RBC ION Visa review

How the ION Visa earns points

The ION Visa earns 1.5 Avion points per dollar in three groups of everyday spending: groceries; gas, EV charging, transit and rideshare; and streaming, digital subscriptions and gaming. All other qualifying purchases earn 1 point per dollar. These groups cover spending many people do every week, so a good share of an ordinary budget earns the higher rate without any planning.

For example, someone who spends $500 a month on groceries, $150 on gas and transit, $30 on streaming and $600 on everything else earns 1,020 points on the bonus categories and 600 on the rest. That’s 1,620 points a month, or 19,440 a year, with no fee.

The welcome offer

RBC lists the welcome offer as up to 7,000 Avion points, awarded upon approval. Because it’s tied to approval rather than a spending target, you don’t need to change your habits to collect it, but check the current terms to confirm how the full amount is paid.

In the example budget above, 7,000 points is a little over four months of regular earning.

Avion Rewards and extra perks

Your points go into RBC’s Avion Rewards program, which also gives you access to offers from more than 2,000 brands.

At Petro-Canada, you save 3 cents a litre and earn 20% more Petro-Points, which adds to the 1.5x gas rate for drivers. You also get three months of complimentary DoorDash DashPass and free additional cards for others in your household.

Fees, interest and the fine print

There is no annual fee, so the ION costs nothing to hold. That makes it a low-risk first card: if your spending changes later, you can keep it open as a backup without paying anything. Purchases are charged 20.99% interest and cash advances 22.99%.

Foreign currency purchases carry a 2.5% fee, about $25 per $1,000 spent abroad or with US retailers. If you’re a student or new to credit, paying the full balance each month keeps interest from outweighing the points you earn.

Insurance coverage

Coverage is limited to protection for things you buy with the card. Check the certificate for limits and exclusions.

• Purchase security and extended warranty

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

The ION suits students, people new to credit and anyone who wants a no-fee card that earns a bit more on everyday essentials. The suggested credit score of 600 or higher sits in the fair range rather than the excellent range.

If you spend a lot on groceries, the ION+ may be the better buy. And if you travel often, the limited insurance and the 2.5% foreign transaction fee are worth weighing.

How it compares

The RBC ION+ Visa costs $48 a year and earns 3x on groceries, double the ION’s rate, with a welcome offer of up to 14,000 Avion points. On $500 a month of groceries, the ION+ earns 9,000 more points a year than the ION.

The Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card is another no-fee option, earning 2x on groceries at Sobeys-group stores and offering up to 5,000 Scene+ points. It’s worth a look if you shop at those stores and would rather collect Scene+ points than Avion points.

Because the ION earns Avion points, it also lets you start collecting in RBC’s program without a fee before you decide whether a fee-based Avion card is worth it.

Before you apply

The recommended credit score is 600 or higher, and RBC makes the final decision based on your full credit profile. Confirm the welcome offer and current perks on RBC’s website before you apply.