American Express Gold Rewards Card®

SimplyCash® Card from American Express

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American Express Gold Rewards Card® vs SimplyCash® 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.

4.3

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3.8

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Welcome bonus

Each offer as the issuer words it. The numbers below show whether your spending reaches it.

The offer

Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points
New American Express^® Gold Rewards Cardmembers, earn 5,000 Membership Rewards^® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $1,000 in net purchases on your Card

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.

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.

$1,427

First-year value

$409

$287

Every year after

$309

Amex Gold is worth $1,018 more to you in year one.

From year two, Amex SimplyCash pulls ahead by $22 a year.

How the first year adds up

Annual rewards

$536.71

28,248 points a year

Welcome bonus

+ $1,140

first year only

Annual fee

− $250

First-year value

$1,426.71

1.9¢ a pointAmerican Express Membership Rewards, redeemed for Transfer to Airline Partners

Annual rewards

$309.2

cash back a year

Welcome bonus

+ $100

first year only

Annual fee

− $0

no annual fee

First-year value

$409.2

Where each card earns

A year of your spending at each card's own reward rates, most first.

2xGas, Groceries, Pharmacy

9,804 pts

$186.28

2xTravel

2,400 pts

$45.6

1xAll other purchases

16,044 pts

$304.84

2%Groceries

$46.44

2%Gas

$39.74

1.25%All other purchases

$223.01

Fees, rates and eligibility

What each card costs to hold and to use abroad, and who it's for.

$250

Annual fee

1st free, $50 thereafter

Additional cards

Interest rates

Purchase:

21.99%¹

Cash Advance:

21.99%¹

¹ Subject to approval. The preferred rate for purchases is 21.99% and funds advances is 21.99%. If you have Missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99% and/or 29.99%. See the information box included with the application for the definition of Missed Payment and which rates apply to charges on your account and other details.

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

300

Poor

693

Fair

743⁎

Good

790⁎

Very Good

833⁎

Excellent

⁎Estimates based on TransUnion scoring

300

Poor

693

Fair

743⁎

Good

790⁎

Very Good

833⁎

Excellent

⁎Estimates based on TransUnion scoring

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.

2x points per $1 spent on gas, groceries and drugstore purchases
2x points per $1 spent on travel (eligible flights, hotels, tours and more)
1x point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases

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

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

American Express Membership Rewards

We count each point at 1.9¢ a point, what it's worth redeemed for Transfer to Airline Partners, 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

Most Optimal

Transfer to Airline Partners

1.9¢ / point

Fixed Point Travel Program

1.16¢ / point

Transfer to Hotel Partners

1.08¢ / point

Flexible Points Travel Program

1¢ / point

Statement Credits (Cash)

1¢ / point

Gift Cards

0.91¢ / point

Amazon.ca

0.7¢ / point

Merchandise

0.63¢ / point

Nothing to redeem: it pays cash back.

Insurance and perks

What both cards include comes first in each list.

Insurance

Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance

$500,000

Extended Warranty

Up to 1 year

Purchase Protection

90 days

Lost or Stolen Baggage

$500

Baggage Delay

$500

Car Rental Damage & Theft

yes

Hotel Burglary Insurance

$500

Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)

15 days

Trip Cancellation

$1,500 per person, $3,000 combined

Trip Interruption

$1,500 per person, $6,000 combined

Flight Delay

$500

Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance

Up to $100,000

Extended Warranty

1 year

Purchase Protection

90 days or theft up to $1,000 per occurrence

Perks

American Express® Experiences

Status lift

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® loyalty program

Extra points

Earn 2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases and extra points on American Express offers

Travel Credit

$100

Nexus Program Rebate

$50 statement credit every 4 years

Complimentary Hotel Benefits

Hotels booked American Express Travel

Airport Lounge - Priority Pass

Pass only. No Complimentary visits!

Airport Lounge - Plaza Premium

4 Free complimentary visits

Amex Experiences™

Access events and special offers curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™

Our take

Why we like it

The American Express® Gold Rewards Card is an excellent choice for travelers seeking an entry-level card that offers a strong balance of generous travel benefits without excessive costs. With a relatively low annual fee, this card provides flexibility and a range of perks that make it stand out among other options. It’s ideal for those who want to maximize their travel rewards without being tied to a specific airline or compromising on the benefits offered.

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

Flexible rewards
Travel perks
Comprehensive insurance
Multiple redemption options
Instant decision. No credit impact.

No annual fee
Attractive cashback rates
Exclusive Amex perks
Instant decision. No credit impact.

Cons

High annual fee
Foreign transaction fees
Limited senior travel insurance
Limited acceptance

Annual cashback cap
Limited insurance
Lower acceptance

More comparisons

Other cards we've put each of these up against.

Legal

*Terms and conditions apply.

Subject to approval. The preferred rate for purchases is 21.99% and funds advances is 21.99%. If you have Missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99% and/or 29.99%. See the information box included with the application for the definition of Missed Payment and which rates apply to charges 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%.