Head-to-Head: Rogers Mastercard vs. SimplyCash Card from American Express

In this edition of Head-to-Head, let’s compare two cash back credit cards with no annual fees: the SimplyCash Card from American Express and the Rogers Mastercard.

Both of these no-fee cash back cards offer cardholders the opportunity to earn cash back on their everyday spending, with higher earning rates in a few select categories. In this article, we’ll compare how the two cards stack up against each other in key areas, including the earning rates and the perks and benefits on offer.

Card Basics

We’ll start by looking at some of the most important factors used to choose a new credit card: welcome bonuses, annual fees, and earning rates.

Welcome Bonus

The Rogers Mastercard offers new cardholders 10% cash back for the first three months of card membership on up to $1,000 (all figures in CAD) spent, for a total cash back value of up to $100.

Comparatively, the SimplyCash Card from American Express provides a welcome bonus of $10 cash back in each of the first 10 months in which you spend $300 or more, allowing for a total return of up to $100 if you meet the spend requirement.

Verdict: Both cards are essentially offering an opportunity for $100 in return, but we’re giving this category to Rogers since their offer can be earned within three months and for a spend of only $1,000 versus Amex’s requirement to spend at least $3,000 spread over 10 months.

Annual Fee

Neither of the cards charge an annual fee, so this one’s pretty straightforward.

Verdict: This category is clearly a tie.

Earning Rates

Now, let’s take a look at the earning rates offered by each of these cash-back credit cards to see which one comes out on top.

The Rogers Mastercard offers the following earning rates:

• 2% cash back on all US dollar purchases
• 2% cash back if you’re an eligible Rogers, Shaw, or Fido customer
• 1% cash back if you’re not a Rogers, Shaw, or Fido customer

As we can see, the Rogers Mastercard offers a higher earning rate to cardholders who also have at least one qualified service with Rogers, Shaw, or Fido.

As a further incentive for eligible customer, the Rogers Mastercard also offers 1.5x the value for your accumulated cash back if you redeem it against your Rogers, Shaw, or Fido bill.

For example,…