Best American Express Credit Cards in 2024

The American Express^® Gold Card is your best option for earning Membership Rewards points for free travel. That’s because it earns a stellar 4x points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 per calendar year) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year). Points can be transferred to more than 20 airline and hotel loyalty programs, making them very valuable.

By utilizing the card’s statement credits, card members can fully offset the card’s $325 annual fee. Plus, the American Express^® Gold Card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, meaning you won’t have to pay more to use the card outside of the U.S.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express is arguably the best premium travel card for frequent travelers. Cardmembers get access to over 1,400 airport lounges, complimentary Marriott Gold and Hilton Gold status* and well over $1,000 in annual travel and shopping statement credits.

Travel credits include an annual $200 hotel credit, an annual airline fee credit of up to $200*, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit of up to $120*, up to $200 annually ($15 monthly, $20 in December) in Uber Cash toward U.S. eats and rides* and an annual CLEAR® Plus membership credit of up to $199*. Other benefits include up to a $240 digital entertainment credit*, up to a $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit* and up to $155 in credits for Walmart+*.

The travel benefits and statement credits on The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express make it a must-have for traveling small business owners. The card includes access to over 1,400 airport lounges through the Amex Global Lounge Collection, up to $200 in airline fee credits*, hotel elite status with Marriott and Hilton*, $199 annual CLEAR Plus credit* and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit*.

Transfer points to over 20 airline and hotel partners or through Amex Travel. Even better, you can get 35% of your points back when booking eligible flights through Amex Travel, boosting the effective redemption rate to over 1.5 cents per point.

The Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express is a cash back-earning powerhouse, offering one of the highest rates you can find for U.S. supermarket purchases. You’ll earn 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 and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more), 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Terms apply. You can earn $360 in bonus cash back just on your first $6,000 in U.S. supermarket purchases each year, easily outmatching the annual fee. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

It’s also a great choice for financing a new purchase. You’ll get an intro APR of 0% on purchases for 12 months, followed by an APR of 18.49%-29.49% Variable.

The Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express doubles as a great no-annual-fee cash back* card and a top card for financing balance transfers and new purchases. That’s because it offers an intro APR of 0% on balance transfers for 15 months and an equally long 0% on purchases for 15 months, followed by an APR of 18.49%-29.49% Variable.

Once the intro offer expires, you can use it as a solid card for everyday purchases. You’ll earn 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 1% cash back on other purchases. Terms apply. *

The Hilton Honors American Express Card offers card members a generous welcome offer, an excellent earning rate and elite status benefits, all for a $0 annual fee. Cardholders earn at least 3x Hilton Honors points on every eligible purchase plus receive automatic Silver elite status (enrollment required). Travelers also enjoy rental car protections³ when booking cars with their Hilton credit card. Additionally, foreign transaction fees are waived — a rare perk for a no-annual-fee card.

Cardholders earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations AND 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.

The Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express stands out among hotel cards in offering top-tier elite status just for carrying the card. In addition, Hilton fans earn 14x points on eligible Hilton purchases, plus get an annual free night redeemable at almost any Hilton property worldwide.

The card offers up to $400 in annual Hilton resort credits and up to $200 in annual flight credits. If fully utilized, these credits more than offset the card’s significant annual fee. However, these credits are divvied up into two $200 semi-annual resort credits and four $50 quarterly flight credits — making it harder to take full advantage of them.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card lets you earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%.* That’s a great earning rate for a card that doesn’t charge an annual fee. However, that modest spending cap means this card will only be best for small businesses with modest spending.

Plus, stretch your small business’ budget longer with an intro APR of 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening (followed by an 17.74% - 25.74% Variable APR).

The Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card is the most premium card in Amex’s Delta card lineup, offering access to the Delta Sky Club and Amex Centurion Lounges when you fly Delta. Stretch your Delta SkyMiles further with a 15% discount on Delta-operated flights. Plus, get a Companion Certificate each year after card renewal.

The card also gives you a boost toward Delta Medallion elite status through a $2,500 MQD Headstart and a MQD Boost of MDQ per $10 in purchases charged to your card. Medallion elites get upgrade priority over other Delta Medallion elites of the same tier, while non-elite cardmembers get added to the upgrade list.