Travel money
Best credit card for spending in the United States
No foreign transaction fee, ranked for the United States with card-network acceptance in mind. Updated 2026-06-20.
The best credit card to use in the United States is one with no foreign transaction fee, so you skip the 2.5% surcharge most Canadian cards add to every US dollar purchase. On about $3,000 of spending that fee alone is roughly $75. By our value ranking the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card leads for the United States. Cards are accepted almost everywhere and American Express is widely taken, so any of the no-FX options work. Watch for dynamic currency conversion at terminals — always choose to be charged in US dollars, not Canadian.
Skip the 2.5% FX fee
~$75 saved
on about $3,000 of US dollar spending, versus a typical card's 2.5% foreign transaction fee.
- 1
ScotiabankPlatinum
Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card
Great for travel abroad
Welcome value
~$800
Earn up to 80,000 bonus Scene+ points ($800 in travel rewards)
- Annual fee
- $399
- Purchase APR
- 9.99%
8.4Cited · verified 2026-06-13View → - 2
Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
Great for travel abroad
Welcome value
~$450
Earn up to 45,000 bonus Scene+ points ($450 in travel rewards)
- Annual fee
- $120
- Purchase APR
- 21.99%
8.3Cited · verified 2026-06-13View → - 3
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card
Great for travel abroad
Welcome value
~$500
Earn up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points + 10,000 in first 6 months
- Annual fee
- $150
- Purchase APR
- 20.99%
8.1Cited · verified 2026-06-13View → - 4
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Privilege Card
Great for travel abroad
Welcome value
~$300
Earn 30,000 bonus Scene+ points
- Annual fee
- $599
- Purchase APR
- 20.99%
7.6Cited · verified 2026-06-13View → - 5
WealthsimpleInfinite Privilege
Wealthsimple Credit Card
Great for travel abroad
Welcome value
No current offer
- Annual fee
- $240
- Purchase APR
- 20.99%
7.1Cited · verified 2026-06-13View → - 6
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business Card
For business spending
Welcome value
40k pts
Earn up to $2,600 in first year savings and reward value, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points
- Annual fee
- $199
- Purchase APR
- 20.99%
6.7Cited · verified 2026-06-13View → - 7
TD Canada TrustClassic
TD® U.S. Dollar Visa* Card
Great for travel abroad
Welcome value
No current offer
- Annual fee
- $39
- Purchase APR
- 21.99%
6.1Cited · verified 2026-06-13View →
Frequently asked
- What is the best credit card to use in the United States?
- A no-foreign-transaction-fee card is the right choice, and by our value ranking the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card from Scotiabank currently leads for the United States ($399 annual fee). Cards are accepted almost everywhere and American Express is widely taken, so any of the no-FX options work. Watch for dynamic currency conversion at terminals — always choose to be charged in US dollars, not Canadian.
- How much does the foreign transaction fee cost in the United States?
- Most Canadian cards add about 2.5% to every foreign-currency purchase. On roughly $3,000 of US dollar spending that is about $75 in pure fees, which a no-FX card avoids entirely. You still pay the card network's exchange rate.
- Should I let the terminal charge me in Canadian dollars in the United States?
- No. That is dynamic currency conversion, and the merchant's rate is almost always worse than your card network's. Always choose to be charged in the local currency and let your card convert it.
- How current is this list?
- Card fees and offers are checked against official issuer pages and were last refreshed 2026-06-20. Always confirm details on the issuer's site before applying. Nothing here is financial advice.
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