American Express · American Express · Cash back
Reviewed 2026-07-06 · By The Points Standard editorial team
American Express SimplyCash Card
The free, simplified sibling of the SimplyCash Preferred. Fine as a background card; the paid version is the one worth actively using.
Standard Score breakdown — Situational
Six weighted components, each rated 0–10. "Contributes" is the rating × weight — add all six and you get the 5.50/10 Standard Score above.
See how the Standard Score works or re-weight it to your priorities.
The numbers
| Annual fee | None |
| Welcome bonus | 5% cash back for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 spend) |
| Est. bonus value | ≈ $100 |
| First-year net value | ≈ $180 |
Earn rates
| All purchases | 1.25% |
Why it earns its score
- No annual fee with a flat 1.25% rate — no categories, no caps
- Automatic cash back, no redemption steps
- Includes mobile device insurance, unusual for a free card
Where it loses points
- Amex acceptance gaps on a card meant for everyday spend
- 1.25% is below the SimplyCash Preferred's rates for a household with real category spend
Who it's for
People who want the simplest possible free Amex — one flat rate, zero tracking.
Who should skip it
You spend heavily on gas and groceries — the paid SimplyCash Preferred's 4% categories outearn this quickly.
Included insurance
Mobile device insurance
Source: issuer card page · Last reviewed 2026-07-06. Details change often — confirm current terms with the issuer before applying.