The Best American Express Credit Cards in Canada for 2023

In the market for a new credit card? Have you considered an American Express card in Canada? There are a number of American Express options to choose from with all kinds of options including lifestyle cards, cash back cards, travel cards and more. Plus, with affordable annual fees and an array of benefits, American Express credit cards are some of the best options out there for Canadians. Ready to find the best credit card for your needs? Here are our top picks for the best American Express credit cards in Canada.

Overview of the Best American Express Cards in Canada 2023

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card: Best For Groceries and Dining Out

Earn up to $650* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points¹. Earn 20,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, for a limited time, you are eligible to earn a 20,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $7,500 in everyday eligible purchases in your first year. Offer ends October 31, 2023.

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If you are looking for an American Express card that rewards food and dining out spending, then look no further than the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card. Earn 6X Scene+ points on every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on all eligible purchases¹ at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op. Earn 5X the Scene+ points for every $1 CAD spent on other eligible grocery stores, restaurants, fast food, and drinking establishments (including food delivery and food subscription services), as well as on eligible entertainment purchases (movies, theatre, and ticket agencies). Plus, you’ll get 3X the Scene+ points for every $1 CAD spent on eligible gas, daily transit, and eligible select streaming purchases, and 1X Scene+ point per $1 spent on every other purchase. Additional cardholder perks include no foreign transaction fees, a discount on the Priority Pass lounge membership, and 8 types of insurance coverage.

Also enticing is the welcome offer: Earn up to $650* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points¹. Offer ends October 31, 2023.

Book and redeem points for flights anytime, or simply apply the Scene+ points to your credit card statement to offset the costs. Not sure you want to use your points for travel? You can also use your Scene+ points toward merchandise.

The Details:

• Annual Fee: $120
• Credit Score Required: Excellent
• Welcome Bonus: Earn up to $650* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points¹. Offer ends October 31, 2023.
• Additional Perks: No foreign transaction fees, comprehensive travel insurance, Amex Front of the Line® access
• Purchase APR: 20.99% | Cash Advance APR: 22.99%

¹ Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card to learn more.

American Express Cobalt® Card: Best For Everyday Spending

In your first year as a new Cobalt® Cardmember, you can earn 2,500 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $500 in purchases on your Card. This could add up to 30,000 points in a year. That’s up to $300 towards a weekend getaway or concert tickets. Terms and conditions apply.

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For a credit card that rewards your lifestyle, take a look at the American Express Cobalt® Card. Get 5 points per $1 spent on eligible food and drink in Canada, including groceries and food delivery, 3 points per $1 spent on streaming services, 2 points per $1 on spent gas and transit like buses or taxicabs, 1 point per $1 spent on everything else, and 1 additional Membership Rewards® point for every $1 spent as a charge on your Express Cobalt® Card on any eligible hotel or any car rental bookings made through American Express Travel.

Another perk: Earn up to 30,000 Membership Rewards® points in the first year (conditions apply). Points can be redeemed for travel, concerts and events, gift cards, merchandise, and more. Additional perks with this credit card include entertainment access, travel and shopping coverage, and access to special benefits at The Hotel Collection from American Express®.

The Details:

• Annual Fee: $155.88 ($12.99 monthly fee)
• Minimum Income Eligibility: N/A
• Credit Score Required: Fair;Good
• Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 30,000 Membership Rewards® points in the first year (conditions apply)
• Additional Perks: Insurance, exclusive entertainment access, access to VIP benefits at the Hotel Collection from American Express®
• Purchase APR: 20.99% | Cash Advance APR: 21.99%

SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express: Best For Cash Back

In your first 10 months as a new SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express Cardmember, you can earn a $40 statement credit for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in purchases on your Card. This could add up to $400 in statement credits in the first 10 months. Terms and conditions apply.

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If you’re chasing one of the best cash back credit cards by American Express, then you’ll want the SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express. In your first 10 months as a new SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express Cardmember, you can earn a $40 statement credit for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in purchases on your Card. This could add up to $400 in statement credits in the first 10 months. Terms and conditions apply.

Earn 4% cash back on eligible gas station purchases in Canada, 4% cash back on eligible grocery store purchases in Canada (up to $1,200 cash back annually) and 2% cash back on all other purchases. Additional perks include travel insurance, shopping coverage (e.g. purchase protection) and access to events and special offers curated for Cardmembers with American Express® Experiences.

The Details:

• Annual Fee: $9.99/month (Equals a total fee of $119.88 annually)
• Minimum Income Eligibility: N/A
• Credit Score Required: Good;Excellent
• Welcome Offer: In your first 10 months as a new SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express Cardmember, you can earn a $40 statement credit for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in purchases on your Card. This could add up to $400 in statement credits in the first 10 months. Terms and conditions apply.
• Additional Perks: Travel insurance, shopping coverage, exclusive entertainment access
• Purchase APR: 20.99% | Cash Advance APR: 21.99%

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for Business Travellers

Business travellers should take note of the Business Platinum Card® from American Express for three exciting reasons. First, you’ll earn points that you can put towards personal or professional spending. The current enrollment offer provides a strong incentive to try this card. and hundreds of other domestic and international lounges designed to enhance your travel experience. Earn a welcome bonus of 90,000 Membership Rewards® points when you spend $10,000 in purchases within the first three months of Cardmembership. That’s $900 in statement credits that can be reinvested in your business. Conditions apply.

After the introductory period, the card still offers a strong earn rate for everyday spending. Earn 1.25 Membership Rewards points for virtually every $1 in purchases and get the most out of your business expenses. So let’s say you have $15,000 in annual business card purchases. That would fetch you 18,750 points – valued at up to $187.50. Combined with the welcome bonus, you can easily cancel out the annual fee.

You can redeem points for flights or transfer ‘em to other frequent flyer programs such as Aeroplan®* and Avios. Or apply those points against your credit card balance or spend them at retailers, such as Amazon.ca. It’s a very flexible program.

Second, this card offers perks for business travellers, such as free membership to The American Express Global Lounge Collection™ – which gives unlimited access To over 1300 airport lounges worldwide. This includes The Centurion® Lounge network, Plaza Premium Lounges, and hundreds of other domestic and international lounges designed to enhance your travel experience. You can also count on getting an impressive package of other travel benefits, such as travel insurance, rental car insurance, and hotel perks.

And third, cardholders have up to 55-interest free days to pay off their balance – which allows the business cash flow to continue even when times are tough. A suite of business management tools to make it easier to control your business cash flow. For instance, you’ll get access to paperless expense management reports that are delivered quarterly and annually. And, there’s a Flexible Payment Option that allows you to pay for your business expenses over time.

All this sounds great, but is it worth the $499 annual fee? Absolutely! When you factor in the points-earning potential, a suite of insurance, business tools, and airline lounge membership, it’s a steal.

The Details:

• Annual Fee: $499
• Income Eligibility: N/A
• Credit Score Required: N/A
• Welcome Offer: Earn 90,000 welcome bonus Membership Rewards® points. Conditions apply.
• Additional Benefits: Incredible array of travel benefits, such as insurance, airport lounge access and rental car and hotel perks
• Interest on Purchases: This charge card has both Due in Full and Flexible Payment Option balances. All Due in Full balances must be paid each month. Interest rate of 30% applies to each delinquent Due in Full charge. This rate is effective from the day account is opened. Interest rate of 20.99% applies to your Flexible Payment Option balance. This rate is effective from the day the Flexible Payment Option is first available on your account.

The American Express® Business Edge™ Card: Best for Business Expenses

While the Business Platinum Card® from American Express certainly has allure, if you don’t travel much for work or pleasure, it may not be your bag. But there is another option: The American Express® Business Edge™ Card.

This card has a more affordable annual fee of $99, yet still manages to pack in the perks. For one, the points-earning potential is impressive: Earn 3x the points for Card purchases on eligible business essentials including office supplies & electronics, rides & gas, eats & drinks when your Welcome Offer ends. Caps and other conditions may apply. Earn 1x the points on all other purchases charged to the Card. Use points to offset business expenses. Membership Rewards® allows you to offset business expenses by covering the cost of purchases made on your Card, in full or in part. Redeem points for statement credits and to book flights, hotels, and car rentals. You can also transfer points to frequent flyer and hotel programs, including one-to-one to Aeroplan®* and Avios.

Additionally, The card offers a great welcome bonus. Earn up to 67,000 welcome bonus Membership Rewards® points. Terms and conditions apply. That means you can pocket a whopping $670 in statement credits in the first year that can be reinvested in your business.

Other benefits include Car Rental Theft & Damage Insurance, the Purchase Protection® Plan, extended warranty through the Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan, free supplementary cards with Employee Card Misuse Protection, as well as a suite of free business management tools.

The Details:

• Annual Fee: $99
• Income Eligibility: N/A
• Credit Score Required: N/A
• Welcome Offer: Earn up to 67,000 welcome bonus Membership Rewards® points. That’s $670 in statement credits that can be reinvested in your business. Terms and conditions apply.
• Additional Benefits: Rewards on all spending, rental car insurance, free employee cards
• Interest on Purchases: 20.99% | Interest on Cash Advances: 21.99%

The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card: Best for Aeroplan Collectors

New American Express® Aeroplan®* Cardmembers can earn up to 50,000 Aeroplan points. Conditions apply.

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If you’re looking for an American Express card that earns you excellent travel rewards, consider the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card. The advantage of this charge card is that you rack up Aeroplan points with every purchase, and you get travel perks simply for being a cardholder, such as a free checked bag (for yourself and up to nine companions), and a suite of useful travel insurance.

First, let’s talk about the standard earn rates. Earn 2X the points on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada®* and Air Canada vacations®*, 1.5X the points on eligible Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada, and 1X the points on everything else.

All these points go to earning you travel rewards through the newly overhauled Aeroplan system. New Cardmembers get a big head start on earning those rewards with the current welcome offer.

New American Express® Aeroplan®* Cardmembers can earn up to 50,000 Aeroplan points:

• Earn 35,000 Aeroplan points after spending $3,000 in net purchases on your Card within the first 6 months of Cardmembership
• Plus, earn 2,500 Aeroplan points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $500 in purchases on your Card for the first 6 months of Cardmembership. That could add up to 15,000 Aeroplan points
• New Cardmembers: Earn up to $1,100 in value within your first year. Spend applies to bonus point offers valued at up to $1,000
• Conditions apply

The Details:

• Annual Fee: $120
• Minimum Income Eligibility Requirement: N/A
• Credit Score Required: Good;Excellent
• Welcome Offer: New American Express® Aeroplan®* Cardmembers can earn up to 50,000 Aeroplan points. Conditions apply.
• Additional Benefits: Comprehensive insurance, Air Canada travel benefits, and access to exclusive American Express benefits
• Interest on Purchases: N/A | Interest on Cash Advances: N/A

Comparing the Best American Express Cards in Canada 2023

What is the Best AMEX Card in Canada?

SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express: Best Overall

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Based on our research, the SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express is the best AMEX card in Canada. Other American Express cards offer great rewards and perks, but when it comes down to it, cash is king.

In your first 10 months as a new SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express Cardmember, you can earn a $40 statement credit for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in purchases on your Card. This could add up to $400 in statement credits in the first 10 months. Terms and conditions apply.

Earn 4% cash back on eligible gas station purchases in Canada, 4% cash back on eligible grocery store purchases in Canada (up to $1,200 cash back annually) and 2% cash back on all other purchases. That certainly rivals the rates offered by many of the best cash back credit cards in Canada. Plus, there’s no limit to how much cash back you can earn.

The annual fee of $9.99/month (Equals a total fee of $119.88 annually) is also affordable and completely justified, given that this card comes with travel insurance, shopping coverage (including purchase protection), and access to events and special offers curated for Cardmembers with American Express® Experiences. All things considered, the SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express is our top pick for the best AMEX card in Canada.

The Last Word

There are some great options when it comes to American Express cards in Canada. From travel cards to cash back cards, our top picks for the best American Express cards in Canada have some amazing perks and benefits. However, if these cards don’t work for you and your needs then take a look at the best Visa credit cards in Canada and our recommendations for the best credit cards in Canada. You’re bound to find something that suits your needs.

This post was not sponsored. The views and opinions expressed in this review are purely my own.

American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information click the Apply now link. Conditions apply.