Annual fee
$0
Primary cardholder
Best Credit Cards for Poor Credit or Credit Rebuilding in Canada
Credit rebuilding should feel practical and encouraging
If you are rebuilding credit, the right card should be clear about fees, deposits, eligibility, and reporting. RateBuddy helps compare credit-building options in a friendly way so you can focus on steady progress.
Smart Card Filter
Auto-updates results
Compare Credit Building Cards
Use the filters to shape the card results below. Adjust your monthly spend, narrow by provider, or highlight no-fee and welcome-bonus options — RateBuddy will quietly refresh the list so the results stay connected to your choices.
Ready to refine
Annual fee
$0
Purchase APR
29.90%
Cash advance
29.90%
CAPITAL ONE CANADA
Best for
No Annual Fee
Secured Cards
Best for
No Annual Fee
Secured Cards
Card essentials
Rates, fees and requirements
The important numbers, organized so they are easy to scan and compare.
Purchase APR
29.90%
Regular purchase rate
Cash advance APR
29.90%
Cash transaction rate
Balance transfer APR
—
When available
Foreign transaction fee
—
Foreign-currency purchases
Additional card fee
$0
Supplementary cardholder
Before you apply
Eligibility snapshot
Recommended credit score
Poor
Minimum personal income
$0
Minimum household income
—
Approval, rates and credit limits are determined by the card provider.
Annual fee
$0
Purchase APR
29.90%
Cash advance
29.90%
CAPITAL ONE CANADA
Best for
No Annual Fee
Secured Cards
Best for
No Annual Fee
Secured Cards
Card essentials
Rates, fees and requirements
The important numbers, organized so they are easy to scan and compare.
Annual fee
$0
Primary cardholder
Purchase APR
29.90%
Regular purchase rate
Cash advance APR
29.90%
Cash transaction rate
Balance transfer APR
—
When available
Foreign transaction fee
—
Foreign-currency purchases
Additional card fee
$0
Supplementary cardholder
Before you apply
Eligibility snapshot
Recommended credit score
Poor
Minimum personal income
$0
Minimum household income
—
Approval, rates and credit limits are determined by the card provider.
Annual fee
$0
Purchase APR
—
CIBC
Best for
Low Interest
No Annual Fee
Business
Best for
Low Interest
No Annual Fee
Business
Card essentials
Rates, fees and requirements
The important numbers, organized so they are easy to scan and compare.
Annual fee
$0
Primary cardholder
Purchase APR
—
Regular purchase rate
Cash advance APR
—
Cash transaction rate
Balance transfer APR
—
When available
Foreign transaction fee
—
Foreign-currency purchases
Additional card fee
—
Supplementary cardholder
Before you apply
Eligibility snapshot
Recommended credit score
—
Minimum personal income
$15,000
Minimum household income
—
Approval, rates and credit limits are determined by the card provider.
Annual fee
$0
Purchase APR
19.99%
Home Trust
Best for
No Annual Fee
Secured Cards
Newcomer
Best for
No Annual Fee
Secured Cards
Newcomer
Card essentials
Rates, fees and requirements
The important numbers, organized so they are easy to scan and compare.
Annual fee
$0
Primary cardholder
Purchase APR
19.99%
Regular purchase rate
Cash advance APR
—
Cash transaction rate
Balance transfer APR
—
When available
Foreign transaction fee
—
Foreign-currency purchases
Additional card fee
—
Supplementary cardholder
Before you apply
Eligibility snapshot
Recommended credit score
—
Minimum personal income
—
Minimum household income
—
Approval, rates and credit limits are determined by the card provider.
Annual fee
$9.99
Purchase APR
0%
Cash advance
0%
BMO Bank of Montreal
Best for
Student
Secured Cards
Newcomer
Best for
Student
Secured Cards
Newcomer
Card essentials
Rates, fees and requirements
The important numbers, organized so they are easy to scan and compare.
Annual fee
$9.99
Primary cardholder
Purchase APR
0%
Regular purchase rate
Cash advance APR
0%
Cash transaction rate
Balance transfer APR
—
When available
Foreign transaction fee
—
Foreign-currency purchases
Additional card fee
—
Supplementary cardholder
Before you apply
Eligibility snapshot
Recommended credit score
—
Minimum personal income
—
Minimum household income
—
Approval, rates and credit limits are determined by the card provider.
Annual fee
$20
Purchase APR
19.99%
Cash advance
22.99%
Card essentials
Rates, fees and requirements
The important numbers, organized so they are easy to scan and compare.
Annual fee
$20
Primary cardholder
Purchase APR
19.99%
Regular purchase rate
Cash advance APR
22.99%
Cash transaction rate
Balance transfer APR
—
When available
Foreign transaction fee
—
Foreign-currency purchases
Additional card fee
$20
Supplementary cardholder
Before you apply
Eligibility snapshot
Recommended credit score
—
Minimum personal income
—
Minimum household income
—
Approval, rates and credit limits are determined by the card provider.
Annual fee
$49
Purchase APR
19.99%
Cash advance
22.99%
Card essentials
Rates, fees and requirements
The important numbers, organized so they are easy to scan and compare.
Annual fee
$49
Primary cardholder
Purchase APR
19.99%
Regular purchase rate
Cash advance APR
22.99%
Cash transaction rate
Balance transfer APR
—
When available
Foreign transaction fee
2.90%
Foreign-currency purchases
Additional card fee
$25
Supplementary cardholder
Before you apply
Eligibility snapshot
Recommended credit score
—
Minimum personal income
—
Minimum household income
—
Approval, rates and credit limits are determined by the card provider.
Approval Assistant
Struggling to Get Approved?
Don't risk a rejection. Select your situation below to find cards designed to say "Yes".
Not sure where you stand?
Check your Credit Score for Free
RateBuddy
Math. Not Marketing.
We calculate the true value to save you every penny.
Data-Driven Logic
Rankings based on hard numbers (fees vs rewards), not advertising budgets.
100% Unbiased
We highlight the "gotchas" and fees just as clearly as the perks.
Direct & Secure
No data harvesting. We send you straight to the bank's secure official site.
RATEBUDDY TOOLKIT
Crunch The Numbers
See exactly how much you can save, earn, or pay off.
Explore the Ecosystem
Discover more ways to save, earn, and optimize your wallet.
Not sure what you need?
Explore other possibilities.
Credit Cards is great, but sometimes a different card fits your lifestyle better. Use our Smart Finder to see what else you qualify for.
Cash Back
Earn money on daily spend.
Travel Rewards
Best for frequent flyers.
SPEC SHEET
Find best cards by features:
Filter our database by the specific perks and coverages that matter to you.
ISSUERS
Browse by Bank & Issuer:
Filter our database to see offers from specific Canadian financial institutions.
PAYMENT NETWORKS
Browse by Network:
Filter by Visa, Mastercard, or Amex acceptance.
CARD LEVELS
Browse Cards by Tier:
From entry-level options to exclusive black cards. Find the eligibility level that fits you.
KNOWLEDGE BASE
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Compare Credit Building Cards Cards and financial strategy.
Disclaimer: Information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Terms subject to change by issuers.
Many student cards have more flexible income requirements compared to premium cards, sometimes requiring no specific annual income. However, applicants must typically be the age of majority in their province and provide proof of enrollment in a post-secondary institution.
It depends. If the issuer pre-approves you for an increase, it may not require a hard check. However, if you request an increase yourself, the issuer will often perform a hard inquiry to verify your current financial situation. You can ask the representative which type of check will be performed before proceeding.
Yes, provided the issuer reports to credit bureaus (Equifax/TransUnion). Secured cards require a security deposit but function like regular credit cards. Making on-time payments and keeping balances low helps build a positive payment history, which is the most significant factor in credit scoring.
Using comparison tools or checking your own credit report is typically considered a 'Soft Inquiry,' which does not affect your score. However, submitting a formal application to a bank results in a 'Hard Inquiry,' which may cause a temporary, minor decrease in your credit score.
Credit Utilization is the percentage of your available credit that you are currently using. For example, a $500 balance on a $1,000 limit is 50% utilization. Many financial experts suggest keeping this ratio below 30% to maintain a healthy credit score, as high utilization can be viewed as a risk factor by lenders.
Still have questions?
Visit our Financial Education Hub
FINANCIAL WELLNESS
Tools & Resources
Master your money with our suite of free calculators and guides.