MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® vs SimplyCash® Card from American Express: Which one is better?
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MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
4
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SimplyCash® Card from American Express
3.8
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$597.84
MBNA Rewards
First Year Bonus
$300
MBNA Rewards
Annual Fee
$120
First Year Value
$777.84
$477.84 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
Travel Accident
$1,000,000
Extended Warranty
Up to a year
Purchase Protection
Up to 90 days
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1000/person
Baggage Delay
$1000/person
Car Rental Damage & Theft
31 days
Mobile Device Insurance
$1000
Emergency Out of province Medical
$2M for 21 days
Flight Delay
$500/person after 4 hours
Insurance Included*
Travel Accident
Up to $100,000
Extended Warranty
1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days or theft up to $1,000 per occurrence
Extra Benefits
Price Protection
$500/item, $1000/account per year
Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationally
Trip and legal Assistance
Annual Birthday Bonus
10% of the Points earned the 12 months prior to the primary cardholder's birthday month (up to a max 15,000 bonus points per year)
Concierge Services
Extra Benefits*
Amex Experiences™
Access events and special offers curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™
Interest Rates
Purchase:
19.99%
Cash Advance:
24.99%
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.992
Cash Advance:
21.992
Annual Fee
$120
Annual Fee*
$0
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
$80,000
Min Household Income:
$150,000
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Welcome Bonus
10,000 points for going Paperless. 20,000 points after spending $2,000 after 90 days of account opening
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
- 5 points on restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases (maximum $50,000 spend annually per category)
- 1 point for 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
Travel
1¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.85¢ / point
Statement Credits (Cash) - World Elite
0.83¢ / point
Merchandise
0.8¢ / point
Statement Credits (Cash) - Platinum
0.5¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Not Applicable
Is this card worth it?
The MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® is one of the best reward credit cards in Canada, offering high rewards on frequently spent categories such as groceries and restaurant purchases. The annual birthday bonus, unique to this card, also provides a significant boost to your yearly earnings. Additionally, the card features a comprehensive list of benefits, including price protection—a rare and valuable perk not found with many other cards in Canada. These factors make this card one of the best to have in Canada.
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
- Both restaurants and groceries, two of the most commonly spent categories, earn decent rewards.
- Great annual birthday bonus with up to $150 in value.
- A solid list of travel insurance and benefits.
- Price protection, a rare feature not offered by many other cards.
- Good value for many of the card's redemption options.
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
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, two great benefits are missing from this card.
- Not the best card for gas purchases.
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.
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vs American Express Cobalt® Card
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vs Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
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vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
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vs Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
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vs American Express Gold Rewards Card®
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vs RBC ION+ Visa
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vs Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card
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vs American Express® Green Card
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vs PC World Elite Mastercard
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vs Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card
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vs TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege*
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vs TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card
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vs BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®
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vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
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vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
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vs American Express Platinum Card®
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vs Neo World Elite® Mastercard®
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vs American Express Cobalt® Card
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vs Rogers Red Mastercard®
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vs Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
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vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
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vs Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
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vs American Express Gold Rewards Card®
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vs Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card
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vs American Express® Green Card
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vs SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express
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vs Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard®
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vs Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
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vs BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®
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vs CIBC Costco Mastercard
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vs Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card
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vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
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vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
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vs American Express Platinum Card®
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