What apps help you get cashback for purchases?
In today's consumer society, cashback and loyalty programs have become an integral part of smart personal finance management, allowing people to save significant amounts on everyday purchases without changing their spending habits. From traditional cashback credit cards to innovative online platforms and store loyalty programs, Calgary residents have access to a wide range of opportunities to earn rewards for their spending. By strategically using these programs, the average family can save between $300 and $1,500 annually simply by using the right cards and loyalty programs for their regular purchases.
A unique feature of the Calgary market is the combination of national Canadian programs, such as Scene+ and PC Optimum, with local initiatives and specific offers for Alberta residents. The competitive environment among banks, retail chains, and digital platforms creates unique opportunities for consumers to maximize their rewards by combining different programs. Understanding this ecosystem and knowing how to navigate it can yield significant financial benefits for those willing to invest time in planning their purchases.
Cashback credit cards: the foundation of a rewards strategy
CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite: a leader in efficiency
CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite has been named the best cashback card in Canada for 2025 by Ratehub.ca, offering the highest cashback rates on the most common spending categories. The card offers 4% cash back on groceries and gas — the highest rates in the industry for these categories — 2% on transportation, restaurants, and recurring payments, and 1% on all other purchases.
The welcome offer includes over $400 in value: 10% cash back for the first four months up to $250, a $50 bonus for setting up automatic payments, and a $120 annual fee refund in the first year. The unique “Cash Back on Demand” feature allows you to activate cash back at any time when you have accumulated a minimum of $10, providing maximum flexibility.
A partnership with Journie Rewards provides an additional 10 cents per liter of fuel savings at Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar, and Chevron gas stations when using the card, which can save active drivers an additional $200-400 per year. Integration with Skip+ provides a 12-month free subscription and exclusive benefits, saving over $600 extra.
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card: maximum customization
Tangerine is revolutionizing the approach to cash back through a unique category selection system that allows consumers to tailor rewards to their spending patterns. The card offers 2% cash back in two categories of your choice (or three when you deposit cash back into a Tangerine Savings Account) and 0.5% on all other purchases with no annual fee.
Available categories include groceries (including Walmart, an exclusive benefit), restaurants, gas, recurring bill payments, pharmacies, home goods, furniture, public transportation, entertainment, and hotels. The ability to change categories every 90 days allows you to optimize rewards for seasonal spending or life changes such as moving or vacation.
The welcome offer provides 10% cash back on all purchases during the first two months up to a maximum of $1,000 in spending, for up to $100 in bonus cash back. This offer works on top of the standard category rates, creating the opportunity to earn effectively 12% cash back in selected categories during the promotional period.
Rogers World Elite Mastercard: integrated telecommunications benefits
The Rogers World Elite Mastercard combines cashback with telecommunications benefits for Rogers customers, offering 2% cashback on all purchases with a 1.5x redemption bonus on Rogers and Fido purchases, for an effective cashback value of 3%. The card has been recognized as the best no-fee cashback card of 2025 by several independent ratings.
Additional benefits include 5 free Roam Like Home days per year with an eligible Rogers mobile plan, which can save $50-100 on international roaming. Integration with the Rogers ecosystem allows you to use cashback to pay for telecommunications services, creating a closed-loop rewards cycle.
Retail chain loyalty programs
PC Optimum: the widest network of partners
PC Optimum is Canada's most extensive loyalty program with over 4,500 locations to earn points and 2,500 locations to redeem them. The program covers all Loblaw grocery stores (Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills), Shoppers Drug Mart, Esso and Mobil gas stations, and Joe Fresh.
The basic earning rate is 10 points per dollar spent at grocery stores and up to 15 points per dollar spent at Shoppers Drug Mart. At Esso and Mobil gas stations, you can earn up to 70 points per liter with PC Financial payment cards, which is equivalent to 7 cents per liter in points.
Points are valued at 10,000 points = $10, giving a base value of 0.1 cent per point. However, regular bonus point events can increase this value to 2% effective cash back on select items. Shoppers Drug Mart holds bonus redemption days where 250,000 points are worth $400 instead of the standard $250, which is an additional $150 in value.
Personalized weekly offers through the PC Optimum app are based on individual purchases and can provide 20x points on specific items. Integration with DoorDash allows you to earn points on eligible delivery orders, expanding your earning opportunities.
Scene+: premium entertainment program
Scene+ is positioned as a “lifestyle loyalty program” with a focus on entertainment, food, and travel. The program brings together over 7,000 locations including Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo grocery stores, Cineplex movie theaters, Swiss Chalet, Harvey's, Montana's restaurants, and Home Hardware.
Basic accrual rates: 1 point per dollar on most purchases, 2 points per dollar at participating grocery stores and Home Hardware, 3 points per dollar on Cineplex purchases. When using Scene+ credit cards from Scotiabank, rates can reach 6 points per dollar on eligible grocery purchases.
The value of points varies depending on how they are used: 1 cent per point for entertainment, travel, grocery, and restaurant redemptions; 0.76 cents per point for merchandise; 0.74 cents per point for gift cards; and 0.7 cents per point for statement credits. Optimal use is redemption for entertainment or travel purchases to maximize value.
Scene+ Travel through Expedia allows you to use points for hotel reservations, airline tickets, and car rentals at a full value of 1 cent per point. Partnerships with recreational venues such as Rec Room and Playdium allow you to use points for game credits, food, and beverages at the same value.
Online cashback platforms
Rakuten Canada: the largest online cashback network
Rakuten Canada brings together over 750 online stores with cashback rates of up to 10%, paying out over $100 million to Canadians since 2012. The platform acts as an intermediary between consumers and retailers, earning a commission from merchants and sharing a portion with shoppers.
The mechanism is simple: users start shopping through the Rakuten website or app, automatically activating cashback for the session. Cashback is credited within a few days after purchase and paid quarterly via Interac e-Transfer or PayPal.
An additional In-Store Cash Back program allows users to earn cash back on purchases made in physical stores by linking their credit cards to their Rakuten account. When a purchase is made with a linked card at participating merchants, cash back is automatically credited within 7 days.
Popular retailers include Amazon (up to 2% cash back), Hudson's Bay (up to 5%), Canadian Tire (up to 4%), and Sephora (up to 8%). Seasonal promotions can increase rates to 20% or more at select merchants during major shopping periods.
Great Canadian Rebates: comprehensive rewards platform
Great Canadian Rebates offers a multifunctional platform with online shopping cashback, credit card sign-up bonuses, and bank account promotional offers. The platform partners with major Canadian banks to provide additional cashback bonuses on top of standard bank promotions.
For example, opening a Scotiabank account through GCR can earn you an additional cashback bonus on top of the bank's welcome offer. The platform also offers exclusive deals and early access to major sales events for registered users.
AIR MILES: Canada's oldest loyalty program
AIR MILES operates as a dual-currency system with Dream Miles for travel and merchandise and Cash Miles for instant savings. The program includes over 300 retailers, including Shell gas stations, BMO Bank, Sobeys grocery stores, and Sephora.
Base earning rates: 1 Mile for every $20 spent at most participating retailers. BMO AIR MILES credit cards can increase these rates to 1 Mile per $12 on gas, groceries, and drug stores. Shell gas stations offer promotional periods with double or triple Miles.
Cash Miles can be used for instant savings: 95 Miles = $10 discount on eligible purchases. Dream Miles can be redeemed for travel through AIR MILES Travel Service or merchandise through the rewards catalogue. The program also offers exclusive experiences and event tickets for high-value redemptions.
The AIR MILES Receipts program allows you to earn Miles on everyday grocery items such as eggs, cheese, and yogurt by scanning receipts from major grocery stores. This feature extends earning opportunities beyond participating retailers.
Specialized programs and local initiatives
Pharmacy chains and health-focused programs
Shoppers Drug Mart remains a leader in pharmacy rewards through its integration with PC Optimum, offering up to 15 points per dollar on eligible purchases. Beauty Boutique purchases often have bonus point multipliers, reaching 30-50 points per dollar during promotional periods.
Pharmasave partners with AIR MILES to provide Miles on eligible pharmacy purchases and wellness products in provinces where permitted by law (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia). The program is especially valuable for regular prescription medications and health supplements.
Restaurants and food delivery
Skip+ integration with CIBC cards provides a free subscription and exclusive benefits when using Dividend cards. DoorDash partners with RBC for a 3-month free DashPass subscription with eligible RBC credit cards.
Tim Hortons Tims Rewards offers points for every purchase with redemption for free drinks and food. McDonald's MyMcDonald's Rewards works similarly with personalized offers through the app.
Strategies for maximizing rewards
Combining programs for a synergistic effect
The optimal strategy includes using a cashback credit card as the primary payment method while accumulating points in merchant loyalty programs at the same time. For example, using a Tangerine card with a grocery category at Real Canadian Superstore gives 2% cashback plus PC Optimum points, creating an effective return of 3-4%.
Online purchases require a multi-step approach: start through Rakuten for online cashback, pay with a credit card for card rewards, and accumulate merchant loyalty points when possible. This approach can generate a 5-10% total return on select purchases.
Seasonal planning and category rotation
Tangerine allows you to change categories every 90 days, allowing you to optimize rewards for seasonal spending. For example, switch to the furniture category before major home purchases or the hotel category before vacation planning.
Holiday seasons often bring increased cashback rates and bonus point events. Black Friday and Boxing Day periods can generate 15-25% effective returns through a combination of promotional rates, store sales, and stacked loyalty programs.
Monitoring and optimization
Regular reviewing statement and loyalty accounts allows you to identify missed opportunities and optimize spending patterns. Many programs offer personalized insights and recommendations through mobile apps to maximize earnings.
Setting up automatic bill payments with cashback cards in recurring bill categories ensures consistent earnings on fixed expenses. Utility bills, insurance payments, and subscription services can generate significant cashback over time with proper category management.
Cashback and loyalty programs in Calgary are powerful tools for reducing the cost of living when used strategically. Combining high-quality cashback credit cards, comprehensive loyalty programs such as PC Optimum and Scene+, online platforms such as Rakuten, and specialized merchant programs can generate substantial savings for savvy consumers. Success in maximizing rewards requires ongoing education, adaptation to changing programs and offers, and a disciplined approach to spending and redemption strategies. When executed correctly, these programs can deliver a 3-8% effective return on most purchases, significantly improving household financial efficiency.