Like Wells Fargo, Citi, Capital One, Bank of America, Discover, and Chase, American Express offers a wide variety of credit cards, from travel cards to cashback and co-branded cards. Some American Express credit cards come with a $0 annual fee, while others could cost you hundreds of dollars every year. Nonetheless, there is one thing you can be sure about most of them: they are loaded with satisfying benefits and perks. And if you will choose cards like The Platinum Card and Hilton Honors Aspire, expect to receive yearly to monthly credits that you can use to spoil yourself.
Before choosing any card, however, make sure to scan all the best options possible. Also, consider your spending activities, needs, and the rewards structure you are looking for. Such factors will help you to quickly determine what to get. And to narrow down your choices, we scanned the portfolio of Amex and rounded them up. Here are they are:
1 Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
Intro Bonus: $300 statement credit
Regular APR: 13.99%-23.99% (Variable)
Credit Score: 700 to 749 (Good to Excellent)
Annual Fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
Highlights:
- The card can earn up to 6% cashback.
- The 6% cashback at U.S. supermarkets has a limit of $6,000 per year.
- Cashback rewards are issued as statement credits and cannot be redeemed as a direct deposit or check.
- You can enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months after account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee of up to 1.33% of each purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
- There is a 2.7% foreign transaction fee.
Best American Express Credit Card for Daily Expenses
The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express can be a rewarding spending tool for families. However, the card will charge a regular annual fee of $95 when its one-year $0 introductory annual fee ends. Despite that, the card can still be handy in the long run due to its ability to earn cashback in the form of Reward Dollars (redeemable as a statement credit). It also features categories focusing on your everyday spending needs, and its earring rate can be impressive.
The card earns 6% cashback at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% cashback on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cashback at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more), and 1% cashback on all other purchases.
To boost the card’s value during its first year, you can take advantage of its 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening (then a variable rate, 13.99% to 23.99%). Most of all, qualifying for the card will give you the chance to earn up to $300 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
2 American Express Gold Card
American Express Gold Card
Intro Bonus: 60,000 Membership Rewards points
Regular APR: 15.99% to 22.99% variable Pay Over Time APR
Credit Score: 700 to 749 (Good to Excellent)
Annual Fee: $250
Highlights:
- Users can earn 4x points on restaurant and supermarket purchases (up to $25,000 per year).
- Adding your card to your Uber account will give you up to $120 per year.
- You can choose between a Gold or Rose Gold Card design.
- The card has no foreign transaction fees.
- Cardholders can request the addition of 5 more authorized users without additional costs.
- Cardholders can only carry a balance on specific charges through Amex’s Pay It, Plan It feature.
- It has a 15.99% to 22.99% variable Pay Over Time APR.
- You can earn $100 back on qualifying hotel charges for reservations made via the American Express Hotel Collection.
Best American Express Credit Card for Food Expenses
If your family spends a lot on food, the American Express Gold Card can be the best choice among all the Amex cards available. It grants 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). The card can also earn 3x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com and 1x points on all other eligible purchases. Giving more value to the points you will collect is the option for points transfer to lots of Amex partners.
This American Express credit card comes with a $250 annual fee, but you can easily earn it back with the benefits and perks the card is offering. When you qualify, you can receive 60,000 Membership Rewards welcome bonus points by spending at least $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of your card. This bonus is equivalent to $600 when you redeem them for flights through Amex Travel.
Moreover, you can enjoy monthly benefits with this card. First is the $10 Uber Cash, which you can use for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. Then, you also get $10 in statement credits when you use the card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations. All in all, each of the benefits mentioned can generate up to $120 ($240 combined) every year.
3 American Express Blue Business Cash Card
American Express Blue Business Cash Card
Intro Bonus: $250 statement credit
Regular APR: 13.24% to 19.24% (Variable)
Credit Score: 700 to 749 (Good to Excellent)
Annual Fee: $0
Highlights:
- You can obtain 2% cashback on all eligible purchases.
- The 2% cashback is only applicable on the first $50,000 purchases per calendar year. The rate will decrease to 1% after the limit is reached.
- It has a foreign transaction fee.
- The card comes with benefits like car rental insurance, purchase protection, employee cards, and authorized management accounts.
Best American Express Credit Card for Small Businesses
Small business owners might find good value in this American Express credit card. Its earning rate is not as high as the other standard individual credit cards you see, but it can help businesses save a decent amount of money while dealing with their daily spending needs.
The card earns 2% cashback on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year (then 1%), wherein the cashback earned is automatically credited to your statement. It also features the Expanded Buying Power, allowing you to use your card beyond its credit limit. Nonetheless, keep in mind that the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your credit record, payment history, card use, financial resources known to American Express, and other factors.
On the other hand, the card charges no annual fee, and new cardholders can even receive a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases during the first 3 months. There is also a 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the account opening date. After the said period, a variable rate of 13.24% to 19.24% (based on your creditworthiness and other factors determined at the time of account opening) will apply.
4 The Platinum Card from American Express
The Platinum Card from American Express
Intro Bonus: 100,000 Membership Rewards points
Regular APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Credit Score: 700 to 749 (Good to Excellent)
Annual Fee: $695
Highlights:
- The card provides luxury travel benefits and elite status with Hilton, Hertz, Avis, and Marriott (requires enrollment).
- It comes with Global Entry and TSA PreCheck credits.
- Cardholders can earn 100,000 Membership Rewards after spending $6,000 on purchases during the first 6 months of the card.
- During the first 6 months of the card, it can earn up to 10x points on up to $25,000 eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S.
- It provides lots of credits and travel perks to cardholders.
Best American Express Credit Card for Luxury Benefits
The Platinum Card has a whopping $695 annual fee, which can be overwhelming for anyone. Nonetheless, the card itself is jam-packed with benefits that cardholders can enjoy.
This American Express credit card offers 100,000 Membership Rewards points as a welcome bonus when you spend $6,000 on purchases during the first 6 months of the card. During the same time frame, the card can earn 10x points on up to $25,000 eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S. On the other hand, the card provides 5x Membership Rewards points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (max of $500,000 per calendar year), 5x Membership Rewards points for prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, and 1 point for every $1 spent on other eligible purchases.
Through the expansion of The Centurion Network, your airport lounge access si also leveled up as it now includes 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. The card can also mesmerize anyone through the bountiful credits it provides monthly or yearly, such as:
- Annual $200 back in statement credits on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel
- Annual $200 in statement credits in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline
- Annual $179 back on your CLEAR membership
- Uber VIP status and yearly $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the U.S.
- Monthly $20 (total of $240 per year) in statement credits when you use the card to pay for eligible purchases from the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and The New York Times (requires enrollment)
- Monthly $12.95 (total of $155 per year) in statement credit for covering the cost of your Walmart+ membership each month
- Monthly $25 back (total of $300 per year) on select Equinox memberships (requires enrollment)
5 Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
Intro Bonus: 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points
Regular APR: 700 to 749 (Good to Excellent)
Credit Score: 15.74% – 24.74% (Variable)
Annual Fee: $450
Highlights:
- The card has a $450 annual fee but is loaded with benefits and perks for travelers and Hilton hotel patrons.
- It gives cardholders one weekend night reward every year.
- It comes with numerous credits you can use.
- Users will automatically be given the Hilton Honors Diamond status.
- The Priority Pass Select allows unlimited lounge visits with up to 2 guests per visit.
Best American Express Credit Card for Hilton Hotel Expenses
For individuals who book flights frequently and love to stay at Hilton hotels, the Hilton Honors Aspire Card is a beautiful card to consider. It has a hefty fee of $450, but it offers profound benefits that justify the said cost.
The beauty of this American Express credit card begins with the 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points, which you can earn after spending $4,000 in purchases within your first 3 months of card membership. The collection of points that you can use in the future is also pretty fast due to the tremendous earning rate of the card. As a cardholder, you can earn 14x Hilton Honors bonus points on eligible purchases at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio; 7x Hilton Honors bonus points on eligible purchases for flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and U.S. restaurants; and 3x Hilton Honors bonus points on all other eligible purchases.
And just like the other luxury credit cards of Amex, the Hilton Honors Aspire provides numerous credits cardholders can enjoy. It includes the annual $250 in Hilton Resort statement credit for eligible purchases at participating Hilton Resorts, $100 Hilton on-property credit, and $250 airline fee credit for incidental charges charged by the airline to your card account. There is also one weekend night reward every year and an additional night after you spend $60,000 on purchases in a calendar year.
Moreover, securing a Hilton Honors Aspire Card will automatically put you in a Hilton Honors Diamond status, allowing you to experience perks such as 100% extra bonus points on all base points you earn, room upgrades, and more. Other card benefits are the Concierge service, Premium Global Assist Hotline access, and return protection that will let you refund (within 90 days from the date of purchase) the total purchase price of the product up to $300 per item or up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year.
Lastly, travelers will appreciate this card more due to benefits like car rental loss, damage insurance, and baggage insurance plan. However, the card’s main attraction for flyers is the Priority Pass Select, which allows unlimited lounge visits with up to 2 guests per visit (enrolment required). With this, cardholders can relish access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide.
