Best Perks and Benefits Credit Cards for 2026
Premium cards that offer luxury perks and best-in-class benefits.
The best perks and benefits credit card in Canada is the American Express Platinum Card. With more perks than any other card on the market, this card offers exceptional benefits like Amex's Platinum Travel Service and automatic Hilton Honors Gold status.
But luxury credit card lovers should also consider the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege and TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card, which offer their own range of perks.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Average earn rate | Some of its perks: | Current offer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | American Express Platinum Card | $799 | 2.45% | * $400 in annual dining and travel credits * Unlimited airport lounge access * 11 types of insurance | Up to 100,000 bonus points (terms) |
| #2 | RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege | $399 | 2.91% | * Airport lounge access and priority services * Free DoorDash delivery for 12 months * 3¢ off per litre at Petro Canada | Up to 70,000 bonus points (terms) |
| #3 | TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card | $599 | 2.78% | * Unlimited Maple Leaf Lounge access * Free checked bags with Air Canada * NEXUS credit every 48 months | Up to 85,000 bonus points (terms) |
These rankings are based on a comprehensive database of every credit card in Canada. We've compared all possible credit card perks to give you the best of the best. This guide compares the top credit cards for perks, not only by their benefits but also their insurance, rewards, fees, and more.
Key Takeaways
- The American Express Platinum Card has a high annual fee, but its many perks, including $400 worth of dining and travel credits, help to offset this.
- Visa and American Express tend to offer more cards with generous perks and benefits.
- To get more value from your credit card, take advantage of its rewards and perks as often as possible.
The best perks and benefits credit cards in Canada
Our Gold award for the #1 perks and benefits card in Canada goes to the American Express Platinum Card for its huge annual travel and dining credits, unlimited lounge access, and other luxury perks.
Our Silver award goes to the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege. On top of its Visa Infinite Privilege perks, this card comes with 12 free months of DoorDash.
And our Bronze award goes to the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card, another VIP card that offers extensive Air Canada perks.
Canada's best credit card for perks: American Express Platinum Card
×2 Award winner 
When it comes to top-of-the-line credit card benefits, the American Express Platinum Card continues to be leaps and bounds ahead of the rest. It starts with the generous welcome bonus of up to 100,000 points – and if you transfer those to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio, that's worth up to $2,000.
You also get a $200 annual travel credit each year, plus a $200 credit to save on dining at select restaurants. Then there's the International Airline Program, which gives you (and up to 7 additional passengers) discounted fares on first, business, and premium economy flights.
Other perks include:
- Free lounge access with the American Express Global Lounge Collection
- Access to Amex fine hotels and resorts
- Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- Automatic Hilton Honors Gold status
- Automatic Radisson Gold status
- Automatic Hertz Gold Plus status
- Discounts on Hertz and Avis car rentals
- Access to the American Express Platinum Card travel service
And while the $799 annual fee is (very) steep, the value this card brings to the table usually compensates for its annual fee – and then some, as long as you're travelling enough.
Estimated value of perks: $829
Silver award credit card for perks: RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
"Low fee" might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege – but for the perks it offers, the annual fee of $399 is fairly reasonable – and lower than the other top credit cards for perks.
You'll get an amazing welcome bonus – something this card is known for – and the extra benefits are well worth the annual cost of holding the card:
- 6 free lounge visits
- Priority service at the airport
- Concierge service
- Save 3 cents per litre at Petro Canada
- Earn 20% bonus Petro Points
Plus, it has one of the best insurance packages available, offering emergency medical for travellers over the age of 75, which is a rare find. The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege is Canada's best travel insurance credit card.
RBC also offers frequent 30-50% transfer promos to British Airways Avion, giving you bonus value for your Avion points.
Estimated value of perks: $442
Bronze award credit card for perks: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card
Aeroplan credit cards offer many terrific benefits when flying with Air Canada. The best Aeroplan credit card for perks is the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card, which gives you:
- Free checked bags
- Priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling
- Unlimited access to the esteemed Maple Leaf Lounges
You'll also enjoy Visa Infinite Privilege perks, including 6 lounge passes for the Visa Airport Companion Program, access to the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection, and complimentary 24/7 Visa Infinite Privilege concierge service.
This card also includes emergency medical coverage for travellers aged 75 and over. Plus, enjoy preferred rates on AVIS and Budget car rentals.
Estimated value of perks: $806
Compare all the best perks and benefits credit cards
Here are the top 10 credit cards in Canada for perks and benefits. All these cards were selected and ranked based on the number and value of perks offered:
Awards are given out once a year but rating and rankings can shift throughout the year. The #1 card for 2026 is pinned to the top.
The Genius Rating methodology
While the awards for the best perks credit cards are focused specifically on perks and benefits, creditcardGenius also gathers extensive data about other features, giving every card in Canada an unbiased Genius Rating.
To come up with each card's Genius Rating, we analyzed over 126 features of each card and broke them into 7 main categories:
- Perks
- Rewards
- Fees
- Insurance
- Interest
- Acceptance
- Approval
Then, we ran those through our algorithm, which calculated a score out of 5 – the Genius Rating. You can learn more about how we analyze and rank credit cards to determine Genius Ratings.
How to choose the right perks and benefits credit card
Perks and benefits are just one of several key credit card factors to think about when choosing a credit card. Take a closer look at each of our Genius Rating factors when picking the best card for you.
Perks
Credit card perks are freebies and valuable conveniences offered to cardholders, separate from the standard features. Card companies typically use these perks to attract new customers, but longstanding clients also benefit from them.
Some of the most popular credit card perks include:
- Welcome offers (cash, points, rewards, etc.)
- Insurance packages
- Airport lounge access
- Roadside assistance
- Concierge services
- NEXUS credits
- Airline-specific rewards and discounts
- Priority services at airports
The American Express Platinum Card offers more perks than any other card in Canada–and those perks have an estimated value of $829, offsetting the annual fee with perks alone. However, you only get value out of the perks you'll actually use, so make sure you choose a perks credit card that offers the right benefits for you.
For instance, you might be looking for perks when flying with friends or family. In this case, you'll want to check out the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card, which comes with unlimited Maple Leaf Lounge access and the ability to earn an annual companion voucher. You can also enjoy unlimited Maple Leaf Lounge access with the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card.
Other cards might give you perks for specific actions, like adding an authorized user or making your first purchase with the card. For example, the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card comes with an annual $200 lifestyle credit once you make your first purchase of $200 in a given year. It also gives a 25% bonus reward when you add an authorized user to your account.
When choosing a credit card for perks, consider the perks offered for your specific card as well as those offered by the network: American Express, Visa, or Mastercard.
The Silver and Bronze awards for Best Perks both went to Visa Infinite Privilege cards. The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege and the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card give you access to VIP benefits like:
- Visa's complimentary travel concierge service
- Primetime restaurant reservations through OpenTable
- Access to exclusive meals through the Visa Infinite Dining Series
- Platinum Status for Access by Powered Troon, a golf loyalty program that earns points towards free rounds
Rewards
While perks and rewards might sound interchangeable, they refer to different credit card benefits:
- A credit card perk is an "extra" that comes with your credit card. It's something you have access to or receive simply for holding the credit card – such as airport lounge access (free or at a reduced cost via a membership), rental car discounts, or automatic elite status with an airline or hotel.
- A credit card reward is what you earn when you make purchases on your card – either points or cash back. You can redeem these rewards for travel, gift cards, statement credits, and more.
Look for a card that earns rewards points in categories where you spend the most money. Also consider how your points are paid out. Redeeming points for travel typically offers the most value.
| Credit card | Rewards program | Rewards | Redemption options | Average rate of return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Platinum Card | American Express Membership Rewards | * 2 points per $1 spent on restaurants and travel * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases | * Transfer points to Aeroplan * Fixed Points Travel Program * Transfer points to Marriott Bonvoy * Any travel * Charitable donations * Statement credits * Gift cards * Shopping at Amazon.ca * Merchandise | 2.45% |
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege | RBC Avion Rewards | * 1.25 points per $1 spent on all purchases | * Air travel redemption schedule * Travel through RBC Rewards * Transfer points to British Airways or Cathay Pacific * Transfer to WestJet Rewards * Charitable donations * Merchandise * RBC financial products * Gift cards * Cash back as statement credits | 2.91% |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card | Aeroplan | * 2 points per $1 spent on Air Canada * 1.5 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries, travel & transit and dining * 1.25 points per $1 spent on all other purchases | * Flights * Air Canada gift cards * Car rentals * Vacation packages * Hotels * Merchandise * Gift cards | 2.78% |
Fees
If you're looking for a credit card with many luxury perks, be prepared to pay a pretty hefty annual fee. It's not true in all cases, but for the most part, premium credit card benefits come with similarly premium fees.
The best cards on our list charge fees ranging from $300 to $799, and, unfortunately, it costs between $99 and $250 to add an additional cardholder.
These high fees mean it's especially important to weigh how much value you'll get from using the card before you apply.
Insurance
Cards with perks and benefits usually have impressive insurance along with them. These can include coverage for travel, mobile devices, and purchase protection. If you end up filing a claim for any covered issues, you can save hundreds or thousands of dollars, which just adds value to your premium credit card.
When you're comparing insurance coverage, pay attention not only to the coverage type, but also to the coverage limit. This can help you pick a card if you're splitting hairs between a couple of card options.
You'll find the most extensive coverage with the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege:
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
| Extended Warranty | 2 years |
| Purchase Protection | 120 days |
| Mobile Device | $1,500 |
| Travel Accident | $500,000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 31 days |
| Emergency Medical Maximum Coverage | unlimited |
| Emergency Medical over 65 | 7 days |
| Trip Cancellation | $2,500 |
| Trip Interruption | $5,000 |
| Flight Delay | $1,000 |
| Baggage Delay | $750 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $2,500 |
| Hotel Burglary | $3,000 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes |
Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card offers very comparable insurance, differing only in a few areas. For example, this card offers a little extra for baggage delay with coverage up to $1,000. However, its term for emergency medical coverage over the age of 65 is shorter, at 4 days instead of 7.
The American Express Platinum Card focuses more on perks, but still offers 11 types of insurance:
American Express Platinum® Card
| Extended Warranty | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 120 days |
| Travel Accident | $500,000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 15 days |
| Emergency Medical Maximum Coverage | $5,000,000 |
| Trip Cancellation | $2,500 |
| Trip Interruption | $2,500 |
| Flight Delay | $1,000 |
| Baggage Delay | $1,000 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $1,000 |
| Hotel Burglary | $1,000 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes |
Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.
Interest rates
If you're primarily using a credit card for perks and benefits, you might be splurging on expensive experiences and trips. Make sure you plan to pay your adventures off promptly.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege has a purchase interest rate of 20.99%, and the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card charges 21.99%. If you don't pay your balance in full each month, interest can add up very quickly, offsetting the value of your perks.
The American Express Platinum Card offers 2 payment options. It can function like a typical charge card, requiring the balance to be paid in full each month. Or, you can choose a flexible payment plan, but the interest rates on overdue payments will be even higher than the other top cards.
If you know you'll be carrying a balance, explore Canada's best low interest credit cards instead.
Approval
Perks and benefits aren't cheap for card issuers, so they only approve cardholders who meet the eligibility requirements.
This usually includes high annual income requirements, which can be met either as an individual or as a family. The best credit card for perks waives this requirement. Plus, Amex lets you do a soft credit check before you apply, so you can find out if you qualify without affecting your credit score.
| Credit card | Estimated credit score required | Personal income required | Household income required |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Platinum Card | 725 - 759 | None | None |
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege | 660 - 724 | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card | 725 - 759 | $150,000 | $200,000 |
Acceptance
A card with amazing perks and benefits is useless if a merchant refuses to accept it. Visa is slightly more widely accepted than American Express, but you'll find most merchants accept both of these popular networks – in Canada and abroad.
Notable Canadian exceptions include Loblaws, which does not accept Amex, and Costco, which only accepts Mastercard.
Basic vs. premium perks: What's worth paying for?
It can be hard to keep track of what's a valuable perk and what's a run-of-the-mill basic perk. To help you decide whether to spring for a card with an annual fee, it can be useful to look at the value of the included perks.
| Perk | Basic cards | Premium cards |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | Minimal (less than 10,000 points) | Generous (25,000+) |
| Insurance coverage | Minimal | Extensive with high coverage levels |
| Airport lounge access | Not included or very limited | Unlimited access or Priority Pass membership |
| Concierge service | Not included | 24/7 phone line available |
| Avg. annual fee | $0 – 120 | $120 – $799 |
If you travel often or prioritize travelling in comfort, a premium card might be worthwhile. If you only travel occasionally, basic perk cards probably offer the best value.
How to get the most from your perks credit card
The best way to get the most out of your perks credit card is – surprise – by using the perks as often as possible.
If your credit card offers a concierge service, you can get them to book travel for you, make restaurant or entertainment reservations, and even get their help to find emergency medical services. Remember, the service is baked into your credit card's annual fee, so don't feel bad about using it!
Another common perk you can get a lot of mileage out of is airport lounge passes. There are four major airport lounge networks in Canada, and depending on which network your credit card is affiliated with, you'll gain access to different airport lounges. Make sure you have your credit card with the perk on hand when you try to enter the lounge, and double-check that the lounge you want access to is within your network. Remember that not all cards offer free passes, so you may have to pay a fee.
You can also leverage your credit card's various insurances. Keep in mind that for many credit card insurance benefits, you need to use your card to purchase whatever you're insuring for it to take effect. That means if you want your card's rental car insurance to apply to your vacation rental, you must pay for the rental booking with that credit card.
FAQ
Should you get a perks credit card?
Whether or not a perks credit card is right for you is dependent on your spending habits and lifestyle. The highest-value perks tend to be travel-related, with cards offering amenities such as airport lounge access and travel insurance. If you don't travel, you may find that you don't use the perks enough to justify the higher annual fees.
Which Canadian credit card has the best perks?
The American Express Platinum Card is the best credit card for perks. It starts with a sweet welcome bonus, followed by $400 in annual travel and dining credits, unlimited airport lounge access to 1,400+ lounges around the world, 11 types of insurance, and more.
Which credit card has the best perks?
Our top pick is the American Express Platinum Card, which has the highest perks value of any card on our list. It comes with a generous welcome bonus, excellent rewards earn rates, and a huge array of perks and benefits that include personalized offers and enrollment in hotel and rental car loyalty programs.
Which credit card is best for cash back in Canada?
The MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard has the highest rate of return for cash back credit cards, offering an average of 2.37% back. Specifically, you'll earn 5 points per $1 spent on restaurants, groceries, and select recurring bills, and 1 point per $1 on everything else. Plus, you'll get a nice 10% bonus every year on your birthday.
What is the best credit card to get for travel perks?
It's probably no surprise that the American Express Cobalt Card (our top credit card overall) is our top travel credit card since it comes with 10 types of travel insurance, Front of the Line access to exclusive events, American Express Experiences, and Amex Hotel Collection perks, along with a high return rate.
What is the best perks credit card with no annual fee?
While it didn't make the top 3 best perks cards list, the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard is a great no-fee option that includes 7 types of insurance, a steady return rate, and World Elite Mastercard benefits. If you're not a Rogers customer, check out other no-fee World Elite Mastercards, like the PC World Elite Mastercard.
Editorial Disclaimer: The content here reflects the author's opinion alone. No bank, credit card issuer, rewards program, or other entity has reviewed, approved, or endorsed this content. For complete and updated product information please visit the product issuer's website. Our credit card scores and rankings are based on our Rating Methodology that takes into account 126+ features for each of 231 Canadian credit cards.
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