The best 9 American Express credit cards of 2024

The best American Express cards offer exceptional rewards, exclusive perks, and excellent customer service, raising the bar for premium cardholders.

By Mia Taylor

Written by

Mia Taylor

Writer

Mia’s articles and bylines have appeared in numerous national publications. She worked as a staff writer on the finance desk for America’s largest digital publisher — Dotdash Meredith, where she was brought onboard to help launch a new stream of personal finance content for four of the company’s most iconic brands—Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, Parents, and Health.

Edited by Hanna Horvath

Written by

Hanna Horvath

Editor

Hanna Horvath is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Bankrate's senior editor of content partnerships.

Updated January 29, 2024, 4:38 PM EST

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American Express offers an extensive lineup of credit cards, offering options for every type of spender. Most come with generous points or cash back, access to exclusive events, and valuable travel benefits.

Whether you’re a globetrotter looking for luxury perks, a shopper hoping to earn cash back on daily spending, or a small business owner wanting to earn points on business expenses, American Express will likely have a card for you.

If you’re considering getting an American Express credit card, here are our top picks based on the type of card you’re looking for.

Best American Express credit cards

American Express® Gold Card: Best for dining out
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for luxury travelers
American Express Green Card: Best for everyday travel rewards
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for groceries
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best for no annual fee
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Best for Delta flyers
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Best for Hilton guests
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for business road warriors
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card: Best for small businesses

American Express® Gold Card: Best for dining out

Pros	Cons
Generous rewards on dining and groceries Valuable travel rewards Welcome offer $120 annual dining credit No foreign transaction fees Flexible redemption options Premium travel protection benefits	$250 annual fee. See rates and fees. Excellent credit required No airport lounge access Lower reward rates on groceries and gas No introductory 0% APR offer Restricted airline transfer options

The Amex Gold card combines impressive rewards in everyday categories like groceries and dining with solid travel rewards.

You can earn 4X points on restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and Uber Eats. You’ll also earn 4X points on up to $25,000 in U.S. supermarket purchases per year (then 1X points). You’ll earn 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or via American Express Travel and 1X on all other purchases.

Other benefits include credits on dining, Uber Cash, and experiences with the Hotel Collection when you book through American Express Travel. While there is a $250 annual fee, the credits could offset the cost if you use them. You’ll also get shopping and travel protections like hotel upgrades and travel insurance.

The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for luxury travelers

Pros	Cons
Most generous travel rewards out of any Amex card Annual airline fee credit Access to airport lounges Flexible redemption options Exclusive concierge service available 24/7 Extensive travel insurance and protection benefits Access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program No foreign transaction fees	$695 annual fee. See rates and fees. Lower rewards for non-travel spending Excellent credit required No introductory 0% APR offer Some benefits require activation or enrollment

If you’re a frequent jet setter who travels in luxury, the Platinum Card is aimed squarely at you — as long as you can justify the steep $695 annual fee. See rates and fees. But with that price tag comes rewards and exclusive travel perks.

You can earn 5X points spent on directly booked airfare, flights, and prepaid hotels through American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year). You’ll also earn 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases

The Platinum card also comes with travel credits, including for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fees, prepaid hotel bookings, Uber rides, Walmart+ membership, Equinox fitness membership, and more. Together, these credits can easily offset the card’s annual fee.

You’ll also get complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status, Hilton Honors Gold Status, and other benefits.

If you’re not a frequent flyer or hotel guest, this card may not be worth it, as you’ll only earn 1X the points on non-travel-related spending.

American Express Green Card: Best for everyday travel rewards

Pros	Cons
Solid rewards across multiple travel categories Lower annual fee than other premium Amex cards No foreign transaction fees Statement credits for CLEAR membership and LoungeBuddy Travel and purchase protections Flexible redemption options	$150 annual fee. See rates and fees. Good to excellent credit is required Late payment fee No introductory 0% APR offer Limited rewards outside of travel and dining Less comprehensive travel protection benefits

If you don’t travel enough to justify getting the Platinum card, consider the Green Card. With this card, you can earn solid rewards and access certain travel perks without paying a high annual fee.

You’ll earn 3X points on travel, transit, and eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. You can earn 1X on all other purchases.

Travel purchases earning 3X points include airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, vacation rentals, third-party travel websites, and amextravel.com).

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for groceries

Pros	Cons
Excellent cash back on everyday spending like groceries and gas $0 introductory fee for the first year Valuable rewards across many categories Introductory 0% APR offer Annual Disney Bundle credit Solid purchase protection	$95 annual fee after the first year. See rates and fees Spending caps on specific reward categories Good to excellent credit score is required Foreign transaction fee

The Blue Cash Preferred is for those who spent big at the supermarket. It offers a great way to earn rewards on everyday purchases, including groceries, gas, and streaming services.

You’ll earn 6% cash back on up to $6,000 in U.S. supermarket purchases yearly (then 1%). You’ll also earn 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% back at U.S. gas stations and transit purchases, and 1% on all other purchases.

You’ll also get an annual Disney Bundle credit, purchase protection, and access to Amex Offers.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best for no annual fee

Pros	Cons
Cash back on everyday purchases Ability to earn rewards on online retail shopping, unique to most other cards No annual fee Introductory 0% APR offer Purchase protection benefits	Grocery rewards don’t include superstores or wholesale clubs like Walmart or Costco Spending caps on reward categories Late fee Foreign transaction fee You can only redeem cash back as a statement credit or gift card Requires good to excellent credit Limited travel benefits

The Blue Cash Everyday card lets you earn straightforward cash back without worrying about an annual fee.

You’ll earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year for each category, then 1%). You’ll earn 1% back on other purchases.

Because this card has no annual fee, its added benefits are slim. You’ll get some purchase protections and the Disney Bundle credit but not much else. If you’re a big spender or regularly shop at wholesale clubs, this may not be the best card for you.

The 3% cash back rate is capped at $6,000 in annual spending for each category yearly, and elevated grocery rewards won’t count wholesale clubs.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Best for Delta flyers

Pros	Cons
$0 introductory fee for the first year Priority boarding First checked bag free No foreign transaction fees Purchase protections Travel protection benefits	$95 annual fee after the first year. See rates and fees. Miles valuation for booking flights may fluctuate No status boosts to help earn Medallion Status Limited redemption options No airport lounge access Late payment fee No introductory 0% APR offer Requires excellent credit

The Delta SkyMiles Gold card is an excellent option for Delta loyalists who want to access travel perks without a hefty annual fee.

You’ll earn 2X miles on restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.), 2X miles on U.S. supermarkets, 2X miles on Delta purchases, and 1X on all other purchases.

Unlike other airline cards, you can rack up miles on everyday spending, including groceries and dining out. Plus, you'll get an annual flight credit (after spending $10,000 or more on your card in a calendar year), free first checked bags, and other Delta perks.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Best for Hilton guests

Pros	Cons
Elevated rewards on Hilton hotel stays Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status Enticing welcome bonus No foreign transaction fees Travel and purchase protections	$150 annual fee. See rates and fees. Few rewards for non-Hilton purchases Points valuation for booking stays may fluctuate Limited redemption options Requires excellent credit Some benefits require activation or enrollment

If you’re a Hilton regular on the hunt for free stays, this could be the right card for you.

You can earn 12X points on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and resorts and 6X points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. You’ll also earn 4X points on U.S. online retail purchases and 3X on other eligible purchases.

This card also comes with complimentary Hilton Honors Gold elite status, which offers up to 80% more rewards on your stays. Remember that redemptions are limited to hotel stays, experiences, and gift cards.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for business road warriors

Pros	Cons
Extensive travel rewards Significant welcome bonus Annual credits for business expenses and supplies Airport lounge access Exclusive concierge access Travel insurance and protection Access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program No foreign transaction fees Flexible spending limits	$695 annual fee. See rates and fees. Limited rewards on non-travel spending Some benefits can be hard to use Limited redemption options outside of travel Excellent credit required

If you travel for work, this card can put some money back in your pocket (and help you access extensive travel perks).

With this card, you’ll earn 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels and 2X on prepaid rental cars booked with amextravel.com. You’ll also earn 1.5X points on key purchases of $5,000 or more, which include electronics goods, retailers, software, cloud service providers, construction materials, hardware supplies, and shipping providers (up to $2 million per calendar year). You’ll then earn 1X points on all other purchases.

This card also comes with many credits, including for Dell purchases, hiring and recruiting products, airline fees, and more.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card: Best for small businesses

Pros	Cons
No annual fee. See rates and fees 2% cash back on all purchases Introductory 0% APR offer Business expense management tools Free additional employee cards Expanded Buying Power feature offers flexibility to spend over the credit limit	Elevated rewards have an annual spending cap (then 1%) No bonus spending categories Limited travel benefits Foreign transaction fees Limited redemption options Requires good to excellent credit

Startups or small businesses can benefit from having this no-annual-fee credit card. The Blue Business Cash card has more straightforward rewards and some shopping and travel protections. Businesses can earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases, up to $50,000 annually. After that, you’ll earn 1%.

This card is a great option if you’re just starting out and want something back on your spending (without much effort). Other than that, this card doesn’t come with other elevated rewards or robust perks.

Which is the best American Express card?

The best credit American Express card will be different for everyone. It really comes down to your spending patterns, lifestyle, and goals.

Think about where and how much you spend, as different Amex cards offer different rewards. Some focus on providing rewards in everyday categories like groceries and gas, while others offer robust travel perks.

Some Amex cards have tiered rewards, which may require tracking your spending to maximize points or cash. Others will have annual credits or redemption options that require extra work to make the most of your rewards.

It’s important to consider what rewards you want to earn, your spending habits, and what to use your points for when picking the best American Express credit card.

What is American Express?

American Express is both a card issuer and a payment network. Other card issuers, like Capital One, Citi, or Chase, partner with a payment network (typically Mastercard or Visa) to offer a card. American Express issues its cards directly to customers.

American Express cards are known for their premium features and rewards programs. They often have higher annual fees than other credit cards but may provide greater value and perks for frequent travelers and high-spending individuals.

Because of this, most American Express cards require a good to excellent credit score to apply (typically above 690). Your score isn’t the only factor issuers will look at when approving you, but maintaining a solid score can increase your chances.

Where is American Express accepted?

American Express cards are generally accepted everywhere in the U.S. and most major retailers.

They may have slightly lower acceptance rates internationally compared to Visa and Mastercard. Plus, some smaller businesses or merchants in the U.S. may choose not to due to higher processing fees. You can find where Amex is accepted via the American Express website.

How to pick the best Amex card

American Express cards may not be the right fit for everyone.

Here are some tips to guide you:

If you’re loyal to a particular travel brand, you may want to consider a co-branded travel card. You'll earn elevated rewards when you spend with the partner travel brand and can access perks like free flights or hotel stays. American Express offers co-branded credit cards with Hilton, Marriott, and Delta.
If you travel but don’t stick to just one airline or hotel, a general travel rewards card is likely better for you. Depending on how much you spend on travel (and how much you’re willing to pay), consider the Platinum Card or Green Card.
To earn cash back through daily spending, consider the Blue Cash Preferred card, which offers solid rewards for groceries, gas, and streaming services. If you want to avoid the annual fee (or earn cash back for online shopping), consider Blue Cash Everyday Card.

The bottom line

American Express offers a diverse line-up of credit cards, many with industry-leading perks and rewards.

The first step to finding the best card is deciding what you want to get out of the card and your spending patterns. This will help you find an American Express card that’s the best fit for your wallet.

[Disclaimer]: *Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visitamericanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.

Meet the contributor:

Mia Taylor