As one of the major card issuers in the United States, American Express cards come in two forms popular with many users.
Charge cards allow you to spend just like normal but you’re required to pay off the entire amount every month. Credit cards allow you to carry a balance month to month, but in many instances you’ll be charged interest for doing so.
Amex cards also offer co-branding opportunities with Delta Air Lines, Hilton Hotels and Marriott Hotels, allowing frequent travelers the ability to expand their loyalty and earn even more points.
Types of Amex Cards
If you’re in the market for a credit card and considering American Express, you’ll be pleased to know that Amex offers an extensive range of options to meet your needs. From travel rewards to cash-back cards and business solutions to co-branded partnerships, there’s an Amex card for almost everyone.
Travel Cards
Traveling is an exciting and enriching experience but it can also be expensive. Fortunately, there are travel credit cards that can help you save money and earn rewards while you explore the world.
One of the most popular travel credit cards from Amex is The Platinum Card® from American Express. This card offers a wide range of benefits, including access to airport lounges, airline fee statement credits and flexible rewards points that can be redeemed for flights, hotels and other travel expenses. While the Platinum Card comes with a hefty annual fee, the benefits can easily outweigh the cost if you travel frequently.
If you’re looking for a travel credit card with a lower annual fee, consider the American Express® Gold Card. The Amex Gold has a high rewards rate for dining and groceries, making it a great choice for foodies and home cooks.
For those who want to dip their toes into the world of travel credit cards, the American Express® Green Card*is the place to start. This card has a lower annual fee than the Platinum and Gold cards but still offers valuable benefits like travel accident insurance and car rental loss and damage insurance¹.
Cash-Back Cards
If you’re looking for a more straightforward rewards structure, Amex offers cash-back credit cards that give you cash back for each purchase made. The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express and Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express are popular options, with the latter offering a higher cash-back rate and enhanced benefits.
The Blue Cash Everyday Card offers 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and online retail purchases in the U.S. (on up to $6,000 in each category per year in purchases, then 1%), and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be easily redeemed for statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout. Meanwhile, the Blue Cash Preferred Card offers 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) and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
Co-Branded Cards
Amex has partnered with various retailers, airlines and hotels to provide co-branded credit cards. These partnerships allow you to earn rewards points with the partner in addition to Amex’s rewards program. Marriott, Hilton and Delta are three of Amex’s most notable co-branded partners.
Business Cards
For business owners, Amex business credit cards can help with managing expenses, cash flow and earning rewards. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (terms apply, see rates & fees) is an excellent option for some business owners, and it comes with several perks like airport lounge access, statement credits, and enhanced rewards. There are also cards with lower annual fees than the Business Platinum, such as The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card and the American Express® Business Gold Card that offer specific rewards and benefits.
It’s important to consider the rewards rate and annual fees for these business credit cards as well, as they can vary depending on the card. But if used wisely, they can help your business reap significant rewards.
Pros and Cons of American Express Cards
American Express offers some of the highest rewards-earning potential of any credit card company on the market today. Some cards offer up to 6% cash back in certain categories, and earning multiple reward points on normal purchases at grocery stores, restaurants and airline tickets are frequent.
Some of the charge cards offered by Amex don’t have pre-set spending limits, meaning that you might be able to make large purchases without worry of going over your credit line. If you have a large purchase coming, you can call up Amex and ask for approval for the purchase to go through.
Speaking of customer service, the help offered by employees of American Express is top notch. No matter if you’re calling to ask about your rewards balance, a credit line increase, or even dispute a charge, expect to be treated like a truly valued customer.
It should be noted that you might find that some smaller establishments don’t accept American Express cards. This used to be a lot more prevalent, but as of February 2022, a report showed that American Express can be accepted at 99% of places that accept credit cards in the U.S.
If you’re averse to annual fees, you might want to look elsewhere. While certain cards, like the Delta Blue, Hilton Honors card or Cash Magnet card come with no annual fees, their rewards are limited. If you’re looking for the best rewards and the highest earning, be prepared to pay every year for that right.
Lastly, many of the American Express cards come with “once in a lifetime language” meaning that if you got a welcome bonus for a card in the past, you might not be able to get the bonus again. While you can have the card, you might not be eligible for the welcome bonus. If you have a question about your eligibility, call American Express to confirm.
Pros
- High rewards-earning rates
- Many cards don’t have preset spending limits
- VIP customer service
Cons
- Overseas acceptance can be limited
- High annual fees for best rewards
- One-time welcome bonuses
About The Author
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Azeem Rajpoot, the author behind Technolo Gist, is a passionate tech enthusiast with a keen interest in exploring and sharing insights about the rapidly evolving world of technology.
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