SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express vs CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
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
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.
Earn up to 50,000 Aeroplan points (up to $1,000 in travel value†):
- 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase†.
- 15,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $6,000 or more during the first 6 monthly statements periods†.
- 25,000 Aeroplan points as an additional anniversary bonus when you have at least $12,000 in net purchases posted on your account during the first 12 monthly statement periods†.
- Enjoy a free first checked bag: a $140 value for 2 travellers for each round-trip flight, assuming you take one round-trip Air Canada flight in the first year†.
Plus, get a one-time annual fee rebate ($139) for you (the primary cardholder) and up to three authorized users ($50 each): up to $189 value†.
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.
$609
First-year value
$1,539
$409
Every year after
$355
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite is worth $930 more to you in year one.
From year two, Amex SimplyCash™ Preferred pulls ahead by $54 a year.
How the first year adds up
Annual rewards
$529.07
cash back a year
Welcome bonus
+ $200
first year only
Annual fee
− $119.88
First-year value
$609.19
Annual rewards
$494.3
26,016 points a year
Welcome bonus
+ $1,045
first year only
Annual fee
$139− $0
$139 from year two
First-year value
$1,539.3
Where each card earns
A year of your spending at each card's own reward rates, most first.
4%Groceries
$92.88
4%Gas
$79.49
2%All other purchases
$356.82
1.5xGroceries, Gas and Air Canada
8,172 pts
$155.27
1xAll other purchases
17,844 pts
$339.04
Fees, rates and eligibility
What each card costs to hold and to use abroad, and who it's for.
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:
20.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Recommended credit score
Recommended credit score
Income required
Income required
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Min Personal Income:
$60,000
Min Household Income:
$100,000
How each card earns
The earn rates and caps, as each issuer sets them.
- 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
- 1.5 Aeroplan® points per $1 spent on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries and with Air Canada directly, including through Air Canada Vacations®
- 1 Aeroplan® point per $1 spent on all other 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
Cash back: every dollar it earns counts as a dollar, so there's nothing to convert.
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.
Point redemption options
Point redemption options
Nothing to redeem: it pays cash back.
Most Optimal
Flights
1.9¢ / point
Car Rentals
0.9¢ / point
Travel
0.825¢ / point
Merchandise
0.75¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.72¢ / point
Insurance and perks
What both cards include comes first in each list.
Insurance
Insurance
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Baggage Delay
$500.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$85K up to 48 days
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$100,000
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Extended Warranty
1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500
Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)
$5M/insured PersonFlight Delay
$500
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500Baggage Delay
$500Car Rental Damage & Theft
yesCommon Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$500,000Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000Extended Warranty
Up to 1 yearPurchase Protection
90 daysHotel Burglary Insurance
$2,500Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)
15 daysFlight Delay
$500Travel Medical Insurance (65 to 75)
3 days
Trip Cancellation
$1,500
Trip Interruption
$2,000
Perks
Perks
Amex Experiences™
Access events and special offers curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences™
Car Rental Discount
Get up to 25% off auto rentals at participating Avis and Budget locations worldwide.
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits
Exclusive offers.svg)
Gas Discount
save up to 10¢/L on fuel at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stations
Discount
Primary cardholders can often book flight rewards for even fewer points.svg)
Status lift
Reach Aeroplan Elite Status sooner: Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 in eligible purchases made on your card.svg)
Free first checked bag
Enjoy a free first checked bag for you, authorized users and up to 8 companions every time you fly with Air Canada
Free Extra Night at Hotels
Extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points
Our take
Why we like it
Why we like it
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.
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is great for Air Canada travelers who want to rack up Aeroplan points and enjoy perks like free checked bags and preferred pricing on flight redemptions. With solid reward rates in key spending categories like gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases, this card offers decent returns. Additionally, the first-year annual fee waiver and comprehensive travel insurance make it a solid option for those looking for value without the upfront cost. However, its highest value is for people who frequently travel with Air Canada and make use of Aeroplan rewards, especially for flights.
Pros
Pros
- High cashback rates
- Solid base rate
- Comprehensive insurance
- Instant decision. No credit impact.
- Generous welcome bonus
- High reward rates
- Air Canada perks
- Aeroplan flight preferred pricing
Cons
Cons
- Annual cashback redemptions
- Lower acceptance
- Annual fee
- Income requirements
- Limited redemption value
More comparisons
Other cards we've put each of these up against.
vs Amazon Rewards Mastercard
vs Amex Aeroplan Reserve
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 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
*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.
†You can qualify for this offer if you apply and are approved for a new CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card beginning April 7, 2026.
In order to be eligible for this offer, you must also abide by the terms and conditions set out in this footnote.
If you apply and are approved for a new CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* card, you can earn:
i. A welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points. The 10,000 Aeroplan points will appear on your statement after you make your first purchase at any time with your card, if you are eligible.
ii. An additional bonus of 15,000 Aeroplan points if you have at least $6,000 in net purchases posted to your account during the first 6 monthly statement periods. The additional bonus of 15,000 Aeroplan points will be awarded (i) if the spend requirement is met and (ii) by the end of your next monthly statement period after the spend requirement is met.
iii. The anniversary bonus of 25,000 Aeroplan points will be awarded to you within 8 weeks after the one year account open date, provided you have at least $12,000 in net eligible purchases posted on your account during the first 12 monthly statement periods and your credit card account is open and in good standing. Additional cardholders are not eligible for this offer.
As set out in and subject to the Aeroplan Program General Terms and Conditions located at [aircanada.com/aeroplan-termsandconditions], you may not be eligible for this offer or to receive any of the Welcome Bonus, Additional Bonus, or Anniversary Bonus, even if CIBC approves your application for an Account, if you have previously received a Welcome Bonus, Additional Bonus or Anniversary Bonus in connection with opening a new Aeroplan credit card account with CIBC or any other issuer of an Aeroplan credit card of the same card category type as the CIBC Account you are applying for.
A one-time annual fee rebate for you (the primary cardholder) and up to three authorized users added at the time of the application. This offer does not apply to annual fees for authorized users that are added after you submit your application. This offer applies for the first year only. If your application for an eligible card is not approved, you may be considered for another card (as disclosed in your credit card application). If you are approved for that card, this annual fee rebate offer will apply in the amount of the annual fee, if any, of the alternate card. If you qualify, the rebate will be awarded to you and will appear as a credit against the applicable annual fee(s) within two statements. Your new credit card account must be open and in Good Standing at the time the rebate is awarded.
Offer applies to newly approved card accounts only. Transfers and product changes from other CIBC credit cards are excluded from this offer.
Credit card account must be open and in Good Standing at the time the bonus Aeroplan points are awarded. Aeroplan points are awarded to you within 8 weeks after all qualifying purchase(s) are posted to your account. For this offer, the following do not qualify as purchases: Cash Advances, CIBC Global Money Transfers™, Balance Transfers, Convenience Cheques, fees, interest, payments and Aeroplan points redemptions. It may take up to several business days for purchases to be posted to your account. This offer is not transferable. This offer may be withdrawn or changed without prior notice at any time. This offer may be revoked if you appear to be manipulating or abusing it, or are engaged in any suspicious or fraudulent activity, as determined by CIBC in its sole discretion.
Please ensure that you provide your personal Aeroplan number to be linked to your credit card as linking a different loyalty number will impact the airline benefit fulfillment.
The up to $1,300 value is based on the combined total value of: The annual fee rebate for the first year ($139), plus one additional cardholder ($50); free first checked bags for two people, on a round-trip in the first year ($140), and the 45,000 Aeroplan points upon approval and required spend on your CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card are redeemed for a flight reward ($800), based on the majority of current Aeroplan cardholders who receive a value of $0.02/point or more when redeeming for a flight reward as of September 1, 2025. Redemption calculation is based on actual redemptions made by cardholders between the period of November 8, 2020 to September 1, 2025. Aeroplan points have no cash value but are redeemable under the Aeroplan program for flights and other rewards. The retail value of rewards obtained using Aeroplan points will vary depending on a range of factors including the type of reward issued, details of which may be found on the Air Canada website. Aeroplan points may be redeemed only in accordance with the General Terms & Conditions of the Aeroplan program. Full terms and conditions of the Aeroplan Program are available online on the Air Canada website. All offers are contingent on satisfying the criteria outlined in the offer terms and conditions.
