Best American Express credit cards of July 2024
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“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
BLUEPRINT
Updated 5:02 a.m. UTC July 1, 2024
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American Express offers some of the most prestigious credit cards you can find when it comes to rewards and exclusive benefits. While some Amex cards come with shockingly high annual fees, you can generally offset them with generous annual credits and welcome bonuses. To narrow down your options as you search for the most rewarding Amex card, check out our picks for best American Express cards of 2024.
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American Express® Gold Card
Best American Express credit cards
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best American Express Card.
- American Express® Gold Card: Best for dining and groceries at U.S. supermarkets.
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card*: Best for cash back on gas in the U.S. and groceries at U.S. supermarkets.
- Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card*: Best for earning Membership Rewards® on everyday spending.
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for groceries at U.S. supermarkets.
- American Express® Green Card*: Best for all-around travel.
All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card, American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Why trust our credit card experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 40+ cards analyzed.
- 14+ data points analyzed.
- 5-step fact-checking process.
Best American Express Card
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Best for dining and groceries at U.S. supermarkets
American Express® Gold Card
Best for cash back on gas in the U.S. and groceries at U.S. supermarkets
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
*The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Best for earning Membership Rewards® on everyday spending
Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
*The information for the Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best for groceries at U.S. supermarkets
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Best for all-around travel
American Express® Green Card
*The information for the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
All information about American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Compare the best cards
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/31/2024.
Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new card to make $2,000 in purchases in your first 6 months
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
All information about American Express® Green Card and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Why it’s the best
The Amex Platinum card (terms apply, rates & fees) showers cardholders with rewards and perks. You’ll earn 5 Membership Rewards® points per $1 for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per $1 on other purchases. You’ll also get complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges and a variety of generous travel-related statement credits that add up to $1,000 or more in value per year, easily offsetting the card’s high annual fee.
Pros:
- Earn elevated rewards on select travel purchases (on up to $500,000 per calendar year).
- Huge welcome bonus potential.
- Over $1,000 in annual statement credits.
Cons:
- High annual fee.
- High ongoing APR.
- Most purchases outside of select travel earn minimal rewards.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $695.
- Rewards: 5 Membership Rewards® points per $1 for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per $1 on other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
Why it’s the best
The Amex Gold Card (terms apply, rates & fees) earns 4 Membership Rewards points per $1 at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 4 points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point), 3 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express travel and 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases. This card also makes food delivery more affordable, since it comes with an up to $120 annual dining statement credit and up to $120 in annual Uber Cash, which can be used for Uber Eats (for purchases in the U.S.; card must be added in Uber account to receive this benefit).
Pros:
- Earn elevated rewards on dining and groceries at U.S. supermarkets.
- Welcome bonus available.
- Annual statement credits worth up to $240.
Cons:
- Annual fee.
- Warehouse clubs don’t qualify for the elevated rewards rate.
- Annual statement credits can be hard to maximize since they’re disbursed in monthly increments.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $250.
- Rewards: 4 Membership Rewards points per $1 at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 4 points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point), 3 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express travel and 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a higher reward potential on your hotel spending than what the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card * The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply) offers. This card will fast-track you to free nights — earning 14 Hilton Honors points per $1 at hotels or resorts in the Hilton Portfolio, 7 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies and U.S. restaurants and 3 points per $1 on other purchases. Plus the card comes with top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond Status, which gives you space available room upgrades at select properties, a 100% bonus on base points earned every stay and executive lounge access. In addition, the card’s potential annual statement credits could add up to nearly $800 if fully maximized.
Pros:
- High points multiplier.
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond Status.
- Welcome bonus available.
Cons:
- High annual fee.
- No airport lounge access.
- Quarterly airline statement credits and semi-annual resort statement credits can be hard to use.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $550.
- Rewards: 14 Hilton Honors points per $1 at hotels or resorts in the Hilton Portfolio, 7 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies and U.S. restaurants and 3 points per $1 on other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 175,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $6,000 in purchases in the first six months of card membership. Offer ends 7/31/24.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
The information for the Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
The rewards are straightforward on this balance transfer credit card and targeted towards everyday expenses. But if you use your Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card (terms apply) at least 30 times in a billing period, you increase your earnings by 50%.
Pros:
- Intro APR offer on both balance transfers and purchases.
- Ability to earn 50% extra points with frequent card use.
- Welcome bonus available.
Cons:
- There’s an annual fee, which eats into your earnings.
- Other cards may earn higher rewards in this card’s bonus areas.
- No meaningful card perks.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $95.
- Rewards: 3 points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1 point), 2 points per $1 on U.S. gas stations and travel purchases booked through AmexTravel.com and 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 15,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $2,000 in purchases in the first six months of card membership.
- Foreign transaction fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Why it’s the best
The Blue Cash Preferred card (terms apply, rates & fees) earns the highest rate you’ll find at U.S. supermarkets, with the potential to earn up to $360 back on your U.S. supermarket spending at that rate. The card also earns generously on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, at U.S. gas stations and on transit — plus an up to $84 annual statement credit (issued as $7 monthly statement credits) after spending $9.99 or more each month on an eligible Disney Bundle subscription (enrollment required; subject to auto-renewal).
Pros:
- Introductory APR on balance transfers and purchases.
- Earns its highest rewards at U.S. supermarkets and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
- Elevated rewards at U.S. gas stations and on transit.
Cons:
- Annual fee after year one.
- Elevated rewards rate for purchases at U.S. supermarkets has a spending cap.
- Warehouse and discount clubs aren’t eligible for the highest rewards rate.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Rewards: 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, 3% cash back on transit and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Rewards Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or for eligible items at Amazon.com checkout.
- Welcome bonus: $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership.
- Foreign transaction fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
The information for the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
The American Express® Green Card * The information for the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply) is for travelers seeking straightforward rewards on all of their travel expenses. You’ll earn elevated rewards everywhere a traveler is likely to spend, including restaurants, rideshares, parking, buses, flights, hotels, vacation rentals and more. You can also get an annual up to $189 annual CLEAR® Plus statement credit and an up to $100 LoungeBuddy statement credit to use at any participating lounge (each calendar year).
Pros:
- Earn elevated rewards on most travel expenses.
- Welcome bonus available.
- Annual statement credits worth up to $289.
Cons:
- There’s an annual fee.
- Low points multiplier.
- LoungeBuddy statement credit not accepted at all lounges.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $150.
- Rewards: 3 points per $1 at restaurants, 3 points per $1 on travel including flights, hotels, transit, taxis, tours, and ridesharing services and 1 point per $1 on other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 40,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first six months of card membership.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
All information about American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Methodology
Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. Factors we considered included:
- Annual fee: 10%.
- Total annual rewards values: 40%.
- Welcome bonus value: 15%.
- Balance transfer intro offer: 6%.
- Purchase intro APR offer: 5%.
- Return protection: 3%.
- Extended warranty coverage: 2%.
- Lost luggage insurance: 2%.
- Lounge access: 2%.
- Cellphone insurance: 3%.
- Annual credits and/or bonuses: 10%.
- Foreign transaction fees: 2%.
Guide to American Express credit cards
American Express cards are typically high cost and high reward credit cards. If you use an Amex card wisely, it can deliver a lot of value.
Pros
- Rewards and credits can outweigh high annual fees.
- Generous welcome bonuses available.
- Preapproval doesn’t hurt your credit scores.
Cons
- High annual fees compared to many cards.
- APR can reach nearly 30%.
- High minimum credit score requirements.
How to qualify for American Express
American Express cards generally require good credit to qualify. You can check to see which cards you might qualify for by searching for your matched offers through Amex. Amex makes these pre-qualified offers based on your recent credit history and income, and your credit scores aren’t impacted by the process.
If you don’t get matched for a card you want, you may need some time to improve your credit scores or increase your income before you apply. Alternatively, you might want to look for a different card issuer that has more flexible qualification requirements.
Pre-qualification vs. preapproval
It’s easy to get pre-qualification and preapproval confused, but they don’t mean the same thing. For credit cards, prequalification usually means you can potentially qualify based on unverified information you provide to the creditor.
Preapproval is a little more firm, but it’s still not a guarantee you’ll be approved or receive the terms you see in the offer. Before a creditor like Amex sends you a preapproval offer, they verify some or all of your information, such as your credit history. But they still need to review your full credit card application before approving you for a card.
Choosing the best American Express card
Using an American Express card can earn you major rewards. To find the best Amex card for you, choose a card that rewards you for the purchases you already make. For example, if you frequently stay at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (terms apply) could deliver big value.
Amex splits their cards into three main categories:
- Travel and dining.
- Points cards for everyday spending.
- Cash back.
Even if one of these categories aligns with your spending, don’t assume a specific card will be worth the annual fee. Before applying, check to see which points, cash-back rewards or credits you’re most likely to qualify for and make sure they outweigh the cost of carrying the card.
About American Express Membership Rewards®
Some American Express cards give you Amex membership Rewards points for your spending. To earn points, your card has to be enrolled in the rewards program. If your card isn’t automatically enrolled, you can complete that step by calling the number on the back of the card.
Once you start earning them, you can redeem your Amex points in a variety of ways, including for:
- Statement credits.
- Flights.
- Hotel bookings.
- Transfers to partnering travel programs.
- Gift cards.
The value of rewards points depends on how you redeem them. You can use the Amex rewards calculator to estimate the redemption value before spending your points.
Is an American Express card right for you?
American Express has a wide variety of credit cards, so their cards can be right for a lot of people. To find the best card for your needs, take a look at how you already spend money and search for a card that rewards your biggest areas of spending.
Amex cards generally aren’t a fit for people with low credit scores, since you’re not likely to qualify if you have a FICO Score below 670. Using an Amex card can also be risky if you have issues with credit card debt or sticking to a budget, since their high rewards can encourage excessive spending.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
The American Express Centurion Black Card * The information for the American Express Centurion Black Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is Amex’s most prestigious card, as it’s available by invitation-only. For another prestigious card that gets you access to all of the Amex Centurion lounges, you might consider the Amex Platinum Card.
All information about American Express Centurion Black Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
The American Express Centurion Black Card * The information for the American Express Centurion Black Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is the hardest Amex card to get since it’s available by invitation only.
All information about American Express Centurion Black Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
The Amex Platinum and Gold cards are both points rewards cards that offer valuable annual statement credits, but the Platinum Card offers a higher point multiplier and roughly four times more annual statement credits.
American Express generally does not offer cards for bad credit, including student cards and secured cards. However, you may be able to find a co-branded card that has low or no credit score requirement, like the USAA Secured American Express® Credit Card * The information for the USAA Secured American Express® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. .
To qualify for Amex cards with the best rewards and benefits, including big welcome bonuses, you’ll likely need credit scores of 670 or higher.
Not all Amex credit cards have annual fees. Some no-annual fee Amex cards include the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (terms apply, rates & fees), the American Express Cash Magnet® Card * The information for the American Express Cash Magnet® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply) and the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card * The information for the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply).
All information about American Express Cash Magnet® Card and Amex EveryDay® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Some merchants may not accept Amex cards because merchants pay higher interchange fees to Amex for credit card transactions than they do to Visa and Mastercard.
For rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.
For rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card please visit this page.
For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express please visit this page.
For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express please visit this page.
*The information for the American Express Cash Magnet® Card, American Express Centurion Black Card, American Express® Green Card, Amex EveryDay® Credit Card, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and USAA Secured American Express® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
