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.
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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
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 variable APR of 14.74% - 24.74%.
- 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
American Express Gold Card
American Express Gold Card
- Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 within your first 6 months.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants in the U.S. This includes takeout and delivery.
- 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)
Pros & Cons
What we like
- Welcome bonus
- No foreign transaction fees
- $120 Dining Credit
- $100 Airline Fee Credit
- Earn up to 4x Membership Rewards points
- Payment Flexibility
What could be better
- High annual fee ($250)
- Dining Credit is only available at select locations
- Can only redeem points for travel through amex travel
The Platinum Card from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- 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 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 (2-night minimum stay required), $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)
Pros & Cons
What we like
- Up to 10x membership rewards points
- Welcome bonus of 100,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $6,000 on the card in the first 6 months
- Numerous credits that can more than make up for the annual fee
- Add an additional card which earns you points for their purchases
What could be better
- High Annual Membership of $695
- High APR on cash advances and Pay Over Time balance
- Limits on where you must book flights and hotels to earn enhanced rewards
American Express Cash Magnet Card
American Express Cash Magnet® Card
- 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)
Pros & Cons
What we like
- 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- Welcome bonus
- No annual fee
What could be better
- Welcome bonus requires high spend
- No bonus cash back categories
- Amex is not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard
