Rewards Breakdown

• 1 Aventura point per $1 on grocery purchases (up to $6,000/year combined with gas, EV and drug stores).

• 1 Aventura point per $1 on gas and EV charging.

• 1 Aventura point per $1 at drug stores.

• 1 Aventura point per $1 on travel booked through the CIBC Rewards Centre.

• 1 Aventura point per $2 on all other purchases (0.5 points per $1).

Earning Rates:

• 1x Aventura point on groceries (up to $6,000/yr combined cap)

• 1x Aventura point on gas & EV charging

• 1x Aventura point at drug stores

• 1x Aventura point on CIBC Rewards Centre travel bookings

• 1pt per $2 on everything else (0.5x)

1 Aventura point » 1 cent (up to 2.28 cents on long-haul flights) · Redeem for: Any Airline · Hotels · Airbnb · Car Rentals ·

Trains · Gift Cards · Statement Credits

Welcome Bonus:

• Welcome Bonus: 12,500 Aventura points total

• 2,500 points for completing 5 eligible activities within 60 days

• 10,000 points after spending $1,000 within the first 4 monthly statements

• Welcome bonus cash value: ~$125 (at 1¢/pt) — up to ~$285 on long-haul flights

Annual Value:

• Ongoing annual rewards value: ~$100/year

• Welcome bonus cash value: ~$125

• Total first-year value: ~$225

Additional Perks:

• No annual fee

• Aventura points never expire while the account is open

• Book travel with any airline or provider — no restrictions unlike airline-locked programs

• $0 international money transfer fees to 120+ countries — standout perk for international students

• Save up to 10¢/litre at Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron via Journie Rewards

• Free SPC+ membership + 12-month Skip+ free trial included

Criteria

• Personal/Household Income: NA (no high income required)

• Credit Score: Fair/Good — typical for entry-level cards

• Canadian Resident

• Age of Majority in province

• International students eligible — $0 international money transfer fees to 120+ countries

Interest Rates & Fees:

• Annual Fee: $0

• Purchase Interest Rate: 20.99%

• Cash Advance Rate: 22.99%

• Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.5%

Why It’s Best for Flexible Travel & International Students

Unlike airline-locked programs, Aventura points can cover Airbnbs, trains, rental cars and any flight — giving

students total booking freedom. The $0 international money transfer fee to over 120 countries is a standout

benefit no other card on this list offers, making it the top pick for international students who regularly send money

home.

Rewards Breakdown

• 1 Aeroplan point per $1 on grocery purchases.

• 1 Aeroplan point per $1 on gas and EV charging.

• 1 Aeroplan point per $1 on Air Canada purchases.

• 1 Aeroplan point per $1.50 on all other purchases (0.67 points per $1).

Earning Rates:

• 1x Aeroplan point on groceries

• 1x Aeroplan point on gas & EV charging

• 1x Aeroplan point on Air Canada purchases

• 1pt per $1.50 on everything else (0.67x)

1 Aeroplan point » 1.5–2.1 cents when redeemed for Air Canada flights · Earn points twice at 150+ Aeroplan partner brands

(Loblaws, Esso, Starbucks and more)

Welcome Bonus:

• Welcome Bonus: 10,000 Aeroplan points total

• 2,500 points on first purchase

• 2,500 points after $1,500 spend within 4 months

• 5,000 anniversary bonus points (after $10,000 spend in year 1)

• Welcome bonus cash value: ~$175 (at avg. 1.75¢/pt for flights)

Annual Value:

• Ongoing annual rewards value: ~$120/year

• Welcome bonus cash value: ~$175

• Total first-year value: ~$295

Additional Perks:

• No annual fee

• Aeroplan points never expire while the card is active

• Earn points twice at 150+ Aeroplan partner brands and 170+ online via Aeroplan eStore

• Redeem for Air Canada flights and Star Alliance network (1,300+ destinations worldwide)

• Free SPC+ membership — 30% off 450+ brands including clothing, tech and food

• 12-month Skip+ free trial included

• International students eligible to apply online with SIN

Criteria

• Personal/Household Income: NA (no high income required)

• Credit Score: Fair/Good — typical for entry-level cards

• Canadian Resident

• Age of Majority in province

• International students eligible — can apply online with SIN

Interest Rates & Fees:

• Annual Fee: $0

• Purchase Interest Rate: 20.99%

• Cash Advance Rate: 22.99%

• Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.5%

Why It’s Best for Air Canada Travel

Students who fly home for the holidays or want to build towards free flights will find Aeroplan points among the

most valuable in Canada — worth up to 2.1 cents each on Air Canada redemptions. The welcome bonus alone

can cover a short-haul domestic flight, and points never expire, making this a long-term card worth holding after

graduation.

Rewards Breakdown

• 2 Scene+ points per $1 at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, FreshCo, Foodland, Co-op and more.

• 2 Scene+ points per $1 at Cineplex theatres and cineplex.com.

• 2 Scene+ points per $1 at Home Hardware stores.

• 1 Scene+ point per $1 on all other purchases.

Earning Rates:

• 2x Scene+ points on groceries (Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, FreshCo, Foodland, Co-op)

• 2x Scene+ points at Cineplex theatres and cineplex.com

• 2x Scene+ points at Home Hardware

• 1x Scene+ point on everything else

1 Scene+ point = $0.01 (1 cent) · Redeem for: Movies · Groceries · Travel · Dining · Statement Credits · Banking

Welcome Bonus:

• Welcome Bonus: 10,000 Scene+ points

• Spend $1,000 in the first 3 months to earn bonus

• Welcome bonus cash value: $100 (at 1¢ per point)

• Offer valid January 2 – July 1, 2026

Annual Value:

• Ongoing annual rewards value: ~$160/year

• Welcome bonus cash value: $100

• Total first-year value: ~$260

Additional Perks:

• No annual fee

• Scene+ points redeemable for groceries, travel, movies, dining and statement credits

• Points valid for 24 months of account activity

• Up to 25% off base rates at AVIS and Budget car rentals (Canada and US)

• 10% off GigSky international data plans — ideal for studying abroad

• No additional cardholder fee — add a family member at no cost

• Bundle with Scotiabank student banking account for additional value

Criteria

• Personal/Household Income: NA (no high income required)

• Credit Score: Fair/Good — typical for entry-level cards

• Canadian Resident

• Age of Majority in province

Interest Rates & Fees:

• Annual Fee: $0

• Purchase Interest Rate: 20.99% (rising to 21.99% from April 2026 statement)

• Cash Advance Rate: 22.99%

• Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.5%

Why It’s Best for Entertainment & Groceries

Students who shop at Sobeys, Safeway or IGA and regularly attend Cineplex will earn points faster than on most

no-fee cards. Scene+ points are unusually versatile — redeemable for groceries and travel, not just movies.

Bundling with a Scotiabank student bank account can unlock significant additional value in the first year.

#4

Rewards Breakdown

• 2% cash back on any 2 categories of your choice — no cap, unlimited earning.

• 2% cash back on a 3rd category when rewards are deposited to a Tangerine Savings Account.

• 0.5% cash back on all other purchases — unlimited.

Earning Rates:

• 2% cash back on chosen category 1 (unlimited, no cap)

• 2% cash back on chosen category 2 (unlimited, no cap)

• 2% cash back on chosen category 3 — with Tangerine Savings Account (unlimited, no cap)

• 0.5% cash back on all other purchases (unlimited)

Choose from: Groceries · Gas · Restaurants · Recurring Bills · Drug Stores · Entertainment · Home Improvement · Furniture

· Hotels · Transit & Parking · Categories can be changed every 90 days

Welcome Bonus:

• Welcome Bonus: 10% cash back on first $1,000 in purchases within the first 2 months

• Maximum welcome bonus cash value: $100

• Offer valid until April 30, 2026

Annual Value:

• Ongoing annual rewards value: ~$200/year

• Welcome bonus cash value: $100

• Total first-year value: ~$300

Additional Perks:

• No annual fee

• Cash back paid out monthly — no year-end lock-in

• Redeem as monthly statement credit or deposit to Tangerine Savings Account

• Change your 2% categories every 90 days — adapts to changing student spending

• No cap on total cash back earned — ideal for higher spenders

• Purchase assurance + extended warranty included

Criteria

• Personal/Household Income: NA (no high income required)

• Credit Score: Fair/Good — typical for entry-level cards

• Canadian Resident

• Age of Majority in province

Interest Rates and Fees

• Annual Fee: $0

• Purchase Interest Rate: 20.95%

• Cash Advance Rate: 22.95%

• Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.5%

Why It’s Best for Flexible Cash Back

No other no-fee card in Canada lets you pick and rotate your own bonus categories. Students whose biggest

spend isn’t groceries — or whose spending shifts between semesters — will consistently earn more here than on

a fixed-category card. No earning caps mean heavy spenders are especially rewarded.

Rewards Breakdown

• 3% cash back on grocery purchases.

• 1% cash back on recurring bill payments (e.g., subscriptions, phone plans).

• 0.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Earning Rates:

• 3% cash back on groceries (up to $500/month)

• 1% cash back on recurring bill payments (up to $500/month)

• 0.5% cash back on all other purchases (unlimited, no cap)

3% and 1% rates capped at $500/month per category · 0.5% unlimited

Welcome Bonus:

• Welcome Bonus: 5% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months

• Maximum spend eligible: $2,500

• Maximum welcome bonus cash value: $125

Annual Value:

• Ongoing annual rewards value: ~$180/year

• Welcome bonus cash value: $125

• Total first-year value: ~$305

Additional Perks:

• No annual fee

• Cash back never expires and can be redeemed anytime (minimum $1)

• Redeem as statement credit, BMO savings deposit, or into BMO InvestorLine

• 90-day purchase protection on eligible purchases

• Extended warranty — doubles manufacturer warranty up to 1 year

• 3 months free Instacart+ membership + $5/month Instacart credit (upon enrolment)

• Car rental discounts at National, Alamo and Enterprise worldwide

Criteria

• Personal/Household Income: NA (no high income required)

• Credit Score: Fair/Good — typical for entry-level cards

• Canadian Resident

• Age of Majority in province

• Enrolled in a Canadian post-secondary institution (international students with SIN eligible)

Interest Rates & Fees:

• Annual Fee: $0

• Purchase Interest Rate: 20.99%

• Cash Advance Rate: 21.99%

• Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.5%

Why It’s Best Overall for Students

It pairs the highest grocery cash back rate (3%) of any no-fee student card in Canada with completely flexible

anytime redemption — no waiting until year-end. No income requirement and a low credit score bar make it

accessible to virtually every student, including those just starting their Canadian credit history.