Best American Express Credit Cards

Why We Like It: The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is the best American Express credit card for bonus cash back rewards. Blue Cash Preferred gives you 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, up to $6,000 spent per year, along with 6% back on U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% back at U.S. gas stations, 3% back on transit expenses, and 1% back on everything else (cash back is received in the form of reward dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout). That unique combination of bonus cash-back earning rates could save you hundreds of dollars per year.
 
You can also earn a $250 statement credit as an initial bonus for spending $3,000 in the first 6 months. Plus, there is a $0 intro annual fee the first year and a low introductory APR to go along with it.
 
What We Don’t Like: The card has an annual fee of $95 after the first year and a high regular APR. Blue Cash Preferred is still worth it, though, as long as you pay in full monthly when that regular APR is in effect.
 
Who Should Get It: Consider applying for Blue Cash Preferred if you have good credit or better, regularly make purchases in the card’s bonus categories, and can comfortably afford to spend $3,000 in the first 6 months after opening an account.

Why We Like It: The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is one of the best all-around American Express credit cards available right now, especially if your biggest expenses include gas and groceries. Blue Cash Everyday has a $0 annual fee, an intro APR of 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, and good rewards.
 
More specifically, you will earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and on U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 spent per year in each category), as well as 1% back on all other purchases, received as reward dollars (which can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout). You can also get a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 in the first 6 months.
 
What We Don’t Like: Most purchase categories only get you 1% back in rewards. The card’s regular APR could be pretty high, too, at 19.24% - 29.99% (V).
 
Who Should Get It: Consider applying for Amex Blue Cash Everyday if you have good credit or better and make recurring purchases in the card’s bonus rewards categories.

Why We Like It: The American Express Cash Magnet® Card is the best Amex credit card with no annual fee given its combination of attractive rewards and financing capabilities.

For starters, you can earn statement credits equal to 1.5% cash back on all purchases, plus a $200 statement credit for spending $2,000 in the first 6 months. In addition, you can avoid interest temporarily with an introductory APR of 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.

Put that all together, and you’ve got what you need to really rack up a lot of savings.

What We Don’t Like: The card’s regular APR is 19.24% - 29.99% (V). If you pay your bill in full monthly when that regular rate is in effect, it won’t cost you a thing.
 
Who Should Get It: Consider applying for the Cash Magnet Card if you want an Amex with straightforward rewards and no annual fee.

Why We Like It: The Platinum Card® from American Express is the best American Express card for travel because it offers the most potential savings, even after accounting for the fixed cost. You can get 80,000 points for spending $8,000 in the first 6 months. You will also earn 5 points per $1 spent on flights booked with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 spent per year), 5 points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked through Amex, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. 

In addition, there is a wide array of helpful benefits, including airport lounge access and credits for entertainment, shopping, airline fees and more.
 
What We Don’t Like: The Platinum Card® from American Express has a very high annual fee, at $695, but its many benefits can cover the cost for a frequent user.
 
Who Should Get It: Consider applying for the The Platinum Card® from American Express if you’re a frequent traveler and a big spender. You also need good credit.

Why We Like It: The American Express® Gold Card is the best Amex card for high-spending foodies. It offers 4 points / $1 spent at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and 4 points / $1 on up to $25,000 spent per year at U.S. supermarkets (then 1 point / $1). The American Express® Gold Card also offers up to $120 per year in dining credits when you enroll, as well as a big initial bonus offer, among its other rewards and benefits.
 
What We Don’t Like: You need to take full advantage of all the card offers for it to be truly worthwhile, due to its $250 annual fee.
 
Who Should Get It: Consider applying for the Amex Gold card if you have good credit or better and you want to save money at restaurants and supermarkets in the U.S. You should also plan to use the card regularly in order to get your money’s worth.

Why We Like It: The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card offers an initial bonus of 15,000 points after spending $2,000 in the first 6 months. You’ll also get 3 points per $1 spent at U.S. supermarkets, up to $6,000 per year in purchases, 2 points per $1 spent at U.S. gas stations and on travel booked through amextravel.com, 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, you will earn 50% more points if you use your card to make 30 or more purchases in a billing period.

On top of its rewards, the Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card offers an introductory APR of 0% for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers. So, it can help you save on interest, too.

What We Don’t Like: The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card has a regular APR of 18.24% - 28.24% (V) and a balance transfer fee of 3% (min $5). It also has an annual fee of $95.
 
Who Should Get It: Consider applying for the Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card if you have good credit or better, you make lots of purchases each month, and you want to earn bonus rewards in return.
 

Why We Like It: American Express® Green Card offers an initial bonus of 40,000 points for spending $3,000 in the first 6 months. You will also earn 3 points per $1 at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the US), 3 points per $1 on travel and transit purchases, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. 

What We Don’t Like: The American Express® Green Card has a $150 annual fee. Plus, you have to pay for most purchases in full by the due date.
 
Who Should Get It: Consider applying for the American Express® Green Card if you have good credit or better, you can easily qualify for the initial bonus, and you want to use the card mainly for travel, transit and dining at restaurants. Being able to take advantage of the card’s valuable bonus rewards can also go a long way toward making the annual fee affordable.
 

Why We Like It: The Centurion® Card from American Express, also known as the Amex Black Card, offers traditional rewards on purchases along with a variety of exclusive perks. For example, you will get access to a 24/7 personal concierge service, the American Express Global Lounge Collection, airline and hotel benefits, chartered private jets and much more.  

What We Don’t Like: The card has a $5000 annual fee and an initiation fee of $10,000 upon approval. In addition, it’s publicly disclosed rewards are not that great compared to other rewards credit cards from American Express.
 
Who Should Get It: Reportedly, you must spend and repay at least $350,000 across your American Express credit cards annually just to get an invitation to apply. Plus, the card’s income requirement is said to be at least $1 million per year. If you tick those boxes, you may stand a chance of being invited to apply for the Centurion® Card from American Express.
 

Why We Like It: The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express offers an introductory APR of 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. It also has a $0 annual fee and a slightly lower regular APR than other Amex cards with low introductory interest rates.

In addition, this Amex offers an initial bonus of 10,000 points after spending $2,000 in the first 6 months and gives 2 points per $1 spent on travel booked through amextravel.com and at supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year), and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
 
What We Don’t Like: The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express has a balance transfer fee of 3% (min $5) and a regular APR of 18.24% - 29.24% (V).
 
Who Should Get It: Consider applying for The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express if you want to minimize interest charges initially without sacrificing the ability to earn rewards. You also need good credit to qualify.

Why We Like It: The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is the best American Express airline credit card because it can save frequent flyers the most money. For starters, you can earn an initial bonus of 40,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first 6 months. Those bonus miles are worth approximately $488, according to WalletHub’s research. You can also get 2 miles per $1 on Delta purchases, 2 miles per $1 at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets, and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
 
What We Don’t Like: The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card has an annual fee of $0 intro 1st yr, $150 after and a high APR. The annual fee is worth paying to get the rewards, however, and you can avoid feeling the effects of the APR by paying the bill in full monthly.
 
Who Should Get It: Consider applying for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card if you’re a frequent flyer and you can commit to flying with Delta. You also need good credit.

Although Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is the best option overall, according to our research, there are other offers worth considering, too. They might prove slightly better for your specific needs. For example, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card has better travel rewards, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has a bigger initial bonus, and the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card has no annual fee.
 

Why We Like It: The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is the best American Express hotel credit card because its combination of rewards and fees is likely to save you the most money. It offers an initial bonus of 155,000 Hilton Honors points for spending $3,000 in the first 6 months – worth around $793, according to WalletHub’s calculations. You can also get 12 points per $1 spent with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio, 6 points per $1 spent at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, 4 dollars per $1 spent on U.S. online retail purchases, and 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
 
What We Don’t Like: The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has a $150 annual fee and a high APR.
 
Who Should Get It: Consider applying for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card if you stay at Hilton properties frequently and you have good credit.

Alternatively, you could opt for the Hilton Honors Aspire Credit Card if you’re a big spender or the Hilton Honors American Express Card if you’re looking for a Hilton credit card with no annual fee.
 

Why We Like It: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is one of the best American Express hotel credit cards because it offers very valuable rewards that can quickly turn into free nights. For starters, you can earn an initial bonus of 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months. Those points are worth around $1,591, per WalletHub’s calculations. You can also get 6 points per $1 spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 3 points per $1 at restaurants and on flights booked with airlines, and 2 points per $1 on all other purchases.

Additionally, you will receive up to $300 in dining credits each year, a credit of up to $100 for qualifying purchases at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® (two-night minimum stay), unlimited access to over 1,200 airport lounges when enrolled, and a free night award after each account anniversary when you renew your card. Those benefits can provide a lot of savings, helping make this card worthwhile overall.  
 
What We Don’t Like: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has a $650 annual fee and a high APR. Neither feature makes it a bad card, though. Paying the annual fee unlocks excellent rewards, and you can avoid interest charges by paying your bill in full each month.
 
Who Should Get It: Consider applying for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card if you’re a big spender and you stay at Marriott properties frequently. You also need good credit.

If you aren’t sure you’ll use the card enough to justify paying a $650 annual fee, you should consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card instead. It has good rewards and a lower fee.
 

Why We Like It: The American Express® Business Gold Card is the best American Express business credit card because of its bonus rewards. You can get an initial bonus of 70,000 points for spending $10,000 within 3 months. In addition, this card rewards you with 4 points per $1 spent in the two select categories with the most spending (up to $150,000 per year combined), 3 points per $1 spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com, as well as 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. 
 
What We Don’t Like: The American Express® Business Gold Card has a $375 annual fee and a high APR.
 
Who Should Get It: Small business owners with good credit who want to earn rewards on company spending should consider applying for the American Express® Business Gold Card.

Why We Like It: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers an initial bonus of 120,000 points for spending $15,000 within 3 months, worth $924 according to WalletHub’s calculations. You will also get 5 points per $1 spent on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, 1.5 points per $1 on U.S. construction material and hardware, U.S. electronic goods, U.S. shipping as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million of these purchases per year combined), and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. 
 
What We Don’t Like: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has a $695 annual fee and a high APR.
 
Who Should Get It: Apply for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express if you are a big spender with good credit.
 

Why We Like It: The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is the best American Express business credit card with no annual fee because it also comes with solid rewards. You can earn an initial bonus of $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. In addition, this card rewards you with 2% cash back on all purchases up to $50,000 spent per year, then 1%, automatically credited to your statement. 
 
What We Don’t Like: The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card has a high APR.
 
Who Should Get It: Small business owners with good credit who want to earn rewards on company spending without paying an annual fee should consider applying for the The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card.