Rogers Mastercard Review

The Rogers Mastercard is one of the best cash back credit cards in Canada, yet many people don’t even know about it. That’s because it’s a relatively new card, and for you to maximize the 2% cash back on all purchases, you just need to be a Rogers, Fido or Shaw postpaid customer. In addition, if you redeem your cash back on eligible Rogers, Fido and Shaw purchases, you get a 1.5x redemption bonus. That effectively makes your cash back rate 3%.

If you don’t have Rogers, Fido or Shaw services, this card is not for you since the earn rate will be lower, and the included benefits are tied to Rogers products. The card also lacks basic purchase insurance. That said, if you use Rogers services, this is arguably the best no fee, cash back card on the market. Read my Rogers Mastercard review now for the full details.

Rogers Mastercard

Welcome bonus and earn rate

The Rogers Mastercard welcome bonus is currently $60 cash back when you make a mobile wallet purchase within the first 90 days and six automatic payments within the first eight months for your Rogers, Fido or Shaw postpaid service.

As for the earning rate, you’ll earn 2% cash back on all purchases with no limits if you’re a Rogers, Fido or Shaw postpaid customer. If you don’t have a Rogers service, you’ll get 2% cash back on U.S. dollar purchases and 1% cash back on all other purchases. 

Qualifying services include:

• Postpaid Rogers-branded consumer mobile plans
• Postpaid Rogers-branded consumer mobile plans
• Any Rogers, Shaw or Fido-branded internet, TV, home phone, home monitoring or satellite service

It’s worth noting that a foreign transaction fee of 2.5% still applies. If you get the higher earn rate, you’re still losing by .5%. While that’s not ideal, it’s still better than other cash back cards that don’t give you any rewards on foreign purchases. 

Rogers Mastercard benefits

The Rogers Mastercard benefits are designed for people with a Rogers service, as they’ll help you offset your costs. Again, if you don’t have any Rogers services, this card and the perks aren’t very good.

1.5 times more cash back for Rogers purchases

Even though you can redeem your cash back on any purchase made with your Rogers Mastercard, you’ll get 1.5X more cash back when you apply it towards a Rogers purchase. This essentially makes your cash back rate 3%. This makes it the best cash-back card in Canada for Rogers, Fido and Shaw Customers.

Five free Roam Like Home days

Roam Like Home allows you to use your mobile plan (voice and data) when travelling outside Canada. Usually, this feature costs $15 a day, so you’re saving up to $75. While there’s no denying the value here, Roam Like Home is only available to Rogers customers with an eligible postpaid account. If you’re with Fido or Shaw, this benefit is useless.

Transaction monitoring and alerts

Your account allows you to set up text or email alerts whenever a transaction occurs. This allows you to catch any potential fraud, and it can help you manage your budget.

Five free TTC rides

Rogers Bank is kicking off a promotion in Toronto on the TTC. Cardholders who tap any Rogers credit card using a mobile wallet can get five free rides on the TTC between Nov 1 and Dec 31.

When your cash back is paid out

Knowing how your cash back is paid out is arguably the most critical aspect of this Rogers Mastercard review. Unlike some other cash back cards that only pay out once a year, the Rogers Mastercard allows you to redeem your rewards towards any purchase made in the last 90 days as long as you’ve earned at least $10 in cash back.

Remember, there’s a 30% cash back bonus that’s paid when you apply your rewards toward a Rogers purchase. This includes your monthly mobile/home internet bill or phone and accessory purchases. Obviously, it’s in your best interest to redeem your cash back on Rogers services or products.

Rogers Mastercard eligibility

• You’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• You’re at least the age of majority in your province or territory.

Another reason the Rogers Mastercard is appealing is that it has no formal income requirement. You also don’t need to maintain a minimum annual spend to keep the card. That said, a credit check will be performed at the time of application to see if you qualify. Although a formal credit score number isn’t listed, generally, you want yours to be at least 660 before applying.

How the Rogers Mastercard compares

If you’re a Rogers customer, you won’t find a no fee, cash back credit card that gives you a higher rate of return. However, those who don’t use Rogers or are looking for different benefits may want to consider one of the following cards. 

Rogers Mastercard vs. SimplyCash Card from American Express 

The most comparable no fee, cash back credit card is the SimplyCash Card from American Express. With this card, you’ll earn 2% cash back on groceries and gas ($15,000 spend limit for each) and 1.25% cash back on all other purchases. This earning rate is lower than the Rogers Mastercard, but you don’t need to have a Rogers service to get the earning rates. In addition, this card gives you access to American Express Experiences, Buyer’s assurance, and purchase protection.

Rogers Mastercard vs. Wealthsimple Cash Card

The Wealthsimple Cash Card is a no fee, prepaid card. The most significant advantage it has over the Rogers Mastercard is that it has no foreign transaction fees for purchases or ATM withdrawals. In addition, you’ll earn 1% cash back on all purchases and you’ll get interest on your deposits. One downside of this card is that it won’t help you build your credit, but it’s a great card for travelling since you can save quite a bit on fees.

Rogers Mastercard vs. American Express Cobalt Card

To maximize your rewards, you may be better served with the American Express Cobalt Card. The earning rate is 5 American Express Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on eats and drinks (including grocery stores), 3 points on streaming services, 2 points on travel and transit, and 1 point on all other purchases. Although the Cobalt Card has a monthly fee of $12.99, Membership Rewards are incredibly valuable. You can redeem 1,000 points for a $10 statement credit or you can transfer them to some travel loyalty programs such as Aeroplan and Marriott Bonvoy. This makes the card a hybrid cash back/travel card.

Final thoughts

My Rogers Mastercard review is positive. This card is ideal for anyone in the following situations:

• You’re a Rogers customer – With an earning potential of 2.6% cash back, there’s no other no fee cash back card on the market that’s better.
• You want simple cash back – Since you can claim your cash back once you’ve earned at least $10 in rewards, there’s no need to wait for yearly payouts like other cards.
• You don’t want to pay an annual fee – There’s no need to worry about any monthly or yearly fees with this card.

If you don’t have any Rogers services or want more benefits, other cards would be a better fit. The lack of purchase insurance may worry some people, but it’s not likely a deal breaker.