How we compare
What our numbers mean, where they come from, and their limits.
Where the information comes from
Product details come from each provider's own website and published terms. Pages show when rates were last checked. Eligibility rules for newcomer programs link to the bank page they came from, with the date we checked it.
Eligibility labels
The 4-question quiz is compared with each card's published rules: the bank's newcomer program (which statuses it covers and for how long after arrival), the minimum credit score and income the issuer publishes, and whether the card is secured or built for people with no credit history. No credit check happens. "Not enough info" means we do not have the card's requirements yet — we would rather say so than guess.
Welcome bonus value
Cash back bonuses are counted at face value. Points are valued at the issuer's own fixed redemption value (for example, statement credit or fixed-value travel), which is usually the lowest guaranteed value. You may get more by using points for flights or hotels, but we do not assume it. Programs with no fixed cash value get a conservative estimate. The full table is below. Bonus values only count bonuses you can earn in the first 12 months, and annual fees waived in the first year count as $0.
Foreign transaction fees
We use the fee the issuer publishes. When an issuer does not publish a fee, we show the typical Canadian fee of 2.5% and say it is not confirmed.
Money transfer prices
Live quotes come from Wise's public comparison data, refreshed about every 30 minutes, and include banks and other transfer companies. "Hidden markup" is how far each provider's exchange rate is from the mid-market rate. Banks may also charge receiving or intermediary fees that are not shown.
Rankings
The default order is by estimated first-year value (welcome bonus value minus the annual fee). After you take the quiz, cards are sorted by how well they match you. No one can pay to change either order.
Found a mistake?
Tell us at admin@canrates.ca and we will check it against the provider and correct it.