American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card vs SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express
Which one is better? Both cards worked out on the same spending: rewards, welcome bonus, fees and perks, line by line.
Welcome bonus
Each offer as the issuer words it. The numbers below show whether your spending reaches it.
The offer
The offer
- New American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Cardmembers can earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan points
- Earn 60,000 Aeroplan points after spending $7,500 in purchases on your Card within the first 3 months
- Plus, earn an additional 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $2,500 in purchases in month 13
- You could earn up to $4,400 in value within your first 13 months* — combining the Welcome Bonus (up to $1,700), accelerated and everyday spend earn rates (~$1,760), and $1,000 in benefits value. Terms and usage assumptions apply.
Earn a bonus 10% cash back on all purchases for your first 3 months (up to $2,000 in purchases). Plus, earn a $50 statement credit when you make a purchase in month 13. This could add up to $250 in bonus value in your first 13 months.
What each card is worth
Rewards, the welcome bonus and any Finly rebate in, the annual fee and FX fees out, all on your spending.
Worked out on a typical $2,000 a month of spending. Enter yours to see your own numbers.
$144
First-year value
$609
-$6
Every year after
$409
Amex SimplyCash™ Preferred is worth $465 more to you in year one.
It stays ahead after that, by $415 a year.
How the first year adds up
Annual rewards
$592.8
31,200 points a year
Welcome bonus
+ $0
not reached at this spending
Annual fee
− $599
Finly rebate
paid by FinlyWealth
First-year value
$143.8
Annual rewards
$529.07
cash back a year
Welcome bonus
+ $200
first year only
Annual fee
− $119.88
First-year value
$609.19
Where each card earns
A year of your spending at each card's own reward rates, most first.
2xFood and drinks
8,400 pts
$159.6
3xAir Canada
720 pts
$13.68
1.25xAll other purchases
22,080 pts
$419.52
4%Groceries
$92.88
4%Gas
$79.49
2%All other purchases
$356.82
Fees, rates and eligibility
What each card costs to hold and to use abroad, and who it's for.
⁕ Notice: As of Jan 12, 2027, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card annual fee will increase to $799. Annual fees charged on or after this date will reflect the new fee. The Additional Aeroplan®* Reserve Card annual fee will increase to $249. The Additional Aeroplan®* Reserve No Fee Card will be renamed to the Additional Aeroplan®* Reserve Companion Card and the annual fee will increase to $25. Learn more about new benefits.
Annual fee
Additional cards
Interest rates
Interest rates
Purchase:
21.99%1
Cash Advance:
21.99%1
1 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 29.99%.
Purchase:
21.99%2
Cash Advance:
21.99%2
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 29.99%.
Recommended credit score
Recommended credit score
Income required
Income required
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
How each card earns
The earn rates and caps, as each issuer sets them.
- 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
- 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
Points and how we value them
Points become dollars at each card's best redemption. Here's the value we used, and every other way to spend them.
Loyalty program
Loyalty program
We count each point at 1.9¢ a point, what it's worth redeemed for Flights, its best value. Every dollar figure above uses that value.
Cash back: every dollar it earns counts as a dollar, so there's nothing to convert.
Point redemption options
Point redemption options
Most Optimal
Flights
1.9¢ / point
Car Rentals
0.9¢ / point
Travel
0.825¢ / point
Merchandise
0.75¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.72¢ / point
Nothing to redeem: it pays cash back.
Insurance and perks
What both cards include comes first in each list.
Insurance
Insurance
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1,000
Baggage Delay
$1,000/person after 6 hours.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
48 days
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$500,000
Extended Warranty
1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000
Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)
15 daysFlight Delay
$1,000/person after 4 hours
Trip Cancellation
$1,500/person, $3,000/trip
Trip Interruption
$1,500/person, $6,000/trip
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500Baggage Delay
$500Car Rental Damage & Theft
$85K up to 48 daysCommon Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$100,000Extended Warranty
1 yearPurchase Protection
90 daysHotel Burglary Insurance
$500Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)
$5M/insured PersonFlight Delay
$500
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Perks
Perks
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
Complimentary upgrade to Avis® President's ClubStatus lift
Get a 10% Head Start. Starting in 2027, eligible Basic Cardmembers with Aeroplan EliteTM* Status will receive a 10% head start toward qualification, based on Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) accumulated the year before. Roll over any unallocated unused eUpgrade Credits to the following year to enjoy during your travelsStatus 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 Air Canada branded 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!
Amex Experiences™
Access events and special offers curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™
Our take
Why we like it
Why we like 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 we 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.
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
Pros
- Generous rewards rate
- Free checked bags
- Preferred flight pricing
- Unlimited airport lounge access
- Extensive coverage
- Instant decision. No credit impact.
- High cashback rates
- Solid base rate
- Comprehensive insurance
- Instant decision. No credit impact.
Cons
Cons
- Limited acceptance
- Limited loyalty rewards
- High annual fee
- Limited lounge brand access
- Annual cashback redemptions
- Lower acceptance
- Annual fee
More comparisons
Other cards we've put each of these up against.
vs Amazon Rewards Mastercard
vs Amex Aeroplan®
vs Amex Cobalt
vs Amex Gold
vs Amex Green
vs Amex Marriott Bonvoy
vs Amex Platinum
vs Amex SimplyCash
vs BMO CashBack World Elite
vs CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite
vs CIBC Costco Mastercard
vs PC World Elite Mastercard
vs RBC ION+ Visa
vs Rogers Red
vs Rogers Red World Elite
vs Scotia Momentum Visa
vs Simplii Financial Visa Card
vs Tangerine Money-Back
Legal
*Subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply.
The preferred rate for purchases is 21.99% and funds advances is 21.99%. 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 29.99%. See the Information box included with the application for the definition of Missed Payment and which rates apply to changes on your account and other details.
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.
*Terms and conditions apply.
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 29.99%.
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.
