Some people just aren't willing to budge on whether or not they want to pay an annual fee on a credit card. But always, it's worth considering a card since you can outearn the fee through the rewards and the perks that you take advantage of.
Not counting things like…
- sign-up bonuses,
- limited time offers,
- spending, and
- intangible perks like concierge service.
…we did a quick analysis of some cards that will easily earn you the annual fee back and more, making them always worth it to sign up for, even if you're a little fee-shy.
Let's see if we can convince some people to maximize their earnings and dive right in.
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Built-In Card Benefits | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Bank World Elite Mastercard | $150 | * Traveller reimbursements * Average savings: $250 * See rates & fees |
Apply |
| American Express Marriott Bonvoy | $120 | * Free night stay * Average savings: $339 * See rates & fees |
Apply |
| American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business | $150 | * Free night stay * Average savings: $339 * See rates & fees |
Apply |
| RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard | $119 | * Annual companion voucher * Average savings: $191 |
|
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite | $139 | * 6 free Priority Pass lounge passes * Average savings: $387 * See rates & fees |
Apply |
| BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard | $150 | * 4 free Mastercard lounge passes * Average savings: $170 * See rates & fees |
Apply |
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National Bank World Elite Mastercard – $150
I dislike unnecessary fees as much as the average person.
That’s why the
- airport parking (up to $100 per year),
- checked baggage fees (up to $100 per year), and
- seat selection (up to $50 per year).
All you have to do is charge the eligible expenses to your Mastercard and keep the receipt. You can then submit a claim to National Bank and get reimbursed up to the maximum amount.
And the perks don’t stop there:
As the primary cardholder, you and 1 guest will get access to the National Bank Lounge – located in the international departures area of Montreal-Trudeau airport.
Plus, get a comprehensive suite of insurance with 10 different types of purchase and travel coverages.
For rewards, you’ll be earning:
- 1.5 points per dollar spent on the first $40,000 in purchases,
- 2 points per dollar spent after the first $40,000 for up to $80,000 in purchases,
- 1.5 points per dollar spent on everything after that, and
- a bonus 1.5 points per $1 spent on flights and vacation packages booked through the À La Carte Rewards Travel Agency.
Get the details here:
Related: 3 National Bank Travel Mastercards Reviewed & Compared
American Express Marriott Bonvoy credit cards
Although the rebranding of the new Marriott credit cards might not tickle everyone’s fancy (have you been Bonvoyed?), whether you love it or hate it, they’re still the best hotel rewards credit cards in Canada – and here’s why.
Related: How To Maximize The Marriott Bonvoy Rewards Program
American Express Marriott Bonvoy – $120
The
This free night stay can be used for a free night valued at 35,000 points. We value a Marriott point at 0.97 cents when redeemed for hotels, giving this free night stay worth up to $339.
That alone is enough to make it worth keeping in your wallet.
And that’s not all. You’ll be able to enjoy:
- 15 elite night credits every calendar year and
- automatic Marriott Bonvoy Preferred Silver Elite status, which gets upgraded to Preferred Gold status when you spend $30,000 on the card annually.
You’ll earn rewards at the following rate:
- 2 points per $1 spent and
- 5 points per $1 spent at Marriott locations.
For more details, click here:
American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business – $150
Even with its slightly higher annual fee, the free night stay offered by the
On top of that, you’ll get:
- 15 elite night credits every calendar year,
- automatic Marriott Bonvoy Preferred Silver Elite status, which gets upgraded to Preferred Gold status when you spend $30,000 on the card annually, and
- dedicated customer service from specially trained Small Business service specialists.
For your business purchases, you’ll be able to earn rewards at the following rates:
- 2 points per $1 spent.
- 3 points per $1 spent on gas, dining, and travel, and
- 5 points per $1 spent at SPG and Marriott locations.
Get more details here:
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite – $139
Aside from the fact that the
With each visit being worth $32 USD and the Standard membership coming in at $99 USD, that’s a total of $387 CAD in savings.
Plus, earn Scene+ points on all your spending:
- 1 point per dollar spent and
- 2 points per dollar spent on groceries, restaurants, entertainment, and daily transit.
As a Visa Infinite card, you’ll also have access to Visa Infinite perks like:
- Visa Luxury Hotel Collection,
- Visa Infinite Dining Series,
- complimentary concierge service,
- Visa Infinite Wine Country Program,
- and more.
Get all the details here:
GC: $100
$100 GeniusCash + Up to 45k bonus Scene+ points in year 1 + 6 free airport lounge passes.*
RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard – $119
The
Here’s what you’ll be charged to use the voucher:
- $99 + fees & taxes for flights within Canada and the Continental U.S.
- $299 + fees & taxes for flights to Hawaii, Mexico, and Central America.
- $399 + fees & taxes for flights to the rest of the WestJet network.
Based on our flight research, you’re looking at an average savings of $131.
As for points, you’ll get rewarded via the WestJet Rewards program:
- 1.5% WestJet dollars on all purchases.
- 2% in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages.
Plus, as the primary cardholder, you’ll get one free checked bag for every person flying on the same itinerary, up to a maximum of 8 bags. Just taking advantage of one free checked bag per year will save you an additional $60.
Related: WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard: Deep Dive Review
BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard – $150
The
With this card, you’ll get 4 free passes to Mastercard lounges each year.
And with each visit being worth $32 USD, that makes this card worth its annual fee.
For rewards, you’ll earn:
- 5 points per $1 spent on travel
- 3 points per $1 spent on dining, entertainment, and recurring bills
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
And if you value insurance, you’re in luck. You’ll be getting 14 out of
BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®* Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.Extended Warranty 1 year Purchase Protection 90 days Travel Accident $500,000 Emergency Medical Term 21 days Emergency Medical Maximum Coverage $5,000,000 Trip Cancellation $1,500 Trip Interruption $2,000 Flight Delay $500 Baggage Delay $500 Lost or Stolen Baggage $500 Personal Effects $750 Hotel Burglary $1,000 Rental Car Theft & Damage Yes Rental Car Accident $200,000 Rental Car Personal Effects $1,000
Click here for more details:
GC: $125
And there you have it
Since my picks are all travel credit cards, these will only be of good value to you if you travel at least once per year.
That being said, I think anyone deserves a good get-away once in a while…and having one of these credit cards could be the perfect excuse to stretch out your legs and explore the world.
Let us know what you think
Did I forget your favourite credit card?
Do you think you would be able to get enough value out of the cards mentioned to justify their annual fees?
Let me know what you think in the comments below.
creditcardGenius is the only tool that compares 126+ features of 227 Canadian credit cards using math-based ratings and rankings that respond to your needs, instantly. Take our quiz and see which of Canada's 227 cards is for you.
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