SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express vs BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®: Which one is better?


SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express

SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express

4.5

More Details

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®

BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®

4.2

More Details

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

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

$490.46


Welcome Bonus

$190


Annual Fee

$120


First Year Value

$680.46

$370.46 in years after

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

Insurance Included*

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $5M/insured Person
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500
  • baggage on roller

    Baggage Delay

    $500
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $500
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $100,000
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $85K up to 48 days
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1000

Insurance Included

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $5M/insured Person
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500
  • baggage on roller

    Baggage Delay

    $500
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $500
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $100,000
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $85K up to 48 days
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year

Extra Benefits*

  • Amex logo

    American Express Experiences

Extra Benefits

  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

    Pass only, complimentary visits not included
  • tire

    Roadside Assistance

    Includes free battery boosts, flat-tire change, lockout service and towing
  • car rental

    Car Rental Discount

    25% off base rate of participating National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car
  • fuel pump

    Gas Discount

    Get up to seven cents off per litre on Shell® fuel
  • discount

    Hotel Booking Discount

    Save up to 7% on your Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookings
  • internet worldwide

    Boingo Wi-Fi hotspot

Interest Rates*

Purchase:

21.99%1

Cash Advance:

21.99%1

Interest Rates

Purchase:

20.99%

Cash Advance:

23.99%

Annual Fee*

$119.88

Annual Fee

$120

$0

First Year Waived

Income Required*

Min Personal Income:

N/A

Min Household Income:

N/A

Income Required

Min Personal Income:

$80,000

Min Household Income:

$150,000

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

Get up to 10% cash back in your first 3 months with an incremental cashback value of $200

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

  • 5% cashback on groceries (maximum $25 per statement)
  • 4% cashback on daily transit (maximum $12 per statement)
  • 3% cashback on gas (maximum $9 per statement)
  • 2% cashback on recurring payments (maximum $10 per statement)
  • 1% cashback on all other credit card purchases.

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 seeking a cashback credit card, the BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard® stands out for its excellent balance between rewards and benefits. It offers a robust rewards program and a comprehensive benefits list, making it a solid choice. The high first-year value is enhanced by the annual fee waiver, and those with a BMO Premium Chequing Account can enjoy continued fee waivers. While it's highly ranked for rewards alone, it may not be the absolute top choice if benefits are less important to you.

Pros

  • Highest cashback rate on groceries and gas in Canada
  • Great base cashback rate for all purchases

Pros

  • Offers one of the highest cashbacks on groceries and gas, two of the most frequently spent categories, compared to other credit cards in Canada.
  • Includes roadside assistance, a rare but valuable benefit for people on the road.
  • Provides a comprehensive list of insurance coverage and benefits.
  • High first-year value.

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

  • Does not include restaurant purchases as a reward category, which is one of the most important spending categories.

SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express vs BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®: When to go for one over the other


Annual Fees and Requirements


The annual fees for the SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express and the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard are nearly identical, but the BMO card requires a significantly higher personal or household income. Both cards offer competitive welcome bonuses, and the BMO card includes a first-year fee waiver for BMO customers, which adds extra value for new customers.

Rewards Comparison


Both cards offer strong rewards on groceries and gas. The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard provides a higher cashback rate on groceries but a lower rate on gas compared to the SimplyCash Preferred Card. Additionally, the BMO card rewards transit and recurring purchases, making it more attractive for those with diverse spending habits. For any purchases outside of these bonus categories, the SimplyCash Preferred Card offers double the cash back of the BMO card, making it better for general purchases.

Benefits and Insurance


Both cards offer extensive insurance coverage, including travel and purchase protection. However, the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard edges ahead with additional perks such as complimentary roadside assistance, airport lounge access, and discounts on gas and hotel bookings. These extra features make the BMO card slightly better in terms of overall benefits. The SimplyCash Preferred Card offers perks like exclusive American Express events and travel discounts, but the added insurance benefits of the BMO card, especially for frequent travelers and drivers, makes it the better card in this area.

Network Comparison


The SimplyCash Preferred Card is part of the American Express network, which is less widely accepted than Mastercard. The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard, on the Mastercard network, is accepted at major retailers like Costco and Walmart, where American Express often isn’t. Additionally, Mastercard treats Walmart as a grocery store for reward purposes, adding extra value for BMO cardholders when shopping there.

Conclusion


The SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express is ideal for those who want higher cashback on gas and superior rewards for general purchases. On the other hand, the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard is better suited for individuals who spend heavily on groceries and transit and for people who value additional perks like airport lounge access and roadside assistance. Frequent drivers and travelers will find the BMO card’s extra benefits and wider acceptance more appealing, while those seeking higher overall cashback on general spending should opt for the SimplyCash Preferred Card.

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 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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