Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard® 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.
Welcome bonus
Each offer as the issuer words it. The numbers below show whether your spending reaches it.
The offer
The offer
Up to $150
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.
$394
First-year value
$409
$244
Every year after
$309
Amex SimplyCash is worth $15 more to you in year one.
It stays ahead after that, by $65 a year.
How the first year adds up
Amazon Rewards Mastercard
Amazon Prime member?
Eligible customers unlock boosted rewards on this card
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
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.
1.5%AmazonCA, WholeFoods
$11.84
1%All other purchases
$232.11
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.
Annual fee
Additional cards
Interest rates
Interest rates
Purchase:
21.74%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
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.
- 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
- 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
Insurance and perks
What both cards include comes first in each list.
Insurance
Insurance
Extended Warranty
Up to a year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
1 yearPurchase Protection
90 days or theft up to $1,000 per occurrence
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Up to $100,000
Perks
Perks
Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car
Trip and legal Assistance
Yes
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 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.
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
Pros
- Impressive Prime optimization
- Foreign currency cashback
- No annual fee
- Attractive cashback rates
- Exclusive Amex perks
- Instant decision. No credit impact.
Cons
Cons
- Low non-Amazon optimization
- Limited benefits
- Annual cashback cap
- Limited insurance
- Lower acceptance
More comparisons
Other cards we've put each of these up against.
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™ Preferred
vs BMO CashBack World Elite
vs CIBC Costco Mastercard
vs MBNA Rewards World Elite
vs Rogers Red
vs Rogers Red World Elite
vs Scotia Amex Gold
vs Scotia Momentum Visa
vs Scotiabank Passport
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.
