Best Store Credit Cards in Canada for 2026
The top store-branded cards – and the cards that earn even more
Did you know you'll earn more rewards at Walmart with the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard than you would with a Walmart-branded credit card? The best store credit cards aren't necessarily the store's own branded cards.
We've reviewed the best cards for shopping across a variety of popular stores and found that the card that offers the most value isn't necessarily the "official" store card.
This guide reviews the best credit cards for Walmart, Amazon, Loblaws, and other popular stores. Using our data-driven Genius Rating algorithm, we've also awarded Gold, Silver, and Bronze designations to the alternative shopping cards that score highest overall across 126+ data points.
| Card | Average Earn Rate | Maximum Point Value | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard | 2.86% | $1 | $120 |
| SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express | 2.55% | $1 | $119.88 |
| Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card | 2.08% | $1 | $120 |
With all this information at your fingertips, you can choose the best credit card to shop at your favourite stores, while factoring in the card's overall value in terms of rewards, perks, and more.
Key Takeaways
- While many retailers offer store cards, there are usually better options.
- Alternative credit cards offer more value overall and can even outperform branded cards at their own stores.
- The best store credit card in Canada is the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard.
Best store credit cards for 2026
Our Gold award for the #1 alternative store card in Canada goes to MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard, which earns 5% at Walmart Supercentres. This nets you more than the 3% you'll get with Walmart's own cards. Plus, you can spend your rewards on travel, gift cards, and more instead of only at Walmart.
Our Silver award goes to SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express, which is a great card for shopping on Amazon. Earning 4% cash back on gas and groceries and 2% everywhere else, this card puts money back in your pocket.
Our Bronze award goes to Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card. This card earns 4% on groceries and recurring bill payments – plus it comes with 11 types of insurance. If you're a Loblaws shopper who prefers cash back, this card is an excellent option.
Store-branded credit cards – and top alternatives
A store credit card is co-branded by a retailer and typically offers increased rewards on purchases with that retailer.
While it can be handy to earn targeted rewards at a store you frequently shop at, these cards usually have lower return rates for non-store purchases – and you generally won't get the benefits that standard credit cards come with.
On the flip side, if you shop from the same stores on a weekly or monthly basis, a store card could give you cash back or points that add up quickly. Plus, since these cards don't have extensive rewards or perks, most of them don't charge an annual fee. Here, you'll find our thoughts on popular store credit cards in Canada, plus information on the best alternative cards for you to consider to maximize your rewards. These are our recommendations for some of the top retailers in Canada:
| Store | Best store card | Pros | Cons | Top alternative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costco | CIBC Costco Mastercard | * Up to 3% cash back * No annual fee | * No special earn rate for Costco purchases | Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard |
| Tim Hortons | Tims Mastercard | * High earn rate on Tim Hortons purchases * No annual fee | * Low point value | Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card |
| Canadian Tire | Triangle World Elite Mastercard | * Up to 4% back in Canadian Tire money * Free roadside assistance | * High income requirements | Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card |
| Walmart | Walmart Rewards World Mastercard | * Up to 3% back in Walmart Dollars * No annual fee | * Rewards can only be redeemed at Walmart | MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard |
| Amazon | Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard | * Up to 2.5% back in Amazon Rewards * Generous welcome bonus | * Rewards can only be redeemed at Amazon.ca | SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express |
| Loblaw brands | PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard | * Up to 5% in PC Optimum points * Complimentary PC Express Pass | * High income requirements | Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card |
| Cineplex | Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card | * Up to 2 points per $1 spent * Additional points and benefits when booking with Scene+ Travel | * No insurance | Scotiabank American Express Card |
| Home Depot | Home Depot Project Loan Card | * Low interest financing for Home Depot purchases * No annual fee | * Very high interest rates | SimplyCash Card from American Express |
Gold Award: Best Credit Card for Walmart
Best branded card: Walmart Rewards World Mastercard
Our recommendation: MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard
Why we picked it:
For the frequent Walmart shopper, our recommendation is the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard. Credit card companies use merchant category codes to determine spend categories, typically counting Walmart Supercentres as grocery stores. This means you can earn the card's high grocery earn rate 5% even on non-grocery purchases.
If your local Walmart isn't a Supercentre, then we'd recommend checking out one of the other high-earning cards on this page. Or perhaps the Walmart Rewards World Mastercard may be your best bet, earning 3% back at Walmart and 1% back on all other purchases.
In addition to being our top pick for Walmart, the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard is a great card for restaurants. You'll earn 5% dining out. Plus, every year on your birthday, you'll get 10% of all the points you've earned as a bonus – up to 15,000 points. If you max out this bonus, that's an extra $150 toward your next vacation, more than covering the $120 annual fee.
This card also comes with 12 types of insurance, including rare price protection insurance. This coverage lets you submit a claim when a previously purchased item goes down in price, further cementing this card's status as the #1 store card in Canada. Buying a new TV at Walmart? Not only can you earn 5% back, you might be able to take advantage of a sale that hasn't even happened yet.
×7 Award winner 
$20 GeniusCash + Up to 30,000 bonus points + birthday bonus worth up to 15k points.*
GC: $20
7x Award winner Best for Amazon
Best branded card: Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard
Our recommendation: SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express
Why we picked it:
If you've made purchases from Amazon, then you've probably been offered the branded Amazon Mastercard at some point. Although there's no annual card fee, you'll only earn 1.5% back when shopping at Amazon.ca (2.5% if you're a Prime member).
We found the SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express to be a better option. Not only can you earn a welcome bonus worth up to $400, but you'll also get 4% cash back when making gas and grocery purchases.
When you shop on Amazon.ca and use this card, you'll get a generous 2% back. And you'll continue to earn 2% back on other purchases, making this a better card for earning rewards on all your spending.
The SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express wins the Silver award for best store card overall, largely due to its high cash back rate. This card can put an estimated $918 back in your wallet, offsetting its $119.88 annual fee (which is charged in monthly installments outside Quebec).
You'll also earn $50 when you make a purchase in your 13th month with the card, rewarding you for sticking around past the one-year mark.
Similar cards have high income requirements, but the SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express has none. Plus, American Express offers soft credit checks so you can find out if you qualify without any impact to your credit score.
Best for Loblaw brands
Best branded card: PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard
Our recommendation: Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card
Why we picked it:
Although Loblaws offers the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard as a premium alternative to its free PC Mastercards, you'll get better earnings on your spending with the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card.
You'll get 4% cash back on your grocery store purchases – one of the best cash back earn rates for groceries in Canada. You'll enjoy 1–2% back on other purchases, plus a welcome offer of up to 10% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,000 in spend.
However, if you like getting your groceries delivered with PC Express Pass, the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard offers this $99 service for free. The card has an annual fee of $120, but the first year is waived so you have plenty of time to decide if it's right for you.
As a solid grocery cash back card, the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card earned the Bronze award for best alternative store card. In addition to earning straight cash back at a higher rate than some branded store cards, this card also has a special earn rate for new cardholders.
For the first 3 months, you can get 10% cash back on up to $2,000 in spend. That's an extra $200, already offsetting the $120 annual fee.
Plus, the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card offers 11 types of insurance and gives you access to Visa Infinite cardholder benefits.
3.2 (77) User reviews ×2 Award winner GC: $20
Instant approval: YesCredit estimate: 3.2 (77) User reviews 2x Award winner
Annual fee
$120.00
$0
1st year waived
Credit estimate: (725 - 759)Instant approval: Yes
×2 Award winner GC: $20
2x Award winner Best for Costco
Best branded card: CIBC Costco Mastercard
Our recommendation: Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard
Why we picked it:
For the frequent Costco shopper, the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard is the best choice – even over the branded Costco Mastercard. We compared the earn rates on both cards, and the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard is the clear winner.
Instead of a solid 1% earn rate at Costco, the Rogers Mastercard earns 1.5% to 3% on your purchases, so savings at the warehouse add up faster. Plus, the Rogers card waives the typical 2.5% foreign exchange fee – so you can shop at U.S. Costco locations without being penalized.
Best for Tim Hortons
Best branded card: Tims Mastercard
Our recommendation: Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card
Why we picked it:
If you can't imagine your day without stopping by a Tim Hortons, we've got the card for you. Although you may have seen promotions for the Tims Mastercard, which has great earn rates at Tim Hortons and grocery stores, the Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card is even better.
With Simplii, you'll earn up to 4% back on your restaurant purchases (and not just at Tim Hortons!) up to $5,000 spend per year – plus you'll get 1.5% back for groceries, gas, drugstores, and pre-authorized payments. As a limited-time welcome bonus, you'll earn up to 10% back on eligible restaurant and food purchases for the first four months.
Best for Canadian Tire
Best branded card: Triangle World Elite Mastercard
Our recommendation: Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
Why we picked it:
If you're primarily looking to earn the most from your Canadian Tire shopping trip, you'll probably want to go with the Triangle World Elite Mastercard. With 4% cash back at CT, the card is hard to beat.
But if you're looking for the best card for purchases at Canadian Tire and other stores, the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card is a better option. This card allows you to select the categories that will earn you more – so you can earn 2% cash back on every purchase you make at Canadian Tire (along with other home improvement stores) and another category of your choice. You'll get a third boosted category if you deposit your cash back into a Tangerine Savings account, too!
×2 Award winner GC: $120 + $20
2x Award winner Best for Cineplex
Best branded card: Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card
Our recommendation: Scotiabank American Express Card
Why we picked it:
The best branded card and our pick are both Scotiabank offerings – and both cards earn you Scene+ rewards, which you can redeem for movie tickets and concessions, travel, groceries, restaurants, and purchases at Home Hardware stores. But the Scotiabank American Express Card gives you a slightly better earn rate and more rewards elsewhere, making it our favourite card for the movies.
Pro Tip: If you're looking for an upgraded card option, consider the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, which boasts a fantastic earn rate and makes for a great travel card, too.
Best for Home Depot
Best branded card: Home Depot Project Loan Card
Our recommendation: SimplyCash Card from American Express
Why we picked it:
A home renovation project can cost a lot of money – but it has the potential to earn you a lot of rewards with the right card. For your next Home Depot haul, take a look at the SimplyCash Card from American Express. Like the Home Depot Project Loan Card, the Amex card essentially provides low-interest financing for your project.
With the Amex, you'll get a nice welcome bonus of 5% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,000 in spend. The earn rate is good, too. You'll get 2% cash back on gas and groceries and 1.25% cash back on all other purchases.
The biggest difference between these cards comes down to the interest rate. The Home Depot Project Loan Card offers a promotional interest rate, but then it jumps to 28.8%. Our card pick comes with a lower interest rate of 21.99%, making it a better choice if you might carry a balance.
Comparing the best store credit cards by Genius Ranking
To find the best store credit cards, we analyzed over 126 features of each card, broken down into seven main categories. Then, we ran them through our algorithm, which calculated a score out of 5.
Since we're talking about store credit cards for maximum rewards, we gave extra weight to the rewards category. All our rewards calculations are based on a $3,000 monthly spend, split across various types of spending.
Here's a look at the top store cards as ranked by Genius Rating:
×7 Award winner GC: $20 7x Award winner ×2 Award winner GC: $20 2x Award winner GC: $150
Learn more about our Genius Rating methodology
How to choose a store credit card
When deciding whether to sign up for a new credit card, consider how it fits into your current wallet. Will it outperform your main card at specific stores? Are you looking for versatility or to fill a gap?
When choosing store cards, rewards are top priority – and along with rewards come fees. Always measure whether a card earns (or provides enough overall value) enough to justify its cost.
As well, be sure your card is accepted at the stores you frequent.
If you're looking for a multipurpose card, also consider additional perks and insurance coverage. And, of course, check the approval requirements to make sure you're eligible.
Rewards
Consider what kind of rewards your card earns, where you earn the most rewards, and how you can spend your rewards.
All the top store cards are very flexible. The SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express and Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card are cash back cards, and the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard earns flexible MBNA Rewards. This flexible program lets you redeem for e-gift cards at almost the same rate as travel.
In general, the recommended alternatives covered in this guide will outperform branded store cards. Here's a look at how the average earn rates for store cards compare with their alternatives:
Fees
Fees are important to consider when choosing a credit card. The most lucrative cards tend to come with higher annual fees, so you want to make sure that you are earning back more than what you spend on annual fees to ensure that the annual fees are worth it. That being said, there are several other fees to pay attention to as well, so always read the fine print and consider how it applies to your habits.
All of the top 3 store cards have similar annual fees:
- MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard – $120
- SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express – $119.88
- Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card – $120
Acceptance
Don't forget about acceptance. While credit cards are widely accepted around the world, not all cards are treated equally. Make sure your preferred card will be accepted where you plan to use it.
Most importantly, remember that you can only use Mastercard at Costco warehouses.
As well, Loblaw-banner stores – like No Frills and Superstore – don't accept American Express.
Perks
Another huge draw to credit cards are the perks and benefits that come with them. This can include travel benefits and lifestyle perks.
Keep in mind, oftentimes, the more perks your credit card includes, the higher the annual fee. So you'll want to make sure you will be able to make use of those benefits.
Insurance
Insurance coverage is a big draw when it comes to credit cards. From cellphone insurance to warranty protection, and even travel insurance there are plenty of options.
As mentioned the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard has rare price protection, allowing you to submit a claim for the difference when the price of an item goes down.
All of the top 3 store cards also include purchase protection and $1,000 of mobile device coverage. This coverage can protect your valuable purchases against theft or damage.
Approval
The majority of credit cards have minimum income requirements to apply, so before you get too excited about a credit card opportunity, make sure you qualify and will be approved.
The SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express doesn't have any income requirements, so you'll just need to qualify by credit score.
The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card requires at least $100,000 in household income or $60,000 in personal income. The MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard has the highest income requirements. You'll need to make at least $150,000 in household income or $80,000 in personal income.
FAQ
What is the best retail store credit card?
The best retail store credit card depends on which store you're shopping with (see our list). Of the top 3 store cards, SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express gets you the highest rate on general spend, at 2%. However, the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard will get you 5% at grocery stores and Walmart Supercentres.
Which stores have their own credit cards?
Many top retailers partner with credit card issuers to offer co-branded credit cards. For instance, Tim Hortons, Costco, Walmart, Loblaws stores, Cineplex, and Home Depot all offer their own store-specific cards, tailored for dedicated shoppers. Always research store card alternatives before signing up. You might be able to get more out of another card.
What is the best grocery store credit card?
The American Express Cobalt Card is the best grocery store card in Canada, but the best card for you depends on where you shop. If you shop at Walmart, check out the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard. This card and the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card are also great for Loblaws. If you prefer Sobeys, check out a card that earns Scene+ points.
Does Costco have a store credit card?
Yes, CIBC offers the CIBC Costco Mastercard – but it's not actually our recommended card for frequent Costco shoppers. Instead, Costco lovers can enjoy better rewards and earn higher rates with the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard, which is a no-fee World Elite card. Most World Elite cards come with annual fees.
