American Express offers a range of cash back and travel credit cards that target different both consumers and small business customers. Below we offer our ranking of the “best” American Express cards:
Best Amex Consumer Credit Cards:
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express – Why We Like It: Maybe the best rewards credit card for grocery purchases with no annual fee, plus a rare 3% reward for general online purchases. EARN: 3% cash back on groceries at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 3% cash back on gas at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
NEW CARDHOLDER WELCOME BONUS OPPORTUNITY: Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. American Express is a ProudMoney advertiser.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express – Why We Like It: 6% cash back on up to $6,000 per year in purchases at U.S. supermarkets (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit purchases, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit. NEW CARDHOLDER WELCOME BONUS OPPORTUNITY: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. American Express is a ProudMoney advertiser.
The Platinum Card® from American Express – Rewards and perks galore including 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), 5X points on prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com, probably the best, most extensive airport lounge network of all the luxury travel cards, strong travel insurances/protections, and many potential credits on certain airline and hotel purchases as well as certain purchases from Uber, Clear, Saks Fifth Avenue, Equinox and more. NEW CARDHOLDER BONUS OPPORTUNITY: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. $695 annual fee. See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. American Express is a ProudMoney advertiser.
American Express® Gold Card – This is sort of a hybrid card in that its everyday rewards are not highly travel-focused, but it gives points in the Membership Rewards® program, which most people end up redeeming for travel rewards. Lots of point-earning opportunities and perks/credits. You’ll have to do the math to see if it fits your spending patterns. $250 annual fee. New Cardholder Bonus Opportunity: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 within the first 6 months. See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. American Express is a ProudMoney advertiser.
Hilton Honors American Express Card – No Annual Fee with generous points-earning opportunities (including 7X points for eligible purchases at hotel and resorts in the Hilton portfolio), an 100,000-point new cardholder bonus opportunity after you spend $2,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership, complimentary Hilton Honors Silver Status, no foreign transaction fees, and more. See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. American Express is a ProudMoney advertiser.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card – This is maybe Delta’s most popular credit card because it offers generous rewards with a modest annual fee (actually a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99). Earn 2X Delta SkyMiles per dollar at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets, 2X miles on purchases made directly with Delta, 1X on all other purchases. Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Bonus Opportunity: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. American Express is a ProudMoney advertiser.
Best Amex Business Credit Cards:
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card – Why We Like It: Generous, simple CASH BACK rewards formula with no annual fee. Choose this if you want great rewards without having to think too hard about those rewards while you’ve got your mind on your business.
Your business earns: 2% Cash Back on eligible business purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year, automatically credited to your statement. (Eligible purchases are purchases for goods and services minus returns and other credits.) Your business then earns 1% cash back on other eligible purchases after the first $50K spent on your Card, automatically credited to your statement.
New Cardholder Welcome Bonus Opportunity: Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months. See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. American Express is a ProudMoney advertiser.
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express – Why We Like It: Generous, simple-to-understand rewards with no annual fee. Great option if you’re already earning Membership Rewards® points with other American Express credit cards.
Your business earns: 2X Points on eligible business purchases, on up to $50,000 in spending per calendar year. (Eligible purchases are purchases for goods and services minus returns and other credits.) Your business then earns 1X Points on other eligible purchases after the first $50K spent with the card. Points can be redeemed within the popular Membership Rewards program toward a variety of travel rewards as well as other options.
New Cardholder Welcome Bonus Opportunity: Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership. See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. American Express is a ProudMoney advertiser.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express – Why We Like It: Great for the frequent business traveler, with exceptional Membership Rewards points earning, a potential 35% “Airline Bonus” when you redeem points, a yearly $200 Airline Fee Credit, and access to the best airport lounge network, the Global Lounge Collection. (Plus lots more!) Its $695 annual fee means it’s best for serious businesses with significant card spend in order to maximize its many rewards and benefits.
Your business earns: 5X Points on: Flights & Prepaid Hotels booked on AmexTravel.com, 1.5X Points on: (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Any other eligible purchases earn 1X points. Points can be redeemed within the popular Membership Rewards program toward a variety of travel rewards as well as other options.
New Cardholder Welcome Bonus Opportunity: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. American Express is a ProudMoney advertiser.
Author: Adam Jusko