Methodology
Our rating methodology is 100% based on the features a product offers, which means we compare each product 1:1 with similar products on the market.
For each product category, our financial experts created a list of essential features of that category. These include eligibility requirements, fees, special features, and any other factors that are important to consider when looking at that type of product.
These features are then compared against all other reviewed products that fall in the same category.
Using that comparison, we give each feature a score out of 5 stars that's relative to how the product does in comparison. Those scores are averaged together to get the final Genius Rating.
These features are re-evaluated each time the product is updated to ensure the rating remains accurate. We also do an annual validation of all products to make sure they're all looked at once a year at the very least.
Combine all the products in every category together, and you get
Why do we give out annual awards?
Best Bank Accounts in Canada
Bank accounts are the foundation of all your transactions and liquid savings. To make sure your finances are in a good spot, it's a good idea to start with at least one bank account first.
Best savings account Canada: KOHO Earn Interest
When it comes to finding the best high interest savings account, it can be easy to focus entirely on the interest rate. After all, that's how your hard-earned savings steadily grow, right?
Right – but once you get in the 2% range, you're doing pretty well. And then it starts to be more about what else the product can offer you on top of the interest rate – especially considering how fast an interest rate can drop.
The KOHO Earn Interest account not only brings up to a high 3.5% interest rate (depending on which prepaid card tier you have), but you also get so much more.
Why? Because the savings account is attached to one of the best prepaid cards in Canada, earning you even more cash back on every transaction you make.
You'll also get a free app that automatically tracks your spending, plus the ability to earn even more cash back at select online merchants.
So if you're looking to take your savings to the next level, here's one of your best options.
Want a savings account that consistently has one of the best rates in Canada? You'll want to check out KOHO Earn Interest With The KOHO Prepaid Mastercard, which gets you up to 3.5% interest, depending on your subscription level.
- No transaction fees
- Earn 3.5% interest on every dollar
- Comes with a free cash back prepaid Mastercard
- Supports major digital wallets
- Free app for tracking spending and setting savings goals
- Automate your savings with RoundUps
- Monthly fees
- You must meet your province's age of majority
- Comes with a KOHO Prepaid Mastercard which you can upgrade for even more perks
- Earn up to 6.5% cash back on your spending
- Free app for setting saving goals and tracking spending
- Savings paid on a monthly basis
- KOHO International Money Transfer allows you to send money abroad to people in over 190 countries, right from your KOHO balance
See more best high interest savings accounts here.
Best chequing account Canada: Scotiabank Ultimate Package
As the home for most of your incoming and outgoing cash, your chequing account can have a huge impact on the rest of your finances.
And some of the most premium accounts can come with some major money-saving perks – like credit card annual fee waivers and exclusive rates and rebates for other accounts.
The Scotiabank Ultimate Package is the best account in Canada despite its high $30.95 monthly price tag (which you can waive if you keep $5,000 in the account).
You'll get a huge amount of premium perks, including the unique ability to earn Scene+ points on all your debit card purchases.
Learn more here:
The Scotiabank Ultimate Package is the chequing account that offers everything. From unlimited transactions, credit card fee waivers, a free safe deposit, rewards on debit purchases, increased interest rates on GICs and savings accounts, and more, this account includes everything you might need from a chequing account.
- Get a $100 GeniusCash boost
- Get up to $700 in welcome bonus cash
- Unlimited transactions
- Plenty of physical bank locations
- Save money on premium credit cards
- Exclusive rates and fee rebates for other accounts
- Earn rewards
- Minimum balance to waive fee
- High monthly fee
- Minimum balance is a wasted investment opportunity
- You may still be charged for non-Scotiabank ATM withdrawals
- You must be at least 16 years old
- A Canadian resident or you're here for work or study
- Opening this account in your own name
- Earn Scene+ points on debit transactions
- No monthly overdraft protection fee
- Unlimited free Scotia International Money Transfers
- Up to $150 annual fee waiver each year on select credit cards
Click for more chequing accounts in Canada.
Best mortgage products
As one of the biggest purchases in your life, getting the right mortgage product is essential to the stability of your family's future.
Whether that means the mortgage itself, using the right mortgage broker, or even taking out a home equity line of credit – it's important to make sure your home is taken care of financially.
Best mortgage: BMO Closed Variable Rate Mortgage
First thing's first, you want a good mortgage rate. But since this is one of the biggest purchases of your life, you'll also want to make sure you're with a reputable company that will be there to help every step of the way.
With a BMO Closed Variable Rate Mortgage, you can get competitive rates and have the option of adding a low interest line of credit.
Best HELOC: Scotiabank Total Equity Plan (STEP)
Looking to get some extra use out of all the money you have tied up in your home? A home equity line of credit (or HELOC) is a type of revolving credit that's secured against your home.
If you're looking for the option with the most flexibility and ease of access, then check out the Scotiabank Total Equity Plan (STEP).
Offering a mortgage and HELOC hybrid product, you're given the unique ability to split your mortgage into variable and fixed portions. This means you can keep a part of your mortgage payments stable, while also benefiting from lower variable rates on the other part.
Learn more here:
The Scotia Total Equity Plan is a parcel of credit products you can access by leveraging the equity you have in your home. This sounds more complicated than it is, really – this is really just a slightly fancier home equity line of credit (HELOC), meaning you can get low-interest credit that is secured by your house.
- Borrow up to 80% of the equity of your home
- Once approved, you’re approved as long as you have your home
- Secured credit has lower interest rates
- Line of credit can be used for anything you want
- Loan and line of credit interest rates are not available on their website
- Scotia mortgage rates are higher than average
- Must have at least 20% equity in your home
- There is some risk in securing credit with your home
- At least 20% equity in your home
- Do everything online with Scotiabank eHome
- Up to 3 mortgage solutions if split
- Scotia Mortgage Protection
- Overdraft protection
Best of investing
When it comes to making the most of your money, figuring out the right investments for you can be the difference between a comfortable future and a stressful late retirement.
And even if you're looking to invest for the short term, finding the right balance between risk and return is essential – as well as finding the right products that won't overcharge or overwhelm you.
Best GIC in Canada: TD GICs
GICs are a low-risk way to earn a guaranteed amount of return – which is often agreed upon before you buy the product. While you may not get super high returns, you will know exactly what you'll make at the end of the term, with no worries about the fluctuations of the economy.
With TD GICs, you'll get one of the largest selections from a Canadian bank, with some rates offering a competitive advantage. This is especially true when you compare their GIC rates against the interest rates on their savings accounts.
TD GICs are an easy way to earn a modest guaranteed investment on some of your money. Like most banks in Canada, TD offers several types of Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) to give their clients low-risk alternatives to more traditional stock market investing.
- Cashable GICs give you liquidity in your investments
- Offers market linked GICs for higher return potential
- Relatively low minimum investments on most GICs
- Can be part of a registered account
- Non-redeemable GICs tie up your money
- Special offer on 100-day term cashable GICs
- Unique TD International Student GIC option
Check out the best GIC rates here.
Best robo advisor in Canada: RBC InvestEase
A robo advisor is an easy way to make sure your money is in good hands, without needing to know too much about investing yourself.
With RBC InvestEase, you're getting the convenience and technological benefits of a robo advisor alongside the reliability of a well-established bank that fetches you excellent rates.
The RBC InvestEase platform is one of the most reliable robo advisors in Canada, provided by one of Canada’s biggest banks. Upon funding your account, the RBC InvestEase algorithm (and experts) maintain your investments for you. This makes the entire process simple, especially for new investors.
- Trusted industry name
- Big portion of transfer fee can be waived
- Low minimum to start investing
- Responsible investing portfolios
- NOMI Insights helps with goals
- The fees could be better
- Transferring to another institution incurs a hefty fee
- No mobile app
- Resident of Canada
- Age of majority
- A SIN starting with a number from 1 to 7
- Low minimum balance requirement
- Non-registered
- TFSA
- RRSP
- FHSA
Compare the best robo advisors here.
Best online broker Canada: Qtrade
If you're a seasoned investor who likes to know exactly where your money is going, an online stock broker is one of the easiest ways to take control.
Along with its competitive fees and a highly-rated, easy-to-use mobile app, Qtrade covers transfer fees from other online brokers and a suite of educational tools.
Looking to take your investments into your own hands? Qtrade Direct InvestingTM is a discount online broker that offers top-of-the-line portfolio analytics tools and a robust trading platform designed for new and experienced DIY investors. You can even trade over 140 specially-picked ETFs commission free.
- $0 commission on ETFs, mutual funds and more
- Fund your new account and get a $80 GeniusCash bonus
- No quarterly administration fee
- Up to 5% cash back on every dollar invested
- Excellent mobile app
- Educational tools
- Options Lab
- Get up to $2,000 cash when you open new accounts
- Some activities still carry fees
- $0 commission trades on mutual funds, equities, ETFs and more
- Trial account available
- Second-to-none portfolio analytics tools (including scoring against key ESG components)
- Pre-market and after-hours trading available for US markets
- $0 quarterly administration fee
- Cash
- TFSA
- RRSP
- Spousal RRSP
- LIRA
- RIF
- LIF
- RESP
- Margin
- FHSA
- LRSP
- Corporate
- Formal Trust
- Informal Trust
- Investment Club
- Estate
- Stocks
- ETFs
- Mutual Funds
- Bonds
- New Issues
- GICs
- Options
Learn more about online brokers here.
Best TFSA in Canada: Scotiabank TFSA
A Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) can help you save a lot of money on taxes, without having to worry about a huge tax bill when you withdraw the money (as is the case with an RRSP).
Want the best option? Scotiabank TFSA is an easy way to take advantage of tax-free savings while investing with a trustworthy big bank. You can grow money tax free while still enjoying plenty of flexibility for your investments.
A Scotiabank TFSA is an easy way to take advantage of tax-free savings while investing with a trustworthy big bank. You’ll get a variety of options, including GICs (4 different types, in fact), mutual funds, portfolios, and cash savings accounts. You can also invest in stocks and bonds in your self-directed TFSA through Scotia iTrade.
- Lots of investing options
- 4 different types of GICs
- Lackluster return on TFSA savings account
- No special features and not much detail on the website
- Age of majority
- Canadian citizen
- Cashable
- Non-cashable
- Market linked
- Personal redeemable
Best RRSP Canada: Desjardins RRSP
One of the best tools Canadians have to save for their retirement is an RRSP, which lets you defer all taxes until you withdraw (and your contributions are tax deductible to boot).
Want one of the best options? Check out a Desjardins RRSP, which gives you plenty of investment choices while even allowing you to convert your rewards points into RRSP contributions.
A Desjardins RRSP can be a smart choice for Desjardins clients trying to plan for their future. As with all Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs), this account offers a tax-free home for any retirement savings, with room and opportunity to add several types of investments – as long as it stays within the government-set annual contribution limits.
- Tax sheltered and tax deductible
- Easy and quick online setup process
- Ability to convert BONUSDOLLARS into RRSP investments
- Withdrawal creates a tax penalty
- Limited nation-wide presence for Dejardins
- Age of majority
- Canadian resident
- Under 71 years old
- Be a current Desjarins client
- Contribute to your RRSP with BONUSDOLLARS
- Market-linked
- Non-Cashable
- Cashable
- US Dollar
Best FHSA: EQ Bank FHSA Savings Account
First Home Savings Accounts (FHSAs) promise to make saving for your first home easier by letting you put away up to $40,000 tax free. And EQ Bank FHSA Savings Account promises to help you get there faster by letting you earn up to 1.5% interest on your balance. This stable interest rate is ideal for home buyers who are thinking of purchasing a home in the short term.
First Home Savings Accounts (FHSAs) promise to make saving for your first home easier by letting you put away up to $40,000 tax free. And EQ Bank FHSA Savings Account promises to help you get there faster by letting you earn up to 1.5% interest on your balance. This stable interest rate is ideal for home buyers who are thinking in the short term.
- Earn 1.5% tax free interest on your balance
- Next-to-no risk investment
- High-rate EQ Bank FHSA GICs also available
- Not available in Quebec
- No welcome offer
- You can’t hold any other investments besides GICs
- First-time home buyer
- Canadian resident (not in Quebec)
- 18 years or older
- Non-Cashable
See more of the best FHSAs here.
Best cryptocurrency to invest in: Ethereum
As one of the most controversial topics in finance, you may be interested in dipping your toes in cryptocurrency.
A good place to start? Ethereum. It stands out for its incredible versatility and growth potential, especially with its transition to Ethereum 2.0. This makes it the most sustainable, scalable crypto option in Canada.
Founded by 19-year-old Russian-Canadian Vitalik Buterin in July of 2015, Ethereum is an open-source platform that uses blockchain technology to create and power tamper-proof decentralized financial contracts and digital applications. It's currency, ether (ETH), is currently selling at around US$4,895.53 per coin, though this is subject to change regularly.
- Smart contracts
- The team behind Ethereum
- Name recognition
- Transactions aren't as fast
- Smart contracts hack
- Trouble with scalability
Learn more about buying crypto here.
Best cryptocurrency exchange in Canada: Wealthsimple Crypto
Cryptocurrency exchanges can be extremely overwhelming, but they're one of the only ways to explore the exciting (and risky) world of crypto.
One of the best places to buy crypto? Wealthsimple Crypto. With over 60 currencies supported and easy to understand transaction fees, you’ll get the full crypto experience
If you've ever wanted to get into the world of cryptocurrency trading but weren't quite sure where to start, Wealthsimple Crypto is designed for you. Wealthsimple Crypto supports 100+ cryptocurrencies – including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana. And while they charge higher transaction fees than other exchanges, the simplicity of Wealthsimple Crypto might be worth it.
- Incredibly easy to get started
- Designed by and for Canadians
- Ties directly to your Wealthsimple account
- Easy to understand transaction fees
- Higher transaction fees than some other options
- Lacks advanced trading features
- Be a Canadian citizen, Canadian resident, or have a valid Canadian visa
- Meet the minimum age requirement set by your province
- Have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Have a Canadian residential address
- Satisfy identity verification requirements
- Quick and easy sign up
- No account minimums
- Simple and transparent pricing
- No fees to deposit or withdraw
- Extensive cold storage insurance coverage
See more crypto exchanges here.
Best mutual funds in Canada: BMO Mutual Funds
Mutual funds are a popular way to invest that essentially pools money together with other investors to buy larger investments. This is all closely monitored by a fund manager (which often makes a decent profit).
One of your best options is with BMO Mutual Funds, thanks to their large variety when it comes to funds, account types, and more.
Mutual funds are a diversified investment in which a pool of money from multiple investors is collected and professionally managed. This is often seen as a decent way to diversify your portfolio, though you should keep an eye on any hidden fees. Most banks have an investing arm that offers mutual funds, including BMO.
- Available for all registered account types
- Continuous Savings Plan option
- Reasonable mix of fund types and portfolio options
- $500 minimum investment (or $50/month)
- Higher MERs than some alternatives
- Set up regular contributions to your investment accounts
- Get $100 for saving regularly
- RRSP
- RESP
- RRIF
- TFSA
- RDSP
- Security
- Income
- Growth
- Equity Growth
- Group RRSP
- BMO ETF
- BMO Ascent
- BMO Retirement
- BMO Target Education
- BMO SelectTrust
- BMO Sustainable
- BMO Managed
Learn more about mutual funds here.
Best ETF in Canada: Scotiabank ETFs
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are sort of like mutual funds, except they're traded on the stock market. They essentially bundle multiple securities together, so you're buying a diversified investment in one purchase.
If you're looking for the best option in Canada, going with Scotiabank ETFs can give you a lot of flexibility with reasonable fees. This is especially helpful if you prefer to do all your investing on one platform, since Scotiabank offers several types of investments.
Scotiabank offers a small collection of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) – bundles of securities that are listed on exchanges, which are traded just like regular stocks. Scotiabank has over 120 ETFs available, and you can use them to diversify your investment portfolio.
- Competitive ETF management fees
- Simple investing through Scotia iTRADE
- Investment education resources and tools
- Access to personalized advice
- Scotia iTRADE fees
- Free investing education resource library
- Access to Scotiabank investment specialists
- Fixed Income
- Canadian Equity
- U.S. Equity
- International Equity
- Index Tracker
Best loans
Need to take out a loan in Canada? Make sure you're getting the right rates and the right service. Otherwise you could be stuck with astronomical fees and a lot of unanswered questions.
Best personal loans in Canada: Fairstone Personal Loans
One of the best options for personal loans in Canada is Fairstone Personal Loans. They're a Canadian lender and offer secured and unsecured personal loans to people who cannot normally obtain them from more traditional lenders.
You may qualify for a loan amount anywhere from $500 to $60,000 with Fairstone Personal Loans.
Fairstone Financial is a Canadian lender and offers secured and unsecured personal loans to people who cannot normally obtain them from more traditional lenders. They’ve been around since 1923 and have over 240 branches in Canada.
- Fast approval and fast cash in hand
- Interest rates ever so slightly lower than their most immediate competitors
- Interest rates are still exceptionally high
- You must be a homeowner to get a secured personal loan
- Extra fees for a secured personal loan
- Customer reviews are not…stellar
- Canadian citizen
- Employed
- Age of majority
- They offer various types of insurance you can purchase
Best line of credit in Canada: Scotiabank Personal Line Of Credit
Lines of credit can be an interesting alternative that sometimes provide lower rates than other loans (and usually much lower rates than credit cards).
A Scotiabank Personal Line Of Credit in particular can get you between $5,000 and $75,000, with multiple ways to access your money, and there’s even a student rate available.
A Scotiabank Personal Line Of Credit is a revolving loan with lower interest rates than credit cards and convenient access to funds with flexible repayment options. Its credit limits range from $5,000 to $75,000, one of the widest in Canada.
- High maximum borrow amount
- Your Visa Access Card comes with perks
- Personal line of credit for students
- No online chat support service
- Difficult to find information about interest rates
- Can be easy to overspend
- Canadian citizen
- Employed
- Age of majority
- Special discounts on car rentals
- Provides a Visa Access Card for accessing funds
Learn more about lines of credit here.
Best of insurance
Getting the appropriate insurance coverage for you is an important step in your financial journey.
It's about finding the right types of coverage for the right rates, while also sticking with a company you trust to help you out when the going gets tough.
Best home insurance company in Canada: TD Home Insurance
As one of the biggest purchases in life, having home insurance is obviously extremely important. Not to mention mortgage lenders often make it mandatory, so you more than likely don't even have a choice in the matter.
If you're looking for a reliable solution, check out TD Home Insurance. You'll get full coverage with an easy online system, backed by a bank you know and trust.
As you can probably guess, TD Insurance is the insurance subsidiary of TD Bank. They’re an all-purpose insurance company selling home and auto insurance, as well as life and health insurance. As one of the largest home insurance companies in Canada, owned by one of the largest banks in Canada, they’re a safe and secure choice for insuring your home.
- It’s easy to get an online quote
- There’s a discount for using the web
- You may be eligible for lower rates if you belong to a group
- Their bundle includes free advice
- There’s one combined coverage amount
- TD Insurance doesn’t offer in-person support
- Review scores are not very good
- Canadian citizen
- Age of majority
- Free advice from lawyers and contractors available for customers with bundled plans
- Protection for family-related situations, such as cyberbullying and parents living in nursing homes
Check out more home insurance.
Best car insurance company in Canada: Sonnet Car Insurance and TD Auto Insurance
Since car insurance is mandatory, every single car owner is looking for a good rate on their insurance coverage.
Want your best option? Check out Sonnet Car Insurance, which offers comprehensive and affordable service across the country.
TD Auto Insurance also ranks highly since it offers membership discounts for more than 750 groups. Plus, the TD MyAdvantage program rewards safe drivers with up to 25% off premiums.
Sonnet Car Insurance is a fully online insurance provider offering home and auto coverage, backed by Definity Financial Corporation. Their biggest draw is competitive rates on car insurance, made possible by their online model that passes savings directly to customers. Sonnet promises an auto insurance quote in just 5 minutes after answering a few easy questions.
- Ticket forgiveness and other perks
- A user-friendly digital experience
- Fast, precise quotes
- Vroom service bundle and other customization options
- Mixed online reviews
- Unexpected rate hikes
- Not available in all provinces
- No in-person opportunities
- Canadian citizen
- Age of majority
- Optional coverage that provides reimbursement for roadside assistance expenses
- Company is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040
TD auto insurance is one of several types of insurance coverage offered by TD Insurance. With a comprehensive array of options available to drivers in most of Canada, TDs car insurance has something to offer for pretty much everyone.
- Comprehensive offering
- Reasonable rates
- Claims Free Reward
- Save with TD MyAdvantage
- Disappearing deductible
- Backed by a big bank
- Not the lowest rates you’ll find
- Doesn’t cover ridesharing or delivery work
- Canadian citizen
- Age of majority
- Save an average of 30% when you're claims-free
- Convenient TD Insurance app
- TD MyAdvantage driving program rewards safe drivers
- Save 5% on car insurance when you buy online
Find out more about car insurance here.
Best life insurance in Canada: TD Life Insurance
If you have any financial dependents, it's important that you protect them with life insurance. This will help make a potentially difficult time a little bit more manageable.
If you're looking for a good option, check out TD Life Insurance. You'll get a quick online quote with instant approval, and the opportunity to save up to 10% on your premiums thanks to various discounts.
- 10 years
- 20 years
- 100 years
If you’re in the market for life insurance, you may not have considered TD. They’re not one of the largest life insurance companies in Canada, but they are owned by one of Canada’s largest banks. This could make them a good choice for you, especially if you’re already a TD customer. Even if you’re not, they’re worth checking out – it’s easy to get a quote online.
- It’s easy to get an online quote
- They have sample policies online
- It’s convenient to apply online or over the phone
- There’s no sales commission
- Option to convert term to permanent insurance
- They don’t have as many options as a traditional insurance company
- You don’t get the personal touch
- Policies automatically renew
- Canadian citizen
- Age of majority
- Instant approval for up to $10 million in coverage
- 30-day review period in case you change your mind
- Discounts for having other TD products
- 10 years
- 20 years
- 100 years
Learn more about life insurance here.
Best travel insurance in Canada: TD Travel Insurance
Getting the right travel insurance coverage can be exactly the peace of mind you need to truly relax on your vacation.
Your best travel insurance option is TD Travel Insurance, a big bank name that offers quality and reliability for its four straightforward plan options. It also includes 24/7 emergency assistance.
Learn more about this product here:
TD travel insurance is a convenient option for Canadians who are already customers of the big bank, letting you get insurance coverage from a familiar name. You have 4 options when it comes to what type of plan you can get: single trip, multi-trip all-inclusive, multi-trip medical, or trip cancellation and interruption coverage. Each plan offers your basics to keep you covered on your next trip.
- Backed by a big bank you trust
- 4 straightforward plans available
- Some unusual coverage included
- 24/7 emergency assistance
- Trip cancellation and interruption is at extra cost
- Might not have the cheapest premiums
- Canadian resident
Check out more best travel insurance.
Best pet insurance in Canada: Sonnet Pet Insurance
If you love a furry companion, the possibility of getting pet insurance has likely crossed your mind. Though not necessarily an "essential" insurance, it can be a huge difference if your best friend gets sick or injured.
Sonnet Pet Insurance is the top rated option we've reviewed so far, giving you low rates and comprehensive coverage, all from an easy-to-use online insurance company.
If you have a furry companion, you already know how important they are to you. It can be hard to think about what could happen if disaster struck – could you afford to pay the medical bills? Would you have to make a hard choice, because you can’t afford to spend thousands on your pet?
- Hits all the basic coverages
- A handful of extra coverages available
- Offered decently low quotes
- Easy and quick quote process
- No coverage for prescription food
- Sonnet has a history of increasing insurance rates
- Everything is done online
- Not the cheapest company we looked at
- Canadian citizen
- Age of majority
Find the best pet insurance here.
Best tenant insurance: Sonnet Tenant Insurance
If you're renting your home, it's important to get tenant insurance. This is usually a relatively cheap coverage that can help cover your personal belongings and liability (which isn't included in your landlord's coverage).
Sonnet Tenant Insurance comes to the top of the list in this category as well, thanks to its competitive rates. It's also extremely easy to get covered, which can be done completely online.Since your landlord insurance doesn't cover any tenant belongings, tenant insurance is required in order to keep your rental safe, including everything inside of it. Sonnet Tenant Insurance is a well-rounded and reasonably priced insurance product from an online-only company, offering tenants peace of mind.
- Canadian citizen
- Age of majority
Learn more about tenant insurance here.
Best condo insurance: TD Condo Insurance
Similar to tenant insurance, condo insurance is important to protect what isn't covered by the condo association's coverage – which includes your belongings, upgrades you've made, and personal liability.
The best option we've reviewed so far is TD Condo Insurance, which includes options for the majority of coverage types, as well as additional options to lower your premiums.
Condos have unique insurance considerations that aren't always taken into account by a more generalized home insurance policy. TD Condo Insurance has taken these unique qualities and created an insurance product that combines the best of its home insurance features with the specific needs of condominium living. It's specially designed to cover what the condo corporation's building insurance doesn't – things like personal liability, loss assessment, and more. And it covers this gap very, very well.
- Several opportunities for discounts
- Highly customizable protection
- Flexible claims option
- Highly rated mobile app
- Customer service concerns
- Canadian citizen
- Age of majority
- Family coverage for things like nursing homes
- Eco-efficient rebuild coverage
- Ability to increase coverage for high-value items
See more condo insurance companies.
Best health insurance in Canada: Blue Cross Health Insurance
Not everything is covered by government health care, which means you'll need some extra coverage if you want to be insured for things like prescription drugs, vision, out-of-province care, and more.
Your best option in Canada? Blue Cross Health Insurance. This product is available across Canada and has optimal coverage flexibility, making it likely that you'll find a plan that's suited to your needs.
Blue Cross has been providing health insurance plans and coverage for Canadians for over 70 years. With flexible packages for both individuals and employer benefit plans, Blue Cross health insurance has an array of options available. Some options include prescription drug, vision, and hospital benefits, out-of-province emergency medical care, critical illness coverage, and short or long term disability coverage.
- Wide availability
- Flexibility and premium coverage
- Virtual health care included
- Plans may vary depending on region
- Difficult to navigate
- Canadian citizen
- Age of majority
- Can include virtual health care (for certain regions)
- Can include hearing aids
- Can include medical equipment
Read more about health insurance here.
Best home insurance for landlords: Square One Landlord Insurance
Own a rental property? You'll want to get some landlord insurance. This can help protect the building, as well as protect your income in case of disaster.
The best rated landlord insurance company is Square One, which can include nearly every type of coverage we look for in our reviews.
If you own a rental property, you know how important it is to get the right insurance to protect investment. You need more types of coverage than regular home insurance, and valuable figuring out exactly what you need can be complicated. Square One landlord insurance can be a great place to start, with a comprehensive selection of coverages available.
- Canadian citizen
- Age of majority
- Rental portal for landlords to keep track of tenants' policies
- Legal advice helpline
Check out more about landlord insurance.
Best personal finance software
Getting the right personal finance software can completely change your game, whether it's a budget app, free tax software, or a free credit score tool.
Best credit score software: Credit Karma Credit Monitoring
Your credit score is an important measure of your financial responsibility that's used by lenders, credit card companies, and even landlords. The first step in making sure it's in good shape is knowing where you stand.
Enter: credit score services.
The best in Canada is Credit Karma Credit Monitoring, which is a free way to get frequent updates on your score. Where most products show you changes to your score every month, Credit Karma can provide weekly updates to keep you on track. You'll also get personalized credit education and recommendations.
The best time to check your credit score is always now, and with Credit Karma, the price is right at $0. This free credit score service gives you access to your credit score and report, provides weekly updates, and even sends alerts whenever there are notable changes to your file. Credit Karma pulls data from TransUnion and Equifax, giving you a reliable snapshot of where you stand. Plus, you’ll also get access to identity monitoring for extra peace of mind.
- Free to use
- No need to provide your SIN
- Helpful articles and educational info
- Annoying product recommendations
- Limited customer service options
- Canadian citizen
- Age of majority
- Receive notifications if notable changes occur
- Retrieves info from both major credit bureaus
- Identity monitoring available
Find more credit score services.
Best tax software in Canada: H&R Block
Everyone needs to do their taxes, but did you know there's free tax software available out there?
The best option is one of the most recognized names in the industry: H&R Block. You have both free and paid options for filing taxes, plus a very thorough and specific filing option for self-employed individuals.
As one of the most recognized names in the tax industry, H&R Block provides one of the best tax software products in Canada on top of its in-branch services. With accuracy guarantees, one-on-one attention available from tax professionals at physical offices or online, and options for each price bracket (including free!), H&R Block seems to have thought of everything.
- Well-established and trusted industry name
- In-person, online, and drop-off filing options
- Clear, step-by-step instructions
- Ability to save your progress and return later.
- Access to seasoned tax professionals
- Free and paid services available
- Specific package designed for self-employed individuals
- Limited free support
- Free version is quite basic
- File online or in-person
- Accuracy guarantee
- Self-employed tax package
Best grocery delivery service: Instacart Canada
Since the beginning of the pandemic, grocery delivery services have exploded in popularity. Giving you a way to order your groceries without having to leave your house, there are several popular delivery options that work across the country.
The best option? Instacart Canada. The service works across most of the country, offers low minimum orders, competitive fees, and your groceries can be at your doorstep in as little as an hour.
Instacart Canada is known specifically as a grocery delivery service, but it actually partners with a wide range of retailers to deliver all sorts of products, such as pet supplies, alcohol, high-end makeup, office supplies, and more. If you need it, odds are that Instacart Canada can deliver it.
- Wide availability
- Same day or advance delivery options available
- Premium membership option
- Low $10 minimum order
- Earn loyalty points with your favourite stores
- Referral bonus and impressive promos for your first order
- Still not available everywhere
- You don’t get to select your own meat or produce
- Instacart Canada prices are higher than in-store
- Have items delivered in as little as 1 hour
- $10 referral offer
- Earn loyalty points with your favourite stores
Learn more about grocery services here.
Best cash back sites: GeniusCash
Cash back sites give you cash back just for using their links to shop for products, apply for credit cards, and other similar activities.
One of the best options is GeniusCash, which can get you up to $250 in cash back just for getting a new credit card or personal finance product.
GeniusCash is a cash back program that rewards users for subscribing to many of the products and services they use on a regular basis. Plus, its new GeniusCash mobile app makes it easier than ever to bank real cash and level up your rewards.
- New industry-leading mobile app
- Up to $250 cash back
- Flexible payout options
- Bi-weekly payouts
- Cash back bonuses are harder to get
- Only a limited amount of offers available
- No cash bonus on sign up
- Age of majority
- Eligible to receive select Canadian credit cards
- Up to $250 in bonus cash back
- Easy to use mobile app for more deals and exclusive offers
- Direct payments via PayPal or Interac e-Transfer
- Referral bonuses
Learn more about cash back sites here.
Best budget app: Spendee Premium Budget App
Do you know where your money is going? Using a budgeting app can make the whole process much easier.
Though Spendee Premium Budget App is a paid program, its low fee is made up for by having many of the features you're looking for in a budget program, like bank syncing, personal support, and automatic categorization.
Looking for a convenient way to manage and categorize your finances? The Spendee Premium Budget App that first launched in 2013 can be a great choice. While there are cheaper versions of Spendee with fewer features, Spendee Premium syncs with your bank account, allows you to share "wallets" with family members, and reminds you of upcoming payment due dates, among other things.
- Connects to your crypto wallet
- International availability
- Security
- Discount on Yearly Subscription
- Tiered Services
- Bugs and problems with new updates
- Works with multiple currency types
- Can create "shared wallets" for finances shared with family members, roommates, etc.
- Offers crypto wallet tracking
Best online payment service: Plastiq
Online payment services in Canada are third-party services that you can use to pay bills like your utilities or rent. These services can make the bill-paying process easy, convenient, and even rewarding.
Plastiq is an incredibly easy to use service that allows you to pay nearly any type of bill with your credit card, enabling you to earn credit card rewards on bill payments.
With the right credit card, you could be earning hundreds of dollars of rewards every year, just for paying one of your most essential expenses.
Have you ever wanted to pay a bill using a credit card to maximize on some sweet rewards, but find yourself unable to do it directly? Some examples of bills that usually don't have credit card support are income taxes, mortgages, and some utility bills, among others.
- Easy to use
- Wide variety of accepted payees
- Easy to set up recurring payments
- Many Canadian payees are not in their system
- Only accepts debit and credit cards as a payment method
- No welcome bonus or rewards program
- Canadian citizen
- You have to enter the 3-digit number from the back of your credit card the first time you use it to make a payment
- You can set up optional 2 factor authentication
- You can set a PIN for account recovery in case you ever get locked out
Learn more about payment services here.
Best international money transfer: Xoom
If you need to send money internationally with any degree of frequency, you know how expensive it can be. It's a tough pill to swallow to pay high fees just to get your money from one place to another.
Xoom is the best option available. With extremely fast transfers, 24/7 customer service, secure transfers, and a money-back guarantee, it's a convenient and reliable money transfer service.- USD: $0.00 to $21.49
- EUR: $1.99 to $21.49
- GBP: $0.00 to $21.49
- INR: $0.00 to $21.49
- CNY: $0.00 to $21.29
- Level 1: $999 per day, $5,000 per 30 days, $9,999 per 180 days
- Level 2: $12,500 per day, $25,000 per 30 days, $40,000 per 180 days
- Level 3: $75,000 per day, $90,000 per 30 days, $130,000 per 180 days
Xoom is an international money transfer service by PayPal, offering quick and easy money transfers for some surprisingly high fees in some cases. Payment options are flexible, with the option of transferring money from your PayPal account or bank account, or using your debit or credit card to pay. Of course, the recipient will also have to pay a fee on pickup as well, which makes Xoom an expensive option on both ends.
- Different delivery methods available
- Fast delivery
- Free transfers to many countries for some methods
- Current status updates available
- 24/7 customer service
- Secure transfers
- Money-back guarantee
- Not all delivery methods are available in all countries
- Fees are higher than some other options
- Powered by PayPal
- Money-back guarantee
- USD: $0.00 to $21.49
- EUR: $1.99 to $21.49
- GBP: $0.00 to $21.49
- INR: $0.00 to $21.49
- CNY: $0.00 to $21.29
- USD: Within minutes to within 2 days
- EUR: Within 15 minutes
- GBP: Within 15 minutes
- INR: Within minutes to 2 hours
- CNY: Within 30 minutes
- Level 1: $999 per day, $5,000 per 30 days, $9,999 per 180 days
- Level 2: $12,500 per day, $25,000 per 30 days, $40,000 per 180 days
- Level 3: $75,000 per day, $90,000 per 30 days, $130,000 per 180 days
See more international money transfer options here.
Best VPN in Canada: NordVPN
Using a VPN is beneficial for many reasons, including protecting your online privacy. But one of the main perks people love is the ability to bypass region restrictions for streaming services like Netflix.
The best VPN we've reviewed is NordVPN, which offers extremely low prices on an impressive number of estimated servers.
Protect your privacy with NordVPN. This VPN works with almost any device, allows 10 devices to be connected at once, and costs as little as US$3.19 per month when you sign-up for a 2 year plan..
- High grade encryption
- NordVPN app is widely available
- 24/7 customer support
- 3 months for free and a money-back guarantee
- Smart ad-blocking included
- Useful add-ons available
- 2 year commitment to get the best price
- Monthly price is higher than average
- Threat Protection feature blocks ads
- Works with an impressive range of platforms and devices
- 30-day money-back gurantee
Best money apps: Buy from Clutch and Sell to Clutch
The best money apps category includes products that can make you money, save you money, or are useful to spend money on.
The best rated products reviewed so far are both Buy from Clutch and Sell to Clutch, which allow you to buy and sell cars with minimal hassle, as the process is completely online.
With no additional monthly fees to worry about, cash-based referral bonuses, and a large customer support network, Clutch fills its niche perfectly.
Clutch reinvents the way people buy cars. Browse hundreds of vehicles and schedule delivery for your new car – entirely online (and without worrying about being taken for a ride).
- Entire process is completed online
- Financing available
- Home delivery available
- 10-day money-back guarantee
Clutch is revolutionizing car buying and selling as Canada’s first and only online car retailer. To date, over 50,000 people have sold their car to Clutch.
- Entire process is completed entirely online
- Cross-province sales
- No mileage restrictions
Best news subscription: The Globe And Mail Digital Subscription
With a news subscription, you can access real-time coverage of current events, politics, business, culture, and more. Whether it's breaking news or detailed reports, a subscription ensures you're always in the know.
Stay informed with a subscription to The Globe And Mail Digital Subscription, Canada's trusted source for news. With comprehensive coverage of national and international stories, business, politics, technology, and more, you'll get all the facts you need.
Information is everywhere these days, which makes trusted names like The Globe And Mail priceless. Cut through the noise and get unlimited digital access across all your devices to every Globe article ever published. You'll also get special perks like the digital replica of the daily newspaper, audio versions of articles, and more.
- Pay only $0.49 a week for the first 24 weeks
- Unlimited access across all devices
- Exclusive member benefits
- Access to investing tools
- Newsletters so you never miss a thing
- Audio versions of articles
- Discount on New York Times subscriptions
- The regular subscription price is a bit steep
- Doesn't publish on Sunday
- Digital access only
- Subscription charged weekly
- Subscriber-exclusive experiences, tools, and guides
- Globe Investor Tools
- Globe2Go available at 5am ET
See more news subscriptions here.
Best online will service: Epilogue Wills
Epilogue Wills makes creating a will simple, all from the comfort of your home. With an online will, you can easily plan for the future and ensure your wishes are clearly documented.
Epilogue Wills provides a user-friendly platform that guides you through the process, offering customizable options to suit your needs. It's a fast, secure, and affordable way to protect your loved ones and give you peace of mind without the need for complex legal jargon or expensive services. Create your will today with Epilogue Wills and take control of your legacy.
Your Will may be one of the most important documents you'll ever create in your life – but it's also one of the hardest. Epilogue Wills makes it easy by offering a fast and low-cost method to create your Will entirely online.
- More affordable than traditional methods
- Saves time and is easy to use
- Created by experts in the industry
- Create a social media Will
- First Will platform to let you name a professional trust company as executor
- Not appropriate for those with complicated finances
- Information centre isn't all that helpful
- Unavailable in certain provinces
- Age of majority
- Canadian resident (except in Quebec or territories)
- Convenient and legally binding service
- Update for free whenever you like
- Option to create Incapacity Documents alongside your Will
- Partnership with RBC
See more online will services here.
Best password manager: NordPass
A password manager like NordPass helps you securely store and manage your passwords in one convenient place. With an increasing number of accounts (and things to sign up for!), remembering strong, unique passwords for each site can be a challenge.
NordPass makes it easy by securely saving and auto-filling your passwords when needed, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting or reusing passwords. It also provides added security features, like encryption and two-factor authentication, to protect sensitive information.NordPass is an excellent password manager. You can choose from a free version with basic features, or pay US$2.51 for a family account with premium features.
- Offers Secure Notes for securing things like WiFi passwords and alarm system codes
- Securely store your credit cards for online shopping
See more of the best password managers here.
Best streaming service in Canada: Amazon Prime Video
With so many streaming services available to Canadians, it can be hard to know which ones you should subscribe to – and which ones you can pause until a must-see release comes along. Amazon Prime Video gives you access to fast shipping and some of the best shows TV has to offer.
Available all across Canada once you activate your Prime subscription, gives you access to TV shows and movies that can be streamed in HD quality, some with multi-language subtitles and audio. You’ll have access to Amazon exclusives and originals that won’t be found anywhere else, as well as live news and sports events.
Did you know? Amazon Prime Video is included with your Amazon Prime membership, giving you access to a massive streaming library of more than 22,000 shows and movies, plus award-winning Amazon Originals you won’t find anywhere else. There’s certainly no shortage of entertainment. Students can also enjoy Prime membership at a discounted rate, making it one of the more affordable streaming options in Canada.
- Exclusive access to Amazon originals
- Live news and sports events
- One of many Amazon Prime perks
- Extra fee to avoid ads
- Costly add-on channels
- Automatic renewal
- Be 18 years or older
- Included with Amazon Prime subscription
- Multi-language subtitles
- Access to Amazon originals
FAQ
How do you calculate the Genius Ratings for the Money Awards?
The Genius Ratings are calculated using a feature-based ranking system. For each category of products we review, we create a list of essential features to look for. Each product is then fleshed out based on those features, and compared against similar products on the market. From there, we rank each feature out of 5 and average them all out to get the final Genius Rating.
What's the best ETF in Canada?
The best ETF company in Canada is Scotiabank. As one of the big banks, Scotiabank offers plenty of flexibility in terms of types, terms, and return for their ETF products.
What's the best VPN in Canada?
The best VPN in Canada is NordVPN, which offers extremely competitive prices combined with a large selection of servers for worldwide fast coverage.
What's the best savings account in Canada?
The best savings account in Canada is KOHO Earn Interest. Far from being only a savings account, this product also offers a cash back prepaid card to help earn on every $1 you spend. And that's on top of the high 0.1% interest rate.










