Credit Cards / Advice

Best American Express Credit Cards

Overview
Top 10 American Express Credit Cards
Before You Apply

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One of the most popular card issuers globally, American Express is known for its personal, small business and corporate credit cards and the many perks that come with them. These are the best American Express credit cards in 2022.

The Best American Express Credit Cards: An Overview

Take a look at the top American Express credit cards and their primary features, including annual fees, APR and benefits.

Credit Card	Details
American Express Platinum Card	$695 annual fee See Pay Over Time APR 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 within the first six months 5x points on flights booked through American Express Travel on up to $500,000 each year 5 points on prepaid hotels through American Express Travel 1 point earned per dollar spent on all other purchases Statement credit towards hotels, Uber, flights, Clear, TSA PreCheck and Global Entry
American Express Gold Card	$250 annual fee See Pay Over Time APR 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 during the first six months 4x points per dollar on dining 4x points per dollar on takeout and delivery in the U.S. 4x points per dollar on U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 each year 3x points on air travel booked through the American Express portal
American Express Blue Cash Preferred	$0 for the first year, then $95 annual fee 6% on U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 each year 6% on select streaming services in the U.S. 3% on everyday transit
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express	$550 annual fee 16.49%-25.49% Variable 100,000 Bonus Miles after spending $5,000 within the first three months 3x miles on Delta purchases made directly through the airline 1x miles on all other purchases Delta Sky Club Access status boost Upgrade priority and complimentary upgrades First checked bag is free Credit towards TSA PreCheck and Global Entry
Hilton Honors Aspire American Express	$450 15.99% to 24.99% variable APR 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $4,000 within the first three months 14x points on Hilton hotels and resorts 7x points on select flights booked through American Express 7x points on dining at U.S. restaurants 3x points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases
American Express Green Card	$150 annual fee 16.24% to 23.24% variable APR 45,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $2,000 during the first six months 3x points at U.S. restaurants 3x points on transit 3x points on travel 1x points on all other purchases Credit for lounge access
The Plum Card from American Express	$250 annual fee No spending limit Balance payment flexibility No spending limit No foreign transaction fees Credit for lounge access QuickBooks access 1.5% early-pay discount within 10 days of statement closing date
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express	$450 15.99% to 24.99% variable APR 75,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points for up to $3,000 in purchases within the first three months 6x points on eligible Marriott Bonvoy hotels 3x points on flights and U.S. dining Free credit for Global Entry and TSA PreCheckElite Night Credits with Marriott Bonvoy Premium internet access

Top 10 American Express Credit Cards

Understanding the pros and cons of the best American Express credit cards is essential before deciding on which one to choose. It allows potential American Express® Card Members to make a thorough comparison and pick the right option for their specific needs. Here’s a more in-depth look into the options mentioned above.

1. American Express Platinum Card

Best for: High-end travel rewards

This American Express card comes at a pretty steep price, which may deter some people from applying. However, its luxury perks and high reward rates make up for the $695 annual fee.

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The APR for the American Express Platinum card is pretty standard. Additionally, Card Members intrinsically pay less interest when paying their balance in full. The Platinum card is essentially a charge card yet it comes with the Plan It and Pay Over Time features. These allow Card Members to set up monthly payment plans for eligible purchases.

The American Express Platinum card is ideal for those with a high-end lifestyle. It requires good to excellent credit for approval, and Card Members have access to bonus reward categories, numerous transfer partners, automatic elite status and exclusive lounge access.

Platinum Card Members can earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards Points when spending at least $6,000 during the first six months of opening the account. The card’s reward-earning scheme does have caps on spending amounts on travel. However, Card Members would have to spend $500,000 yearly to reach that limit.

2. American Express Gold Card

Best for: Groceries and dining

For a $250 annual fee, the American Express Gold card gives American Express® Card Members 4 points per dollar on their day-to-day grocery and dining expenses. Additionally, it currently has a generous welcome offer of 60,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $4,000 within the first six months.

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The Gold card allows Card Members to add up to five authorized users at no extra charge. That’s why it could be a great option for large families that travel and dine out often. The card can also be used to earn points on grocery shopping, and it’s widely accepted in supermarkets across the U.S.

On the downside, the Gold Card has high interest rates and penalty fees if not paid in full each month. It’s imperative to assess paying capability before applying.

3. American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card

Best for: Cash back offers

This option is one of the best reward credit cards available across issuers in 2022. It offers a whopping 6% on groceries and select streaming services in the U.S. and gives American Express® Card Members 3% cashback on their everyday transit-related payments.

The Blue Cash Preferred card has no annual fee during the first year. After that, Card Members need to pay $95 yearly, which is still a steal compared to other American Express alternatives. This card also comes with a 0% intro APR for the first year then , allowing Card Members to use their card without accruing interest.

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Unlike the two previous options, this American Express card is not a charge card. This gives Card Members the flexibility of paying their balance over time. However, the Blue Cash Preferred card doesn’t offer balance transfer possibilities.

4. Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card

Best for: frequent flying

This is a great option for frequent customers of Delta Airlines. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve card has a hefty annual fee of $550, but it offers unmatched rewards for American Express® Card Members looking to travel in style. This card has a high mile rate and gives numerous other perks like free checked bags, early boarding and priority upgrades.

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve has a nice welcome bonus at 100,000 extra miles. However, it requires heavy spending in just a few months to receive it. This luxury card may not be the best option for casual travelers. American Express and Delta have a few more affordable alternatives, like the Delta SkyMiles Blue, the Delta SkyMiles Gold and the Delta SkyMiles Platinum cards.

Good To Know

American Express® Card Members can maximize their earnings through the Membership Rewards program. Enrolling allows them to get rewards for every dollar spent and redeem them towards eligible purchases on their statement, gift cards and charity donations.

5. Hilton Honors Aspire American Express Card

Best for: Frequent Hilton guests

Regulars at Hilton can benefit from this partnership card. The Hilton Honors Aspire is an excellent alternative for American Express® Card Members who want to complement the perks they get with their Hilton Honors membership. This premium travel card’s offerings easily outweigh the $450 annual fee .

This American Express card comes with Hilton Diamond Status and gives Card Members 14x points at participating hotels and resorts. It also comes with a $250 yearly bonus in Hilton stays. That’s up to 34 points per dollar. Those looking for lower annual fees could have a look at other Hilton Honors American Express cards, but the advantages of the Hilton Honors Reserve are unmatched.

6. American Express Green Card

Best for: Travel and dining with points

Card Members using the American Express Green Card are in for a treat with 3x transferable points on travel and dining and 1x points on all other purchases. Although other American Express cards have higher rates, the Green card comes with a lower annual fee and more flexibility..

On the downside, this card offers some low-value redemption options when not using rewards directly for travel or transferring them to partner programs. Using points towards statement credit could significantly depreciate their worth.

7. The Plum Card from American Express

Best for: Business financing

This business credit card is built for companies with irregular cash flow that need some flexibility on their accounts payable. It offers no spending limit based on the paying capabilities of American Express® Card Members and no reward caps. Additionally, it has a 60-day grace period to pay without interest and gives a 1.5% discount for Card Members who pay early

However, the Plum Card has a not so wallet-friendly annual fee of $250. It comes with no bonus offer, and its rewards scheme could be complicated for som.

8. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

Best for: Frequent Marriot guests

American Express has always been known for its fantastic travel perks. It’s no surprise that it partners with travel and accommodation providers to meet the expectations of American Express® Card Members. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is yet another example of this, and it offers unparalleled benefits to Card Members who are also frequent Marriott guests.

This luxury travel card gives its users a solid welcome offer, various statement credits, and robust rewards. These easily offset the $450 annual fee. In addition, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card comes with automatic elite status. However, travelers that like mixing up their hotel settings may not benefit so much from a Marriott-centered credit card with such a steep price tag.

Before Applying for an American Express Travel Card

American Express has some excellent credit card options. However, this issuer has a reputation for low acceptance rates. Aspiring American Express® Card Members need to put a little work into building their credit before applying. American Express offers a prequalification tool that allows potential users to see where they stand on their credit.

Some of the cards offered by American Express are charge cards, meaning Card Members must pay their balance in full each cycle. Potential Card Members need to pay close attention to the type of credit card they’re applying for to avoid any problems and hefty late fees down the line.

Final Take

The type of credit card a person should obtain depends heavily on their specific circumstances. American Express offers an alternative for everyone, but potential Card Members need to do their research and assess their particular needs before moving forward with their application.

The options listed above are the best American Express credit cards in 2022. Those interested in becoming American Express clients should compare the credit cards’ features and benefits to see which one suits their spending habits best.

Rates, offers and requirements are subject to change and reflect current availability as of May 6, 2022.

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GOBankingRates bases its assessment of “best” and “top” products on the above-stated parameters to create a baseline for comparison. This assessment is an approximation of “best” and “top” designed to help consumers find products that might be appropriate for them. There could be other options available as well. Consumers should consider various options appropriate for their circumstances.

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by American Express. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express.

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by American Express. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by American Express.

About the Author

Daniela Rivera is a bilingual freelance content creator with an advertising and media background. She has a degree in Communication Science and over 10 years of work experience as a copywriter. She specializes in generating engaging and creative concepts and texts for advertising, e-commerce, blogs, podcasts and social media.