Best Perks And Benefits Credit Cards For October 2025
Premium cards that offer luxury perks and best-in-class benefits.
As the best perks and benefits credit card in Canada, the American Express Platinum® Card offers a delightful array of premium benefits and freebies. This includes unlimited airport lounge access, elite hotel status, extensive insurance coverage, and much more.
If you’re after the most significant perks and benefits, premium credit cards with annual fees are often the way to go. The size of these fees might surprise you, but most cards provide value that more than makes up for it.
Below, you’ll find our roundup of the top credit cards in Canada, complete with reviews highlighting their standout perks and luxurious benefits.
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.
- To get more value from your credit card, take advantage of its rewards and perks as often as possible.
- Visa and American Express tend to offer more cards with generous perks and benefits.
Best travel perks and benefits credit cards for October 2025
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.
| Category | Credit card | Estimated value of included perks | Annual fee | Income requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | American Express Platinum® Card | $829 | $799 | None |
| Best for Aeroplan perks | TD® Aeroplan® Visa* Infinite Privilege* Credit Card | $806 | $599 | $150,000 personal or $200,000 household |
| Best for premium perks | American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card | $723 | $599 | None |
| Best for unique perks | BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card | $478 | $599 | $150,000 personal or $200,000 household |
| Best for a lower annual fee | RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege | $442 | $399 | $200,000 personal or household |
1. Best credit card for travel perks
Estimated perks value: $829
Rewards:
- 2 points per $1 spent on restaurants and travel
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Pros:
- $400 in annual travel and dining credits
- Unlimited airport lounge access
- Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors Gold status
- Up to 2 points per $1 spent on purchases
- 11 types of insurance
- 100,000 welcome bonus points
- No minimum income requirements
Cons:
- High annual fee of $799
- Lower acceptance as an Amex card
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 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 seven 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 and Hilton Honors Gold, and access to 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.
2. Best Aeroplan credit card with perks
Estimated perks value: $806
Rewards:
- 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
Pros:
- Free first checked bag
- Unlimited Maple Leaf Lounge access
- Six free passes for Visa Airport Companion Program lounges
- Annual companion voucher when you spend $25,000 per year
- 12 types of insurance
- 85,000 welcome bonus points
Cons:
- Annual fee of $599
- Only high value rewards are redeeming for Air Canada flights
- High income requirements of $150,000 personal or $200,000 household
Aeroplan credit cards offer many terrific benefits when flying with Air Canada. The best of those credit cards is the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card, which has travel perks valued at $806. Air Canada perks include free first checked bags; priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling; and unlimited access to the esteemed Maple Leaf Lounges.
You’ll also enjoy Visa Infinite Privilege perks, which include six lounge passes for the Visa Airport Companion Program lounges, access to the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection, and complimentary 24/7 Visa Infinite Privilege concierge service.
The limiting factor for this card might be the income requirements, which are high at $150,000 personal or $200,000 household.
3. Best credit card with premium perks (and no income requirements!)
Estimated perks value: $723
Rewards:
- 3 points per $1 spent on Air Canada
- 2 points per $1 spent on dining and food delivery purchases in Canada
- 1.25 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
Pros:
- Free first checked bag
- Unlimited Maple Leaf lounge access
- Priority Pass membership (no free passes)
- Annual companion voucher when you spend $25,000 per year
- $100 NEXUS credit every four years
- 85,000 welcome bonus points
Cons:
- Annual fee of $599
- Lower acceptance as an Amex card
The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card has valuable travel perks worth an estimated $723, a generous welcome bonus, and a solid insurance package – and the eligibility requirements are much easier to meet than the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card.
Your welcome bonus is up to 85,000Aeroplan points after spending $7,500 in the first 3 months, and spending $2,500 in month 13, which is worth an estimated $1,700. You can redeem the points for flights all over the world with no blackout dates. Plus, you’ll enjoy unlimited Maple Leaf Lounge access, an annual companion voucher after spending $25,000 on the card, a $100 NEXUS credit every four years, and a variety of perks when flying with Air Canada.
In addition, this card comes with 11 types of travel insurance and purchase protections, which will even cover you when you use Aeroplan points for travel.
4. Best credit card for unique perks
Estimated perks value: $478
Rewards:
- 5x BMO Rewards points for every $1 spent on travel, dining, gas, groceries, and drugstores
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Pros:
- $200 annual lifestyle credit
- Six airport lounge passes per year
- 12 types of insurance
- 120,000 welcome bonus points
Cons:
- Annual fee of $599
- High income requirements of $150,000 personal or $200,000 household
- Lower acceptance as an Amex card
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card has a fairly substantial annual fee – but a rich welcome bonus, a good earn rate, and a solid collection of unique perks offset it.
The welcome bonus gives you up to 120,000 BMO Rewards points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months and $75,0000 in the first year. All said, it’s worth up to $804 when redeemed for travel.
But the perks are where this card really shines. Enjoy an annual $200 lifestyle credit automatically applied after your first eligible purchase over $200 in a given year, plus 25% bonus rewards when you add an authorized user to your account.
The Visa Infinite Privilege benefits include 24/7 concierge service, access to the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection, access to exclusive culinary experiences across Canada, and more. And your travels will be covered by a generous insurance package that includes 12 types of coverage.
5. Best perks credit card with a lower annual fee
Estimated perks value: $442
Rewards:
- 1.25 points per $1 spent on all purchases
Pros:
- Visa Airport Companion Program membership + six free lounge visits per year
- Fast-tracked security and other airport benefits and discounts
- 24/7 concierge service
- 3 cents off per litre at Petro Canada + bonus Petro Points
- High redemption value using the Air Travel Redemption Schedule
- 12 types of insurance included
- Welcome bonus of up to 70,000 points
Cons:
- Annual fee of $399
- High income requirements of $200,00 personal or household
- Point value fairly low for redemptions outside of Air Travel Redemption Schedule
"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 pretty reasonable – and lower than every other card on our list.
You’ll get an excellent welcome bonus – something this card is known for – and the extra perks are well worth the annual cost of holding the card: six free lounge visits, priority service at the airport, concierge service, and even gas savings. Plus, it has one of the best insurance packages around.
Compare credit cards with the best perks
×1 Award winner 
$100 GeniusCash + 55,000 points + Up to 2.33% return on purchases.*
GC: $100
1x Award winner Awards are given out once a year but rating and rankings can shift throughout the year. The #1 card for 2025 is pinned to the top.
How we get our rankings
We did an extensive study on how much credit card benefits are worth, estimating the dollar value of every type of credit card perk we track, and crunching the numbers to come up with an estimated value for every credit card in our database.
When calculating our Genius Ratings, we consider over 126 features of each credit card, broken down into seven main categories. But for these cards, we’re looking specifically at the value of the perks and benefits that you’ll receive.
Learn more about our Genius Rating methodology
What are credit card perks and benefits?
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
While these perks are technically free, cards with the most premium perks will have an annual fee that reflects this. And they're not available for just anyone – they require higher household incomes and credit scores for approval, putting them out of reach for many people.
Still, the benefits often outweigh the cost and difficulty. If the perks suit your needs, there's no reason to write off a card simply because it has a high fee and/or looks tricky to qualify for. Do your homework first.
Credit card perks vs. credit card rewards
While you might be able to use the terms "credit card perks" and “credit card benefits” interchangeably, that isn’t quite the case with perks and rewards:
- 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.
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 | $150 – $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.
The best perks credit cards head-to-head
To make it even easier to compare cards, let’s take a closer look at perks values, welcome bonuses, annual fees, average rate of returns, and estimated insurance values.
| American Express Platinum Card | TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege | American Express Aeroplan Reserve | BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege | RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated perks value | $829 | $806 | $723 | $478 | $442 |
| Annual fee | $799 | $599 | $599 | $599 | $399 |
| Welcome bonus value | $2,000 | $1,700 | $1,700 | $804 | $1,631 |
| Avg. rate of return | 2.45% | 2.78% | 2.79% | 1.88% | 2.91% |
| Estimated insurance value | $500 | $575 | $500 | $622 | $653 |
As we noted earlier, big perks tend to come with big fees. Our highest-ranking card in terms of perks value has lots to offer, but has a substantial annual fee of $799 that not everyone can stomach.
You could enjoy great perks and similar insurance value by choosing one of the Aeroplan cards – which will save you a couple of hundred dollars each year.
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.
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.
If you're a big traveler, perks credit cards tend to be much more valuable.
FAQ
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 annual travel and dining credits, unlimited airport lounge access, 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.
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. 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 is our top travel credit card since it comes with ten types of travel insurance, Front of the Line, and Amex Hotel Collection perks, along with a high return rate.
What is the best perks credit card with no annual fee?
While we didn’t include any on this list, the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard is a great no fee option that includes seven types of insurance, a steady return rate, and World Elite Mastercard benefits.
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 229 Canadian credit cards.
