Do you end up saving money or spending more? Is it even worth it to sign up for these programs? Do they offer welcome bonuses? Well, honestly, if these programs are used correctly, you could end up saving a ton of money. We have listed below some of the best loyalty programs in Canada and how they work.
How Loyalty Programs Work
Loyalty programs are a marketing strategy designed to encourage customers to continue shopping at their store. These loyalty programs have different ways of doing this. Some stores give points per purchase, while others offer discounts. No matter how these programs are designed, in some way, they encourage the customer to save money while shopping with them. This is why many people shop around and choose their favourite rewards program.
Stores With Loyalty Programs in Canada
While there are many different popular rewards programs in Canada, some of the most popular are those for grocery stores and pharmacies. How you use these programs can actually be pretty beneficial to you. They work by using a points system. What you purchase is worth a certain number of points, so you can save those points and use them to purchase more items.
PC Optimum
PC Optimum is a program that allows you to earn loyalty points by purchasing groceries, gas or using your credit card. They personalize your points for grocery shopping on the app, gearing it towards your most common purchases. Every 10,000 points is equal to a $10 redeeming value. For the most part, it is free to sign up for PC points, but they have a program you can pay for that provides extra points and incentives. You can earn or redeem points with:
- No Frills
- Loblaws
- Shoppers Drug Mart
- Real Canadian Superstore
- Zehrs
- Independent Grocer
- Valu-Mart
- Fortinos
- Joe Fresh
- Pharmaprix
- Esso
You should also watch for bonus points events that happen every so often. Look for your weekly deals as well, which include multiple brands and allow you to get additional benefits with other purchases.
Rexall Be Well
Rexall Be Well is similar to PC Optimum points in the way that it personalizes offers for you on the app; however, their points system is different. Every dollar spent is 10 points, and every 25,000 is equal to $10. Instead of having their own bank like PC Financial, they are partnered with RBC to get extra points. Unlike other loyalty programs, Rexall Be Well can only be used at Rexall locations.
More Rewards
More Rewards is also one of the points programs that’s available through:
- Save-On-Foods
- Panago
- PriceSmart Foods
- Urban Fare
- Coast Hotels
- Oxygen Yoga and Fitness
- Vancouver Attractions.com
- Accent Inns
- Speedy Glass
- Vancouver Hino
- Jim Pattison Auto Group
Not only can you earn and redeem points on groceries, but you can also earn and redeem points with many other partners. They partner with RBC Visa Infinite to help customers earn extra points. The redeeming value of more reward points depends on what you choose to use them for.
One unique thing about More Rewards is that it’s exclusive to Western Canada.
What are the Largest Loyalty Programs in Canada?
While there are quite a few large loyalty programs in Canada, two of the largest are Air Miles and PC Optimum. Both of these programs are partnered with multiple companies and allow for a lot of diversity when redeeming and earning points. While we have already discussed PC Optimum, let us look into Air Miles.
Air Miles
Air Miles has been around for years and is partnered with many different companies. Not only can you use them for travel, but they also have many different partners, including Air Miles credit cards. Air Miles offers a BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard and a BMO Air Miles Mastercard.
When you redeem Air Miles, you can use the points for travel, or you can use Air Miles cash to pay for online vouchers. They have a wide range of partners that you can redeem with as well, including Starbucks.
Based on your shopping habits, you can earn points on all your purchases and redeem them with partners or for travel.
Best Retail Loyalty Programs in Canada
Even retail stores have some pretty awesome loyalty programs. While there are plenty to choose from, the top two are Hudson’s Bay and Plum Rewards.
Plum Rewards
This is a free loyalty program for those who shop at Indigo, Chapters, or Coles. Points are earned per dollar spent and can be redeemed in-store using the app. If you are a member of Plum Rewards, you will also receive notice of limited-time and member-only offers. Sometimes, they even have promo periods where they offer 10x the points. Because of the features this program offers, it makes sense to sign up even if you only purchase books occasionally, especially since it’s free.
Best Loyalty Programs with No Membership Fee
The few reward programs we have discussed are awesome, especially since they don’t have fees. There are many more to add to that list. This doesn’t just include retail rewards programs either. There are plenty of credit card rewards programs that offer some great benefits as well.
Aeroplan
Aeroplan is a frequent-flyer program. You can get an Aeroplan credit card from TD, American Express or CIBC. You do not need to travel to earn these points. You can earn them just by using the credit card for everyday purchases, and certain purchases can earn you more points. Aeroplan is also partnered with companies that you can shop with and earn points without using a credit card; however, you can usually get double the points if you do.
These Aeroplan points can be spent to purchase Air Canada flights or other qualifying airlines that are part of the Star Alliance group. You can also redeem points with this valuable rewards program for things like gift cards and rental cars; however, the value of the points is higher if they are used on travel.
WestJet Rewards
These rewards are also part of their travel rewards programs. WestJet has its own branded travel rewards credit cards that allow you to earn dollars from partnered stores or from booking flights. If you fly often, this is a great program that even has different tiers, like gold and silver status. Some other perks are free checked bags, lounge access, and no blackout dates. The WestJet RBC credit card also gives you access to exclusive member fares. Some members also receive an annual companion voucher, which can be used to cap the price of someone travelling with you.
RBC Rewards
Not only does RBC partner with WestJet, but they also have their own RBC Avion rewards, which do not restrict cardholders to a single airline. They offer a wide variety of flights and destinations that accept RBC Avion rewards, and they have no seating restrictions or blackout dates. The RBC rewards points can also be used to cover taxes and fees. You don’t just earn points when you use the card for travel; you can also earn points on other eligible everyday purchases. Depending on which card you have with RBC, you may also be able to transfer points.
CIBC Aventura
This travel rewards program also does not restrict travel to one specific airline. They also don’t restrict seat choice and flights, and the points don’t expire. Redeeming the points is easy because they only require you to have 80% of the points needed, and you can purchase the rest for a low cost of a few cents per mile. They also allow you to redeem these points as cash towards your statement.
BMO Rewards
Like most other banks, BMO offers travel rewards. These can be earned using one of their credit cards and can also be redeemed for other things, such as gift cards and merchandise. They also offer monthly specials on products that you can redeem your points on. They also allow you to use the points towards your credit card balance. If the other options don’t work for you, this is a great way to use them.
Scene+
Scene+ is an extremely popular program. You can earn points with Scotiabank credit cards and chequing accounts on everyday purchases. You can earn extra points for spending at Cineplex theatres. Not only can Scene+ points be redeemed for movies, but you can also redeem them for travel, merchandise gift cards, obtain restaurant discounts or use them as an account credit.
Petro Points
This is a convenient free gas rewards program that allows you to earn points every time you purchase gas with Petro-Canada. You earn points at 10 points per litre or for every dollar spent. They have several retail and financial partners that allow you to earn extra points as well. You can link your Petro Points with an RBC credit card.
Triangle Rewards
The Triangle Rewards program, also known as Canadian Tire, is one of the longest-running loyalty programs in Canada. You can earn rewards at any of their affiliated companies, such as:
- SportChek
- Marks
- L’Équipeur
- Atmosphere
- Sports Experts
- Essence+
While you used to earn paper Canadian Tire money, with Triangle Rewards, you get digital Canadian Tire money and personalized offers. If you use the Triangle Rewards Mastercard, then you will earn even more.
CAA
Lastly, we have the Canadian Automobile Association. They provide millions of Canadians with car insurance, roadside assistance, and rewards that you can earn. They have over 165,000 partnered locations, and many of those places offer special discounts and offers to members. National Bank also has some credit cards that allow you to earn CAA points.
Coast Rewards
In Canada and the US, there are plenty of different hotel chains from which to choose. One of these popular hotel chains is Coast Hotels, which is actually headquartered in Vancouver, BC. They’re one of the largest hotel brands in Canada and a Subsidiary of APA Hotel Canada Inc. They also manage and franchise different properties throughout North America, including:
- British Columbia
- Alberta
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon
- Alaska
- Washington
- California
- Hawaii
When you stay with Coast Hotels, you can sign up for their free hotel rewards program: Coast Rewards. Not only is it free to sign up for, but you can choose what type of loyalty rewards you want to earn. Your choices are:
- Coast Rewards
- Aeroplan
- Alaska Airlines
- APA Card
- More Rewards
If you choose to sign up for Coast Rewards, you can redeem these points for hotel stays, amenities, gift cards, and much more. Even as a new member, you can receive special benefits for big celebrations such as birthdays, and you can get perks that are exclusive to members every time you visit.
Marriott Hotels
Another great hotel rewards program is the Marriott Bonvoy. With this program, you can earn points on every stay, get free wifi, and get exclusive discounts and member rates. You can also get an annual free night certificate. Plus, with over 7,000 hotels worldwide, you have plenty of options on where to stay.
Best Western
In terms of hotel rewards, Best Western also has a free membership program called Best Western Rewards. You can earn exclusive perks, including exclusive member rates and worldwide free night redemption. You can even get room upgrades and free breakfast. There are also other benefits that loyal customers can earn.
Loyalty Programs with a Membership Fee
While most loyalty programs are free in Canada, the most common ones that have fees are credit cards. It is normal to have small annual fees, as well as foreign exchange fees, for a credit card and then earn extra points and cashback with that card. For those who use their credit cards a lot, these can be quite beneficial. Two examples of these credit cards are:
- MBNA Rewards (World Elite Mastercard, MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus Mastercard (MBNA rewards points)
- American Express Membership Rewards (All American Express Credit Cards)
While these are just examples, most major banks offer these kinds of credit cards.
One of the most popular loyalty programs that has a membership fee is PC Optimum. While you can also earn points for them, they also have insider subscriptions. It is a $119 yearly fee that allows you to earn 10% in PC points on all PC products. You also get free PC Express pickup with priority and free shipping with no minimum purchase amount. This program also allows you to earn travel rewards and extra points on Joe Fresh purchases.
Other Loyalty Programs
Along with the loyalty programs we have listed, there are a few others that are just as popular. While they may not be as widely used as some of the other programs, they do have some great benefits to offer.
McDonald’s
By downloading the McDonald’s app and purchasing your food through there, you can earn some great points that translate into free food. It’s simple to use and extremely convenient. Plus, if you’re an employee of McDonald’s, you could get an employee discount with the McDonald’s Platinum card.
Choices
If you shop at Choices Market, you can get something called the Preferred Shopper Card. Not only can you earn points with this card, but you can also get special deals on certain items throughout the store. You start earning points on purchases of $15 or more, and once you reach 2,000 points, you can redeem them for $20.
Most Popular Loyalty Program
While not surprising, the most popular program is Air Miles (Blue Rewards). Not only can you earn and redeem points in a variety of places, but they have also been around since 1992, so they are well-known. They have over 11 million members and partner with over 400 brands and travel suppliers. While we have already gone over what Air Miles offers, it is a solid program and can be quite beneficial to those who actively collect points.
Best Loyalty Programs in Canada
It is really difficult to decide which is the best loyalty program. The top two are Air Miles and PC Optimum. These are both large, well-known loyalty programs and are free to join; however, they are not for everyone. There are so many loyalty programs in Canada that, while these may be the best programs for some people, there are options out there for everyone.
Worst Loyalty Programs in Canada
The worst loyalty programs are those that are linked to credit cards. Because you end up using your cards a lot to earn the points, it is easy to get into a cycle where you can’t pay off the cards and end up spending more money in interest than what you receive in points. If these credit cards are used properly, they are great, but often they end up costing more than you earn.
The Oldest Loyalty Program
The oldest loyalty program in Canada is Canadian Tire Money. While actual Canadian Tire Money is not offered anymore, it is found in the form of Triangle Rewards. While it doesn’t hold the same nostalgia as the Canadian Tire Money does, the Triangle Rewards card allows you to keep track of your Canadian Tire Money and redeem it when necessary.
Top 10 Loyalty Programs in Canada
While we’ve already discussed a bunch of the most popular rewards programs in Canada, here are the ones that are considered to be the top 10.
- PC Optimum
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Scene+
- Air Miles
- Triangle Rewards
- American Express Membership Rewards
- Tims Rewards
- Petro-Points
- Marriott Bonvoy
- BMO Rewards
Each of these programs is not only popular but also offers great rewards and redemption options.
The Canadian Bank With the Best Rewards Program
While many banks in Canada offer great rewards programs, one of the ones that’s considered to be best is BMO. BMO Rewards points allow you to earn 1 reward point for every $1 spent on eligible BMO Rewards credit cards.
When you redeem these points, they can be used for travel purchases, non-travel purchases, or even as statement credits. You can even choose to transfer your points to an eligible family member if you don’t want to use them yourself.
What is the Best Frequent Flyer Program in Canada?
For many, Air Canada Aeroplan is considered to be the best frequent flyer program in Canada. You can earn 1 point for every $1 spent on tickets that are issued by Air Canada, and 6 points per $1 spent for those with Aeroplan Elite Status.
With this program, you have access to Air Canada as well as over 25 Star Alliance airlines. The points are very flexible and can be used for air travel redemptions. Your points for flight amounts are based on the Airline Rewards chart.
What Loyalty Programs Were Devalued in 2026?
In 2026, there were a few different loyalty programs that were devalued. A few of the most notable are:
- Air Canada Aeroplan: As of June 1, 2026, the flight rewards card changed so that the points required for flight purchases were increased. This mostly included long-haul flights, business class, and partner airline routes.
- World of Hyatt: A devaluation of up to 67% on select high-end luxury hotels in May of 2026, which raised redemption rates on top-tier properties.
- American Express Platinum: Starting in 2027, it’s been announced that limited lounge access is reduced unless a $20,000 spending threshold is met in 2026.
The Grocery Chain With the Best Loyalty Program
When it comes to loyalty programs, there are a few in Canada that are considered the best for grocery chains.
PC Optimum: With PC Optimum, you can start collecting points on grocery purchases through Loblaws banner stores. It also covers pharmacy purchases, as well as purchases of everyday essentials. The standard value of pc points is 0.10 cents per point.
Scene+: At Sobeys and Safeway, you can earn Scene+ points. It’s a great choice because of the flexible rewards and travel rewards. Not only can you earn grocery rewards, though, you can also earn points with Cineplex movie tickets, Recipe Unlimited restaurants, Home Hardware purchases and eligible gas purchases at Shell.
Just because these are the best grocery rewards doesn’t mean that they are the only ones. You can also earn rewards with Save-On-Foods, Buy-Low Foods, and more.
The Loyalty Program That’s Best for Gas
While there are many different loyalty programs in Canada, one of the best is considered to be PC Optimum at Esso and Mobil gas stations. You can earn 10 points per litre on regular fuel and 10 points per $1 spent in store or on car washes.
When it comes to redemption, you can redeem 4,000 points to save 10 cents per litre. You can also stack these points along with your PC Mastercard in order to increase your fuel savings.
When it comes to fuel loyalty programs, you can also earn points when using your Costco Mastercard for Costco gas. You can also earn Journie Rewards points when purchasing fuel with Chevron. Other gas stations also offer rewards programs as well as other ways to earn points.
Do Loyalty Points Expire?
While most loyalty points don’t expire, they can get cancelled due to inactivity. There are a few programs that do cancel your account if you go a certain period without earning or redeeming one point.
- Aeroplan: Expires after 18 months of account inactivity.
- PC Optimum: Expires after 24 months of inactivity.
- Petro-Points: Expires after 12 months of inactivity.
- More Rewards: Expires after 18 months of inactivity.
What Happened to Air Miles and Blue Rewards?
As of June 2, 2026, Air Miles has officially transformed into Blue Rewards. This is a unified loyalty program that was launched by BMO. Any existing Air Miles Reward Miles are converted into Blue Points at an equivalent value.
This switch expanded the network to include over 400 brands and new travel partners. Travel bookings are booked through Expedia Group, similar to how it’s done through Expedia for TD with TD Rewards Points. With BMO Blue Rewards, co-branded credit cards and chequing accounts offer accelerated earn rates.
Aeroplan’s 2026 Spend-Based Earnings
As of January 1, 2026, Aeroplan uses a spend-based earning model for eligible flights instead of the old distance-based system. For base members, you earn 1 point per $1 spent on base fares and carrier surcharges. For Elite tier members, you can earn multipliers that range from 2x to 6x the points per dollar. However, what you earn is based on your status level at the time of your travel.
Other ways to earn include using Aeroplan credit cards and taking advantage of any welcome offers that you may qualify for. Your spending patterns will also determine your earning rate. Even though these changes have been made, it’s considered to be one of the best programs out there, and part of that is due to customer experience.
Bank Rewards Programs: Best to Worst
There are plenty of different bank rewards programs out there. Here’s a look at how they’re ranked.
- BMO Rewards
- American Express Membership Rewards
- RBC Avion Rewards
- Scotiabank Scene+
- CIBC Aventura
- TD Rewards
- National Bank A La Carte Rewards
Each one has exclusive offers and offers different perks based on your spending habits. Some of these banks partner with participating stores, and frequent shoppers can earn extra points on food delivery, convenience store purchases, EV charging, fuel purchases, and more.
The Triangle and WestJet Partnership
On top of their partnerships with other stores like SportChek, Triangle Rewards has partnered with WestJet. You can link your Triangle Rewards and WestJet Rewards accounts in order to earn CT money on eligible WestJet purchases. You can also earn WestJet points at participating stores.
Comparing Tim Hortons andMcDonald’s Rewards
Two other popular rewards programs in Canada are with Tim Hortons and McDonald’s. One of the biggest differences is that Tim Hortons used to have the Tim’s Mastercard. However, this was shut down as of October 1, 2026.
Now, with Tims Rewards, you can earn 10 points per dollar spent. With McDonald’s, you can earn 100 points per $1 spent. When it comes to redeeming points, you can start redeeming with McDonald’s at around 2,000 points, whereas with Tim Hortons, redemption starts at 300 points.
Tips on How to Maximize Points Across Multiple Programs
One of the best ways to get the best value out of points is to register for multiple programs. In order to do so, these few key steps can help.
Choose a Few Core Programs: Rather than registering for every program, focus on 2 or 3 core programs. When you do this, choose rewards cards that cover major categories like groceries, dining, gas, and general travel.
Use High-Multiplier Cards: For your everyday spending, you can use high-multiplier cards like American Express Cobalt, which has strong multipliers on food and dining. You also get complimentary travel or cash back with a variety of merchants.
Prioritize Flexible Points: When choosing rewards, choosing programs with flexible rewards can allow you more freedom in how you redeem your rewards.
Combine Multiple Layers: By stacking credit cards and rewards programs, you can double up on your points.
Partner-up: Adding your spouse or partner as an authorized user to earn extra points.
Time Welcome Bonuses with Large Purchases: Many cards and programs will offer welcome bonuses that increase with purchase amounts. Making large purchases during this time can help you earn rewards points even faster.
