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How much can a new credit card pay you in the first year?
Ranked by what each card's welcome offer is worth in year one, in Canadian dollars, after the annual fee. Up to $1,736 for the top card. 32 cards clear our $250 bar.
How we count
Year-one value = welcome-offer points × the value per point below + statement credits + the extra cash back FinlyWealth pays through our link − the first-year annual fee (zero when the issuer waives it). Cash back cards use the issuer's own estimate of the offer.
We count generously: it assumes you meet every spending tier, and on some cards part of the bonus posts after month 12. Check each offer's spending requirement — if you can't reach it with normal spending, the value is lower. Rent, property tax and other bills can help: paying bills by credit card costs about 1.5%–2.5%.
Why $250? Every application means a hard credit check. Below about $250, the welcome offer is rarely worth that.
Ranking — 32 cards
| # | Card | Welcome offer | Year-one value | How we got there | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  American Express | Earn up to 120,000 bonus Membership Rewards® points | $1,736 | 120,000 Amex Membership Rewards × 1.8¢ = $2,160 + $200 travel credit + $175 extra cash back − $799 annual fee | Apply → |
| 2 | Get up to 100,000 Avion points | $1,401 | 100,000 RBC Avion × 1.8¢ = $1,800 − $399 annual fee | Apply → | |
| 3 | Up to $3,300 in value including up to 100,000 Aeroplan points could be yours. Conditions Apply. | $1,401 | 100,000 Aeroplan × 2¢ = $2,000 − $599 annual fee | Apply → | |
| 4 |  American Express | Earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards® points | $1,351 | 100,000 Amex Membership Rewards × 1.8¢ = $1,800 + $200 travel credit + $150 extra cash back − $799 annual fee | Apply → |
| 5 |  American Express | Earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan points. | $1,251 | 85,000 Aeroplan × 2¢ = $1,700 + $150 extra cash back − $599 annual fee | Apply → |
| 6 |  American Express | Earn up to 90,000 Aeroplan® points | $1,201 | 90,000 Aeroplan × 2¢ = $1,800 − $599 annual fee | Apply → |
| 7 | Get up to 70,000 Avion points | $1,140 | 70,000 RBC Avion × 1.8¢ = $1,260 − $120 annual fee | Apply → | |
| 8 | Get up to $2,700 in value including up to 200,000 points, 10 lounge passes and a $200 annual Travel Credit. Plus, enjoy no foreign transaction fees and more. | $1,101 | 200,000 BMO Rewards × 0.7¢ = $1,400 + $200 travel credit + $100 extra cash back − $599 annual fee | Apply → | |
| 9 |  American Express | Earn a welcome bonus of up to 70,000 Membership Rewards® points in your first year | $1,061 | 70,000 Amex Membership Rewards × 1.8¢ = $1,260 − $199 annual fee | Apply → |
| 10 |  American Express | Earn up to 70,000 Hilton Honors™ Points and a Free Night Reward | $1,040 | 70,000 Hilton Honors × 0.5¢ = $350 + free night (≈ US$600) − $150 annual fee | Apply → |
| 11 | Up to $1,550 in value including up to 50,000 Aeroplan points and a first-year Annual Fee rebate. | $1,000 | 50,000 Aeroplan × 2¢ = $1,000 · first-year fee waived | Apply → | |
| 12 |  American Express | Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points | $930 | 60,000 Amex Membership Rewards × 1.8¢ = $1,080 + $100 travel credit − $250 annual fee | Apply → |
| 13 | Get up to $1,900 in value including up to 115,000 points. Plus, get a 0% introductory interest rate on Balance transfers for 12 months. | $925 | 115,000 BMO Rewards × 0.7¢ = $805 + $120 extra cash back · first-year fee waived | Apply → | |
| 14 | Earn up to $1,400 in value, including up to 160,000 TD Rewards Points and receive an Annual Fee rebate for the first year. | $850 | 160,000 TD Rewards × 0.5¢ = $800 + $50 extra cash back · first-year fee waived | Apply → | |
| 15 | Get up to 70,000 VIPorter points and a round-trip companion pass. Plus receive $1,000 in Qualifying Spend. | $825 | 70,000 VIPorter × 1¢ = $700 + $125 extra cash back · first-year fee waived | Apply → | |
| 16 | Get up to 100,000 WestJet points - up to $1,000 in travel value | $825 | 100,000 WestJet points × 1¢ = $1,000 − $175 annual fee | Apply → | |
| 17 |  American Express | Earn up to 45,000 Aeroplan points | $780 | 45,000 Aeroplan × 2¢ = $900 − $120 annual fee | Apply → |
| 18 | Get up to $1,200 in value including up to 80,000 Bonus points, monthly streaming statement credit, $50 statement credit, and no annual fee in your first year. | $760 | 80,000 BMO Rewards × 0.7¢ = $560 + $200 extra cash back · first-year fee waived | Apply → | |
| 19 | Get up to 70,000 WestJet points | $701 | 70,000 WestJet points × 1¢ = $700 + $140 extra cash back − $139 annual fee | Apply → | |
| 20 |  Scotiabank | Earn up to $1,100 in welcome offers, first year rewards and savings value, including up to 65,000 bonus Scene+ points. | $680 | 65,000 Scene+ × 1¢ = $650 + $150 extra cash back − $120 annual fee | Apply → |
| 21 | Get up to $650 in value | $631 | $650 offer value (issuer's estimate) − $139 fee waiver already in that estimate + $120 extra cash back | Apply → | |
| 22 | Earn up to $2,800 in value in the first 14 months, including up to 80,000 bonus Scene+ points. | $576 | 80,000 Scene+ × 1¢ = $800 + $175 extra cash back − $399 annual fee | Apply → | |
| 23 | Earn up to $600 in total value including an Annual Fee rebate for the first year. Conditions apply. | $511 | $600 offer value (issuer's estimate) − $139 fee waiver already in that estimate + $50 extra cash back | Apply → | |
| 24 | Get up to 40,000 VIPorter points and a 35% off flight voucher. | $500 | 40,000 VIPorter × 1¢ = $400 + $100 extra cash back · first-year fee waived | Apply → | |
| 25 |  American Express | Earn up to 80,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy® points | $490 | 80,000 Marriott Bonvoy × 0.8¢ = $640 − $150 annual fee | Apply → |
| 26 |  Neo Financial | Get up to 25,000 MileagePlus miles | $436 | 25,000 United MileagePlus × 1.6¢ = $400 + $125 extra cash back − $89 annual fee | Apply → |
| 27 | Up to $500 in value, including up to 20,000 Aeroplan points | $400 | 20,000 Aeroplan × 2¢ = $400 · first-year fee waived | Apply → | |
| 28 | Earn up to 80,000 bonus Scene+ points within your first 14 months. | $376 | 80,000 Scene+ × 1¢ = $800 + $175 extra cash back − $599 annual fee | Apply → | |
| 29 |  Scotiabank | — | $350 | 35,000 Scene+ × 1¢ = $350 + $150 extra cash back − $150 annual fee | Apply → |
| 30 | Get up to 25,000 MileagePlus miles | $311 | 25,000 United MileagePlus × 1.6¢ = $400 − $89 annual fee | Apply → | |
| 31 |  National Bank | Earn up to 35,000 rewards points upon enrollment + win one of five $10,000 À la Carte Travel gift certificates | $300 | 35,000 National Bank à la carte × 1¢ = $350 + $100 extra cash back − $150 annual fee | Apply → |
| 32 | Earn up to $370 in value, including up to 50,000 TD Rewards Points and receive an Annual Fee rebate for the first year. Conditions apply. | $250 | 50,000 TD Rewards × 0.5¢ = $250 · first-year fee waived | Apply → |
Want every card, including the ones under $250? Compare all 92 cards.
Offer data from FinlyWealth, updated 2026-11-08. Point values are our own estimates for flights and hotels booked with points; you may get more or less. Offers change often — confirm the current terms on the issuer's site before applying. crediteasy.ca is independent and does not provide financial advice.