The signup bonus is a big part of the value you’ll get from a new credit card, above and beyond its core features, at least in the first year. Often the signup bonus will influence your decision to apply, perhaps even more strongly than the card’s other qualities.
Here are the best credit card offers in Canada for September 2022.
Methodology
This list is an opinionated ranking of the best credit card offers in Canada, based on a few key factors that we use to evaluate the appeal of a signup bonus .
First and foremost, we look at the net value you can expect to earn when you apply for the card. This is the value of any first-year bonuses, rebates, and deals, minus annual fees. Rewards points are adjusted to a cash value based on our Points Valuations .
Next, we consider how easy it is to earn the welcome bonus. Cards may get a boost for a low spending requirement, or a long timeline to meet the spending threshold to qualify for the bonus. Meanwhile, they may get dinged for a high spending requirement, merchant category spending requirements, or drawn-out recurring monthly requirements.
All else being equal, we prefer cards with low annual fees. Any card with a first-year annual fee waiver, offering a bonus above a certain value, is a candidate for this list. However, the total first-year value of the offer is a bigger factor, as you can earn points faster and still come out ahead by paying high annual fees for cards with larger signup bonuses.
Finally, we may give a card a slight boost if its offer is significantly better than usual, or if we like the long-term features of the card. However, this list is mostly determined by what you can gain in the first year with a new credit card, compared to other deals available now.
Business Platinum Card from American Express
Not surprisingly, the Business Platinum Card from American Express is the cream of the crop. It’s currently offering a bonus of 120,000 Membership Rewards points, the largest signup bonus ever in Canada.
While this premium Amex card comes with a high annual fee, it’s well worth it, as it will easily be offset by the value of the humongous signup bonus. Plus, you may even find long-term value in keeping the card thanks to its best-in-class perks, including extensive lounge access , comprehensive travel insurance , and generous refer-a-friend bonuses .
The only drawback is the high spending requirement, so if you can’t spend $10,000 in three months, you’ll want to give this one a pass. Otherwise, it’s without a doubt the best place to start.
Business Platinum Card from American Express
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First-Year Value: $2,416
Earn 75,000 120,000 MR points upon spending $10,000 in the first three months
Plus, earn 1.25x MR points on all purchases
Transfer MR points to Aeroplan and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights
Unlimited airport lounge access for you and one guest at Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, Centurion, and other lounges
Credits and rebates for business expenses throughout the year with Amex Offers
Bonus MR points for referring family and friends
Qualify for the card as a sole proprietor
Annual fee: $499
American Express Platinum Card
Not far behind is the personal Platinum Card. The total bonus points are almost as many as the Business Platinum Card, but with a lower spending requirement.
To earn the full bonus, you have to do a portion of the spending on eats & drinks, but this shouldn’t be too much of a hassle for most applicants.
American Express Platinum Card
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First-Year Value: $2,119
Earn 90,000 95 ,000 MR points upon spending $6,000 in the first three months
Plus, earn an additional 10x points on eats & drinks in the first three months, up to 20,000 MR points
Also, earn 3x MR points on all dining purchases at restaurants, bars, and food delivery services
Also, earn 2x MR points on all travel purchases
Also, receive an annual $200 travel credit
Transfer MR points to Aeroplan and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights
Unlimited airport lounge access for you and one guest at Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, Centurion, and other lounges
Credits and rebates for daily expenses throughout the year with Amex Offers
Bonus MR points for referring family and friends
Annual fee: $699
American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card offers a similar bonus as the Platinum Card. However, with a monthly spending requirement, you do have to make sure you hit the threshold in each of the first six months to achieve the full bonus.
With the welcome bonuses separated by a hair, the choice between a premium Aeroplan card or a Platinum card will likely come down to your preference for all-around travel benefits or staunch Air Canada loyalty.
American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
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First-Year Value: $1,921
Earn 60,000 65,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $6,000 in the first six months
Plus, earn a further 30,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $1,000 in each of the first six months
Plus, earn 2x 10x Aeroplan points on eats and drinks in the first three months, up to 20,000 points
Always earn 3x Aeroplan points on Air Canada purchases
Aeroplan preferred pricing, free checked bag, priority check-in and boarding on Air Canada flights
Unlimited Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge access
Bonus Aeroplan points for referring family and friends
Annual fee: $599
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card (New!)
TD’s premium Aeroplan card is offering a strong bonus on par with its Amex counterpart.
As a plus, there’s no monthly requirement to keep track of. Instead, the total required spending is quite high, at $12,000, but this is mitigated by the fact that you have a full year to meet this threshold.
Between a historically high points total and a relatively straightforward spending requirement, now would be a great time to apply for this card.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
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First-Year Value: $1,921
Earn 20,000 Aeroplan points upon first purchase
Plus, earn an additional 30,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $3,000 monthly in the first 90 days
Plus, earn an additional 55,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $12,000 in the first year
Earn 2x Aeroplan points on Air Canada purchases
Earn 1.5x Aeroplan points on gas, groceries, dining, food delivery, and other travel purchases
Aeroplan preferred pricing, free checked bag, priority check-in and boarding on Air Canada flights
Unlimited Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge access
DragonPass membership with six free lounge visits per year
Minimum income: $200,000 personal or household
Annual fee: $599
American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card
The business variant of Amex’s premium Aeroplan card is actually offering a higher first-year value.
However, instead of an eats & drinks component, you’ll have to hit part of the spending requirement with select travel purchases, which may not fit your spending patterns as easily.
If that suits your needs, this card would be an excellent choice. If not, though, the total points you’d earn might be lower, and a premium personal card would be a better fit.
American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card
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First-Year Value: $1,942
Earn 95,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $7,000 in the first three months
Plus, earn 3x 10x Aeroplan points on Air Canada, hotels, and car rentals in the first three months, up to 20,000 points
Also, earn 3x Aeroplan points on Air Canada purchases
Aeroplan preferred pricing, free checked bag, priority check-in and boarding on Air Canada flights
Unlimited Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge access
Bonus Aeroplan points for referring family and friends
Qualify for the card as a sole proprietor
Annual fee: $599
American Express Gold Rewards Card
The American Express Gold Rewards Card is offering a high bonus, at 75,000 Membership Rewards points.
While part of the spending requirement is on eats & drinks, this convenient category shouldn’t be too much of a hassle. It’s easily made up for by the $3,000 spending requirement, which is quite low for a bonus that high.
Considering the credits offered on the card, the Gold Rewards Card leads the pack of mid-tier credit card offers.
American Express Gold Rewards Card
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First-Year Value: $1,522
Earn 40,000 55,000 MR points upon spending $3,000 in the first three months
Plus, earn an additional 10x points on eats & drinks in the first three months, up to 20,000 MR points
Also, receive an annual $100 travel credit and a $50 NEXUS credit
Transfer MR points to Aeroplan and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights
Plaza Premium membership with four annual lounge passes
Credits and rebates for daily expenses throughout the year with Amex Offers
Bonus MR points for referring family and friends
Annual fee: $250
American Express Business Gold Rewards Card
The American Express Business Gold Rewards Card is also offering a very strong bonus. At 75,000 Membership Rewards points, this offer is the standard high-water mark for this card.
It’s simple to earn the bonus, with a spending requirement of $5,000 in three months on any category of purchases. It’s a toss-up between this card and the personal Gold Rewards Card, but the business variant more routinely offers 75,000 points, whereas the personal card’s high offer is not as common, and should be prioritized at this time.
American Express Business Gold Rewards Card
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First-Year Value: $1,561
Earn 70,000 75,000 MR points upon spending $5,000 in the first three months
Plus, earn 10,000 MR points in each calendar quarter you spend $20,000
Transfer MR points to Aeroplan and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights
Enjoy the exclusive benefits of being an American Express cardholder
Bonus MR points for referring family and friends
Annual fee: $199
American Express Aeroplan Card
The American Express Aeroplan Card is yet another mid-tier Amex offering 75,000 points.
Despite its lower annual fee, the spending requirements are a bit complex. While the value of the offer is extremely strong, I’d sooner choose an MR card to earn points in a more straightforward manner, or a premium Aeroplan card for better benefits.
American Express Aeroplan Card
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First-Year Value: $1,476
Earn 45,000 50,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $3,000 in the first six months
Plus, earn a further 15,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $500 in each of the first six months
Plus, earn 1x 5x Aeroplan points on eats and drinks in the first three months, up to 10,000 points
Always earn 2x Aeroplan points on Air Canada purchases
Aeroplan preferred pricing, free checked bag on Air Canada flights
Bonus Aeroplan points for referring family and friends
Annual fee: $120
American Express Business Edge Card
Next in line is the American Express Business Edge Card.
While the annual fee is only $99, the offer isn’t quite as strong as it appears. You’ll face the same $5,000 spending requirement as the Business Gold Rewards Card, to earn only 65,000 MR points.
Note that you’ll need to sustain spending of $3,000 per month to earn the final 12,000 MR points, a prospect which I’d recommend forgoing in favour of better ways to earn points on other cards. Therefore, the Business Edge Card should be the last Amex MR card that you consider if your priority is the signup bonus.
American Express Business Edge Card
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First-Year Value: $1,419
Earn 45,000 55,000 MR points upon spending $5,000 in the first three months
Plus, earn an additional 1,000 MR points for each of the first 12 months in which you spend $3,000, for an additional 12,000 MR points
Also, earn 3x 10x MR points on food and drinks, ridesharing, gas, office equipment, and electronics, up to an additional 10,000 MR points
Transfer MR points to Aeroplan, Avios, or Marriott Bonvoy
Enjoy the exclusive benefits of being an American Express cardholder
Bonus MR points for referring family and friends
Annual fee: $99
RBC Avion Visa Infinite (Ending Soon!)
Departing now from the Aeroplan ecosystem, the RBC Avion cards are all offering elevated bonuses right now.
You can earn 55,000 Avion points upon spending $5,000 in the first six months. That’s by far the highest bonus we’ve ever seen on the card. While the spending requirement is high, you’ll have a long timeframe to meet it.
While you’ll earn more points more quickly with Amex cards and Aeroplan points, RBC Avion cards are a great way to expand into the Oneworld airline alliance. You can use your Avion points to supplement your Amex MR transfer to British Airways Avios or Cathay Pacific Asia Miles , or for the unique ability to convert to American AAdvantage miles.
Apply before September 16, 2022 to take advantage of this offer.
RBC Avion Visa Infinite
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First-Year Value: $1,080
Earn 15,000 35,000 Welcome points when you get approved for the card
Also, earn an additional 20,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first six months
Earn 1x 1.25x RBC Rewards points on travel purchases
Transfer RBC points to British Airways Avios and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights
Minimum income: $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
Annual fee: $120
RBC Avion Visa Platinum (Ending Soon!)
If your income doesn’t qualify for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite, you can also apply for the RBC Avion Visa Platinum , with the same offer and perks.
Apply before September 16, 2022 to take advantage of this offer.
RBC Avion Visa Platinum
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First-Year Value: $1,080
Earn 15,000 35,000 RBC Rewards points when you get approved for the card
Also, earn an additional 20,000 RBC Rewards points after spending $5,000 in the first six months
Earn 1 RBC Rewards point per dollar spent on travel purchases
Transfer RBC Avion points to British Airways Avios and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights
No minimum income requirement
Annual fee: $120
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is routinely one of our favourite mid-tier Aeroplan cards.
Like its premium counterpart, it’s currently offering a high points bonus. While the spending requirement is high, it’s also spread out over a full year, so you should have no trouble reaching it.
Also, the card is offering a first-year annual fee waiver, a common and popular feature of its signup bonus.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
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First-Year Value: $662
Earn 10,000 Aeroplan points upon first purchase.
Plus, earn 10,000 20,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $1,500 in the first three months
Plus, earn an additional 20,000 Aeroplan points on renewal when you spend $7,500 within 12 months of account opening
Earn 1.5x Aeroplan points on gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases
Preferred Aeroplan pricing and free checked bags on Air Canada flights
Minimum income: $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
Annual fee: $0 for the first year, then $139
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege (Ending Soon!)
Like its junior counterparts, RBC’s top-tier Avion card is offering 55,000 Avion points upon spending $5,000 in the first six months.
This card is knocked down the list for offering the same number of points at a higher annual fee. It’s still a very strong value proposition in spite of the increased costs, but it wouldn’t be my first choice for an Avion card at this time.
Apply before September 16, 2022 to take advantage of this offer.
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
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First-Year Value: $826
Earn 25,000 35,000 RBC Rewards points when you get approved for the card
Also, earn an additional 20,000 RBC Rewards points after spending $5,000 in the first six months
Plus, earn 1.25x RBC RBC Rewards points on all purchases
Use your rewards for any business class flight with no restrictions on dates, seats, or airlines
Transfer points to one of four airline partners
DragonPass membership with six free lounge visits per year
Minimum income: $200,000 personal or household
Annual fee: $399
RBC British Airways Visa Infinite
RBC has also boosted the offer on its British Airways co-branded card. While the value is quite strong, the spending requirement is higher and on a shorter timeframe than the Avion cards.
Also, Avios are harder to use and more restrictive than Avion points. As Avion can be transferred 1:1 to Avios, I’d always opt for flexibility first, and only apply for the more limited card after exhausting other options.
RBC British Airways Visa Infinite
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First-Year Value: $899
Earn 15,000 Avios when you get approved for the card
Then, earn 25,000 35,000 Avios when you spend $6,000 in the first three months
Also, earn 10,000 Avios when you renew the card for a second year
Plus, earn 1x Avios on all purchases
Get a Companion Award eVoucher for an Avios redemption on British Airways flights upon spending $30,000 in a calendar year
Annual fee: $165
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Card
CIBC is the only Aeroplan partner currently offering a Buddy Pass , featured on the signup bonus for the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Card.
Since the opportunity to convert the Buddy Pass into Aeroplan points has ended, however, its value has become less clear and more situational.
Still, the card has a first-year annual fee waiver and a reasonable spending requirement. Even without considering the Buddy Pass, you could do a lot worse for a new business credit card.
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Card
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First-Year Value: $1,323
Earn 10,000 30,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $3,000 in the first four months
Plus, earn a one-time Air Canada Buddy Pass upon spending $3,000 in the first four months
Earn 1.5x Aeroplan points on gas and travel purchases
Preferred pricing and free checked bags on Air Canada flights
Qualify for the card with a registered business
Annual fee: $0 for the first year, then $180
TD Aeroplan Visa Business Card
TD’s offer on its Aeroplan business card is similar, in the sense that part of it is quite appealing, while the rest is questionable and less achievable.
You can earn the first 30,000 points upon spending $5,000 in the first three months, a slightly steeper requirement than on CIBC’s counterpart.
For the remaining 30,000 points, you’d have to sustain $5,000 spent each month for a full year. For a situational spender seeking to optimize signup bonuses, I’d venture that even the situational value of a Buddy Pass has more upside than a steep ongoing spending requirement.
TD Aeroplan Visa Business Card
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First-Year Value: $735
Earn 10,000 Aeroplan points upon first purchase
Plus, earn 20,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $5,000 in the first three months
Plus, earn up to 30,000 Aeroplan points after spending $5,000 each month for the first 12 months
Earn 1.5x Aeroplan points on travel, dining, shipping, and telecommunications purchases
Preferred pricing and free checked bags on Air Canada flights
Qualify for the card with a registered business
Annual fee: $0 for the first year, then $149
HSBC World Elite Mastercard
The HSBC World Elite Mastercard is a good option, even when its signup offer is lower.
Currently it’s offering 80,000 points, but only 60,000 are awarded in the first year. Unfortunately this seems to be becoming the norm, and thankfully the $100 annual travel credit makes it worth it to keep the card until you’ve earned the full bonus.
Instead, it’s one of our favourite keeper cards. It’s one of the few credit cards in Canada with no foreign transaction fees, features the aforementioned annual travel credit , and HSBC Rewards are the only Canadian bank program to transfer to Singapore KrisFlyer .
HSBC World Elite® Mastercard®
