American Express® Aeroplan®* Card vs SimplyCash® Card from American Express: Which one is better?


American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

3.3

More Details

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

amex simply cash card

SimplyCash® Card from American Express

3.5

More Details

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$506.17

Air Canada Aeroplan


Welcome Bonus

$630

Air Canada Aeroplan


Annual Fee

$120


First Year Value

$1,016.17

$386.17 in years after

Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$301.46


Welcome Bonus

$100


Annual Fee

$0


First Year Value

$401.46

$301.46 in years after

Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.

Insurance Included*

  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500K
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days, $1000 per occurrence
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500 (Aggregated with Baggage Delay)
  • baggage on roller

    Baggage Delay

    $500 (Aggregated with Flight Delay)
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $500
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $85K, up to 48 days

Insurance Included*

  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500K
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days, $1000 per occurrence
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

Extra Benefits*

  • Amex logo

    American Express Experiences


  • baggage

    Free first checked bag

    You and up to 8 companions every time you fly with Air Canada
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Reach Aeroplan Elite™ Status sooner by earning Status Qualifying Miles and Status Qualifying Segments with purchases made on your account
  • bed furniture

    Free Extra Night at Hotels

    Receive an extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points
  • reward cup

    Extra points

    Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands

Extra Benefits*

  • Amex logo

    American Express Experiences

Interest Rates*

Purchase:

30% Annual1

Cash Advance:

30% Annual1

Interest Rates*

Purchase:

21.992

Cash Advance:

21.992

Annual Fee*

$120

Annual Fee*

$0

Income Required*

Min Personal Income:

N/A

Min Household Income:

N/A

Income Required*

Min Personal Income:

N/A

Min Household Income:

N/A

Welcome Bonus*

Earn 30,000 Aeroplan points after spending $3,000 on your Card within the first 3 months. Additional 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $1,000 in month 13.

Welcome Bonus*

Earn up to $100 in Statement Credits by earning a $10 statement credit for each monthly billing period in which you spend $300 on your Card in your first 10 months as a new SimplyCash® Card from American Express Cardmember. This could add up to $100 in statement credits in the first 10 months. Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible for this offer. Other terms apply.

Rewards Rate*

  • 2 points on Aircanada and AirCanada Vacations
  • 1.5 points on Dining
  • 1 Point on everything else

Rewards Rate*

  • 2% cash back on eligible gas and grocery purchases in Canada (up to $300 cash back annually)
  • 1.25% cash back on all other eligible purchases

Loyalty Program*

Loyalty Program*

N/A

Point Redemption Options*

  • Most Optimal

    plane

    Transfer to Airline Partners

    2.1¢ / point
  • baggage on roller

    Travel

    0.825¢ / point
  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.74¢ / point

Point Redemption Options*

Not Applicable

Is this card worth it?

This card comes with the free checked bag benefit, which can save hundreds on a single trip for you and your family, more than making up for the annual fee of the card. In addition, the card helps you reach the next Aeroplan Status faster with spending on the card. However, if you don't have a specific use for these two benefits, there are many better cards in terms of benefits and rewards.

Is this card worth it?

The SimplyCash® Card from American Express stands out for its no annual fee and strong cash-back earning potential, offering up to $100 in statement credits within the first 10 months. What makes it even more appealing are the unique perks, such as early access to concert tickets and extra layers of security for online shopping. These extra benefits, along with the affordability, make it a strong contender for those looking for a reliable cash-back card with no annual fee. It's an excellent choice for everyday spending while still enjoying exclusive Amex advantages.

Pros

  • Free checked bag benefit: Every checked bag might cost you $60 - $100 per person on a round trip. The amount you can save in a year if you travel a few times or travel with a few companions can easily be much higher than the annual fee of the card.
    If you are interested in a higher Aeroplan Status, the card helps you get there faster.

Pros

  • No annual fee: The card does not charge an annual fee, making it accessible and cost-effective.
  • Attractive cash-back rates: Offers a solid structure for earning cash-back on eligible purchases.
  • Exclusive Amex perks: Provides benefits such as access to concert tickets and enhanced security for online shopping.
  • Cons

    • The main reward category is only for Air Canada purchases. Unless you are a frequent Air Canada traveler, this reward category is not useful to most people.
    • The only other rewards category offered is for food, and it doesn't offer that high of a reward rate either.
    • In terms of insurance benefits, the types and coverage amounts provided are lower compared to other cards with a similar annual fee.

    Cons

    High-interest rates: Carries higher interest rates on purchases and cash advances.
  • Annual cash-back cap: Limits the total amount of cash-back you can earn within a year.
  • Limited travel and shopping insurance: The card lacks comprehensive travel and shopping coverage compared to other premium cards.
  • American Express acceptance: Amex is not accepted as widely as Visa or Mastercard.
  • Legal


    *American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment. Check for full details and current product information.
    1 As a Charge Card, the balance must always be paid in full each month. 30% annual interest rate applies to balances not paid in full. Payments must be received and processed by the date of the next monthly statement to avoid interest charges.
    2 If you have 2 separate missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate missed payments, the applicable rates will be 28.99%.

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