motel burglary | Not included | Provides protection, while you’re checked in, for your personal belongings when left unattended in your room up to a certain dollar amount. |
Mobile insurance | Not included | Reimburses a portion of your cell phone in the event it’s damaged or lost. Device coverage is limited to a certain period of time after purchasing with your credit card. |
Purchase assurance | Covered for 90 days | Automatically protects new purchases by insuring them for 90 days from the date of purchase in the event of loss, theft or damage. |
Extended warranty | Up to one additional year | Either doubles the length of the item’s manufacturer’s warranty coverage or extends it by 1 year, whichever is less. |
Price protection | Included | If, within a certain amount of time of purchasing an item, its price drops or you find an identical item offered for a lower retail price than what you paid, you will be reimbursed for the difference. |
Other perks
- Rogers customers:
- 2% cash back – no limits. Exclusively for eligible Rogers, Fido or Shaw customers.
- 3% unlimited cash back on U.S. dollar purchases.
- Non-Rogers customers:
- 1.5% cash back rewards on all eligible purchases.
- 3% cash back rewards on eligible purchases made in US dollars.
- 5 Roam Like Home days at no cost with an eligible Rogers mobile plan (up to $75 value).
- 50% more cash back every time you redeem for Rogers, Fido or Shaw purchases.
- Travel Benefits:
- Complimentary membership to Mastercard
- Travel Pass provided by DragonPass
- Access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
- $32 USD per person per visit
- Included Insurance Benefits:
- Extended Warranty and Purchase Protection
- Rental Car Collision/Damage
- Out-of-Province/Out-of-Country Emergency Medical
- Trip Interruption
- Trip Cancellation
Ratehub’s take
The Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard is a great choice for Rogers customers – a step-up from the Rogers Mastercard, with a higher annual income requirement. The card boasts a full suite of travel insurance options and airport lounge access, which are rare perks for a cash back credit card.
Pros
- Extensive insurance: The travel insurance options included with this card cover everything from rental car damage to emergency medical insurance so you don’t have to pay for coverage out of pocket
- Unlimited cash back: The earn rates of 1.5% (or 2% if you’re a Rogers, Shaw or Fido customer) on all purchases and 3% on USD purchases are unlimited, meaning your cash back rewards are not capped at an annual maximum amount
- Redemption bonus: If you redeem your cash back rewards for purchases at Rogers, Fido or Shaw for bill payments, new phones and accessories your cash back rewards will be worth 1.5 times their regular value
Cons
- Bonus rates are only for USD purchases or Rogers customers: If you don’t shop or travel to the U.S. often, or you are not a Rogers customer, this card might not make sense for you
- Pay for lounge access: Although you receive a free included membership to Mastercard Travel Pass, you’ll have to pay $32 USD per visit
Eligibility requirements
Minimum credit score: 660
Minimum income: $80,000/yr
Interest rates
Purchase interest: 20.99%
Cash advance: 22.99%
Balance transfer: 22.99%
While you may not think of Rogers as a typical retail store, it’s among the biggest telecommunications providers in Canada, meaning you can save more and enjoy additional perks like roaming service and travel insurance if you’re a Rogers, Shaw, or Fido customer and you get this card. Even if you aren’t, you’ll still enjoy great cash back on eligible US dollar purchases.
What is a store credit card?
Store credit cards or retailer credit cards are offered by a specific company, and typically offer attractive rewards — either through an in-house rewards program or a higher earn rate on generic rewards — to increase shopper loyalty.
For instance, if you prefer to shop at a specific grocery chain, using the store’s co-brand credit card for your purchases could earn you additional reward points that a generic credit card wouldn’t.
Which stores have credit cards in Canada?
Many popular retailers offer their own store credit cards. If you regularly shop at these stores, it may be worth getting a store credit card to get more rewards on your spending.
- Amazon (Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard)
- Canadian Tire (Triangle Mastercard, Triangle World Elite Mastercard)
- Costco (CIBC Costco Mastercard)
- Home Depot (Home Depot Credit Card)
- Hudson’s Bay (Hudson's Bay Mastercard)
- Loblaw (PC Financial credit cards)
- Tim Hortons (Tims Mastercard)
- Walmart (Walmart Rewards Mastercard, Walmart Rewards World Mastercard)
Pros and cons of a store credit card
Benefits
- Easy to qualify. Many store credit cards require a fair credit score (at least 660) and have no income requirement. They often also offer instant approval whether you apply online or in-store, as long as you meet the requirements.
- No annual fee. Store credit cards usually have no annual fee, so you can keep them specifically for shopping at the store or as a backup credit card.
- Better rewards. Store branded credit cards reward loyal customers with higher earn rates for points and cash back. However, these rewards may be locked in an in-house program, meaning you can only use them for future purchases with the store.
Disadvantages
- High interest rates. Store credit cards tend to charge higher interest than regular credit cards. If you tend to overspend or carry a balance, they may hurt your debt levels and credit score in the long run.
- Few to no insurance benefits. The insurance coverage on store credit cards is usually limited to purchase protection or extended warranty. Some cards may include basic car rental or travel insurance.
-
Minimum spend requirement. Some higher-tier store credit cards require you to spend a minimum amount on the card annually. Otherwise, your card may be downgraded or cancelled.
FAQ: Store credit cards
Do store cards help to build your credit history?
Yes. Your usage of a store credit card is reported to credit bureaus and will help establish or rebuild your credit history. This, combined with their easier qualifying requirements, makes them a popular choice for students, newcomers to Canada, and those with less than stellar credit. However, make sure to always pay off your balance in full and avoid overspending on your credit card.
Are there store credit cards with instant approval?
Yes, several store credit cards offer instant approval; the PC Mastercard is one of our favourites. Remember, though, that instant approval doesn’t mean guaranteed approval. You’ll still need to meet the card’s application requirements to be approved.
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