Which credit card is right for me?
Answer six quick questions about how you spend, travel and pay your bill. We score every personal card in our data on your answers and show your three closest matches, with the reasons each one fits.
Free · No sign-up · Updated October 2026
What do you want most from a card?
How this calculator works
Your answers set the filters
Cards with an annual fee above your limit are left out. So are cards whose issuer suggests a credit score above the top of your range, using the Equifax Canada bands: Poor 300 to 559, Fair 560 to 659, Good 660 to 724, Very good 725 to 759 and Excellent 760 to 900. Choose “Not sure” and no card is filtered on score.
Business cards are left out, since the quiz is for personal cards.
Every card gets a dollar score
We estimate each card’s yearly rewards with the same earn rates, caps and point values as our rewards calculator, on about $2,000 a month of typical spending plus $500 a month in the category you spend most on. Foreign currency spending of $100 or $300 a month is added if you travel or shop in US dollars, and the card’s foreign transaction fee is charged on it. The annual fee is subtracted.
If you carry a balance, we subtract a year of interest at the card’s purchase rate on an assumed $1,000 (sometimes) or $3,000 (most months) balance. Rewards then count at three quarters (sometimes) or a quarter (most months) of their value, since interest eats into them. Picking “Lowest interest” is treated like carrying a balance most months. Building credit counts rewards at half weight.
Fit bonuses, in plain numbers
On top of that dollar score, a card gains 150 for cash back if you want cash back; 100 for earning points if you want travel, plus 40 each for lounge access and travel medical insurance; 150 for a purchase rate of 15% or less if you want low interest or carry a balance most months (50 if you carry one sometimes); 200 for a secured, student or guaranteed approval card if you want to build credit or your score is Poor or Fair, plus 50 for no annual fee; and 50 (often) or 20 (sometimes) for no foreign transaction fee.
The three highest totals are your matches. Ties go to the lower annual fee. The “why it matched” list shows the facts from each card’s data that your answers made relevant.
A starting point, not an approval
Welcome offers aren’t counted, since they change often and only apply in the first year. Point values for travel programs are our estimates, and issuers calculate interest daily, so real costs and rewards will differ.
Issuers decide approval using your full credit report, income and debts. Confirm rates and fees on the issuer’s site before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the right credit card in Canada?
Start with how you pay: if you carry a balance, a low interest rate matters more than rewards. If you pay in full, pick the reward you’ll use (cash back or travel points), check that the annual fee is covered by what you’d earn, and look at where you spend most. The quiz above runs through those steps with our card data.
What credit card should I get as my first card?
A no annual fee card with a modest credit score requirement is a common first card, and student or secured cards are built for people with little or no credit history. Paying the full balance on time every month is what builds your credit file. Choose “Build my credit” in the quiz to see cards made for that.
Is cash back or travel points better?
Cash back is simpler to value, since a dollar back is a dollar back. Points can be worth more when redeemed for flights or hotels, but their value depends on how you redeem them. If you rarely travel, cash back usually wins.
What credit score do I need for a credit card in Canada?
It depends on the card. In our data, most rewards cards suggest a score of 660 or 720 and up, while some no-fee, student and secured cards suggest 560 or 600 and up. Issuers also look at income and existing debt, so a suggested score isn’t a guarantee of approval.
Can I get a credit card with bad credit in Canada?
Usually, yes. Secured cards ask for a deposit that becomes your credit limit, and some cards are marketed as guaranteed approval. They tend to carry higher interest rates, so pay the balance in full each month while you rebuild.
Which credit card has no foreign transaction fee?
Most Canadian cards add a 2.5% fee on purchases in a foreign currency, but a handful skip it. Answer “Often” to the travel question and the quiz favours cards with no foreign transaction fee, or browse our list of cards with no FX fee.
Is an annual fee credit card worth it?
Only if the extra rewards and perks you’ll actually use are worth more than the fee. The quiz subtracts each card’s fee from its estimated yearly rewards, so a fee card only ranks well when it pays for itself on your spending.
What credit card should I get if I carry a balance?
A low interest card. On a $3,000 balance carried for a year, a 20.99% card costs about $630 in interest, while a 12.99% card costs about $390. That $240 gap is about what a 1% cash back card earns on $24,000 of spending a year.
Does applying for a credit card hurt my credit score?
An application usually triggers a hard inquiry, which can lower your score slightly for a while. Applying for several cards in a short period can have a bigger effect, so narrow your choice before you apply.
Results are estimates for general information, not financial advice. Confirm rates, fees and terms with your card issuer or bank. See our methodology.