If you\u2019re a credit card rewards-seeker, you might already know just how coveted some American Express benefits and perks can be. (Centurion card? If you know, you know.) There is a range of American Express cards for different financial goals, whether you\u2019re looking for cash back, travel rewards, an Amex credit card with an introductory 0% APR, or anything in between.<\/p>\n
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Annual fee<\/p>\n
$0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Welcome offer<\/p>\n
Earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 within the first 6 months<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Introductory Balance Transfer APR<\/p>\n
0% on balance transfers for 15 months<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Ongoing Balance Transfer APR<\/p>\n
19.49%-28.49% Variable<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Introductory Purchases APR<\/p>\n
0% on purchases for 15 months<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Ongoing Purchases APR<\/p>\n
19.49%-28.49% Variable<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Rewards rate<\/p>\n
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- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1%)<\/li>\n
- 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1%)<\/li>\n
- 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1%)<\/li>\n
- 1% cash back on all other purchases<\/li>\n
- Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Benefits<\/p>\n
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- Generous intro APR on purchases and balance transfers<\/li>\n
- Get up to a $7 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday\u00ae Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at disneyplus.com, hulu.com, or plus.espn.com U.S. websites (subject to auto-renewal)<\/li>\n
- Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee \u2014\u00a0select the purchase in your online account or the American Express\u00ae App to see your plan options<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n
Why we like it:<\/strong> We like the Blue Cash Everyday for the value it can add to anyone\u2019s wallet \u2014 whether you\u2019re looking for a single catch-all cash-back card or want to round out the rewards you already earn. Not only does it cover everyday expenses at the supermarket and gas station, but the added online retail category can help you maximize purchases that usually aren\u2019t included among credit card rewards categories. And with no annual fee, the annual credits can help put money directly back into your pocket each month.<\/p>\n
Related: <\/strong>Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card review: Earn solid rewards in common categories<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Annual fee<\/p>\n
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Welcome offer<\/p>\n
Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Introductory Purchases APR<\/p>\n
0% on purchases for 12 months<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Ongoing Purchases APR<\/p>\n
19.49%-28.49% Variable<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Introductory Balance Transfer APR<\/p>\n
0% on balance transfers for 12 months<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Ongoing Balance Transfer APR<\/p>\n
19.49%-28.49% Variable<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Rewards rate<\/p>\n
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- 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 in eligible purchases annually, then earn 1%)<\/li>\n
- 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions<\/li>\n
- 3% cash back on at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit, including taxis\/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more<\/li>\n
- 1% cash back on all other purchases<\/li>\n
- *Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Benefits<\/p>\n
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- Generous intro APR on purchases and balance transfers<\/li>\n
- Get up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred\u00ae Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at disneyplus.com, hulu.com, or plus.espn.com U.S. websites (subject to auto-renewal)<\/li>\n
- Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee \u2014\u00a0select the purchase in your online account or the American Express\u00ae App to see your plan options<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n
Why we like it:<\/strong> With 6% cash back for the first $6,000 you spend at U.S. supermarkets each year, the Blue Cash Preferred can help you earn up to $360 on your grocery shopping alone. Combined with great returns on other everyday spending, this card carries a lot of potential.<\/p>\n
Before you apply, make sure your spending aligns with each of the reward categories so you can guarantee at least more rewards than the annual fee cost.<\/p>\n
Read more: <\/strong>Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card review<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Annual fee<\/p>\n
$325<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Welcome offer<\/p>\n
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards\u00ae Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months (welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer; apply to know if you\u2019re approved and find out your exact welcome offer with no credit score impact; if approved and you accept the card, your score may be impacted)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Rewards rate<\/p>\n
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- 4x Membership Rewards Points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x)<\/li>\n
- 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x)<\/li>\n
- 3x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com<\/li>\n
- 2x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com<\/li>\n
- 1x Membership Rewards points on all other eligible purchases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Benefits<\/p>\n
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- Earn up to $10 in statement credits each month when you pay with your American Express Gold Card at Five Guys, Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, and Wine.com (enrollment required)<\/li>\n
- Up to $100 in annual statement credits ($50 semi-annually) when you use your American Express Gold Card on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants on the Resy app or Resy.com<\/li>\n
- Up to $84 per year ($7\/month) in statement credits after you enroll and pay with your American Express Gold Card at more than 9,000 U.S. Dunkin\u2019\u00ae locations (enrollment is required to receive this benefit)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n
Why we like it:<\/strong> We like the Amex Gold for travel rewards because it has a lot to offer both occasional and very frequent travelers. With 4x per dollar spent at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, you can rack up plenty of rewards on your regular food expenses at home to put toward future trips. And with valuable annual credits on common expenses, you may even earn back the annual fee cost before even accounting for rewards value.<\/p>\n
Just make sure you understand the Membership Rewards program before you apply for an Amex Gold Card. While there are plenty of redemption options, you\u2019ll likely get the best value when you redeem points for flights through Amex Travel or transfer to one of American Express\u2019 travel partners.<\/p>\n
Check out the newest Amex Gold Card benefits and features for foodies<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
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Annual fee<\/p>\n
$895<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Welcome offer<\/p>\n
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards\u00ae Points after spending $8,000 within the first 6 months (welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer); apply to know if you\u2019re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount \u2013 all with no credit score impact (if you\u2019re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Rewards rate<\/p>\n
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- 5x points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel\u00ae (up to $500,000 per calendar year)<\/li>\n
- 5x points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel<\/li>\n
- 1x points on all other purchases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Benefits<\/p>\n
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- Get up to $600 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel (up to $300 semi-annually; The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay)<\/li>\n
- Get up to $400 in annual statement credits ($100 each quarter; enrollment required) for eligible purchases with Resy, including dining at Resy restaurants<\/li>\n
- Enjoy up to $200 in Uber Cash annually \u2014\u00a0 that’s $15 in Uber Cash for rides or Uber Eats orders each month, plus a bonus $20 in December (you must have the latest version of the Uber App downloaded and your eligible American Express Platinum Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account; Amex benefit may only be used in United States)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n
Why we like it:<\/strong> It might be among the most expensive credit cards available today, but the Platinum Card from Amex can offer major annual savings for the right cardholder. For premium travel cards like this one, it\u2019s important to make sure the benefits and rewards offset the steep annual fee cost. If you travel often and value things like airport lounge access, priority security lines, and hotel and airline credits, it can be easy to get your money\u2019s worth with the Platinum Card \u2014 especially when you earn rewards toward future travel. But if you only travel occasionally or you don\u2019t already pay for the subscriptions you can get credits for, you\u2019ll probably want to opt for a lower-cost rewards card or cash-back credit card.<\/p>\n
Related: <\/strong>American Express Platinum Card review: An elite travel card with first-class benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Annual fee<\/p>\n
$350<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Welcome offer<\/p>\n
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in the first 6 months, and an additional 20,000 bonus miles after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases in the first 6 months (offer ends 04\/01\/2026)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Rewards rate<\/p>\n
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- 3x miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels<\/li>\n
- 2x miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets<\/li>\n
- 1x miles on all other eligible purchases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Benefits<\/p>\n
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- Receive a Companion Certificate on a main cabin round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. Terms apply.<\/li>\n
- Earn up to $10 in statement credits each month after using your Delta SkyMiles\u00ae Platinum American Express Card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required<\/li>\n
- Check your first bag free on Delta flights<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n
Why we like it:<\/strong> This is a more premium option among American Express and Delta\u2019s co-branded credit cards, but the Delta Platinum carries enough extras to help Delta frequent flyers justify the cost. The annual Companion Certificate alone may save hundreds of dollars in award value, especially now that you can use it to book Caribbean and Central American destinations in addition to domestic flights. And if you\u2019re working toward Medallion Status with the airline, you\u2019ll get a lot of help with the annual MQD headstart and MQD Boost for your card spending.<\/p>\n
Finally, this card is great for earning miles today for award flights tomorrow. Not only can you earn bonus miles on Delta flights, but you\u2019ll also get rewarded on everyday spending at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets. Combined with the 15% discount on award flights, that\u2019s a lot of potential savings on upcoming trips<\/p>\n
Related: <\/strong>Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve: Which is better for frequent Delta travelers?<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Rewards rate<\/p>\n
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- 6x Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy<\/li>\n
- 4x points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2x points)<\/li>\n
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Benefits<\/p>\n
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- Earn up to 18.5x Marriott Bonvoy\u00ae points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy: Earn 6x points with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy\u00ae American Express\u00ae Card; earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member; and earn up to 2.5x points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 25% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Gold Elite status<\/li>\n
- Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card in a calendar year (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy; certain hotels have resort fees)<\/li>\n
- Each calendar year with your card, you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy\u00ae Elite status (Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy\u00ae member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n
Why we like it: <\/strong>If Marriott is your preferred hotel chain when you travel, this card has a lot to offer toward future stays and the extra perks you can get with status. Of course, we like that you can start with a generous welcome bonus (after meeting the spending requirement) \u2014 which can go a long way in reducing the cost of your next vacation.<\/p>\n
Longer term, the Bonvoy Bevy card\u2019s rewards categories, extra points earned when you stay at Marriott Bonvoy properties, and other benefits offer potential big savings for relatively frequent travelers. Because of its higher fee, consider your upcoming and regular yearly travel schedule to see if there are enough potential savings to make up the annual cost.<\/p>\n
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Annual fee<\/p>\n
$0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Welcome offer<\/p>\n
Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your card in your first 3 months<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Introductory Purchases APR<\/p>\n
0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Ongoing Purchases APR<\/p>\n
16.74% – 26.74% Variable<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Rewards rate<\/p>\n
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- 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year<\/li>\n
- 1% cash back on all eligible purchases after spending $50,000 per calendar year (cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n
Why we like it:<\/strong> The Blue Business Cash offers simple \u2014 but potentially high-value \u2014 rewards for small business owners across any industry. You\u2019ll pay no annual fee for this card and earn 2% cash rewards on every purchase up to the first $50,000 you spend per year without having to track spending categories. If you meet that cap, you\u2019ll earn $1,000 cash back.<\/p>\n
Given the $50,000 spending cap on 2% rewards, this card is best for businesses with an average monthly budget of $4,000 or less. If you have a large business expense coming up, you can also benefit from the card\u2019s generous intro APR on new purchases, which gives you some flexibility to pay it down over time before taking on interest.<\/p>\n
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Annual fee<\/p>\n
$0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Welcome offer<\/p>\n
Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases in your first 6 months of card membership<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Rewards rate<\/p>\n
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- 7x points on eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio<\/li>\n
- 5x points on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations<\/li>\n
- 3x points on all other eligible purchases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Benefits<\/p>\n
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- $0 annual fee<\/li>\n
- Spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status through the end of the next calendar year<\/li>\n
- Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n
Why we like it:<\/strong> We like this card for its major rewards potential as a no annual fee card. The wide range of rewards categories, including everyday purchases like dining out at restaurants and filling up at gas stations, can help you quickly rack up points toward award stays with Hilton.<\/p>\n
Compared to high-priced hotel cards with premium rewards, the Hilton Honors American Express Card can make a solid choice for travelers who prefer staying with Hilton but don\u2019t spend the majority of their budget on travel expenses.<\/p>\n
Read more: <\/strong>Hilton Honors American Express Card review: Lots of reward opportunities for Hilton loyalists<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Annual fee<\/p>\n
$375<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Welcome offer<\/p>\n
Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards\u00ae Points after you spend $15,000 on purchases within the first 3 months<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Ongoing Purchases APR<\/p>\n
17.74% – 28.49% Variable<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Rewards rate<\/p>\n
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- Earn 4x Membership Rewards points on the top two eligible categories (out of 6 total categories) where your business spends the most each month. Although your top 2 categories may change each month, you will earn 4x points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year, then 1x after that (only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap; terms apply).<\/li>\n
- 3x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com<\/li>\n
- 1x points on all other purchases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n
Why we like it:<\/strong> The Amex Business Gold Card has a high $375 annual fee, but could make sense if your business expenses align with its spending categories.<\/p>\n
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Rewards rate<\/p>\n
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- 3x miles on Delta purchases<\/li>\n
- 1.5x miles on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and office supply store purchases (plus all purchases after you spend $150,000 on your card in a year)<\/li>\n
- 1x miles on all other purchases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Benefits<\/p>\n
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- Earn an annual statement credit of up to $250 after using your card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com<\/li>\n
- Check your first bag free on Delta flights<\/li>\n
- Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n
Why we like it:<\/strong> The Amex Business Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card is easily one of our favorite cards for frequent Delta business travelers who want premium benefits. Top card perks include Delta Sky Club access* and an annual companion certificate each year after renewal.<\/p>\n
If you need help deciding between multiple American Express credit cards, consider our detailed comparison pages:<\/p>\n
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Rewards and benefits:<\/strong> Whether you\u2019re seeking cash back or points and miles rewards, Amex cards are some of the top options for maximizing your spending. Just make sure you compare all your options to find the right fit for how you prefer to earn and redeem rewards on the money you spend.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Travel transfer partners:<\/strong> Not only does Amex have a wide selection of co-branded airline and hotel cards, but it also offers transfers to over 21 partners on Membership Rewards-earning cards. These partners range from Delta Air Lines and Marriott Bonvoy to JetBlue TrueBlue, Emirates Skywards, Choice Privileges, and many more.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Cardmember exclusives: <\/strong>American Express offers one of the most robust programs for entertainment access among issuers. As a cardholder, you may qualify for access to exclusive dining, entertainment, and sports events, as well as gain early access to ticket sales when available.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Card acceptance:<\/strong> While American Express has made major strides in the number of merchants that accept its cards, you may still find it\u2019s less-accepted than some other networks, like Visa and Mastercard. In the U.S., you probably don\u2019t have to worry about your card being accepted, though; 99% of merchants that accept credit cards will take Amex payments.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Different rewards types:<\/strong> With its wide range of credit cards also comes a wide range of rewards types \u2014 but this feature can also make it somewhat difficult to combine cards. If you have an Amex cash-back card and an American Express travel credit card that earns Membership Rewards, for example, you won\u2019t be able to pool your rewards and redeem them together. Along the same lines, you may not be able to upgrade or downgrade a card that earns one type of rewards for another card type.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Not all card types available:<\/strong> In general, you\u2019ll likely need good-to-excellent credit to qualify for an American Express credit card. If you\u2019re looking for a student credit card or secured credit card to begin building credit, you may want to seek out another issuer.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Opening any new credit card, including an American Express card, is only worth it if the card makes sense for your specific financial goals.<\/p>\n
American Express has great options for earning both cash-back and travel rewards on your regular spending \u2014 plus cards well-suited for small business owners, paying down debt with a balance transfer, and more.<\/p>\n
But before applying for any new card, look back at your regular spending. Make sure you\u2019ll get enough value to offset any annual fee cost and that you can maximize purchases you already make. Read the card\u2019s terms and conditions to make sure you understand how to avoid fees that could lower your potential value. Evaluate the details of any welcome offer to determine whether the required spending threshold is within your budget.<\/p>\n
Most importantly, consider how the card might affect your overall financial plan. If you\u2019re worried you might be tempted to overspend so you can score a bonus or make purchases only to take advantage of annual credits, you may want to rethink applying for a new card. Spending more than you can afford to pay off can lead to high-interest debt balances that last for years \u2014 and cost you much more over time than you\u2019ll earn from any potential rewards.<\/p>\n
\nHere are some features and benefits you may come across when you open an American Express card:<\/p>\n
Amex Offers give you additional savings and points on specific purchases when you opt in through your American Express account. You may find, for example, an American Express credit card offer for $30 back after spending $100 at Levi\u2019s or for 15% back on Bose.com purchases (up to a total $50 back).<\/p>\n
The value of each offer varies and the offers available to you may differ depending on your location. Before you can use an offer, you\u2019ll need to add the offer to your card \u2014 and make sure to use it before the expiration date.<\/p>\n
From your Amex account, you can see the total amount of money you\u2019ve saved with Amex Offers. You can participate in the program with any eligible consumer or business Amex card in the U.S.<\/p>\n
If you already have a credit card, you\u2019re probably familiar with how the payment process works. At the end of each billing cycle, you\u2019ll receive a statement with your total balance and minimum payment due. Then, you must pay at least the minimum to avoid late payment fees and penalties. If you pay at least the minimum but less than the full amount owed by your due date, you\u2019ll start accruing interest at your given APR.<\/p>\n
But some American Express cards (including the Platinum Card from Amex, Amex Gold, and Amex Green Card) differ from this formula a bit. Amex credit cards with Pay Over Time flexibility don\u2019t have a standard preset spending limit. Instead, the limit can vary depending on your spending, credit, and other factors. And unlike a typical credit card, you must pay your balance in full each month \u2014 unless you opt into Pay Over Time.<\/p>\n
If you choose to activate Pay Over Time, the process looks more like other credit cards. You can make eligible charges up to your assigned Pay Over Time limit (which you can find within the card agreement) and will need to pay at least your minimum amount due by the due date before the remainder accrues interest at your Pay Over Time APR. Of course, you can always still choose to pay your full balance by the due date before the APR kicks in.<\/p>\n
Despite how these card terms may offer some added flexibility, it doesn\u2019t change anything about avoiding interest. If you don\u2019t pay your balance in full by the due date each month, you can still take on interest at your card\u2019s high APR. The best way to avoid interest charges \u2014 Pay Over Time or otherwise \u2014 is to spend only what you can afford to pay in full each month.<\/p>\n
Many American Express cards earn points under the issuer\u2019s Membership Rewards program. You can redeem your Membership Rewards points for travel, statement credits, shopping, and more. But like many rewards programs, different redemptions carry different values.<\/p>\n
With Membership Rewards, you\u2019ll generally get top value for your points when you redeem them for travel. This includes booking travel through American Express Travel. Airfare, specifically, is typically worth a maximum 1 cent per point \u2014 while hotels and rental cars, for example, may offer lower redemptions.<\/p>\n
The other potentially lucrative travel redemption is transferring points to one of American Express’s travel credit card partners. Though redemption values vary depending on your travel plans, the specific partner program, and other factors, this is often one of the most valuable ways to redeem.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re comparing different card options, use the Membership Rewards calculator on Amex\u2019s site to see exactly how much value you\u2019ll get with different credit cards and redemption options.<\/p>\n
\nAmerican Express travel rewards credit cards range in rewards categories, annual fee, and other benefits, but they all earn Membership Rewards points.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re looking for American Express credit card options you can use to earn rewards on your spending toward future travel (and you\u2019re not tied to any one specific travel brand), these are the cards to consider. These American Express credit card options are also the most likely to have annual fees in exchange for very high welcome offers and annual credits.<\/p>\n
Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Co-branded travel cards<\/h3>\n
American Express has co-branded travel credit cards with Delta Air Lines, Hilton Honors, and Marriott Bonvoy. If you always prefer to fly Delta or stay with Hilton or Marriott when you travel, you may want to consider these co-branded cards \u2014 which cover a range of different annual fees and rewards structures.<\/p>\n
Unlike other American Express travel rewards credit cards, these cards do not earn Membership Rewards. Instead, you\u2019ll redeem the points and miles you earn on your spending with the airline or hotel rewards program \u2014 Delta SkyMiles, Hilton Honors points, or Marriott Bonvoy points.<\/p>\n
Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n
American Express\u2019 cash-back credit cards are a great way to maximize your regular spending for cash rewards. You\u2019ll find competitive rewards rates compared to other cash-back credit cards and some even have annual credits to give you more money back on specific expenses.<\/p>\n
An Amex credit card with an introductory 0% APR on new purchases and balance transfers are also common among Amex\u2019s cash-back credit cards. If you want to earn rewards after paying down existing debt or you have a large upcoming purchase, this is another valuable benefit.<\/p>\n
Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Small business owners have plenty of options when it comes to making the most of business expenses with Amex. American Express business cards range from cash-back to travel rewards and co-branded travel cards. You can even find business cards with no annual fee and 0% APR offers.<\/p>\n
Amex business cards generally come with the ability to add employee cards to your account as well as expense management tools that can help you track business spending and stay prepared come tax season.<\/p>\n
Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe American Express Centurion Card, also known as the Amex Black Card, is the most prestigious American Express card available and one of the most exclusive cards in the world. It\u2019s an invite-only card reserved for some of the highest-spending Amex clients who meet the criteria for the Centurion\u2019s secret formula.<\/p>\n
The Amex Gold card is much better for earning rewards on everyday spending, including making grocery purchases and dining out. But if you\u2019re a frequent traveler who loves having luxury travel perks, such as airport lounge access, the Amex Platinum is the clear winner.<\/p>\n
American Express doesn\u2019t publish an official number of how many Amex cards you can have at a given time, but you should generally avoid having too many cards if you have multiple cards with overlapping benefits and you don\u2019t want to manage a large number of cards.<\/p>\n
Visa cards are more accepted worldwide and there are more options to choose from. However, Visa isn\u2019t a credit card issuer, so your actual card account could be with one of dozens of different financial institutions. American Express issues its own cards, so all of your Amex credit cards can be accessed from the same account.<\/p>\n
\nOur list of the best American Express credit cards is made up of cards that we already rank among the best in their specific categories \u2014 cash-back credit cards, rewards credit cards, travel credit cards, and more.<\/p>\n
To compile this list, we determined the categories we wanted to divide American Express credit cards into, based on what types of cards the issuer offers and common card types sought out by cardholders. These became the superlatives we aimed to fulfill, from the best Amex card for business or the best American Express credit card for cash back to the best no annual fee Amex credit card and best premium Amex card.<\/p>\n
From there, we looked to our existing card ratings and \u201cbest cards\u201d lists to find the cards that both fit within the chosen categories and have high ratings. These ratings consider both details specific to the card type (welcome offers for rewards cards, 0% APR for balance transfer cards, etc.) as well as more general card details (annual fee, ongoing APR, transparency, app ratings, etc.).<\/p>\n
The final list above is made up of the American Express cards we rate highly within their given categories and that fit within the list of superlatives we created for American Express cards specifically. Through this combination of decisions, we believe we can help the widest variety of potential Amex cardholders find the card options that best fit their wallets \u2014 or navigate them to valuable options they may not have considered otherwise.<\/p>\n
This article was edited by <\/em>Rebecca McCracken<\/em><\/p>\n
\nEditorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank\u2019s website for the most current information. This site doesn’t include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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