The best American Express credit cards, picked by a frequent traveler

CNN

4 days ago

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If you're looking for the best American Express credit cards, you've come to the right place. Amex is renowned for offering premium travel rewards, high-end travel perks, benefits to enhance hotel stays and solid customer service. Whether you're a frequent traveler, a foodie or someone who simply wants to earn rewards on everyday purchases, Amex has a card for you.
With options ranging from no-annual-fee cash-back cards to luxury travel rewards, American Express continues to be a top choice for consumers. I've been an Amex card member for years and have learned the ins and outs of its portfolio. Let's take a look at the best American Express credit cards available today, so you can select the best Amex card (or cards) for you.
Best no-annual-fee card: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Best for cash back: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Best for dining: American Express® Gold Card
Best for luxury travel benefits: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Best for free checked bags: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Best for free hotel nights: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Best for hotel elite status: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Best for leisure travelers: American Express® Green Card
Best for business owners: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Welcome offer: Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months of card membership.
Annual fee: $0
Rewards highlights:
3% cash back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
3% cash back on US online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
3% cash back at US gas stations on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
1% cash back on other purchases.
This card is ideal for everyday spending without the burden of an annual fee. With elevated rewards on groceries, gas and online shopping, it's a great starter card or secondary card for maximizing rewards in key spending categories.
The one downside of the Blue Cash Everyday is that you should only use it on purchases made within the US, as you'll incur a 2.7% foreign transaction fee for overseas purchases (see rates and fees).
Welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new card within the first six months of card membership.
Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (see rates and fees)
Rewards highlights:
6% cash back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
6% cash back on select US streaming subscriptions.
3% cash back at US gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
1% cash back on other purchases.
The Blue Cash Preferred is one of the most rewarding cash-back cards on the market, especially for families or individuals who spend heavily on groceries and streaming services. Despite the annual fee, the card easily pays for itself if you use it strategically.
As with the Blue Cash Everyday card, you'll incur a 2.7% foreign transaction fee for overseas purchases (see rates and fees).
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership.
Annual fee: $325 (see rates and fees)
Rewards highlights:
4X points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4X 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.
3X points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
2X points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
1X point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
The Amex Gold also comes with several credits.
$120 Uber Cash: Receive $10 in Uber Cash each month when you use add your card to your account and use your card for rides or orders in the US.
$84 Dunkin' credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits at US Dunkin' locations. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy credit: Earn up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year when you use your Gold card for eligible purchases at US restaurants booked through Resy. Credits are received semiannually — up to $50 in statement credits between January and June and another $50 in statement credits between July and December. Enrollment required.
$120 dining credit: Earn up to $10 in monthly statement credits — up to $120 a year — when you use your Amex Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
The Amex Gold is one of the cards I use most as a foodie and frequent traveler. Its elevated points on dining and groceries are incredibly useful, and the annual credits help offset the annual fee. It also has no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees).
Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your card in the first six months of card membership.
Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees)
Rewards highlights:
5X 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 points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
5X points on prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com.
1X point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Some of the credits and perks on the Platinum card include the following.
$200 hotel credit: Receive up to $200 in statement credits each year when you use your Platinum card to book prepaid stays through American Express Travel at Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection properties. A minimum two-night stay is required for The Hotel Collection.
$240 digital entertainment credit: Get up to $20 back each month in statement credits when you use your Platinum card for eligible purchases with select providers, including Disney+, the Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, the New York Times, Peacock and the Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
Lounge access: All card members receive access to American Express Centurion lounges, as well as Delta Sky Club (when flying eligible Delta flights, subject to visit limits), select Lufthansa lounges (when flying Lufthansa), Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges, and the opportunity to enroll in Priority Pass Select for even more lounge access. Terms apply.
Walmart+: When you use your Platinum card to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (auto-renewal applies), you'll receive a statement credit of up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes each month. Note: Plus Ups are not eligible. Membership also includes access to the Paramount+ Essential plan; separate registration required.
$200 airline fee credit: Choose one qualifying airline and receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged to your Platinum card. These may include seat selection, baggage fees and more. Terms and conditions apply.
$200 Uber Cash: Add your card to your Uber account and receive $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus an extra $20 bonus in December. Uber Cash can be used on rides and food orders in the US when you choose your eligible Amex card at checkout.
$199 CLEAR® Plus credit: Pay for your CLEAR Plus membership with your Platinum card and receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year. CLEAR Pass uses unique facial recognition at over 50 airports worldwide, allowing you to clear security faster. Membership auto-renews.
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Pay your Global Entry application fee with your Platinum card and receive a $120 statement credit every four years. Alternatively, get up to an $85 statement credit every four and a half years for your TSA PreCheck application fee when paid through an official TSA enrollment provider. Approved Global Entry members also enjoy TSA PreCheck benefits at no extra cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Enjoy up to $100 in statement credits each year on purchases made at Saks Fifth Avenue stores or online at saks.com. Receive up to $50 in credits semiannually — January through June, and then again July through December. Enrollment is required.
The Platinum card is a premium travel powerhouse with unmatched airport lounge access, hotel elite status and travel protections. It's best for frequent travelers who can take full advantage of the annual credits and luxury perks.
Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (see rates and fees)
Rewards highlights:
2X miles on Delta purchases, at US supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.
1X mile on all other eligible purchases.
Other perks and benefits include the following.
15% off award travel: Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express card members get 15% off when using miles to book award travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
$200 Delta flight credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta flight credit to use toward future travel.
First checked bag free: You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four, that's a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight.
Priority boarding: Receive Zone 5 priority boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
$100 Delta Stays credit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
Pay with miles: Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
20% back on in-flight purchases: Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your card.
For Delta flyers, this card provides excellent value, especially if you check bags. The waived baggage fees and priority boarding easily cover the cost of the card if you fly Delta a few times a year.
Welcome offer: Earn up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points. Earn 100,000 points after you spend $6,000 and an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership.
Annual fee: $650 (see rates and fees)
Rewards highlights:
6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
3X Marriott Bonvoy points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
2X Marriott Bonvoy points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card.
Additional perks and benefits include the following.
$300 Brilliant dining credit: Receive up to $25 in statement credits each month on eligible restaurant purchases worldwide when you use your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card.
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Status: Card members receive Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Status, which offers many benefits, such as space-available room upgrades (including enhanced views or suites), bonus points on paid stays, welcome gift and more. These perks are available when the stay is booked with a qualifying rate at hotels that participate in Marriott Bonvoy, subject to availability upon check-in.
Free night award: Receive one free night award every year after your card renewal month. The award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Choice award: Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for award options.
$100 Marriott Bonvoy property credit: Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at the Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your card.
Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: Get a statement credit every four years for your Global Entry application fee ($120) or every four and a half years for your TSA PreCheck five-year membership fee (up to $85 when paid through an official TSA PreCheck enrollment provider) when you use your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card. Approved Global Entry members also receive TSA PreCheck access at no extra cost.
Airport lounge access: Enroll in Priority Pass Select, which offers an unlimited number of visits to over 1,200 airport lounges in over 130 countries.
This premium hotel card delivers a lot of value for frequent Marriott guests. The annual free night, elite status and $300 in dining credits make this a strong choice if you stay at Marriott properties regularly.
Welcome offer: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card within your first six months of card membership.
Annual fee: $550 (see rates and fees)
Rewards highlights:
14X points on hotels and resorts for eligible purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio.
7X points on select travel including flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies.
7X points on dining at US restaurants, including takeout and delivery.
3X points for each dollar spent on other eligible purchases.
Some of the perks and benefits include the following.
Complimentary Diamond status: All card members receive complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status, which offers benefits such as: 100% bonus on base points for every stay, premium Wi-Fi at select hotels, space-available room upgrades, access to executive lounges at participating properties and much more.
$400 Hilton resort credit: Receive up to $400 in statement credits (up to $200 semiannually) on eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton resorts using your Hilton Honors Aspire Card. No minimum purchase necessary.
Free night reward: Receive a free night reward each year during your first year of membership and every year upon card renewal. Plus, earn an extra free night reward after spending $30,000 in a calendar year and another one after reaching $60,000 in purchases on your card within the same year.
$200 flight credit: Receive up to $200 back per year (up to $50 in statement credits each quarter) on eligible flight purchases.
$199 CLEAR Plus credit: Use your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card to cover the cost of CLEAR Plus Membership and get up to $199 back in statement credits per calendar year (subject to auto-renewal).
This is the top-tier Hilton card, which provides Diamond status (top-tier elite benefits), generous point earnings and valuable travel credits. I've had this card for the last five years. It's ideal for loyal Hilton travelers who want premium perks without needing to stay often to qualify for them.
Welcome offer: Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 on purchases on the card in your first six months of card membership.
Annual fee: $150 (see rates and fees)
Rewards highlights:
3X points on travel, including airfare, hotels, tours, campgrounds, car rentals, cruises, vacation rentals and more.
3X points on transit including trains, taxis, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses and subways.
3X points dining at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.
1X point on other purchases (terms and limitations apply).
The Green Card is a great all-around travel and dining card, especially for younger professionals or digital nomads. With elevated points in both travel and dining, it hits the sweet spot for casual and leisure travel without the high annual fee of other Amex travel cards. It also includes an annual $199 CLEAR Plus credit.
Welcome offer: Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the card within your first three months of card membership.
Annual fee: $0
Rewards highlights:
2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.
This is one of the most straightforward and valuable business cards available. It offers strong flat-rate rewards on all purchases, making it ideal for small business owners who want to earn Membership Rewards without worrying about rotating categories.
When choosing an American Express card, it's important to understand the different types of rewards each card earns. Some earn Membership Rewards points, which are flexible and can be transferred to over 20 airline and hotel partners. These offer the most versatility, though maximizing their value takes some know-how.
Other cards earn points or miles in a single airline or hotel loyalty program, which aren't as flexible but often come with valuable perks when you use that brand.
If you're not planning to travel soon, cash-back Amex cards let you earn straight-up cash on your purchases, though you'll typically give up the chance for outsized travel redemptions.
One key rule to remember: Amex has a 'once-per-lifetime' welcome bonus policy, meaning you can only earn the sign-up bonus on a specific card once. That's why it pays to apply when the offer is especially strong.
With so many highly rated American Express cards, there isn't a 'best' card, as the answer depends on your personal goals. All the Amex cards on our list are strong in their own way, offering unique benefits that cater to different people.
If you're looking for a card that's simple and earns cash back, then you'll want to consider either the Blue Cash Everyday or the Blue Cash Preferred. With so many similarities between the two, the best option for you depends on how much you spend each year in certain categories, especially at US supermarkets.
For those looking for travel perks, you can't go wrong with the Amex Platinum. But if you don't think you'll fully utilize all the benefits that come along with this pricey card, you might want to instead consider the Amex Green. Alternatively, the Amex Gold might serve as a happy medium between the two with a balance of perks, points and a moderate annual fee.
On the other hand, those who want a card that earns points or miles in a specific airline or hotel program and comes with perks tied to that airline or hotel will want to think about one of the Amex co-branded cards. If earning hotel rewards is important to you, then the Hilton Honors Aspire or Marriott Brilliant Amex is the way to go. And for the frequent or even leisure flyer, the Delta Gold Amex is a great go-to card for saving money on those pesky baggage fees.
Last but not least, if you're a small business owner, you might enjoy the easy-to-use, no-annual-fee Blue Business Plus, as it can help you rack up travel rewards when spending money on your business expenses and also finance some purchases at a low cost if your business needs help to make ends meet right now.
The following FAQs have been answered by CNN Underscored travel editor and credit card expert Kyle Olsen.
Is Amex Gold or Amex Platinum better?
Is Amex Gold or Amex Platinum better?
Choosing between the Amex Gold and Amex Platinum comes down to how you spend and what you value. The Amex Gold is best for those who spend heavily on dining and US supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide. It also has a more approachable $325 annual fee.
On the other hand, the Amex Platinum is built for frequent premium travelers, justifying its $695 annual fee with extra points for flight purchases and premium perks like lounge access, hotel elite status and a suite of valuable travel credits. If everyday rewards and a lower fee matter most, go with the Gold. If luxury travel benefits are your priority, the Platinum is worth it.
Is American Express accepted everywhere?
Is American Express accepted everywhere?
In the US, American Express is now accepted at 99% of merchants that take credit cards. This is a major improvement driven by initiatives like the OptBlue program, which made Amex more accessible for small businesses. However, international acceptance still lags, and you may find fewer places abroad that take Amex. While you're unlikely to run into issues using it domestically, it's smart to carry a backup card when traveling overseas.
What is the highest level American Express card?
What is the highest level American Express card?
The highest-level American Express card is the Centurion® Card, often called the 'Amex Black Card.' This invite-only, ultra-premium card is reserved for long-time Amex clients with exceptionally high annual spending. For most consumers, however, the Platinum Card® from American Express represents the top tier of Amex offerings. With a $695 annual fee, it delivers extensive luxury travel benefits, including access to over 1,400 airport lounges, elite hotel and rental car status and a range of valuable annual statement credits. While the Centurion Card remains an exclusive symbol of ultra wealth, the Platinum Card is widely seen as the flagship option available to the public.
Our mission is to help readers make informed decisions through thorough, unbiased reporting. Our credit card recommendations are based on a combination of real-world testing, expert analysis and deep knowledge of the travel and financial industries. We evaluate cards based on overall value, not just flashy welcome offers by focusing on long-term benefits like rewards rates, perks, fees and customer experience. Our editors, like Kyle Olsen, are frequent travelers and card holders themselves who offer firsthand insights you can trust.
Click here for rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday card.Click here for rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred card.Click here for rates and fees of the American Express Gold card.Click here for rates and fees of the American Express Platinum card.Click here for rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold card.Click here for rates and fees of the Marriott Brilliant card.Click here for rates and fees of the Blue Business Plus card.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.