Amex SimplyCash
Skip for nowWhat the roles mean
- No-fee cash back: 2% on gas and groceries (first $15,000 a year combined), 1.25% on everything else
Earn 5% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in purchases = up to $100).
Checked on Amex's own page October 21, 2026. See Amex's page
What it earns in a year
$470 back a year
No annual fee to take off.
Based on $30,000 a year of spending ($9,600 groceries, $3,000 gas, $3,000 dining…). Welcome offer not included.
Try it with your own spending →
- Groceries (First $15,000 a year, shared with gas): 2% back.
- Gas / EV (First $15,000 a year, shared with groceries): 2% back.
- Everything else: 1.25% back.
Highlighted = use this card here.
How to apply for the Amex SimplyCash
Check first
- Bonus once per lifetime: you can't get it if you've ever had this card
- Check you qualify No minimum income listed. You need to live in Canada and be the age of majority in your province.
- Have this ready Your address and how long you've lived there, your employer and yearly income, and your monthly rent or mortgage. Your SIN is optional for a credit card; you can leave it blank.
- Expect a credit check Applying adds a hard inquiry to your credit report, which lowers your score a little for a few months. Space applications about 90 days apart.
- Apply on Amex's own site Apply online from the bank's product page, where the offer above is shown. This isn't an affiliate link: we earn nothing if you apply.Apply on Amex's site →
- After you're approved Put the spending needed for the welcome offer on the card before the deadline, and pay the full balance every month.
How to use it
- Groceries and gas: stand-alone grocery stores and gas stations only. Superstores, Costco and liquor stores earn 1.25%
- Everything else: 1.25%, no cap
- Where Amex isn't taken: Costco and many Loblaw-banner grocers (Superstore, No Frills); carry a Visa or Mastercard
- Cash back: paid once a year, on your September statement
- Example: $800/month groceries + $250 gas + $550 of other spending = $334 a year back
Posts about this card
Key facts
- Annual fee
- $0
- Purchase interest
- 21.99%
- Foreign currency fee
- 2.5%
- Min. personal income
- None published
- Min. household income
- None published
- Rewards
- Cash back
Annual fee waiver
- No annual fee
From americanexpress.com product page, checked October 17, 2026. Not an affiliate link.
More Amex cards
Neo World Elite Mastercard
- This card: dining & restaurants, travel, transit, drugstore / pharmacy, entertainment, everything else
- Neo World Elite Mastercard: groceries, gas / ev, bills & subscriptions
- Together: $738 a year after both fees, vs $470 with this card alone
Computed on our standard household ($30,000 a year): each kind of spending goes to whichever card pays more, both fees taken off. Partners are everyday, category and churning cards on Visa or Mastercard. Points at their simplest redemption. Welcome offers not included.
Pros
- No annual fee, and free additional cards
- 2% on gas and groceries, up to $15,000 of combined spending a year
- 1.25% on everything else, no cap
- Year one: 5% back on the first $2,000 in 3 months (up to $100)
- No published minimum income
Cons
- Amex: not accepted at Costco (Mastercard only) or many Loblaw-banner grocers, which cuts into the 2% on groceries
- Cash back is paid only once a year, in September
- 2% stops after $15,000 of gas + groceries a year
- Superstores and wholesale clubs earn only 1.25%
- No travel insurance
- 2.5% on foreign-currency purchases
- No welcome offer if you have held this card before
Insurance included
- Travel accident: $100,000, fare charged to the card
- Purchases: 90 days of theft/damage cover (up to $1,000), +1 year warranty
- Travel medical, trip and rental car: none
Maximums as Amex lists them. Conditions apply; the insurance certificate decides claims.
Perks
- Amex Offers: targeted statement credits, added in the Amex app
- Front Of The Line: concert and event presales
- Plan It: split purchases of $100+ into monthly instalments for a flat fee
Other cards for groceries
Back a year on $9,600 of groceries, caps included. Points at best-case value. Before annual fees.
| Card | Earns on groceries | Back a year | Annual fee | Terms checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Cobalt | 5× points≈ 10.0% in value | $960 | $192 | October 21, 2026 |
| Scotiabank Gold Amex | 6× points | $576 | $120 | November 2, 2026 |
| Neo World Elite Mastercard | 5% back | $480 | $149 | October 21, 2026 |
| National Bank World Elite Mastercard | 5× points | $480 | $150 | October 21, 2026 |
| Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard | 4% back | $384 | $100 | October 23, 2026 |
| SimplyCash Preferred | 4% back | $384 | $120 | October 21, 2026 |
| Amex SimplyCash | 2% back | $192 | $0 | October 21, 2026 |
Other cards for gas / ev
Back a year on $3,000 of gas / ev, caps included. Points at best-case value. Before annual fees.
| Card | Earns on gas / ev | Back a year | Annual fee | Terms checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SimplyCash Preferred | 4% back | $120 | $120 | October 21, 2026 |
| Amex Cobalt | 2× points≈ 4.0% in value | $120 | $192 | October 21, 2026 |
| Amex Gold Rewards | 2× points≈ 4.0% in value | $120 | $250 | October 21, 2026 |
| CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege | 2× points≈ 4.0% in value | $120 | $499 | October 21, 2026 |
| CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite | 4% back≈ 3.9% in value | $118 | $120 | October 21, 2026 |
| BMO eclipse Visa Infinite | 5× points≈ 3.4% in value | $101 | $120 | October 21, 2026 |
| Amex SimplyCash | 2% back | $60 | $0 | October 21, 2026 |
How the offer has changed
One row per check of Amex's page, newest first. Old rows are never edited.
| Checked | Welcome offer | Fee, year one | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 21, 2026 | Unchanged: bonus 5% cash back on all purchases in the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in purchases = up to $100); current or former Cardmembers with this Card not eligiblePage text identical to October 17, 2026 | $0 (no annual fee) | none stated |
| October 17, 2026 | Unchanged: bonus 5% cash back on all purchases in the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in purchases = up to $100); current or former Cardmembers with this Card not eligibleFirst row in this table. Footnote confirms the 2% gas + grocery tier shares one $15,000/yr purchase cap ($300) | $0 (no annual fee) | none stated |
General information, not financial advice. Offers change; confirm on Amex's page before you apply.