American Express is well known for premium travel cards such as The Platinum Card® from American Express, which comes with some of the best airport lounge access in the world as well as luxury benefits like concierge service.
But Amex also offers several cards with non-travel perks and lower (or no) annual fees, like the American Express® Green Card and the Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card. You'll also receive excellent customer service from this major card issuer that's been around for decades.
If Amex is a good fit for your lifestyle and spending habits, these are the top credit cards you should consider.
Best Amex Cards
- Best for luxury travel: The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Best for food: American Express® Gold Card
- Best for cash back: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Best for travel and transit: American Express® Green Card
- Best for 0% intro APR: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Featured American Express Cards
$695
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points
Good to Excellent
- Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
- Annual statement credits with Saks and Uber
- Bonus categories leave something to be desired
- One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards
If you want as many premium travel perks as possible, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the right card for you. The annual fee is high, but you get a long list of benefits such as airport lounge access, travel statement credits, and more.
Amex Platinum Card- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
$325
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of Card Membership
Good to Excellent
- Great rewards for dining and for shopping at U.S. supermarkets
- Monthly statement credit for eligible dining purchases recoups some of the annual fee
- Underwhelming welcome bonus
Foodies and travelers alike will appreciate the American Express Gold's generous welcome bonus and Membership Rewards points earning. Its Uber Cash credits are useful for rides and Uber Eats, and monthly dining credits with participating merchants like GrubHub and Seamless are easy to use.
Amex Gold Card- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers from the date of account opening
18.24% - 29.24% Variable
Earn a $250 statement credit
Good to Excellent
- Generous bonus rewards, especially at U.S. supermarkets
- One of a small handful of credit cards that offer bonus rewards on select streaming services
- Intro APR offer
- Unlike many other cash-back cards, it charges an annual fee
- If you spend more than $6,000 at US supermarkets each year, you'll want to use another card once you reach that cap
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred is one of the best cash-back cards, particularly for consumers who spend a lot of money at U.S. supermarkets, use streaming services, or have lots of commuting and gas expenses. The annual fee is worth it if your typical spending lines up with the card's bonus categories.
Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card- Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
- Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 18.24% - 29.24%.
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
- 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
Best for Luxury Travel: The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the best-known cards in the world.
While this card has one of the highest annual fees of any mainstream card on the market, you can get more than $1,000 in value from its many benefits if you utilize most or all of them each year.
The card's $695 annual fee is even easier to stomach for first-year cardholders, who can earn a welcome offer of 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership (rates and fees).
The Amex Platinum Card earns 5 points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, and 1 point on other purchases. Terms apply.
The card comes with a long list of perks including access to the Priority Pass network of airport lounges after enrollment, as well as Delta Sky Clubs (when you're flying Delta) and proprietary Amex Centurion Lounges. It also offers American Express card travel coverage and complimentary Gold elite status with Marriott and Hilton hotels.
You can also enroll to get up to $100 per year in shopping credits (broken up into semi annual $50 credits) at Saks Fifth Avenue, up to $200 in Uber credits (doled out as $15 each month and a bonus $20 in December) when you select your Amex card as the payment method for your Uber account, and access to special cardholder events. Terms apply.
Pro tip: No Preset Spending Limit means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.
The Platinum Card® from American Express also offers additional benefits you can enroll in such as up to $300 annually in Equinox credit, up to $199 annual credit for CLEAR® Plus membership, up to $200 annual credit toward eligible prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel, and monthly credits for Walmart+ memberships. Terms Apply.
Learn more in our American Express Platinum card review.
Best for Restaurants: Amex Gold Card
The Amex Gold Card is the best American Express card for foodies. It earns 4 Membership Rewards® points on purchases at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point), 4 points at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point), 3 points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com, 2 points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com, and 1 point on all other eligible purchases. Terms apply.
You can easily earn and use Amex points for more than 1 cent of value each based on our research, so this is the highest-earning Amex card for anything food-related.
Cardholders also get more than $300 in annual dining credits, although these are doled out in small increments over 12 months.
That being said, the high annual fee is steep for many people's wallets.
The Amex Gold Card is the best Amex card in our guide to the best cards for dining, but there are many options from other issuers that earn bonus points at restaurants and on groceries in the U.S. without costing any money out of pocket.
New cardholders can earn a welcome bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership. Terms Apply.
Learn more in our Amex Gold card review.
Best for Cash Back: Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card
Learning how to earn and use Amex points can be valuable, but it also requires some effort if you want to redeem them for maximum value. If you'd prefer to stick with cash back, consider the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card. This card is the best option for simplicity, even with an annual fee (rates and fees).
Cardholders earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services and 3% back on transit and at U.S. gas stations. They also earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases per calendar year (and 1% after that), and 1% cash back on everything else.
Cash back rewards are earned as Reward Dollars, which can be redeemed as statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout.
You'll also get a $7 monthly credit when you use this card to pay for a Disney Bundle subscription that costs $9.99 or more (up to $84 annual value). Terms Apply.
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card offers a zero-interest period: 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers from the date of account opening, then 18.24% - 29.24% Variable APR (rates and fees).
Learn more in our American Express Blue Cash Preferred review.
Best for Transit: Amex Green Card
The Amex Green Card is one of the best ways to earn Amex points on travel and dining, but it's also a great choice for commuters. Cardholders earn 3 Amex points per dollar spent on several common expenses:
- Travel, which includes everything from subway fares to hotels to flights
- Transit such as trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
- At restaurants worldwide
The Amex Green Card earns 1 point per dollar on other purchases. Terms apply.
Read more in our Amex Green card review.
Best for Intro APR: Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card
The Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card is similar to the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card, with a lower annual fee and pared down rewards structure.
The card earns a lower 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, at U.S. gas stations, and on U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per category per year, then 1%) 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 or at Amazon.com checkout). Terms apply.
While many people spend enough in the bonus categories to make the Blue Cash Preferred the better option, this remains a decent card for anyone strictly opposed to paying an annual fee (rates and fees).
If you're looking to make a major purchase and pay it off over time, like an appliance or an engagement ring, you can take advantage of the 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from account opening (after that, it reverts to a 18.24% - 29.24% Variable APR). You'll earn cash back on the purchase, which you can put right towards paying it off (rates and fees).
This card also offers the following statement credits (terms apply):
- $7 monthly credit when paying for a Disney Bundle subscription costing $9.99 or more with your card. This is up to $84 in annual value.
- $15 monthly credit toward a Home Chef subscription (up to $180 in credit per year).
Learn more in our Blue Cash Everyday Amex card review.
Co-Branded Amex Cards
We've also focused on Amex rewards cards in this guide to the exclusion of co-branded options, such as the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
These cards are issued in partnership with major airlines and hotel chains and confer generous benefits such as elite status, premium lounge access, free checked bags or meals, and more.
We left them out of this guide because the best hotel and airline program for you depends on many factors, including your preferred destinations, your home airport, and more.
Instead, you can find them in our guides to the best airline credit cards and the best hotel credit cards.
Eligibility and Credit Score Requirements
Amex has a reputation for luxury and premium benefits, and the issuer has strict credit requirements to match. Most Amex cards require an excellent credit score or a FICO score in the 700s or higher.
You'll also find the most success if you can show consistent income, although you may not need a high salary to qualify.
If you don't have a good credit score, consider improving your score before applying for an Amex card. You may qualify for a credit card for rebuilding credit, or may find benefit from utilizing a credit repair company if you have a lot of financial catch-up to do.
If you don't have any credit history, you may benefit from using a rent reporting service to help you build up a record of responsible finances.
Additional Cardholder Benefits
Many Amex cards allow the primary cardholder to add one or more authorized users — usually close family members or business associates who can make purchases on a secondary credit card linked to the main account.
You, as the primary cardholder, are ultimately responsible for paying down any balance(s) incurred by the people you authorized to share your account, but you typically also get to keep any rewards earned from spending on authorized user cards.
Your additional cardholders may be able to enjoy some of the benefits and perks associated with your card, although there may be a cost involved.
Amex Offers
Amex cards often come with exclusive discounts from a plethora of partner retailers through the Amex Offers program. Many offers are targeted at specific cardholders and can be found via the Amex dashboard online or in the Amex app.
Consumer Feedback on Amex Cards
In addition to working with our team of credit card experts to determine the best Amex cards, we scoured internet forums such as Reddit to see what everyday consumers have to say about Amex cards.
Are Amex Cards Worth It?
One of the most commonly searched questions is, "Are Amex cards worth it?" There are several different interpretations of this question, from the mention of annual fees to the various perks and potential benefits available.
The overall consensus is that, yes, American Express cards are worth pursuing, especially if you choose one of the no-annual-fee cards or the premium options that come with luxury travel benefits.
However, some people prefer other credit card issuers, emphasizing loyalty to Citi, Wells Fargo, Chase, Capital One, and U.S. Bank instead.
Does American Express Equal Luxury?
Amex is commonly associated with high-end goods and travel, partly because it issues several of the most recognizable metal credit cards worldwide.
While most finance-savvy people don't choose credit cards based on aesthetics alone, a couple of Redditors say that putting down The Platinum Card® from American Express on a big-stakes restaurant bill in front of a client never fails to impress.
High Annual Fees
The association with luxury comes at a cost, and one that can be steep depending on the card you choose.
The Platinum Card® from American Express currently charges the highest annual fee among publicly available consumer cards at $695 (rates and fees), and many of the issuer's other cards aren't far behind.
"Coupon Book" Benefits
As Amex continues to raise annual fees on popular cards each year, many cardholders have begun complaining about the way associated benefits are distributed.
Consumers derisively began comparing their cards to coupon books after American Express started to roll out more credits that cardholders receive in monthly increments at specific retailers.
Excellent Customer Service
American Express offers some of the best customer service across all credit card issuers.
Many consumers speak highly of the exemplary communication across concierges for Platinum cardholders, down to the online chat feature with live agents that's available 24/7 via the website dashboard or mobile app.
Cardholders also receive prompt, personable service when calling into the customer support hotlines.
Amex Card Frequently Asked Questions
The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the best cards for frequent flyers because cardholders enjoy numerous perks designed to make travel more enjoyable.
The Platinum Card® from American Express offers the best rewards, but also comes with a hefty annual fee.
Yes, American Express offers a few cards with no annual fee.
The invite-only Amex Centurion "Black Card" is the most prestigious American Express product. Most unofficial sources suggest that candidates must spend at least $500,000 on Amex cards each year to be considered.
You can have up to five Amex cards at one time, including both personal and business cards. This figure does not include the cards with which there isn't a fixed credit limit, however. Cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and American Express® Gold Card will not count against this five-card limit.
The security code, or CVV number, on American Express cards, is a four-digit number located on the front of your card on the right-hand side. Amex cards still come with a three-digit code on the back (similar to other card issuers), but you'll usually only need that for activating your card.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Amex Cards
We considered Amex-branded cards currently available to new applicants by evaluating several factors:
- Simplicity — Does the card offer an easy-to-use rewards program and redemption options? Are there any restrictions to navigate?
- Earning potential — Are there generous spending categories or a strong rewards rate across all purchases, and is there a welcome bonus offer?
- Annual fee — No-annual-fee cards are appealing, but if the card charges an annual fee, does it offer benefits that justify the cost?
- Options for different types of consumers — We made sure to include cards that are geared to various users, from cards with a 0% APR offer to travel points and cash-back cards.
Read our full methodology page to learn more about how we rate credit cards.
