Much of the focus on Rewards Canada surrounds credit cards as they are the easiest way for Canadians to earn loyalty points and miles. When it comes to spending your hard earned money via credit cards a lot of what we discuss revolves around the category bonuses awarded on those cards. Five times points this, three times points that but what about non-category bonus spending? Which cards stand out when it comes to your spending outside of things like groceries, gas, travel and other typical categories that are bonused?
That's the focus of this feature and hopefully it can help you out, especially if you are someone who has the majority of your card spending not falling into those accelerated categories.
Rewards Canada's picks for the best cards to maximize the value earned on everyday spending outside of non-category bonuses are as follows:
Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card
Non-Bonus Category spend earn rate: 2 Scene+ points per dollar
Revamped in 2022, the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card has become one of the best cards in Canada for Non-Bonus Category spending. This really holds true if airline and hotel loyalty programs like Aeroplan and Marrott Bonvoy aren't your thing.
The card earns 2 Scene+ points per dollar spent on all spending. A nice easy earn rate that isn't hard to keep track of. Those points can then be redeemed at the equivelant of 100 points to $1 for any travel, groceries at Scene+ grocery stores, dining at select restaurants, Home Hardware and with Cineplex.
That makes the card's 2 points earn rate the equivalent of a 2% return. On top of this the card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, so any purchases made outside of Canada (online or in person) will not be charged the 2.5% fee found on most cards and will still earn the 2 points per dollar.
Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card
Non-Bonus Category spend earn rate: 2 Marriott Bonvoy Points per dollar
This is the card that we here in the Rewards Canada family actually use the most for Non-Bonus Category spending. The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card earns 2 points per dollar spent on everyday non-category bonus spending. We value Bonvoy points at roughly 1 cent each. That means the return on spending is at least 2% - however the value tends to be higher. One of our most recent redemptions with Marriott saw a return of around 1.4 cents per point or a 2.8% return.
In the past we have written about pulling value out of the Marriott program and shown examples where you could redeem points with a value of over 3 cents each. That equate to a 6+% return on your everyday non-category bonus spending.
American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
Non-Bonus Category spend earn rate: 1.25 Aeroplan points per dollar
Again, you will have a varying return on these cards as it all depends on what you redeem your Aeroplan points for. But as a baseline I would use a value of 1.5 cents per mile for an Aeroplan point - which means these card's 1.25 points per dollar equates to no less than a 1.875% return.
Just like the others in this list that return can grow - and grow a lot. We have shown in multiple posts on our blog on how you can redeem for business class flights and enjoy a big return. From 2 cents per point to 5 cents and higher! At 5 cents per point the everyday non-category earn of 1.25 points on these cards equates to a 6.25% return!
- Click here to apply for the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
- Click here to apply for the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
- Click here to apply for the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card
Non-Bonus Category spend earn rate: 2.5% when redeemed for business or first class flights or 1.25 Avios per dollar
When you have the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card, it provides two times the value when you redeem your Avion points for business or first class flights booked with the any travel option via Avion Rewards. That means instead of 100 points providing $1 in value, you get $2 in value - and it includes redeeming the points towards the taxes and fees on those tickets. With a $2 value per 100 points and the card's flat earn rate of 1.25 points, it means you are receiving a 2.5% return on your card spending when you choose this option.
Or you can convert the points to Avios in British Airways Executive Club. With BAEC you have varying return on the card as again it all depends on what you redeem your Avios for. But as a baseline we use a value of 1.5 cents per Avios - which means this card's 1.25 Avios per dollar only equates to a 1.875% return. Again this is low but that return can grow. You can easiliy use Avios for a business class redemption with 2 cents to 5 cents or more in value! At 5 cents per Avios the everyday non-category earn of 1.25 Avios on these cards equates to a 6.25% return!
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
American Express Cobalt Card
American Express Gold Rewards Card
The Platinum Card from American Express
Non-Bonus Category spend earn rate: 1 Aeroplan point per dollar
Here again you will have a varying return on these cards as it all depends on what you redeem your Aeroplan points for. But as a baseline I would use a value of 1.5 cents per mile for an Aeroplan point - which means these card's 1 point per dollar only equates to a 1.5% return. That may seem low but that return can grow.
When you value the points for a business class redemption from 2 cents per point to 5 cents you can see how it grows! At 5 cents per point the everyday non-category earn of 1 point on these cards equates to a 5% return!
- Click here to apply for the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
- Click here to apply for the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
- Click here to apply for the American Express Cobalt Card
- Click here to apply for the American Express Gold Rewards Card
- Click here to apply for the The Platinum Card from American Express
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card
RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card
American Express Cobalt Card
American Express Gold Rewards Card
The Platinum Card from American Express
Non-Bonus Category spend earn rate: 1 Avios per dollar
With British Airways Executive Club you have varying return on these cards as again it all depends on what you redeem your Avios for. But as a baseline I would use a value of 1.5 cents per Avios - which means these card's 1 Avios per dollar only equates to a 1.5% return. Again this is low but that return can grow.
When you value the Avios for a business class redemptoin from 2 cents to 5 cents or more you see another great return valuation! At 5 cents per Avios the everyday non-category earn of 1 Avios on these cards equates to a 5% return!
- Click here to apply for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card
- Click here to apply for the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card
- Click here to apply for the American Express Cobalt Card
- Click here to apply for the American Express Gold Rewards Card
- Click here to apply for the The Platinum Card from American Express
Air France KLM World Elite MasterCard® powered by Brim Financial
Non-Bonus Category spend earn rate: 1 Flying Blue Mile per dollar
Once again you will have a varying return on these cards as it all depends on what you redeem your Flying Blue Miles for. But as a baseline I would use a value of 1.5 cents per mile for a Flying Blue Mile - which means this card's mile per dollar equates to no less than a 1.5% return.
Just like the others in this list that return can grow - and grow a lot. We have shown in multiple posts on our blog on how you can redeem for promo reward economy class flights with 2 to 3 cents or more in value and business class flights with 2 cents to 5 cents and higher! At 5 cents per point the everyday non-category earn of 1 mile per dollar on this cards equates to a 5% return!
American Express SimplyCash Preferred Card
Non-Bonus Category spend earn rate: 2% Cash Back
One of only two non-travel rewards cards on our list, is the top cash back card in Canada! The American Express SimplyCash Preferred Card provides a nice simple 2% back on all non-category bonus spending made on the card. This is perfect for those who aren't looking for travel rewards like all the cards above and for those looking for simplicity in calculating their rewards since it is 2% on each and every purchase.
Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard
Rogers Red Mastercard
Non-Bonus Category spend earn rate: 2% to 3% Cash Back
If you are a Rogers/Shaw/Fido customer this card provides an amazing 2% cash back on all spending, all with no annual fee. The return jumps even higher if you choose to redeem your cash back towards Rogers/Shaw/Fido services or product purchases. When you do, they will automatically boost your cash back by 50% which mearn you are receiving 3% cash back on your card spending.
- Click here to apply for the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard
- Click here to apply for the Rogers Red Mastercard
Wrapping it up
You'll notice that outside of the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card and the cash back cards, the rest of the cards don't include programs that are proprietary to the credit card issuers themselves. The reason why is the ability to redeem points and miles from airline and hotel programs for rewards that provide outsized value. Most proprietary credit card programs have a flat rate redemption and for most of them this means their everyday Non-Bonus Category spending equates to only a 1% to 1.5% return at tops.
Of course this Non-Bonus Category spending is only one part of the equation and you should take all of a card's earning and benefits into account when selecting one. However we hope this feature helps you out, especially if you are someone who puts most of your spending into those categories that aren't covered by various card's accelerated earn rates.
This feature was first posted on December 18, 2019 and is updated on a regular basis.