SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express vs American Express Platinum Card®: Which one is better?
SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express
4.5
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*
American Express Platinum Card®
4
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$513.59
Welcome Bonus
$400
Annual Fee
$119.88
First Year Value
$793.71
$393.71 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$570.43
American Express Membership Rewards
Welcome Bonus
$0
American Express Membership Rewards
Annual Fee
$799
First Year Value
-$228.57
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included*
Emergency Out of province Medical
$5M/insured Person
Flight Delay
$500
Baggage Delay
$500
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Travel Accident
$100,000.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$85K up to 48 days
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
1 year
Mobile Device Insurance
$1000
Insurance Included*
Emergency Out of province Medical
$5M/insured PersonFlight Delay
$500Baggage Delay
$500Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500Travel Accident
$100,000Car Rental Damage & Theft
$85K up to 48 daysPurchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 year
Trip Cancellation
$2500 per person, $5000 combined
Trip Interruption
$2500 per person, $6000 combined
Extra Benefits*
American Express Experiences
Extra Benefits*
American Express Experiences
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Travel Credit
$200
Dining Credit
$200 at Select Restaurants
Nexus Application
$100 statement credit every 4 years
Airport Lounge - American Express Global Lounge
Unlimited Access for you and a Guest!
Complimentary Hotel Benefits
Hotels booked American Express Travel.svg)
Status lift
Upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold StatusStatus lift
Upgrade to Marriott BonvoyTM Gold Elite status
Airport Benefits
At Toronto Pearson Airport get Priority Security lane, Complimentary valet and 15% discount at the Express Park and daily park.svg)
Concierge Services
Trip and legal Assistance
Extra points
Earn 2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases and extra points on American Express offers
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%1
Cash Advance:
21.99%1
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99% - 30%2
Cash Advance:
21.99% - 30%2
Annual Fee*
$119.88
Annual Fee*
$799
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 up to $400 in Statement Credits by earning a $40 statement credit for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 on your Card in your first 10 months as a new SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express Cardmember. This could add up to $400 in statement credits in the first 10 months. Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible for this offer. Other terms apply.
Welcome Bonus*
Earn 70,000 points after spending $10,000 on your Card within the first 3 months as a new Platinum® Cardmember. Earn an additional 30,000 points when you make a purchase between 14 and 17 months of Cardmembership. Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible for these offers. Other terms apply.
Rewards Rate*
- 4% cash back on eligible gas station purchases in Canada
- 4% cash back on eligible grocery purchases in Canada (up to $1,200 cash back annually)
- 2% cash back on all other eligible purchases
Rewards Rate*
- 2x points per $1 spent on eligible dining & food delivery purchases (restaurant, fast food, coffee shop, food delivery)
- 2x points per $1 spent on eligible travel purchases (flights, hotels, tours and more)
- 1x point per $1 spent for all other purchases
Loyalty Program*
N/A
Loyalty Program*
Point Redemption Options*
Not Applicable
Point Redemption Options*
Most Optimal
Transfer to Airline Partners
2.1¢ / point.svg)
Fixed Point Travel Program
1.66¢ / point
Transfer to Hotel Partners
1.66¢ / point
Statement Credits
1¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.765¢ / point
Amazon.ca
0.7¢ / point
Merchandise
0.63¢ / point
Is this card worth it?
The Simply Cash Preferred is one of the best cashback credit cards in Canada. The base cashback rate of 2% is great for all purchases, but the 4% on groceries and gas, which are two of the highest expenses for most people is the cherry on top of their great cashback program.
Is this card worth it?
If you're a frequent traveler, the Platinum card is an excellent choice. It's highly recommended for its extensive travel benefits, including unlimited lounge access for you and a guest at the American Express Lounge collection, making it the best card for lounge access in Canada. The card also offers unique perks not commonly found with other Canadian cards, such as status upgrades at Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton, dining and travel credits, concierge service, airport benefits, Nexus application reimbursement, and more. These benefits can more than offset the annual fee. However, if you don't travel often or are mainly looking for a card that maximizes rewards, this card may not be the best option for you.
Pros
- Highest cashback rate on groceries and gas in Canada
- Great base cashback rate for all purchases
Pros
- Offers more perks than any other credit card in Canada, catering to premium users who value extensive benefits.
- Enjoy $400 in annual travel and dining credits, which can offset some of the card's cost.
- Gain unlimited access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, enhancing your travel experience.
- Multiple options for redeeming points for high value, giving you flexibility in how you use your rewards.
- Includes 11 types of insurance coverage, offering comprehensive protection for cardholders.
Cons
- For a card with an annual fee, the insurance coverage could have been higher
- American Express has a lower merchant acceptance compared to Visa or Mastercard
Cons
- As with other American Express cards, it may have lower acceptance in some locations compared to other networks.
- The high annual fee of $799 may be a barrier for some users, especially those who do not fully utilize the card's benefits.
- Some benefits are limited to specific airports and hotels.
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