American Express Essential Credit Card | Milesopedia
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American Express Essential™ Credit Card

American Express Essential™ Credit Card
Welcome Bonus
No Welcome Offer
Annual Fee
$0
Interest rates
Purchase Rates
12.99 %
Cash Advance Rates
12.99 %
Balance Transfer Rates

Offer

  • Take advantage of a 12.99% interest rate, if you choose to carry a balance and make your minimum monthly payments on time.
  • No annual fee

Fees & Conditions

Personal Income $0
Household Income $0
Annual Fee $0
First Additional Card $0
Foreign Transaction Fee 2.5%
Purchase Rates 12.99%
Cash Advance Rates 12.99%

Value

Calculate the rewards
Your Monthly Spending
Year 1
Year 2+
Welcome Bonus
0 $
Annual Credit
Travel benefits
VIP Lounges
First year offer value
Rewards Earned
Annual fee
Net value

Earnings

Per dollar of purchases

All Spending 0,00
Groceries 0,00
Gas 0,00
Dining and Food delivery 0,00
Convenience Blinds 0,00
Drugstores 0,00
Local Transport 0,00
Travel 0,00
Entertainment 0,00
Recurring Payments 0,00
Telecom/Internet 0,00
Streaming services 0,00
Online transactions 0,00
Office Supplies 0,00

Insurance

Travel Insurance

Insurance Name
Included
Amount
Duration
Travel Medical Insurance
Travel medical insurance up to 54 years old
Travel medical insurance up to 64 years old
Travel medical insurance 65+.
Trip Cancellation Insurance
Trip Interruption Insurance
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$100,000
Flight Delay Insurance
Delayed Baggage Insurance
Lost/Stolen Baggage Insurance
Auto Rental Loss/Insurance
Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance

Other Insurance

Insurance Name
Included
Amount
Duration
Extended Warranty
1 year
Purchase Protection
$1,000
90 day(s)
Mobile Device Insurance
Price Protection

Our review

With the American Express Essential™ Credit Card, you can take advantage of a 12.99% low-interest-rate, if you choose to carry a balance and make your minimum monthly payments on time. It is one of the best low-interest-rate credit cards in Canada.

In addition, this low-interest credit card has no annual fee and allows you to take advantage of the American Express Installment Program (Plan It) to choose a portion of your statement balance to pay in monthly installments.

With the American Express Essential™ Credit Card, you are covered with a $100,000 Travel Accident Insurance, an additional year warranty with the Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan and a 90-day Purchase Protection Plan.

Finally, as an American Express Essential™ Credit Cardmember, you can take advantage of exclusive American Express offers for statement credits on select purchases and American Express online travel services.

Alternative Cards

  • 2% cash back on grocery purchases
  • 2% cash back on gas purchases
  • No annual fee
  • In your first 10 months as a new SimplyCash® Card from American Express Cardmember, you can earn a $10 statement credit for each monthly billing period in which you spend $300 in purchases on your Card. This could add up to $100 in statement credits in the first 10 months
  • Earn accelerated earn rates on eligible gas and grocery purchases
  • Earn 2% cash back on eligible gas purchases in Canada, 2% cash back on eligible grocery purchases in Canada (up to $300 cash back annually), and 1.25% cash back on all other eligible purchases
  • Access events and special offers curated for Cardmembers with American Express® Experiences
  • Insurance coverage and 24/7 Customer Service
Legal

American Express is not responsible for maintaining or controlling the accuracy of the information published on this website. For full and up-to-date product information, click on the Apply now link. Terms and conditions apply.

Annual Fee
  • Primary card $0
  • Additional card $0
Annual Income Required
  • Individual $0
  • Household $0
Conversion fees
  • 2.5 %
Interest Rates
  • Purchase Rates 20.99 %
  • Cash Advance Rates 21.99 %
  • Balance Transfer Rates
Earning Rate
  • Groceries2%
  • Gas2%
  • All Spending1.25%
Value
  • Year 1 $463
  • Year 2+ $363
Best For
Transfer Partners
  • Cashback

Advantages

  • Annual Credit
  • VIP Lounges
  • Concierge
  • Wifi
  • Travel credit

Travel Insurance

Insurance Name
Included
Amount
Duration
Travel Medical Insurance
Travel medical insurance up to 54 years old
Travel medical insurance up to 64 years old
Travel medical insurance 65+.
Trip Cancellation Insurance
Trip Interruption Insurance
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$100,000
Flight Delay Insurance
Delayed Baggage Insurance
Lost/Stolen Baggage Insurance
Auto Rental Loss/Insurance
Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance
  • 5X points on groceries and dining
  • Use your points as a statement credit on any purchase
  • Transfer your points to airline and hotel partners
Best American Express Credit Card in 2023
  • 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 net 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
  • Earn 5x the points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery
  • Earn 3x the points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
  • Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on eligible transit & gas purchases in Canada and eligible travel purchases. So you get 2 times the points on the purchases that bring you from point A to point B
  • Earn 1 point for every $1 in Card purchases everywhere else. We won’t tell you where to spend, we’ll just reward you on your Card purchases
  • Transfer points 1:1 to several frequent flyer and other loyalty programs
  • Cobalt Cardmembers receive regular Perks such as bonus reward offers and access to great events
  • Access Front Of The Line® Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts and theatre performances and special offers and events curated for Cardmembers with American Express® Experiences
Legal

American Express is not responsible for maintaining or controlling the accuracy of the information published on this website. For full and up-to-date product information, click on the Apply now link. Terms and conditions apply.

Annual Fee
  • Primary card $155.88
  • Additional card $0
Annual Income Required
  • Individual $0
  • Household $0
Conversion fees
  • 2.5 %
Interest Rates
  • Purchase Rates 20.99 %
  • Cash Advance Rates 21.99 %
  • Balance Transfer Rates
Earning Rate
  • Groceries5Membership Rewards points
  • Dining and Food delivery5Membership Rewards points
  • Convenience Blinds5Membership Rewards points
Value
  • Year 1 $1,309
  • Year 2+ $799
Best For
Transfer Partners
  • American Express Membership Rewards

Advantages

  • Annual Credit
  • VIP Lounges
  • Concierge
  • Wifi
  • Travel credit

Travel Insurance

Insurance Name
Included
Amount
Duration
Travel Medical Insurance
Travel medical insurance up to 54 years old
$5,000,000
15 day(s)
Travel medical insurance up to 64 years old
$5,000,000
15 day(s)
Travel medical insurance 65+.
Trip Cancellation Insurance
Trip Interruption Insurance
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$250,000
Flight Delay Insurance
$500
Delayed Baggage Insurance
$500
Lost/Stolen Baggage Insurance
$500
Auto Rental Loss/Insurance
$85,000
48 day(s)
Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance
$500
  • 2x Points
    Earn 2 points for every $1 spend on Air Canada or Air Canada Vacations purchases*
  • Air Canada Benefits
    Travel companions (up to eight) travelling on the same reservation will all enjoy their first checked bag free*
  • Preferred pricing
    Redeem fewer Aeroplan points when booking flight rewards*
Earn up to 50,000 Aeroplan points
  • 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
  • Standard Earn Rate: Earn 2X the points on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada®* and Air Canada vacations®*
  • Standard Earn Rate: Earn 1.5X the points on eligible Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada
  • Standard Earn Rate: Earn 1X the points on everything else
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada®* flights
  • Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 in eligible net purchases charged to your Card
  • As an American Express Aeroplan Cardmember, you can often book flight rewards for even fewer points with preferred pricing
  • American Express® Experiences: From music and movies, to specially curated dining and online shopping opportunities, stay connected with all that we have to offer from the comfort of your own home
  • Enjoy an array of travel related insurance benefits such as Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance and up to $500,000 in Travel Accident Insurance
  • 24/7 Customer Service and Emergency Card Replacement
  • As part of our commitment to sustainability, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card has been made with 70% reclaimed plastic.
  • No pre-set spending limit on purchases gives you flexibility. Using a charge card is a great way to manage your finances as the balance must be paid in full each month*
Legal

American Express is not responsible for maintaining or controlling the accuracy of the information published on this website. For full and up-to-date product information, click on the Apply now link. Terms and conditions apply.

Annual Fee
  • Primary card $120
  • Additional card $50
Annual Income Required
  • Individual $0
  • Household $0
Conversion fees
  • 2.5 %
Interest Rates
  • Purchase Rates
  • Cash Advance Rates
  • Balance Transfer Rates
Earning Rate
  • Air Canada2Aeroplan Points
  • Dining and Food delivery1.5Aeroplan Points
  • All Spending1Aeroplan Point
Value
  • Year 1 $1,379
  • Year 2+ $379
Best For
Transfer Partners
  • Aeroplan

Advantages

  • Annual Credit
  • VIP Lounges
  • Concierge
  • Wifi
  • Travel credit

Travel Insurance

Insurance Name
Included
Amount
Duration
Travel Medical Insurance
Travel medical insurance up to 54 years old
Travel medical insurance up to 64 years old
Travel medical insurance 65+.
Trip Cancellation Insurance
Trip Interruption Insurance
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$500,000
Flight Delay Insurance
$500
Delayed Baggage Insurance
$500
Lost/Stolen Baggage Insurance
$500
Auto Rental Loss/Insurance
$85,000
48 day(s)
Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance
$500
3.7 Milesopedia Rating