American Express SimplyCash Cards: Up to $250 Cash Back!

Sep 23, 2024

Updated May 9, 2026

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Credit Cards American Express SimplyCash Cards: Up to $250 Cash Back!

To the point Are you searching for a credit card that offers 2% cash back on all purchases and 4% on groceries and gas? Here it is!

Milesopedia recommends this card from American Express Canada

N SimplyCash Preferred American Express card

SimplyCash^® Preferred Card from American Express

Up to $250 cash back

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With the decrease in credit card interchange fees in Canada, we have seen the disappearance of credit cards offering 2% on all purchases in recent years.

Today, only one credit card offers 4% cash back on grocery and gas purchases and 2% cash back on all other purchases. This is the SimplyCash^® Preferred Card from American Express.

SimplyCash^® Preferred Card from American Express

The SimplyCash^® Preferred Card from American Express is the only credit card in Canada that offers 2% cash back on all purchases. In addition, you can get:

4% cash back at gas stations
4% cash back at grocery stores

With this welcome offer, you can get 10% cash back on all your purchases (up to $2,000) during the first 3 months, for a total of up to $200. Plus, receive a $50 credit on your account after making a purchase in the 13th month.

The SimplyCash^® Preferred Card from American Express is particularly popular with those who have significant purchases to make: renovations, furniture or appliance purchases, as it offers 2% at all merchants.

This Card stands out for the numerous insurances offered: car rental theft and damage, $100,000 travel accident, emergency medical expenses (outside the province or country), lost or stolen baggage, flight delay and misdirected baggage, hotel or motel burglary, Purchase Protection, Buyer’s Assurance.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Other benefits

As a SimplyCash^® Preferred Cardmember , you have access to many benefits:

American Express Online Promotional Offers: Each month, you will receive personalized offers to earn more cash back at selected merchants
Out of Province/Country Emergency Medical Insurance up to $5,000,000
Flight Delay Insurance
Baggage Delay Insurance
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance
$100,000 Travel Accident Insurance
Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance
Buyer’s Assurance^® Protection Plan for up to 1 additional year
90-day Purchase Protection^® Plan

SimplyCash^® Card from American Express

Are you looking for a cash back credit card with no annual fee and an excellent cash back rate for your everyday purchases? Here is an option for you: the SimplyCash^® Card from American Express.

With this no-annual-fee credit card, you earn:

2% cash back on gas purchases
2% cash back on grocery purchases
1.25% cash back on all other purchases

And with this welcome offer, you can earn 5% cash back on all your purchases (up to $2,000 in purchases) during the first 3 months (which is up to $100 in statement credits).

You benefit from several types of insurance : $100,000 travel accident, Purchase Protection, Purchase Security.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Bottom Line

The SimplyCash^® Preferred Card from American Express is one of the best cash back credit cards in Canada. This Card is mainly intended for those who do not wish to multiply the credit cards in their wallet or have many purchases that don’t fit in spending categories of other cards.

It is also a perfect Card for those who do not have the minimum income required by other cards. Actually, there is no minimum income required to apply for this card.

Now is the best time to get the SimplyCash^® Preferred Card from American Express with this welcome bonus. Would you like to get it? Apply for this Card via the American Express website.

If you prefer the no-annual-fee version, the SimplyCash^® Card from American Express, here’s the page to apply on the American Express Canada site.

Frequently Asked Questions about the American Express SimplyCash Cards

Here are frequently asked questions in the milesopedia community about this card.

What is the difference between the SimplyCash Card and the SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express?

The two cards target different cash back priorities. The SimplyCash Card from American Express has no annual fee and earns 2% on groceries and gas plus 1.25% on everything else, with a welcome bonus of up to $100. The SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express charges an annual fee of $99.99 but earns 4% on groceries and gas and 2% on every other purchase — making it the only Canadian card with a flat 2% rate on all spending. The Preferred is the better fit for households spending more than $20,000 a year on the card.

How do I qualify for the full $250 welcome bonus on the SimplyCash Preferred?

The advertised $250 welcome bonus is split into two parts. You earn 10% cash back on the first $2,000 in eligible purchases during the first three months (worth up to $200), then receive an automatic $50 statement credit at month 13 if your account is still in good standing. To capture the full amount, plan to put at least $2,000 of household spending on the card within 90 days of approval — for most families, that means routing groceries, gas and recurring bills to it from day one. The bonus is reserved for new SimplyCash Preferred cardholders only.

Are the SimplyCash cards accepted at Costco in Canada?

No. Costco Canada only accepts Mastercard at the till, so neither the SimplyCash Card nor the SimplyCash Preferred can be used at Costco warehouses or gas bars. If most of your grocery and gas spend goes through Costco, a Mastercard like the CIBC Costco Mastercard or the Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard will be a better main card. American Express cards including SimplyCash work fine at Costco.ca for online orders, however, where Amex is accepted.

Is there a minimum income to apply for the SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express?

No, American Express does not publish a minimum personal or household income requirement for the SimplyCash Preferred. Approval is based on your overall credit profile — credit score, existing debt and payment history — rather than a hard income floor. That said, you should still expect a fair to good credit score (around 700+) and stable income to get approved given the card’s $99.99 annual fee. Self-employed earners and households below the $80,000 mark that are usually shut out of World Elite cards often use the Preferred as their main 2% cash back card.

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!

Jean-Maximilien Voisine

Jean-Maximilien Voisine is the President and Founder of Milesopedia and a leading expert in rewards programs, credit cards, and travel across Canada, France, and the U.S.A. Now 40 years old and a father of two, he has explored more than 100 countries—many of them alongside his wife Audrey and their children. Specializing in loyalty programs such as Aeroplan, Flying Blue, American Express Membership Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy, Jean-Maximilien helps travellers unlock the full potential of their points and benefits. His mission: empower others to travel better and smarter across North America and Europe.

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Frequently Asked Questions about the American Express SimplyCash Cards

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