I’ve carried American Express credit cards for years. It started with the iconic Green American Express many years ago. Since then I’ve carried the Gold card, Platinum Card, TrueEarnings CostCo card (no longer available), and the Blue Cash Preferred card. Yes, I’m an Amex fan.
Today Amex offers a wide variety of cards with excellent rewards. It offers top notch travel rewards, cash back, and even 0% introductory rate offers on balance transfers and purchases. The list below starts with consumer cards, followed by Amex business credit cards.
American Express Personal Credit Cards
Editor’s Pick: My favorite consumer Amex card is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. With cash back of up to 6%, the $95 annual fee is well worth the cost. The $300 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first helps, too.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Welcome Bonus: $300 statement credit after you spend $3,000 on purchases with the card in the first 6 months.
- Cash Back:
- 6% at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), and 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions including Spotify, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, ShowTime, Pandora, Apple Music, Amazon Music or Video (Does not include Prime membership).
- Earn 3% at U.S. gas stations and on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more.
- 1% on all other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
- Annual Fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
- 0% APR on purchases for 12 months, then an ongoing APR of 13.99% - 23.99% Variable.
- Terms Apply. (See Rates & Fees)
Pros & Cons
What we like
- Up to 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets
- Up to 6% cash back on U.S. streaming services
- Up to 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and transit
- Excellent welcome bonus
- Amex customer services
What could be better
- Annual fee
- Spending cap on 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets
- Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 within your first 6 months.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants. This includes takeout and delivery, as well as Uber Eats.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- 1X points on other purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash: Add your Gold card to your Uber account and each month you’ll get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S.
- $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to $10 in statement credits each month when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factor, Ruth’s Chris, Boxed, and participating Shake Shacks. Enrollment required.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees, making this an excellent card for international travel.
- Annual Fee: $250.
- Rose Gold is back. Choose between Gold or Rose Gold.
- Terms Apply. (See Rates & Fees)
- Welcome Offer: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus Points after spending $2,000 within your first 3 months.
- 12X Bonus: Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your card directly with a participating hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio.
- 6X Bonus: Earn 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your card at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
- 3X Bonus: Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your card.
- Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year.
- Earn a Weekend Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Terms Apply. (See Rates & Fees)
- Welcome Offer: Earn
75,000100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases with the card in the first 6 months. - Earn 10x points: During the first 6 months of card membership, you earn 10x points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S., on up to $25,000 in combined purchases.
- Earn 5X points on for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- Credits: The card now offers a number of credits, including a $200 Hotel Credit, $240 Digital Entertainment Credit, $200 Airline Fee Credit, $200 Uber Cash, $300 Equinox Credit, and a $179 CLEAR Credit. See terms and conditions.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply. (See Rates & Fees)
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles after you make $1,000 in purchases on your new card within your first months.
- Earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
- Check your first bag free on Delta flights
- Priority Boarding.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
- Earn a $100 Delta Flight Credit after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year
- Terms Apply. (See Rates & Fees)
- Welcome Offer: Earn 10,000 bonus miles after spending $500 in purchases on your new Card in your first . Offer expires 4/1/2020.
- 2 Miles Rewards: Earn 2 miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide and on purchases made directly with Delta.
- 1 Mile Rewards: Earn 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
- Receive a 20% In-Flight Savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your Card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets.
- No foreign transaction fees
- No Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply. (See Rates & Fees)
- Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Plus, earn up to $100 in statement credits on eligible purchases made on the Card at any of the Hilton family of hotels in the first 12 months of Card Membership. Offer expires 8/25/2021.
- Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for every dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Honors portfolio of brands.
- Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for every dollar of eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
- Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your card.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status with your Card.
- No Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply. (See Rates & Fees)
- Welcome Offer: Earn a $150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Unlimited 1.5% Cash Back on your purchases.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be easily redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise.
- 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 13.99% - 23.99% Variable.
- No Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply. (See Rates & Fees)
American Express Business Credit Cards
Editor’s Pick:For Amex business cards, I give the top pick to the SimplyCash® Business Card from American Express. As a small business owner, I know the value of 5% cash back on office supplies and wireless. Add to that 3% cash back on a category of your choice and no annual fee, and this card is a clear winner.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points and 2 bonus Free Night Awards after spending $5,000 within the first . Each bonus Free Night Award has a redemption level up to 50K points. Certain hotels have resort fees. Offer ends 11/3/2021.
- Earn up to $150 back in the form of statement credits on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership.
- Earn 6x points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- Earn 4x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, U.S. purchases on shipping, and wireless telephone services purchased from U.S. service providers
- Earn 2x points on all other eligible purchases
- Receive 1 Free Night Award each year after your Card account anniversary you can use at a participating hotel.
- Enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status.
- Earn Gold Elite status after spending $35,000 on eligible purchases on your card in a calendar year.
- Annual fee is $125
- Terms Apply (See Rates & Fees)
- Welcome Offer: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, you can earn an additional 50,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend a total of $10,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months.
- Earn 12X at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
- Earn 6X on Select Business & Travel Purchases
- Earn 3X Everywhere Else. Terms & Limitations Apply.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status with your Hilton Honors Business Card.
- Earn a Weekend Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year.
- Earn another Weekend Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend an additional $45,000 in purchases on your card in the same calendar year.
- Terms apply. (See Rates & Fees)
- Early Payoff Discount: Get a 1.5% discount when you pay early, with no cap on what you can earn back.
- Take up to 60 days to pay with no interest, if you pay your minimum due.
- Additional Employee Cards at no annual fee – and an early pay discount on employee spending.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $250
- Terms & Restrictions Apply. (See Rates & Fees)
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%.
- Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- Spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
- The amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us and other factors.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply (See Rates & Fees)
- Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners.
- 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply (See Rates & Fees)
- Welcome Offer: Earn up to 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on qualifying purchases within your first 3 months of card membership.
- Rewards:
- Get 5X Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com.
- Get 1.5X Membership Rewards points on eligible purchases in select business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else. Keep in mind that spending caps apply.
- Statement Credits: The card offers more than $1,000 in value per year for statement credits on select purchases, including purchases from Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe and wireless telephone purchases. Enrollment required.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: The credit can be applied toward toward baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
- $179 CLEAR Credit: Use your Card and get up to $179 back per year on your CLEAR membership.
- 0% APR: 0% Intro APR for 12 months from the date of the account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time. After that, your APR will be 14.24% to 22.24% (as of ) based on your credit worthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
- Airport Lounge Access: Get access to more than 1,400 airport lounges with The American Express Global Lounge Collection.
- Annual Fee: $695
- Terms Apply (See Rates & Fees)
- Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 within your first .
- $300 Statement Credit: Good on eligible U.S. advertising and U.S. shipping purchases. Terms and cap apply.
- REWARDS: Get 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 select categories where your business spent the most each month (applies to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these 2 categories each calendar year).*
- BONUS: Get 25% points back after you use points for all or part of an eligible flight booked with Amex Travel, up to 250,000 points back per calendar year.*
- A flexible payment option to help manage cash flow on purchases of $100 or more.*
- Connect to Quickbooks, access SpendManager?, receive a Year-End Summary, and more.*
- Add EMPLOYEE CARDS with a no annual fee option. Earn rewards on employee purchases and track employee expenses with spending limits, alerts, and summary reports.*
- *Terms Apply (See Rates & Fees)
- Earn 60,000 bonus miles, 10,000 Medallion(R) Qualification Miles (MQMs) and a $100 statement credit after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first .
- Earn 15,000 Medallion( Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to 4x per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. Plus, throughout 2021 earn an additional 3,750 MQMs after making $30,000 in purchases, up to 4x. That’s in addition to the 15,000 MQMs that you would earn with Status Boost.
- When you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, you will receive complimentary access to The Centurion(R) Lounge or Escape Lounge – The Centurion(R) Studio Partner.
- After you spend $150,000 on your Card in a calendar year, you earn 1.5 Miles per dollar (that’s an extra half mile per dollar) on eligible purchases the rest of the year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply (ex: you would earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta instead of 1.5X).
- Pay no foreign transaction fees when you spend overseas.
- Earn 3 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.Terms and limitations apply. (See Rates & Fees)
- Welcome Bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus miles and a $50 statement credit after spending $2,000 within your first .
- After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you will earn a $100 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
- Rewards: Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta, U.S. purchases for advertising in select media, U.S. shipping purchases, and on dining at restaurants. Earn 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
- Enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding
- No foreign transaction fees when you spend overseas.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
- Terms and limitations apply (See Rates & Fees)
- Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles and a $100 statement credit after spending $3,000 within your first months.
- Rewards:
- Earn 3 Miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta and directly with eligible hotels.
- Earn 1.5 miles on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more, up to 50,000 additional miles per year.
- Earn 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
- Check your first bag for free.
- Priority Boarding.
- Miles don’t expire.
- With Status Boost, earn 10,000 Medallion(R) Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, up to 2x per year getting you closer to Medallion Status.
- Throughout 2021 earn an additional 2,500 MQMs after making $25,000 in purchases, up to 2x. That’s in addition to the 10,000 MQMs that you would earn with Status Boost.
- $250 annual fee
- Terms and limitations apply. (See Rates & Fees)
