Canada doesn’t have an Amazon-branded credit card like the US does, so maximizing your Amazon.ca rewards requires choosing a card that treats online shopping or general spending favourably. The best approach depends on how much you spend on Amazon: light shoppers do well with a no-fee flat-rate card like the Rogers World Elite at 1.5%, while heavy Amazon users should look at the Tangerine World Mastercard with “online shopping” selected as a 2% category. The gift card trick — buying Amazon gift cards at a grocery store to earn 4–5% grocery rates — is also worth knowing.
Best Credit Cards for Amazon.ca Purchases
| Card | Annual Fee | Amazon.ca Earn Rate | How | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tangerine World Mastercard | $0 | 2% (select online shopping) | Pick “Online Shopping” as category | Best free card for Amazon |
| Rogers World Elite Mastercard | $0 | 1.5% | Flat rate on everything | Simplicity, no-fee |
| Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite | $120 | 4% (recurring bills) | Amazon Subscribe & Save counts | Subscribe & Save users |
| TD Cash Back Visa Infinite | $139 | 3% (online recurring) | Recurring Amazon charges | Amazon subscriptions |
| Desjardins Odyssey World Elite | $150 | 2 pts/$1 (online) | Points on online purchases | Quebec residents |
| BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite | $120 | 5 pts/$1 (online) | Online shopping category | Points for travel |
| Brim World Elite Mastercard | $199 | 2% | Flat 2% on all purchases | High spenders |
Cashback Comparison: $3,000/Year Amazon Spending
| Card | Amazon.ca Rewards | Other Spending ($25K/yr) | Total Annual Rewards | Net After Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tangerine World MC (online selected) | $60 | $125–$250 | $185–$310 | $185–$310 |
| Rogers World Elite MC | $45 | $375 | $420 | $420 |
| Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite | $120 (if recurring) | $250–$500 | $370–$620 | $250–$500 |
| Brim World Elite MC | $60 | $500 | $560 | $361 |
Best Strategy by Amazon Spending Level
| Annual Amazon Spend | Best Card | Expected Rewards | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1,000 | Rogers World Elite MC | $15 + rest of spending | No fee, flat 1.5% on everything |
| $1,000–$3,000 | Tangerine World MC | $20–$60 + 2% on 2 other categories | Free, 2% on online shopping |
| $3,000–$5,000 | Scotiabank Momentum Infinite | $120–$200 | 4% on recurring, strong grocery rate |
| Over $5,000 | Brim World Elite MC | $100+ | 2% flat everywhere, high ceiling |
How to Maximize Amazon.ca Rewards
The most overlooked strategy is buying Amazon gift cards at a grocery store with a card that earns 4–5% on groceries (like the Amex Cobalt at 5x or Scotiabank Momentum at 4%). You load the gift card to your Amazon balance and effectively earn grocery-level rewards on all your Amazon purchases. This works because grocery stores sell Amazon gift cards at face value. Stack that with Subscribe & Save discounts (5–15% off) and Prime Day deals, and you can regularly save 10–20% on household essentials.
| Strategy | Details | Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Use Subscribe & Save | 5–15% off + credit card rewards | $50–$200/year |
| Buy Amazon gift cards at grocery stores | Earn grocery bonus rate (4–5%) | 2–3% extra vs direct purchase |
| Stack Amazon Prime deals + credit card | 20–40% off during Prime Day + cashback | Event-based savings |
| Use Amazon price tracker (Camelcamelcamel) | Buy at historical lows | 10–30% savings |
| Select “online shopping” on Tangerine card | 2% on all Amazon purchases | $20–$100/year |
| Combine credit card with Amazon coupons | Clip digital coupons before checkout | Stacks with card rewards |
Amazon.ca Payment Methods
| Payment Method | Accepted | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa (credit) | Yes | All Visa cards |
| Mastercard (credit) | Yes | All Mastercard cards |
| American Express | Yes | All Amex cards |
| Debit Visa / MC Debit | Yes | Linked to chequing |
| Amazon Gift Card | Yes | Can be loaded with any card |
| Interac Online | No | Not supported |
| PayPal | No | Not supported on Amazon.ca |
| Apple Pay / Google Pay | No | Not supported |
The Bottom Line
Without a dedicated Amazon card in Canada, your best bet is a high flat-rate card (Rogers World Elite at 1.5%) for simplicity, or the grocery gift card strategy with an Amex Cobalt for maximum returns at 5%. If you spend more than $3,000/year on Amazon, the gift card approach is worth the extra step.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best credit card for Amazon.ca in Canada? The Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard (co-branded) earns 2.5% back on Amazon.ca and 1.5% everywhere else for Prime members (1% for non-Prime). For non-Prime or higher-spend shoppers, the Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard or a flexible cash-back card earning 2%+ on online purchases may offer comparable or better returns with broader redemption options.
Does Amazon Canada accept Amex? Yes — Amazon.ca accepts all major credit cards including American Express, Visa, and Mastercard. Unlike Costco Canada, there are no network restrictions on Amazon purchases.
Is the Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard worth getting? For Prime members who spend heavily on Amazon, the 2.5% back at Amazon is one of the best store-specific rates available and the card has no annual fee. The tradeoff: rewards are only redeemable as Amazon statement credits (not transferable to bank account or other uses). As a secondary card specifically for Amazon purchases, it provides solid value for regular shoppers.