NOTE: I don’t keep this post updated. For the most updated credit card offers, click on the ‘Credit Cards’ link in the menu bar.
This post covers the best deals in the Canadian credit card market. Before applying to a credit card, why don’t you read our handy ‘Introduction to Credit’ [under construction] guide?
As always, I want to give you readers the best available deals.* If I’m missing something, or you know about a better deal, please email me at info@dcta.ca.
NOTE: There are other [good] credit cards out there. The following are the general cards I recommend. For some cards, they might have a decent deal, but I have personally evaluated them as something I cannot recommend. Also, some cards might only have a limited-time promotion that is worthwhile. For those cards, I will post them in the daily blog rather than here.
NO FEE CARDS

It’s like free money
These cards have NO ANNUAL FEES. They are generally good for day-to-day spending. However, they do not typically have good signup bonuses, and are therefore not a good candidate for churning.
Card | Pros | Cons |
AMEX Blue Sky(this is NOT a referral) |
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MBNA Smart Cash(this is NOT a referral) |
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Chase AMAZON.CA Rewards(this is NOT a referral) |
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FIRST YEAR FREE (FYF) CARDS WITH ANNUAL FEE

FYF makes me happy
These cards are usually the best candidates for churning, as there is no fee for the first year, and they typically come with significant sign-up bonuses. I don’t usually recommend keeping any of these cards past the first year, thereby saving yourself the annual fee, and being able to churn it later on.
Card | Pros | Cons |
AMEX Gold(this IS a referral) |
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AMEX Aeroplan Gold(this IS a referral) |
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Chase Marriott Rewards Visa(this is NOT a referral) |
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Scotiabank Gold American Express Card(this IS a referral) |
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CARDS WITH FEES

They’ll cost ya!
These cards have annual fees that are not waived for the first year. The following cards are worthwhile to look at even though they have a fee.
Card | Pros | Cons |
Capital One World Aspire (this is NOT a referral) |
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Capital One IHG(this is NOT a referral) |
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AMEX Platinum(this IS a referral) |
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MBNA Alaska Rewards (this is NOT a referral) |
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* Sometimes these deals will benefit me under a referral program, and sometimes they won’t. Whatever credit card offer I post here is the best deal I know about for that card.
Hi Avery, only 15,000 points if you refer someone to Amex gold or Aeroplan gold if you have a Plat in the same family…otherwise 10,000
I am also obsessed lol
Also I believe the waived fee for the Amex Aeroplan Gold is history already
Hi Avery,
could you please tell me how many alaska cards you had at one time?
Great to see a comprehensive Canadian churning strategy blog!
best wishes,
Allan
Oh, I don’t remember… quite a few!
lol, Thanks
5 > quite few?