American Express® Green 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.

American Express® Green Card

2.8

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SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express

4.6

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Welcome bonus

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

The offer

The offer

Earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 months.

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.

$611

First-year value

$609

$421

Every year after

$409

Amex Green is worth $1 more to you in year one.

It stays ahead after that, by $11 a year.

How the first year adds up

Annual rewards

$420.66

22,140 points a year

Welcome bonus

+ $190

first year only

Annual fee

− $0

no annual fee

First-year value

$610.66

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

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.

1xAll other purchases

22,140 pts

$420.66

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.

$0Better of the two

Annual fee

$119.88
billed monthly, $119 in Quebec
$0

Additional cards

$0

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

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

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.

  • 1x point per $1 spent on all 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

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

Point redemption options

  • Most Optimal

    plane

    Transfer to Airline Partners

    1.9¢ / point
  • travel - plane

    Fixed Point Travel Program

    1.16¢ / point
  • hotel

    Transfer to Hotel Partners

    1.08¢ / point
  • travel svg

    Flexible Points Travel Program

    1¢ / point
  • cash coins

    Statement Credits (Cash)

    1¢ / point
  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.91¢ / point
  • amazon logo

    Amazon.ca

    0.7¢ / point
  • online shop

    Merchandise

    0.63¢ / point

Nothing to redeem: it pays cash back.

Insurance and perks

What both cards include comes first in each list.

Insurance

Insurance

  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $85K up to 48 days
  • heart lock

    Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance

    $100,000
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $500
  • travel accident medical

    Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)

    $5M/insured Person
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500

Perks

Perks

  • Amex logo

    Amex Experiences™

    With Amex Experiences™ and Front Of The Line® Amex Presale Tickets, American Express Cardmembers get access to amazing events in Canada
  • reward cup

    Extra points

    2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases
  • Amex logo

    Amex Experiences™

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

Our take

Why we like it

Why we like it

The American Express® Green Card is a great option for those looking for a no-frills card that earns rewards on all purchases without any annual fee or minimum income requirement. It's an accessible card with no cap on rewards, making it ideal for those who want to earn points without the higher costs and complexities of premium cards. However, it does come with lower rewards earnings across most categories and a modest welcome bonus.

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

  • No spending limits
  • Flexible redemption options
  • VIP perks
  • Eco-friendly plastic
  • Instant decision. No credit impact.
  • High cashback rates
  • Solid base rate
  • Comprehensive insurance
  • Instant decision. No credit impact.

Cons

Cons

  • Lower reward rates
  • Limited travel perks
  • Limited acceptance
  • Annual cashback redemptions
  • Lower acceptance
  • Annual fee

More comparisons

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

Legal

*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.

*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.