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


PC World Elite Mastercard

PC World Elite Mastercard

3.1

More Details

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

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

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$271.16

PC Financial


Welcome Bonus

$100

PC Financial


Annual Fee

$0


First Year Value

$371.16

$271.16 in years after

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

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.

Insurance Included

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $1M, Up to 10 days
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    Up to 31 days
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Doubled up to a year

Insurance Included*

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $1M, Up to 10 days
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    Up to 31 days
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Doubled up to a year

  • 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
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1000

Extra Benefits

  • concierge

    Concierge Services

  • shield user

    Identity Theft Assistance

Extra Benefits*

  • Amex logo

    American Express Experiences

Interest Rates

Purchase:

21.99%

Cash Advance:

22.97%

Interest Rates*

Purchase:

21.99%2

Cash Advance:

21.99%2

Annual Fee

$0

Annual Fee*

$119.88

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

100,000 PC after approval of the application

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.

Rewards Rate

45 points per $1 dollar spent at Shoppers Drug Mart® stores
30 points per $1 dollar spent at Atlantic Superstore, Extra Foods, Fortinos, Loblaws, Maxi, Maxi & cie, no frills, Provigo, Real Canadian Superstore, SaveEasy, SuperValu, valu-mart, Your Independent Grocer, Zehrs
20 points per $1 spent in PC travel
19 points per $1 dollar spent at ESSO and Mobil (it's 30 points per liter and the assumption of average gas price of $1.6 was made)
10 points per $1 dollar spent for everything else

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

Loyalty Program

Loyalty Program*

N/A

Point Redemption Options

  • groceries

    Groceries

    0.1¢ / point
  • gas station

    Gas (Esso)

    0.1¢ / point

Point Redemption Options*

Not Applicable

Is this card worth it?

This is a great card to have in your arsenal if you frequently shop at Shoppers Drug Mart®, Loblaw's owned chains, and ESSO and Mobil gas stations, as you will earn significant rewards in these categories. The additional benefits, such as out-of-province medical insurance, car rental damage insurance, and concierge service, are impressive and typically only come with cards that have annual fees; however, you can access these benefits for free with this card. We do not recommend using this as your primary credit card but as a supplement to another primary card, especially because there are no fees. This is because the rewards on purchases outside the mentioned shops are very average, and many other cards offer much more substantial rewards for general use.

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.

Pros

  • Out-of-province medical insurance, concierge service, and car rental damage insurance—benefits that are usually included with cards that have fees—are included with this card.
  • Decent rewards on purchases at Shoppers Drug Mart®, Loblaw's owned chains, and ESSO and Mobil gas stations.

Pros

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

Cons

  • Many other high-spend categories don't earn as many rewards. Shopping at any other grocery chains, gas stations, or pharmacies will only give the base reward rate, and restaurant purchases and purchases in other categories don't earn much either.

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

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.
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%.

We may earn a commission for some of the products featured on this site. The content and reviews on FinlyWealth are independent and not influenced by advertisers. For the latest details on any product, please visit the advertiser's official website. The content provided on this website, including any credit card recommendations, is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. The owner and author(s) of this website are not financial, legal, or tax professionals. All views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and may not reflect the best choice for your unique situation. Always consult with a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. The owner and author(s) of this website shall not be held liable for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions in the content or any resulting actions taken by readers.Copyright © FinlyWealth 2024 All Rights Reserved.