Best credit card offers (March 2021)
These are the best current credit card offers overall for March 2021, based on the value of the welcome bonus. The more serious you want to be with your travel rewards strategy, the more you’ll focus on the welcome bonus offers.
We’ve summarized the best credit card offers in one table and we give you more details about each one below.
Check out our full ranking of the best credit cards in Canada for 10 specific categories and the best credit cards for every specific traveler (and more information about how our card rankings work).
| Best credit card offers (May 2025) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
launch  Valuation (BONUS)(≈ 8.8% back on $18k)
Rewards: ≈ $1590
Card fee: $0 $199
Spend required:$18k in 12 mos. (or $5k/$9k)
Best for: Incredible offer for those with more spending
 SIMPLE
80k/150k
limited time
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
launch Valuation (BONUS)(≈ 7.5% back on $10k)
Rewards: ≈ $750
Card fee: $0 $89
Spend required:$10k in 12 mos. (or $3k/$6k)
Best for: Great offer for those with more spending
SIMPLE
limited time
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Valuation (BONUS) ( 20.5% back on $5k)
Rewards: $1025
Annual fee: $0 $139
Spend required:$5k in 6 mos.
Best for: Among highest offers ever seen for simple points
 SIMPLE
60k/100k
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information. |
| Best credit card offers (May 2025) |
WELCOME BONUS ( VALUATION) |
Best for |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
launch 
|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $18k in 12 mos. (or $5k/$9k for lower bonus)
|
Rewards: ≈ $1590
Card fee: $0 $199
|
Incredible offer
for those
with more spending
|
limited time
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
launch 
|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $10k in 12 mos. (or $3k/$6k for lower bonus)
|
Rewards: ≈ $750
Card fee: $0 $89
|
Great offer
for those
with more spending
|
limited time
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $5k in 6 months
|
Rewards: $1025
Annual fee: $0 $139
|
Among highest
offers ever seen
for simple points
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $1k/month for 12 months
|
Rewards: ≈ $1180
Card fee: $250
|
Lucrative rewards
and 4 passes
for VIP airport lounges
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
record-high 
|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $5k in 6 mos.
|
Rewards: ≈ $900
Card fee: $120
|
Lucrative rewards
w/ unlim. value
great if you're flexible
|
ends June 11th
apply now |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
best 
|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $750/month for 12 months
|
Rewards: ≈ $900
Card fee: $156
|
Best overall
card
in Canada
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $7.5k in 12 mos. (or $2k for lower bonus)
|
Rewards: $775
Card fee: $120
|
Very good
travel insurance
and earn rate
|
ends July 1st
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $12k in 12 mos. (incl. $7.5k in 180 days)†
|
Rewards: ≈ $641
Annual fee: $0 $139
|
Valuable Aeroplan pts
and travel benefits
like free bags on AC
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $10k in 3 mos.
|
Rewards: ≈ $1451
Card fee: $799
|
Unlimited access to
VIP airport lounges
and lucrative rewards
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $10k in 14 mos. (or $3k for lower bonus)
|
Rewards: $1000
Card fee: $399
|
10 airport
lounge passes
and no FX fees
|
ends October 31st
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $24k in 12 mos. (or $12k for lower bonus)
|
Rewards: ≈ $1126
Annual fee: $599
|
For Air Canada
lounge access and
6 passes (other lounges)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $5k in 6 mos.
|
Rewards: ≈ $919
Card fee: $399
|
Lucrative pts
and 6 passes for
VIP airport lounges
|
limited time
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Card: no business required
Min. spend (bonus): $7.5k in 3 mos.
|
Rewards: ≈ $713
Card fee: $199
|
More valuable
Amex points
for Aeroplan or Avios
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $7.5k in 3 mos.
|
Rewards: ≈ $1041
Card fee: $599
|
For Air Canada
lounge access
& other AC benefits
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $1.5k in 3 mos.
|
Rewards: ≈ $477
Card fee: $120
|
Very lucrative
hotel points
for specific hotels
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
American Express Cobalt™ Card
This is by far the best current credit card offer in Canada, since its the best-ever offer on one of the best cards: it earns a phenomenal 5 points per dollar at many retailers (5% back as an easy credit or ≈ 5.4% and more as Marriott points).
Best for: travelers who can spend a bit more or want 5X the points.
The American Express Cobalt Card is amazing, but especially if you can spend a bit more on a card—or if you don’t want to maximize your rewards and plan on just getting one card per year.
That’s because it has an excellent earn rate and the welcome bonus is different than all the others: instead of having a minimum spend amount in the first 3 months, you need to spend $500 per month the first year to maximize it (with a special increased offer giving you an even bigger bonus if you spend an extra $1,500 in the first 3 months).
That gives you a ton of points though, especially if you spend a lot at the grocery store (for groceries… or for gift cards to other retailers), because it earns an incredible 5 Amex Select points per dollar (easy-to-use travel credit worth 5%)!!! But it’s actually with the American Express Cobalt Card that I earn a vast majority of my many Marriott points for free hotels (5 Amex Select points = 6 Marriott points), and Marriott points are a lot more valuable.
There is currently the first improved welcome bonus offer since the card launched and it’s the best time to get it: you can’t go wrong with the best offer ever seen on this card (and a card that was already among the best in Canada).
Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express® Card
Simply one of the best, a must-have card for Canadian travelers as it provides exceptional value with its Welcome Bonus (up to 8 completely free hotel nights) and ongoing yearly benefits.
Best for: all Canadian travelers who don’t have it yet.
The Marriott Bonvoy Card is one that every traveler should have, with its amazing welcome bonus of up to 8 completely free hotel nights in many countries (that doesn’t expire as long as you use your card once per year).
It’s also great for beginners specifically, because with the annual free night certificate in luxurious hotels all around the world, it’s a card you should never cancel. That will build up the length of credit history component of your credit score.
And even if you don’t want to stay in Marriott hotels, as an alternative, the Welcome Bonus alone is almost enough to be transferred to 25,000 Aeroplan points. That would still make this welcome bonus worth ≈ $211 based on our Flytrippers Valuation and give you the amazing free night certificate going forward.
BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card
A great new card with one of the best earn rates on the Visa network, at 3.33% at many retailers.
Best for: travelers who want easy credits and simple rewards.
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card is an all-new option, perfect for those who can spend a little bit more on a card in the first 3 months. And also perfect for those who don’t want to deal with more valuable but more complicated variable-value rewards.
BMO Rewards points are a simple travel credit and you also get lifestyle credits that apply to literally any expense. That is the very lucrative welcome bonus, and the card has one of the best earn rate in Canada on some purchase categories.
- Detailed card page
- Flytrippers card review (coming soon)
- Secure BMO application link
SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express®
The highest current welcome bonus offer for simpler cashback and a simple at-large 2% earn rate everywhere.
Best for: travelers who want cashback.
We don’t often recommend cashback cards (as they rarely have welcome bonuses and welcome bonuses are the key) but the SimplyCash Preferred Card has the benefit of offering an interesting bonus.
The offer is that you get 10% back on your first $4,000 spent in 4 months, so $400. There’s a fee of $99, so that’s a net of $301 in free travel, which is really not bad at all. But $4,000 is quite a lot and could be used to unlock 2 welcome bonuses instead of just one.
If you really insist on having cashback but can’t spend $4,000, there is another option but only for those who earn over $60,000: the Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite* Card gives you $200 cashback if you spend $2,000 (same for the BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* if you earn $80,000).
- Detailed card page
- Flytrippers card review (coming soon)
- Secure Amex application link
American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
A premium card with unlimited Air Canada lounge access in North America and benefits designed for Aeroplan members with elite status.
Best for: travelers who want luxury travel benefits on Air Canada.
TBD
- Detailed card page
- Flytrippers card review (coming soon)
- Secure Amex application link
BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* MasterCard®*
The highest current welcome bonus offer on AIR MILES credit cards.
Best for: travelers who want AIR MILES Rewards.
The BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* MasterCard®* currently has the best welcome bonus offer for AIR MILES Rewards. These are best used for short-haul flights and car rentals, not as cashback-type rewards. You can easily get 20% (or more) in additional value that way.
But even as cash-back, this is the best welcome bonus available for those who don’t want to spend $4,000 in 4 months on the SimplyCash Preferred Card.
With the current offer, after unlocking the Welcome Bonus with $3,000 spent, you’ll have 2,300 AIR MILES miles. That’s worth ≈ $276, or a minimum of $242 as Cash Rewards if you prefer simplicity over value.
- Detailed card page
- Flytrippers card review (coming soon)
- Secure BMO application link
Scotiabank Gold American Express®* Card
An amazing card with great travel insurance, 5% back at many retailers, and no foreign transaction fee.
Best for: travelers who have lower income or lower spending.
tbd
- Detailed card page
- Flytrippers card review (coming soon)
- Secure Scotia application link
HSBC +Rewards™ Mastercard®
A rare card with a welcome bonus and a lower interest rate.
Best for: travelers who need lower interest rates.
tbd
- Detailed card page
- Flytrippers card review (coming soon)
- Secure HSBC application link
HSBC World Elite® Mastercard®
A great card.
Best for: travelers who need a no foreign transaction fee card and can’t wait.
tbd
- Detailed card page
- Flytrippers card review (coming soon)
- Secure HSBC application link
This content is not sponsored. Some links on this page may allow Flytrippers to earn a commission at absolutely no cost to you. Thank you for using our links and helping us keep all our content free for everyone and therefore helping us to fulfill our mission of helping Canadians travel more for less.
The views and opinions expressed on this page are purely our own. They have not been provided, approved, endorsed, or ratified by any third party mentioned on the site.
Financial institutions are not responsible for updating or ensuring the accuracy of the information on Flytrippers’ website. All the information was independently collected by Flytrippers and not provided by financial institutions.
All offers described on the Flytrippers website are subject to the financial institutions’ latest terms and conditions that can be found on their website. No efforts are spared to ensure this page is up to date, but offers from financial institutions change quickly. It is your responsibility to ensure the accuracy of these offers on their website. Flytrippers will not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the offers or the result of your actions.
Flytrippers’ website does not contain all available credit card offers or all available credit card products on the market. Flytrippers never shares an offer if it is not considered advantageous for certain travelers, at its sole discretion.
No author on Flytrippers’ website is a financial advisor, a financial planner, a legal professional, or a tax professional. No author on Flytrippers’ website can in any way be considered as such.
All articles and pages on Flytrippers’ website are merely personal opinions of a general nature and are for informational purposes only and should not be considered as advice for specific situations. It is your responsibility to perform your own personal research to make sure that travel rewards are appropriate for your own situation.
You can learn more about our terms of use here.