The strongest everyday earner in Canada for food spend. If you can work around Amex acceptance, the Cobalt out-earns nearly every premium card at a fraction of the fee.
$191.88 annual fee · First-year net value ≈ $699 · Amex Membership Rewards
Issuer hub · Updated 2026-07-12
Every American Express credit card we track in Canada, ranked by Standard Score — from no-fee cash back to Membership Rewards and Aeroplan earners, with the acceptance caveat every Amex decision hinges on.
| # | Card | Standard Score | Annual fee | First-year net value | Currency | Current offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amex Cobalt Card American Express | 8.3/10 | $191.88 | ≈ $699 | Amex Membership Rewards | See offer |
| 2 | Amex Platinum Card (Canada) American Express | 8.1/10 | $799 | ≈ $2,270 | Amex Membership Rewards | See offer |
| 3 | Amex Business Platinum Card American Express | 7.7/10 | $799 | ≈ $1,950 | Amex Membership Rewards | See offer |
| 4 | Amex Gold Rewards Card American Express | 7.5/10 | $250 | ≈ $1,040 | Amex Membership Rewards | See offer |
| 5 | Amex SimplyCash Preferred American Express | 7.3/10 | $119.88 | ≈ $680 | Cash back | See offer |
| 6 | Amex Aeroplan Reserve Card American Express | 7.3/10 | $599 | ≈ $1,490 | Aeroplan | See offer |
| 7 | Amex Marriott Bonvoy Card American Express | 7.3/10 | $120 | ≈ $420 | Marriott Bonvoy | See offer |
| 8 | Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve Card American Express | 6.8/10 | $599 | ≈ $636 | Aeroplan | See offer |
| 9 | Amex Aeroplan Card American Express | 6.5/10 | $120 | ≈ $545 | Aeroplan | See offer |
| 10 | Amex Business Gold Rewards Card American Express | 6.5/10 | $199 | ≈ $1,131 | Amex Membership Rewards | See offer |
| 11 | Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business Card American Express | 6.1/10 | $150 | ≈ $480 | Marriott Bonvoy | See offer |
| 12 | American Express SimplyCash Card American Express | 5.5/10 | None | ≈ $180 | Cash back | See offer |
| 13 | American Express Green Card American Express | 5.2/10 | None | ≈ $260 | Amex Membership Rewards | See offer |
Rewards math assumes you pay your balance in full every month — interest charges quickly exceed any rewards value.
The strongest everyday earner in Canada for food spend. If you can work around Amex acceptance, the Cobalt out-earns nearly every premium card at a fraction of the fee.
$191.88 annual fee · First-year net value ≈ $699 · Amex Membership Rewards
The benchmark premium travel card in Canada. Exceptional first-year value and best-in-class lounge access, but only for people whose travel patterns genuinely absorb the perks.
$799 annual fee · First-year net value ≈ $2,270 · Amex Membership Rewards
The business-side twin of the personal Platinum: same exceptional lounge network and transfer flexibility, justified only by real travel volume.
$799 annual fee · First-year net value ≈ $1,950 · Amex Membership Rewards
A balanced mid-premium card that pairs well with the Cobalt. Good value with the travel credit, but rarely the single best card on its own.
$250 annual fee · First-year net value ≈ $1,040 · Amex Membership Rewards
The strongest cash-back rates in Canada where Amex is accepted. The acceptance caveat is the whole debate.
$119.88 annual fee · First-year net value ≈ $680 · Cash back
The premium Aeroplan card with the largest bonuses in the program. Elevated offers make the first year exceptional; ongoing value depends entirely on AC loyalty.
$599 annual fee · First-year net value ≈ $1,490 · Aeroplan
One of Canada's best keeper cards: the anniversary free night alone clears the fee. The welcome bonus is the cherry, not the case.
$120 annual fee · First-year net value ≈ $420 · Marriott Bonvoy
The business-side twin of the Aeroplan Reserve: the same Maple Leaf Lounge access and status-credit engine, sized for a company that flies Air Canada often. The year-one bonus is smaller than the personal card's current elevated offer.
$599 annual fee · First-year net value ≈ $636 · Aeroplan
A solid entry Aeroplan card, usually judged against the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite on acceptance vs. bonus size.
$120 annual fee · First-year net value ≈ $545 · Aeroplan
A Membership Rewards accumulation vehicle for businesses: the flat 1x base is unremarkable, but the quarterly bonus and full transfer suite make it a strong year-one earner for consistent high spenders.
$199 annual fee · First-year net value ≈ $1,131 · Amex Membership Rewards
The business version of the Marriott keeper card: better category earn than the personal Bonvoy, with the same anniversary free night carrying the case from year two onward.
$150 annual fee · First-year net value ≈ $480 · Marriott Bonvoy
The free, simplified sibling of the SimplyCash Preferred. Fine as a background card; the paid version is the one worth actively using.
No annual fee · First-year net value ≈ $180 · Cash back
Not a serious earner on its own, but a legitimate zero-cost way to start accumulating transferable MR points, especially for applicants who don't yet qualify for the paid Amex cards.
No annual fee · First-year net value ≈ $260 · Amex Membership Rewards
Rewards math assumes you pay your balance in full every month — interest charges quickly exceed any rewards value.
Every American Express card here is scored on the same Standard Score as the rest of the site — see how it’s built, or browse the full card database.