SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express vs Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard®

Which one is better? Both cards worked out on the same spending: rewards, welcome bonus, fees and perks, line by line.

SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express

4.6

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Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard®

3.1

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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 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.

Up to $150

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

$394

$409

Every year after

$244

Amex SimplyCash™ Preferred is worth $215 more to you in year one.

It stays ahead after that, by $165 a year.

How the first year adds up

Amazon Prime

Amazon Rewards Mastercard

Amazon Prime member?

Eligible customers unlock boosted rewards on this card

+$8

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

$243.95

cash back a year

Welcome bonus

+ $150

first year only

Annual fee

− $0

no annual fee

First-year value

$393.95

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

1.5%AmazonCA, WholeFoods

$11.84

1%All other purchases

$232.11

Fees, rates and eligibility

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

$119.88
billed monthly, $119 in Quebec

Annual fee

Better of the two$0
$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:

21.74%

Cash Advance:

22.99%

Recommended credit score

Recommended credit score

300
Poor
693
Fair
743⁎
Good
790⁎
Very Good
833⁎
Excellent
⁎Estimates based on TransUnion scoring
300
Poor
560
Fair
660⁎
Good
725⁎
Very Good
760⁎
Excellent
⁎Estimates based on Equifax 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.

  • 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
  • 2.5% cashback on Amazon.ca, Whole Foods and foreign currency transactions IF a prime member
  • Only 1.5% on Amazon.ca and Whole foods and 1% on foreign currency transactions IF not a prime member
  • 1% cashback on everything else

Insurance and perks

What both cards include comes first in each list.

Insurance

Insurance

  • 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
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days

Perks

Perks

  • Amex logo

    Amex Experiences™

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

    Car Rental Discount

    10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car
  • gavel

    Trip and legal Assistance

    Yes

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.

If you are a Prime member and want to maximize your cashback on your Amazon purchases, then this card is the best option for that specific purchase category. However, for other purchases, many other cards offer better benefits and rewards.

Pros

Pros

  • High cashback rates
  • Solid base rate
  • Comprehensive insurance
  • Instant decision. No credit impact.
  • Impressive Prime optimization
  • Foreign currency cashback

Cons

Cons

  • Annual cashback redemptions
  • Lower acceptance
  • Annual fee
  • Low non-Amazon optimization
  • Limited benefits

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.