rewardsno feestudent

RBC® ION® Visa® review

Name: RBC ION Visa
Brand: RBC

3.6Rated by the CreditCardGuru Editorial Team

A respectable no-fee rewards card with 1.5x on essentials. Step up to ION+ for double the category earn if the small monthly fee is worthwhile for you.

At a glance

Annual fee: No annual fee
Welcome bonus: ~$50
Foreign tx fee: 2.5%
Network: VISA
Rewards: points
Purchase APR: 20.99%

Rewards & earn rates

Groceries	1.5x
Gas, EV charging, transit & rideshare	1.5x
Streaming, digital subscriptions & gaming	1.5x
All other qualifying purchases	1x

Welcome offer: 7,000 Avion points upon approval — about $50 of value in gift cards per RBC. (Awarded upon approval).

Pros & cons

Pros

Solid no-fee earn rates on everyday essentials
Good starter card for students and credit builders

Cons

ION-tier Avion points redeem at lower value than premium Avion cards
Minimal insurance coverage

Perks & insurance

Key perks

1.5x Avion points on groceries, gas, transit, rideshare and streaming with no annual fee
Free additional cards
Access to Avion Rewards offers from 2,000+ brands
3-month complimentary DoorDash DashPass
Save 3 cents/L and earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada

Insurance

Purchase security and extended warranty

Rates & fees

Annual fee: None
Purchase interest: 20.99%
Cash advance: 22.99%
Foreign transactions: 2.5%

Last updated June 7, 2026Reviewed by CreditCardGuru Editorial Team

Similar cards to consider

Guru Pick American Express®

American Express® Cobalt® Card

4.8·Foodies and everyday spenders who want maximum points on dining and groceries

Annual fee: $156/yr
Welcome bonus: ~$300
Top reward: 5x eats & food delivery

Best-in-class earn rate on dining and groceries
Membership Rewards transfer to Aeroplan, Marriott & more

Suggested score 720+ · Excellent credit

Apply now View details

Guru Pick Scotiabank®

Scotiabank® Gold American Express®

4.7·Grocery shoppers and travellers who want no foreign transaction fees

Annual fee: $120/yr
Welcome bonus: ~$650
Top reward: 6x groceries

No 2.5% foreign transaction fee
6x on groceries is one of the highest in Canada

Suggested score 720+ · Excellent credit

Apply now View details

No FX fee

Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Card terms and offers change and may be out of date — always verify with the issuer before applying, and consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. CreditCardGuru may earn a commission from cards featured on this site; this never influences our editorial ratings. See our advertiser disclosure.

Written by

CreditCardGuru Editorial Team

Rewards & Cards Research

Our editorial team independently researches and rates every credit card in Canada using a transparent, data-driven methodology. We update card terms continuously and never let issuer relationships influence our ratings.

200+ Canadian cards tracked
Transparent rating methodology
Updated continuously

Cite this page

“RBC® ION® Visa® Review (2026)” — CreditCardGuru, https://creditcardguru.ca/cards/rbc-ion-visa, updated June 7, 2026.