Best American Express credit cards of April 2024

The American Express® Gold Card (terms apply, rates & fees) deserves a place in the wallet of foodies who like to travel for its generous rewards on eating and flying. Those who can make use of the card’s Uber Cash and dining credits can nearly break even with the card’s $250 annual fee.

• 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.
• Foreign transaction fees: None.
• Perks and benefits: The card offers up to $120 in Uber Cash and dining in the U.S., up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations (enrollment required) (up to $120 statement credit), up to a $100 experience credit applied to eligible charges with a minimum two-night stay at the Hotel Collection with American Express Travel, baggage insurance¹, secondary auto collision damage waiver coverage² and access to Amex Offers.

If you want access to as many airport lounges as possible, and upscale perks on a card are important to you, then you might not blink an eye at the hefty annual fee for The Platinum Card® from American Express (terms apply, rates & fees). It also offers numerous credits that are potentially valuable for those who can use them.

• Annual fee: $695.
• Rewards: 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.
• Foreign transaction fees: None.
• Other benefits and drawbacks: The card is chock full of credits that could be worth thousands if fully maximized. But, that’s a big if, as not all of the credits are applicable to everyone—and credits may require enrollment to receive the benefit. This is a card that’s best for those who want lounge access at a level no other card currently is offering.

Given how much the average family spends on groceries and gas, Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (terms apply, rates & fees) can score you serious savings in these areas (in the form of generous cash-back earnings). It also offers some valuable credits in areas some families are likely to find appealing.

• 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.
• Foreign transaction fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars..
• Other benefits and drawbacks: In addition to the rewards rates the card offers, cardholders can enjoy $7 in monthly credits for the Disney streaming bundle after spending $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto-renewal), up to $120 back in statement credits towards an auto-renewing subscription to Equinox+ at equinoxplus.com annually, secondary car rental loss and damage coverage² and return protection¹. But this is not a great card for international travel as it carries foreign transaction fees. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (terms apply, rates & fees) offers elevated rewards at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, but the secret sauce is that the card also earns high rewards on online spending, too. This makes it an ideal choice for households who spend in these areas, but don’t want to be saddled with an annual fee.

• Annual fee: $0.
• Rewards: 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, then 1%), and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or for eligible items at Amazon.com checkout.
• Foreign transaction fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
• Other benefits and drawbacks: Perks like $7 in monthly statement credits after spending $9.99 or more each month on an eligible Disney Bundle subscription (subject to auto-renewal), up to $180 in annual statement credits for a Home Chef meal kit subscription (up to $15 per month in statement credits; subject to auto-renewal), secondary auto rental collision damage waiver coverage² and purchase protection¹. Enrollment is required for select benefits. However, consumers who routinely spend more than $3,000 a year on groceries at U.S. supermarkets may wish to instead consider the Blue Cash Preferred for its higher earning rate in that category, despite the Preferred Card’s annual fee.

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) charges $150 per year, but you can offset that fee with statement credits toward CLEAR® Plus membership (enrollment required) and LoungeBuddy, letting you get several upscale travel perks at a low cost. The Amex® Green Card also offers better rewards rates on several everyday expenses over the Platinum Card, making it useful for people who want to earn rewards through spending.

• 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.
• Foreign transaction fees: None.
• Other benefits and drawbacks: The card comes with an up to $100 LoungeBuddy statement credit, up to $189 CLEAR statement credit (enrollment required), secondary car loss and rental damage coverage², trip delay insurance³, baggage insurance¹, purchase protection¹ and extended warranty coverage¹, but frequent travelers or those seeking higher-end perks will likely find that a more premium card will suit them better.

If you’re set on owning an Amex card and you want simple cash back, 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) earns 1.5% cash back on purchases.

• Annual fee: $0.
• Rewards: 1.5% cash back on purchases.
• Foreign transaction fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars..
• Other benefits and drawbacks: Although this card grants access to Amex Offers and comes with secondary rental car coverage² and access to a Global Assist hotline⁴, there are other cards on the market with better rewards.

Charging no annual fee, 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) offers the opportunity to earn valuable Membership Rewards Points and get a rewards bump when you use your card at least 20 times in a month.

• Annual fee: $0.
• Rewards: 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year (then 1 point), 2 points per $1 on American Express Travel and 1 point per $1 on other purchases. Plus, use the card 20 or more times in a billing period and earn 20% extra points.
• Foreign transaction fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
• Other benefits and drawbacks: Getting something for nothing is always nice and the Amex EveryDay can certainly offer value for those who are interested in transferable points. However, know that there are cards with higher earning rates for spending at supermarkets.

Those who rarely carry cash and use their card to pay for everything big or small may find exceptional value in the 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. (terms apply). The card offers 50% extra bonus points when you use your card 30 times in a month, giving your earnings a nice boost.

• 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.
• Foreign transaction fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
• Other benefits and drawbacks: The potential to earn a 50% increase on your points is a major highlight of the card, especially for those who spend frequently at U.S. supermarkets. However, for the same annual fee, the Blue Cash Preferred earns at a much higher rate on groceries at U.S. supermarkets and may provide better value overall.