The Canadian student credit card market is crowded with mediocre options dressed up with flashy welcome bonuses. Most major bank websites push cards that happen to pay the highest referral fees — not the ones that are genuinely best for students.
We reviewed 18 student-eligible credit cards across all major Canadian banks and credit unions. Every card was evaluated against our Quantara Score methodology with no influence from affiliate relationships. Here are the five that stand out in 2025.
Cards are scored on reward rate (35%), approval accessibility (25%), annual fee (20%), perks (10%), and credit-building features (10%). All cards on this list have zero annual fee. Income requirements and credit history requirements are noted for each card.
1. American Express Cobalt Card — Best overall
The Cobalt is the most rewarding student card in Canada and it's not particularly close. Its 5x points on food and drinks — which includes every major food delivery app — is an earn rate that most premium cards charging $120+ per year can't match on that category. The annual fee is waived in year one, making the first year genuinely free.
The caveat: the fee kicks in at $155 in year two. For most students, the rewards still outweigh the fee — but if you're not spending regularly on food and dining, the next options on this list may serve you better long-term.
Students who order food delivery 2+ times per week or eat out regularly. At 5x points on food, a student spending $300/month on dining earns roughly $180 in annual rewards — more than covering the year-two fee if they keep the card.
2. Scotiabank Scene+ Visa — Best for movies and groceries
The Scene+ Visa is the strongest permanently free card on this list. No fee ever — not just year one. It earns 5x Scene+ points at Cineplex theatres and 3x at grocery stores, which is a genuinely strong combination for students who still watch movies in theatres and cook at home.
Scene+ points are easy to redeem — for movies (obvious), but also for travel, statement credits, and purchases at Scene+ partners. No complex portal required.
Students who cook at home, go to movies regularly, and want a card they can keep forever without worrying about an annual fee kicking in. Also a great first card for someone who isn't sure how much they'll spend on dining.
3. BMO CashBack Mastercard — Best for groceries
The BMO CashBack Mastercard earns 3% on groceries — the highest flat grocery cashback rate among all no-fee Canadian cards. If you spend more than $300 per month on groceries (common for students living independently), this card out-earns the Cobalt on that category alone.
The cashback is deposited directly to your account once per year — no points portal, no redemption thresholds. Just cash.
Students who cook at home and do a weekly grocery run. If groceries are your biggest spending category and you prefer actual cash over points, this is your card.
4. Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa — Best for dining out
The Simplii Cash Back Visa earns 4% at restaurants and bars — the highest dining rate on any no-fee card in Canada. While the Cobalt earns 5x on food delivery apps, Simplii wins on sit-down restaurants and bars. If you're a student who goes out to eat rather than ordering in, Simplii beats the Cobalt on your biggest category.
5. TD Student Visa — Best for first-time applicants
The TD Student Visa won't win on reward rates — it earns a flat 1x TD Points on everything. But it has no income requirement, no annual fee, and one of the most accessible approval processes in Canada for students with zero credit history. If you've been rejected by other cards or are applying for your very first card ever, start here.
How to choose the right card for you
The right card depends entirely on where you actually spend money. Here's a quick decision guide:
- You order food delivery often → Amex Cobalt
- You cook at home and go to movies → Scotiabank Scene+ Visa
- Groceries are your biggest expense → BMO CashBack Mastercard
- You eat out at restaurants more than ordering in → Simplii Cash Back Visa
- You have no credit history at all → TD Student Visa
Apply for one card only. Applying for multiple cards at once triggers multiple hard inquiries on your credit file and can lower your score by 20–40 points. Pick the card that fits your spending best, apply once, and wait at least 6 months before considering a second card.
The bottom line
Every card on this list has zero annual fee and no income requirement. The difference comes down to where you spend your money. Match the card to your spending habits and you'll earn meaningful rewards while building the credit history that matters for everything that comes after graduation.
Want to compare these cards side by side?
Use our free comparison tool to see fees, APR, and rewards for any combination of Canadian credit cards.