The top credit cards for everyday non-bonused category spending
Last Updated on February 15, 2023
Much of the focus on Rewards Canada is about credit cards as they are the easiest way to earn loyalty points and miles in Canada. When it comes to spending your hard earned money via credit cards most 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 does have a lot of spend on your card(s) that don't fall into those 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-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-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 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-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-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 0.7 to 1 cent each. That means the return on spending is as high as 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 for a value of 1.6 to over 4 cents each. Those amounts equate to a 3.2% to 8+% return on your everyday non-category bonus spending.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
Non-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 miles for. But as a baseline I would use a value of 1.5 cents per mile for an Aeroplan mile - 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 2.6 cents per point to 5.8 points and higher! At 5.8 cents per points the everyday non-category earn of 1.25 miles on these cards equates to a 7.25% return!
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card
Non-Category spend earn rate: 1.25 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 1.25 Avios per dollar only equates to a 1.875% return. Again this is low but that return can grow. When you value the Avios for a business class redemption 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 1.25 Avios on these cards equates to a 6.25% return!
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
American Express Gold Rewards Card
The Platinum Card from American Express
Non-Category spend earn rate: 1 Aeroplan point per dollar
Again you will have a varying return on these cards as it all depends on what you redeem your Aeroplan miles 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 redemptoin from 2.6 cents per point to 5.8 cents you can see how it grows! At 5.8 cents per point the everyday non-category earn of 1 point on these cards equates to a 5.8% return!
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card
RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card
American Express Gold Rewards Card
The Platinum Card from American Express
Non-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!
American Express SimplyCash Preferred Card
Non-Category spend earn rate: 2% Cash Back
The only non travel rewards card in our list is one of the top cash back cards 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.
Wrapping it up
You'll notice that outside of the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card, all 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 credit card proprietary programs have a flat rate redemption and most for most of them this means their everyday non-category spending only equates to a 1% to 1.5% return at tops. Of course this non-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.