For earning high, flat rate cash back rewards, there are 2 great sets of cards to consider:
In one corner, you've got Amex's lineup of 2 SimplyCash cards.
And in the other, Brim Financial Mastercards, and their array of 2 credit cards.
But which ones are better? Are there times when some are better than others?
Let's review these cards side-by-side and see how they compare.
Want the full details of these cards? You can find them for the SimplyCash cards here.
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At a glance: Amex SimplyCash cards and Brim Financial Mastercards
Before getting into the card details, here's a high level overview of what they have to offer.
| Category | American Express | Brim Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Instant Approval | Yes | No |
| Base Rewards | Up to 2% cash back | Up to 1% cash back |
| Rewards payout | Once per year, in September | On demand, as long as you have $1 worth of rewards built up |
| Benefits And Perks | * Amex Offers * Amex Invites | * Brim eStore and inCard offers * 1.5% foreign exchange fee |
| Insurance coverage | Up to 10 types | Up to 12 types |
| Acceptance | Can find limited acceptance at some merchants | Accepted everywhere |
Amex Simplycash vs. Brim Mastercard
Let's start by comparing their 2 no annual fee credit cards – the
| Amex SimplyCash | Brim Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Earn rate | 1.25% | 0.5% |
| Welcome Bonus | 5% cash back for the first 3 months (terms) | None |
| Other features | Amex Invites and Amex Offers | * Brim eStore and inCard offers for bonus rewards * 1.5% foreign exchange fee |
| Rewards payout | Once per year in September | On demand, as long as you have $1 worth of rewards built up |
| Apply Now | Apply Now | Apply Now |
Brim Mastercard summary
Let's start with the
On your purchases, you'll earn 0.5% back on every purchase. And, you can redeem your rewards on demand, as long as you have $1 worth of rewards built up.
You also have the chance to earn bonus rewards on purchases at over 150 participating online retailers. Use the Brim eStore or inCard offers, and you can earn up to 40% back in rewards, depending on the retailer.
It also includes 5 types of insurance, including rare mobile device and event ticket cancellation.
Brim Mastercard
| Extended Warranty | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days |
| Mobile Device | $500 |
| Travel Accident | $300,000 |
Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.
Amex SimplyCash summary
Now for the
This card will earn you 1.25% cash back on every purchase made.
However, you can also earn 2% cash back on groceries and gas.
And even though it has no annual fee, it still has access to the usual Amex benefits, like Amex Offers, for extra savings at select merchants, and Amex Invites and Front Of The Line for access to advance ticket sales.
It also has every basic insurance, including 3 types of coverage. Just note that you will need good credit to be approved.
SimplyCash® Card from American Express
| Extended Warranty | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days |
| Travel Accident | $100,000 |
Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.
Where the Brim Mastercard is better
So where is the
For the frequent online shopper, you've got access to over 150 merchants where you could earn plenty of bonus rewards.
And if you also shop frequently in foreign currencies, you'll also save an additional 1% as this card has no foreign transactions fees.
Even though Amex acceptance is better than you think, they're not accepted at Loblaws or Costco. In fact, Costco only takes Mastercard, so the Brim Mastercard has Amex beat there.
Where the Amex SimplyCash is better
The
For every $1,000 you spend, you'll earn an additional $7.50 over the Brim Mastercard. And while that may not seem like much, it will add up over time. Plus you can earn even more on gas and groceries.
If you don't shop online all that much, or you don't make purchases in foreign currency, this is the better choice for you.
Can't decide between the 2? Why not build a cash back combo?
Want the Brim bonus rates and no fx fees, while also enjoying the higher earn rate of the Amex card?
Consider pairing them together in your wallet. You'll get the best of both worlds – use the Amex SimplyCash card for the 1.25% earn rate, and the Brim Mastercard for the online bonuses, no lower foreign exchange fee and wherever Amex isn't accepted.
It's a match made in heaven.
Related: Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards In Canada
Amex SimplyCash Preferred vs. Brim World Elite Mastercards
Now let's look at their premium cards.
Amex has the
| Amex SimplyCash Preferred | Brim World Elite Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Earn Rate | 2% | 2% on the first $25,000 in annual purchases, 1% afterwards |
| Welcome Bonus | 10% cash back for the first 3 months + $50 (terms) | None |
| Other features | Amex Offers and Amex Invites | * Brim eStore and inCard offers for bonus rewards * No foreign exchange fees |
| Annual Fee | $119.88 | $89 |
| Apply Now | Apply Now | Apply Now |
American Express SimplyCash Preferred summary
Let's start with the Amex card this time – the
You'll earn 2% cash back on every purchase you make, with the added bonus of earning 4% cash back on gas and groceries.
Like its no fee counterpart, you'll be able to access the basic Amex benefits of Amex Offers and Amex Invites.
And, it comes with 9 types of purchase and travel protection:
SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express
| Extended Warranty | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days |
| Mobile Device | $1,000 |
| Travel Accident | $100,000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 15 days |
| Flight Delay | $500 |
| Baggage Delay | $500 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $500 |
| Hotel Burglary | $500 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes |
Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.
Brim Financial World Elite summary
Finally, we have the
For earn rates, you'll earn 1% back on all your purchases.
And it comes with a whopping 12 types of insurance, more than any other credit card:
Brim World Elite Mastercard
| Extended Warranty | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days |
| Mobile Device | $1,500 |
| Travel Accident | $500,000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 15 days |
| Emergency Medical over 65 | 3 days |
| Trip Cancellation | $2,000 |
| Trip Interruption | $5,000 |
| Flight Delay | $500 |
| Baggage Delay | $500 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $1,000 |
| Hotel Burglary | $2,500 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes |
Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.
One point to note? It has a high annual fee of $89.
Where the Amex SimplyCash is better
Among these cards, it has the highest earn rate on all purchases, and even more on gas and groceries. No matter how much you spend, you'll be earning 2% cash back.
Where the Brim World Mastercards are better
So where does that leave the Brim cards? There are still plenty of situations where they are better.
For the frequent online shopper, the Brim eStore offers plenty of opportunities to earn more than just the card's base earn rate.
And while Amex acceptance can be overblown (you can see where Amex cards are accepted here), for the Loblaws or Costco shopper, an Amex card won't be of much use to you. However, either of these Brim cards will let you keep rolling up the rewards.
And finally, the insurance coverages are also better. On top of the superior number of coverages, both Brim cards offer rare mobile device coverage, and even rarer event ticket cancellation.
In summary
In short, there's really no bad choice among these cards.
With the Amex cards, you'll see higher earn rates on your purchases.
With the Brim cards, you'll get more features, and the ability to earn even more cash back when shopping at select retailers.
Which card has the edge?
Let us know in the comments below.
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