American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card vs SimplyCash® Card from American Express: Which one is better?
American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
4.7
SimplyCash® Card from American Express
3.8
Welcome Bonus*
New American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Cardmembers can earn up to 130,000 Aeroplan points. Earn 60,000 points after you spend $7,500 on your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership. Plus, earn an additional 40,000 points after you spend a total of $45,000 on your Card in your first 12 months of Cardmembership. You can also earn 30,000 points when you make a purchase between 15 and– 17 months of Cardmembership. That’s up to $3,500 or more in value when you combine your bonus points and card benefits. Offer ends August 18, 2025.
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 Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$659.8
Air Canada Aeroplan®
First Year Bonus Value
+
$0
Air Canada Aeroplan®
Annual Fee
-
$599
First Year Value
$60.8
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
While the first year bonus value here may show $0, the actual welcome bonus offer for this credit card is Up to $100 in Statement Credits, which we value at $100 when you meet the minimum spending or other listed requirements. The value of $0 here was derived based on numbers in the spending inputs and whether you meet the minimum listed requirements.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$311.78
First Year Bonus Value
+
$100
Annual Fee
-
$0
First Year Value
$411.78
$311.78 in years after
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
How to Earn Rewards*
- 3x Aeroplan® points per $1 spent on eligible Air Canada® and Air Canada Vacations® purchases
- 2x Aeroplan® points per $1 spent on eligible dining & food delivery purchases
- 1.25x Aeroplan® points per $1 spent on all other purchases
How to Earn Rewards*
- 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
Insurance Included*
Travel Accident
$500,000
Extended Warranty
1 years
Purchase Protection
90 days
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1K
Baggage Delay
$1K/person after 6 hours.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$85K Up to 48 consecutive rental days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1000
Emergency Out of province Medical
$5M/insured up to 15 days
Trip Cancellation
$1.5K/person, $3K/trip
Trip Interruption
$1.5K/person, $6K/tripFlight Delay
$1,000/person after 4 hours
Insurance Included*
Travel Accident
Up to $100,000Extended Warranty
1 yearPurchase Protection
90 days or theft up to $1,000 per occurrence
Extra Benefits*
Amex Experiences™
Amex Experiences™ opens doors for you to access a number of special events, including special dining experiences, VIP parties, advance film screenings and more
Companion Voucher
Annual Worldwide Companion Pass from $99 to a max of $599 After spending $25,000 on your card.svg)
Status lift
Reach Aeroplan Elite™ Status sooner by earning 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and one (1) Status Qualifying Segment for every $5,000 of net purchasesStatus lift
Complimentary upgrade to Avis® President's ClubStatus lift
Primary Cardholders who also hold Aeroplan Elite Status can roll over up to 200,000 Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) beyond the status level for which they’ve qualified, from the prior qualification year to qualify for status the next year.Status lift
Primary Cardholders who also hold Aeroplan Elite Status will benefit from an extra 12 months to use eUpgrade credits, for a total of 24 months from issuance..svg)
Free first checked bag
First checked bag is free for primary cardholder on WestJet flight and up to 8 guests
Extra points
Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and over 170 online retailers through the Aeroplan eStore
Free Extra Night at Hotels
Cardmembers can now get an extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points. Enjoy even more at over 300,000 hotel properties worldwide
Nexus Program Rebate
$100 every 4 years
Priority Travel
At Toronto Pearson airport get benefits such as Priority Security lane, Complimentary valet, premium parking spots, priorioty taxi and limo lane and discount for parking and car care.Priority Travel
Get Priority Check-in, Priority Boarding and Priority Baggage Handling, Priority Airport Standby & Priority Airport Upgrades for you, your authorized users and up to 8 companions on the same flight (Only AirCanada)
Airport Lounge - Maple Leaf and AirCanada Cafes
Unlimited Access for you and one guestAirport Lounge - Priority Pass
Pass only. No Complimentary visits!
Extra Benefits*
Amex Experiences™
Access events and special offers curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%1
Cash Advance:
21.99%1
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%2
Cash Advance:
21.99%2
Annual Fee*
$599
Annual Fee*
$0
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Loyalty Program*
Loyalty Program*
N/A
Point Redemption Options*
Most Optimal
Aeroplan® Flights
2.1¢ / point
Car Rentals
0.9¢ / point
Travel
0.825¢ / point
Merchandise
0.75¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.72¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Not Applicable
Is this card worth it?
If you are a frequent Air Canada traveler, having an Aeroplan card for perks like free checked bags and priority service can be very beneficial. Many financial institutions offer Aeroplan cards, but I don't believe the American Express version is the best one. Opting for another option might be better. However, the Amex card does have a very large sign-up bonus, making it a great choice for those specifically seeking that.
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
- Generous rewards rate with up to 3 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on purchases, particularly beneficial for frequent flyers.
- Enjoy free checked bags when flying with Air Canada, reducing travel costs.
- Access to preferred pricing on Aeroplan flight awards, maximizing the value of your points.
- Unlimited access to Maple Leaf lounges when flying with Air Canada, providing a more comfortable travel experience.
- Extensive insurance coverage, including 11 types of insurance, offering peace of mind during your travels.
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
- As an American Express card, it may have limited acceptance compared to other credit cards, potentially limiting its use in some places.
- The most valuable rewards are generally tied to Air Canada flights, which may not appeal to travelers who fly with other airlines.
- The card comes with a high annual fee of $599, which may be a consideration for budget-conscious users.
- The unlimited lounge access is limited to Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafe lounges which don't have a great worldwide coverage.
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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