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American Express Credit Cards in Canada: Fees, Rates and Rewards

Updated

American Express’s cards in Canada include Membership Rewards cards such as the American Express Cobalt Card and the Platinum Card, the SimplyCash Card and SimplyCash Preferred Card, the Aeroplan Card and Aeroplan Reserve Card, and the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card.

What does each American Express card cost and earn?

American Express Canada's cards, from our verified records
CardAnnual feeEarn rateMinimum incomePurchase rateForeign transaction fee
SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express$9.99/mo4% cash back on gas and groceries in Canada (groceries capped at $30,000 of purchases a year), 2% on everything elseNone stated21.99%Not stated by American Express
American Express Cobalt Card$15.99/mo5 Membership Rewards points per $1 on dining, groceries and food delivery (first $2,500 a month combined), 3 on streaming, 2 on gas and transit, 1 on everything elseNone stated21.99%2.5%
SimplyCash Card from American Express$02% cash back on gas and on groceries (groceries capped at $15,000 of purchases a year), 1.25% on everything elseNone stated21.99%Not stated by American Express
American Express Aeroplan Card$1202 Aeroplan points per $1 on Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations, 1.5 on dining and food delivery in Canada and at Hyatt, 1 on everything elseNone stated30% on balances not paid in full (charge card)Not stated by American Express
American Express Green Card$01 Membership Rewards point per $1 on everything, 2 on hotel and car rental bookings through American Express Travel OnlineNone stated21.99%Not stated by American Express
American Express Gold Rewards Card$2502 Membership Rewards points per $1 on gas, groceries and drugstores in Canada and on travel (3 on hotels and car rentals booked through American Express Travel Online), 1 on everything elseNone stated21.99%Not stated by American Express
American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card$5993 Aeroplan points per $1 at Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations, 2 on dining and food delivery in Canada and at Hyatt, 1.25 on everything else (no cap)None stated21.99%Not stated by American Express
The Platinum Card from American Express$7992 Membership Rewards points per $1 on dining and food delivery in Canada and on travel, 3 on hotel and car rental bookings through Amex Travel Online, 1 on everything elseNone stated21.99% (Flexible Payment Option balance; Due in Full balance paid monthly)2.5%
Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card$1205 Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 2 on everything elseNone stated21.99%Not stated by American Express

Each card’s fact sheet, linked from its name, has the full terms we checked. Amex has announced higher annual fees from January 12, 2027 for the Aeroplan Card and the Aeroplan Reserve Card. Amex has also announced a new annual fee for the Marriott Bonvoy card when it is charged on or after February 9, 2027. The fee column switches on each date.

Which American Express cards are charge cards?

The Platinum Card and the American Express Aeroplan Card are charge cards with no preset spending limit, and on the Aeroplan Card the balance must be paid in full each month. Amex lists the Cobalt, Gold Rewards, Green, SimplyCash Preferred and Aeroplan Reserve cards as credit cards.

How do the American Express card families differ?

  • Membership Rewards cards earn Membership Rewards points, which Amex calls “a flexible rewards currency” (see our Membership Rewards hub).
  • SimplyCash cards pay their cash back once a year, on the September statement.
  • Aeroplan cards carry Aeroplan in their names (see our Aeroplan hub).
  • The Marriott Bonvoy card earns Marriott Bonvoy points, including on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels (see our Marriott Bonvoy hub).

Where is American Express not accepted?

Costco Canada’s warehouses take Mastercard, debit, cash and the Costco Shop Card, and American Express is not on that list.

Which American Express card suits your spending?

Enter your monthly card spending to rank American Express's cards by dollars back a year after fees.

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Filters

Ranked by dollars back a year after fees, for your spending. Welcome offers, benefits and promoted cards never change the order.

  1. 1

    SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express

    $882a year after fees
    • $1,001 cash back a year
    • Fees $120
    • 2.57% back on spending

    Welcome offer10% bonus cash back on up to $2,000 of purchases in the first 3 months (up to $200), plus a $50 statement credit for a purchase in month 13.No end date stated · checked Nov 11, 2026. Not part of the ranking; confirm on the issuer’s site.

    • Travel medical
    • Flight delay
    • Baggage
    • Baggage
    • Hotel burglary
    • Rental car
    • +4 more

    Facts checked Nov 11, 2026 · Card details

  2. 2

    American Express Cobalt Card

    $726a year after fees
    • 91,804 points a year at 1¢ (any travel or portal)
    • Fees $192
    • 2.36% back on spending

    Welcome offerUp to 15,000 Membership Rewards points in the first year (1,250 points for each monthly billing period with $750 in net purchases).No end date stated · checked Nov 11, 2026. Not part of the ranking; confirm on the issuer’s site.

    • Travel medical
    • Flight delay
    • Baggage
    • Baggage
    • Hotel burglary
    • Rental car
    • +4 more

    Facts checked Nov 11, 2026 · Card details

  3. 3

    SimplyCash Card from American Express

    $570a year after fees
    • $570 cash back a year
    • Fees $0
    • 1.46% back on spending

    Welcome offerBonus 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in purchases in the first 3 months (up to $100), on top of the regular rates.No end date stated · checked Nov 11, 2026. Not part of the ranking; confirm on the issuer’s site.

    • Extended warranty
    • Purchase protection

    Facts checked Nov 11, 2026 · Card details

  4. 4

    American Express Aeroplan Card

    $492a year after fees
    • 40,812 points a year at 1.50¢ (any travel or portal)
    • Fees $120
    • 1.57% back on spending

    Welcome offerUp to 45,000 Aeroplan points.No end date stated · checked Nov 11, 2026. Not part of the ranking; confirm on the issuer’s site.

    • Flight delay
    • Baggage
    • Baggage
    • Hotel burglary
    • Rental car
    • Extended warranty
    • +3 more

    Facts checked Nov 11, 2026 · Card details

  5. 5

    American Express Green Card

    $389a year after fees
    • 38,935 points a year at 1¢ (any travel or portal)
    • Fees $0
    • 1.00% back on spending

    Welcome offer10,000 Membership Rewards points.No end date stated · checked Nov 11, 2026. Not part of the ranking; confirm on the issuer’s site.

    • Extended warranty
    • Purchase protection

    Facts checked Nov 11, 2026 · Card details

  6. 6

    American Express Gold Rewards Card

    $295a year after fees
    • 54,485 points a year at 1¢ (any travel or portal)
    • Fees $250
    • 1.40% back on spending

    Welcome offerUp to 60,000 Membership Rewards points.No end date stated · checked Nov 11, 2026. Not part of the ranking; confirm on the issuer’s site.

    • Travel medical
    • Trip cancellation
    • Trip interruption
    • Flight delay
    • Baggage
    • Baggage
    • +7 more

    Facts checked Nov 11, 2026 · Card details

  7. 7

    American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card

    $173a year after fees
    • 51,484 points a year at 1.50¢ (any travel or portal)
    • Fees $599
    • 1.98% back on spending

    Welcome offerUp to 85,000 Aeroplan points.No end date stated · checked Nov 11, 2026. Not part of the ranking; confirm on the issuer’s site.

    • Travel medical
    • Trip cancellation
    • Trip interruption
    • Flight delay
    • Baggage
    • Baggage
    • +10 more

    Facts checked Nov 11, 2026 · Card details

  8. 8

    The Platinum Card from American Express

    -$340a year after fees
    • 45,946 points a year at 1¢ (any travel or portal)
    • Fees $799
    • 1.18% back on spending

    Welcome offerUp to 100,000 Membership Rewards points.No end date stated · checked Nov 11, 2026. Not part of the ranking; confirm on the issuer’s site.

    • Travel medical
    • Trip cancellation
    • Trip interruption
    • Flight delay
    • Baggage
    • Baggage
    • +18 more

    Facts checked Nov 11, 2026 · Card details

  9. Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card

    77,870 points a year

    We don’t have a verified value for Marriott Bonvoy points yet, so this card isn’t ranked.

    Welcome offerUp to 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.No end date stated · checked Nov 11, 2026. Not part of the ranking; confirm on the issuer’s site.

    • Status boost
    • Status boost
    • Status boost
    • Flight delay
    • Baggage
    • Baggage
    • +4 more

    Facts checked Nov 11, 2026 · Card details

The calculator counts Aeroplan points at CardNorth’s estimate of 1.5 cents each, which you can change.

How do American Express cardholders sign in?

American Express Canada’s credit cards page links to its customer service login and its app. Cardmembers can add cards to the account for other people and earn rewards on their spending.

Compare American Express's cards with all 162 cards we've checked, from 24 banks, in the card finder

Sources

The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them on November 11, 2026. About CardNorth.