Best credit card combinations to maximize rewards in Canada for 2026

For Canadians looking to maximize rewards, the best credit card combination is often two cards rather than one. That's because the cards that dominate one category rarely dominate them all. A card known for its grocery and dining rewards may charge foreign transaction fees, while a travel credit card with premium perks may earn surprisingly little on everyday spending. Here are four of the best credit card combinations in Canada for 2026 and the types of spenders each one is built for.

Best suited for: Households with high grocery and dining spend who travel internationally or run into Amex acceptance gaps.

For many Canadians, this pairing offers one of the strongest credit card combinations for everyday rewards and travel points and benefits available without stepping into the premium card category.

The American Express Cobalt Card remains one of the highest-earning cards in Canada for groceries, dining, food delivery, and streaming purchases. However, it has two limitations: American Express is not accepted everywhere, and the card charges the standard 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in foreign currencies.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ addresses both concerns. It runs on the Visa network, making it widely accepted across Canada and abroad, and it does not charge foreign transaction fees. Cardholders also receive six complimentary airport lounge visits annually through the Visa Airport Companion Program.

The strategy: Use the Cobalt for groceries, dining, streaming, and gas at merchants that accept Amex. Use the Scotiabank Passport for international travel spending, cross-border purchases, and any Canadian retailer that does not accept American Express. Amex Membership Rewards (MR) points can be transferred to Aeroplan or other airline partners when you are ready to redeem.

The combined annual fee of roughly $342 is straightforward to justify for a household spending $800 or more per month across groceries and dining. At 5x, that generates approximately 48,000 MR points annually from food spend alone, worth between $480 and $960 or more depending on how you redeem.

Consider this combination if:

✅ You spend $500 or more per month on groceries, dining, and food delivery
✅ You travel internationally at least once a year or regularly shop from US or foreign-currency retailers online
✅ You want flexible points that can transfer to Aeroplan and multiple other airline programs
✅ You have run into Amex acceptance gaps but do not want to give up the Cobalt's earn rates
✅ You want lounge access without paying a premium card annual fee

This is likely not the right fit if:

❌ Most of your grocery shopping happens at Costco, No Frills, or Real Canadian Superstore, where Amex is not accepted
❌ You spend less than $400 per month across the Cobalt's bonus categories
❌ You prefer straightforward cash back over managing a points program

Best suited for: Air Canada travelers who want to earn Aeroplan points faster on everyday spending, without paying for a premium card.

For Canadians who regularly fly with Air Canada, this pairing combines one of the country's strongest everyday rewards credit cards with one of Aeroplan's most valuable co-branded credit cards.

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card offers meaningful Air Canada benefits, including a free first checked bag, preferred Aeroplan pricing, and comprehensive travel insurance coverage. However, its everyday earn rates are relatively modest. While the card earns steadily on Air Canada purchases, its blended earn rate of roughly 1.25 Aeroplan points per dollar means points accumulate more slowly through everyday spending.

The American Express Cobalt Card complements it well. Cardholders earn 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar on eligible groceries and dining purchases, with points transferable to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. A household spending $1,000 per month across those categories could generate approximately 60,000 Aeroplan-eligible points annually from food spending alone.

The strategy: Use the Cobalt for groceries, dining, streaming, and gas to accumulate MR points, then transfer them to Aeroplan ahead of a planned redemption. Use the TD Aeroplan card for all Air Canada bookings to earn the 1.5x rate directly on the airline, and as the Visa backup for any merchant that does not accept American Express.

One practical note: MR points must be manually transferred to Aeroplan before booking. The transfer is not automatic, and processing can take a few days. Build that into your timeline when planning a redemption, particularly during periods when award availability is limited.

Consider this combination if:

✅ You fly Air Canada at least once or twice a year and check bags
✅ You spend $600 or more per month on groceries and dining and want those dollars building toward flights
✅ You want comprehensive travel insurance built in without buying it separately
✅ You are already an Aeroplan member with an active redemption plan or a specific trip in mind
✅ You want a Visa backup for the times Amex is not accepted

This is likely not the right fit if:

❌ You fly mixed carriers more than 50% of the time (free bags and perks only apply on Air Canada)
❌ You have a history of letting points sit unused across programs
❌ You want rewards you can use immediately, rather than saving toward a specific redemption

Best suited for: Families with high grocery and recurring bill spending who want consistent cash back without the overhead of a points program.

For households that prioritize simplicity, this pairing offers some of the strongest cash back rates available without requiring cardholders to think about transfer partners, redemption values, or travel booking portals.

The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite does most of the heavy lifting, earning 4% cash back on groceries and recurring bill payments, along with 2% on gas and transit. Those categories make up a significant share of spending for many Canadian households, and the card's $120 annual fee is relatively easy to justify for families that consistently spend in those areas.

The Amex SimplyCash Card complements it by improving returns on purchases that fall outside Scotia Momentum's bonus categories. With no annual fee and a flat 1.25% cash back rate on eligible purchases, it outperforms the Momentum card's 1% base earn rate on non-bonus spending.

The strategy: Momentum for groceries, recurring bills, gas, and transit. SimplyCash for everything else. At $120 combined annually, this is the lowest-cost pairing of the four and the one that requires the least active management.

Consider this combination if:

✅ You spend $600 or more per month on groceries and recurring household bills
✅ You want rewards deposited automatically without managing transfer partners or redemption windows
✅ You want to keep your total annual card fees under $150
✅ You find points programs more effort than they are worth
✅ You want a no-fee backup card that still earns above the standard 1x base rate

This is likely not the right fit if:

❌ You travel frequently and would benefit from lounge access, travel insurance, or airline-transferable points
❌ You spend heavily on dining and restaurants, where the Cobalt's 5x earn rate would generate significantly more annual value
❌ You want flexibility to redeem rewards for flights or hotels at a higher rate than cash back offers

Best suited for: Everyday spenders who shop at Loblaws-owned grocery stores or Shoppers Drug Mart and want to earn at an elevated rate across every grocery trip, not just the ones where Amex is accepted.

The American Express Cobalt Card earns 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar on eligible grocery purchases, one of the highest grocery earn rates available in Canada. However, that rate doesn't apply everywhere. Costco, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, Maxi, and Shoppers Drug Mart do not accept American Express, which means a significant portion of grocery spending may not qualify for the Cobalt's 5x earn rate.

The PC Financial World Elite Mastercard complements the Cobalt by rewarding spending at many of the retailers where Amex isn't accepted. The card has no annual fee and earns 30 PC Optimum points per dollar spent at Loblaws-owned grocery banners and Shoppers Drug Mart, equivalent to roughly 3% back in store rewards.Together, the two cards cover the full range of Canadian grocery spending with no acceptance gaps and only one annual fee.

The strategy: Use the Cobalt at Amex-accepting grocery stores, restaurants, and food delivery services to earn Membership Rewards points at the highest possible rate. Use the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard for purchases at No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, Shoppers Drug Mart, and other Loblaws-owned retailers, where it earns elevated PC Optimum rewards. This is the only combination in this list where the second card costs nothing to carry.

One note on eligibility: the PC Financial World Elite requires a personal income of $80,000 or a household income of $150,000. If you do not meet that threshold, the standard PC Mastercard is available with no income requirement, though it earns at a lower rate across affiliated retailers.

Consider this combination if:

✅ You shop regularly at No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, Zehrs, Maxi, or Shoppers Drug Mart
✅ You want to earn at an elevated rate across all your grocery spending, not just at Amex-accepting stores
✅ You do not want to pay a second annual fee
✅ You fill up regularly at Esso or Mobil gas stations
✅ You want straightforward, tangible rewards that redeem directly in-store for groceries

This is likely not the right fit if:

❌ You do not meet the $80K personal or $150K household income requirement for the World Elite tier
❌ Most of your grocery spend is already at Amex-accepting stores like Sobeys, Metro, or Whole Foods
❌ You want a single flexible points currency rather than splitting between MR points and PC Optimum

The best credit card combination depends on where you spend most often and which gaps you're trying to fill.

For many Canadians, the Amex Cobalt and Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ offer the strongest balance of everyday rewards and travel benefits. Air Canada loyalists may get more value from pairing the Cobalt with the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite, while households focused on straightforward cash back may prefer the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite and Amex SimplyCash combination. If grocery spending is your biggest expense, particularly at Loblaws-owned stores or Shoppers Drug Mart, the Amex Cobalt and PC Financial World Elite Mastercard can help maximize rewards across a wider range of purchases.

Before applying for a second card, make sure it's solving a problem your primary card doesn't. The strongest credit card combinations pair two cards with different strengths, whether that's stronger grocery rewards, better travel perks, broader acceptance, or lower foreign transaction costs. If both cards earn rewards in the same categories and offer similar benefits, the added annual fee may not be worth the extra complexity.

Done well, the right credit card combination can help turn the spending you're already doing into more rewards, stronger benefits, and better overall value.

Also read:

• Get matched with Ratehub’s CardFinder tool
• The best travel credit cards in Canada
• The best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada
• The value of Aeroplan points