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  • Soylent Canada Review 2026: What the First-Order Discount Actually Gets You

    Last updated: July 2026 | Author: Harold Phillips

    Key Takeaways

    • Soylent Canada sells ready-to-drink shakes, powders, and bars built around "complete nutrition," starting around $3.25 per meal on a subscription
    • New customers get a discount on their first order through my referral link at referralmaxxing.ca/go/soylent, no code required, it applies automatically at checkout
    • I've been buying it on and off since 2023, most intensively during a month-long lunch experiment I wrote about separately, and it's settled into being a backup rather than a full replacement for food
    • The subscription auto-ships on a schedule you set, which is convenient until the exact week you're travelling and forget to pause it

    What Is Soylent Canada?

    Soylent started in the US, launched by a software engineer named Rob Rhinehart who got tired of spending time and money on food and decided to engineer his way around the problem. The pitch, unchanged more than a decade later, is a drink or bar that supplies a full meal's worth of calories, protein, fat, carbs, vitamins, and minerals in one package. It expanded into Canada a few years ago and now ships across most of the country, with product available directly online and in some Shoppers Drug Mart and Amazon listings.

    The current Canadian lineup has three formats. Ready-to-Drink bottles are the flagship product, sold by the case, meant to be grabbed cold and consumed in a few minutes. Powder comes in tubs you mix with water or milk yourself, which brings the per-meal cost down if you don't mind the extra step. Bars are the newest addition and function more like a dense protein snack than a full meal replacement, though the nutrition panel is close.

    Who it's actually for: people who skip meals for logistical reasons rather than dietary ones, think long shifts, back-to-back meetings, or the specific chaos of a Thursday when meal prep didn't happen. Who it's not for: anyone looking to replace food entirely, long-term, without giving it real thought first. This is a convenience product wearing a nutrition-science costume, and it's most useful when you treat it that way.

    Soylent Referral Link: Discount on Your First Order

    Soylent doesn't run a personal referral code the way Uber or Fizz does. There's no string of letters to type into a promo box at checkout. Instead, my link routes through an affiliate platform that applies the discount automatically once you land on the page and place an order. I'm not sure which specific platform sits behind it technically, but functionally it just knocks a percentage off your first order without you doing anything extra.

    Step Action
    1 Go to referralmaxxing.ca/go/soylent, which routes to Soylent's Canadian storefront
    2 The first-order discount applies automatically; there's nothing to enter
    3 Pick a format (Ready-to-Drink, Powder, or Bars) and decide one-time purchase or subscription
    4 Complete checkout; the discount shows up on the order summary before you pay

    The discount is on the first order only, and the exact percentage has moved around over the past year or so. I've seen it advertised anywhere from 15% to 20% depending on the promotion running when you click through. Check the actual number on the page before you assume it matches what I saw when I last ordered.

    Pricing and Plans

    Format Typical Package Per-Meal Cost (subscription) Best For
    Ready-to-Drink (12-pack) ~$45–$50/case ~$3.75–$4.20/meal Zero prep, desk lunches, no fridge required until opened
    Powder (14-serving tub) ~$50–$55/tub ~$3.25–$3.75/meal Cheapest per meal, requires mixing and a blender or shaker
    Bars (12-pack) ~$30–$36/box ~$2.50–$3/bar Gym bag, car, situations where a bottle is impractical

    Subscribing knocks a modest amount off every format compared to a one-time order, and you can set the delivery cadence yourself: weekly, biweekly, or monthly. The catch with any subscription is the part where you have to remember it exists. Skip or pause it before a trip, or you'll come home to a stack of boxes and a mild sense of dread about the recycling situation.

    Prices shift more often than I'd like to admit I track. I haven't checked every SKU this month, so treat the numbers above as a reasonable range rather than gospel.

    Pros and Cons

    Pros Cons
    ✅ Genuinely fast, no decision-making, no prep, no cleanup beyond a bottle ❌ The subscription auto-ships, and cancelling a shipment after the cutoff is annoying
    ✅ Cheaper per meal than most takeout or delivery options ❌ Plastic bottle waste adds up fast if you're drinking it daily
    ✅ Consistent macros every time, which matters if you're tracking anything ❌ Doesn't satisfy the social or sensory part of eating; it's fuel, not a meal
    ✅ Long shelf life on unopened Ready-to-Drink bottles and powder ❌ Taste is fine, not great, and the "neutral" flavour tastes like a compromise

    Soylent vs Huel

    Huel is the other name that comes up constantly in this category, and the two brands get compared so often they're practically a package deal in people's minds.

    Feature Soylent Huel
    Primary format Ready-to-Drink bottles, powder, bars Powder-first, with some ready-to-drink and bars
    Starting price ~$3.25/meal (subscription) ~$3–$3.50/meal (subscription), powder-dependent
    Origin United States United Kingdom
    Flavour variety Fewer options, more neutral-leaning Wider flavour lineup, generally described as sweeter
    Canadian availability Direct ship, some retail (Shoppers, Amazon) Direct ship, wider retail presence in some provinces
    Referral discount First-order discount via link Varies by promotion; check current offer

    I've used both, though not for equal stretches. My honest read is that Huel's powder tends to mix a little smoother and the flavour range is genuinely wider, which matters more than people expect once you're drinking the same thing for the fourth day running. Soylent's Ready-to-Drink format is the more convenient of the two if bottles are your preferred delivery mechanism, since Huel leans powder-first and that means a shaker bottle, water, and one more thing to remember. Neither one is a clear winner across the board. It genuinely depends on whether you'd rather mix your own or grab a bottle and go.

    My Experience with Soylent Canada

    I first tried Soylent because I was bad at lunch, specifically the planning part of it, and I ended up running a month-long experiment where I drank Ready-to-Drink bottles for lunch every workday. I wrote about that separately in more detail. My full account of the month covers the day-by-day version, but the short version is that it worked as a cost fix and felt slightly hollow as an eating experience.

    What I haven't written about is what happened after that month ended, which is really the more useful part of this review.

    I didn't keep drinking it every day. That would have been miserable long-term, and I knew it going in. What I do now is keep a few bottles in the fridge and a box of bars in a cupboard for specific failure modes: the morning with back-to-back calls where lunch genuinely isn't happening, the week my partner's away and my meal prep discipline falls apart, the drive up the 401 to the cottage when we leave early and there's no good stop for real food until we're past the border-IGA in Quebec. For those situations, it's actually great. Grab it, drink it or eat it, keep moving.

    The downside I keep running into is the subscription itself, not the product. I signed up for the recurring delivery to get the better per-meal price, and more than once I've forgotten to pause a shipment before a trip and come home to find a case waiting on my doorstep that I didn't need that week. It's a small thing, but it's the kind of small thing that adds up to genuine annoyance when it happens for the third time.

    Beans has strong opinions about the cardboard boxes specifically: she treats every Soylent delivery as a personal invitation to sit in the box before I've even unpacked it, which means I now factor "cat-proofing the doorstep" into my Tuesday routine. My partner, for the record, still finds the entire concept a little sad. "You're drinking a meal," they said the first time they watched me do it after the experiment ended, in a tone that suggested this was self-evidently strange behaviour. They're not wrong, exactly. I just think it's a reasonable trade some weeks.

    I haven't tried the newer Squared bars that launched more recently, so I can't speak to those specifically. Everything above is about the Ready-to-Drink bottles and the original powder, which are what I've actually put in my body more than a handful of times.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Soylent available across Canada?

    Yes, Soylent ships to most provinces directly through their website, and select products show up on Amazon.ca and in some Shoppers Drug Mart locations. Remote or northern addresses may have longer shipping windows.

    How does the Soylent referral discount work?

    There's no code to enter. Clicking referralmaxxing.ca/go/soylent routes you to Soylent's site with the discount applied automatically to your first order, whether that's a one-time purchase or a subscription.

    Is Soylent worth it in 2026?

    If you're trying to solve a specific logistics problem, think skipped meals, inconsistent lunch planning, needing something fast during a busy stretch, then yes, it's a reasonable and fairly cheap tool. If you're hoping it replaces food entirely and enjoyably, probably not.

    Can Soylent replace all my meals?

    Nutritionally, the company markets it as complete, and I have no reason to doubt the label. Practically, I wouldn't recommend replacing every meal for an extended stretch without talking to someone who actually understands nutrition science, since I'm not that person and this isn't medical advice.

    Does Soylent taste good?

    It's fine. The original/neutral flavour is inoffensive rather than enjoyable, and I'd describe most of the lineup the same way. If taste is your priority, this isn't the category for you regardless of brand.

    How much does a subscription actually save?

    A modest amount per meal compared to one-time orders, plus the first-order referral discount on top. It's not a dramatic saving, but it's consistent, and consistent savings on something you're buying regularly add up.

    Is Soylent better than cooking my own food?

    No, and I don't think Soylent would claim otherwise if you asked them directly. It's better than skipping a meal or grabbing an expensive takeout lunch out of desperation. It is not better than an actual meal eaten at a table, and I'd be lying if I said otherwise.

    Final Verdict

    Soylent Canada does one thing well: it removes the decision-making and prep time from a meal, and it does it for less money than most alternatives. As a full-time replacement for food, I don't think it holds up, and I say that as someone who tested it harder than most casual buyers would.

    Where it earns a real spot in my kitchen is as a backup system for bottles on the desperate weekday, bars for the drive, powder for whoever wants the cheapest per-meal cost and doesn't mind mixing their own. If that sounds like your actual problem rather than a hypothetical one, the discount through referralmaxxing.ca/go/soylent makes trying a case a low-stakes way to find out. Just remember to check your subscription settings before you leave town.

    This article contains referral links. If you sign up using my link, I may receive a small reward at no extra cost to you. I only recommend services I personally use.

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  • Uber Review 2026: Is the Referral Discount Actually Worth It for Canadian Riders?

    Last updated: July 2026 | Author: Harold Phillips

    Key Takeaways

    • Uber operates in 15+ Canadian cities and is the default rideshare option almost everywhere outside Toronto, Vancouver, and Ottawa
    • New riders get a ride discount using my referral code 92kemkjb6nt7 or by signing up through referralmaxxing.ca/go/uber
    • Uber One membership runs about $9.99/month and mostly pays for itself if you're also ordering from Uber Eats regularly
    • Surge pricing is unpredictable and the single biggest reason your fare estimate can jump between opening the app and confirming the ride
    • I've used Uber on and off since around 2015, mostly for late nights, airport runs, and the occasional TTC meltdown

    What Is Uber?

    Uber is the ride-hailing app that made "just call an Uber" a normal sentence in Canadian English. It launched here in 2012, survived a rough few years of municipal fights over taxi bylaws, and eventually became the thing most Canadians open when they need a car and don't own one, or own one but it's parked three blocks away in the snow.

    The core product is simple. You open the app, punch in a destination, and a driver in a personal vehicle picks you up and takes you there. Uber takes a cut of the fare. What's changed over the years is everything around that core loop: ride tiers for different budgets, an Eats arm that's arguably bigger than the ride business now, package delivery, and a membership program that ties it all together.

    For Canadian riders specifically, Uber matters because of how it's expanded. It's in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Winnipeg, and a growing list of smaller cities. Lyft, its main competitor, only operates in three or four of those. If you live outside a handful of major metros, Uber is the only rideshare app that's actually going to have a car near you.

    Who it's for: anyone who needs an occasional ride and doesn't want to own, insure, and park a second car for it. Who it's not for: anyone budgeting tightly, since fares are unpredictable and can spike hard during peak hours.

    Uber Referral Code: 92kemkjb6nt7

    New riders get a discount on their first ride (or first few rides, depending on what promotion is currently running) when they sign up using a referral code. You can enter mine directly, or use the link, which applies things automatically.

    Step Action
    1 Download the Uber app (iOS or Android) and start creating an account
    2 During sign-up, go to the Promotions or Payment section and enter code 92kemkjb6nt7 — or skip this step by signing up through referralmaxxing.ca/go/uber
    3 Add a payment method and verify your phone number
    4 Book your first ride; the discount applies automatically at checkout

    A couple of practical notes. The referral only works for genuinely new accounts, so if you've ever had an Uber login (even one you forgot about), it won't apply. And the exact discount amount isn't fixed. Uber changes it depending on the region and whatever promotion they're running that month. I'd check the current offer in the app before assuming it matches what I saw when I last signed someone up.

    Pricing and Plans

    Uber doesn't have "plans" in the traditional sense; it has ride tiers, and a membership layer on top. Here's how the tiers break down.

    Tier Typical Use Case Relative Price
    UberX Standard everyday ride Baseline
    Comfort Newer cars, more legroom ~15-25% above UberX
    XL Groups of 5-6, extra luggage ~30-50% above UberX
    Black Premium car, professional driver ~2x UberX
    Uber Pet Bringing a dog or cat along (select cities) Small surcharge above UberX

    Fares themselves are dynamic. There's a base fare, a per-kilometre rate, a per-minute rate, and a surge multiplier that kicks in when demand outpaces available drivers. None of it is published as a clean price list, and Uber won't give you one. What you get instead is an estimate before you book, which is usually close but not guaranteed.

    Membership Price What You Get
    No membership Free Standard fares, no perks
    Uber One ~$9.99/month (or ~$99.99/year) 5% off eligible rides, free delivery on eligible Eats orders over $15, priority support

    Whether Uber One is worth it comes down to volume. If you're taking two or more rides a week, or ordering Eats regularly on top of that, the math tends to work in your favour. If you're an occasional rider, taking maybe one or two trips a month, you're better off skipping the membership and just paying per ride.

    Pros and Cons

    Pros Cons
    ✅ Widest coverage of any rideshare app in Canada ❌ Surge pricing can spike fares with almost no warning
    ✅ Reliable driver availability in most major cities ❌ Cancellation fees apply even when the wait was genuinely long
    ✅ Uber One bundles ride and delivery savings ❌ Support is hard to reach for anything beyond a basic refund
    ✅ In-app safety features (share trip, RideCheck) ❌ Uber Pet isn't available in every city, and I haven't tested it myself
    ✅ Available in Quebec, unlike Lyft ❌ Driver and car quality vary more than the polished app suggests

    Uber vs Lyft

    For most Canadians this is the only real comparison worth making, because DiDi and other rideshare apps haven't gained meaningful traction here.

    Feature Uber Lyft
    Canadian cities 15+ 3-4 (Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, sometimes Hamilton)
    Available in Quebec Yes No
    Membership Uber One, ~$9.99/mo Lyft Pink, ~$12.99/mo
    Food delivery Yes (Uber Eats) No
    Package delivery Yes (Uber Connect) No
    Referral reward Ride discount Ride discount

    The short version: Lyft's app is a little cleaner and Lyft Pink can be a marginally better deal on paper, but none of that matters if Lyft doesn't operate in your city. Outside Toronto, Vancouver, and Ottawa, this comparison is already decided for you. I've written a longer head-to-head if you want the full breakdown, including fare comparisons and wait times I logged in both apps over the same week: Uber vs Lyft: Which Is Better for Canadians?

    My Experience with Uber

    I've had an Uber account since around 2015, back when I was still living in a shared apartment near Ryerson (before it became TMU) and taking it mostly for nights out I didn't want to navigate on the Bloor line afterward. A decade later my usage pattern has shifted, but the app is still the thing I open when transit fails me, which in Toronto is often enough to be a real category of use case.

    The situations where I actually reach for it are pretty consistent. Late nights when the TTC is running on reduced service and a $14 ride beats standing at a cold streetcar stop for twenty-five minutes. Airport runs when my partner and I have too much luggage for transit to be reasonable. And the occasional weekday morning when the subway has a "signal problem" (Toronto's most reliable export) and I'm already running behind for a client call.

    What's worked well: driver availability in Toronto has been genuinely good for years now. I can't remember the last time I waited more than six or seven minutes for a car downtown, even on a weeknight. The app's ETA accuracy has also improved. I used to stand outside early out of habit; now I trust the countdown enough to time my exit to the minute.

    Where it gets frustrating is the pricing. I once watched a fare estimate jump from $16 to $29 in the time it took me to put my coat on, no exaggeration, because a Raptors playoff game let out three blocks from where I was standing. Surge pricing is defensible in theory (more demand, higher price, more drivers incentivized to show up) but it doesn't feel defensible when you're the one paying it. I've also been charged a cancellation fee once when a driver took eleven minutes to arrive with no updates, then cancelled on their end. Support refunded it, eventually, but only after I asked twice.

    I haven't tested Uber Pet myself since Beans is strictly a stay-at-home cat and has never once expressed interest in a car ride, so I can't speak to how well that feature actually works in practice. My partner's take, for what it's worth, is that Uber's app has gotten "busier" over the years with Eats and grocery stuff layered in, and they're not wrong. If all you want is a simple ride-booking app, there's more visual noise than there used to be. It hasn't slowed down the actual booking flow for me, but I get the complaint.

    Net result after roughly a decade of intermittent use: reliable, occasionally expensive in ways that feel arbitrary, and still the app I trust to actually have a car near me when I need one. That's a lower bar than "great," but it's the one that matters most for a service like this.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Uber available in my province?

    Yes, in every province, though coverage is heavily concentrated in cities. All ten provinces have at least one Uber-served city, and coverage in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec is particularly strong. Rural coverage is thin to nonexistent, which is worth knowing if you're expecting a ride outside a city's limits.

    How does the Uber referral code work?

    Enter code 92kemkjb6nt7 during sign-up, or use referralmaxxing.ca/go/uber to have it applied automatically. The discount is for new accounts only, and it applies to your first eligible ride. I may receive a small reward if you sign up this way, on top of your discount.

    Is Uber worth it in 2026?

    For occasional use, yes, without much hesitation. For regular daily commuting, it's genuinely expensive compared to transit, and I wouldn't recommend building your whole commute around it unless transit simply isn't an option where you live.

    Is Uber One worth the $9.99 a month?

    Only if you're using it enough to hit the break-even point, which for most people lands around two to three rides or delivery orders a month. I've gone back and forth on the membership myself. If your usage is occasional, skip it and just pay per ride.

    Why does the price change between the estimate and the final charge?

    Surge pricing and route changes are the usual culprits. Uber shows you an estimate before you book, but if demand spikes in the few seconds between checking and confirming, or your driver takes a different route than expected, the final fare can differ. It's not common, but it happens often enough that I always glance at the estimate again right before confirming.

    Does Uber operate in Quebec?

    Yes. Unlike Lyft, which has never expanded there, Uber operates in Montreal, Quebec City, and a handful of other Quebec cities. It's not something I use near the family cottage in the Eastern Townships, since that's cottage-road territory with no driver density to speak of, but it's worked fine on the city legs of that trip.

    What happens if I need to cancel a ride?

    You can cancel free of charge within a short window after booking, usually a couple of minutes. After that, a small cancellation fee applies, and it can also apply if a driver cancels on you after a long wait, which is genuinely annoying. Support will usually refund a fee like that on request, but you may need to ask.

    Final Verdict

    Uber is the rideshare app most Canadians should have installed, mostly because it's the one that will actually have a car available wherever you are. That's not a glowing endorsement of the pricing or the surge algorithm, which can be genuinely frustrating when it spikes without warning. It's a statement about coverage, and coverage is the thing that matters most when you're standing outside in February wondering how you're getting home.

    Who should sign up: anyone who occasionally needs a ride and doesn't already have Lyft coverage in their city, which describes most of the country. Who might skip it, or at least skip the membership: people trying to keep transportation costs predictable, since Uber's dynamic pricing is the opposite of predictable by design.

    If you're creating a new account, use code 92kemkjb6nt7 or sign up through referralmaxxing.ca/go/uber to get a discount on your first ride. It's a small thing, but it's real money off a real ride, and there's no reason to leave it unused.

    For related reading: my full Uber vs Lyft comparison, my Uber Eats review, and the broader roundup of rideshare and food delivery referral codes if you want to see how these programs stack up against each other.

    This article contains referral links. If you sign up using my code, I may receive a reward at no extra cost to you. I only recommend services I personally use.

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  • Shakepay vs Wealthsimple: Which Is Better for Canadians? (2026)

    Last updated: July 2026 | Author: Harold Phillips

    Quick Answer

    If you want one login that handles investing, your RRSP and TFSA, a cash account, and crypto without a lot of fuss, Wealthsimple is the stronger overall platform for most Canadians in 2026. If what you actually want is a low-effort trickle of free Bitcoin and a cashback card that doesn't cost anything to carry, Shakepay does that one job better, mostly because it's the only job it's trying to do. I use both. Neither one replaced the other for me, which is the honest answer readers usually want and rarely get.

    At a Glance

    Feature Shakepay Wealthsimple
    Monthly fee $0 $0
    Assets / products Bitcoin, Ethereum only Stocks, ETFs, 60+ cryptocurrencies, RRSP/TFSA/RESP/FHSA, cash account
    Free Interac e-Transfers Yes Yes
    Daily free reward Yes (ShakingSats) No
    Cashback card Yes (Bitcoin cashback) No
    Interest on cash balance No Yes (Wealthsimple Cash)
    Registered accounts No Yes
    Customer support Email/chat only Email/chat only
    Referral Bonus $20 cash (after $100+ BTC/ETH purchase) $25+ cash (scales with deposit)
    Best For Free Bitcoin trickle plus cashback, zero crypto knowledge needed One platform for investing, saving, and crypto

    Shakepay Overview

    Shakepay is a Montreal crypto app that's been around since 2015. It lets you buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin and Ethereum, and it moves Canadian dollars in and out through Interac e-Transfer for free, which is rarer in this space than it should be. I want to be upfront that I'm not a crypto guy in any real sense. I don't trade, I don't watch charts, and I'm not going to tell you what Bitcoin is worth next quarter. Shakepay earns a place on my phone for two specific reasons that have nothing to do with believing in crypto as an investment: ShakingSats, a small daily dose of free Bitcoin for opening the app, and the Shakepay Card, which pays Bitcoin cashback on everyday purchases.

    That narrow focus is the whole personality of the app. There's no investing tab, no registered accounts, no savings product. You open it, you shake your phone once a day, and you tap the card at the grocery store. It's built for people who want the "free money" part of crypto apps without needing to understand crypto, which describes me fairly well.

    Wealthsimple Overview

    Wealthsimple started in Toronto in 2014 and has grown into Canada's largest online investment platform. The core product lets you open an RRSP, TFSA, RESP, or FHSA and trade Canadian stocks and ETFs commission-free, something the big bank brokerages were still charging $9.95 a trade for not that long ago. On top of the investing side, Wealthsimple runs a managed portfolio option, a crypto offering with over 60 coins, and Wealthsimple Cash, a savings account that actually pays interest.

    It's a lot of functionality under one roof, and the surprising part is how little it feels like a lot once you're in the app. My partner opened their own account in about fifteen minutes with zero help from me, which is not something I can say about most financial platforms. Wealthsimple's crypto section exists in the same app as the RRSP, which is the part that makes it the natural rival to something like Shakepay — except Wealthsimple never built anything like ShakingSats or a cashback card on top of it.

    Detailed Comparison

    Pricing

    Neither app charges a monthly fee, and neither is really "priced" the way a subscription service would be. The cost shows up differently depending on what you're doing.

    Cost type Shakepay Wealthsimple
    Account fee None None
    Canadian stock/ETF trades Not applicable Free
    Crypto trading cost Built into the buy/sell spread Built into the buy/sell spread
    US-dollar trade FX fee Not applicable 1.5% at the Basic tier
    Card fee None Not applicable (no card product)
    e-Transfer fee Free in and out Free in and out

    Shakepay's only real cost is the spread on Bitcoin and Ethereum trades, which functions like a hidden commission even though it isn't advertised as one. Wealthsimple's crypto trades work the same way. Where Wealthsimple pulls ahead on cost is everything outside crypto: the Canadian stock and ETF trades are genuinely free, something Shakepay doesn't offer because it doesn't do stocks at all.

    Features

    This is where the two apps stop competing directly and start doing different things.

    Shakepay's feature set is small on purpose: buy and sell BTC and ETH, free e-Transfers, ShakingSats, and the cashback card. Wealthsimple's feature set is broad: everything Shakepay does on the crypto side, plus registered accounts, a managed investing option, and an interest-bearing cash account. The one thing Wealthsimple doesn't have is any equivalent to ShakingSats or a crypto cashback card, which is the specific niche Shakepay occupies almost by itself among Canadian apps.

    Neither one pays interest on money sitting in a crypto balance. Wealthsimple gets around this by keeping Wealthsimple Cash as a separate, interest-earning product you can move funds into. Shakepay has no equivalent parking spot; a CAD balance left in the app just sits there.

    User Experience

    Both apps are well designed, and both limit support to email and chat, so neither wins on that front. The difference is in scope. Shakepay's interface is narrow enough that there's nothing to get lost in — you shake, you buy, you spend. Wealthsimple has more surface area to navigate because it's doing more, and while the app handles that reasonably well, it's a bigger app with more settings, more account types, and more decisions to make on day one.

    I found Shakepay's onboarding faster. Identity verification took about a day and a half. Wealthsimple's sign-up was quick too, but if you're transferring an existing brokerage account into it, budget close to three weeks for that part, which is an industry-standard delay and not specific to Wealthsimple.

    Availability in Canada

    Both are available across every province and territory. Both support French for Quebec users, which matters more than people outside Quebec might assume, and both require standard identity verification regardless of where you live, since Shakepay is a regulated crypto platform and Wealthsimple's cash account operates through a federally regulated bank.

    I split time between Toronto and my family's cottage in the Eastern Townships most summers, so spotty rural WiFi has occasionally been a test for both apps. Neither has ever failed to load for me up there, though I'll admit that's a low bar given how little signal the cottage gets in the first place.

    Which Should You Choose?

    Choose Shakepay if:

    • You want free Bitcoin with zero effort and don't want to think about crypto strategy
    • You'd use a cashback card that pays out in Bitcoin instead of points or cash
    • You already have an investing platform elsewhere and just want the "free money" layer on top
    • You don't need interest on idle cash or a registered account

    Choose Wealthsimple if:

    • You want one platform for your RRSP, TFSA, or FHSA plus crypto
    • You want your emergency fund earning interest while it sits
    • You're starting to invest and want a clean, approachable app to learn on
    • You'd rather consolidate accounts than manage several apps for different jobs

    Referral Codes

    Service Referral Code Reward
    Shakepay NJ0MTTK $20 cash each, after a $100+ purchase of BTC or ETH within 30 days
    Wealthsimple VAU8OG $25+ cash bonus, scales with your initial deposit

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Shakepay or Wealthsimple cheaper for buying crypto in Canada?

    Both charge through a spread rather than a flat commission, and I haven't run a fresh side-by-side comparison of the two spreads in the last few months. If you're moving anything beyond a small amount, check the current buy and sell prices on both before committing.

    Can I use Shakepay and Wealthsimple at the same time?

    Yes, and that's genuinely how I use them. There's no rule against holding accounts on both platforms, and they're not really solving the same problem once you look past the crypto overlap.

    Which one is better for a first-time investor?

    Wealthsimple. It has the registered accounts, the managed portfolio option, and an app built for people who've never invested before. Shakepay doesn't offer investing outside crypto, so it isn't built for that role.

    Does Wealthsimple have anything like ShakingSats?

    No. Wealthsimple's crypto product lets you buy and hold over 60 coins, but there's no free daily reward mechanic and no cashback card tied to it. ShakingSats and the Shakepay Card remain the two things Shakepay does that Wealthsimple simply doesn't.

    Is my money protected the same way on both platforms?

    Wealthsimple's cash account is CDIC-insured up to $100,000 through Wealthsimple Bank, and trading accounts carry CIPF coverage up to $1 million per category. Shakepay's Canadian-dollar balances aren't insured the same way, since it's a crypto platform rather than a bank, and crypto holdings on either app carry regular market risk.

    Can I earn interest on cash sitting in either app?

    Only with Wealthsimple, through the separate Wealthsimple Cash account. Shakepay has no interest-bearing option, so a CAD balance left there is just sitting idle.

    Do both referral codes work year-round?

    Yes. Neither code has an expiry date, and I'm not going to pretend there's urgency that doesn't exist.

    Final Verdict

    For most Canadians asking which one to actually open, I'd point you to Wealthsimple first. It's the platform that can hold your RRSP, your TFSA, your emergency fund, and a bit of crypto, all under one login, and the app is good enough that my partner set theirs up without asking me a single question. Sign up with code VAU8OG through my Wealthsimple link and you'll get a cash bonus of $25 or more once you fund the account. I've written the full breakdown, fees and all, in my complete Wealthsimple review.

    Shakepay earns its spot for a narrower reason: it's the only app I use that hands out free Bitcoin for doing almost nothing, and the cashback card has stayed in my wallet for small purchases longer than I expected it to. If that specific combination appeals to you, more than an all-in-one platform does, sign up with code NJ0MTTK through my Shakepay link and grab the $20 bonus after your first $100 purchase. I go into more detail, including where it falls short, in my full Shakepay review.

    The honest answer is that these aren't really competitors in the way a comparison article title suggests. Wealthsimple is the broader financial tool. Shakepay is the narrow, free-money add-on. I keep both installed, and I'd tell you to consider doing the same rather than picking exactly one. For the rest of the accounts I use to squeeze value out of everyday banking, the banking and investment referral guide covers the full list.

    • This article contains referral links. If you sign up using my code, I may receive a reward at no extra cost to you. I only recommend services I personally use.

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  • Shakepay Review 2026: Free Bitcoin Rewards and No-Fee e-Transfers for Canadians Who Don’t Care About Crypto

    Last updated: July 2026 | Author: Harold Phillips

    Key Takeaways

    • Shakepay is a Canadian app for buying, selling, and sending Bitcoin and Ethereum, with genuinely free Interac e-Transfers in and out, no monthly fee, no minimum balance
    • Referral code NJ0MTTK gets you and me $20 cash each, once you buy $100 or more of BTC or ETH within 30 days of signing up
    • ShakingSats gives you a small amount of free Bitcoin every day just for opening the app and shaking your phone. No purchase, no deposit required
    • The optional Shakepay Card pays cashback in Bitcoin on everyday purchases and carries no monthly fee of its own

    What Is Shakepay?

    Shakepay is a Montreal-based crypto app that's been around since 2015, which in crypto years makes it practically ancient. It lets Canadians buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin and Ethereum, and it moves Canadian dollars in and out through Interac e-Transfer at no cost. That last part matters more than it sounds like it should. Most crypto platforms nickel-and-dime you on deposits and withdrawals. Shakepay doesn't.

    I want to be upfront about something before I go any further: I'm not a crypto guy. I don't own much of it, I don't trade it, and I don't have opinions about where the price is headed next quarter. My partner will tell you I have opinions about literally everything else (phone plans, banking fees, the correct way to load a dishwasher), but crypto has never been one of them. So this review isn't coming from someone trying to convince you Bitcoin is the future. It's coming from someone who found an app that hands out a bit of free money and figured that was worth writing about.

    Shakepay's whole personality is built around two things: the free daily Bitcoin (called ShakingSats) and the prepaid Shakepay Card, which pays cashback in Bitcoin on regular purchases. Neither requires you to actually understand crypto to benefit from them. You open the app, you shake your phone, you get a small amount of Bitcoin. You use the card at the grocery store, you get a bit back. That's the whole pitch, and it's honestly the reason I still have the app installed.

    Shakepay Referral Code: NJ0MTTK

    When you sign up with my code, both of us get $20 cash, deposited straight into your Shakepay account. The catch, and there's always a catch, is that you need to buy $100 or more of Bitcoin or Ethereum within 30 days of creating your account for the bonus to trigger. You don't need to hold onto it. You just need to make the purchase.

    Step Action
    1 Go to referralmaxxing.ca/go/shakepay
    2 Download the app and create an account using the referral link (or enter code NJ0MTTK manually during sign-up)
    3 Complete identity verification, which takes a few minutes though approval can run a day or two
    4 Buy $100 or more in BTC or ETH within 30 days
    5 Receive your $20 cash bonus, usually within a few business days of the qualifying purchase

    This code works year-round. There's no expiry date buried in the fine print, and I'm not going to pretend there is one to create urgency that doesn't exist.

    Pricing and Plans

    Shakepay doesn't really have "plans" the way a subscription service does. It's free to open an account, and the optional card is free to carry. Where the actual cost shows up is in the spread (the difference between the buy price and sell price on trades), which functions like a built-in transaction fee even though Shakepay doesn't advertise it as one.

    Product Price Features Best For
    Shakepay Account Free Buy/sell BTC and ETH, free Interac e-Transfer in/out, ShakingSats daily reward Anyone who wants a simple, no-fee way to hold a bit of crypto
    Shakepay Card Free (no monthly fee) Prepaid Visa, Bitcoin cashback on purchases, load from your Shakepay balance People who want the cashback without opening a new credit product
    Trading Built-in spread (no flat commission) Instant buy/sell execution Casual buyers, not active day traders

    I'll flag this early because it's easy to miss: there's no interest paid on your CAD or crypto balance sitting in the app. If you're the type who wants your emergency fund earning something while it waits, this isn't the tool for that. It's a spend-and-shake app, not a savings account.

    Pros and Cons

    Pros Cons
    ✅ Genuinely free Interac e-Transfers in and out ❌ No interest earned on CAD or crypto balances
    ✅ Free daily Bitcoin through ShakingSats ❌ Only supports Bitcoin and Ethereum, no altcoins
    ✅ No monthly fee for the account or the card ❌ Support is email and chat only, no phone line
    ✅ Simple interface, genuinely usable for non-crypto people ❌ Rewards are exposed to Bitcoin's price swings until you convert
    ✅ Bitcoin cashback on everyday card purchases ❌ Identity verification can take a day or two before you're fully active
    ✅ $20 referral bonus with no ongoing subscription required ❌ Spread on trades isn't published as clearly as a flat fee would be

    Shakepay vs Wealthsimple

    Wealthsimple is the obvious comparison for most Canadians, since a lot of us already have a Wealthsimple account for investing and added crypto there almost as an afterthought. I've used both, and they're solving slightly different problems.

    Feature Shakepay Wealthsimple Crypto
    Assets supported BTC, ETH only 60+ cryptocurrencies
    Free e-Transfers ✅ ✅
    Free daily rewards ✅ (ShakingSats) ❌
    Cashback card ✅ (Bitcoin cashback) ❌
    Interest on cash balance ❌ ✅ (via Wealthsimple Cash)
    Investing beyond crypto ❌ ✅ (stocks, ETFs, registered accounts)
    Support Email/chat only Email/chat only
    App simplicity Very simple, narrow focus Broader, more to navigate

    If you want one app that does crypto, stocks, RRSPs, and a savings account, Wealthsimple is the better all-around platform. I've written about that separately, with the full breakdown of Wealthsimple's fees and account types, if that's the direction you're leaning. But if what you actually want is the free Bitcoin trickle and a cashback card that doesn't cost you anything to carry, Shakepay does that one thing better, mostly because it's the only thing it does.

    My Experience with Shakepay

    I signed up for Shakepay in early 2024, mostly out of curiosity after a coworker mentioned the free Bitcoin thing during a lunch that had nothing to do with finance. I didn't buy anything for the first few weeks. I just shook the app once a day out of habit, the same way I check the TTC app before leaving my apartment, and watched a tiny amount of Bitcoin accumulate in the background.

    The identity verification took about a day and a half for me, which is standard for anything regulated in Canada. I've had worse waits opening a chequing account. Once I was verified, moving money in was simple. I sent an Interac e-Transfer from my Simplii account, it landed in minutes, and I didn't pay a cent to do it. That's rare enough in the crypto space that it's worth calling out on its own.

    Here's where I have to be honest about what ShakingSats actually is, because I think some of the marketing around it oversells the amount. The daily reward is genuinely small — some days it's a few cents worth of Bitcoin, occasionally more during promotional periods. It is not a way to build meaningful wealth by shaking your phone. It's a nice little habit loop, and over a year and a half it's added up to more free Bitcoin than I expected, but if you're picturing anything close to a real income stream, recalibrate that expectation now.

    The card is the part I actually use for real value. I put my daily coffee and No Frills groceries on it for about four months last year as a test, and the Bitcoin cashback landed reliably every time. I eventually stopped using it as my everyday card, mostly because I like my existing points setup better for larger purchases, but it stayed in my wallet as the card I use for smaller stuff where the cashback percentage matters less than convenience.

    My biggest gripe, and I'll say this plainly: there's no way to earn interest on money sitting in the app. If you keep a CAD balance parked there between trades, it's just sitting, doing nothing, the way cash under a mattress does nothing. I moved my Shakepay balance to essentially zero for that reason, converting straight through and pulling profits or holdings out via e-Transfer rather than letting anything idle. I remember mentioning this to my partner while we were up at the cottage last July, spotty WiFi and all, and their response was some version of "so it's like a phone plan, but for Bitcoin, and you still found something to optimize." Fair.

    I'm not going to pretend I've stress-tested this against every competitor. I haven't done a full comparison of Shakepay's trading spread against Newton's fee structure recently, and if you're moving meaningful volume rather than casual amounts, that's worth checking yourself before you commit.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Shakepay available in my province?

    Yes, Shakepay is available across Canada, in every province and territory. You'll need to complete identity verification regardless of where you live, which is standard for any regulated Canadian crypto platform.

    How does the Shakepay referral code work?

    Sign up using code NJ0MTTK or through my referral link, then buy $100 or more of Bitcoin or Ethereum within 30 days of opening your account. Once that purchase clears, both you and I get $20 cash deposited into our Shakepay accounts.

    Is Shakepay worth it in 2026?

    For the free Bitcoin and the no-fee e-Transfers alone, yes, I'd say it's worth having installed even if you never actively trade. If you're looking for a full investing platform with registered accounts and interest-bearing cash, you'll want something broader alongside it, not instead of it.

    Do I need to understand crypto to use Shakepay?

    No. That's genuinely the appeal of it for someone like me. You don't need a trading strategy to benefit from ShakingSats or the cashback card. You need an app on your phone and a habit of opening it.

    Is ShakingSats actually worth doing every day?

    It's worth doing because it costs you nothing, but don't expect it to be meaningful money on its own. Treat it as a small bonus layered on top of the card and the free e-Transfers, not as a reason to sign up by itself.

    Is my money safe with Shakepay?

    Canadian dollar balances aren't CDIC-insured the way a bank account is, since Shakepay is a crypto platform, not a bank. Your crypto holdings carry the same market risk any Bitcoin or Ethereum holding does. The value moves with the market, and that's true no matter which app you hold it in.

    Does Shakepay charge any hidden fees?

    There's no monthly account fee and no charge for the card. The main cost is the spread built into buy and sell prices, which isn't published as a flat percentage the way a bank fee would be. It's not hidden exactly, but it's also not front and centre.

    What's the difference between Shakepay and Wealthsimple Crypto?

    Shakepay only supports Bitcoin and Ethereum but adds ShakingSats and a cashback card that Wealthsimple doesn't have. Wealthsimple supports far more cryptocurrencies and pairs crypto with a full investing platform, registered accounts, and an interest-bearing cash account. They overlap on crypto but aren't really solving the same problem.

    Final Verdict

    I'd recommend Shakepay to almost anyone in Canada who wants a low-effort way to end up with a bit of free Bitcoin and a cashback card that costs nothing to carry, crypto opinions completely aside. You don't need to believe in Bitcoin as an investment to get value out of this one. I don't, and I still use it.

    Where it falls short is anywhere close to being a full financial tool. No interest on idle cash, only two supported assets, and support that's email-only if something goes sideways. If you want one app for everything (crypto, stocks, savings, registered accounts), Wealthsimple covers more ground. If you want the specific combination of free daily Bitcoin, no-fee e-Transfers, and a cashback card, sign up with referral code NJ0MTTK at referralmaxxing.ca/go/shakepay and grab the $20 bonus once you make your first qualifying purchase.

    For more ways to make your everyday accounts work harder without paying for the privilege, the banking and investment referral guide covers the rest of what I use.

    • This article contains referral links. If you sign up using my code, I may receive a reward at no extra cost to you. I only recommend services I personally use.

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  • Hostinger Review 2026: Budget Hosting That Actually Delivers (With Caveats)

    Last verified: July 2026 | Author: Harold Phillips

    Key Takeaways

    • Shared hosting starts at $2.99/month (introductory, USD). Competitive, but renewal rates are significantly higher and the gap is worth knowing about before you commit
    • Referral code EL0TYLERBZ86 gets you a discount on sign-up; I earn a commission, disclosed upfront
    • LiteSpeed servers give Hostinger a genuine performance edge over comparably priced competitors
    • No Canadian datacenter; USD pricing adds real cost for Canadians at current exchange rates

    What Is Hostinger?

    Hostinger is a web hosting company founded in Lithuania in 2004. Over the past couple of decades they've grown into one of the more prominent names in the budget hosting space, with somewhere around three million customers across 178 countries, by their own figures. The pitch is simple: reliable hosting at a price point that doesn't require much justification to your bank account.

    The main products are shared hosting, WordPress hosting, VPS, and cloud hosting. For most people comparing Hostinger to the usual candidates (Bluehost, Namecheap, SiteGround) the competition is in the shared and WordPress tiers. That's where the pricing gets interesting and where most of the relevant trade-offs live.

    One thing to be clear about upfront: Hostinger is not a Canadian company and does not have a Canadian datacenter. They serve Canadians without restriction, but if you're factoring in domestic hosting or CAD pricing, that's not what this is. Prices are listed in USD. The nearest datacenter option for most Canadian sites is US-East. I'll come back to both of these because they affect the real math.

    Hostinger Referral Code: EL0TYLERBZ86

    Using my code (EL0TYLERBZ86) or referral link applies a discount to your first billing period. I earn a commission when you sign up through it. That's disclosed, that's the deal, and if you're going to sign up anyway, it's worth using.

    Step Action
    1 Go to referralmaxxing.ca/go/hostinger
    2 Select your hosting plan and term length
    3 Enter EL0TYLERBZ86 at checkout if it hasn't applied automatically via the link
    4 Complete sign-up and receive your discount on the first term

    The discount applies to the introductory period only. Renewal pricing is the standard rate, which is quite a bit higher. The short version: lock in a 24-month term if you're serious about the project. Per-month rate is lowest there, and you delay the renewal cliff by two years.

    Pricing and Plans

    Hostinger's pricing model follows a pattern you'll see across the hosting industry: low introductory rates to get you in, higher renewal rates to stay. The gap at Hostinger is pronounced enough that going in without knowing this would be a genuine surprise at renewal time.

    All prices below are in USD. At current exchange rates, add roughly 35–40% to get to CAD, though that fluctuates with the market, so treat it as a rough guide rather than a hard number.

    Plan Intro Price (USD/mo) Renewal Price (USD/mo) Storage Websites Notable Features
    Single Shared $1.99 ~$6.99 50 GB SSD 1 One site only; no free domain
    Premium Shared $2.99 ~$9.99 100 GB SSD 100 Free domain (yr 1), free SSL
    Business Shared $3.99 ~$14.99 200 GB SSD 100 Daily backups, free domain, free SSL
    Cloud Startup $9.99 ~$24.99 200 GB NVMe 300 Better CPU/RAM, NVMe storage

    The jump from Single to Premium is worth it. Single Shared is one site only (limiting for anyone who might spin up more than one project), and no free domain means you're paying separately from day one.

    Business Shared is where daily automatic backups kick in. That sounds like an upsell, and it is. But backups are one of those things where you don't care until you need them, and then you care very much. If you're putting real work into a site, Business is the tier I'd recommend.

    Introductory pricing requires committing to a multi-month term; the cheapest per-month rate comes with a 48-month commitment. I went with 24 months. 48 months felt like a lot of faith in a company I was still evaluating. Worth noting that as of mid-2026, Hostinger has been bundling their AI website builder and AI writing tools into Premium plans and above at no extra cost — useful if you're starting from scratch or rebuilding, though not a reason by itself to choose them over a host you already trust.

    Pros and Cons

    Pros Cons
    ✅ Competitive introductory pricing ❌ USD pricing means real CAD cost is higher than the listed rate
    ✅ LiteSpeed servers for fast WordPress load times ❌ Significant renewal rate increase
    ✅ hPanel is clean and modern ❌ No Canadian datacenter
    ✅ Free SSL on all plans ❌ hPanel learning curve if you're used to cPanel
    ✅ 24/7 live chat support ❌ Built-in email hosting is basic
    ✅ Free domain on Premium and above (first year) ❌ Daily backups only on Business tier and above
    ✅ 30-day money-back guarantee ❌ No phone support

    Hostinger vs Bluehost

    Bluehost is the most common comparison here. Both are pitched at WordPress beginners and small site owners, both sit in the budget range, and both come up constantly in the same searches. Here's how they actually stack up.

    Feature Hostinger Bluehost
    Starting price (intro, USD/mo) $1.99 $2.95
    Renewal price (USD/mo) ~$6.99 ~$10.99
    Control panel hPanel (proprietary) cPanel
    Web server LiteSpeed Apache
    WordPress performance Strong (LiteSpeed caching) Adequate
    Datacenter options US, EU, Asia, Singapore US, EU
    Canadian datacenter No No
    Free domain Yes (Premium+, yr 1) Yes (first year)
    Free SSL Yes Yes
    Phone support No Yes
    Money-back window 30 days 30 days
    Email hosting Basic, included Included

    Hostinger's edge is performance and long-term cost. LiteSpeed servers genuinely load WordPress faster than the Apache setup Bluehost uses. Not a dramatic difference at low traffic, but it's measurable, and it compounds as the site grows. The renewal gap adds up too: over a 24-month term, you're paying meaningfully less with Hostinger.

    Bluehost's edge is phone support and cPanel familiarity. If you've spent years working in cPanel and the idea of relearning a control panel sounds exhausting, that has real value. And if you're running a small business where an urgent outage at midnight means you need to talk to a human, the phone option matters.

    Honestly: for a new personal site or blog, Hostinger. For a small business that wants phone support as a safety net and doesn't mind paying a bit more on renewal, Bluehost is defensible.

    My Experience with Hostinger

    You're reading this on a site hosted by Hostinger. That's the most direct answer I can give you.

    When I was setting up Referral Maxxing, I spent more time than I'm proud of comparing hosting options. My partner pointed out, not for the first time, that I was visibly stressed about something that should take twenty minutes. I told them I was being thorough. They suggested I was avoiding doing the actual writing. We were both right.

    After working through the usual candidates, Hostinger made sense for what I needed: a clean WordPress install, reliable uptime, and a price that wouldn't feel frivolous while the site was still getting zero traffic. The LiteSpeed performance argument was genuinely compelling. Faster page loads matter for SEO and user experience, and getting it at the budget tier rather than paying up for managed WordPress hosting felt like a real win.

    Setup was straightforward. The onboarding flow walks you through installing WordPress without touching a command line, which I appreciated. I know what a server looks like under the hood, in the vague project-manager-who's-read-too-many-architecture-docs kind of way, but I didn't want to be debugging a manual install on a Tuesday night.

    Here's the thing about hPanel though: it is not cPanel, and if you're expecting to land in a cPanel environment, you won't. Hostinger built hPanel from scratch and it's actually cleaner and more modern. The layout makes more sense once you know it. The operative phrase being "once you know it." The first few times I went looking for something specific (PHP version settings, DNS management, email accounts), I spent more time clicking around than expected. By week two it was fine. Going in expecting a learning curve would have saved me some mild frustration in week one.

    The thing that did trip me up in week one: getting LiteSpeed Cache configured the way I wanted. The plugin defaults are fine for a brand-new site, but I'd read enough threads to want object cache turned on and a couple of the more aggressive image-optimization settings off. Hostinger's docs walked me through it eventually, but it was an evening on the couch with my laptop and Beans interfering with the trackpad. Not a Hostinger problem so much as a WordPress-on-LiteSpeed reality, but worth knowing if you've only run sites on Apache before.

    Performance has been solid. The site loads quickly, and I've had no downtime that I've noticed in several months of running it. I haven't thrown significant traffic at it (that would be a problem I'd be happy to have), but for regular use it's been stable.

    Where Hostinger fell short for me: email. I wanted to set up a proper contact address for the blog through their built-in email hosting. It works. But it's basic in a way that felt limiting pretty quickly. Nothing deeply broken, just not the tool you'd want if you were running business email or expecting any real volume through it. I ended up routing through a separate email service, which added a small monthly cost. If your use case involves anything beyond a simple catch-all address, factor that in.

    One thing I genuinely don't know: whether their uptime actually hits the advertised 99.9% on a consistent basis across regions. My site hasn't gone down when I've been paying attention, but I haven't set up external uptime monitoring in any formal way. If you're running a business-critical site, independent monitoring is worth setting up regardless of host. Don't rely on the host's own dashboard to tell you their servers are down.

    Also (and I knew this going in), seeing the CAD charge on my credit card every billing cycle is still a minor sting. At current exchange, Premium Shared's introductory rate converts to somewhere around $4.10–4.20 CAD per month. Not expensive, but it's not the $2.99 the listing shows either. The exchange rate exposure is real and consistent.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Hostinger available in Canada?

    Yes, without restrictions. The practical limitations are that Hostinger doesn't have a Canadian datacenter (US-East is the closest option and appropriate for most Canadian audiences) and that pricing is in USD. For a blog or personal site, US-East works fine. For a business with data residency requirements, look into Canadian-specific hosts.

    How does the Hostinger referral code work?

    Code EL0TYLERBZ86 (or the link at referralmaxxing.ca/go/hostinger) applies a discount to your first billing term. It may apply automatically via the link; if not, you can enter it manually at checkout. I earn a commission when someone signs up through my code. That's the referral model, not a shared credit system. The discount is on your end, the commission is on mine.

    Is Hostinger good for WordPress in 2026?

    It's a solid choice for most WordPress use cases at the budget tier. LiteSpeed servers with LiteSpeed Cache give you performance you typically don't see at this price point, and the one-click WordPress install is straightforward. For high-traffic or mission-critical sites, managed WordPress hosting (Kinsta, WP Engine) is worth the premium. For a new blog, small business site, or personal project though, Hostinger handles WordPress well.

    What happens to the price when my plan renews?

    Renewal rates are significantly higher than introductory rates. Premium Shared goes from $2.99/month (USD) to roughly $9.99/month (USD) at renewal. The best way to handle this is to commit to a 24-month term at sign-up. You lock in the low rate longer and delay the first renewal bump. I'd avoid the 48-month commitment unless you're very confident about the project; that's a long time to be locked in with a host you haven't tested yet.

    Does Hostinger offer a free domain?

    Free domain registration for the first year comes with Premium Shared hosting and above. Single Shared does not include a free domain. After year one, domain renewal typically runs $10–20/year depending on the extension. Standard stuff. Just factor it into your total cost math.

    How is Hostinger's customer support?

    24/7 live chat is the main channel. Response times have been reasonable in my experience, usually a few minutes, not hours. What they don't have is phone support, which is a real gap if you run a small business and might need urgent help at an inconvenient time. Email support exists but is slower. For a personal or small business site, live chat is adequate. For anything where you'd want to escalate to a phone call, Bluehost or SiteGround are worth the higher price.

    Is there a free trial?

    No free trial, but there's a 30-day money-back guarantee. It's reasonably clean in practice — submit a request, receive a refund within a few business days. If you're evaluating it, pay attention to that 30-day window. Missing it by a couple of days is not a fun experience.

    How does Hostinger compare to Namecheap for WordPress?

    Both are legitimate budget options. Hostinger generally has better WordPress performance due to LiteSpeed, while Namecheap has a reputation for more transparent pricing with a less dramatic renewal spike. If WordPress page speed is the priority, Hostinger. If you want fewer billing surprises over time, Namecheap is worth considering.

    Final Verdict

    Hostinger is worth considering for personal projects, blogs, and small business sites where budget is a real factor. The LiteSpeed performance advantage is genuine and separates it from comparably priced competitors. Setup is accessible even if you've never managed a site before. The 30-day money-back window gives you a clean exit if something doesn't work.

    The things to know and accept before signing up: pricing is in USD (real CAD cost is higher than the listing implies), renewal rates are significantly higher than introductory rates so the long-term cost is not what the headline price suggests, and the email hosting is basic enough that you may want a separate solution. hPanel has a learning curve if cPanel is what you know. As of mid-2026, budget hosting has gotten more competitive across the board, but Hostinger's LiteSpeed advantage and clean onboarding still hold up at this price point.

    For someone building their first site or a new project that doesn't need to justify premium infrastructure yet, Hostinger hits the right balance. For small businesses that want phone support or anyone with data residency preferences, the calculus changes.

    If you're going ahead with Hostinger, use code EL0TYLERBZ86 or sign up through referralmaxxing.ca/go/hostinger for a discount on your first term. If you're still deciding between hosting options, the web hosting hub has comparisons with SiteGround and a few other options depending on what you're building.

    This article contains referral links. If you sign up using my code, I may receive a reward at no extra cost to you. I only recommend services I personally use.

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  • Factor Meals vs Goodfood: Which Is Better for Canadians? (2026)

    Last verified: July 2026 | Author: Harold Phillips

    Quick Answer

    Factor and Goodfood are solving different problems. Factor delivers fully prepared, heat-and-eat meals: no cooking, no cleanup beyond a fork. Goodfood delivers meal kits with prepped ingredients and a recipe card, so you cook the actual dish. If you want food on the table in four minutes, Factor wins. If you want to cook but skip the grocery run, Goodfood is the better fit. Both are legitimate options for busy Canadians, and this article breaks down exactly which one makes sense for you.

    At a Glance

    Feature Factor Meals Goodfood
    Format Ready-to-heat (no cooking) Meal kits (you cook)
    Starting price ~$11/meal ~$12.49/serving
    Delivery fee Included $10.99/order
    First-order discount Free box with referral Up to 70% off first box
    Prep time 2–4 minutes 20–45 minutes
    Dietary options Keto, calorie-smart, plant-based, and more Classic, plant-based, protein-forward
    Available in Quebec Yes Yes
    Recipe cards No Yes
    Referral bonus (referee) Free first box Up to $153 off across 4 boxes
    Best For Busy professionals, fitness-focused eaters Home cooks who want to skip the grocery store

    Factor Meals Overview

    Factor is a US-founded meal delivery service that expanded into Canada, and the pitch is simple: fully chef-prepared, dietitian-approved meals delivered to your door. You don't do any cooking. You peel back the film, microwave for two minutes, and eat. That's it.

    The menu rotates weekly with 30–35 options covering a range of dietary priorities: keto and paleo, calorie-smart portions, plant-based, and protein-focused builds. If you're tracking macros, this matters. Every meal comes with a clear nutritional label, and the protein numbers on the higher-end options are actually respectable. Starting at around $11 per meal, the price per serving is genuinely competitive compared to what you'd spend at a restaurant for similar quality.

    My interest in Factor came from the fitness side of my life, not the convenience side. I train four times a week and I'm particular about hitting my protein numbers. Sunday meal prep has always been my solution, but there are weeks when the prep doesn't happen (a long weekend, a late Friday, Beans managing to spill something on the cutting board at exactly the wrong moment), and having Factor boxes in the fridge meant I wasn't defaulting to whatever was in the pantry. For the stretches when I'm dialling in my eating, it's become a useful part of the rotation. As of mid-2026, Factor has continued expanding its Canadian menu variety, with more regionally relevant options appearing alongside the core lineup — worth checking your weekly selection before the cutoff.

    The genuine negative: you have no recipe. You can't replicate these dishes at home, you don't learn anything about cooking, and you're entirely dependent on Factor's weekly menu. If this week's rotation doesn't work for you, you're stuck. That has happened to me at least twice (three keto weeks in a row when I wasn't looking for that), so pay attention to your menu settings before the weekly cutoff.

    Goodfood Overview

    Goodfood is a Montreal company, which matters for two reasons: it means they understand Canadian seasons and Canadian eating habits, and it means they've been serving Quebec longer than most other meal kit services have. My family actually found Goodfood through the cottage. We have a small place in the Eastern Townships, and my parents started ordering it when Goodfood was still primarily a Quebec-focused service, well before it expanded coast-to-coast. By the time I tried it in Toronto, they'd been subscribers for a couple of years.

    The format here is meal kits: your ingredients arrive prepped and portioned, with a recipe card telling you what to do. You're still doing the cooking — chopping any remaining veg, following the steps, making a real meal. The appeal is that the annoying parts are already done. No grocery run for shallots you'll only use half of, no uncertainty about whether your chicken is properly portioned for the recipe. Everything arrives exactly as needed for that week's meals.

    Goodfood's rotating menu offers around 20–25 options weekly, with classic family-style recipes alongside plant-based and higher-protein choices. Serving sizes are generous, and the recipe complexity ranges from genuinely easy (30 minutes, minimal technique) to meals that'll have you actually learning something. That's not a complaint. If I'm going to spend 40 minutes cooking, I'd rather end up with a dish I'm proud of than something I could have made on autopilot. In 2026, Goodfood has been leaning into seasonal Canadian ingredients more than in previous years, which shows up in summer and fall menus in particular.

    The referral offer for new subscribers is notably strong. Using a referral link, you get 70% off your first box, then 30% off your second, 20% off your third, and 10% off your fourth, up to $153 in total value across those first four orders. That's a meaningful discount to actually evaluate whether the service works for you before paying full price.

    Detailed Comparison

    Pricing

    This one requires some unpacking because the sticker prices don't tell the full story.

    Cost Item Factor Meals Goodfood
    Per meal / per serving ~$11–$15 depending on plan ~$12.49–$14.49/serving
    Minimum order 6 meals/week Varies by plan (typically 2 recipes × 2 servings)
    Delivery fee Included $10.99/order
    First-order discount Free box with referral code Up to 70% off (referral)
    Multi-box discounts No formal structure 4-box welcome offer

    Goodfood's delivery fee is worth calling out explicitly. At $10.99 per order, that adds real cost to what looks like a comparable price per serving. A two-recipe, two-serving Goodfood box (roughly four servings total at $12.49 each) runs about $61 in food costs plus $10.99 delivery, so you're looking at around $72 for four servings. That's $18/serving all-in. Factor's pricing is inclusive of delivery, so the comparison is cleaner there.

    Over the long run, both services will cost more than cooking from scratch. That's just true. The value equation is whether the convenience, reduced food waste, and time saved justify the premium, and that's a question only you can answer for your own household.

    Food Quality and Variety

    This is where the comparison gets genuinely interesting, because the two services are doing different things with "quality."

    Factor's quality is about execution: consistent meals, reliable macros, no variability based on your cooking skill. You know what you're getting. The downside is that heat-and-eat containers have a ceiling on what they can be. There are textures you can't achieve in a takeout container, and the cooking process is essentially flash heating something that was assembled earlier. For what it is, the quality is good. For what it's competing with at the high end of home cooking, it has limits.

    Goodfood's quality depends on you, in both the good and bad ways. A well-executed Goodfood recipe on a Sunday evening, with decent ingredients and the time to follow the steps properly, can be genuinely excellent. I've made dishes I've wanted to repeat, which doesn't happen with heat-and-eat food. The ingredients are fresh and clearly sourced with some care. The flip side: if you're tired, distracted, or rushing, the results are going to reflect that.

    Factor Meals Goodfood
    Proteins offered Chicken, beef, pork, salmon, shrimp, plant-based Chicken, beef, pork, salmon, plant-based
    Special diets Keto, calorie-smart, plant-based, paleo-friendly Classic, plant-based, protein+
    Menu rotation Weekly (~30–35 options) Weekly (~20–25 options)
    Recipe difficulty N/A (heat and eat) Easy to moderate
    Average prep time 2–4 min 20–45 min

    Convenience

    Factor wins here, and it's not close. If what you need is food on the table with zero effort and zero dishes (besides the fork), Factor is the answer. The time equation for busy weeknights, especially solo meals or lunches, is hard to argue with.

    Goodfood requires effort. Not a lot of effort, and the effort is structured, but it's a non-trivial cooking commitment. A 30-minute recipe is a 30-minute recipe. If you're cooking for two, that's actually pleasant: a weeknight activity you can do together. If you're alone, exhausted from work, and you just want to eat, it's more friction than Factor.

    Where Goodfood's convenience shows up is at the planning stage: no grocery runs, no recipe research, no half-used vegetables going soft in your crisper drawer. That's a real benefit, just a different one.

    Availability in Canada

    Both services deliver across most of Canada, including Quebec, which matters to me personally. Goodfood's Quebec coverage is particularly strong. It's their home market, and you'll find the service discussed openly in Quebec communities in a way that national services don't always achieve.

    Factor Meals Goodfood
    Ontario ✓ ✓
    Quebec ✓ ✓
    British Columbia ✓ ✓
    Alberta ✓ ✓
    Atlantic provinces ✓ ✓
    Rural/remote areas Limited Limited
    French-language support Partial Full (Montreal-founded)

    I'm not certain Factor's coverage extends to all rural parts of Canada, so I'd verify your specific postal code before ordering. Goodfood has more historical presence outside major cities, particularly in Quebec, but remote delivery is never guaranteed with either service.

    Customer Experience

    Both have apps. Both work. Neither is going to win a design award.

    Goodfood's interface for managing your weekly menu, skipping weeks, and adjusting your plan is functional but occasionally clunky. I've missed the cutoff by accident more than once because I forgot which day of the week the deadline was. Their customer support, based on my experience, is responsive enough when something arrives damaged or missing.

    Factor's app is cleaner for browsing and filtering the weekly menu. The subscription management is straightforward. I haven't had a significant issue with Factor that required escalating beyond the automated options, so I can't speak to their customer service under pressure.

    Which Should You Choose?

    Choose Factor if:

    • You want food with zero cooking effort on weeknights
    • You're tracking macros and want consistent nutritional information
    • You work long hours and need something reliable in the fridge
    • You live alone and cooking for one feels like a lot
    • Keto or calorie-controlled eating is part of your routine

    Choose Goodfood if:

    • You like cooking but want to skip the grocery store
    • You're cooking for two or a family and want a shared kitchen activity
    • You want to try new recipes without sourcing 12 separate ingredients
    • Quebec-market familiarity matters to you
    • The first-box referral discount is attractive (the value is genuinely strong)

    Referral Codes

    Service Code / Link Referee Offer
    Factor Meals Use my referral link, code HS-SXZ4BZ3IH Free first box
    Goodfood Use my referral link, code l3983415 Up to $153 off across your first 4 boxes (70% / 30% / 20% / 10%)

    If you use my referral link for either service, I may receive a reward. Factor sends $25 my way, Goodfood credits $35 to my account. I'll note that Goodfood's new-subscriber offer is one of the better ones I've seen: 70% off your first box is enough to genuinely try the service without committing to the full price.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Factor or Goodfood cheaper in Canada?

    At the per-serving level, Factor and Goodfood are close, but Factor's pricing is all-in (delivery included), while Goodfood adds $10.99 per delivery. When you account for that, Factor tends to run lower on a cost-per-serving basis for most plan sizes. The Goodfood welcome discount changes this math significantly for new subscribers, so if you're just starting out, Goodfood can be cheaper for your first month.

    Can I use both at the same time?

    Yes, there's nothing stopping you. They're separate subscriptions. Some people use Factor for weekday lunches and Goodfood for weekend dinners. Different needs, different services. The referral offers for both are independent of each other.

    Can I pause or cancel easily?

    Both services let you skip weeks through the app. Cancellation is also available online without requiring a phone call, which is a higher bar than it should be in 2026 but worth confirming before signing up. If either service ever adds a cancellation wall, that'll be in my review.

    Which has better options for dietary restrictions?

    Factor has more specific filtering: you can browse by keto, calorie-smart, plant-based, or paleo, and the nutritional info is prominent. Goodfood has plant-based and protein-forward categories, but the dietary filtering is less granular. If a specific macro or diet style is non-negotiable for you, Factor gives you more control.

    Does Goodfood deliver in Quebec?

    Yes, and their Quebec coverage is notably strong given that it's their home market. If you're in Montreal, Quebec City, or anywhere in between, Goodfood is a natural choice. I've used it at the family cottage in the Eastern Townships without issue, which is about as rural a test case as I can offer.

    Which service has better customer support?

    Honestly, I haven't had a bad enough experience with either service to really test their support systems under pressure. What I can say: both have standard chat and email options, and neither requires a phone call for basic subscription changes. I'd be curious to hear from readers who've dealt with a larger issue. My experience has been limited to missing ingredients and a couple of damaged containers.

    Final Verdict

    These two services aren't really competing for the same use case, which makes a "winner" declaration feel a bit artificial. But if someone asked me which one to try first, I'd say: what's your Tuesday evening like?

    If your Tuesday evening involves coming home at 6:30, exhausted, wanting food in the next five minutes, Factor is what you want. Microwave, eat, move on with your night. For busy households, solo living, and anyone who's serious about hitting a protein or calorie target without thinking about it, Factor earns its place.

    If your Tuesday evening has 35 minutes in it and you'd rather cook something that actually tastes like you made it, Goodfood is genuinely worth trying. The first-box discount is strong enough that the risk is low, and the Quebec-market credibility is real. My family has been happy with it for years.

    The thing is, neither service is a trap. Both do what they claim. The mistake is ordering Goodfood when you're looking for Factor's convenience, or expecting Factor to give you the cooking experience Goodfood offers. Match the service to how your evenings actually go, not how you want them to go.

    This article contains referral links. If you sign up using my code, I may receive a reward at no extra cost to you. I only recommend services I personally use.

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  • Uber Eats Review 2026: Is the $20 Referral Code Actually Worth It?

    Last updated: July 2026 | Author: Harold Phillips

    Last verified: July 2026

    Key Takeaways

    • Uber Eats is Canada's largest food delivery platform, available in most major cities and a growing number of smaller ones
    • New users can get $20 off their first order using referral code eats-tylerc707 (or sign up via referralmaxxing.ca/go/uber-eats)
    • Delivery fees and service fees are the main pain point. A $15 meal can easily cost $25+ after everything's added
    • Uber One membership ($9.99/month) meaningfully changes the math if you order more than 2-3 times a month
    • The $20 discount is applied at checkout automatically when you use the referral link, no code entry needed

    What Is Uber Eats?

    Uber Eats is the food delivery arm of Uber, launched in Canada around 2016. In 2026, it's the dominant delivery platform in most Canadian cities. Not necessarily the cheapest, but the one with the widest restaurant selection and the most consistent app experience. If a restaurant in your area does third-party delivery, there's a reasonable chance they're on Uber Eats.

    The platform handles restaurant delivery, grocery delivery (via partnerships with Loblaws, Metro, and others), and convenience store orders. You order through the app, a driver picks it up, and it arrives at your door. That's the whole pitch.

    What sets it apart from competitors like DoorDash and Skip the Dishes is mostly scale. More drivers means shorter wait times in dense areas. More restaurant partners means more variety. That's not a knock on the competition; it's just the reality of being the largest player in a market that rewards network effects. In mid-2026, Uber Eats has continued expanding its grocery and convenience partnerships, making it a more all-in-one option than it was even a year ago.

    It's available across Canada, though coverage varies significantly by city. Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary: fine. Smaller cities and rural areas are a different story. I'll get to that.

    Uber Eats Referral Code: eats-tylerc707

    New users get $20 off their first order when they sign up through a referral link. The easiest way is to use mine at referralmaxxing.ca/go/uber-eats, which applies the discount automatically. You don't need to manually enter a code.

    If you'd rather enter a code directly in the app, you can use eats-tylerc707 during sign-up. Either way works.

    Step Action
    1 Download the Uber Eats app (iOS or Android)
    2 Create a new account with your email and phone number
    3 Enter code eats-tylerc707 during sign-up (or use the referral link in the section above)
    4 Place your first order; the $20 discount applies at checkout
    5 Pay the remaining balance (if your order is under $20, the discount covers it entirely)

    A few notes: the $20 is applied to one order, not split across multiple. It works on restaurant orders, not just grocery. And the minimum order threshold is typically low enough that you won't have trouble hitting it. I haven't seen this referral code expire, but Uber does update these periodically, so if you're reading this in 2027, verify before counting on it.

    Pricing and Plans

    This is where things get complicated, and where most people get surprised.

    Uber Eats itself is free to download and create an account. The fees are per-order, and they add up quickly.

    Fee Type Typical Range Notes
    Delivery fee $0–$9.99 Varies by restaurant distance, demand, and whether you have Uber One
    Service fee 5–15% of order subtotal Charged by Uber on most orders
    Small order fee ~$2 Applies to orders under a minimum threshold
    Surge pricing Variable Higher fees during peak hours or bad weather
    Tips Optional, but expected Usually prompted at 10%, 15%, 20%

    Uber One is the subscription tier at $9.99/month (or around $99/year). Members get:

    • Free delivery on eligible orders over $15
    • 5% off eligible orders
    • Priority support
    No Membership Uber One ($9.99/mo)
    Delivery fee $3–$10 per order $0 on eligible orders
    Service fee Standard rate Reduced on eligible orders
    Break-even n/a ~2-3 orders/month
    Best for Occasional users Regular users (weekly+)

    Honestly, the fee structure is confusing by design. The "free delivery" on eligible orders sounds great until you realize the service fee still applies, and not every restaurant is "eligible." If you order once or twice a month, skip the membership. If you're ordering weekly, it probably pays for itself.

    Pros and Cons

    Pros Cons
    ✅ Largest restaurant selection in Canada ❌ Fees stack up fast: delivery + service + tip adds 30-50% to your bill
    ✅ Reliable driver availability in major cities ❌ Surge pricing during peak hours with minimal transparency
    ✅ $20 off first order with referral code ❌ App occasionally has issues with order tracking accuracy
    ✅ Grocery and convenience delivery in one app ❌ Refund process is slower than it should be for wrong or missing items
    ✅ Uber One membership makes frequent ordering cheaper ❌ Coverage outside major cities is thin
    ✅ Group order feature works well for offices ❌ Restaurant menus occasionally out of date or inaccurate

    Uber Eats vs DoorDash vs Skip the Dishes

    This is the comparison that matters for most Canadians.

    Feature Uber Eats DoorDash Skip the Dishes
    Restaurant selection ★★★★★ ★★★★☆ ★★★☆☆
    Driver availability (major cities) ★★★★★ ★★★★☆ ★★★☆☆
    Delivery speed Fast Fast Variable
    Fee transparency Low Low Low
    Subscription Uber One ($9.99/mo) DashPass ($9.99/mo) Skip+ ($4.99/mo)
    Grocery delivery Yes Yes Limited
    New user promo $20 off (referral) Variable Variable
    Available provinces All All All (thinner rural)
    Owned by Uber (US) DoorDash (US) Just Eat Takeaway (Netherlands)

    A few things I'll say plainly:

    Skip the Dishes used to be the scrappy Canadian underdog. It's owned by a Dutch conglomerate now and has lost market share in most cities I've checked. Selection is noticeably thinner in Toronto than it was a few years ago.

    DoorDash and Uber Eats are genuinely close. In my experience, the restaurant selection overlaps significantly, the fees are similarly opaque, and the app quality is roughly equivalent. DashPass vs. Uber One comes down to which restaurants are "eligible" in your area, worth checking before you commit to a subscription. As of mid-2026, both platforms have been competing aggressively on grocery and convenience delivery, so it's worth checking which has better coverage at your specific address before picking a subscription.

    If I had to pick one, I'd give Uber Eats a slight edge on driver availability in Toronto specifically. Your city might be different.

    My Experience with Uber Eats

    I'll be honest: I use Uber Eats, but I'm not someone who orders delivery three times a week. It's more of a once-or-twice-a-month situation for me, usually when we don't want to cook on a Friday and the neighbourhood Thai place is too busy to pick up from.

    I've had the app since around 2020. My partner and I use it more than I'd like to admit. Over that span, a few things have stayed consistent.

    The app itself is fine. It's never crashed on me mid-order (the lowest possible bar, I know, but you'd be surprised). The tracking is mostly accurate. I once watched the little car icon make a suspicious detour through what appeared to be a parking garage, but the food showed up warm, so I let it go.

    Where it gets annoying is the fees. I've seen orders where the delivery and service fees added up to more than one of the items I ordered. There's something psychologically aggravating about ordering a $14 bowl of ramen and seeing $6.50 in fees before tip. I've started factoring that in upfront. If the restaurant is close enough to walk, I pick it up myself.

    The referral deal is legitimately good for first-timers. Twenty dollars off your first order is enough to make the fee math work in your favour at least once. Most first orders for my partner and me were in the $35-40 range, which means we basically paid for one meal and got the other covered. That's a real saving, not a marketing trick.

    One issue that's come up twice: wrong items. Twice in six years, I've received an order where something was missing or substituted without notice. The refund process was fine eventually, but "eventually" is the operative word. You're not getting instant credit; you're submitting a support request through the app and waiting. The second time it happened, it took three days and two follow-ups to get the $8 credit. For $8, I get that it's not the end of the world. But it's annoying enough that I remember it.

    Uber One is worth it if you're actually going to use it. I tried it for three months last year. The break-even really is about 2-3 orders a month. If you're below that, you're paying for peace of mind you don't need. I cancelled after the trial, because my usage just doesn't justify it.

    One more thing: grocery delivery through Uber Eats is okay, not great. The selection at my local Loblaws partner is fine for basics, but I'm not giving up my No Frills run for it. Where it actually makes sense is late-night convenience runs. If Beans has knocked the last of the cat food off the shelf at 10 PM on a Sunday, it's faster than any alternative.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Uber Eats available across Canada?

    Yes, in major cities. Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Halifax, Winnipeg: coverage is solid. Smaller cities and rural areas are hit-or-miss. If you're in a smaller market, open the app and check before assuming. The restaurant selection in less-dense areas can be limited enough to make it impractical.

    How does the Uber Eats referral code work?

    When you sign up for Uber Eats as a new user and apply a referral code (or use a referral link), you receive $20 off your first order. The discount is applied automatically at checkout. You don't need to do anything special during the order itself. Code: eats-tylerc707 (the referral link is in the section above).

    Is Uber One worth it in 2026?

    It depends entirely on your order frequency. At $9.99/month, you need to order at least 2-3 times per month to break even on delivery fees alone. If you're ordering weekly, it likely pays for itself. If you're an occasional user, skip it.

    Why are Uber Eats fees so high?

    The fees cover driver pay, the platform's cut, and insurance. They're also partly variable: higher demand means higher fees (surge pricing). It's frustrating because the final total often isn't visible until you're about to pay. This is an industry-wide problem, not unique to Uber Eats, but they're not doing anything to fix it either.

    Can I use Uber Eats for grocery delivery in Canada?

    Yes. Uber Eats has grocery delivery partnerships with Loblaws, Metro, Sobeys, and others, depending on your city. Coverage and selection vary significantly by location. It's convenient for top-ups but not a replacement for a proper grocery run.

    What happens if my order is wrong or missing items?

    You can report the issue through the app: go to your order history, select the order, and flag the problem. Uber typically offers account credit or a partial refund. In my experience it takes 1-3 business days to resolve, and occasionally requires follow-up. Not instant, which is annoying.

    Is Uber Eats better than DoorDash in Canada?

    In most major Canadian cities, they're very close. Uber Eats tends to have a larger restaurant selection and slightly faster driver availability in dense urban areas. DoorDash has strong coverage too and a comparable subscription (DashPass). Worth checking both in your city; restaurant overlap is significant, so the choice often comes down to which specific restaurants are available.

    Does the referral code work for existing users?

    No. The $20 referral discount is for new accounts only. If you already have an account, the code won't apply. The referral codes are designed for first-time sign-ups.

    Final Verdict

    Uber Eats is what it is: the most widely used food delivery platform in Canada, with the selection and driver availability to justify that position in most cities. It's not cheap. It's essentially never cheap, and anyone telling you otherwise is not accounting for fees and tip. The $20 first-order discount makes the entry cost reasonable though, if you've been thinking about trying it.

    The thing is, food delivery as a category is a convenience premium. You're not ordering Uber Eats to save money. You're ordering it because you don't want to cook, or can't, or it's 11 PM and the Thai place is closed. Judged on that basis, Uber Eats delivers (pun fully intended, and I'm not sorry).

    Uber One is worth exploring if you order more than a couple of times a month. For occasional users, the free account with a referral discount is the better deal.

    If you're new to the platform, use code eats-tylerc707 or sign up at referralmaxxing.ca/go/uber-eats to get $20 off your first order. That's a real discount on a real order, not a "get $2 off if you spend $50" situation.

    Who should skip it: anyone hoping for a cheap way to eat. The fees are real. If you're budget-conscious and delivery isn't a priority, pick up your own order or cook at home. This is a convenience product priced as a convenience product.

    Who should sign up: anyone who already knows they'll use delivery occasionally and wants to get $20 off their first order. That's a good deal, and Uber Eats is reliable enough to recommend for the right use case.

    Related: Get the Goodfood welcome offer

    This article contains referral links. If you sign up using my code, I may receive a reward at no extra cost to you. I only recommend services I personally use.

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  • Uber vs Lyft: Which Is Better for Canadians? (2026)

    Last verified: August 2026 | Author: Harold Phillips

    Quick Answer

    For most Canadians, Uber is the better choice in 2026. It covers more cities, has a stronger membership program, and isn't going anywhere. Lyft is a legitimate option if you're in Toronto or Vancouver and want an alternative, but its footprint has been shrinking for years. If you only want to download one app, download Uber.

    At a Glance

    Feature Uber Lyft
    Starting price Varies by city and demand Varies by city and demand
    Membership Uber One (~$9.99/mo) Lyft Pink (~$12.99/mo)
    Canadian cities 15+ 3–4
    Available in Quebec Yes No
    Food delivery Yes (Uber Eats) No
    Bike/scooter share No (in Canada) Limited
    App rating (iOS) 4.8 4.6
    Referral bonus Ride discount Ride discount
    Best for Most Canadians Toronto/Vancouver riders who want an alternative

    Uber Overview

    Uber has been operating in Canada since 2012, and at this point it's basically the default answer when someone says "call a car." It's in every major Canadian city (Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Winnipeg) and a lot of mid-size markets too. The app has matured considerably. You've got UberX for everyday rides, Comfort and Black for when you actually need to make an impression, and XL for groups or people moving furniture (yes, people do this).

    The Uber One membership is the most interesting part of the product right now. At roughly $9.99/month, you get 5% back on eligible rides, free delivery on Uber Eats orders over $15, and priority support. If you're a regular Uber Eats user anyway, the membership pays for itself fast. If you're only using it for rides twice a month, the math is murkier.

    Lyft Overview

    Lyft launched in Canada in 2017 and has had a complicated relationship with this country ever since. They came in with competitive pricing and genuine momentum, and then quietly started pulling back. By 2026, their Canadian operation is concentrated in Toronto, Vancouver, and Ottawa, with Hamilton sometimes showing up depending on who you ask.

    That's not nothing. Toronto and Vancouver are two of the biggest rideshare markets in the country. But if you live in Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, or anywhere outside those three cities, Lyft simply isn't an option. They also never expanded to Quebec, which matters for anyone making the summer drive out east.

    What Lyft does well: the app is clean, drivers in core markets tend to rate it reasonably well, and Lyft Pink (their membership tier) is a legitimate product. But the footprint gap is hard to ignore. That gap hasn't closed heading into the back half of 2026. Uber has kept expanding perks under Uber One, while Lyft's Canadian feature rollout has visibly slowed by comparison. Heading into the fall 2026 travel season, there's still no public signal that Lyft plans to add new Canadian markets, so this coverage gap looks likely to carry into 2027.

    Detailed Comparison

    Pricing

    Neither service publishes a simple price list. Both use dynamic pricing based on demand, distance, time of day, and whatever is happening in your city that weekend. The reality is that fares on both platforms are often close enough that you'd want to check both apps before booking.

    Fare Type Uber Lyft
    Base fare ~$2.50–$4.00 ~$2.50–$3.50
    Per km ~$1.10–$1.50 ~$1.00–$1.40
    Per min ~$0.20–$0.30 ~$0.18–$0.28
    Surge multiplier 1.2x–3x+ 1.2x–2.5x+
    Minimum fare ~$5–7 ~$5–7
    Membership discount 5% (Uber One) 5–10% (Lyft Pink)

    Note: Fares vary significantly by city and fluctuate constantly. Always check both apps for your specific route.

    Lyft Pink is arguably the better deal on paper (it can offer up to 10% off rides in some markets), but it's only useful if Lyft actually operates where you live. Uber One wins by default for most Canadians simply because Uber is available where Lyft isn't.

    Honestly, I've found the fares to be within a dollar or two of each other on most routes I've taken in Toronto. The surge pricing is where things can diverge. Both apps will gouge you on a Friday night at 2 AM, but I've occasionally found one platform cheaper than the other in the same moment. It's worth having both apps installed if you're in a Lyft city just for this reason.

    Features

    Feature Uber Lyft
    Scheduled rides Yes Yes
    In-app tipping Yes Yes
    Driver ratings Yes (2-way) Yes (2-way)
    Pet-friendly rides Uber Pet (select cities) No
    Accessibility options UberAssist Lyft Assisted
    Business profiles Yes Yes
    Shared rides Limited (UberX Share) No (paused in Canada)
    Package delivery Uber Connect No

    The feature gap here has grown over the last couple of years. Uber keeps adding things (Connect for packages, Pet for people with dogs), while Lyft has been treading water in their Canadian markets. Lyft paused shared rides in Canada and hasn't brought them back.

    User Experience

    Both apps are good. Neither will make you want to throw your phone into the Don Valley.

    Uber's app has gotten busier over the years as they've layered in Eats, grocery delivery, and other services. If all you want is a car, the core booking flow is still fast, but there's more visual noise than there used to be. Driver tracking is accurate and the estimated arrival times are reliable enough that I've stopped standing outside in the cold waiting.

    Lyft's app feels cleaner. There's less going on. If you just want to book a ride and not be upsold on anything, Lyft is a nicer experience. The trade-off is that "less going on" also means fewer features.

    Customer support is where both apps struggle, which is a common complaint in the rideshare industry. Neither makes it easy to talk to a person. Uber's support has improved over the last year. Dispute resolution on overcharges is faster than it used to be. Lyft's support is fine when things go normally; I haven't had to escalate anything with them so I genuinely can't speak to how they handle a real problem.

    Availability in Canada

    This is where the comparison basically ends.

    Market Uber Lyft
    Toronto Yes Yes
    Vancouver Yes Yes
    Ottawa Yes Yes
    Montreal Yes No
    Calgary Yes No
    Edmonton Yes No
    Halifax Yes No
    Winnipeg Yes No
    Quebec City Yes No
    Hamilton Yes Sometimes
    Anywhere in Quebec Yes No

    If you're reading this from Calgary or Halifax, this comparison is already over. You're using Uber.

    Even for Toronto and Vancouver residents, Lyft availability can feel spottier in outer areas and during low-demand periods. Uber has a deeper driver pool in most markets, which means shorter wait times most of the time. I've had a few instances in Toronto where Lyft estimated 12–15 minutes and Uber had something in 3. Same spot, same time.

    Which Should You Choose?

    Choose Uber if:

    • You live outside Toronto, Vancouver, or Ottawa
    • You ever travel to Quebec or rural areas
    • You use Uber Eats and want the combined Uber One membership to make sense
    • You want the widest driver pool and generally faster pickups
    • You're moving somewhere new and don't want to gamble on coverage
    • You occasionally need specialty options (Uber Black, Uber Pet, Uber Connect)

    Choose Lyft if:

    • You're in Toronto or Vancouver and want a backup app for price comparison
    • You find Uber's app too cluttered and prefer something simpler
    • You've had bad experiences with Uber and want an alternative
    • You're willing to check both apps every time and take the cheaper one

    My actual answer: Have both installed. They're free apps. In Toronto and Vancouver, it takes 10 seconds to check both before booking. Everywhere else, you're using Uber by default.

    Referral Codes

    Service Referral Code Reward
    Uber 92kemkjb6nt7 Ride discount for new users
    Lyft use referral link Ride discount for new users

    If you're signing up for Uber, you can use my code at signup or enter it in the Promotions section of the app. For Lyft, the referral has to come through the link itself, so use the one below.

    New user promos change frequently. The exact discount amount shifts with whatever they're running when you sign up. Worth checking the current offer before creating an account, since new-user discounts can be genuinely good.

    → Uber referral link | Lyft referral link

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Uber or Lyft cheaper in Canada?

    On average, they're close, within a dollar or two for most city routes. Lyft Pink's discount can tip the balance if you're a regular user in a supported city. But Lyft's limited Canadian availability means this question only applies to people in Toronto, Vancouver, or Ottawa. For everyone else, Uber is the only answer.

    Can I have both apps on my phone?

    Yes, and this is what I'd recommend. Both are free. If you're in a Lyft city, checking both before booking takes about 30 seconds and occasionally saves you money. During surge periods especially, the prices can diverge enough to matter.

    Does Lyft operate in Quebec?

    No. Lyft has never expanded to Quebec. If you're travelling there, or making the drive out to cottage country, you'll want Uber. I've used it plenty of times on the 401–10 corridor and it's worked fine in the cities.

    Are the referral codes one-time use or ongoing?

    The codes are for new users only: one discount per new account. The reward applies when a new rider completes their first trip using the code. If someone's already created an Uber or Lyft account, the referral won't apply.

    Is Uber One worth it?

    Depends on your usage. If you're taking two or more rides a week, or regularly ordering through Uber Eats, the math tends to work out. At $9.99/month you need to save about $120/year across rides and delivery to break even. I did the spreadsheet on this once. For my usage pattern it was borderline. I kept it because of the Eats discount more than the ride discount.

    Why has Lyft pulled back in Canada?

    The short version: Canadian markets are harder to make profitable than US markets. Lower population density outside the big cities, regulatory friction in some provinces, and Uber's entrenched network advantage all made expansion difficult. I haven't seen any signals that Lyft is planning to grow their Canadian footprint in 2026. It's possible, but I wouldn't count on it.

    Are driver earnings or ratings different between platforms?

    I don't have solid data on earnings comparisons in Canada specifically, so I can't give you a confident answer. From talking to drivers, opinions vary: some prefer Uber for volume, some prefer Lyft for the culture. For riders, driver ratings on both platforms trend high because the feedback loop trains drivers to be polite.

    Final Verdict

    Uber wins for the vast majority of Canadians, and it's not particularly close. Better coverage, deeper driver pools, a more developed membership program, and a longer runway in the Canadian market.

    Lyft is a legitimate second option in Toronto and Vancouver, and worth having installed as a comparison tool. But building your primary transportation routine around Lyft in Canada feels risky given their track record here. I use both apps, but Uber is the one I actually rely on.

    The thing is, rideshare loyalty is a bit of a strange concept anyway. You're not married to either platform. Install both, take the cheaper one when they're close, and use whichever has a car nearby when you're standing on a corner in the rain. That's it.

    If you're signing up for the first time, my referral codes are above. Both platforms offer new-user discounts. Use them, then just pick whatever's faster and cheaper every time.

    → Get the Uber referral code | Get the Lyft referral code | Best Canadian Referral Codes 2026

    This article contains referral links. If you sign up using my code, I may receive a reward at no extra cost to you. I only recommend services I personally use.

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  • American Express Marriott Bonvoy Review 2026: Is a Free Hotel Night Worth $120 a Year?

    Last updated: July 2026 | Author: Harold Phillips

    Key Takeaways

    • The American Express Marriott Bonvoy card costs $120/year and earns 5 Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 at Marriott properties, 2 points per $1 on everything else
    • New cardholders can earn a welcome bonus of around 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Confirm the current offer before applying, as it changes periodically
    • The annual Free Night Award (up to 35,000 points value), credited on your card anniversary, can single-handedly justify the annual fee if you stay at Marriott properties even once a year
    • American Express acceptance gaps in Canada are real. This card works best as a companion to a Visa or Mastercard, not a standalone daily driver

    What Is American Express Marriott Bonvoy?

    The American Express Marriott Bonvoy card is a co-branded travel credit card issued by American Express in Canada. You earn Marriott Bonvoy points on every purchase (Marriott's loyalty currency), and those points can be redeemed for free hotel nights, flight transfers to airline programs, and upgrades across Marriott's portfolio of brands. That portfolio is substantial: Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels, The Ritz-Carlton, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Delta Hotels (which you'll recognize from most Canadian city centres), and roughly two dozen others.

    At $120/year, it's positioned as an entry-level travel card. It isn't competing with the $400-plus cards that offer business-class lounge access and annual travel credits. It's aimed at someone who travels a handful of times a year, stays at mid-range or upscale hotels, and wants to be earning something on those nights rather than nothing. Heading into the back half of 2026, entry-level travel cards like this one have largely held their pricing steady even as some premium competitors nudged annual fees upward, which keeps the value math on this card easier to run than on some pricier alternatives.

    The way I'd describe it: this is a good card for a specific person. If you travel a few times a year and those trips often involve Marriott-family properties, the math works out. If you mostly accumulate airline miles, or if you barely touch hotels at all, it's a harder sell.

    American Express Marriott Bonvoy Referral Code: tYLERCPrYN

    Applying through a referral link makes you eligible for the welcome bonus, currently around 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for new cardholders, though that number shifts during promotional windows. Check the current offer on the Amex Canada site before you apply; there are usually better periods a few times a year.

    Here's how to use the referral:

    Step Action
    1 Go to referralmaxxing.ca/go/amex-marriott
    2 Click through to the American Express Canada application page
    3 Complete your application; the referral is tracked automatically
    4 Meet the minimum spend requirement within the qualifying period (typically around $1,500 in 3 months)
    5 Welcome bonus points are deposited into your Marriott Bonvoy account

    The minimum spend sounds like a lot until you actually run the numbers. Groceries, transit, subscriptions, one dinner out: most people hit $1,500 in about six weeks without adjusting their spending habits at all. I cleared it in less than a month without trying.

    One thing worth knowing: Marriott Bonvoy points go into your loyalty account, not your Amex account. If you don't already have a Marriott Bonvoy number, you'll create one during the application process. It's free and takes about two minutes.

    Pricing and Plans

    The American Express Marriott Bonvoy is a single product with one annual fee. There's no free tier, no upgraded premium version. Just one card.

    Feature Details
    Annual fee $120/year
    Welcome bonus ~50,000 points (verify current offer)
    Earn rate at Marriott properties 5 points per $1
    Earn rate on all other purchases 2 points per $1
    Annual Free Night Award Up to 35,000 points value, issued on card anniversary
    Elite Night Credits 15 credits toward Marriott Bonvoy status annually
    Automatic status Silver Elite
    Foreign transaction fee 2.5%
    Additional cardholders $0 (one additional card included)
    Insurance Travel accident, purchase protection, extended warranty

    The free additional cardholder is a genuinely useful feature. My partner has a card on the account, and every purchase they make earns points toward the same balance. Small thing, but it adds up across a year.

    Pros and Cons

    Pros Cons
    ✅ Annual Free Night Award easily offsets the $120 fee ❌ 2.5% foreign transaction fee stings on any spending outside Canada
    ✅ Automatic Silver Elite Status with 15 Elite Night Credits ❌ American Express isn't accepted everywhere in Canada
    ✅ 5x points at Marriott properties is a strong earn rate ❌ Marriott's dynamic pricing makes point values harder to predict than they used to be
    ✅ Free additional cardholder ❌ Welcome bonus requires minimum spend; annual fee isn't waived in year one
    ✅ Massive hotel network (Delta Hotels, Westin, Sheraton, Marriott, and more) ❌ 2x points on general spending is decent but not exceptional

    American Express Marriott Bonvoy vs TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite

    The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite is the most common card people compare this to. Both are entry-to-mid-range travel cards in roughly the same fee range, aimed at Canadians who travel a few times a year. The main difference is which ecosystem you're buying into: Marriott Bonvoy hotel points versus Aeroplan miles.

    Feature Amex Marriott Bonvoy TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite
    Annual fee $120 $139
    Welcome bonus ~50,000 Bonvoy points ~20,000 Aeroplan miles + extras
    Primary earn rate 5x at Marriott hotels 1.5x on groceries, gas, Air Canada purchases
    General earn rate 2x everywhere else 1x everywhere else
    Annual travel benefit Free night award (up to 35K pts) First checked bag free on Air Canada flights
    Status benefit Silver Elite (Marriott) None
    Foreign transaction fee 2.5% 2.5%
    Card network American Express Visa
    Best for Hotel stays, Marriott loyalists Air Canada flyers, Aeroplan collectors

    Honestly, if you fly Air Canada even semi-regularly, the Aeroplan card is probably the better pick. The free checked bag perk alone covers the annual fee if you take two or three flights a year, and Aeroplan has a cleaner redemption structure for anyone who's primarily chasing flights rather than hotel nights.

    But if hotels are your main travel expense (business trips, long weekend stays, city trips where the room cost matters more than the airfare), the Marriott card's free night award and 5x earn at properties changes the math considerably. I haven't done a complete head-to-head redemption comparison in the last few months, so I won't claim one is objectively better. The right answer depends almost entirely on which type of travel you do more of.

    My Experience with the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Card

    I picked this card up about eighteen months ago after a stretch of work travel (Calgary twice in six months, a conference in Ottawa) that I was running through a card earning me absolutely nothing on hotel bookings. My company reimburses expenses, but there's always a lag between paying out of pocket and getting money back, and I figured those nights should at least be stacking points somewhere.

    The application was quick. Amex approved me within two days. Linking my Marriott Bonvoy account took about five minutes. The welcome bonus hit my account roughly six weeks after I cleared the minimum spend, which I hit in the first month without really changing how I was spending.

    The free night award is where this card proves itself. On my card anniversary, a certificate for a free hotel night showed up in my Marriott account, valid at properties up to 35,000 points. I used it at a Westin in Montreal after a conference. I'd planned to leave the same day but pushed my checkout back twenty-four hours to walk around the Plateau. That night would have been around $275 out of pocket. The $120 fee paid for itself and then some. That's the whole case for this card, really. One reasonable hotel night per year and you're ahead.

    That said.

    The Amex acceptance problem is real, and it shows up at the worst times. There's a Vietnamese spot near me in Leslieville I've been going to for three years. They don't take Amex. A few of the smaller grocers I use regularly don't either. Canadian Tire mostly does; most large chains are fine. But if you're planning to use this as your only card, you'll run into friction constantly. I carry a Visa for daily spending and pull out this card specifically for hotels and larger travel purchases.

    The 2.5% foreign transaction fee is the other thing I keep coming back to. I noticed it going through my statement after a quick trip to New York. Every US charge had a little fee sitting next to it. It wasn't catastrophic, but it added up. If you're travelling outside Canada more than a couple of times a year, a no-FX card probably makes more sense as your travel card.

    Silver Elite Status is genuinely useful in a quiet way. It's the lowest Marriott tier, but it gets you late checkout when it's available, bonus points on paid stays, and priority service when something goes sideways. I called about a booking issue at a property in Calgary (wrong room type) and being on the Elite line meant I talked to someone in under two minutes. That's not nothing.

    The thing is, the 2x points on general spending isn't going to blow anyone away. I'm not putting my whole financial life on this card. It earns on everything, which is fine, but for day-to-day spending it's not exceptional. I use it where it earns well (hotels, travel bookings, the occasional large purchase) and my Visa handles the rest.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is the American Express Marriott Bonvoy card available across Canada?

    Yes, it's available to Canadian residents in all provinces and territories. Amex evaluates creditworthiness through their standard Canadian underwriting process. No provincial exclusions. This one's available coast to coast, unlike some financial products that quietly skip Quebec or Atlantic Canada.

    How does the Marriott Bonvoy referral code work?

    When you apply through referralmaxxing.ca/go/amex-marriott, the referral is tracked automatically via the link, so you don't enter a code manually. If your application is approved, you're eligible for the welcome bonus points. I may receive a small reward from Amex when you're approved. It doesn't affect your annual fee, your interest rate, or any terms of your card.

    What are Marriott Bonvoy points worth?

    Roughly 0.7–0.9 cents Canadian per point for standard hotel redemptions, though the actual value varies quite a bit. Marriott moved to dynamic pricing a few years back, which means there's no fixed point cost for a given hotel category. The same room can cost wildly different amounts in points depending on the date and demand. This makes it harder to calculate value before you redeem, which I consider a real drawback. Premium property redemptions during off-peak dates can beat that estimate meaningfully; budget redemptions at lower-end properties often underwhelm. That dynamic-pricing drift has continued through mid-2026, so it's worth spot-checking the exact points cost for your specific dates rather than assuming a previous stay's pricing still holds.

    Does the American Express Marriott Bonvoy card have a foreign transaction fee?

    Yes, 2.5% on purchases made in foreign currencies. It's the most common complaint I see about this card and I share it. If you travel internationally regularly and put significant spending on your card abroad, a no-FX card is probably a smarter primary travel option. For mostly Canadian travel with the occasional US trip, it's annoying but manageable.

    Is the annual Free Night Award actually worth it?

    For most people who stay at a Marriott-family property at least once a year, yes. A certificate valid at properties up to 35,000 points is worth roughly $200–$350 in hotel stays depending on where you use it. Against a $120 annual fee, that's a straightforward win. The catch: certificates expire after twelve months from issue and can't be extended. You have to actually use it, and you have to plan ahead. I've heard from people who let theirs lapse without realizing. That stings.

    What Marriott hotels can I redeem at in Canada?

    Canada has solid coverage, especially in major cities. Delta Hotels alone has properties in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Montreal, and multiple Toronto locations. Add Sheraton, Westin, Courtyard, Marriott, and Fairfield into the mix and most business travel between Canadian cities is covered. Outside urban centres the network thins out, but for the typical business traveller or city-trip weekend, you're generally fine.

    Is the American Express Marriott Bonvoy card worth it in 2026?

    For someone who travels a few times a year and gravitates toward Marriott-family hotels, yes, the card earns its keep. The free night award and Silver Elite Status are real benefits that show up in real situations. For someone who primarily flies rather than hotels, or who's already deep in an Aeroplan or Avion ecosystem, adding a second points currency is harder to justify. And if Amex acceptance is a dealbreaker for you, this probably isn't your card.

    Can I earn points on regular everyday spending?

    Yes. The 2x on all purchases means you're accumulating Marriott Bonvoy points on groceries, transit, subscriptions, everything. It's a fine earn rate, not a spectacular one. I don't treat this as my primary spending card for a reason, but for a secondary card where points stack passively on non-hotel spending, it's a solid baseline.

    Final Verdict

    The American Express Marriott Bonvoy card is a good hotel rewards card for Canadians who actually stay at Marriott properties. The free night award is the centrepiece. Use it once a year at a reasonable Marriott-brand hotel and the $120 fee pays for itself with room to spare. Silver Elite Status and the 15 Elite Night Credits toward Marriott's higher tiers add meaningful convenience for anyone spending regular nights on the road. And the welcome bonus, running around 50,000 points for new applicants, is a strong head start.

    The limitations are worth taking seriously. Amex acceptance in Canada means you'll need a Visa or Mastercard alongside it. This isn't a replace-everything card. The 2.5% foreign transaction fee is a real cost for international spending. And Marriott's shift to dynamic pricing on award nights means the value of your points requires more homework than it used to.

    My honest take: pair this with a no-fee or no-FX Visa as your everyday card, and the Amex Marriott earns its place in the wallet for hotel bookings and travel spending. As a standalone card, it asks too much of you to work around its gaps.

    If you're ready to apply, check the current welcome offer and use my referral link at referralmaxxing.ca/go/amex-marriott. The bonus amount fluctuates, and there are usually two or three promotional windows per year where it runs higher than the baseline. If you're not in a rush, it's worth keeping an eye on.

    See also: Fizz Mobile Review: The Best MVNO in Canada? · Wealthsimple Review: Two Years After Ditching My Big Bank

    This article contains referral links. If you sign up using my code, I may receive a reward at no extra cost to you. I only recommend services I personally use.

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  • Chexy Review 2026: Referral Code + Credit Card Points on Rent

    Last verified: June 2026 | Author: Harold Phillips

    Key Takeaways

    • Chexy lets Canadian renters pay rent with a credit card for $4.99/month. Your landlord gets paid normally via e-Transfer or direct deposit, and you rack up rewards on what's usually a dead zone for points
    • The service works across Canada and requires zero participation from your landlord
    • The rewards math only really works if you're on a mid-to-premium credit card; basic 1% cashback cards deliver a thin margin after the fee
    • New users get a sign-up bonus when they use a referral code (amount varies; more on that below)

    What Is Chexy?

    Rent is almost certainly your biggest monthly expense. For most Canadian renters, it's also one of the few large, recurring payments that earns you absolutely nothing. You can't put it on a credit card. Your landlord wants an e-Transfer or a cheque. So that $1,800 or $2,400 (or more, depending on where you live) just disappears every month with nothing to show for it.

    Chexy was built to fix that. It's a Canadian fintech service that lets you pay your rent using a credit card. The mechanics are simple: you create an account, enter your landlord's payment details, and charge your rent to your credit card each month. Chexy handles the conversion behind the scenes, and your landlord receives the money via Interac e-Transfer or direct deposit, whichever they already use. From the landlord's perspective, it looks exactly like any other rent payment. They don't need to create an account, change their process, or know that Chexy exists at all.

    The company launched in Canada to close what is, honestly, an obvious gap. Nearly every major spending category already has a workaround for earning rewards: groceries, gas, travel, dining. Rent was the holdout. For urban renters spending $1,500 to $3,000+ per month on housing, being locked out of earning anything on that amount is a real financial cost over time. A decade of renting at $2,000/month is $240,000 in payments, and if none of it earns rewards, that's a significant opportunity left on the table. In 2026, with average rents in Toronto and Vancouver continuing to push higher, the absolute dollar value of those unrewarded payments is larger than ever.

    Chexy also includes credit reporting as a feature. Your on-time rent payments can be reported to Equifax, which matters if you're new to Canada, rebuilding your credit, or just trying to strengthen your profile without taking on more debt.

    Chexy Referral Code: YMIkeEEdgKRF1AQCKCPH8KkTM0w1

    New Chexy users get a sign-up bonus when they use a referral code. The exact amount varies. Chexy updates these periodically, so check what's live when you sign up. Here's how to use my code:

    Step Action
    1 Go to referralmaxxing.ca/go/chexy
    2 Create your account
    3 Enter referral code YMIkeEEdgKRF1AQCKCPH8KkTM0w1 when prompted
    4 Complete your landlord payment setup
    5 Receive your bonus after your first successful rent payment

    If you use my link, the referral field should appear during registration. For the record: I may receive a small reward when you sign up. Standard referral program mechanics, nothing hidden.

    Pricing and Plans

    Chexy's pricing is about as uncomplicated as it gets:

    Plan Monthly Fee What's Included
    Standard $4.99/month Credit card rent payments, Interac e-Transfer or direct deposit to landlord, Equifax credit reporting

    That $4.99 is the number you need to run against your expected rewards before signing up. A few examples to make the math concrete:

    If your rent is $2,000/month and your card earns 1% cashback, you're generating $20 in rewards against a $4.99 fee, a net gain of about $15/month, or $180/year. Not bad. But if you're on a premium travel card earning 2–4 points per dollar (an Amex Cobalt, a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite, or similar), you're looking at 4,000–8,000 points per month from rent alone. Over a year, that stacks into a meaningful travel credit or flight redemption from an expense you were paying anyway.

    There's no annual plan option. You're paying month to month. That's actually fine. It means you're not locked in if you move somewhere with a different payment arrangement, change cards, or just decide the math isn't working for you.

    One variable that's easy to miss: how your specific credit card codes these transactions. Chexy processes them as purchases, not cash advances. Most Canadian credit cards handle this correctly. But if your card codes it as a cash advance, you're looking at interest charges from day one, and that blows up the entire value proposition. Check your first statement when you sign up. It should show up as a purchase. If it doesn't, contact Chexy support before your next payment.

    Pros and Cons

    Pros Cons
    ✅ Earn rewards on your largest monthly expense ❌ $4.99/month fee erodes your effective rewards rate
    ✅ Landlord doesn't need to change anything ❌ Some credit cards may code transactions as cash advances
    ✅ Works across Canada with standard landlord setups ❌ Sign-up bonus amount isn't publicly posted, varies
    ✅ Equifax credit reporting included ❌ Only meaningfully profitable with a mid-to-premium rewards card
    ✅ Setup is genuinely fast, maybe 15–20 minutes ❌ Customer support is email-based, not great for time-sensitive issues

    Chexy vs. Paying Rent Directly

    There isn't really a direct competitor to Chexy in Canada right now. No other service is doing the same thing at scale. So the honest comparison isn't Chexy vs. another product; it's Chexy vs. your current setup.

    Feature Chexy E-Transfer / Cheque
    Monthly cost $4.99 $0
    Rewards earned on rent Yes (depends on card) No
    Credit building (Equifax) Yes No (unless landlord reports)
    Landlord experience Unchanged Unchanged
    Setup time ~15–20 minutes None
    Works with any landlord Yes Yes
    Landlord needs to participate No N/A

    The entire case for Chexy comes down to the rewards math. If you have a strong rewards card and you're spending $1,500+ per month on rent, the fee is almost certainly justified. If you're on a no-fee card with a thin earn rate, you're looking at a much smaller net benefit — still positive, but less compelling.

    My Experience with Chexy

    I've been renting in Toronto since I moved from Barrie for university, and the arrangement has never changed: my landlord wants an e-Transfer on the first, confirmed with a reply message so he knows it arrived. It never occurred to me that this was a problem anyone had solved until I came across a thread on a Canadian personal finance forum where someone mentioned they were routing their rent through a travel card.

    My current rent is just over $2,100/month. I'm on a travel rewards card that earns 2 points per dollar on most everyday purchases. Before Chexy, that $2,100 was a complete dead zone. No points, no cashback, just gone. After switching, I'm picking up roughly 4,200 points per month on rent alone. Over a year, that's more than 50,000 points from a single recurring expense I was going to pay regardless.

    The setup process took maybe twenty minutes. You add your landlord's e-Transfer email (or their direct deposit info), specify the rent amount, set the payment date, and enter your credit card. That's the whole thing. My landlord has not noticed any change whatsoever. The money arrives the same way, on the same day, and he replies with "got it" just like before. I was genuinely more worried about this part than anything else going in. I've had the same landlord for three years and I didn't want to introduce friction, but there was none.

    The first payment took a few extra days to process while Chexy verified my information. I'd set up the account about two weeks before my rent was due, which gave enough buffer. If you're setting this up the day before rent is due, I'd either wait until the following month or contact their support to confirm timing. After the first month, payments have been completely automatic. I haven't thought about it since.

    I also set up the Equifax credit reporting when I signed up, mostly out of curiosity. My credit score is already in reasonable shape, so I'm not using it to actively build, but the feature is there, and it's included in the monthly fee. For someone newer to Canada or coming out of a rough financial period, having on-time rent payments show up on their credit file is genuinely useful. Most landlords don't report to credit bureaus at all, which means years of perfect payment history just… doesn't exist from a credit scoring perspective. Chexy fixes that.

    My only recurring annoyance is the support model. I've contacted them twice: once about the first-payment timing question and once to confirm how my card was coding the transactions. Both times I got responses via email within about 24 hours. That's fine for non-urgent stuff, but if your payment is supposed to go out tomorrow and something looks wrong, you're not going to get a fast answer. There's no live chat, no phone line. For a service that's sitting between your credit card and your landlord (two parties who both care about when money arrives), the lack of faster support options is a gap worth knowing about.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Does my landlord need to sign up for Chexy?

    No. Your landlord receives payment via Interac e-Transfer or direct deposit, exactly as they currently do. Nothing changes on their end. You configure everything from your Chexy account, and your landlord has no idea the payment is coming through a credit card.

    What credit cards work with Chexy?

    Most major Canadian credit cards work. Cards from TD, RBC, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC, and National Bank generally process without issues. The transaction should code as a purchase. Amex can behave differently depending on the specific card, so I'd verify by checking your first statement. If the transaction shows as a cash advance, stop and contact Chexy support immediately.

    Is Chexy worth it with a basic cashback card?

    Maybe. If your card earns 1% cashback and your rent is $2,000/month, you're generating $20 in rewards against a $4.99 fee, about $180 net per year. That's positive, but modest. If you're on a mid-tier card at 1.5–2%, the case is stronger. The service earns its keep most clearly for anyone on a premium travel or points card with a solid earn rate.

    How does the Chexy referral code work?

    Enter YMIkeEEdgKRF1AQCKCPH8KkTM0w1 in the referral code field during account creation. After your first successful rent payment goes through, you'll receive a sign-up bonus. The amount varies depending on Chexy's current promotion — check what's listed at sign-up rather than relying on a number you read somewhere weeks earlier.

    Can Chexy actually help build my credit score?

    Yes, through Equifax reporting. Chexy can report your on-time rent payments, which may contribute positively to your credit profile over time. This is an opt-in feature, so make sure you enable it during setup if that's part of why you're signing up. I'm not sure exactly how Equifax weights rent payments relative to traditional credit lines; I haven't done a deep read on that in a while and it may have changed.

    Is Chexy available in all provinces?

    As far as I can tell, yes. The service operates on standard Canadian banking rails (Interac e-Transfer and direct deposit) which are available nationally. I've only used it in Ontario, so if you're in a less common province or territory, I'd confirm with Chexy's support before assuming the setup works identically.

    What happens if a payment fails?

    I haven't had this happen, so I'm going by documentation rather than personal experience. If your credit card payment fails (usually because of insufficient credit or a card issue), Chexy will notify you, but your landlord may not be paid on time. The responsibility for having available credit when the charge runs is on you. This is the one scenario where the email-only support model feels riskiest; a failed payment on the first of the month is exactly when you need a fast answer.

    Is the $4.99 fee charged monthly even when rent isn't due?

    Yes, it's a subscription, monthly regardless. If your lease is ending and you have a gap between places, you'd want to cancel the subscription or at least confirm whether there's a pause option. I'm not aware of a formal pause feature, but their support could clarify. Cancellation should be straightforward since it's a month-to-month service.

    Final Verdict

    Chexy is a legitimate product solving a real problem. Rent is the biggest recurring expense for most Canadian renters and, until something like this came along, it was completely invisible to credit card rewards programs. The $4.99/month fee is low enough that anyone on a mid-to-premium rewards card comes out ahead, and for people on strong travel cards, the annual gain from rent points alone can more than offset what the card's annual fee costs. With Canadian rental costs remaining elevated heading into the second half of 2026, the opportunity cost of leaving rent rewards on the table is bigger than it's ever been.

    It's not the right choice for everyone. If you have a no-fee card with a thin earn rate and your rent is on the lower end, the margin gets slim enough that I'd do the math before committing. And the email-only support model is a real limitation for a service that's handling time-sensitive payments. That's worth knowing upfront, not after the fact.

    For most urban Canadian renters paying $1,500+ per month with a solid rewards card sitting in their wallet: this is probably one of the easier optimization decisions you can make. You're paying the rent anyway. You might as well get something for it.

    Use my referral code (YMIkeEEdgKRF1AQCKCPH8KkTM0w1) at referralmaxxing.ca/go/chexy to pick up the current sign-up bonus when you create your account.

    If you're still sorting out which credit card pairs best with a setup like this, the best Canadian credit cards for everyday spending is worth a read before you decide. And if you're generally looking at ways to get more value out of recurring expenses, the referral maxxing hub has everything else I've tested.

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