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Mr. Loonie

Card comparison

RBC Ion+ Visa vs RBC Ion Visa

ION+ if you spend a lot on groceries, dining or rideshare; ION if you want no fee.

ION+ earns 3 points per $1 on groceries, dining, gas and rideshare for a $4 monthly fee. ION earns 1.5 points on groceries and gas with no fee. The more you spend in those categories, the sooner the extra points cover the fee.

Facts checked Nov 9, 2026 Sources By Mr. Loonie editors

Your spending a month
What’s in each?
Light:
Groceries $400, restaurants $100, gas $100, recurring bills $100, everything else (base rate) $250, foreign currency $50
Typical:
Groceries $800, restaurants $250, gas $250, recurring bills $250, travel $150, everything else (base rate) $650, foreign currency $150
Big:
Groceries $1,200, restaurants $500, gas $400, recurring bills $400, travel $500, everything else (base rate) $1,600, foreign currency $400

RBC

RBC Ion+ Visa

Remove RBC Ion+ Visa

RBC

RBC Ion Visa

Remove RBC Ion Visa
What it’s worth to you
Better: $1,245
Year one · The full offer.
Better: Every year after $1,007

Points counted at 1.7 cents each, our value for RBC Avion. Why we value RBC Ion+ Visa this way

Better: $691
Year one · The full offer.
Better: Every year after $572

Points counted at 1.7 cents each, our value for RBC Avion. Why we value RBC Ion Visa this way

Apply now with RBC (opens in a new tab)
Apply now with RBC (opens in a new tab)
We may earn a fee when you apply through these links. It never changes the numbers.

Lower is better here.

Annual fee
$48
Better: $0
Extra card For a partner or family member
$0
$0
Foreign currency fee On purchases in another currency
2.5%
2.5%
Interest on purchases
20.99%
20.99%
Interest on cash advances
22.99%
22.99%
Cash advance fee
$5.00
$5.00
Balance transfer fee
3%, Maximum
3%, Maximum
Source
rbcroyalbank.comChecked Nov 8, 2026
rbcroyalbank.comChecked Nov 8, 2026

Typical spending, $2,500 a month. Bigger is better.

Groceries $9,600 a year
Better: $490 3 points per $1
Better: $245 1.5 points per $1
Restaurants $3,000 a year
Better: $153 3 points per $1
Better: $51 1 point per $1 (base rate)
Gas $3,000 a year
Better: $153 3 points per $1
Better: $77 1.5 points per $1
Recurring bills $3,000 a year
Better: $51 1 point per $1 (base rate)
Better: $51 1 point per $1 (base rate)
Travel $1,800 a year
Better: $31 1 point per $1 (base rate)
Better: $31 1 point per $1 (base rate)
Everything else (base rate) $7,800 a year
Better: $133 1 point per $1
Better: $133 1 point per $1
Foreign currency $1,800 a year
Better: $31 1 point per $1 (base rate)
Better: $31 1 point per $1 (base rate)
Total earned Before fees and the welcome offer
Better: $1,040
Better: $617
Foreign currency fee On the budget’s foreign spending. * Fee not listed, counted at the usual rate
Better: $45
Better: $45
Perks you’d use Lounge visits and cover, at what they cost on their own
Better: $60
Better: $0
Limits
None listed
None listed
Source
rbcroyalbank.comChecked Nov 8, 2026
rbcroyalbank.comChecked Nov 8, 2026

Counted at your spending, not the advertised maximum.

What you’d get
Better: $238The full offer.
Better: $119The full offer.
See the 2 parts
  • 3,500 Avion points when you are approved ($60)
  • 3,500 Avion points after you spend $500 in the first 3 months ($60)
Advertised
Up to 14,000 Avion points.
Up to 7,000 Avion points.
Source
rbcroyalbank.comChecked Nov 8, 2026
rbcroyalbank.comChecked Nov 8, 2026

Extended warranty
Included
Included
Purchase protection
Included
Included
Mobile device
Up to $1,000
Not listed
Mobile wallets
Apple Pay, Google Pay
Apple Pay, Google Pay

Personal income Minimum the bank lists
None listed
None listed
Newcomer program
RBC Newcomer Advantage
Not listed
Network
Visa
Visa
Expert Score From critic reviews, shown, not ranked
Not listed
Expert Score 7.5 out of 10. Good

Who should get each

Our editors’ take, based on the numbers above.

Get RBC Ion+ Visa if

  • Good: You spend a lot on groceries and eating out
  • Good: You use rideshare or transit most days
  • Good: You’re fine paying $48 a year for higher earn rates

Get RBC Ion Visa if

  • Good: You want a card with no annual fee
  • Good: Your spending on food and gas is light
  • Good: You want a simple first rewards card

Mr. Loonie’s tip Look at every year after before year one. A big welcome offer pays once; the earn rates pay every month you keep the card.

Questions

Do both cards earn the same points?

Yes. Both earn Avion points, so the points are worth the same on either card.

Do the numbers include the ION+ fee?

Yes. Year one and every year after both take off the fee. Pick your spending above to see which card comes out ahead for you.

How do you work out year one?

We add what each card earns at your spending, plus the part of the welcome offer you’d get, then take off the first year’s annual fee. Every year after leaves out the offer and uses the regular fee.

Can I compare more than two cards?

Yes, up to four. Tap Add a card above the table, or + Compare on any card page.

Do banks pay to appear here?

No. You pick the cards and the math decides the numbers. We may earn a fee when you apply through some links. That never changes a number.

Year one adds what each card earns at the spending you picked, plus the part of the welcome offer that spending reaches, then takes off the first year’s fee. Every year after leaves out the offer and uses the regular fee. Points are counted at the value shown under each card.

Sources, checked by us:

Rates, fees and offers come from the card issuers and change often. We work to keep this page accurate and current, but it may contain mistakes, so always check the issuer’s terms before you apply. Values are estimates for the spending you picked, rounded to the nearest dollar.

Spot something wrong? We’ll check it with the bank. Suggest a correction

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