Best American Express Credit Cards of May 2020

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.

Amex May 2020 Update

With the COVID-19 affecting just about every way of life, American Express has made some temporary changes to help its cardmembers. The enhanced benefits fall into three categories. (Note that the below reward enhancements are in addition to rewards already offered on Amex credit cards.)

Streaming and Wireless

• Platinum Consumer Card Members will receive up to $320 in statement credits when they use their Platinum Card on select streaming and wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers (up to $20 per month on each, from May through December 2020).
• Business Platinum Card Members will receive up to $320 in statement credits on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. purchases for shipping (up to $20 per month on each, from May through December 2020).
• Green Consumer Card Members will receive up to $80 in statement credits when they use their Green Card to pay for wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers (up to $10 per month, from May through December 2020).

Stay-at-Home Dining and Essentials

• Delta SkyMiles Reserve, Platinum, Gold and Blue Consumer Card Members will now earn 4X miles at U.S. supermarkets (May through July 2020).
• Marriott Bonvoy and Brilliant Consumer Card Members will now earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $7,500 in eligible purchases (May through July 2020).
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer Card Members’ eligible purchasesatU.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery, will now qualify toward the $300 Marriott Bonvoy Statement Credit benefit (June through August 2020).
• Hilton Surpass and Aspire Consumer Card Members will now earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points at U.S. supermarkets (May through July 2020). Bonus Points earned through eligible purchases on all Hilton American Express Cards, that post to the Card Member’s Hilton Honors account between May 1 through December 31, 2020 will be considered Base Points and will count towards Elite tier qualification and Lifetime Diamond Status.
• Hilton Aspire Consumer Card Members’ eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery, will now qualify toward the $250 Hilton resort credit benefit (June through August 2020).

Remote Work Essentials for Small Businesses

• Business Platinum Card Members will receive up to $200 in additional statement credits for U.S. purchases with Dell Technologies, for a total of up to $400 in statement credits in 2020 when added to the existing Shop Dell with Business Platinum benefit ($100 in additional statement credits from May 1 through June 30, 2020 and up to $100 in additional statement credits between July 1 and December 31, 2020).
  • In addition, they will receive up to $320 in statement credits on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. purchases for shipping (up to $20 per month on each, from May through December 2020).
• New, free Shop Small® templates and resources at ShopSmall.com, as well as benefits, offerings and expertise from more than 40 leading companies as part of the recently launched ‘Stand for Small’ coalition.
• Resy, a subsidiary of American Express, is waiving all fees for new and existing ResyOS customers through December 2020.

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Note that these additional limited-time benefits are NOT reflected in the card details below.

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 $250 statement credit after you spend $[add_comma num=”signup_bonus_spend” post_id=”34857″] in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months helps, too.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

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• Welcome Offer: Earn $250 statement credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening..
• Earn 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.
• With the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card, you can start earning cashback. No rotating reward categories. No enrollment required.
• Cashback is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit. Cashback is earned only on eligible purchases.
• 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, then a variable rate based on your creditworthiness and other factors.
• Annual Fee: $95
• Terms Apply

American Express Gold Card

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• Welcome Offer: Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening..
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide and 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.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees, making this an excellent card for international travel.
• $100 airline fee credit and up to $100 per calendar year for baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
• Annual Fee $250.
• Terms Apply.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

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• Welcome Offer: Earn 125,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening..
• 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

The Platinum Card® from American Express

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• Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening..
• Uber Bonus: Up to $200 for Uber rides annually.
• 5X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.
• 5X Membership Rewards points on eligible hotels booked on amextravel.com.
• Receive complimentary benefits with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts. Learn More.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit, up to $200 per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
• $550 annual fee.
• Terms Apply

Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

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• Welcome Bonus #1: Earn [add_comma num=”signup_bonus” post_id=”34969″] Bonus Miles after you make $[add_comma num=”signup_bonus_spend” post_id=”34969″] in purchases on your new card within your first 3 months.
• Welcome Bonus #2: Earn another 10,000 bonus miles after your first year of card membership. Offer Expires 4/1/2020.
• Earn a $100 Delta Flight Credit after you spend $10,000 in purchases on the card in a calendar year.
• Earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
• Earn 1 mile for every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
• Check your first bag free on Delta flights
• Priority Boarding.
• $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
• Terms Apply

Blue Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

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• Welcome Offer: Earn [add_comma num=”signup_bonus” post_id=”34966″] bonus miles after spending $[add_comma num=”signup_bonus_spend” post_id=”34966″] in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. 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

Hilton Honors American Express Card

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• Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening..
• 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.

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.

Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card

Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card

• Limited Time Offer: Earn [add_comma num=”signup_bonus” post_id=”35148″] bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $[add_comma num=”signup_bonus_spend” post_id=”35148″] within the first 3 months
• 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

Hilton Honors American Express Business Credit Card

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• Welcome Offer: Earn 125,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 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 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.
• Enjoy 10 free airport lounge visits each year once enrolled in complimentary Priority Pass(TM) Select membership, which offers access to over 1,000 lounges in over 120 countries.
• Terms apply.

The Plum Card® from American Express

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• 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.

Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card

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• Limited Time Offer: Earn [add_comma num=”signup_bonus” post_id=”35039″] bonus miles after spending $[add_comma num=”signup_bonus_spend” post_id=”35039″] within your first 3 months. Offer expires 4/1/2020.
• Earn another 20,000 bonus miles after your first year of card membership. Offer expires 4/1/2020.
• Earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times per year. NOTE: MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
• Earn 3 miles per dollar on purchases made directly with Delta and purchases made directly with hotels.
• Earn 2 miles at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
• Earn 1 mile for every eligible dollar.
• Board early with Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights.
• Check your first bag free on Delta flights.
• Fee Credit for Global entry or TSA Precheck.
• No foreign transaction fees
• $250 Annual Fee.
• Terms apply.