16 Best Cards from American Express – Special Offers, Rewards & Benefits

American Express (Amex) is one of the best-known payment card issuers in the United States. It supports dozens of well-regarded cards, including:

• Generous cash-back cards that pay you back for everyday spending
• Powerful travel rewards cards that lower the cost of domestic and international travel
• Airline and hotel rewards cards that handsomely compensate brand-loyal travelers
• Small-business cards and charge cards for virtually every use case

What to Know About Amex Cards

Before getting into specific cards, here’s a broad-stroke look at Amex’s features and quirks.

Charge Cards

American Express is bullish on charge cards, which aren’t as widely understood as traditional credit cards. Unlike credit cards, charge cards have no preset spending limits. The catch is that, with few exceptions, their balances must be paid off in full by each statement due date. Users can float their charges for a few weeks until the due date, but they can’t spend entirely without regard.

Membership Rewards Points

Many of American Express’ rewards cards use Membership Rewards points, Amex’s in-house loyalty currency.

At the American Express Membership Rewards portal, you can exchange your Membership Rewards points for pretty much anything: cash, gift cards, general merchandise, travel, special experiences, transfers to travel partners, and much more. You can also use Membership Rewards points to pay for merchandise and experiences offered by specific merchants, such as Amazon, Ticketmaster, and Uber.

Membership Rewards remain valid as long as your account remains open and in good standing.

General Amex Benefits

Whether they use Membership Rewards points or not, Amex cards generally offer exclusive perks, coverages, and discounts not available to the general public. The exact mix varies by card.

At minimum, the typical Amex credit or charge card includes perks such as complimentary rental car loss and damage insurance, extended warranties on select products, cellphone protection plans, roadside assistance, return protection (reimbursement for returns rejected by the original merchant), and travel accident insurance. We highlight each card’s most noteworthy perks below.

Qualifying for Amex Welcome Offers

Many American Express cards include excellent welcome offers. However, American Express is careful about who qualifies for these windfalls. As a general rule, you’re only entitled to one welcome offer per card. You can’t open a new card account, claim the welcome offer, close your account, wait a while, reopen your account, and claim a second bonus — no matter how much time it takes to complete the sequence.

On the bright side, with so many great Amex welcome offers to choose from, you probably won’t feel much pressure to return to the same card.

Best Consumer Cash-Back Cards from American Express

These are American Express’s best cash-back cards for individual consumers. Whether you prefer a card that earns eye-popping returns in favored categories like U.S. supermarkets or a flat cash-back rate across the board, you’ll find what you’re looking for here.

1. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Earn 6% Cash Back on U.S. Supermarket Purchases (Up to $6,000 in Annual Spend) and Streaming Service Purchases; 3% Cash Back on U.S. Gas Station and Transit Operator Purchases

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a premium cash-back credit card, full stop.

Blue Cash Preferred Card earns cash rewards as follows:

• 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, up to the first $6,000 in annual purchases.
• 6% cash back on purchases of select streaming services such as Netflix and HBO.
• 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and transit operators such as Uber and Lyft.
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

Cash back accrues as Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits or at Amzon.com checkout. Terms apply.

With a year-long 0% APR introductory promotion for purchases and balance transfers, Blue Cash Preferred is also appropriate for new cardholders who need to finance large purchases. Boost your favored-category earnings interest-free during the first year by stocking up your chest freezer with freezer meals (6% back) or taking that long-planned road trip (3% back on gas).

• Welcome Offer: Earn $250 back after you spend at least $3,000 on purchases within the first 6 months. Cash back accrues as Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits.
• Rewards Rate: Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, up to the first $6,000 in annual purchases in that category. Earn 6% cash back on eligible purchases of streaming services such as Netflix and HBO. Earn 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and transit operators. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases, including U.S. supermarkets purchases in excess of the $6,000 annual cap.
• Rewards Redemption: You can redeem your Reward Dollars (cash-back points) for statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout. Reward Dollars are always worth $1 apiece at redemption.
• Introductory APR: Enjoy 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months. After that, your APR will be 19.24% to 29.99% variable based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
• Important Fees: The annual fee is $95. The foreign transaction fee is 2.7%.
• Other Perks: Shopper- and traveler-friendly perks include complimentary loss and damage coverage on rental cars paid in full with the card, travel accident insurance, 24/7 roadside assistance, extended warranty protection on certain purchased items, purchase protection (reimbursement for damaged or stolen goods within 90 days of purchase), and return protection (reimbursement for returns rejected by the original merchant within 90 days of purchase). Terms apply.
• Terms and Conditions Apply: See rates and fees.

See our Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express review for more information. Learn more about this card and find out how you can apply here.

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2. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Earn 3% Cash Back on U.S. Supermarket Purchases and 2% Cash Back on U.S. Gas Station and U.S. Department Store Purchases

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is the junior version of Blue Cash Preferred.

The cash-back structure here is similar but less generous. The U.S. supermarkets tier’s return on spending is halved: 3% cash back on the first $6,000 in purchases annually, or $180 in total supermarket cash back each year before you hit the cap. U.S. online retail purchases earn 3% cash back, while purchases at U.S. gas stations and U.S. department stores earn 2% cash back. Everything else earns 1% cash back. Terms apply.

If you don’t qualify for Blue Cash Preferred, spend too lightly to make Preferred’s $95 annual fee worthwhile, or simply aren’t keen on paying an annual fee at all, Blue Cash Everyday is a great alternative.

• Welcome Offer: Earn $200 back after you spend at least $2,000 on purchases within the first 6 months. Cash back accrues as Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits.
• Rewards Rate: Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, up to $6,000 in purchases annually. Earn 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases. Earn 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores and 1% cash back on all other purchases, including U.S. supermarkets purchases in excess of the $6,000 annual spending cap.
• Rewards Redemption: Redeem your Reward Dollars (cash-back points) for statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout, at a value of $1 apiece and a minimum redemption threshold of 25 Reward Dollars ($25 value).
• Introductory APR: Enjoy 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. After that, your APR will be 19.24% - 29.99% variable based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
• Important Fees: There is no annual fee. The foreign transaction fee is 2.7%.
• Other Perks: This card has the same great lineup of benefits as Blue Cash Preferred: complimentary rental car insurance, extended warranties, purchase protection, return protection, and more. Terms apply.
• Terms and Conditions Apply: See rates and fees.

See our Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express review for more information. Learn more about this card and find out how you can apply here.

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Best Consumer Travel Cards From American Express

These are among the top consumer travel rewards cards available from any credit card issuer, period. Some offer luxe travel benefits in droves. Others cater to brand loyalists who prefer to do business with travel merchants they know well, like Delta or Hilton. Still others draw in a wider range of spenders without neglecting travel perks.

3. The Platinum Card® from American Express

Enjoy Travel Benefits Worth Thousands Each Year

If the Blue Cash Preferred Card is American Express’ premium cash-back credit card, The Platinum Card® is the issuer’s premium card, period. This is one of the most sought-after credit cards on the market, and for good reason: In addition to the intangible “Platinum” cachet, it boasts a wide array of potentially valuable benefits that far outstrip its admittedly hefty $695 annual fee. A small sampling of those benefits includes:

• Up to $15 in Uber credits each month, plus a $20 bonus each December, up to $200 in total credits per year
• $200 in annual airline fee credits that can be applied to baggage fees, in-flight purchases, and other incidentals.
• $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
• Up to $200 in annual hotel credits when you make prepaid bookings with American Express Travel or the Fine Hotels & Resorts Collection (enrollment required).
• Up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Peacock, Audible, and The New York Times. Enrollment required.
• Up to $25 back each month on select Equinox fitness club memberships. Enrollment required.
• Up to a $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck.
• Exclusive benefits at nearly 1,000 Fine Hotels & Resorts properties worldwide, including an exclusive amenity worth $100 on average, flexible check-in and check-out, free breakfast, room upgrades where available, and more — an average value of $550 per two-night stay, according to Amex.
• A $189 annual credit against a CLEAR® membership (expedited airport security screening).
• Complimentary access to more than 1,000 airport lounges in the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including Priority Pass Select lounges, Delta Sky Club lounges, and others. Enrollment required.

Terms apply on all these benefits.

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Rewards Rate: Earn 5 points per $1 spent (5x points) on airfare purchases made directly with airlines and airfare purchased with American Express Travel, up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Earn 5x points on prepaid hotel purchases made through Amex Travel as well. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. Terms apply.
• Rewards Redemption: You can redeem your rewards for a wide range of items at the Membership Rewards portal: travel with no seat restrictions or blackout dates, gift cards, general merchandise, concerts and special events, credits against Uber rides, and more. With few exceptions, Membership Rewards points are worth $0.01 apiece or less at redemption. You can also use your points to make direct purchases at Amazon. And you can transfer your Membership Rewards points to select travel partners, including Delta, JetBlue, British Airways, and Air Canada. Most transfers occur on a 1-to-1 basis — 1 Membership Rewards point for 1 partner point or mile. This can significantly boost the buying power of your transferred points. Terms apply.
• Important Fees: The annual fee is $695. There is no foreign transaction fee.
• Other Perks: In addition to the benefits and perks outlined above, cardholders enjoy automatic and complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Status and Hilton Honors Silver Status (enrollment required) as long as they remain in good standing.
• Terms and Conditions Apply: See rates and fees.

See our review of The Platinum Card® from American Express for more information. Learn more about this card and find out how you can apply here.

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4. American Express® Gold Card

Earn 4x Points on Purchases at U.S. Supermarkets and Restaurants, Plus Up to $120 in Dining Credits Annually; 3x Points on Eligible Airfare Purchases

The American Express® Gold Card isn’t quite as generous as the Platinum Card, but that’s a pretty high bar to clear. Relative to the great mass of general-purpose rewards credit cards, this is a primo product.

Frequent flyers make out particularly well, thanks to the 3x rate of return on airfare purchased directly with airlines and travel purchases at amextravel.com.

So do food lovers, thanks to the 4x rate of return on purchases at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants and a dining credit worth up to $120 annually when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and select Shake Shack locations (terms apply and enrollment is required). This makes Amex Gold a great card to save money at restaurants and shrink your food budget overall.

• Welcome Offer: After you spend at least $6,000 on purchases within three months of opening your account, you’ll earn 60,000 bonus Membership Rewards points. That’s worth up to $600 at redemption.
• Rewards Rate: Earn 3 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on airfare purchased directly from airlines and travel purchases made through Amex Travel. Earn 4 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on purchases at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in eligible purchases per year, then 1 point per $1 spent), and earn 4 points per $1 spent at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery). All other purchases earn unlimited 1 point per $1 spent. Terms apply.
• Rewards Redemption: As a Membership Rewards card, Gold Card’s points can be redeemed for pretty much anything at the Membership Rewards portal, plus travel partner transfers and direct purchases at Amazon.
• Important Fees: The card carries a $250 annual fee. There is no foreign transaction fee.
• Other Perks: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account to automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. each month, totaling up to $120 per year. Enrollment required.
• Terms and Conditions Apply: See rates and fees.

See our American Express® Gold Card review for more information. Learn more about this card and find out how you can apply here.

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5. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Accelerate Your Progress Toward Medallion Status Tiers and Get Complimentary SkyClub Membership

Love flying Delta? Unabashed by your taste for the finer things? Then the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is your card. Its headline benefit — and one of several reasons cardholders willingly pay $650 a year for it — is complimentary Delta Sky Club access. You’ll enjoy complimentary access to Delta Sky Club locations for yourself and a discounted rate for up to two traveling companions.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve is also useful for frequent Delta flyers seeking accelerated Medallion status. The Medallion program’s benefits include:

• Complimentary first class and Comfort+ upgrades
• Complimentary upgrades for ticketed companions
• Priority wait list
• Baggage fee waivers
• Priority check-in
• Priority boarding

Terms apply to all these benefits and enrollment may be required.

Also of note: Delta SkyMiles Reserve is among the relative handful of premier travel credit cards offering complimentary companion certificates (taxes and fees not included) to cardholders each year. Terms apply.

• Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
• Rewards Rate: Earn 3 SkyMiles per $1 spent on Delta purchases and 1 SkyMiles per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases. Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year. Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card in a calendar year. Terms apply.
• Rewards Redemption: The best way to redeem your SkyMiles is for award travel with Delta. The number of SkyMiles required for a given fare varies based on the underlying price of the fare and other factors. If you don’t have enough SkyMiles to redeem for the full cost of an award flight, you can combine SkyMiles and cash at a rate of $0.01 per SkyMile, starting at 5,000 SkyMiles, which equates to $50 off the dollar cost of the flight. Meanwhile, Medallion Qualification Dollars are automatically applied to your Medallion account.
• Important Fees: The annual fee is $650. There is no foreign transaction fee.
• Other Perks: In addition to the Sky Club benefit, you get a complimentary companion certificate each year on your cardmember anniversary (terms apply). Other benefits include priority boarding, in-flight savings, basic travel insurance protections (including baggage insurance), and a slew of shopping perks.
• Terms and Conditions Apply: See rates and fees.

See our Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card review for more information. Learn more about this card and find out how you can apply here.

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6. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Get a Complimentary Companion Certificate Each Year and Up to 3x Miles on Eligible Purchases

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card isn’t as exclusive as Delta SkyMiles Reserve, but it’s still head and shoulders above most other airline credit cards.

The headline benefit here is an annual companion certificate that entitles a single traveling companion to a free domestic economy flight (minus taxes and fees) booked on your reservation. Terms apply.

Heavy spenders can look forward to (almost) guaranteed Silver Medallion status too. Everyday Delta perks, like a free first checked bag on every reservation, go a long way toward offsetting the $350 annual fee too.

• Welcome Offer: Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
• Rewards Rate: Earn 3 SkyMiles per $1 spent on qualifying Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2 SkyMiles per $1 spent on eligible U.S. supermarket and restaurant purchases worldwide. All other purchases earn 1 SkyMile per $1 spent. Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year. Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year. Terms apply.
• Rewards Redemption: As with Delta SkyMiles Reserve, the best way to redeem your SkyMiles is for Delta airfare.
• Important Fees: The annual fee is $350. There is no foreign transaction fee.
• Other Perks: When you fly Delta, your first checked bag is always free. Other benefits include 20% off select in-flight purchases, baggage insurance, car rental coverage, extended warranty coverage, and more. Terms apply and enrollment may be required.
• Terms and Conditions Apply: See rates and fees.

See our Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card review for more information. Learn more about this card and find out how you can apply here.

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7. Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Enjoy Valuable Delta Benefits and Earn 2x Miles on Eligible Delta, Restaurant, and Supermarket Purchases

If the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card is too expensive for your needs, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card could be your ticket to Delta loyalty at the decidedly coach-friendly price of $95 per year. This card lacks generous benefits like complimentary airport lounge access or companion airfare certificates, but it’s still a great way to accelerate your SkyMile earnings and reduce your long-term Delta airfare costs.

• Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months
• Rewards Rate: Earn 2 SkyMiles per $1 spent on qualifying Delta purchases and purchases at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants. Earn 1 SkyMile per $1 spent on everything else. Terms apply.
• Rewards Redemption: The best way to redeem your accumulated SkyMiles is for award travel with Delta. You can redeem for the full cost of a fare, generally starting at 5,000 SkyMiles or more, or use the Pay With Miles feature to subsidize paid Delta fares to the tune of $0.01 per mile.
• Important Fees: The $150 annual fee is waived in the first year. There is no foreign transaction fee.
• Other Perks: Delta-related benefits include a free first checked bag and priority boarding on all flights, 20% discounts on select in-flight purchases, and a $200 Delta flight credit after you spend at least $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year. Other benefits include complimentary extended warranty coverage, rental car loss and damage coverage, and baggage insurance. Terms apply.
• Terms and Conditions Apply: See rates and fees.

See our Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card review for more information. Learn more about this card and find out how you can apply here.

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8. Hilton Honors Card from American Express

Enjoy Automatic Hilton Honors Silver Status and Earn 7x Points on Eligible Hilton Purchases

Most hotel credit cards carry annual fees, but the Hilton Honors Card from American Express doesn’t. If you’re a frequent Hilton guest who carefully watches your budget, that’s music to your ears.

There’s more. With a great welcome offer, you get a lot for your money here. And complimentary Hilton Honors Silver Status (enrollment required) means you’ll qualify for luxe perks on every Hilton stay. Spend $20,000 in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold Status through the end of the following calendar year (enrollment required and terms apply).

To be fair, the Hilton Honors Card’s ongoing rewards rate is lower than most annual-fee hotel cards, but it’s still hard to argue with this card’s value proposition.

• Welcome Offer: Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Rewards Rate: Earn unlimited 7 bonus Honors points per $1 spent at Hilton hotel and resort properties worldwide. Earn 5 bonus Honors points per $1 spent at U.S. gas stations, restaurants, and supermarkets. Earn 3 bonus Honors points per $1 spent on all other purchases. Terms apply.
• Rewards Redemption: The same Hilton Honors rules and regulations apply here. You need at least 5,000 Honors points to redeem for a free night at a Category 1 property.
• Important Fees: There is no annual fee or foreign transaction fee.
• Other Perks: The Hilton-specific benefits pair with travel accident insurance, extended warranties, baggage insurance, complimentary rental car insurance, and more. Terms apply.
• Terms and Conditions Apply: See rates and fees.

See our Hilton Honors Card from American Express review for more information. Learn more about this card and find out how you can apply here.

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Best Business Cards From American Express

Amex is a prolific issuer of business cards for virtually every taste and budget — from the ultra-generous Business Platinum Card® from American Express to the down-to-earth (but still quite handy) The American Express Blue Business Cash card.

9. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Enjoy Travel and Shopping Benefits Worth Thousands Each Year

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is Amex’s flagship business charge card. Like its consumer sibling, The Platinum Card, it’s among the most sought-after cards on the market. Business Platinum’s near-legendary benefits include:

• Complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide (enrollment required)
• $200 annual airline fee credit, applicable against baggage fees, in-flight meals, preferred seating, and other incidentals
• Up to $400 in annual statement credits against purchases with Dell Technologies (enrollment required)
• Application fee credit for Global Entry ($100) or TSA Precheck ($85), but not both (enrollment required)
• $189 CLEAR® credit (enrollment required)
• White-glove travel concierge service
• Complimentary, automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status as long as you remain a cardholder in good standing (enrollment required)
• Complimentary, automatic Hilton Honors Gold Status as long as you remain a cardholder in good standing (enrollment required)
• Exclusive benefits at Fine Hotels & Resorts properties, including complimentary benefits and special amenity credits worth up to $100

Terms apply to all these benefits.

• Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend at least $15,000 in eligible purchases within 3 months of opening your account. Terms apply.
• Rewards Rate: Earn 5 points per $1 spent on airfare and prepaid hotel purchases made with Amex Travel and airfare purchases made directly with the airline. Earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on purchases in key business categories and all other eligible purchases $5,000 or more ($2 million annual cap on these purchases applies). Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. Terms apply.
• Rewards Redemption: You can redeem your points for anything on offer at the Membership Rewards portal. One unique feature of the Business Platinum Card is the generous airfare rebate. When you use your Membership Rewards points to pay for airfare purchased through Amex Travel or directly with a participating airline, you get a 35% rebate, up to 1 million bonus points. For instance, for a fare requiring 100,000 points, you get 35,000 points back. Separately, you can transfer your points to participating travel partners, or use your points to pay for purchases directly at partner merchants.
• APR: Your APR on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time will be 19.49% to 28.49% APR, depending on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at time of account opening. Terms apply.
• Important Fees: The annual fee is $695. There is no foreign transaction fee.
• Other Perks: In addition to those described above, this card’s benefits include complimentary extended warranty protection, complimentary loss and damage coverage for rental cars paid in full with the card, complimentary baggage insurance, and preferred seating at sporting and entertainment events (subject to availability). Terms apply.
• Terms and Conditions Apply: See rates and fees.

See our Business Platinum Card® from American Express review for more information. Find out how you can apply for this card here.

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10. The Plum Card® from American Express

Get an unlimited 1.5% Discount When You Pay in Full by Your Statement Due Date

What The Plum Card® from American Express lacks in generosity, it makes up in flexibility. Instead of a rewards program that favors travel or business spending, it gives cardholders something just as useful — and perhaps more so.

When you pay your card balance in full by the statement due date, you get an unlimited 1.5% discount on the entire balance, with no caps or lifetime limits. That’s sufficient to reduce a $10,000 balance to $9,850, for instance. Then, you can take up to 60 days to pay with no additional penalty. Terms apply.

Needless to say, the Plum Card is a great business financing option for businesses with unpredictable or seasonal cash flows. A slow month won’t necessarily jeopardize your standing as a cardholder.

• Welcome Offer: None.
• Rewards Rate: This card doesn’t have a traditional rewards program.
• Rewards Redemption: None.
• Important Fees: The annual fee is $250. There is no foreign transaction fee or fee for additional employee cards.
• Other Perks: Plum gives cardholders the freedom to choose their own statement start and end dates. Other benefits include extended warranties on select purchases, complimentary car rental coverage for rentals paid in full with the card, and 24/7 global assistance for travelers more than 100 miles from home. Terms apply.
• Terms and Conditions Apply: See rates and fees.

See our Plum Card® from American Express review for more information. Find out how you can apply for this card here.

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11. American Express® Business Gold Card

Earn Up to 4x Points on Eligible Spending

With some key modifications, including a more versatile rewards program, the American Express® Business Gold Card is basically the business version of the American Express Gold Card. If you’re not sure you can squeeze $695 in annual value out of your Business Platinum Card, Business Gold Rewards is a great backup.

• Welcome Offer: After you spend at least $10,000 in purchases within the first three months of opening your account, you’ll earn 70,000 bonus Membership Rewards points. That’s worth up to $700 when redeemed at the Membership Rewards portal.
• Rewards Rate: Earn 4 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent (up to $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year) in the two categories where you spend the most each month: airfare purchased directly from airlines, select U.S. media advertising, U.S. gas stations, U.S. shipping, U.S. restaurants, and select U.S. technology purchases including computer hardware, software, and cloud services. Earn 1 Membership Rewards point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases. Terms apply.
• Rewards Redemption: You can redeem for anything on offer in the Membership Rewards portal, plus point transfers and direct purchases at Amazon. Airfare redemptions made with American Express Travel qualify for a 25% redemption rebate (25,000 points per 100,000 redeemed, up to 250,000 rebated points each year).
• Important Fees: The annual fee is $375. There are no foreign transaction fees.
• Other Perks: This card’s perks include complimentary baggage insurance, extended warranties, car rental insurance, and purchase protection for up to 90 days. Terms apply.
• Terms and Conditions Apply: See rates and fees.

See our American Express® Business Gold Card review for more information. Find out how you can apply for this card here.

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12. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

Enjoy Complimentary Sky Club Membership, Complimentary Companion Pass Each Year, and Accelerated Progress Toward Medallion Tier Status

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is the business version of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card. Like its consumer counterpart, it’s designed to reward discerning Delta flyers for their loyalty.

The most noteworthy benefits are complimentary Sky Club membership, an annual companion pass, and accelerated progress toward Medallion status for heavy spenders. For small-business owners with more spending power than the typical consumer, higher Medallion tiers should be relatively easy to achieve.

• Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 Bonus Miles after spending $10,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Rewards Rate: Earn 3 SkyMiles per $1 spent on qualifying purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1.5 SkyMiles per $1 spend on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply store purchases, plus all eligible purchases after you spend $150,000 in purchases on your card in a year. Also, receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 on purchases with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Terms apply.
• Rewards Redemption: The same SkyMiles rules and limitations apply here.
• Important Fees: The annual fee is $650. There is no foreign transaction fee.
• Other Perks: In addition to the benefits described above, this card’s perks include 20% discounts on select in-flight purchases, priority boarding, a free first checked bag on ticketed travel, a dedicated concierge for Delta Reserve customers only, and more.
• Terms and Conditions Apply: See rates and fees.

See our Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card review for more information. Find out how you can apply for this card here.

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13. The American Express Blue Business Cash card

Earn Up to 2% Cash Back on Eligible Purchases

The American Express Blue Business Cash card is one of the most generous no-annual-fee small-business credit cards around — on par with Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card, a perennial inclusion on our list of the best small-business credit cards for U.S. entrepreneurs.

Blue Business Cash’s rewards program is easy to understand: 2% cash back on all eligible purchases, up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% cash back on all additional purchases for the year. And, with the Expanded Buying Power feature, you can boost your spending power on big-ticket purchases, provided you pay the over-limit portion of your monthly spending in full by your statement due date. Terms apply.

• Welcome Offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
• Rewards Rate: Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases, up to $50,000 per calendar year. All purchases above the annual spending cap earn 1% cash back.
• Rewards Redemption: Earned cash back is automatically applied to your account as a statement credit.
• Introductory APR: Enjoy 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months from account opening (see rates and fees). After that, your APR will be a variable rate (18.49% to 26.49% APRs will not exceed 29.99%) based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
• Important Fees: There is no annual fee. The foreign transaction fee is 2.7%.
• Other Perks: In addition to the benefits described above, this card’s perks include purchase protection for up to 90 days, complimentary rental car insurance, baggage insurance, extended warranties, 24/7 roadside assistance, and more. Terms apply.
• Terms and Conditions Apply: See rates and fees.

See The American Express Blue Business Cash card review for more information. Find out how you can apply for this card here.

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14. Blue Business Plus Credit Card

Earn Up to 2x Points on Eligible Purchases

The Blue Business Plus Credit Card is another popular no-annual-fee business credit card from the Amex business card stable. Its version of the Membership Rewards program isn’t exceedingly generous, but it’s roughly equivalent to Blue Business Cash’s cash-back scheme.

Like Blue Business Cash, this card also has Amex’s Expanded Buying Power benefit — great news for businesses with seasonal or unpredictable revenues.

• Welcome Offer: Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
• Rewards Rate: Earn 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on the first $50,000 in purchases each year, then unlimited 1 point per $1 spent on subsequent eligible purchases.
• Rewards Redemption: You can redeem your Membership Rewards points for anything available in the Membership Rewards portal, transfer your points to participating partners, or use your points directly with partner merchants.
• Introductory APR: Enjoy 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months from account opening (see rates and fees). After that, your APR will be a variable rate (18.49% to 26.49% APR will not exceed 29.99%) based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
• Important Fees: There is no annual fee. The foreign transaction fee is 2.7%.
• Other Perks: This card comes with standard Amex perks like complimentary car rental insurance, purchase protection for up to 90 days, extended warranties, and more. Terms apply.
• Terms and Conditions Apply: See rates and fees.

See our Blue Business Plus Credit Card review for more information. Find out how you can apply for this card here.

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15. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

Earn Up to 3 SkyMiles on Eligible Purchases and Get a Complimentary Companion Certificate Each Year

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card is the business version of Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. A few tweaks aside, it’s quite similar to its consumer sibling. If you’re looking to accelerate your progress toward free Delta airfare and Medallion status, and qualify for a free companion certificate (less taxes and fees) each year after you renew your account, this card is worth a closer look.

• Welcome Offer: Earn 65,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Rewards Rate: Earn 3 SkyMiles per $1 spent on qualifying Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 1 SkyMile per $1 spent on other eligible purchases. Plus, earn 1.5 SkyMiles per $1 spent on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus purchases of $5,000 or more. Terms apply.
• Rewards Redemption: The same Delta SkyMiles and Medallion program rules and regulations apply here: it generally requires at least 5,000 SkyMiles per domestic economy one-way award flight (although often more).
• Important Fees: The annual fee is $350. There is no foreign transaction fee.
• Other Perks: Key benefits include a complimentary domestic companion fare (less taxes and fees) for one traveling companion on your ticketed reservation, priority boarding on all Delta flights, 20% discounts on select in-flight purchases, and a free first checked bag with every Delta reservation. Additionally, enjoy general-purpose Amex benefits such as complimentary rental car insurance and extended warranty coverage. Terms apply.
• Terms and Conditions Apply: See rates and fees.

See our Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card review for more information. Learn more about this card and find out how you can apply here.

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16. Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card

Earn Up to 2 SkyMiles on Eligible Purchases

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is the business version of the Delta SkyMiles Gold consumer card. If you regularly fly Delta for business but can’t qualify for Delta SkyMiles Platinum or afford that card’s pricey annual fee, this is your ideal airline credit card.

• Welcome Offer: Earn 55,000 Bonus Miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Rewards Rate: Earn 2 SkyMiles per $1 spent on qualifying Delta purchases, select U.S. advertising purchases and U.S. shipping purchases (on up to $50,000 of purchases per category, per year), and restaurant purchases. Earn 1 SkyMile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
• Rewards Redemption: The same Delta SkyMiles and Medallion program rules and regulations apply here: it generally requires at least 5,000 SkyMiles per domestic economy one-way award flight (although often more).
• Introductory APR: None.
• Important Fees: The $150 annual fee is waived during the first year. There is no foreign transaction fee or fee for additional employee cards.
• Other Perks: Delta perks include a $200 Delta flight credit after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, 20% discounts on select in-flight purchases, first free checked bags on all Delta reservations, and priority boarding. Plus, enjoy the full slate of Amex business benefits and Amex-backed perks such as complimentary rental car insurance, purchase protection for 90 days, baggage insurance, extended warranties, and roadside assistance. Terms apply.
• Terms and Conditions Apply: See rates and fees.

See our Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card review for more information. Learn more about this card and find out how you can apply here.

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Final Word

This list includes the best Amex products on the market today. For various reasons, we’ve intentionally left off less appealing Amex cards. As Amex releases new cards or makes tweaks to existing products, we’ll update and reorder this list accordingly.

For now, consider this the definitive lineup of the best American Express credit cards and charge cards for consumers and business owners alike.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please visit this rates and fees page.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please visit this rates and fees page.

For rates and fees of the Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this rates and fees page.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please visit this rates and fees page.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit this rates and fees page.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please visit this rates and fees page.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please visit this rates and fees page.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, please visit this rates and fees page.

For rates and fees of the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this rates and fees page.

For rates and fees of The Plum Card® from American Express, please visit this rates and fees page.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, please visit this rates and fees page.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please visit this rates and fees page.

For rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash card, please visit this rates and fees page.

For rates and fees of the Blue Business Plus Credit Card, please visit this rates and fees page.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, please visit this rates and fees page.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, please visit this rates and fees page.