American Express is a world leader in charge cards and credit cards targeting higher-end consumers and small-business owners with compelling travel and entertainment rewards. We have researched Amex's most popular cards and applied our objective screening criteria to rate the company's best cards across multiple categories. Below are our picks for the best in class.
Best American Express Cards for August 2021
- Best Overall: Cash Magnet® Card
- Best for Groceries: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Best for Points With No Annual Fee: Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
- Best for Business: American Express® Blue Business Cash Card
- Best for Hotels: Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Best for Travel: The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Best for Points, Daily Use: Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
- Best for Dining: American Express® Gold Card
- Best Airline: Delta SkyMiles® Blue Card
Best Overall : Cash Magnet® Card
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Earn $200 back after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
| Regular APR (%) | 13.99% - 23.99% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | 1.5% cash back on your purchases. |
| INTRO PURCHASE APR | 0% for 15 Months |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 2.7% |
- Why We Chose This Card
- Pros and Cons
The Cash Magnet® Card ranks as our top-rated American Express card due to its solid cash rewards structure on all spending, no annual fee, and overall annual earnings potential based on typical spending patterns. This is an excellent option for those who favor simple cash-back earnings irrespective of spending category without the need to justify an annual fee.
Competitive bonus offer and no annual fee
Cash back without having to remember categories
15-month 0% APR introductory purchase offer
Foreign transaction fee
Penalty APR
Limited acceptance of American Express
Best for Groceries : Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
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Earn 20% back on Amazon.com purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $200 back. Plus, earn $150 back after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You will receive cash back in the form of statement credits.
| Regular APR (%) | 13.99% - 23.99% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 for the first year, then $95 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 6% back at US supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases), 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% back on eligible transit and US gas stations, and 1% back on other purchases. |
| INTRO PURCHASE APR | 0% for 12 Months |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 2.7% |
- Why We Chose This Card
- Pros and Cons
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is Investopedia's choice for the best grocery earnings card with its eye-popping bonus for purchases at U.S. supermarkets. Blue Cash Preferred also offers bonus earnings on purchases at U.S. gas stations. The annual fee is $95, but that can be easily justified if this is used as a primary card, especially for grocery spending.
Outstanding 6% cash-back rewards at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 per year in spending and on select U.S. streaming services
Generous welcome bonus worth up to $350
0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
$95 annual fee after the first year
2.7% foreign transaction fee
Cashback rewards on groceries are capped, and some wholesale and superstore chains excepted
American Express isn't as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard outside of the U.S.
Best for Points With No Annual Fee : Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
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Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards Points after you use your new Card to make $1,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
| Regular APR (%) | 12.99% - 23.99% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 2 points per $1 at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year. Earn 1 point per $1 for other eligible purchases. |
| INTRO PURCHASE APR | 0% for 15 Months |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 2.7% |
- Why We Chose This Card
- Pros and Cons
The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card is our choice for the best card for points with no annual fee. It earns 2x points on groceries (up to $6,000 each year) and 1x points on everything else.
Additionally, you'll earn 2x points when booking travel with Amex Travel. When you use the card at least 20 times in a month, you'll receive 20% more points. An intro 0% APR promotion for purchases is available for the first 15 months after being approved.
Enhanced (2 points per dollar spent) rewards rate on U.S. supermarket purchases
20% points bonus for making 20 or more monthly transactions
0% APR on purchases for the first 15 months
U.S. supermarket rewards have an annual cap
Some big-box groceries are excepted from the U.S. supermarket rate
2.7% foreign transaction fee
Best for Business : American Express® Blue Business Cash Card
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Earn a $250 statement credit afte you spend $3,000 in purchases on your card in the first 3 months.
| Regular APR (%) | 13.24% - 19.24% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. |
| INTRO PURCHASE APR | 0% for 12 Months |
| Balance Transfer Fee | If eligible, either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
| Cash Advance Fee | This product does not offer cash advances. |
- Why We Chose This Card
- Pros and Cons
We selected the American Express® Blue Business Cash Card as the best business card option from Amex because of its generous 2% cashback on all purchases for up to $50,000 in business spending each year, then 1% after that.
This high level of cashback on all purchases can allow small-business owners to earn over $400 a year, based on average spending levels. The Blue Business Cash Card also has no annual fee.
Earn 2% rewards
Flexible credit limit
0% introductory offer on purchases for 12 months
Free employee cards
Bonus rewards are capped at $50,000 per year
No balance transfer APR promotion
Best for Hotels : Hilton Honors American Express Card
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Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer expires 8/25/2021. 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.
| Regular APR (%) | 15.74% - 24.74% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | 7 points per $1 for eligible Hilton purchases. 5 points per $1 for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. 3 points per $1 for all other eligible purchases. |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
- Why We Chose This Card
- Pros and Cons
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is the best Amex hotel option because of its rich rewards structure with high points multiples for Hilton purchases as well as those at gas stations, restaurants, and U.S. supermarkets in the U.S. The base earning rate of 3 points per dollar on all other purchases is particularly impressive given that the card charges no annual fee. Other Hilton cards from American Express do provide higher bonus points for Hilton purchases, but those come with high annual fees.
Rewards are competitive
Easy to stack rewards as a Hilton Honors loyalty program member
Fast track your way to Hilton Honors Gold status
Short on premium travel perks
No introductory APR for purchases or balance transfers
Best for Travel : The Platinum Card® from American Express
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Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards(R) Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn 10x points on eligible purchases on the Card at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S., on up to $25,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership.
| Regular APR (%) | 15.99% - 22.99% variable |
| Annual Fee | $695 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 5X Membership Rewards(R) Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Earn 5X Membership Rewards(R) Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
- Why We Chose This Card
- Pros and Cons
The Platinum Card® from American Express is our choice for the best travel card available from Amex because of its huge bonus earnings on airfare purchased directly from airlines or through Amextravel.com and on prepaid hotel purchases.
The Platinum card also provides an array of valuable travel perks, including airport lounge access, primary auto rental insurance, and TSA Pre/Global Reentry fee offsets. There is a high $695 annual fee, but that can be justified for frequent travelers.
Outstanding rewards on flights and hotel stays
Generous one-time offer for new cardholders
Exceptional luxury travel benefits
Annual credits reduce the net cost of the annual fee
$695 annual fee, which is high even for a premium travel card
Restrictive options for booking airlines and hotels
No non-travel high-rewards categories
Best for Points, Daily Use : Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
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Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards Points after you use your new Card to make $1,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
| Regular APR (%) | 12.99% - 22.99% variable |
| Annual Fee | $95 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 3 points per $1 at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year. Earn 2 points at US gas stations, and 1 point on other purchases. |
| INTRO PURCHASE APR | 0% for 12 Months |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 2.7% |
- Why We Chose This Card
- Pros and Cons
People who use credit cards regularly will benefit from the Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card. It is our choice for the best credit card for daily use because you'll receive a 50% bonus on points earned when you use the card 30 times a month.
The card earns 3x on groceries (up to $6,000 per year), 2x at U.S. gas stations at Amex Travel, and 1x everywhere else. The 0% APR promotion on purchases for 12 months gives new customers more time to pay off their charges. It also includes return protection in case a store won't accept your returns within 90 days of purchase.
Competitive rewards earning rates on routine purchases
More points for frequent spenders
Flexible travel rewards
Annual fee
Earning caps may limit grocery rewards
Weak bonus for new cardholders
Best for Dining : American Express® Gold Card
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Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards(R) points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
| Regular APR (%) | 15.99% - 22.99% variable |
| Annual Fee | $250 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 4X Membership Rewards(R) Points on Restaurants, including takeout and delivery, plus, earn 4X points for Uber Eats purchases too. Earn 4X Membership Rewards(R) points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
- Why We Chose This Card
- Pros and Cons
Our choice for the best dining card from American Express is the American Express® Gold Card. It offers a generous 4x points on unlimited dining and up to $25,000 spent annually on groceries. Plus, you'll earn 3x points on flights and 1x everywhere else. Although the card has a $250 annual fee, it includes $120 per year in Uber credits and $120 per year in dining credits. Travelers will also benefit from the $100 dining credit per stay when booking rooms with The Hotel Collection. It also has no foreign transaction fees, so you can use it anywhere in the world without being charged extra.
Exceptional points rewards with restaurants, supermarkets, and airlines
Annual dining and Uber credits offset the annual fee
Redemption options include 1:1 transfers to many airline and hotel partners
No foreign transaction fees
The annual fee is more than double that of many other cards
Grocery bonuses have a spending cap
Superstore and warehouse-club purchases don't earn supermarket rewards
Best Airline : Delta SkyMiles® Blue Card
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Earn 10,000 Bonus Miles after spending $500 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership.
| Regular APR (%) | 15.74% - 24.74% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 2 miles per dollar at restaurants and on eligible Delta purchases, and earn 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases. |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
- Why We Chose This Card
- Pros and Cons
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue Card scored highest among American Express co-branded airline cards due to its bonus miles on Delta and restaurant purchases in combination with its lack of an annual fee. While the card doesn't carry the travel-related perks of other Delta Amex cards, it can be a good fit for those who have Delta loyalty but don't fly often enough to justify the higher annual fees involved.
Matches the rewards of the Delta Skymiles Gold Amex in some key categories
No annual fee
Miles can can be used through Delta on more than 20 airline partners
Lacks travel benefits
Small welcome offer
Final Verdict
American Express has a variety of credit cards for consumers and small businesses that offer rewards, benefits, and more to meet their needs. Many of its cards earn airline miles or hotel points in loyalty programs that are popular with travelers. Amex offers a mix of cards that charge annual fees and those that don't, so you can easily find one that works with your budget.
Our choice for the best American Express credit card is the Cash Magnet Card. It earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase and offers a generous welcome bonus with a low minimum spending requirement. The card also offers a 0% APR promotion on purchases for 15 months which can be helpful for consumers looking to make a large purchase.
Compare the Best American Express Credit Cards
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Intro Offer | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Magnet® Card
Best Overall |
$0 | $200 after spending $1,000 in 3 months | Unlimited 1.5% cash back |
| Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Best for Groceries |
$95 (first year waived) | $300 after spending $3,000 in 6 months | 6% on groceries and streaming, 3% on transit and gas, 1% all else |
| Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
Best for Points with No Annual Fee |
$0 | 10,000 points after spending $1,000 in 3 months | 2x on groceries, 1x on all else |
| American Express® Blue Business Cash Card
Best for Business |
$0 | No bonus | 2% on $50,000, then 1% on all else |
| Hilton Honors American Express Card
Best for Hotels |
$0 | Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer expires 8/25/2021. 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. | 7x Hilton, 5x dining, groceries, and gas, 3x all else |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express
Best for Travel |
$695 | 100,000 points after spending $6,000 in 6 months, 10x on Restaurants Worldwide and Shop Small in the US for 6 months | 5x flights and prepaid hotels, 1x on all else |
| Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
Best for Points, Daily Use |
$95 | 15,000 points after spending $1,000 in 3 months | 3x groceries, 2x gas, 1x all else |
| American Express® Gold Card
Best for Dining |
$250 | 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in 3 months | 4x dining and groceries, 3x flights, 1x all else |
| Delta SkyMiles® Blue Card
Best Airline |
$0 | 10,000 miles after spending $500 in 3 months | 2x dining and Delta, 1x all else |
Editorial Picks for Best American Express Credit Cards
Cash Magnet® Card
Best Overall
The Cash Magnet Card earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase without remembering bonus categories or needing to sign up for any promotions. New cardholders can earn a $200 welcome bonus when they spend at least $1,000 during the first three months.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Best for Groceries
You'll earn up to 6% cash back on groceries with the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express, making it the best card to use at the supermarket. The card also includes a 0% APR on purchases for 12 months and a $300 welcome bonus after spending $3,000 within six months.
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
Best for Points with No Annual Fee
The best card to earn Membership Rewards points with no annual fee is the Amex EveryDay Credit Card. You'll earn up to 2x points on groceries and receive a 20% bonus when you use the card 20 times in a month, plus you can earn a 10,000 point welcome bonus.
American Express® Blue Business Cash Card
Best for Business
Business owners can earn up to 2% cashback on every purchase with the American Express Blue Business Cash Card. It has no annual fee and employee cards can be added for free.
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Best for Hotels
The best card for hotels is the Hilton Honors American Express Card because it earns 7x points at Hilton properties and offers a bonus of 100,000 points. Cardholders receive automatic Silver elite status and can be upgraded to Gold status based on spending.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Best for Travel
The Platinum Card from American Express is the best Amex card for travel based on its airport lounge benefits, automatic elite status with Hilton and Marriott, and annual airline fee credits. You'll earn 5x points on flights and pre-paid hotels when booking with Amex Travel or directly with the airlines.
Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
Best for Points, Daily Use
The Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card is our choice for the best card for daily use because you're rewarded with a 50% bonus if you have 30 transactions in a month. You'll earn 3x on groceries and 2x on gas in addition to a competitive welcome bonus and an APR promo for purchases.
American Express® Gold Card
Best for Dining
You'll earn 4x points on dining and groceries with the American Express Gold Card, making it one of the most rewarding cards for meals. The card also includes $120 of Uber credits and $120 of dining credits that offset almost all of the card's annual fee.
Delta SkyMiles® Blue Card
Best Airline
The Delta SkyMiles Blue Card is the best airline credit card from American Express because you can earn Delta SkyMiles without paying an annual fee. You'll earn 2x miles on dining and Delta purchases, plus receive a 20% discount on all in-flight purchases of food and beverages.
FAQs
What Is the History of American Express?
American Express is a storied and diversified global financial services powerhouse with roots reaching back to the 19th century. It was launched in 1850 to provide express shipments of goods, securities, and currency within New York state. Today, the company is a leader in charge card, credit card, and traveler's check lines of business.
What Kinds of Credit Cards Does American Express Issue?
Since American Express is both a network and a card issuer, it issues cards exclusively on its network-branded platform and doesn't issue Visa, Mastercard, or Discover network-branded cards. Amex primarily offers rewards charge cards and credit cards with cash back, generic travel points, and points tied to co-branded partner loyalty programs. It also has several cards catering to the small-business community.
The types of cards that American Express issues include:
- Flexible points cards
- Airline credit cards
- Hotel credit cards
- Cashback credit cards
- Business cards
How Do You Qualify for an American Express Card?
American Express generally requires exceptional or very good credit for its card products but also offers a few cards aimed at those with merely good credit. Amex does not offer cards for fair or bad credit and doesn't have options for student or secured credit cards.
These are the credit score ranges, according to Experian:
- Exceptional: 800-850
- Very good: 740-799
- Good: 670-739
- Fair: 580-669
- Very Poor: 300-579
How Does Amex's Membership Rewards Program Work?
American Express Membership Rewards are offered on purchases with a select number of Amex cards. Some provide a flat number of points on all purchases, while others offer bonus points on certain spending categories like airfare, prepaid hotels, restaurants, gas, or groceries.
The following American Express cards offer Membership Rewards:
- American Express Green Card
- American Express Gold Card
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- Amex Everyday
- Amex Everyday Preferred
- Blue Business Plus Credit Card
- Business Green Rewards Card
- Business Gold Card
- Business Platinum Card
For more details on Membership Rewards, please see our Ultimate Guide to American Express Membership Rewards.
Aside from the American Express rewards program, Amex offers other rewards cards that include cash back (both flat-rate rewards and those with bonus cash back on specific spending categories) and partner-based programs like airline, hotel, and retailer loyalty points.
How Good Is American Express Customer Service?
American Express received first place for its customer service, scoring 838 out of 1,000 points in the 2020 J.D. Power U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study. The average score among major national issuers was 810.
Is an American Express Card Right for Me?
American Express offers a wide variety of credit cards depending on what benefits, rewards, annual fees, and APR promotions you're looking for. If you have at least an average credit score, then Amex has many options to choose from. People with fair or poor credit scores should focus on boosting their credit scores before applying to give themselves the best chance at approval.
Are American Express Cards Worth It?
While many credit cards from American Express have an annual fee, the benefits they offer and the ability to earn rewards are worth it when you maximize its features. Amex no annual fee cards are worth it based on the welcome bonus, rewards earned, and available benefits. All Amex cards are eligible for Amex Offers, which are exclusive promotions to earn cash back, discounts, and bonus rewards at participating merchants.
Methodology
To select the best American Express credit cards, we reviewed and analyzed every one of its available credit cards. We gathered data points on rewards earned, welcome bonuses, benefits, annual fees, interest rates, and more to assign a ranking for each card. The cards were selected based on features that are important to a variety of potential cardholders in each category. We continuously monitor the details for these cards to update our rankings to ensure that readers receive the best recommendations.
Meet Our Credit Cards Expert
Ben Woolsey is Investopedia's Senior Editor for Credit Cards. He has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, including marketing for banking and financial institutions such as Associates First Capital and Bank One. Prior to Investopedia, he managed credit card content for CreditCards.com and Bankrate.com.
To see the rates and fees for the featured American Express Cards please see the following links:
- Cash Magnet® Card rates and fees
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express rates and fees
- American Express® Blue Business Cash Card rates and fees
- Hilton Honors American Express Card rates and fees
- The Platinum Card® from American Express rates and fees
- Delta SkyMiles® Blue Card rates and fees