Rogers Red Mastercard review

How the Rogers Red earns cash back

The Rogers Red Mastercard has one simple rule for most purchases. If you have a qualifying Rogers, Fido, Comwave or Shaw service, everything earns 2% cash back. If you don’t, it earns 1%. US dollar purchases earn 2%, but the 2.5% foreign transaction fee still applies to them.

For a Rogers customer spending $1,500 a month on the card, that’s $30 a month, or $360 a year, with no fee to subtract. Without a qualifying service, the same spending earns $15 a month, or $180 a year.

That makes it one of the simpler cards to use. There are no categories to track, and with a qualifying service, almost every purchase earns the same rate.

Redeeming cash back and Rogers perks

The minimum redemption is $10. Cash back redeemed toward Rogers, Fido, Comwave or Shaw purchases gets a 1.5x bonus, so the $360 in the example above would cover $540 of purchases from those providers. If you were going to pay those bills anyway, redeeming this way stretches your rewards furthest.

Rogers subscribers also get five free Roam Like Home days each year, and the card offers 0% interest Equal Payment Plan financing on devices at Rogers and Fido stores. You can add up to nine supplementary cards at no cost, and there’s no income requirement.

Fees, interest and US purchases

There’s no annual fee. The 2% rate on US dollar purchases looks attractive, but the 2.5% foreign transaction fee is larger. On $1,000 of US dollar purchases, you’d earn about $20 in cash back and pay about $25 in fees, leaving you roughly $5 behind.

Purchases are charged 20.99% interest and cash advances 22.99%. Paying the full balance by the due date avoids purchase interest, which would erase a 2% reward many times over.

Insurance coverage

The only protection listed is Mastercard’s fraud coverage. There’s no travel, rental car or purchase insurance listed, so don’t rely on this card for trip coverage.

• Mastercard Zero Liability

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

The Rogers Red suits Rogers, Fido, Comwave and Shaw customers who want a flat 2% on everyday spending without paying a fee, especially if they’ll redeem toward their bills for the 1.5x bonus. The lack of an income requirement makes it accessible to many applicants.

If you don’t have a qualifying service, 1% cash back is ordinary for a no-fee card. People who shop in US dollars often, or who want travel insurance, should look elsewhere.

It also pairs well with a no-FX card for travel, so you keep the 2% rate at home and avoid the fee abroad.

How it compares

The Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard also has no annual fee and earns 3% on US-dollar purchases, with a welcome offer of up to $60 cash back. If you spend in US dollars regularly, its 3% rate on those purchases is higher than the 2.5% foreign transaction fee, though only by a small margin.

For foreign spending, the Wealthsimple Credit Card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee, and earns 1% cash back on everything. It suits people without a Rogers service who want one simple card at home and abroad.

Before you apply

The recommended credit score is 660 or higher, and Rogers Bank makes the final decision based on your full credit profile. Check which Rogers, Fido, Comwave and Shaw services qualify for the 2% rate, and confirm current terms on the Rogers Bank website before you apply.

If you’re thinking of switching phone or internet providers, remember that the card’s 2% rate depends on keeping a qualifying service.