The American Express® Gold Card is our top pick because it combines high earnings in everyday spending categories (like at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants worldwide) with high-value travel perks and statement credits.
Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | |
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American Express® Gold Card
|
Best overall
|
$325 | 1X - 4X points
| As high as 100,000 points
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
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The Platinum Card® from American Express
|
Travel card
|
$695 | 5X points
| As high as 175,000 points
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
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The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
|
Business card
|
$695 | 1X - 5X points
| 150,000 points
Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
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Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
|
Best cash back card
|
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. | 1% - 6% cash back
| $250 statement credit
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
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Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
|
Best 0% APR and balance transfer card
|
$0 | 1% - 3% cash back
| $200 statement credit
Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
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Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express*
|
Best hotel card
|
$550 | 3X - 14X points
| 150,000 points
Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
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The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
|
Best business cash back
|
No annual fee | 1% - 2% cash back
Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%
| $250 statement credit
Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
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Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
|
Best airline miles card
|
$650 | 1X - 3X miles
| 70,000 miles
Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
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We take a comprehensive, data-driven approach to identify the best American Express cards. We use an objective rating and ranking system that evaluates over 200 credit cards from more than 50 issuers. All recommendations are made by LendingTree’s editorial team, completely independent of affiliate partnerships or compensation. Every card is selected based on its merit and ability to help people achieve their financial goals. We use the following criteria to make our picks:
We calculate the rewards earned for the average cardholder using Bureau of Labor Statistics data and an annual spend of $20,000, minus the annual fee. This value includes sign-up bonuses and annual bonuses (including annual free night certificates). We look at the average rewards earned over two years to balance out a card’s ongoing value with its first-year value.
We consider how easy the rewards are to use, looking at factors like expiration dates, minimum redemption thresholds, blackout dates and the availability of flexible redemption options like travel statement credits and cash back.
We also compare a card’s benefits — such as purchase protections, travel protections, elite status benefits and travel credits — against benefits from other cards.
Note that our ratings are a starting point for comparing and choosing the best Amex rewards card. However, your needs may be different from the average cardholder. You should consider the amount you’re likely to spend in a card’s bonus categories and which benefits you value to choose the best card for you.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Rewards on everyday spending meets VIP perks and credits
The American Express® Gold Card is your best option for earning Membership Rewards points for free travel. That’s because it earns a stellar 4x points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 per calendar year) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year). Points can be transferred to 20 airline and hotel loyalty programs, making them very valuable.
By utilizing the card’s statement credits, you can fully offset the $325 annual fee (terms apply, enrollment may be required). Plus, the American Express® Gold Card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, meaning you won’t have to pay more to use the card outside of the U.S.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: As high as 175,000 points
The Platinum Card® from American Express is considered to be among the best premium travel cards for frequent travelers, especially those who book many flights. Eligible card members get Global Lounge Collection, complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold and Marriott Bonvoy® Gold status (enrollment required) and over $1,000 in annual travel and shopping statement credits, which can make it worth the fee.
Travel credits include an annual hotel credit, an annual airline fee credit* (qualifying airlines are subject to change; see terms & conditions for more details), a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit, Uber Cash and an annual CLEAR® Plus membership credit* (subject to auto-renewal). Other benefits include a digital entertainment credit*, a Saks Fifth Avenue credit* and credits for Walmart+ (subject to auto-renewal).
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: Earn 150,000 points
The travel benefits and statement credits on The Business Platinum Card® from American Express make it a must-have for traveling small business owners. The card includes access to the Amex Global Lounge Collection®, airline fee credit*, hotel elite status with Marriott and Hilton*, a CLEAR® Plus credit* (subject to auto-renewal) and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit (terms apply).
Transfer points to 20 airline and hotel partners or through Amex Travel. Even better, you can sometimes earn a bonus on your point transfers to boost the value of your redemptions.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a cash back-earning powerhouse, especially for families with big grocery bills. You’ll get one of the highest rates you can find for U.S. supermarket purchases: Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
If you time the card opening for when you have a large purchase to make, you’ll get an intro APR of 0% on purchases for 12 months, followed by an APR of 20.24%-29.24% Variable.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Intro APR: 0% on balance transfers for 15 months and 0% on purchases for 15 months, followed by an APR of 20.24%-29.24% Variable
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express doubles as a high-value $0-annual-fee cash back* card and a top card for financing balance transfers and new purchases. It’s also an excellent card that offers elevated earning rates on groceries, gas, and more. Plus, cardmembers get purchase protection1, another premium benefit, and credits for select streaming service purchases, which is valued at up to $84 per year (up to $7 monthly, enrollment required, subject to auto-renewal).
You also get an intro APR of 0% on purchases for 15 months and 0% on balance transfers for 15 months, followed by an APR of 20.24%-29.24% Variable.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: Earn 150,000 points
The Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express stands out among hotel cards in offering top-tier elite status just for carrying the card. In addition, Hilton fans earn 14x points on eligible Hilton purchases and receive an annual free night redeemable at almost any Hilton property worldwide.
The card offers hundreds of dollars in annual Hilton resort credits and annual flight credits (enrollment required) — and if fully utilized, these credits more than offset the card’s significant annual fee. However, they’re divided up into two semi-annual resort credits and four quarterly flight credits, making it harder to take full advantage of them.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card lets you earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. That’s a great earning rate for a card that charges no annual fee. However, that modest spending cap means this card is best suited for small businesses with modest spending.
Plus, it can help small businesses stretch their budgets by financing purchases during the intro APR period. It offers an intro APR of 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening (followed by a 17.49% - 27.49% Variable APR).
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 miles
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is the most premium card in Amex’s Delta card lineup, offering access to Delta Sky Club® and Amex Centurion Lounges when you fly Delta. You can stretch your Delta SkyMiles further with a 15% discount on Delta-operated flights (terms apply). Plus, get a Companion Certificate each year after card renewal (baggage charges and other restrictions apply).
The card also gives you a boost toward Delta Medallion elite status through a $2,500 MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and MQD Boost of $1 MQD per $10 in purchases charged to your card. Medallion elites get upgrade priority over other Delta Medallion elites of the same tier, while cardmembers without elite status get added to the upgrade list.
Choose the best American Express card for your spending style. First, decide if you want a credit card that earns flexible travel rewards, loyalty points from a specific hotel chain or airline, or cash back. Then, consider if an entry-level no-annual-fee card is best for you, or if paying a fee is worth it for more premium rewards and benefits.
American Express issues the following consumer and small business cards that earn Membership Rewards® points:
Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | |
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The Platinum Card® from American Express
|
$695 | 5X points
| As high as 175,000 points
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
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American Express® Gold Card
|
$325 | 1X - 4X points
| As high as 100,000 points
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
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American Express® Green Card*
|
$150 | 1X - 3X points
| 40,000 points
Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
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The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
|
$695 | 1X - 5X points
| 150,000 points
Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
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American Express® Business Gold Card
|
$375 | 1X - 4X points
| 100,000 points
Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
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Business Green Rewards Card from American Express
|
N/A | $95 | 1X points
Earn one Membership Rewards® point for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases
| 15,000 points
Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Business Green Rewards Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership
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The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
|
No annual fee | 1X - 2X points
| 15,000 points
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.
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If you’re a frequent flyer and a Delta loyalist, a co-branded Delta card from Amex that earns SkyMiles could also unlock lots of airline-related perks and discounts. There are four card options from which to choose, depending on the type of travel and spending you do:
Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
|
$0 | 1X - 2X miles
| 10,000 miles
Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
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Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
|
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. | 1X - 2X miles
| 50,000 miles
Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
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Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
|
$350 | 1X - 3X miles
| 60,000 miles
Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
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Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
|
$650 | 1X - 3X miles
| 70,000 miles
Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
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Hotel cards could help you earn free night stays and other amenities, as well as move up in the ranks of the chain’s loyalty program. If you’re a Hilton loyalist, consider one of these three Amex co-branded cards that earns Hilton Honors Bonus Points:
Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | |
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Hilton Honors American Express Card
|
$0 | 3X - 7X points
| 80,000 points
Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Card after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
|
$150 | 3X - 12X points
| 130,000 points
Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
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Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express*
|
$550 | 3X - 14X points
| 150,000 points
Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
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The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
|
4.1
|
$195 | 3X - 12X points
| 130,000 points
Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card within the first six months of Card Membership.
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If you prefer staying at Marriott properties, earning Marriott Bonvoy bonus points with one of Amex’s co-branded cards can give you significant value. They come with generous welcome offers and automatic upgraded Elite Status:
Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card
|
$250 | 2X - 6X points
| 155,000 points
Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
|
$650 | 2X - 6X points
| 185,000 points
Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
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Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
|
$125 | 2X - 6X points
| 125,000 points
Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after you use your new Card to make $8,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms apply. Offer ends 10/22/2025.
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You earn Amex points by making eligible purchases with an American Express Membership Rewards® card. These points can be redeemed for a wide variety of redemptions, including transfers to 20 airline and hotel partners and booking travel with Amex Travel. Each redemption option has a different point value — ranging from 0.6 cents per point for statement credits to 1 cent per point when redeemed for Amex Travel or certain gift card redemptions. Point transfers to airline and hotel partners generally offer the highest value return for your Membership Rewards® points.
Points earned from eligible American Express cards are automatically pooled into one account.
You don’t need to manually transfer them between accounts as you need to do with Chase points. And if you have a small business, the Membership Rewards® points from your linked personal and business cards also pool into one account.
American Express Membership Rewards® can be transferred to 20 airline and hotel partner programs — including Delta SkyMiles, JetBlue TrueBlue, Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy. Points transfer to most partners on a 1:1 basis, but not all miles and points are equally valuable. In some cases, you’ll receive a much higher value by selecting one transfer partner over another.
American Express offers periodic transfer promotions, which allow you to receive bonus rewards when transferring to select partners. These bonuses can stretch your Membership Rewards® further, reducing the number of points you need to transfer to book an award flight or hotel reservation.
However, keep in mind that point transfers are permanent. Once you transfer points to a partner, you cannot reverse that transfer.
Transfer partner | Airline alliance | Point transfer ratio |
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Aer Lingus | None | 1,000:1,000 |
AeroMexico | SkyTeam | 1,000:1,600 |
Air Canada Aeroplan | Star Alliance | 1,000:1,000 |
Air France/KLM | SkyTeam | 1,000:1,000 |
ANA Mileage Club | Star Alliance | 1,000:1,000 |
Cathay Pacific Miles | oneworld | 1,000:1,000 |
Avianca | Star Alliance | 1,000:1,000 |
British Airways | oneworld | 1,000:1,000 |
Delta Air Lines | SkyTeam | 1,000:1,000 |
Emirates | None | 1,000:1,000 |
Etihad | None | 1,000:1,000 |
Iberia Plus | oneworld | 1,000:1,000 |
JetBlue | None | 250:200 |
Qantas | oneworld | 500:500 |
Qatar Airways | oneworld | 1,000:1,000 |
Singapore Airlines | Star Alliance | 1,000:1,000 |
Virgin Atlantic | SkyTeam | 1,000:1,000 |
Choice Privileges | N/A | 1,000:1,000 |
Hilton Honors | N/A | 1,000:2,000 |
Marriott Bonvoy | N/A | 1,000:1,000 |
Amex Offers are limited-time promotions with select merchants in which cardmembers can earn statement credits on purchases, but they must activate the offer. For example, you might get $10 back if you spend $100 with a particular restaurant chain. These offers change all the time, so you’ll have to pay attention and opt in to ones that may benefit you in order to take advantage.
American Express offers two alternative payment options to help cardmembers manage their balances. Pay It® lets you set up small payments throughout the month on transactions that are less than $100. Eligible purchases are marked with a “Pay It®” icon.
Plan It® gives you the option of selecting up to 10 qualifying purchases (marked “Plan It®”) of $100 or more, and dividing up that total into a fixed payment plan. You may be offered up to three different plan length options with fixed fees. Once those transactions are moved to a plan, they are not charged interest. Your fixed plan payment is then added to your monthly minimum amount due.
When you’re ready to apply for an American Express credit card, use these tips to increase your approval odds.
Many American Express cardholders report being limited to five credit cards at one time. Corporate cards are not included in this total.
If you apply for a new American Express credit card and are at the limit, you could be declined for the new card. As an alternative, you may ask Amex’s reconsideration department to close an existing card in order to get approved for the new card.
American Express has made a concerted effort to expand the number of merchants that accept its cards. According to a 2022 Nilson Report, American Express cards are accepted by 99% of U.S. merchants that accept credit cards. However, when you travel internationally, your American Express card is less likely to be accepted than a credit card with a Visa or Mastercard logo. Because of this, if your primary credit card is from American Express, it’s a good idea to bring a Visa or Mastercard credit card as a backup. Just avoid using a card that charges foreign transaction fees, as this can add extra charges on international purchases.
No, American Express does not currently offer a secured credit card. Instead, customers can purchase American Express prepaid gift cards if they’re unable to qualify for one of its credit cards.
The minimum credit score needed to be approved for an American Express credit card varies based on which card you’re applying for.
Generally, American Express requires that you have good to excellent credit to be approved for one of its credit cards. However, some cards will approve users with a credit score on the higher end of fair credit. If you have bad credit, you can use one of its prepaid card products while you are rebuilding your credit score.
American Express no longer offers cards that are officially considered charge cards. Some American Express cards have no preset limit but require cardholders to pay their balance in full each month, though you can carry a balance for some purchases that qualify for special financing with these cards. The amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history. Other American Express cards, like the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, are credit cards with standard APRs on purchases (see Rates & Fees).
Some American Express cards offer rental car and travel protections2. These benefits are typically offered by travel-focused cards, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Coverage and limits vary by card.
The Platinum Card® from American Express offers car rental loss and damage insurance3 if you use your card to reserve and pay for the entire rental and decline the collision damage waiver (CDW). However, note that this is secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
The information related to the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express and American Express® Green Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.