Best American Express credit cards for 2025

If you’re on the lookout for credit card rewards, you’re likely aware of the impressive benefits offered by American Express. From the legendary Centurion card to a variety of options tailored to different financial needs, American Express boasts a range of cards designed for everything from cash back and travel rewards to introductory 0% APR offers.

Why we appreciate it: The Blue Cash Everyday offers tremendous value—whether you’re in search of a versatile cash-back card or aiming to complement existing rewards. Its coverage of common expenses like groceries and fuel, alongside bonuses for online shopping, helps you make the most of your everyday spending. Plus, with zero annual fee, the bonuses can effectively enhance your monthly savings.

Related: Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card review: Earn solid rewards in common categories

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Why we appreciate it: With 6% cash back on the first $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets every year, the Blue Cash Preferred can contribute up to $360 back on grocery spending alone. Alongside impressive returns in other spending categories, this card proves to be quite beneficial.

Before applying, ensure your spending habits align with the reward categories to guarantee you earn more rewards than the annual fee cost.

Read more: Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card review

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Why we appreciate it: The Amex Gold is a great option for travel enthusiasts, offering robust benefits for both occasional and frequent travelers. The 4x points on dining and U.S. supermarket expenses ensure you accumulate significant rewards for your everyday purchases. Additionally, regular credits on common expenses could offset the cost of the annual fee, contributing to overall value.

Before applying, familiarize yourself with the Membership Rewards system; although there are numerous redemption options, the greatest value is often obtained when redeeming points for flights through Amex Travel or transferring to one of American Express’ travel partners.

Check out the newest Amex Gold Card benefits and features for foodies

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Why we appreciate it: Even though it’s one of the priciest credit cards available, the Platinum Card from Amex can yield substantial savings for the right cardholders. For premium travel enthusiasts, it’s crucial to ensure the benefits and rewards counterbalance the hefty annual fee. Frequent travelers who value perks like airport lounge access and travel credits can find themselves reaping significant rewards, particularly as points accrue toward future travels. For occasional travelers or those not utilizing the more luxurious perks, a lower-cost rewards card may be the better choice.

Related: American Express Platinum Card review: An elite travel card with first-class benefits

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Why we appreciate it: This premium option among American Express and Delta’s co-branded cards, the Delta Platinum, provides valuable perks to justify the expense for frequent Delta flyers. Just the annual Companion Certificate can save you a substantial amount when booking flights, particularly now that it applies for Caribbean and Central American flights in addition to domestic travel. For those aiming for Medallion Status, annual MQD headstarts and MQD Boost from spending with this card make significant contributions.

This card is ideal for earning miles toward future flights, rewarding not only Delta purchases but also everyday transactions at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets. Combined with a 15% discount on award tickets, it represents a fantastic opportunity for savings on future trips.

Related: Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve: Which is better for frequent Delta travelers?

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Why we appreciate it: If Marriott is your preferred hotel chain, this card offers valuable benefits to enhance future stays. The attractive welcome bonus can help offset the cost of an upcoming trip after meeting the spending requirement.

In the long run, the Bonvoy Bevy card’s reward structure and supplementary points when staying with Marriott loyalists present considerable savings for travelers. Given its annual fee, you should assess your yearly travel habits to verify that the potential rewards justify the cost.

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Why we appreciate it: The Blue Business Cash provides straightforward, high-value rewards for small business owners in any sector. With no annual fee and 2% cash back on every purchase up to the first $50,000 per year, you can benefit without tracking expenses across categories. If approached judiciously, this could yield significant cash back rewards.

A spending cap of $50,000 at 2% rewards means this card best serves businesses with average monthly budgets below $4,000. For upcoming significant expenses, the card’s generous introductory APR offers flexibility to pay off over time before acquiring interest.

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Why we appreciate it: We value this card for its substantial rewards potential despite having no annual fee. Its variety of reward categories, including everyday transactions at dining establishments and gas stations, helps you accumulate points towards free stays at Hilton.

In comparison to higher-priced hotel cards offering premium perks, the Hilton Honors American Express Card is an excellent choice for travelers who prefer Hilton without predominantly spending on travel expenses.

Read more: Hilton Honors American Express Card review: Lots of reward opportunities for Hilton loyalists

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Why we appreciate it: The Amex Business Gold Card comes with a hefty $375 annual fee but could be worthwhile if your business expenses align with its categories.

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Why we appreciate it: The Amex Business Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card is among our top picks for frequent Delta business travelers seeking premium features. Key benefits include Delta Sky Club access* and a complimentary annual companion certificate upon card renewal.

For those evaluating multiple American Express credit cards, our detailed comparison pages could prove valuable:

• Amex Gold vs. Amex Platinum: Which card is best for your next getaway?

• Delta SkyMiles Gold vs. Platinum American Express Card: Which card offers more Delta benefits?

• Delta SkyMiles Platinum vs. Reserve American Express Card: The top choice for frequent Delta flyers?

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• Rewards and benefits: Whether you seek cash back or points and miles, American Express cards rank among the best for maximizing expenditure. It’s important to compare different options to ensure you find the perfect fit for how you want to earn and redeem rewards.

• Travel transfer partners: American Express not only hosts numerous co-branded airline and hotel cards but also facilitates transfers to over 21 partners on Membership Rewards-earning cards, including Delta Air Lines, Marriott Bonvoy, JetBlue TrueBlue, Emirates Skywards, and more.

• Cardmember exclusives: Among issuers, American Express boasts one of the richest entertainment access programs. As a cardholder, gain entry to exclusive dining, entertainment, and sports events, often including early ticket sales.

• Card acceptance: Although American Express has significantly increased merchant acceptance, it might still lag behind networks like Visa or Mastercard. In the U.S., you likely won’t encounter acceptance issues—99% of credit card-accepting merchants will take Amex.

• Different rewards types: The diverse range of American Express credit cards brings various reward types, which may complicate card combinations. For instance, an Amex cash-back card and a travel card earning Membership Rewards won’t allow for pooled redemptions or easy transfers between card types.

• Limited card type availability: Generally, American Express cards cater to those with good-to-excellent credit scores. If you’re seeking a student or secured credit card for credit-building, consider exploring other issuers.

When contemplating opening a new credit card, including those offered by American Express, ensure alignment with your financial goals.

American Express presents fantastic opportunities for earning both cash-back and travel rewards through regular spending, alongside tailored cards for business owners, balance transfers, and more.

Prior to applying for any card, analyze your habitual spending to verify you’ll generating enough value to counterbalance any annual fees while maximizing purchases you already make. Read the card’s terms and conditions to grasp how to prevent fees that could minimize potential value. Review the specifics of any welcome offer to ascertain if the required spending is manageable for your budget.

Ultimately, evaluate how the card may impact your overall financial health. If concerned about the temptation to overspend for bonuses or to utilize credits which may lead to more spending, reconsider applying for a new card. Spending beyond your means can lead to high-interest debt that could persist for years, likely exceeding any potential rewards gained.

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Here’s what to keep an eye out for when you enroll in an American Express card:

Amex Offers provide additional savings and rewards on specific expenses when activated through your American Express account. For example, you might find an offer for $30 back after spending $100 at Levi’s or 15% back on Bose.com purchases (with a maximum total refund of $50).

Offer values can differ, and availability typically depends on your geographic location. Before using an Amex Offer, you must add it to your card and use it before the expiration.

Your Amex account will allow you to track total savings accrued through Amex Offers. This program is applicable with any qualified consumer or business Amex card in the U.S.

If you’re already a credit card holder, your familiar with the payment cycle. At the end of each billing cycle, you’ll receive a statement depicting your overall balance and the minimum payment due. To avoid late fees and penalties, ensure you make at least the minimum payment. If you pay only the minimum, interest will start to accrue at your set APR.

However, some American Express credit cards (e.g., the Platinum Card from Amex, Amex Gold, and the Amex Green Card) utilize a different formula. Cards equipped with Pay Over Time flexibility lack a standard preset limit; instead, this limit fluctuates based on your credit and spending behavior. Unlike typical credit cards, payment of the full balance by the due date is required unless you opt into Pay Over Time.

If you activate Pay Over Time, the system mirrors that of other credit cards. You can incur eligible charges up to your assigned Pay Over Time limit (noted in the card agreement) and need to adhere to the minimum due by the due date; otherwise, interest will accrue at your Pay Over Time APR. However, you can always opt to pay your entire balance by the due date to avoid incurring interest charges.

Despite these potentially flexible terms, the basic principle of avoiding interest proves unchanged. Failing to remit your total balance by the due date will still invite interest charges at your credit card’s rates; the safest approach to avoid such charges is to only spend what you can afford to pay off entirely each month.

Many American Express cards yield points through the issuer’s Membership Rewards program. Points can be redeemed for travel, statement credits, and additional perks. As with many rewards programs, different redemption types can yield varying values.

In general, you receive the best value for Membership Rewards points when redeemed for travel, particularly through American Express Travel. Airfare often holds a maximum value of roughly 1 cent per point; however, hotel and car rentals may deliver lower values.

Another lucrative redemptive avenue is transferring points to one of American Express’s numerous travel partners. Redemption values can vary dramatically based on your travel plans, specific partner programs, and more—yet this frequently represents the most valuable way to redeem points.

When comparing card selections, utilize the Membership Rewards calculator on Amex’s site to determine precise values for different credit cards and redemption methods.

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American Express travel rewards credit cards vary in rewards categories, fees, and other advantages; all cards earn Membership Rewards points.

If you’re interested in credit card options that allow you to earn rewards on your spending for future travel (and you don’t favor any particular travel brand), consider these options. Travel cards from American Express often entail annual fees in exchange for substantial welcome bonuses and annual perks.

Examples:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express

• American Express® Gold Card

• American Express® Green Card

Co-branded travel cards

American Express has partnered with Delta Air Lines, Hilton Honors, and Marriott Bonvoy to offer co-branded travel credit cards. If you consistently fly Delta or stay with Hilton or Marriott, these specialized cards may appeal to your travel habits—they encompass various annual fees and rewards structures.

Unlike general American Express travel rewards cards, these co-branded options don’t earn Membership Rewards; instead, the points and miles earned apply to the respective airline or hotel loyalty program (Delta SkyMiles, Hilton Honors points, or Marriott Bonvoy points).

Examples:

• Hilton Honors American Express Card

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Cash-back credit cards via American Express offer an excellent pathway to maximize everyday spending for cash rewards. Competitive rewards rates are matched with annual credits for increased value in specific areas.

Amex cash-back credit cards frequently provide 0% APR introductory offers for new purchases and balance transfers. These features are advantageous for anyone looking to earn rewards while addressing existing debt or planning significant purchases.

Examples:

• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Small business owners have a plethora of options for maximizing their business expenses with American Express. The issuer’s business cards range from cash-back solutions to travel rewards and various co-branded options. You also have access to business cards that feature no annual fee and 0% APR promotions.

American Express business cards typically allow users to add employee cards to their account and provide expense management tools to help track business costs and streamline tax season.

Examples:

• American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

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The American Express Centurion Card, commonly referred to as the Amex Black Card, epitomizes exclusivity among American Express offerings; it’s an invite-only card reserved for a select group of high-spending Amex clients.

The Amex Gold card shines for accumulating rewards on everyday spending, particularly with grocery purchases and dining out. However, for those who are frequent travelers seeking luxurious perks such as lounge access, the Amex Platinum card delivers superior value.

American Express does not disclose an official limit on the number of Amex cards one may hold concurrently, but in general, avoid obtaining too many cards if they possess similar benefits to avoid management complexities.

While Visa cards boast stronger global acceptance and more variety, remember Visa operates as a network rather than an issuer. In contrast, American Express directly issues its own cards, allowing you to manage your Amex credit cards through a unified account.

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Our ranking of the best American Express credit cards encompasses offerings we consider top-tier within their respective categories—cash-back, rewards, travel credit cards, and beyond.

To create this ranking, we defined the categories reflective of the card types available from American Express and typical consumer preferences. These categories guide us in fulfilling the specific needs for cardholders from business to cash-back cards and more.

Next, we reviewed our current card ratings and “best cards” lists to discover cards that fit within our chosen categories while maintaining high ratings. This evaluation encompassed both card-specific details (welcome offers for rewards credit cards and 0% APR for balance transfer cards, for instance) alongside general attributes (annual fee, ongoing APR, clarity, app ratings, etc.).

Our final selections aim to assist a broad range of prospective Amex cardholders in finding the most suitable credit options, also directing them toward valuable alternatives they may not have previously considered.

This article was edited by Rebecca McCracken

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