Issuer hub · Updated Oct 4, 2026
Every American Express card we track, ranked by Standard Score: no-fee cash back, Membership Rewards and Aeroplan earners, plus the acceptance caveat.
| # | Card | Standard Score | Annual fee | First-year net value | Currency | Current offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amex Platinum Card (Canada) American Express | 7.8/10 | $799 | ≈ $1,330 | Amex Membership Rewards | See offer |
| 2 | Amex Cobalt Card American Express | 7.7/10 | $191.88 | ≈ $699 | Amex Membership Rewards | See offer |
| 3 | Amex Gold Rewards Card American Express | 7.5/10 | $250 | ≈ $1,040 | Amex Membership Rewards | See offer |
| 4 | Amex Marriott Bonvoy Card American Express | 7.2/10 | $120 | ≈ $528 | Marriott Bonvoy | See offer |
| 4 | Amex SimplyCash Preferred American Express | 7.2/10 | $119.88 | ≈ $480 | Cash back | See offer |
| 6 | Amex Business Platinum Card American Express | 7.1/10 | $799 | ≈ $1,077 | Amex Membership Rewards | See offer |
| 7 | Amex Aeroplan Reserve Card American Express | 6.9/10 | $599 | ≈ $719 | Aeroplan | See offer |
| 8 | Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve Card American Express | 6.8/10 | $599 | ≈ $636 | Aeroplan | See offer |
| 8 | Amex Business Gold Rewards Card American Express | 6.8/10 | $199 | ≈ $1,701 | Amex Membership Rewards | See offer |
| 10 | Amex Aeroplan Card American Express | 6.5/10 | $120 | ≈ $545 | Aeroplan | See offer |
| 11 | Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business Card American Express | 6.1/10 | $150 | ≈ $570 | Marriott Bonvoy | See offer |
| 12 | American Express SimplyCash Card American Express | 5.6/10 | 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 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 ≈ $1,330 · Amex Membership Rewards
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
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
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 ≈ $528 · Marriott Bonvoy
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 ≈ $480 · Cash back
The business-side twin of the personal Platinum: same exceptional lounge network and transfer flexibility, justified only by real travel volume. The welcome bonus is smaller than it looks: a third of it arrives in month 15 or later.
$799 annual fee · First-year net value ≈ $1,077 · Amex Membership Rewards
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 ≈ $719 · Aeroplan
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 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 ≈ $1,701 · Amex Membership Rewards
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
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 ≈ $570 · Marriott Bonvoy
The free sibling of the SimplyCash Preferred, and a better card than a flat-rate summary suggests: 2% on gas and groceries at no cost is rare. The paid version still wins for households with real category spend.
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.
To compare them with every other card that earns the same points, see Best Aeroplan Credit Cards and Best Amex Membership Rewards Credit Cards in Canada.