Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card vs American Express® Green 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 20% cashback† for your first 3 months on up to $500 spend on eligible gas, groceries, drugstore purchases and pre-authorized payments.
Earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 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.
$488
First-year value
$611
$346
Every year after
$421
Amex Green is worth $122 more to you in year one.
It stays ahead after that, by $75 a year.
How the first year adds up
Annual rewards
$345.68
cash back a year
Welcome bonus
+ $92.5
first year only
Annual fee
− $0
no annual fee
Finly rebate
paid by FinlyWealth
First-year value
$488.18
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
Where each card earns
A year of your spending at each card's own reward rates, most first.
4%Food and drinks
$168
1.5%Gas, Pharmacy, Groceries, Recurring Transactions
$123.18
0.5%All other purchases
$54.5
1xAll other purchases
22,140 pts
$420.66
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:
20.99%1
Cash Advance:
22.99%1
Balance Transfer:
22.99%1
1 “Purchase” means any Transaction other than a Cash Advance, Balance Transfer or Convenience Cheque. “Cash” means a Cash Advance, Balance Transfer and Convenience Cheque. Interest rates may change from time to time.
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:
$15,000
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 restaurant, bar, and coffee shop purchases up to $5,000 spent per year†
- 1.5% cash back on gas, groceries, drugstore, and pre-authorized payments up to $15,000 spent per year†
- 0.5% cashback on all other purchases†
- 1x point per $1 spent on all 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 Transfer to Airline Partners, 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
Transfer to Airline Partners
1.9¢ / pointFixed Point Travel Program
1.16¢ / pointTransfer to Hotel Partners
1.08¢ / pointFlexible Points Travel Program
1¢ / pointStatement Credits (Cash)
1¢ / pointGift Cards
0.91¢ / point
Amazon.ca
0.7¢ / pointMerchandise
0.63¢ / point
Insurance and perks
What both cards include comes first in each list.
Insurance
Insurance
Extended Warranty
Up to 1 yearPurchase Protection
Up to 90 days
Extended Warranty
Up to a yearPurchase Protection
90 days
Perks
Perks
No extra perks.
Extra points
2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases
Amex Experiences™
With Amex Experiences™ and Front Of The Line® Amex Presale Tickets, American Express Cardmembers get access to amazing events in Canada
Our take
Why we like it
Why we like it
If you dine out a lot and don't want to pay an annual fee for your credit card, the Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card will undoubtedly be one of your best friends with its 4% cashback. Additionally, the card offers a decent cashback rate (1.5%) for gas, pharmacy, and groceries, making it one of the best no-annual-fee cashback credit cards in Canada. However, there are limits on how much you can earn in these categories. Therefore, you need to be careful not to exceed those limits; otherwise, your cashback rate will drop to 0.5% after those spending limits are reached.
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.
Pros
Pros
- High restaurant optimization
- Decent cashback rates
- No annual fee
- No spending limits
- Flexible redemption options
- VIP perks
- Eco-friendly plastic
- Instant decision. No credit impact.
Cons
Cons
- Basic insurance
- No benefits
- Capped rewards
- Lower reward rates
- Limited travel perks
- Limited acceptance
More comparisons
Other cards we've put each of these up against.

vs Amazon Rewards Mastercard

vs Amex Cobalt

vs Amex SimplyCash

vs Amex SimplyCash™ Preferred

vs BMO CashBack World Elite

vs CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite

vs CIBC Costco Mastercard

vs MBNA Rewards World Elite

vs PC World Elite Mastercard

vs RBC ION+ Visa

vs Rogers Red

vs Rogers Red World Elite

vs Scotia Momentum Visa

vs Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite +

vs Tangerine Money-Back

vs Amazon Rewards Mastercard

vs Amex Aeroplan Reserve
vs Amex Aeroplan®

vs Amex Cobalt

vs Amex Gold

vs Amex Marriott Bonvoy

vs Amex Platinum

vs Amex SimplyCash

vs Amex SimplyCash™ Preferred

vs BMO CashBack World Elite

vs CIBC Costco Mastercard

vs MBNA Rewards World Elite

vs PC World Elite Mastercard

vs Rogers Red World Elite

vs Scotia Amex Gold

vs Scotia Momentum Visa

vs Scotiabank Passport
Legal
†This offer applies to the Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa* Card. You can qualify for this offer if you apply and are approved for a new eligible card beginning February 2, 2026.
This 20% cash back offer (applies an incremental 18.5% cashback to the 1.5% cash back already awarded) on eligible gas, groceries, drugstore purchases and pre-authorized payments and is available to new cardholders who apply and are approved for the Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa* Card beginning February 2, 2026. The 18.5% incremental cash back applies on eligible gas, groceries, drugstore purchases and pre-authorized payments made during your first 3 monthly statement periods beginning from your account open date or $500 in total gas, groceries, drugstore purchases and recurring transactions (up to $92.50 bonus cash back), whichever comes first. This offer will not result in any changes to the 1.5% cash back already earned on eligible gas, groceries, drugstore purchases and pre-authorized payments and those purchases will be included within the $15,000 annual spend limit that earns 1.5% cash back.
This offer may be withdrawn or changed without prior notice at any time. Simplii Financial may, in its sole discretion, disqualify, limit or revoke this offer if you are believed to be abusing or manipulating it, or engaging in any suspicious or fraudulent activity. Simplii Financial may approve your application, but you are not eligible to receive this offer if you have opened or cancelled a Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card within the last 12 months.
*“Purchase” means any Transaction other than a Cash Advance, Balance Transfer or Convenience Cheque. “Cash” means a Cash Advance, Balance Transfer and Convenience Cheque. Interest rates may change from time to time.
Simplii Financial is not responsible for maintaining the accuracy of content of this website. Please refer to Simplii Financial's official page for the latest information.
*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.





