SimplyCash® Card from American Express
Card highlights
Welcome bonus
Annual fee
Ratehub’s review
Natasha Macmillan
The SimplyCash from American Express credit card lets you earn cash back without restrictions. This card is a great option for those who aren’t looking for premium perks or who won’t earn enough rewards to offset an annual fee. offers a great cash back rate, no limit to the amount you can earn, and all the benefits of American Express perks.
Pros
- Streamlined rewards structure: Simple and easy rewards structure that doesn’t require any extensive research or understanding
- Insurance: Travel and purchase protection coverage, including travel accident insurance ($100,000), purchase protection, and extended warranty
- 24/7 concierge services
- Exclusive access: Enjoy privileges such as access to Front of the Line Presale and Reserved tickets to concerts, theatre performances, movie screenings, culinary events, and other special offers
- No annual fee: No annual fee for primary or additional cardholders
Cons
- Limited acceptance: American Express isn’t as widely accepted in Canada compared to Visa and Mastercard
- Low redemption flexibility: Cash-back rewards are only redeemable once per year
- Low earn rate: The card’s standard earn rate of 1.25% isn’t particularly compelling when stacked up against other no-fee cash back cards
- Limited insurance: Other than the standard purchase protection and extended warranty, the only coverage offered is travel accident insurance (up to $100,000)
Rewards & bonuses
See what you could earn based on how you spend.
Welcome bonus
Earn up to $100.
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.
Earn rates
Monthly spending caps apply where shown. Rewards are earned on eligible purchases only, see the card’s terms for full details.
Your earning potential
First year reward
Based on spending $2,200/mo after $0 annual fee
Second year reward
Based on spending $2,200/mo after $0 annual fee
These numbers are based on estimations and the calculation breakdown below.
Adjust your spending
First year reward†
- If you spend $2,200/month, you’ll earn
- Welcome bonus
- Annual fee
- First year reward
Second year reward†
- If you spend $2,200/month, you’ll earn
- Annual fee
- Second year reward
† Estimate calculated by Ratehub.ca and is based on current offers and a monthly spend of $2,200. It is for illustrative purposes only.
Perks & insurance
Perks and insurance coverage included with the card.
| Perks | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | Not included | You’ll gain complimentary passes to airport lounges. The number of passes and lounges you have access to will vary. |
| No foreign exchange fees | Not included | A surcharge that credit card holders pay for purchases made in a foreign currency (typically 2.5%). |
| Extended warranty | Up to one additional year | Either doubles the length of the item’s manufacturer’s warranty coverage or extends it by 1 year, whichever is less. |
| Price protection | Not included | If, within a certain amount of time of purchasing an item, its price drops or you find an identical item offered for a lower retail price than what you paid, you will be reimbursed for the difference. |
| Insurance | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Travel accident insurance | Included | If you suffer a loss as a result of an accidental bodily injury sustained while occupying a common carrier, you are eligible for this coverage. |
| Travel emergency medical | Not included | If you require urgent medical care while on a trip outside of your home province, you will be covered for any eligible medical expenses incurred. |
| Car rental insurance | Not included | Credit card rental car insurance usually covers theft, loss and damage to your rental car in the case of an accidental collision. |
| Trip cancellation | Not included | If you have to cancel your trip before it’s even started, your prepaid travel costs will be covered up to a maximum amount if the cause of cancellation is eligible for the insurance. |
| Trip interruption | Not included | If your trip has to be cut short or is delayed after the scheduled departure date, you will be covered up to a maximum amount for an eligible cause of interruption or delay. |
| Flight delay insurance | Not included | If your flight departure is delayed by a certain number of hours, you’ll be reimbursed a certain amount for necessary and reasonable expenses. |
| Baggage loss insurance | Not included | If your checked bag cannot be located by a common carrier, you’ll be reimbursed for a portion of the replacement cost of lost personal property. |
| Baggage delay insurance | Not included | If your checked bag is not delivered within a specified time upon your arrival, you’ll be reimbursed for the cost to replace essential items. |
| Hotel/motel burglary | Not included | Provides protection, while you’re checked in, for your personal belongings when left unattended in your room up to a certain dollar amount. |
| Mobile insurance | Not included | Reimburses a portion of your cell phone in the event it’s damaged or lost. Device coverage is limited to a certain period of time after purchasing with your credit card. |
| Purchase assurance | Covered for 90 days | Automatically protects new purchases by insuring them for 90 days from the date of purchase in the event of loss, theft or damage. |
Details & eligibility
Fees
- Annual fee
- $0
Rates
- Purchase interest
- 21.99%
- Balance transfer rate
- N/A
- Cash advance rate
- 21.99%
Type
- Provider
- American Express
- Card type
- Cash back
- Payment network
- American Express
Eligibility
- Minimum personal income
- N/A
- Minimum household income
- N/A
- Minimum credit score
- 725+