Questions, answered

Yes. The Fruga Chrome extension is free, with no account and no ads.

No. You add cards by choosing the product, for example "CIBC Costco Mastercard". If you like, you can add a nickname or the last 4 digits to tell two similar cards apart. Fruga never asks for full card numbers, expiry dates, security codes, statements or banking passwords.

Once you turn on checkout detection (Chrome asks for your permission), Fruga recognises checkout pages on its own and reads only the store and the order total. When you point at Place order or Pay, your best card slides in.

Fruga recognises the store you’re checking out at and compares every card in your wallet for that purchase. It recommends the one likely to earn you the most, valued with the point values you choose, so your rewards are maximized every time you shop.

No. Fruga never fills in, reads or changes payment fields, never adds coupon or referral codes, and never activates offers. The recommendation appears in its own panel, placed so it doesn’t cover the button you’re about to click.

No. In the free extension, everything you enter stays in your browser on your device. It isn’t sent to us or anyone else. Details are in our privacy policy.

Fruga supports popular cards from American Express, TD, RBC, Scotiabank, CIBC, BMO, National Bank, Tangerine, Rogers Bank, Wealthsimple, PC Financial and Canadian Tire Financial Services, and the list keeps growing. It’s built and tested for Google Chrome on desktop. Missing a card? Email us at [email protected].

No. Checking your own report or score is a "soft" inquiry and doesn’t affect your score. Both Equifax and TransUnion let you see your report for free.

An application usually causes a "hard" inquiry, which can lower your score slightly for a while. One application rarely matters; several in a few months can. See your first credit card in Canada.

No, that’s a myth. Paying your full statement balance on time builds credit just as well, and you pay no interest.

Most Canadian cards add about 2.5% to purchases charged in another currency, including online orders billed in US dollars. A few cards waive it. See travel bug credit cards.

For most people, two or three: one for your biggest spending category, one for everything else, and possibly a card with no foreign transaction fee. More cards can earn more, but only if you use the right one each time. That’s the job Fruga was built for.