Overview
The RBC Cash Back Mastercard is RBC's no-annual-fee cash back card — built for Canadians who want straightforward cash back rewards without paying anything to hold the card. You earn 2% cash back on groceries and 1% cash back on everything else, with no cap on total cash back earned.
There are no points to manage, no redemption tiers, and no annual fee. It's one of the simplest and most accessible cash back cards in Canada.
Limited-Time Welcome Offer
RBC is currently offering up to 7% cash back for the first 3 months on up to $1,000 in total purchases. Apply by March 25, 2026 to qualify.
Earning Cash Back
The card features two earning tiers:
- 2% cash back on grocery store purchases
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Both tiers are unlimited — there's no annual cap on how much cash back you can earn. On $2,000/month in total spending (with $600 on groceries), you'd earn roughly $312 in cash back per year at no cost.
Benefits & Features
Insurance
Despite being a no-fee card, the RBC Cash Back Mastercard includes:
- Purchase Security — Protection against loss, theft, or damage on eligible purchases
- Extended Warranty Insurance — Extends the manufacturer's warranty on eligible items
These are valuable inclusions — many no-fee cash back cards don't offer any insurance.
RBC Partner Perks
- Petro-Canada — Save 3¢/L on fuel and earn 20% more Petro-Points
- Rexall — Earn 50 Be Well™ points per $1 spent on eligible purchases
- DoorDash — 6-month complimentary DashPass subscription
Digital Features
- RBC Mobile App — Manage bills, set up mobile pay, view transactions
- NOMI — AI-powered financial insights and banking alerts
- Fraud Protection — Covered against unauthorized card use
RBC Cash Back Card Comparison
| Feature | Cash Back Mastercard ($0) | Cash Back Preferred World Elite ($99) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $99 |
| Grocery cash back | 2% | 1.5% (all purchases) |
| All other purchases | 1% | 1.5% (all purchases) |
| Welcome bonus | Up to 7% for 3 months | 12% for 3 months |
| Purchase Security | ||
| Extended Warranty | ||
| Rental Car Insurance | ||
| Airport lounges | 1,300+ via Dragon Pass | |
| DoorDash DashPass | 6 months | 12 months |
| Income requirement | None | $80K / $150K |
The no-fee card earns more on groceries (2% vs 1.5%) but less on everything else (1% vs 1.5%). If your non-grocery spending is substantial, the World Elite may come out ahead despite its $99 fee — plus it adds lounge access and rental car insurance.
Drawbacks to Consider
Modest Base Earn Rate
At 1% on non-grocery purchases, the base earn rate is standard but not exceptional. Cards like the TD Cash Back Visa Infinite offer higher rates in more categories (3% on groceries/gas/transit).
No Travel Insurance
There's no emergency medical, trip cancellation, or flight delay coverage. You'll need another card or standalone insurance for travel.
2.5% Foreign Transaction Fee
Standard 2.5% FX fee on non-CAD purchases. Not ideal for international spending.
No Rental Car Insurance
Unlike the World Elite version, this card does not include rental car insurance.
Who Is This Card Best For?
This card is an excellent choice if you:
- Want cash back with no annual fee — a true $0-cost card
- Spend significantly on groceries and want 2% back
- Prefer simplicity over complex points programs
- Don't meet the $80,000/$150,000 income requirement for the World Elite
- Value purchase security and extended warranty (rare on no-fee cards)
- Want RBC partner perks like Petro-Canada and DoorDash
It's not the best choice if you:
- Spend heavily across all categories and want a flat 1.5%+ rate on everything
- Need travel insurance or rental car coverage
- Want airport lounge access
- Can qualify for the World Elite version
Bottom Line
The RBC Cash Back Mastercard is one of the best no-fee cash back cards in Canada. The 2% on groceries is competitive, the unlimited cash back means no caps to worry about, and the included purchase security and extended warranty are genuinely rare perks for a $0 card. Add in RBC partner benefits with Petro-Canada, Rexall, and DoorDash, and you've got a reliable everyday card that costs nothing to hold.
