#1 in Canada for payment processing

The Best Credit Cards for Recurring Bills in Canada for 2025

Trusted by over 1M+ users every year
users
$1B+
Payments processed annually
blog-hero
hero-banner

Key Takeaways

  • The right credit card can turn recurring bills like rent and utilities into valuable cashback or travel rewards.
  • Top cards in Canada for 2025 include Scotia Momentum (4% cashback) and Amex Aeroplan Reserve (1.25x points).
  • TenantPay allows Canadians to pay rent with a credit card, unlocking rewards on one of their biggest monthly expenses.
  • To maximize value, match cards to spending categories and track annual bonus caps.
  • Always consider annual fees, APR, and transaction type (purchase vs. cash advance) to avoid hidden costs.
  • Repeat bills are part of modern life, such as rent, utility payments, and streaming payments. Nonetheless, a majority of Canadians pay them unknowingly without being aware of greater rewards.

    With the correct credit card, your regular monthly expenses will be converted into regular cashback, points, or travel miles. All you need to do is set up the auto-pay and get ongoing rewards.

    In 2025, Canadians are struggling with more post-pandemic budgets, inflationary rates, and subscriptions that are out of control. It is one dollar at a time, and wasted reward is wasted opportunity to cover increased expenses or the next vacation.

    In this blog, we will guide you on finding the best credit card for recurring payments in Canada to deal with recurring bills. These card choices will make monthly payments more rewarding than ever.

    How Recurring Payments & Credit Card Rewards Work

    A recurring credit card payment is when a service provider automatically charges your credit card at regular intervals, eliminating manual steps. More people in Canada are setting up automatic payments on their credit cards to take care of more bills, including Netflix, Spotify, insurance, utilities, and even rent. These recurring bills are automatically charged at a certain frequency, and one does not have to shake a tree to pay every bill.

    Recurring payments fall into two types:

    1. Fixed Payments: The same amount per cycle, e.g,. memberships to gyms, streaming.

    2. Variable Payments: The amount varies each month, e.g., hydro, internet, or mobile data. Services such as Wise and Stripe recurring payment systems are commonly utilized in international or business billing.

    The convenience of making recurring payments with a credit card goes beyond because it may bring you rewards. There is bonus cashback, points, and miles on a Canadian credit card, which is specific to repeated fixed charges. Credit card automatic payments do that by transforming monthly bills into rewards. You do not have to spend more to earn more; you simply take monthly payments that are automatic.

    The Rewards You Might Be Missing on Recurring Bills

    Not only is it convenient to use a credit card to make such payments, but it is also valuable. Recurring bills have become a special category or an increase in rewards in most Canadian credit cards. When you enroll in autopay with a rewards credit card, you are shifting what you already spend on any given month to actual returns.

    Benefits include:

    • Earning cashback or reward points automatically each billing cycle

    • Unlocking bonus categories — some cards give 2% to 4% back on recurring bills

    • Avoiding late payment fees thanks to automation

    • Building a positive credit history if balances are paid in full

    Welcome bonuses are some of the benefits that some cards have, where they become active when you have recurrent charges, and the quicker you switch your billing with the service, the faster you can receive more bonuses.

    Trust, Security, and Simplicity

    Shopify, Stripe, among other platforms work with high security guidelines so that your credit card details are safe. The processors used are PCI compliant, encrypted, and used widely all around Canada. Combined with reasonable credit card usage, recurring payments not only make life more convenient but should assist in enabling you to accumulate an excellent financial record.

    Another advantage comes with well-organized tracking: all recurring payments are listed in your statement every month, so you can quickly tell where you are spending your money and where you do not want to spend it. Setting up credit card automatic payments not only helps avoid late fees but also builds a consistent payment history that boosts your credit score.

    Top Cashback Credit Cards for Recurring Payments in Canada

    When you are automating your monthly expenses, such as rent, utility bills, and your Spotify and Netflix subscriptions, using the appropriate cashback credit card will lead to a visible effect on your savings rate per year. Most Canadians ignore the amount of money lurking in their monthly bills, yet a simple card can help them earn hundreds of rewards regularly.

    Following are the best ten credit cards that will provide cash back on regular bills in 2025:

    Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite

    The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite card is among the best-rewarding cards in Canada with the repeated bills. It presents a market-best 4 percent cashback on all recurring payments such as rent (those paid through platforms such as Chexy), phone, internet, and subscriptions, all with up to a maximum of 25,000/year.

    Why it stands out:

    • 4% cashback on recurring bills

    • 2% cashback on groceries and transit

    • 1% cashback on all other purchases

    • Generous welcome bonus often worth up to $200

    • Annual fee: $120 (frequently waived the first year)

    • Added perks: Mobile device insurance, travel protection, and Visa Infinite concierge access

    Real-world example:
    If you pay $2,000/month in recurring bills, you could earn around $960 per year just from autopayments.

    TD Cash Back® Visa Infinite

    The TD Cash Back Visa Infinite is a sound choice when it comes to cashback on regular bills, such as streaming, utilities, or even subscription software, at 3 percent cashback, to an annual spending cap of 15,000.

    Key benefits:

    • 3% cashback on recurring payments

    • 1%–2% on gas and groceries

    • Flexible redemption: Use cashback at any time with no minimum

    • Comprehensive travel insurance and Visa Infinite benefits

    • Annual fee: $139 (often comes with limited-time welcome bonuses)

    This card is ideal if you value flexible rewards redemption and want added perks like emergency medical and rental car coverage when you travel.

    CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite & Tangerine World Mastercard®

    For those who want solid rewards without overthinking, both CIBC and Tangerine offer attractive cashback options, especially for moderate spenders or those who prefer no annual fee.

    CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite

    A great choice if you split your bills across categories like gas and groceries, along with recurring charges.

    • 2% cashback on recurring bills

    • 4% cashback on groceries and gas

    • 1% on everything else

    • Access to frequent welcome bonuses

    • Annual fee: $120

    • Travel and mobile insurance included

    Tangerine World Mastercard

    Perfect as a no-annual-fee backup card, especially if you want to customize your cashback categories.

    • 2% cashback on up to three chosen categories (including recurring bills)

    • 0.5% cashback on everything else

    • No annual fee

    • Includes rental car insurance, purchase assurance, and Mastercard perks

    If you want a straightforward way to earn without paying an annual fee, Tangerine is a strong, low-maintenance option.

    Best Points Cards for Recurring Bills in Canada

    Although cash-back cards are terrific at simple savings, points cards can provide access to top-rated travel, lodging, mash-ups, and one-of-a-kind travel experiences. If you travel a lot or are generally a high-living person, or maximize point transfers and like to travel a lot, using a high-earning rewards card to pay off your regular bills can be way more valuable long-term as opposed to a flat-rate cashback card.

    Here are the best points credit cards for recurring bill payments in 2025:

    1. American Express Aeroplan Reserve & Platinum Cards

    To Aeroplan loyalists and frequent flyers, the Aeroplan Reserve and Platinum cards provided by Amex have outstanding value in all purchases, including repetitive ones.

    What you get:

    • Aeroplan Reserve:


      • Earn 1.25 Aeroplan points per dollar on recurring bills

      • 3x on Air Canada purchases, 2x on dining and food delivery

      • Access to Maple Leaf Lounges, priority airport treatment, and comprehensive travel insurance

      • Annual fee: $599

      • Points can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and hotel stays — often at ~2¢/point or more in value

    • Platinum Card:


      • Not Aeroplan-specific, but earns 3x points on streaming and dining, and 1x on recurring bills

      • Offers global lounge access, hotel upgrades, and premium insurance

      • Higher annual fee of $799, but exceptional value for premium travellers

    Best for: High spenders who prioritize travel perks and want to turn monthly bills into first-class flight redemptions.

    2. RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege

    The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege is a top-tier travel card with solid rewards on recurring bills and strong flexibility in point redemption.

    Why it’s worth considering:

    • Earn 1.25 Avion points per dollar on recurring bill payments

    • Access to RBC Avion travel portal, or transfer points to British Airways Avios, WestJet, and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

    • Includes VIP airport services, comprehensive insurance, and concierge access

    • Annual fee: $399

    Example value: 100,000 Avion points can be worth $2,000+ in premium travel bookings when transferred strategically during promo periods.

    Best for: Users looking for a flexible travel ecosystem and premium privileges, especially those already banking with RBC.

    3. Amex Cobalt & Scene+ Program Cards

    For everyday users who want flexibility, Amex Cobalt and Scene+ program cards (like the Scotiabank Gold American Express) are two standout options in 2025.

    Amex Cobalt

    • Earn 2x points on recurring bills

    • 5x on food & delivery, 3x on streaming, 2x on transit, 1x elsewhere

    • Monthly fee: $12.99/month (~$155/year)

    • Redeem through Amex Membership Rewards for travel, gift cards, or transfer to Aeroplan and Marriott Bonvoy

    Scene+ Credit Cards (e.g., Scotia Gold Amex)

    • Earn up to 2x Scene+ points on recurring payments

    • Redeem points for travel, groceries (at Empire-owned stores), or Cineplex experiences

    • No foreign transaction fees (on some cards) and low annual fees

    Best for: Canadians who want everyday flexibility, multiple redemption options, and solid rewards across common spending categories.

    Strategies to Maximize Recurring-Bill Rewards

    Selecting the proper credit card is only half of the success; it is also important how you are going to use it. It will be beneficial to have your credit card strategy tailored to the way you spend to get the full value of your monthly recurring bills. When managing recurring payments on your credit card, always monitor bonus category limits to avoid over-optimization losses

    Here are some proven ways to maximize your rewards:

    1. Match Cards to Specific Spending Categories

    The reward quality of all the cards is not uniform in all respects. Rather than loading all your bills into one card, tier out your cards according to where they pay the most.

    • Use your Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite for recurring bills (4% up to $25K/year)

    • Use a CIBC Dividend or TD card for groceries and gas if they offer higher returns there

    • Allocate Amex Cobalt for food delivery and streaming services, where it earns 3x–5x points

    Pro tip: Assign each card to a specific group of bills — this keeps your earnings optimized and your categories uncluttered.

    2. Use Bill-Pay Platforms for Hard-to-Charge Expenses

    A large bill, such as rent, tuition, or property tax, cannot be paid directly by credit card. But that is where special bill-pay systems such as TenantPay can help.

    TenantPay gives Canadians the capability to pay their rent with a credit card, so they can get the benefits that come along with their biggest ongoing bills. Now you are able to pay your rent into one of the cards, such as a cashback card, points card, or even a travel rewards card. After all, why make your rent evaporate into the bank account when you could be gaining money or points just by a few clicks?

    The point is particularly useful when you subscribe to a high-income rewards card such as the Scotia Momentum or an Aeroplan-affiliated card. By putting your rent on a card that gives a bonus reward on repetitive bills, you are getting the greatest return out of the money you are already paying out.

    A few things to keep in mind:

    • Processing fees may apply and typically range from 1.5% to 2.9% depending on your provider and payment method.

    • In many cases, the value of the rewards earned (especially with premium cards) can offset a large portion of that fee.

    • Plus, using your card consistently through a platform like TenantPay helps build your credit profile, provided you pay off the full balance monthly.

    When you are paying any rent in Canada and are not getting rewarded for the same, you are leaving money on the table. Using tenantPay will make it simple to combine rent with your credit card rewards program so you can earn extra money off one of your largest monthly expenses.

    3. Monitor Spending Caps and Rotate Cards Strategically

    Many high-earning cashback and points cards have annual or monthly limits on how much you can earn at bonus rates.

    • Example: Scotia Momentum offers 4% on recurring bills, but only up to $25,000 per year — after that, the rate drops to 1%.

    • TD Cash Back has a $15,000 cap on bonus categories before reverting to base earnings.

    To avoid losing out:

    • Track your bonus category spending

    • Rotate to a secondary card once the cap is reached (e.g., move to Tangerine or CIBC)

    • Use a no-annual-fee card as a backup to keep earning while staying fee-efficient

    When you layer these tactics, it will be easier to make sure that every dollar of your monthly bills is working more on your behalf in 2025 by tiering your cards, taking advantage of bill-pay services, and controlling the reward caps.

    Fees, APR & Hidden Costs: What to Watch Before You Swipe

    Although one credit card payment of a recurring bill can reach staggeringly high reward points when points and cash back are considered, the long-term play should be looked at more deeply. Knowing the fees, rate of interest, and the type of transactions that accompany your card keeps you ahead of the game.

    1. Weigh Annual Fees Against Reward Value

    The annual fees on premium rewards cards vary between 120-799 a year, and although the reward rates are also high, these fees may be deducted from the returns that you get if you are not spending a lot.

    Ask yourself:

    • Am I using this card for enough recurring expenses to justify the annual fee?

    • Does the welcome bonus or insurance coverage add value beyond rewards?

    • Would a no-fee card with slightly lower rewards (like Tangerine) be more cost-effective for my spending level?

    2. Know the Difference Between Purchase and Cash-Advance Transactions

    Not all recurring payments are treated equally. Some third-party platforms or bill types (like rent or tuition) may be processed as a cash advance, not a regular purchase.

    Why this matters:

    • Cash advances don’t earn rewards

    • They often trigger immediate interest, with no grace period

    • Additional cash-advance fees may apply (e.g., $3–$5 per transaction or a percentage)

    Tip: TenantPay processes rent payments as standard purchase transactions, meaning you’ll earn rewards without triggering cash-advance fees or interest, as long as you pay your statement in full.

    3. Watch the APR if You Carry a Balance

    If you don’t pay your balance in full each month, any rewards you earn could be cancelled out — or worse — by interest charges.

    • Most credit cards have APR between 19.99% and 22.99%

    • Carrying a balance for even one month can wipe out the value of your cashback or points

    • Rewards cards with high annual fees become especially risky if not paid off consistently

    Bottom line: If you’re not paying in full, you’re better off using a low-interest credit card for recurring bills — or paying directly through a platform like TenantPay using a debit-based setup.

    2025 Canadian Credit & Rewards Trends

    By 2025, the way Canadians manage recurring costs is being reconsidered and credit card issuers are changing along with it.

    Rise of the Subscription Economy

    Now that most households have several accounts to maintain (streaming, food delivery, cloud storage), recurring payments are one of the largest spending categories. Such a switch necessitates the utilization of cards that pay off online billing.

    Credit Card Reward Programs Are Adapting

    Financial institutions such as Scotiabank, TD, and RBC have now changed the way they reward customers to cover recurring bills:

    • Scotia Momentum returns 4 per cent on regular spending

    • Automated payment rates are now contained in TD and RBC bonus rates

    • CIBC and Tangerine now offer customized rewards that can add categories of bills

    Fintech Bill-Pay Tools on the Rise

    Canadians using rent payment systems such as TenantPay are finding it more popular to use a credit card to pay the rent instead of a fixed monthly deduction that can be converted to cashback or points. They provide additional flexibility, automation and convenience, which the contemporary financial behavior is all about.

    Choosing the Right Card for You

    The optimal credit card to use when paying recurrent bills is determined by the amount that you spend and what matters most to you. One size does not fit all; there is no possibility of choosing the right card to suit your type of lifestyle, in which case you stand a better chance of receiving high quality for what you are paying every month.

    Match the Card to Your Recurring Spending

    • Small or budget-conscious renters:
      At a low bill amount (under 1000/month), the lack of annual fee will not be an issue, and you can get decent cashback by usinga no-fee card such as The Angerine World Mastercard or the CIBC Dividend Visa.
    • High spenders or large households:
      Cards such as Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite or TD Cash Back Visa Infinite give you even more rewards, particularly when you recurring charges (such as rent via TenantPay) sum up to 15K-25K each year.
    • Frequent travelers:
      In case you are willing to spend your bills on travel perks, use superior cards, such as RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege or Amex Aeroplan Reserve, which are the most appropriate to make the best out of the number of points you can earn and airport perks.

    Quick tip: Calculate how much you spend on recurring bills monthly, and choose a card where the rewards outweigh the fees — that’s your sweet spot.

    Conclusion & Next Steps

    Recurring bills are just a reality, but it is not an opportunity to miss. With the correct credit card, your routine payments, such as insurance or rent, utilities, and subscriptions, may be converted to significant profits of cashback, points, or travel advantages.

    Quick Recap:

    • Best returns: Scotia Momentum (4% cashback), TD and RBC (3% and up recurrent), Amex Aeroplan and Avion (perfect to build travel points).
    • Less demanding ones: Tangerine and CIBC when the budget is smaller or the desire to be a fee-free member is higher
    • Smart strategy: Use TenantPay to pay rent with a credit card and earn on your biggest monthly expense

    It is difficult to discover which card has the best reward-to-fee ratio since it requires one to organize their monthly refilling expenses like rent, streaming, internet, and phone, and compare it with the card rewards and fees; then choose the card with the greatest ratio. It could turn hundreds of dollars into value each year when just minutes of planning are done.

    Ready to earn back your rent?

    First, connect your credit card to TenantPay, select a rewards card to fit your purchasing tendencies, and today start enjoying real returns on your recurring bills.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    1. What are recurring bills?


    Recurring bills are automatic charges for regular services like rent, utilities, subscriptions, or insurance, billed monthly or annually.

    2. How do I pay recurring bills with a credit card?


    You can set up autopay with service providers or use platforms like TenantPay to pay rent and other recurring bills using your credit card.

    3. Can I set up recurring payments on a credit card?


    Yes, you can enable recurring payments on your credit card by using autopay with most service providers, or through platforms like TenantPay.

    4. What are the best credit cards for recurring bills on Reddit?


    Reddit users often recommend Scotia Momentum, TD Cash Back, and Amex Cobalt for consistent rewards on recurring payments.

    5. What are the best credit cards in Canada right now?


    Top choices for 2025 include Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite, TD Cash Back Visa Infinite, RBC Avion Visa Infinite, and Amex Cobalt, based on your spending needs.

    Contact us!
    Thank you! Your submission has been received!
    Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
    Subscribe to our newsletter
    Thank you! Your submission has been received!
    Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.