Home
Credit Cards
Credit Card Reviews
RBC ION+ Visa review

RBC ION+ Visa review

Cameron Smonk
Cory Santos

Apr 25, 2025

While we adhere to strict editorial guidelines, partners on this page may provide us earnings.

Overall rating

First year value

$556

Get this card if you:

  • want to earn rewards on everyday purchases
  • want a low monthly fee
  • want mobile device protection and extended warranty

Scores by category

Student 5.0

Rewards 3.0

At a glance

The RBC ION+ Visa is a rewards credit card offering elevated Avion points on categories such as groceries, dining, gas, rideshare, public transit, EV charging, streaming services, digital gaming, and online subscriptions, with a standard earn rate on all other purchases. Cardholders benefit from a welcome bonus, mobile device insurance, and savings on fuel at Petro-Canada; however, the card carries a modest annual fee, which is waived for students with an RBC Advantage Banking account.

Highlights

$556

First year value

14,000 Avion points

Welcome bonus

$48

Annual fee

$4 per month

Interest Rates

20.99%

Purchase APR

22.99%

Balance transfer APR

22.99%

Cash advance APR

21.99% for residents of Quebec

Eligibility

Good

Recommended credit score

Quick overview: RBC ION+ Visa

The RBC ION+ Visa Card is an intriguing rewards credit card that's great for students or anyone who wants robust rewards and a modest annual fee in one convenient package. For those shy of big fees, the RBC ION+ Visa might make sense for its decent rewards rate in popular spending categories and a comparatively modest fee. Even better, students with an RBC Advantage Banking account for students get the $48 waived - talk about student savings!

Who’s the RBC ION+ Visa for?

  • Students with RBC student accounts looking for a fee-waived rewards card
  • Streaming enthusiasts who spend heavily on streaming and digital platforms and gaming
  • Food delivery and rideshare service users seeking maximum points on these purchases
  • Commuters who use public transit frequently
  • Diners and grocery shoppers seeking strong rewards on food spending
  • RBC banking customers who can get the monthly fee waived

Pros and cons

Pros

Pros

  • Decent rewards rate in everyday spending categories.

  • Low monthly fee, (rebated for students with the no-monthly fee RBC Advantage Banking account).

  • Perks like mobile device insurance and fuel savings at Petro-Canada.

Cons

Cons

  • Complex rewards structure with less valuable Avion points in the ION tier.

  • Limited insurance benefits (but you can pay to add-on travel insurance).

RBC ION+ Visa welcome bonus

The RBC ION+ Visa comes with a very straightforward welcome bonus for new accounts:

  • Get 14,000 Avion points upon approval - that’s $100 of value in gift cards! Apply by May 14, 2025.

How to earn Avion points with the ION+ Visa

The RBC ION+ Visa credit card earns RBC Avion Rewards points on the following purchases:

  • Earn 3 Avion points† per $1 on qualifying grocery, dining, food delivery, gas, rideshare, public transit, EV charging, streaming, digital gaming and online subscriptions
  • Earn 1 Avion point per $1 on all other purchases

Based on the average monthly spend of $2,000 (as outlined in our review methodology), ION+ cardholders can earn the following each month with the card:

  • Monthly earnings: 4,400 Avion Premium points
  • Annual earnings: 52,800 Avion Premium points  

Your annual earnings of 52,800 points would be worth:

  • $306 in travel redemptions (at 0.58 cents per point)
  • $528 in WestJet Rewards points (if transferred to WestJet Rewards)
  • Around $370-$400 in gift cards (depending on redemption rates)

The bonus Avion earning rate applies specifically to merchants assigned these MCCs:

Grocery and dining

  • Grocery stores and supermarkets (MCC 5411)
  • Restaurants and eating places (MCC 5812)
  • Bars, taverns, and nightclubs (MCC 5813) - excluding government liquor stores
  • Fast food restaurants (MCC 5814)

Transportation

  • Gas stations and fuel services (MCCs 5541, 5542)
  • Electric vehicle charging (MCC 5552)
  • Taxis and limousines (MCC 4121)
  • Local commuter transportation including ferries (MCC 4111)

Digital entertainment

  • Digital media, books, movies, music (MCC 5815)
  • Digital games (MCC 5816) - excluding gambling
  • Digital applications (MCC 5817)
  • Large digital goods merchants (MCC 5818)
  • Cable, satellite, TV/radio streaming services (MCC 4899)

  • Some merchants might sell eligible items but won't qualify for bonus points if they're classified under a different MCC by Visa
  • Stores inside eligible locations (like a gift shop inside a gas station) might not qualify
  • Points are earned on net purchases only - not on cash advances, balance transfers, interest charges or fees
  • Credits for returns will reduce your points accordingly

What are Avion points worth with the ION+?

The RBC ION+ Visa earns Avion Premium points, but their value varies depending on how you choose to redeem them:

  • Travel redemptions: 0.58 cents per point (172 points = $1 CDN) when booking travel through the Avion Rewards center.
  • Gift cards: 0.71 cents per point when redeeming for gift cards (1,400 points = $10 gift card).
  • Transfer to WestJet: 0.1 cents per point (1000 Avion Premium points = 100 WestJet points)

How to redeem Avion points

You can redeem Avion points at a rate of 100 points per $1.00 (minimum 1,000 points), whereas 100 ION points are worth $0.58 (and you must redeem a minimum of 2,500 points). This means you’re effectively getting half the bang for your buck, and with the modest (and that’s putting it lightly) welcome bonus, it’s going to take a long while to save for your dream trip on the back of this card.

You can redeem points for gift cards, merchandise from popular stores like Apple and Best Buy through avionrewards.com. You can also pay your credit card balance or send an Interac e-transfer with points. 

Key benefits of the RBC ION+ Visa

  • 3x points on groceries, dining, and food delivery
  • 3x points on gas stations, EV charging, rideshare services, and public transit
  • 3x points on streaming services, digital gaming, and digital subscriptions
  • 1x on all other qualifying purchases

  • Points never expire as long as your account remains active
  • Multiple redemption options including travel, gift cards, and bill payments
  • Ability to transfer points to WestJet Rewards at a favorable rate
  • Potential to transfer points to premium Avion cards for better redemption value

  • Save 3¢/L on fuel at Petro-Canada and earn 20% more Petro-Points
  • Earn 50 Be Well points for every $1 spent at Rexall with linked accounts
  • 3-month complimentary DashPass subscription from DoorDash

RBC ION+ Visa insurance coverage

Insurance Coverage amount
Extended warranty Doubles the manufacturer's warranty, up to 1 additional year
Purchase protection Protection against loss, theft, and damage for 90 days
Mobile device coverage Up to $1,000 coverage for damage, theft and loss

  • Earn 50 Be Well points per dollar at Rexall with linked RBC ION+ Card
  • Complimentary three-month DashPass subscription from DoorDash
  • Save $0.03 per litre on fuel and earn 20% more Petro-Points and Avion Points
  • Enjoy customized alerts, insights and reminders courtesy of NOMI, RBC's AI-driven assistant

What users had to say about the ION+ Visa

This ION+ is probably the best points card for anyone who can't qualify for the Amex Cobalt, Scotia Gold Amex, the MBNA [Rewards World Elite] card or the National Bank World Elite MasterCard or don't care for premium card features and want to save on the annual fee.

Reddit user @deltatux

How does the RBC ION+ Visa Card compare?

up to 60,000 points*

Welcome Bonus

$680

First Year Value

$80

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points* by earning 5,000 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $1,000 on your Card in your first year as a new Cardmember.*

Learn More Apply Now On American Express' Secure Site

If you’re familiar with Amex cards, you’re familiar with their higher annual fees. The American Express® Gold Rewards Card is no exception (with a $250 fee), and if you’re deterred by an upfront expense, there’s no comparing these two cards. But with that cost comes a slew of benefits surpassing anything offered by the RBC ION+ Visa. For instance, the Amex fee is offset by a pretty sweet $100 travel credit, good for hotels, car rentals and other necessary expenses you might incur on a trip. 

And while both cards reward your spending on everyday purchases like groceries and gas, the Amex welcome bonus of up to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points* is absolutely going to be more appealing to would-be travellers than the paltry ION+ points offered by the Avion card. And let’s not forget the extended travel insurance on the Amex that is notably missing on RBC’s Ion+ card. Neither card has income requirements. So, despite the high cost of the Amex gold card, there are far more rewards to be had with it. If you’re a traveller, the ability to transfer Amex points 1-1 for Aeroplan or 1.5-1 for Marriott Bonvoy points is going to make your rewards far more flexible.

RBC ION+ Visa American Express® Gold Rewards Card
Annual fee:
$48 		Annual fee:
$250
Welcome offer:
Get 14,000 Avion points upon approval - that’s $100 of value in gift cards! Apply by May 14, 2025. 		Welcome offer:
Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points* by earning 5,000 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $1,000 on your Card in your first year as a new Cardmember.*
Earn rates:
[[ ribn.prod.rbc-ion-plus-visa.earnRate1Description
]]Earn 1 Avion point per $1 on all other purchases 		Earn rates:
Earn 2 Membership Rewards points on travel, including eligible flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and more
Earn 2 Membership Rewards points on gas, grocery and drugstore purchases in Canada
Earn 1x point on everything else
Insurance:
Purchase security, extended warranty 		Insurance:
Purchase security, extended warranty, emergency medical, travel accident insurance, tryp interruption/cancellation, flight delay, hotel burglary, rental car insurance
Apply Now Apply Now

Disclosures:

  • Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.

    American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

15,152 points†

Welcome Bonus

$302

First Year Value

$252

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Earn a value of $50† in TD Rewards Points† to use on eligible Amazon.ca purchases. Conditions Apply. Offer effective as of January 7, 2025.

Learn More Apply Now On TD's Secure Site

The TD Rewards Visa is another starter card that doesn’t offer much in the way of interest to serious point collectors, but might be a decent option for students or folks with fee-phobia.

Unlike the RBC ION+ Visa, you won’t have to pay a dime in annual fees on the TD Rewards Visa. There’s a modest welcome bonus, which in my opinion falls short of the Avion points offered by the RBC card.

The real value might be for students looking to open a TD account for the first time – TD currently offers a promotion where students opening a TD chequing account automatically receive a TD Rewards Visa, all without any fee.

RBC ION+ Visa TD Rewards Visa Card
Annual fee:
$48 		Annual fee:
$0
Welcome offer:
Get 14,000 Avion points upon approval - that’s $100 of value in gift cards! Apply by May 14, 2025. 		Welcome offer:
Earn a value of $50† in TD Rewards Points† to use on eligible Amazon.ca purchases. Conditions Apply. Offer effective as of January 7, 2025.
Earn rates:
Earn 3 Avion points† per $1 on qualifying grocery, dining, food delivery, gas, rideshare, public transit, EV charging, streaming, digital gaming and online subscriptions
Earn 1 Avion point per $1 on all other purchases 		Earn rates:
Earn 4 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend on travel through ExpediaForTD.com†
Earn 3 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend on groceries and restaurants†
Earn 2 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend on recurring bills†
Earn 1 TD Rewards Point for every $1 you spend on all other purchases†
Insurance:
Purchase security, extended warranty 		Insurance:
Mobile device, purchase security, extended warranty
Apply Now Apply Now

Disclosures:

  • This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here.

    The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any TD product, please click the Apply Now button. Sponsored Content.

    †Terms and conditions apply.

7,000 Avion points

Welcome Bonus

$323

First Year Value

$273

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Get 7,000 Avion points upon approval - that’s $50 of value in gift cards! Apply by May 14, 2025. Expires May 14, 2025

Learn More Apply Now On RBC's Secure Site

The RBC ION and its + kin are (as you probably guessed) cut from the same cloth. The big difference comes down to the fee and the welcome bonus. Where the ION+ really earns that plus distinction is in its spending categories. For the stock ION, you’ll only be pulling in1.5 Avion points on groceries, transportation (gas, rideshare, transit, EV charging), and streaming services and subscriptions. In the same categories the ION+ offers 3 points per dollar spent. If you’re spending a lot of money in the designated categories, the ION+ is going to offer more down the road, in addition to the substantially larger welcome bonus. 

RBC ION+ RBC ION
Annual fee:
$48 		Annual fee:
$0
Welcome offer:
Get 14,000 Avion points upon approval - that’s $100 of value in gift cards! Apply by May 14, 2025. 		Welcome offer:
Get 7,000 Avion points upon approval - that’s $50 of value in gift cards! Apply by May 14, 2025.
Insurance:
Purchase security, extended warranty 		Insurance:
Mobile device, purchase security, extended warranty
Apply Now Apply Now

Is the RBC ION+ Visa Card worth it?

It’s hard to put it better than @deltatux above. If you can’t qualify for better cards, the RBC ION+ Visa Card is worth considering. Otherwise, there are better cards.

But if you’re working on developing your credit score, or intent on keeping your fees low, the RBC ION+ Visa may be a fit for those looking for a low-fee card with a high rewards rate in everyday spending categories.

In particular, it’s a good option for students or those with an RBC banking account. But for big travellers and point collectors, you might want to explore other options. The card's value increases if you frequently shop at Rexall or fill up at Petro-Canada, leveraging its unique perks.

ION+ eligiblity requirements

  • Age: 18+
  • Residency: Canadian resident
  • Credit score: Good
  • Income: N/A

Disclosures:

  • Refer to RBC page for up to date offer terms and conditions.

    This post contains affiliate links. Please read disclaimer for more info.

    Disclaimer: Money.ca may engage in affiliate marketing, which is done by embedding tracking links into Money.ca. If you click on a link for an affiliate partnership, a cookie will be placed on your browser to track any sales for purposes of commissions.

FAQs

  • Is the RBC ION+ Visa Card good?

    +

    It’s not too bad, especially for everyday spending in categories like groceries and transportation. There are better options available for those who qualify for them.

  • What is RBC ION+ Visa?

    +

    A rewards credit card offering high points on everyday purchases with a low monthly fee.

  • How do I get points with RBC ION+ Visa?

    +

    Earn 3 Avion points† per $1 on qualifying grocery, dining, food delivery, gas, rideshare, public transit, EV charging, streaming, digital gaming and online subscriptions

Cameron Smonk Freelance Writer

Cam is a content marketer with a passion for saving, financial independence, and pulling off elaborate credit card point schemes. He has worked in Fintech and Finserve (specifically Group Retirement) and loves researching and writing about finance.

Cory Santos Credit card expert

Cory Santos is a finance writer, editor and credit card expert with nearly a decade of experience in personal finance. Cory joined Wise Publishing from BestCards, with bylines in numerous print and digital publications across North America, including the Miami Herald, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Debt.ca, AOL, MSN and Medium as well as financial podcasts like KOFE Talk.

Explore the latest articles

Young attractive bearded father sitting at dinning table with his beloved adorable son and paying bills online. His boy holding pen and trying to help him.

Can you pay the CRA with a credit card?

Can you pay your taxes using a credit card? Yes, but that doesn’t mean you should. Here’s what to consider before swiping for the taxman

LA
Leanne Armstrong

April 7 is National Pet Health Insurance Day
AT
Amy Tokic

Ease your retirement jitters with a financial plan
SLA
Sarah Li-Cain, AFC

Canada election 2025: Candidates' fiscal policies
LK
Leslie Kennedy

Disclaimer

The content provided on Money.ca is information to help users become financially literate. It is neither tax nor legal advice, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to the data provided, the timeliness thereof, the results to be obtained by the use thereof or any other matter. Advertisers are not responsible for the content of this site, including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any advertiser product, please visit their website.

†Terms and Conditions apply.