American Express Cobalt® Card

American Express Cobalt® Card

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amex simply cash card

SimplyCash® Card from American Express

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


American Express Cobalt® Card

American Express Cobalt® Card

5


RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

amex simply cash card

SimplyCash® Card from American Express

3.8


RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$1,096

American Express Membership Rewards


First Year Bonus

$315

American Express Membership Rewards


Annual Fee

$155.8


First Year Value

$1,255.2

$940.2 in years after

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

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$311.78


First Year Bonus

$100


Annual Fee

$0


First Year Value

$411.78

$311.78 in years after

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

Insurance Included*

  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $250,000
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 1 year
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days

  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    yes
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $500
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    15 days
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500

Insurance Included*

  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    Up to $100,000
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days or theft up to $1,000 per occurrence

Extra Benefits*

  • Amex logo

    Amex Experiences™

    Access Front Of The Line® Amex Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts and theatre performances and special offers and events curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™

  • travel

    Travel Credit

    Book two or more consecutive nights at participating properties through The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel to receive a $100 credit for amenities or a complimentary room upgrade, if available.

Extra Benefits*

  • Amex logo

    Amex Experiences™

    Access events and special offers curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™

Interest Rates*

Purchase:

21.99%1

Cash Advance:

21.99%1

Interest Rates*

Purchase:

21.992

Cash Advance:

21.992

Annual Fee*

$155.8

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 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in purchases on your Card in the first Year

Welcome Bonus*

In your first 3 months as a new SimplyCash® Card from American Express Cardmember, you can earn a bonus 5% cash back on all purchases (up to $2,000 in purchases). That’s on top of your everyday cash back earn rates. That’s up to $100 in bonus cash back.

Rewards Rate*

  • 5x points per $1 spent on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery (up to 12,500 points per month)
  • 3x points per $1 spent on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
  • 2x points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit & ride share in Canada
  • 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases

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*

N/A

Point Redemption Options*

  • Most Optimal

    plane

    Transfer to Airline Partners

    2.1¢ / point
  • travel - plane

    Fixed Point Travel Program

    1.66¢ / point
  • hotel

    Transfer to Hotel Partners

    1.66¢ / point
  • cash coins

    Statement Credits (Cash)

    1¢ / point
  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.765¢ / point
  • amazon logo

    Amazon.ca

    0.7¢ / point
  • online shop

    Merchandise

    0.63¢ / point

Point Redemption Options*

Not Applicable

Is this card worth it?

This card was voted the Best Credit Card in Canada by FinlyWealth. The rewards earned on this card for a person with average spending exceed those of other credit cards in Canada by a huge margin! In addition, this card has a good benefits coverage, a flexible points redemption program (1:1 transfer to Aeroplan® or Avios), making it the best candidate to become the main credit card for the majority of people.

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

  • Points can be transferred to Air Canada Aeroplan® at a 1:1 ratio, making this card a solid Aeroplan® points earner as an alternative to Aeroplan® branded credit cards
  • Generous welcome bonus of up to 15,000 points
  • 4+ different ways of redeeming your points for great value
  • 10 different types of insurance, including travel
  • Often referred to as the Best Credit Card in Canada

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

    • Less acceptance of American Express at different merchants across Canada
    • Not all types of travel insurance are covered, especially trip cancellation and interruption insurance

    Cons

  • 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.
  • American Express Cobalt® Card vs SimplyCash® Card from American Express: When to go for one over the other


    Annual Fees and Requirements

    The American Express Cobalt Card carries an annual fee, while the SimplyCash Card has no annual fee. Neither card has specific income requirements, which makes both accessible to a wide range of applicants. However, the Cobalt Card’s fee may be justified for individuals who can maximize its rewards and benefits.

    Rewards Comparison

    The American Express Cobalt Card offers higher rewards on categories like dining, groceries, and streaming services, making it ideal for those with significant spending in these areas. In contrast, the SimplyCash Card provides straightforward cash-back rewards, with a higher rate on gas and groceries, but lower overall returns. The welcome bonuses also differ, with the Cobalt Card providing more long-term value for higher spenders, while the SimplyCash Card offers a modest bonus tied to lower spending.

    Reward Redemption Options

    The Cobalt Card offers flexible redemption through American Express Membership Rewards, which can be transferred to airline and hotel partners for enhanced value. Other redemption options include travel, merchandise, and statement credits. SimplyCash Cardholders, on the other hand, benefit from the simplicity of cash-back rewards, which are more versatile and can be used for anything, but lack the added value seen in point transfers for travel.

    Benefits and Insurance

    The Cobalt Card includes a wide range of insurance coverages, such as travel medical, flight delay, and mobile device insurance, which are more comprehensive than the SimplyCash Card's limited options. The Cobalt Card’s unique benefits, such as more robust travel insurance, make it a better option for frequent travelers. SimplyCash Cardholders still get perks like purchase protection and extended warranty but lack extensive travel benefits.

    Conclusion

    The American Express Cobalt Card is ideal for people who spend heavily in categories like dining and travel, and those who want to take advantage of premium benefits. On the other hand, the SimplyCash Card is a great choice for low spenders, individuals who don’t dine out often, and those who prefer a no-fee card with straightforward cash-back rewards on everyday purchases.

    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 here for full details and current product information.
    1,2 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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