Boxing Day is one of the biggest retail events of the year. Right after Christmas is your chance to save big on a wide variety of retail items from many different stores.
To make the most of your rewards when shopping, you'll want a credit card that offers a high rate of return anywhere you shop. Most stores that have Boxing Day sales don't fall under common credit card categories.
Here are our top choices, with the SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express being our #1 choice.
Key Takeaways
- The best boxing day credit cards have a high base earn rate.
- The best boxing day credit card is the American Express SimplyCash Preferred.
- Other top cards include the Rogers World Elite Mastercard and RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard.
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What you want for a Boxing Day sales credit card
When it comes to picking out a credit card for Boxing Day (and/or Black Friday), you'll want a credit card that has a high base earn rate everywhere.
Think of the kinds of places where you'll get some Boxing Day sales – they typically don't belong to any traditional credit card category. Amazon, Best Buy, and Canadian Tire, for instance, don't fall under common credit card categories (unless you get a credit card designed for that retailer).
Best credit cards for Boxing Day sales
Here's our listing of the top 5 credit cards for shopping the sales on Boxing Day. We're also looking at cards with a guaranteed return. Many travel cards can offer more than this, but your value may vary when you go to actually redeem your points.
| Credit Card | Welcome Bonus | Earn Rates | Annual Fee, Income Requirements | Apply Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express | 10% cash back for the first 3 months + $50 (terms) | * 4% cash back on gas and groceries * 2% cash back on all other purchases | * $119.88 * None | Apply Now |
| Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard | None | * Earn 2% unlimited cash back on all eligible non-U.S. dollar purchases if you have 1 qualifying service with Rogers, Fido, Comwave, or Shaw * Earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on eligible non-U.S. dollar purchases * Earn 3% unlimited cash back on all eligible purchases made in U.S. dollars | * $0 * $80K personal/$150K household | Apply Now |
| RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard | None | * 1.5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent annually * 1% cash back after $25,000 spent annually | * $99 * $80K personal/$150K household | Apply Now |
| Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card |  $175 GeniusCash + Up to 60,000 80,000 bonus points (terms) | * 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent on all purchases | * $399 * None | Apply Now |
| WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard | 45,000 WestJet points (terms) | * 2 WestJet points per $1 spent on WestJet or WestJet Vacations purchases * 1.5 WestJet point per $1 spent on all other everyday purchases | * $119 * $80K personal/$150K household | Apply Now |
You can also use our compare cards page to fine tune your search and find a better credit card for you.
1. SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express
When it comes to earning high rewards everywhere, the SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express should be at the top of your list. You'll not only get high rewards everywhere, but it also offers a bonus on a couple of common categories.
Here's what you'll earn for cash back on all your purchases:
- 4% cash back on gas and groceries
- 2% cash back on all other purchases
That's a lot of cash back you can earn, just note you only get your rewards paid out once per year as a statement credit.
It also comes with 10 types of insurance and your usual Amex benefits, all for an annual fee of $119.88 that gets charged out as $9.99 per month.
A no fee SimplyCash card
There's also a no fee version of this card – the SimplyCash Card from American Express. The major changes are lower insurance and these earn rates:
- 2% cash back on gas
- 2% cash back on groceries (up to $300 cash back annually)
- 1.25% cash back on all other purchases
2. Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard
Even though it's a no fee card, the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard offers plenty of cash back everywhere you shop.
Here's what this card earns for rewards:
- Earn 2% unlimited cash back on all eligible non-U.S. dollar purchases if you have 1 qualifying service with Rogers, Fido, Comwave, or Shaw
- Earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on eligible non-U.S. dollar purchases
- Earn 3% unlimited cash back on all eligible purchases made in U.S. dollars
You can redeem your cash back anytime you like, towards any purchase that is greater than $10.
There is one major thing to keep in mind with this card – if you don't spend $15,000 annually you risk having your card downgraded.
A better card for Rogers customers
Have a Rogers service of some kind (this includes services from Fido or Shaw)? The Rogers Red Mastercard will actually offer you more rewards.
Here are the standard earn rates that everyone will get:
- Earn 2% unlimited cash back on all eligible non-U.S. dollar purchases if you have 1 qualifying service with Rogers, Fido, Comwave, or Shaw
- Earn 1% unlimited cash back on eligible non-U.S. dollar purchases
- Earn 2% unlimited cash back on all eligible purchases made in U.S. dollars
But as you can see, you'll get 2% everywhere if you simply have 1 Rogers service (this does not apply if your service is prepaid).
And there's more. Pay your Rogers service with your card, and when you redeem your cash back towards your bill, you'll get 50% bonus cash back, essentially getting you a 3% return on everything.
It also has no annual fee, and no annual spend requirement.
3. RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard
The RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard offers the same base earn rate as the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard but it comes without the minimum annual spend requirements.
You'll earn 1.5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent annually, 1% cash back after $25,000 spent annually. The tradeoff with this card? It has a $99 annual fee.
4. Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card
The Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card is a premium card, with a high earn rate everywhere and premium perks for a $399 annual fee.
The rewards are simple – 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent on all purchases. You can then redeem your Scene+ points at Sobeys, Safeway, Home Hardware, Cineplex, and travel for the same value of 1 cent per point, or a 2% return on everything.
It also comes with these outstanding features:
- no foreign exchange fees,
- 10 free airport lounge passes per year, and
- 12 types of insurance.
GC: $175
5. WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard
Our last card we'll review is the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard, which is the perfect credit card for anyone who flies with at least WestJet once per year.
To start, here's what you'll earn for WestJet Rewards on your purchases:
- 2 WestJet points per $1 spent on WestJet or WestJet Vacations purchases
- 1.5 WestJet point per $1 spent on all other everyday purchases
Your WestJet Dollars can be used not only on WestJet, but also with their partners like Delta, Air France, and KLM.
But there's much more to this card than just earning rewards. There are a pair of benefits when you fly with WestJet.
The first is the annual companion voucher. Book a flight for yourself and bring someone else with you for just the taxes and fees plus this set fee, which varies based on where you're going:
- $119 within Canada and to the Continental U.S., and
- $399 for the rest of the world.
The other is you'll get the first checked bag free for yourself and 8 others travelling on the same reservation with you.
The annual fee for all this is $119.
Comparing the best credit cards for Boxing Day sales
How do our 5 cards compare? Here's how they look in 3 key areas.
Rewards on boxing day sales
The rewards are probably the thing you're after most here. Here's the earn rate you'll get with each of these cards everywhere you shop.
You'll earn 1.5% back with the Mastercards, and 2% back with our 2 Amex cards.
Annual fees
Next up is the annual fee. And with our cards, we've got a range of them.
One card has no annual fee, while one is on the high end at $399.
Income requirements
The last one – what you'll need to have for income to be eligible for these cards.
Our 3 Mastercards have typical World Elite income requirements, while our 2 Amex cards have minimal requirements in this regard.
Your go-to credit card for Boxing Day sales
Those are our top choices – what are yours? What credit card do you go to for the big sales you want to take advantage of?
Mine is the Rogers Red Mastercard, where I can earn 3% cash back on those purchases.
Share yours in the comments below.
FAQ
What should you look for in a credit card for Boxing Day sales?
When it comes to credit cards for Boxing Day sales, you'll want a credit card that has a high base earn rate everywhere you shop.
What is the best credit card for Boxing Day sales?
The best credit card for boxing day sales is the SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express. It earns 2% cash back everywhere, while earning 4% cash back on a pair of popular credit card categories.
What are some top credit cards for Boxing Day sales?
Some top credit cards for Boxing Day sales include:
- SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express
- Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard
- RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard
- Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card
- WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard
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