rewards4.0 / 5

RBC ION+ Visa

RBC

Best for

Everyday spenders and students who want high multipliers on groceries, gas, dining and streaming at a minimal fee.

Apply on RBC

Annual fee

$48

FX fee

2.5%

Purchase APR

20.99%

Income req.

—

Recommended credit score

680+

Approval difficulty

Moderate approval

VaultNerd estimate based on the card's tier and income requirements — not an official issuer cutoff. Approval also depends on income, debt, and credit history.

Our verdict

Outstanding earn rates for a $48/year card, and a great category-earner companion to a premium Avion card. Point value is modest unless paired with a full Avion card for pooling.

Reward rates

Groceries	3x
Gas, EV charging, transit & rideshare	3x
Dining & food delivery	3x
Streaming, digital subscriptions & gaming	3x
All other qualifying purchases	1x

Welcome bonus

~$100 value

14,000 Avion points upon approval — about $100 of value in gift cards per RBC.

Requirement: Awarded upon approval

Pros

3x earn across most everyday spending categories for only $4/month
Effectively free for students and young adults

Cons

ION-tier Avion points redeem at lower value (roughly 0.7 cents toward gift cards) than premium Avion cards
No travel insurance

Perks

3x Avion points on groceries, gas, dining, food delivery, rideshare, transit and streaming
Annual fee rebate for students and anyone 24 or younger with an eligible RBC account
Free additional cards
3-month complimentary DoorDash DashPass
Save 3 cents/L and earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada

Insurance

Mobile device insurance (up to $1,000)
Purchase security and extended warranty

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Information may be simplified, incomplete, or out of date. Consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions. VaultNerd may receive compensation from partners featured on this site — this does not influence our editorial content.

Written by

The VaultNerd Team

Researching and writing about Canadian credit cards and rewards since 2026.

Cite this page

“RBC ION+ Visa Review — VaultNerd” — VaultNerd, https://www.vaultnerd.com/credit-cards/rbc-ion-plus-visa, updated June 2026.

Sources

RBC cardholder agreement and rates & fees disclosure
VaultNerd cards database