American Express Credit Cards

Comparing American Express Credit Card Offers

By: Laura Mohammad

American Express offers some of the most exclusive credit and charge cards, with excellent benefits and superior rewards to boot. With partnerships with such brands as Delta and Hilton, there are a host of products to choose from.

With Amex's superior products and customer satisfaction, there are plenty of good reasons to look into these cards further. Here, we look at:

• Best American Express credit cards of 2018
• Details on the best cards
• What is American Express?
• Amex Membership Rewards program and best redemption options
• Other benefits of having an Amex card
• Quick recap

Editor Ratings: Best American Express Credit Cards of 2018

Details on the best Amex cards

Whether you are in the market for a business card, a travel card or an everyday card, American Express likely has one for you. Here are the best Amex cards and what they have to offer.

Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express

For the small family that doesn't want to be saddled with an annual fee, the Blue Cash Everyday delivers 3% back at U.S. supermarkets and 2% back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores. Terms apply. There's also a $150 introductory bonus after you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months of card membership.

The Amex Everyday Credit Card from American Express

This card is ideal for the consumer who is ready to make it her go-to card. That's because you get 20% more points back (minus returns and credits) when you use your card 20 times or more on purchases in a billing period. Whether a pack of gum or a Starbucks latte, rewards for those little everyday purchases add up.

With no annual fee, you also earn 10,000 points when you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months of card membership. Also enjoy 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (then 14.49% - 25.49% variable), with the ever-elusive no balance transfer fee (within 60 days of account opening). Terms apply.

The Platinum Card from American Express

If you travel often but don't love it, this card offers a host of travel features, including a $200 annual Uber credit. With access to exclusive airport lounges and 5X points for flights booked through airlines or American Express Travel, this card also gives you 60,000 points after a $5,000 spend within the first 3 months of card membership. Terms apply. Heads up that there's a $550 annual fee.

Blue Cash Preferred from American Express

With a larger family, this card can help you maximize cash back. There's the $200 welcome bonus after you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months of card membership, as well as the 6% back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 spend in a year, then 1%). That means if you spend $500 a month on groceries, that comes to $360 for the year. This card also earns you 3% back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores, making your cash back even greater. Terms apply. There's a $95 annual fee, but that fee is quickly offset by the cash back you can get with this card.

Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express

This is a good, all-round card with healthy travel rewards of 3X points for tickets booked directly with airlines and 2X points at U.S. restaurants, gas stations and supermarkets. Terms apply. Although there's a $195 annual fee, it's waived the first year, making the 25,000-point welcome bonus that much more valuable. The bonus takes effect after a $2,000 spend within the first 3 months of card membership.

The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express

This card has the rare feature of serving as a hybrid – it's a credit card, but it has the feature of a charge card in that you can go over your credit limit, within reason. What does that mean? American Express evaluates your credit, payment habits and income to decide whether you can go over. Meanwhile, you can carry a balance month to month because it is a credit card.

As a business card, you can benefit from business purchases with 2X points on expenditures such as office supplies or office dinners (first $50,000 per year, then it's 1X point). Terms apply. There's no annual fee and you can get 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (then 12.74% - 20.74% variable).

The Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN

This card is ideal for the small-business owner who has a wide range of business-related expenditures. You'll earn 3X points on 1 of 5 categories, then 2X points on the others for up to $100,000 in expenses. Categories include tickets purchased directly from airlines; U.S. advertising from select media; U.S. gas stations; U.S. shipping; and select U.S. computer-related purchases. Terms apply.

While there's a $175 annual fee, it's waived the first year. With the 50,000-point welcome bonus (after a $5,000 spend within the first 3 months of card membership), it's a business card worth having.

Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card from American Express

This card, part of the Delta/Amex suite, gives you direct access to the Delta brand, including enjoying priority boarding, checking your first bag free on a roundtrip Delta flight and getting 20% off eligible inflight purchases. If you travel Delta or you live near a Delta hub, such as Atlanta, this card can be a good choice.

When you make your first Delta purchase within your first 3 months, you earn a $100 statement credit. You'll earn 2X miles on purchases made with Delta and 35,000 miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after a $1,000 spend within the first 3 months of card membership. Terms apply. There's a $195 annual fee but no foreign transaction fee.

SimplyCash Plus Business Credit Card from American Express

With no annual fee, you can quickly rack up the business cash back with this card. You'll earn a whopping 5% back on the first $50,000 on wireless services purchased directly from U.S. providers and U.S. office supply stores. Then, get 3% back on the first $50,000 spent on your choice of 8 categories (and 1% on other purchases). Terms apply. This card also offers Expanded Buying Power, which means you can go over your limit, provided you meet certain criteria.

Hilton Honors Ascend Card from American Express

Like the Delta suite, this card is among a suite of Hilton products that are ideal for the traveler who frequents this brand. You can earn a weekend night after spending $15,000 in a calendar year; and with $40,000 spend, you can upgrade to Diamond status, which affords you such benefits as executive lounge status, 48-hour room guarantee, elite status gifting, as well as the lower levels' benefits.

The rewards abound with this card, making its $95 annual fee worthwhile. There's up to 100,000 points introductory bonus (after $3,000 in purchases within your first 3 months of membership); 12X points for spending at participating hotels and resorts within the Hilton Portfolio; 6X points at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations; and 3X points on all other eligible purchases. Terms apply.

What is American Express?

Seen as a gold standard in card services, American Express is both an issuer and a network. That means it issues credit and charge cards and services them through its own network of merchants.

But Amex is more than just a card issuer. It also offers savings accounts and even personal loans to qualifying members. Here are some of its services.

• Credit cards. Likely best known for its premium credit cards, Amex products typically only accept good or excellent credit. With exclusive partnerships with Hilton and Delta, Amex also offers cards that reward mightily for loyalty.
• Charge cards. The dominant issuer of charge cards, Amex offers these products for the consumer or business person who doesn't need to carry a balance month to month and likes the convenience of getting approved for a high charge at the counter.
• Business cards. With a full suite of cards that cater to the business owner, Amex offers products that reward handsomely for business purchases.
• Consumer cards. There's a wide range of consumer cards, from charge cards with excellent travel benefits to cards with loyalty points or miles to rewards cards for everyday spending.
• Savings accounts. While not well known for this offering, Amex's savings accounts are worth a look with interest rates well above competitors.
• Personal loans. For the qualifying member, you can get a personal loan with well under 10% APR.

Satisfaction among Amex customers is bar none, JD Power found with its most recent survey. Take a look at how Amex fared, on a scale of 1,000, with 1,000 as the best:

Customer satisfaction for credit card companies...

•  835
• American Express
•  827
• Discover
•  808
• Capital One
•  806
• Barclays
•  796
• Chase
•  795
• Bank of America
•  794
• U.S. Bank
•  791
• Citi
•  775
• Wells Fargo

• JD Power 2017 credit card study

Amex Membership Rewards program and best redemption options

The Amex Membership Rewards program allows you to redeem your points in a variety of ways, whether you want to use it to give a gift or to save up for the big trip. Here are the ways you can redeem:

• Travel Rewards
  • Transfer Points. Amex partners with a variety of hotels and airlines
  • Use points on AmexTravel.com. You can use them for part or all of your flight, or a prepaid hotel, vacation package or cruise booking.
• Gift Cards. You can redeem for gift cards to more than 100 restaurants, retailers, or for entertainment or travel brands. You can also redeem for an Amex gift card that you can use at participating retailers.
• Merchandise. Shop on MembershipRewards.com for such items as electronics, jewelry, sports equipment or home decor.
• Shopping. You can use points when shopping online and in-store with participating merchants.
• Charges. You can apply points toward eligible charges you've already made on your card.
• Charity. Use your points to donate to a non-profit registered with Members Give.

Other benefits of having an Amex card

Frequently, not only do the more exclusive Amex cards offer these features, but the Everyday and Blue Cash cards might offer them as well. You can get purchase protection, return protection and a variety of travel benefits, such as car rental insurance and baggage insurance.

• Extended warranty. When you make a purchase with your card, a 1-year warranty is added to the original U.S. manufacturer's warranty up to 5 years and for a maximum of $10,000. You can't exceed $50,000 in a calendar year.
• Purchase protection. When you make a purchase on your card, your purchases can be protected up to 90 days if stolen or accidently damaged. It's limited to $1,000 per item and $50,000 per card member per calendar year. With some premium cards, such as Platinum Card, the limit is $10,000 per item for up to $50,000 per calendar year.
• Return protection. If a merchant won't take back an eligible item within 90 days, Amex might reimburse you for the full amount minus shipping and handling for up to $300 per item and up to $1,000 per calendar year.
• Baggage insurance plan. A travel and business card benefit, this plan varies according to the corresponding card and the state you are in.
• Car rental loss and damage insurance. Unlike certain Chase cards, this insurance is secondary, meaning it kicks in after other insurance, such as your personal insurance, pays.
• Global Assist hotline. Global Assist is available to all U.S. card members and helps to prepare for your trip with customs information and destination guides. When you are more than 100 miles from home, benefits can include lost passport replacement assistance and translation services. There is also Premium Global Assist for superior products.
• Roadside assistance. This is a 24-hour hotline that will send a tow truck or locksmith to you. You are charged for goods or services provided.
• Travel accident insurance. This benefit varies by card and which state you are in.

To recap, here are the best American Express credit cards of 2018:

• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best for cash back with no annual fee
• The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express: Best for balance transfers
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for luxury travel perks
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for high cash back rates
• Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express: Best for a charge card
• The Blue Business^SM Plus Credit Card from American Express: Best for business rewards with no annual fee
• The Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN: Best for choosing your own business reward categories
• Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express: Best for frequent flyers
• SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card from American Express: Best for saving interest on business expenses
• Hilton Honors Ascend Card from American Express: Best for Hilton hotel stays