It’s a common misconception that you can’t get a good credit card if you don’t make a lot. Fortunately, low-income earners have lots of choices when it comes to getting a credit card. Many of the cards on our list don’t even require income eligibility as long as you have a decent credit score.
Take a look at the best low income credit cards - you’ll find the right card for you, whether it comes with cash back, insurance, airline miles, or more.
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Best low income credit cards in Canada
Not all low income cards are created equal. Take a look at the following cards to get an idea of which card best suits your needs.
| Category | Credit card | Income requirement | Current offer | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for cash back | SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express | None | 10% cash back for the first 3 months + $50 (terms) | $119.88 |
| Best for rewards | American Express Cobalt Card | None |  $100 GeniusCash + Up to 15,000 bonus points (terms) | $191.88 |
| Best no fee | SimplyCash Card from American Express | None | 5% cash back for the first 3 months (terms) | $0 |
| Best for travel | MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard | none | $100 GeniusCash + 10,000 bonus points (terms) | $0 |
| Best cash back with no minimum income | Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card | $12,000 personal | $120 GeniusCash + 10% extra cash back for the first 2 months (terms) | $0 |
| Best for insurance | National Bank Platinum Mastercard | none | None | $70 |
| Best for airline rewards | WestJet RBC Mastercard | None | 15,000 WestJet points (terms) | $39 |
| Best prepaid | Wealthsimple Prepaid Mastercard | none | None | $0 |
| Best secured | Secured Tims Mastercard | none | $20 Tims digital gift card (terms) | $0 |
1. Best for cash back
Income requirement: None
Who says you can’t get a rewards card if you’ve got low income? The
Pros:
- 10% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,000 in spend. Plus, earn $50 when you make a purchase on month 13
- 4% cash back on gas and groceries
- 2% cash back on all other purchases
- 10 types of insurance included
Cons:
- Lower acceptance as an Amex
- Cash back only paid out once per year
2. Best for rewards
×8 Award winner 
GC: $100
8x Award winner Income requirement: None
One of the best examples of a premium credit card with no minimum income requirement is the
Pros:
- Best credit card in Canada
- Up to 15,000 welcome bonus points
- 4 ways to redeem points for high value
- American Express Cobalt Card types of insurance included
Cons:
- Lower acceptance as Amex
3. Best no fee
Income requirement: None
For no annual fee, the
Pros:
- 5% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,000 in spend
- 2% cash back on gas and groceries
- 1.25% cash back on all other purchases
- No annual fee
Cons:
- Lower acceptance as an Amex
- Limited insurance included
- Cash back only paid out once per year
4. Best for travel
Income requirement: None
If you want a no fee card that you can use for travel rewards, the
Pros:
- Up to 10,000 bonus points
- Up to 2 points per $1 spent on purchases
- 10% bonus points every year on your birthday
- No annual fee
Cons:
- Annual caps on bonus categories
5. Best cash back with no minimum income
×1 Award winner GC: $120
1x Award winner Income requirement: $12,000 personal
The number one cash back credit card with no minimum income requirement is the
This card allows you to 2 categories (3 if you have a Tangerine bank account) in which to earn 2% back – and you can change them as your spending habits change. Purchases outside of these categories will earn you 0.5% cash back.
Pros:
- Earn an extra 10% cash back for the first 2 months, up to $1,000 spent
- 2% cash back on up to 3 categories of your choice
- 1.95% interest on balance transfers for 6 months
- No annual fee
Cons:
- Only earns 0.5% cash back on non-category purchases
- Limited insurance included
6. Best for insurance
Income requirement: None
The
Pros:
- Up to 2 points per $1 spent on purchases
- Includes 10 types of insurance
Cons:
- Low monthly caps on bonus categories
- Poor base earn rate of 1 point per $1.50 spent
- No welcome bonus
7. Best for airline rewards
Income requirement: $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
If you’re searching for a low-income card that rewards you for airline travel, check out the
In addition to earning WestJet dollars on all your purchases, the card comes with money saving perks like an annual companion voucher for flights within Canada or to the U.S. operated by WestJet. Simply book one ticket for yourself, and bring someone else with you for a set fee of $199, plus any taxes and fees. This companion voucher can make for a cheap ticket. You’ll also save when filling up at Petro-Canada.
This tidy little package has a super low annual fee of $39.
Pros:
- Up to 100 bonus WestJet dollars
- 1.5% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet purchases
- Annual companion voucher for travel within Canada and to the Continental U.S. (starting at $199)
- Save 3 cents per litre on fuel at Petro-Canada
Cons:
- Only earns 1% back on all other purchases
- Companion voucher is expensive to use at $199
8. Best prepaid
Income requirement: None
If you have a low income and a low credit score, you might opt for a prepaid credit card instead. All prepaid cards have no income requirements and no credit checks. One of our favourite options is the
Pros:
- Earn up to 2.5% interest on your account balance
- No foreign exchange fees
- No annual fees
Cons:
- No insurance included
- No rewards on purchases
9. Best secured
Income requirement: None
We’ll finish our list with a secured card. The
Secured credit cards don’t require minimum income and are excellent if you have lower credit. You’ll need to provide a security deposit that becomes your credit limit. As you use your card and pay your bill on time, it will be reported to the credit bureaus to help improve your score.
Pros:
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent at Tim Hortons
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on groceries, gas, EV charging, and transit
- Earn 1 point per $4 spent everywhere else
- Redeem rewards for any menu item at Tim Hortons
- No annual fee
Cons:
- Points only worth 0.5 cents each
- Low base earn rate
What is a "low income"?
Income requirements typically correspond with the perks and benefits that credit cards offer. Premium credit cards tend to require at least $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income, while super-premium cards can require $150,000 or more.
Cards that have income requirements below that $60,000 mark would be considered appropriate for modest earners – and many Amex cards don’t have any income requirements.
What type of income do credit card issuers accept?
Issuers usually look for income from employment, but they’ll also accept the following income sources:
- Savings account interest
- Alimony
- Rental income
- Pension
- Government and unemployment benefits
Related: Can you get a credit card without a job?
Why do credit cards have income requirements?
Credit issuers want some assurance that borrowers can repay the money they borrow. If someone’s credit limit is dramatically higher than their income and they max out their card, they’ll probably struggle to pay off the debt. Add late fees and interest to the mix, and the debt can spiral out of control.
FAQ
What is the lowest income to get a credit card?
While some premium credit cards have personal income requirements of $60,000 per year and higher, there are a number of Canadian credit cards that have no income requirements at all.
Can I get a credit card without income proof?
You can get a credit card without proof of income if the credit card doesn’t have any income requirements. Credit card companies don’t typically ask you to send physical proof of your income but it’s always possible, so always be honest about your income when completing credit card applications.
Will a credit card company deny me if I lie about income?
Realistically, the credit card company may not know that you lied about your income – but lying on a credit card application is considered fraud and can absolutely result in your application being denied or an already-issued card being cancelled. If this happens, your credit score may take a hit and you may face legal consequences. It is never a good idea to lie about your income on your application.
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