Our Disclosure

The content on this website includes links to our partners and we may receive compensation when you sign up, at no cost to you. This may impact which products or services we write about and where and how they appear on the site. It does not affect the objectivity of our evaluations or reviews. Read our disclosure.

SimplyCash Preferred Card From American Express Review (2024)

Updated:

Fact Checked

Looking for a cash back credit card in Canada that offers a great standard earning rate for all purchases? The SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express is one of your best options right now.

You get an unlimited 2% cash back on most purchases (up to 4% on gas and groceries), plus a comprehensive suite of travel and shopping insurance coverage.

Add in its welcome offer and access to American Express perks, and you have a premium card worth looking at.

This American Express SimplyCash Preferred Card review covers its features, fees, alternatives, and everything else you need to know.

SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express – Summary

SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express

Rewards: Earn 4% cash back on gas and grocery purchases ($1,200 annual limit); 2.00% cash back on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: NA

Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases and 21.99% on cash advances.

Annual fee: $9.99/month or $119.88/year

SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express Benefits

The most remarkable benefit of the SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express is its 2% flat-rate cash back offer on most purchases. This means you won’t have to worry about what you are spending on to maximize your rewards.

And on groceries and gas purchases, you earn 4% cash back, with an annual reward limit of $1,200. That is, you can earn 4% cash back on up to $30,000 in annual spending on both groceries and gas each year.

Other benefits of the SimplyCash Preferred Card are:

SimplyCash Preferred Card Travel Insurance

1. Travel Accident Insurance: Cardholders are covered for up to $100,000 with Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance. This coverage also extends to spouses and dependent children under age 23.

2. Emergency Medical Insurance: Offers coverage up to a maximum of $5 million for eligible emergency medical expenses for insured persons under age 65 for up to 15 consecutive days.

3. Car Rental Insurance: This card provides coverage for theft, loss, or damage to a rental car with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of up to $85,000 and for up to 48 days.

4. Lost or stolen Baggage: Coverage is available up to $500 per trip for loss or damage to your luggage.

5. Flight and Baggage Delay: You can claim up to $500 if your flight or baggage is delayed for longer than a specific number of hours.

6. Hotel Burglary Insurance: The SimplyCash Preferred Card provides up to $500 in coverage if your personal items are stolen during a burglary at your hotel.

In addition to these comprehensive travel benefits, you also get:

  • Purchase protection for 90 days from the date of purchase
  • Buyer’s Assurance Protection with up to one extra year of extended warranty

Note that you may need to pay with your card in full to qualify for many of the insurance benefits.

Get the full gist about insurance coverage for the SimplyCash Preferred Card here.

Related: Best Credit Cards for Rental Car Insurance.

American Express Invites Benefits

The SimplyCash Preferred Card comes with access to American Express Invites and its perks:

  • Front Of The Line Advance Access
  • Front Of The Line Reserved Tickets
  • Front Of The Line E-Updates

Cardholders can easily access tickets and reservations for major events, including concerts, dining theatre productions, and more.

Lastly, you can invite friends and family to apply for this card and earn up to $1,500 in cash back per year when they are approved.

Downsides of the SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express

While the SimplyCash Preferred Card from AMEX is one of the best credit cards for cash back rewards, you should note that AMEX cards are not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard.

That said, you could use your other credit cards if this happens.

Is this SimplyCash Preferred Worth it?

Yes, the SimplyCash Preferred Card is worth checking out.

While it has a $9.99 monthly fee, its cash back rewards structure far outweighs the cost. In the first 10 months of activating the card, you could earn up to $400 in statement credits.

Also, its travel benefits are comprehensive, and the $5 million coverage for emergency medical expenses is rare.

Unlike some premium cards that set personal income limits for eligibility, this card has no such restriction, although you will need a good to excellent credit score.

If you prefer a no-fee cash back credit card and don’t need insurance coverage, two cards that meet the bill are:

  • SimplyCash Card from American Express: This AMEX Card offers 1.25% to 2.00% cash back on purchases and has no annual fee.

SimplyCash Card from American Express

Rewards and benefits: Earn up to 2% cash back on gas and groceries; 1.25% cash back on all other purchases; travel accident insurance.

Welcome offer: NA

Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases and 21.99% on cash advances.

Annual fee: $0

  • Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card: This Tangerine credit card offers 2% cash back on two categories of spending and 0.50% on all other purchases. It also has no annual fee.

Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card

Rewards: Earn up to 2% unlimited cash back in up to 3 spending categories and 0.50% on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Get an extra 10% cash back on up to $1,000 in spending in the first 2 months ($100 value); 1.95% balance transfer rate for 6 months.

Interest rates: 19.95% for purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances.

Annual fee: $0

SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express Review
Overall
4.7

Summary

The SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express is one of the best cash back credit cards in Canada and it also offers extensive suite of travel benefits. This review of the SimplyCash Card covers what you need to know. 

 

Best Credit Offers in April 2024

Get the top savings and spending account and stop paying costly bank fees ($20 Bonus)

Save on fees and access unlimited transactions, eTransfers & bill payments.

Get a $20 instant bonus after completing your first purchase.

Earn up to 5% unlimited cash back and up to 5% interest on your balance.

Guaranteed instant approval with any credit score + free budgeting app.

Get this guaranteed approval credit card for any credit score ($25 bonus)

Get an instant $25 welcome bonus.

Earn 5% unlimited average cash back at thousands of locations.

Guaranteed approval for poor and bad credit scores. Takes 3 minutes.

No monthly fees and up to 15% cashback on your first-time purchases.

Earn an average 5% cashback while growing your balance + $20 bonus

Best free prepaid reloadable Mastercard with $20 bonus (after adding $50+).

Earn an average 5% unlimited cash back at over 12,000 stores.

No credit check and free budgeting app with automatic savings features.

Earn 2.25% interest on your entire balance.*

Author

Gravatar for Enoch Omololu, MSc (Econ)
Enoch Omololu, MSc (Econ)

Enoch Omololu, personal finance expert, author, and founder of Savvy New Canadians, has written about money matters for over 10 years. Enoch has an MSc (Econ) degree in Finance and Investment Management from the University of Aberdeen Business School and has completed the Canadian Securities Course. His expertise has been highlighted in major publications like Forbes, Globe and Mail, Business Insider, CBC News, Toronto Star, Financial Post, CTV News, TD Direct Investing, Canadian Securities Exchange, and many others. Enoch is passionate about helping others win with their finances and recently created a practical investing course for beginners. You can read his full author bio.

About Savvy New Canadians

Savvy New Canadians is one of Canada's top personal finance platforms. Millions of Canadians use our site each year to learn how to save for retirement, invest smartly, maximize rewards, and earn extra cash. We have been featured in prominent finance media, including Forbes, Globe and Mail, Business Insider, CBC, MSN, Wealthsimple, and TD Direct Investing. Learn more about Savvy New Canadians.

Free financial education

Expert advice

Free resources

Detailed guides

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.