Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card vs SimplyCash® Card from American Express: Which one is better?
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
4.9
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
SimplyCash® Card from American Express
3.5
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*
Finly Rebate
Now +$200 until Oct 31, 2024
Finly Rebate
N/A
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$613.54
Scene+
Welcome Bonus
$450
Scene+
Annual Fee
$120
First Year Value
$1,063.54
$493.54 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$301.46
Welcome Bonus
$100
Annual Fee
$0
First Year Value
$401.46
$301.46 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included
Travel Accident
$500K/person, $1M/occurrence
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
Up to a year
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/trip
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1000/trip
Baggage Delay
$500/person, $1,000/trip After 4 hours
Flight Delay
$500/person.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1000/occurrence
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Insurance Included*
Travel Accident
$500K/person, $1M/occurrencePurchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
Up to a year
Extra Benefits
American Express Experiences
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
Extra Benefits*
American Express 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:
N/A
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*
Earn a $10 statement credit for each monthly billing period in which you spend $300 on your SimplyCash® Card from American Express during your first 10 months as a new Cardmember. This can total up to $100 in statement credits within the first 10 months. This offer is not available to current or former Cardmembers of this Card. Additional terms apply.
Rewards Rate
- 6 Points on on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland & Participating Co-ops
- 5 Points dining and at other eligible grocery stores, entertainment purchases which includes movies, theatre, and ticket agencies
- 3 Point on Rides which includes rideshare, buses, taxis, subways and more
- 3 Points on eligible streaming services (Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, Crave and more)
- 1 Point on everything else
Rewards Rate*
- 2% cash back on gas and groceries (up to $15,000 in purchases combined)
- 1.25% cash back on all other purchases
Loyalty Program
Loyalty Program*
N/A
Point Redemption Options
Entertainment
1¢ / pointTravel
1¢ / point
Groceries (Sobeys)
1¢ / point
Restaurants
1¢ / point
Merchandise
0.76¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.74¢ / point
Statement Credits
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
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
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