Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card vs SimplyCash® Card from American Express: Which one is better?
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
4.9
SimplyCash® Card from American Express
3.8
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$644.5
Scene+
First Year Bonus
$450
Scene+
Annual Fee
$120
First Year Value
$1,094.5
$524.5 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
$500K/person, $1M/occurrence
Extended Warranty
Up to 1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1000/trip
Baggage Delay
$500/person, $1,000/trip After 4 hours.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 days
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1000/occurrence
Emergency Out of province Medical
$1M, Up to 25 daysEmergency Medical Over 65
$1M, Up to 3 days
Trip Cancellation
$1500/person, $10000/trip
Trip Interruption
$1500/person, $10,000/tripFlight Delay
$500/person
Insurance Included*
Travel Accident
Up to $100,000Extended Warranty
1 yearPurchase Protection
90 days or theft up to $1,000 per occurrence
Extra Benefits*
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Avoid the 2.5% foreign transaction fees incurred when spending in non $CAD.svg)
Concierge Services
Discount
Discount on PriorityPass Membership
American Express® Experiences
Extra Benefits*
Amex Experiences™
Access events and special offers curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
20.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.992
Cash Advance:
21.992
Annual Fee*
$120
$0
First Year Waived
Annual Fee*
$0
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
$12,000
Min Household Income:
$12,000
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Welcome Bonus*
Earn 25,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, for a limited time, you are eligible to earn a 20,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $7,500 in everyday eligible purchases in your 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*
- 6 Points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland & Participating Co-ops
- 5 Points per $1 spent on eligible dining, other grocery stores, entertainment purchases including movies, theatre, and ticket agencies
- 3 Points per $1 spent on rides which includes rideshare, buses, taxis, subways and more
- 3 Points per $1 spent on eligible streaming service payments (Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, Crave and more)
- 1 Point per $1 spent on all other eligible 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*
Loyalty Program*
N/A
Point Redemption Options*
Entertainment
1¢ / point
Travel
1¢ / point
Groceries (Sobeys)
1¢ / point
Restaurants
1¢ / point
Merchandise
0.76¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.74¢ / point
Statement Credits (Cash)
0.7¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Not Applicable
Is this card worth it?
The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card is one of our favorite cards. It has a very solid rewards program, earning one of the highest rewards among all credit cards in Canada. In addition, it offers comprehensive travel benefits, including the rare and valuable no foreign transaction fee benefit, making it a great and balanced credit card in terms of both rewards and benefits. The first-year annual fee waiver is the cherry on top, providing even greater value to cardholders.
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
- No foreign transaction fee saves you 2.5% on all non-CAD purchases.
- Rewards cover all high-spending categories, including food, groceries, entertainment, and gas.
- Comprehensive coverage of all travel insurance.
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
- The card network is American Express, which might not be widely accepted in some countries, making it a bit harder to use the no foreign transaction fee benefit.
- Having a lounge pass would have made this card even more perfect, but there is access to a discount code for lounge access pass 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.
Other Comparisons
Other Comparisons
vs American Express Cobalt® Card
vs TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Rogers Red Mastercard®
vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
vs American Express Gold Rewards Card®
vs American Express® Green Card
vs MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
vs BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®
vs CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
vs CIBC Costco Mastercard
vs Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card
vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
vs American Express Platinum Card®
Other Comparisons
Other Comparisons
vs American Express Cobalt® Card
vs Rogers Red Mastercard®
vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
vs American Express Gold Rewards Card®
vs Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card
vs American Express® Green Card
vs MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
vs SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express
vs Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard®
vs Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
vs BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®
vs CIBC Costco Mastercard
vs Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card
vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
vs American Express Platinum Card®
Legal