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Ranking · Updated May 2026

Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit in Canada

Rebuild your credit with cards designed for low scores or no credit history. Secured options, low-fee picks, and credit-builder cards available in Canada.

166
cards
Best for: Overall value
Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Business Platinum Card® from American Express

American Express Canada · American Express Canada · American Express Membership Rewards

4.8Ratesopedia rating

It comes with a welcome bonus of 120,000 points. You earn 1.25x on groceries and 1.25x at restaurants. Estimated first-year value is $2,351.

Best of Month

Annual Fee

$799

Rewards rate

1.25x

American Express Membership Rewards

Welcome Bonus

120,000 points

1st Year Value

$2,351

Pros

  • Welcome bonus of 120,000 points
  • Estimated 1st-year value of $2,351

Cons

  • High annual fee ($799)
Best for: Aeroplan travel
CIBC® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card
CIBC® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

CIBC · Visa · Aeroplan

5.0Ratesopedia rating

It comes with a welcome bonus of 100,000 points. You earn 1.5x on groceries and 1.25x at restaurants. Estimated first-year value is $2,283.

Annual Fee

$599

Rewards rate

1.25x

Aeroplan

Welcome Bonus

100,000 points

1st Year Value

$2,283

Pros

  • Welcome bonus of 100,000 points
  • Estimated 1st-year value of $2,283

Cons

  • High annual fee ($599)
  • Requires good credit
Best for: Aeroplan travel
American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card
American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card

American Express Canada · American Express Canada · Aeroplan

5.0Ratesopedia rating

It comes with a welcome bonus of 90,000 points. You earn 1.25x on groceries and 1.25x at restaurants. Estimated first-year value is $2,226.

Best of Month

Annual Fee

$599

Rewards rate

1.25x

Aeroplan

Welcome Bonus

90,000 points

1st Year Value

$2,226

Pros

  • Welcome bonus of 90,000 points
  • Estimated 1st-year value of $2,226

Cons

  • High annual fee ($599)
Best for: Aeroplan travel
CIBC Aeroplan® Visa* Business Card
CIBC Aeroplan® Visa* Business Card

CIBC · Visa · Aeroplan

5.0Ratesopedia rating

The CIBC Aeroplan® Visa* Business Card offers the first year free (regular fee $180/yr). It comes with a welcome bonus of 75,000 points. You earn 1x on groceries and 1.5x at restaurants. Estimated first-year value is $2,215.

1st Year Free

Annual Fee

$180 $0

Rewards rate

1x

Aeroplan

Welcome Bonus

75,000 points

1st Year Value

$2,215

Pros

  • First year free
  • Welcome bonus of 75,000 points
  • Estimated 1st-year value of $2,215

Cons

  • High annual fee ($180)
  • Requires good credit
Best for: Overall value
American Express Platinum Card®
American Express Platinum Card®

American Express Canada · American Express Canada · American Express Membership Rewards

4.8Ratesopedia rating

It comes with a welcome bonus of 100,000 points. You earn 1x on groceries and 2x at restaurants. Estimated first-year value is $2,170.

Best of Month

Annual Fee

$799

Rewards rate

1x

American Express Membership Rewards

Welcome Bonus

100,000 points

1st Year Value

$2,170

Pros

  • Welcome bonus of 100,000 points
  • 2x at restaurants
  • Estimated 1st-year value of $2,170

Cons

  • High annual fee ($799)
Best for: Aeroplan travel
TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card
TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card

TD Canada Trust · Visa · Aeroplan

5.0Ratesopedia rating

It comes with a welcome bonus of 85,000 points. You earn 1.5x on groceries and 1.5x at restaurants. Estimated first-year value is $2,161.

Best of Month

Annual Fee

$599

Rewards rate

1.25x

Aeroplan

Welcome Bonus

85,000 points

1st Year Value

$2,161

Pros

  • Welcome bonus of 85,000 points
  • Estimated 1st-year value of $2,161

Cons

  • High annual fee ($599)
  • Requires good credit
Best for: Aeroplan travel
American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card

American Express Canada · American Express Canada · Aeroplan

5.0Ratesopedia rating

It comes with a welcome bonus of 85,000 points. You earn 1.25x on groceries and 2x at restaurants. Estimated first-year value is $2,130.

Best of Month

Annual Fee

$599

Rewards rate

1.25x

Aeroplan

Welcome Bonus

85,000 points

1st Year Value

$2,130

Pros

  • Welcome bonus of 85,000 points
  • 2x at restaurants
  • Estimated 1st-year value of $2,130

Cons

  • High annual fee ($599)
Best for: First year free
BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®*
BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®*

Bank of Montreal · Mastercard · VIPorter

5.0Ratesopedia rating

The BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®* offers the first year free (regular fee $199/yr). It comes with a welcome bonus of 70,000 points. You earn 2x on groceries and 2x at restaurants. Estimated first-year value is $1,764.

1st Year Free

Annual Fee

$199 $0

Rewards rate

1x

VIPorter

Welcome Bonus

70,000 points

1st Year Value

$1,764

Pros

  • First year free
  • Welcome bonus of 70,000 points
  • 2x on groceries
  • 2x at restaurants

Cons

  • High annual fee ($199)
  • Requires good credit
Best for: Overall value
BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card
BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

Bank of Montreal · Visa · Bmo Rewards

4.8Ratesopedia rating

It comes with a welcome bonus of 200,000 points. You earn 5x on groceries and 5x at restaurants. Estimated first-year value is $1,655.

Best of Month

Annual Fee

$599

Rewards rate

1x

Bmo Rewards

Welcome Bonus

200,000 points

1st Year Value

$1,655

Pros

  • Welcome bonus of 200,000 points
  • 5x on groceries
  • 5x at restaurants
  • Estimated 1st-year value of $1,655

Cons

  • High annual fee ($599)
  • Requires good credit
Best for: First year free
TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card
TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card

TD · Visa · TD Rewards

5.0Ratesopedia rating

The TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card offers the first year free (regular fee $139/yr). It comes with a welcome bonus of 165,000 points. You earn 6x on groceries and 6x at restaurants. Estimated first-year value is $1,634.

Best of Month1st Year Free

Annual Fee

$139 $0

Rewards rate

2x

TD Rewards

Welcome Bonus

165,000 points

1st Year Value

$1,634

Pros

  • First year free
  • Welcome bonus of 165,000 points
  • 6x on groceries
  • 6x at restaurants

Cons

  • Requires good credit

Complete Guide

Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit in Canada

Rebuild your credit with cards designed for low scores or no credit history. Secured options, low-fee picks, and credit-builder cards available in Canada.

If your credit score is below 600 — or you’ve never had credit at all — your best path forward is a card built for credit-builders, not a premium rewards card you’ll get rejected for. Secured cards, no-fee starter cards, and reporting-focused fintech cards all qualify.

What Makes a Good Card for Bad Credit

The card should report to both Equifax and TransUnion, charge a low or no annual fee, and offer a clear path to graduate to a regular card after 6–12 months of on-time payments. Avoid cards that disguise high fees as "credit-building" — predatory subprime cards are common.

166

Cards analyzed

May 2026

Last updated

100%

Independent

Methodology

Our team evaluates credit cards based on overall consumer value: rewards earning rates, annual fees, welcome bonuses, insurance coverage, and additional perks. Cards are ranked by estimated first-year value. We update our picks monthly.

📊Real data
🔄Updated regularly
⚖️Unbiased review
🎯Transparent criteria

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

1What credit score is considered bad?

Below 600 is generally considered poor in Canada. Scores under 560 are typically tagged as very poor and limit you to secured or specialized credit-builder cards.

2How long does it take to rebuild credit with a credit card?

Most people see meaningful improvement in 6–12 months of on-time payments combined with low utilization (below 30% of your limit). Significant rebuilds — moving from 500 to 700+ — take 18–24 months.

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