Best RBC Credit Cards For October 2025
With an extensive insurance package, excellent earn rates, an incredible welcome bonus, and much more, the best RBC credit card is the RBC Avion Visa Infinite. Yes, there are several other very good RBC cards available, but this one takes the cake.
The RBC card lineup is impressive, ranging from premium travel cards to simple cash back options. Whichever card you choose will provide value, especially if you're already an RBC client.
Here, we'll study the top RBC cards and what they have to offer.
Key Takeaways
- The best overall RBC credit card in Canada is the RBC Avion Visa Infinite.
- Some RBC credit cards earn Avion Rewards Points, which you can redeem in six different rewards categories.
- RBC offers both Mastercard and Visa credit cards, plus 2,400+ brand and retail partnerships.
- With 19 different credit cards available in Canada, you’re sure to find one that matches your needs.
The best RBC credit cards in Canada
As the biggest of the Big 5 banks, the Royal Bank of Canada oversees a vast credit card kingdom. Travel bug? Let’s go! No fee? No problem! Really… nice rewards? Well, you get the idea.
Here are the best RBC credit cards in Canada.
| Category | Credit card | Annual fee | Current offer | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | RBC Avion Visa Infinite | $120 |  $100 GeniusCash + 55,000 bonus points (terms) | * 12 types of insurance * 2-for-1 Friday ski lift passes * Points worth up to 2.33 cents CAD each * Automatic Avion Elite membership * Visa Infinite benefits | * $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income required * Points worth as little as 0.58 CPP each |
| Best premium | RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege | $399 | Up to 70,000 bonus points (terms) | * 12 types of insurance * 2-for-1 Friday ski lift passes * Points worth up to 2.33 CAD each * Automatic Avion Elite membership * Discounts and bonus points at DoorDash, Petro-Canada, Rexall, and Rona * Visa Infinite Privilege benefits | * $150,000 personal or $200,000 household income required * Points worth as little as 0.58 CPP each |
| Best business | RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business | $175 | 25,000 bonus points (terms) | * 12 types of insurance * Up to nine additional cards * 2-for-1 Friday ski lift passes * Points worth up to 2.33 cents CAD each * Automatic Avion Elite membership * Discounts and bonus points at DoorDash, Petro-Canada, Rexall, and Rona * Visa Infinite benefits | * $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income required * $75,000 annual cap on eligible rewards spending * $75 extra card fee * Points worth as little as 0.58 CPP each |
| Best cash back | RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard | $99 | None | * Automatic Avion Premium membership * Discounts and bonus points at DoorDash, Petro-Canada, Rexall, and Rona * Additional travel insurance and roadside assistance available * Unlimited cash back rewards * World Elite Mastercard benefits | * $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income required * Only 3 types of insurance |
| Best no fee | RBC ION Visa | $0 | $60 GeniusCash + 7,000 Avion points (terms) | * Automatic Avion Premium membership * Discounts and bonus points at DoorDash, Petro-Canada, and Rexall * No income requirements * No annual fee | * Only 2 types of insurance included |
| Best low interest | RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option | $20 | None | * 12.99% interest on cash advances * 12.99% interest on purchases * Discounts and bonus points at DoorDash, Petro-Canada, and Rexall * No income requirements | * 12.99% interest on balance transfers * Only 2 types of insurance included * No rewards on purchases |
| Best for Metro shoppers | moi RBC Visa | $0 | Up to 5,000 bonus points (terms) | * Discounts and bonus points at Petro-Canada and Simons * No income requirements | * Low rewards flexibility |
| Best for gas | More Rewards RBC Visa | $0 | $60 GeniusCash + Up to 20,000 bonus points (terms) | * Up to 5 More Rewards points per $1 spent * Discounts and bonus points at Petro-Canada * High base earn rate * No annual fee | * More Rewards points only worth 0.43 cents each |
1. Best RBC credit card in Canada
×1 Award winner 
GC: $100
1x Award winner The crown jewel of the Royal Bank is a travel credit card with plenty of insurance and one of the best rewards programs in Canada: the RBC Avion Visa Infinite. Although Avion Rewards is a flexible rewards program, we recommend skipping the gift cards and merchandise; if you redeem your Avion Points on an RBC Travel Reward, they could be worth up to $2.33 CAD each.
RBC Avion credit cards offer 10% off at Rona, 5x bonus Be Well points at Rexall, three cents off per litre at Petro-Canada, and a free yearly DashPass membership. And then there are the exclusive culinary event invitations, luxury hotel benefits, and 24/7 complimentary concierge services included in the Visa Infinite program.
2. Best RBC premium credit card
It may have a higher Genius Rating, but we bumped the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege card into second place to account for its high annual fee and income requirements. It’s a premium credit card with the perks and benefits to match.
For starters, Visa Infinite Privilege cards include automatic elite membership status in multiple hotel loyalty programs, VIP treatment at major Canadian airports, and six complimentary airport lounge passes through the Visa Airport Companion program. On the RBC side, you’ll get a big enough welcome bonus to cover two round-trip tickets anywhere in Canada and the US.
3. Best RBC business credit card
Another fantastic niche credit card, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business, is tailor-made for small business owners. It includes the usual Avion and Visa Infinite benefits and three special tools: a 30% discount at Hertz car rental agencies in Canada and the US, a complimentary DragonPass membership, and Visa Spend Clarity for Business.
With Visa Spend Clarity, you can log photo receipts, set individual employee spending controls, and track your cash flow. As for DragonPass, you’ll be able to access 1,300+ global airport lounges for a mere $32 USD per visit.
4. Best RBC cash back credit card
Straightforward, no-fuss, cash back rewards are the domain of the RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard. Unlike the Avion Rewards program (which can get complicated), you can redeem a minimum of $25 cash back whenever you want.
It also has a low annual fee for a World Elite Mastercard, the perks of which include a complimentary DragonPass membership and enrollment in the Mastercard Travel Rewards program. Now you can go online, get access to airport lounges, and take advantage of extra cash back opportunities wherever you go!
5. Best RBC no fee credit card
It may only include minimal insurance and an Avion Premium membership, but the RBC ION Visa has one big point in its favour: no annual fees.
You’ll earn 1.5 Avion Points per $1 spent in every category for free – and if you really like it, you can double your earnings for $48 per year with the RBC ION+ Visa.
GC: $60
6. Best RBC low interest credit card
The RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option is a niche product with a straightforward proposal: instead of earning rewards, why not save on credit card interest if you carry a balance?
Note that this card doesn’t currently offer a balance transfer promotion, so if you want to consolidate debt from another card (or several), you’d better look elsewhere.
Learn more: The best balance transfer credit cards in Canada
7. Best RBC credit card for Metro shoppers
This category is very niche, but the moi RBC Visa deserves some attention for its Moi Rewards Points earn rates and lack of annual fee. You’ll get 2 Moi Points per $1 spent on dining, gas, EV charging and Brunet, Jean Coutu, Metro, and Première Moisson stores, and 1 point per $1 spent everywhere else.
Metro made the switch from AIR MILES to Moi Rewards in 2024. If you live in New Brunswick, Ontario, or Québec, you may want to consider an RBC credit card.
8. Best RBC credit card for Gas
While RBC credit cards are known for their discount on fuel at Petro-Canada, the More Rewards RBC Visa also earns its top rate of 5 More Rewards points per $1 spent on gas so that you can earn the maximum value out of all your gas purchases.
You’ll also earn 5 More Rewards points for every $1 spent at partnered businesses, which include tons of grocery stores like Save-On-Foods, Buy-Low Foods, and Nesters Market. It's an incredibly convenient card to bring with you while you do errands.
Pros and cons of RBC credit cards
RBC credit cards share similar benefits and downsides to the cards offered by most major credit card issuers. With a major company like RBC, you get a level of stability and longevity that more niche credit card issuers lack – not to mention an extensive network of retail and corporate partnerships.
RBC also has great all-purpose cards, which can suit a wide variety of lifestyles and financial situations. The downside is that, compared to smaller credit card issuers like Rogers, RBC lacks niche products.
Pros of RBC credit cards include:
- 2,400+ retail partners and 60+ gift card brands
- Six Avion Rewards categories to spend points on
- $298 average insurance value
- $85 average annual fee
- 50 Be Well Points per $1 spent at Rexall
- 20% bonus Avion Points and Petro-Points at Petro Canada
- 19 credit cards available in Canada, including both Mastercard and Visa
- Three no fee rewards credit cards
- 3 cents off per litre at Petro Canada
Despite its size, RBC’s annual fees are modest, ranging from $0 for no fee cards like the RBC Cash Back Mastercard, to $399 for premium cards like the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege. That’s not as high as premium credit cards from other big banks, like the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card, which is $599 a year.
Generally, a high annual fee will give you more benefits – RBC credit cards justify their lower annual fees with less valuable perks.
Cons of RBC credit cards include:
- 1.31% average rate of return
- Complicated Avion Rewards program
- Minimal insurance coverage
RBC generally has less robust insurance packages and lower earn rates than comparable credit card issuers – while individual shopping habits vary, no RBC credit cards offer more than a 2.91% rate of return on $2,000 of average spending per month. On top of that, their three-tier Avion Rewards Program is more complex than it needs to be; a smoother rewards experience would go a long way for RBC.
RBC credit cards vs. other banks
Now that we’ve examined the king of the Big 5 in Canada, what about the other four?
A look at the table below will tell you whether or not RBC deserves its place on the throne.
| RBC | BMO | CIBC | Scotiabank | TD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payment networks | * Mastercard * Visa | * Mastercard * Visa | * Mastercard * Visa | * American Express * Visa | * Visa |
| In-house rewards | Avion Rewards | BMO Rewards | Aventura Rewards | Scene+ | TD Rewards |
| Max rewards points value | 2.33 cents per point | 0.67 cents per point | 2.29 cents per point | 1 cent per point | 0.5 cents per point |
| Partner rewards and co-branded cards | * British Airways * Moi Rewards * WestJet | * AIR MILES | * Aeroplan * Costco | * None | * Aeroplan |
| Max rate of return | 2.91% | 2.05% | 3.34% | 2.45% | 2.78% |
| Best credit card | RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege | BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard | CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card | Scotiabank Gold American Express Card | TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card |
Types of RBC credit cards
It helps to narrow down card options by what you’re looking for in a card.
Here are the types offered by RBC to consider (along with our favourite option for each type):
- RBC Mastercard: RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard
- RBC Visa: RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
- RBC cash back card: RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard
- RBC travel card: RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
- RBC business card: RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business
- RBC student card: RBC ION Visa
- RBC low-interest card: RBC Visa Classic Low Rate Option
- RBC no fee card: RBC ION Visa
Here’s what RBC cardholders think
It’s one thing to read about rates and returns and another to see what real cardholders think, so we turned to Reddit for real-life reviews.
Here are some of the suggestions Redditors put forth:
How to apply for an RBC credit card
If you want to apply for a credit card from RBC, you’ll need to meet some fairly standard eligibility requirements:
- You must be the age of majority in your province or territory and a resident of Canada
- You must have a good credit score
- You must meet the income requirements of the card you want
RBC credit cards fall into four categories of minimum income requirements:
| Mastercard, Visa | Visa Infinite | World Elite Mastercard | Visa Infinite Privilege | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal | N/A | $60,000 | $80,000 | $150,000 |
| Household | N/A | $100,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 |
As long as you meet this criteria, you should be good to gather your documents; apply online, by phone, or at your local RBC bank; and wait for approval. But if you’d like to double-check (and find the most valuable credit card for your spending habits while you’re at it), it only takes three minutes to complete the creditcardGenius quiz.
FAQ
What’s the most exclusive RBC credit card?
With a significant annual fee of $399 and income requirements of $200,000 – with no distinction between personal or household numbers – the most exclusive of RBC's credit cards is the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege.
What’s the difference between the RBC Avion Visa Infinite and RBC Visa Platinum Avion?
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite and RBC Visa Platinum Avion have identical annual fees, interest rates, welcome bonuses, and Avion Rewards earning rates – but the Platinum card doesn’t include any Visa Infinite benefits or income requirements.
What credit score do you need for an RBC credit card?
Since RBC offers a variety of card types, credit score eligibility is quite varied, too. Premium credit cards require very good to excellent credit scores, but more basic cards have lower expectations. A minimum credit score of 660 is recommended.
Which RBC credit cards give you airport lounge access?
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege includes six complimentary airport lounge visits per year. Other credit cards may provide a complimentary lounge program membership, but you’ll need to pay $32-35 every time you visit a lounge.
Can you waive the RBC Avion Visa Infinite annual fee?
If you have an RBC VIP Banking account, RBC will waive $120 for the primary cardholder’s annual fee, $50 for the secondary cardholder’s annual fee, and the entirety of any additional cardholders’ annual fees for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite.
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.
