American Express Credit Cards

American Express entered the credit card business by offering premium charge cards that required payment in full at each billing statement. But today the company has a wide array of credit cards, including many with a pay-over-time option.

While in the past American Express credit cards were often available only to consumers with excellent credit, the company now offers some of the best credit cards for consumers with average and fair credit as well.

Credit qualifications

Before you can decide which credit card you want, you'll need to know your credit qualifications. You should check your credit history and score annually to make sure there are no errors on your credit report. If your credit score is low, you may be denied the credit card you want or forced to pay a higher interest rate than someone with excellent credit, so be sure to pay attention to any negative information on your credit report and take steps to improve those issues.

American Express rewards credit cards

Since many people associate American Express with travel -- it began in the 19th century as a transporter of valuables -- this company naturally offers several rewards credit cards tied to airlines and hotels. If you are looking for a cash back rewards program for everyday purposes, American Express offers that too.

Here are some of the more popular American Express credit cards:

  • American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card. If you have excellent credit, you can earn rewards points for airline miles, gas, groceries and other purchases with the Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express. You'll also have access to special events and travel programs.
  • Blue Cash Everyday from American Express. If you prefer a cash back credit card, you may want the Blue Cash Everyday credit card. This credit card has no annual fee and allows you to pay over time while earning cash back on gas, groceries, department store and other purchases without rotating categories or any spending minimums to meet.
  • Gold Delta SkyMiles from American Express. If your goal is to find a airmile credit card and you often fly Delta Airlines, the Gold Delta SkyMiles credit card may be your best option. You can earn Delta SkyMiles for all your purchases that can be redeemed for flights, and also get priority boarding and free checked bags.
  • True Earnings Card from Costco and American Express. If you shop at Costco, another option is the True Earnings credit card that functions as both a Costco membership card and an American Express credit card. You'll also earn rewards for your purchases that can be redeemed for airline miles, gift cards and merchandise.

If you love to fly on JetBlue airlines, or to stay in hotels in the Starwood chain or Hilton Hotels group, American Express offers credit cards tied to those companies as well.

American Express credit cards for business

If you own a small business, you may need a credit card that allows you to pay for purchases over time, make airline and hotel reservations, or buy gas for business trips. American Express offers business credit cards to match those needs.

  • The Plum Card from American Express. If you have excellent credit and want to use your business credit card primarily for cash management, the Plum Card may be the right one for you. You can pay a balance over two months without interest or get a 1.5 percent discount for paying within 10 days.
  • The New Business Gold Rewards Credit Card from American Express OPEN. If you'd like to earn rewards for your business expenditures, the New Business Gold Rewards credit card may be your best choice since you can earn from one to three rewards points per dollar.

If you've decided which American Express credit card suits you best, check out the offers on this page to find the next step.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
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Blue Cash Everyday<sup>®</sup> Card from American Express
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  • Earn 100 Reward Dollars after you make $1,000 in purchases in the first three months of Cardmembership.
  • Earn Cash Back: 3% at US supermarkets, up to $6,000 per year in purchases, 2% at US gas stations & select US dept stores, 1% on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
  • Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
  • Simple and Straightforward: With the Blue Cash Everyday Card, you can start earning cash back. No rotating reward categories. No enrollment required.
  • No annual fee, 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months. After that, your APR will be a variable rate, currently 12.99%-21.99% with flexibility to pay over time.
  • Terms and Restrictions Apply.
Card Rating

Purchase Intro
APR: 0% on Purchases for 12 months

Purchase APR
12.99% - 21.99% Variable


Credit Needed
Excellent

Annual Fee
$0
American Express® Gold Card
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American Express<sup>®</sup> Gold Card
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  • Access to Exclusive Benefits: Baggage Insurance Plan* when you travel, and shop with confidence with Extended Warranty* and Return Protection
  • Use points for gift cards for dining, entertainment, and to shop over 300 of some of your favorite merchants
  • Get discounts and low rates at hotels and resorts, plus a $75 hotel credit when you book through Gold Hotel Collection
  • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $125
  • Terms and Restrictions Apply
Card Rating

Purchase Intro
APR: N/A

Purchase APR
N/A

Credit Needed
Excellent

Annual Fee
Introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $125
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN
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The Business Platinum Card<sup>®</sup> from American Express OPEN
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  • Limited Time Offer: Get 25,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $5,000 in the first three months of Card membership
  • Enroll and select a qualifying airline to receive up to $200 annually in statement credits for incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, charged by the airline
  • 20% Travel Bonus when using Membership Rewards® Pay with Points
  • Take advantage of 40 premium benefits to help power your business
  • Complimentary access to 600+ participating airport lounges through Priority Pass™ Select
  • Business Platinum Concierge is like your own assistant, ready to help you with just about anything personal or professional, 24 hours a day
  • Purchasing power that can adjust as your business evolves
  • Terms & Restrictions Apply*
Card Rating

Purchase Intro
APR: N/A

Purchase APR
N/A

Credit Needed
Excellent

Annual Fee
$450
Blue Sky from American Express®
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Blue Sky from American Express<sup>®</sup>
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  • Welcome Bonus: earn 7,500 points after you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months of Cardmembership - redeemable for a $100 statement credit.
  • Flexible Ways to Earn: earn 1 point for virtually every dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
  • Unlimited Travel Options: Travel with any airline, hotel, cruise, car rental and travel package - with no blackout dates.
  • Flexible Bill Payments: pay your bill all at once or over time.
  • No annual membership fee and 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months, after that, your APR will be a variable rate, currently 17.24%- 22.24%.
  • Terms and Restrictions Apply.
Card Rating

Purchase Intro
APR: 0% on Purchases for 12 months

Purchase APR
17.24% - 22.24% Variable


Credit Needed
Excellent

Annual Fee
$0
The Platinum Card® from American Express
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The Platinum Card<sup>®</sup> from American Express
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  • Earn 25K Membership Rewards® points after you spend $2,000 during your first three months of Card membership
  • Premium travel benefits: access over 600 lounges worldwide when you enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, no foreign transaction fees
  • Receive up to $200 annually in a statement credit with the airline of your choice to use towards baggage fees, flight-change fees, in-flight food and beverage purchases and more
  • 24/7 Platinum Card® Concierge service for assistance with reservations, travel, gifts, and more
  • Entertainment benefits: get Advance Tickets before the public and access once in a lifetime events with By Invitation Only®
  • Terms and restrictions apply
Card Rating

Purchase Intro
APR: N/A

Purchase APR
N/A

Credit Needed
Excellent

Annual Fee
$450
American Express® Premier Rewards Gold Card
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American Express<sup>®</sup> Premier Rewards Gold Card
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  • Earn More: earn 25K Membership Rewards® points after you spend $2K during your first three months of Card membership; earn 15K points after you spend $30,000 within one calendar year
  • Earn Fast: 3X points for flights booked with airlines, 2X points at US gas stations and US supermarkets, 1X points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
  • Use points for gift cards for dining, entertainment, and to shop over 300 of some of your favorite brands
  • Access to Benefits: Baggage Insurance Plan* when you travel, and shop with confidence with Extended Warranty* and Return Protection.*Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company
  • Book two consecutive hotel nights through American Express Travel and receive $75 back at checkout. Restrictions may apply
  • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $175
  • Terms and Restrictions Apply
Card Rating

Purchase Intro
APR: N/A

Purchase APR
N/A

Credit Needed
Excellent

Annual Fee
Introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $175
SimplyCash® Business Card from American Express
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SimplyCash<sup>®</sup> Business Card from American Express
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  • With no annual membership fee, it's a smart choice for your business
  • Automatic cash back - cash back is earned on eligible purchases and automatically credited to your statement
  • 5% at U.S. office supply stores & on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers
  • 3% at U.S. gas stations
  • 1% on other purchases
  • Up to $12,000 in purchases in each 5% and 3% category per rebate year, then 1%.
  • Terms and limitations apply
Card Rating

Purchase Intro
APR: 0% on Purchases for 6, 9, or 12 months

Purchase APR
12.24% - 19.24% Variable


Credit Needed
Excellent

Annual Fee
N/A
Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express
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Starwood Preferred Guest<sup>®</sup> Business Credit Card from American Express
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  • Starpoints® bonus: Earn up to 25,000 bonus points: 10,000 after your first purchase and another 15,000 after you spend $5,000 within the first 6 months of Cardmembership
  • Redeem Starpoints® at over 1,100 hotels and resorts in nearly 100 countries and for flights on more than 350 airlines with SPG Flights -- all with no blackout dates
  • Earn up to 5 Starpoints® for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts participating in the Starwood Preferred Guest® program
  • Earn 1 Starpoint® for each dollar of eligible purchases
  • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $65
  • Terms and limitations apply
Card Rating

Purchase Intro
APR: None

Purchase APR
15.24% - 19.24% Variable


Credit Needed
Excellent

Annual Fee
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $65
The Plum Card® from American Express OPEN
Apply Now
The Plum Card<sup>®</sup> from American Express OPEN
Apply Now
  • Flexible Payment Options: Get a 1.5% discount for paying early or up to 60 days to pay without interest, or both each month.
  • Do Business On Your Terms
  • $0 introductory annual fee for your first year, then $250.
  • No annual fee for Additional Cards
  • Terms & Restrictions Apply
Card Rating

Purchase Intro
APR: N/A

Purchase APR
N/A

Credit Needed
Excellent

Annual Fee
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $250
Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express
Apply Now
Starwood Preferred Guest<sup>®</sup> Credit Card from American Express
Apply Now
  • Starpoints® bonus: earn up to 25,000 bonus points: 10,000 after your first purchase and another 15,000 after you spend $5,000 within the first 6 months of Cardmembership
  • That's enough for a weekend getaway to a Category 4 Hotel like the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, or six free nights at a Category 2 Hotel
  • Earn up to 5 Starpoints® for each dollar of eligible purchases at participating SPG hotels and resorts -- that's 2 Starpoints for using the Card in addition to the Starpoints you earn as an SPG member. Earn 1 Starpoint for all other purchases.
  • Free Hotel Nights: redeem Starpoints at over 1,100 hotels in nearly 100 countries worldwide -- with no blackout dates
  • Free Flights: redeem Starpoints on over 350 airlines with SPG Flights -- with no blackout dates
  • Get 5,000 bonus Starpoints after you transfer 20,000 Starpoints to a frequent flyer program with more than 30 airlines
  • No limits on the number of Starpoints you can earn
  • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $65
  • Terms and Restrictions apply.
Card Rating

Purchase Intro
APR: None

Purchase APR
15.24% - 19.24% Variable


Credit Needed
Excellent

Annual Fee
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $65
Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express
Apply Now
Gold Delta SkyMiles<sup>®</sup> Credit Card from American Express
Apply Now
  • Bonus Miles: Earn 30,000 bonus miles toward Award Travel after you spend $500 on the Card within the first three months of Cardmembership.
  • Earn As You Spend: Get 2X miles on Delta purchases and 1X miles for all other eligible dollars spent.
  • Check your first bag free on every Delta flight - that's a savings of up to $200 per round trip for a family of four.
  • Premium Travel Perks: Settle in sooner with Priority Boarding, and enjoy the skies with 20% in-flight savings to use toward meals, beverages, and movies awarded as a statement credit.
  • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
  • Terms and Restrictions Apply.
Card Rating

Purchase Intro
APR: None

Purchase APR
15.24% - 19.24% Variable


Credit Needed
Excellent

Annual Fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95
The Business Gold Rewards Card® from American Express OPEN
Apply Now
The Business Gold Rewards Card<sup>®</sup> from American Express OPEN
Apply Now
  • Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $5,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 3 months of Card membership.
  • Earn points even faster to get more rewards for your business.
  • 3X points on airfare purchased from airlines. 2X points at US gas stations.
  • Up to $100,000 in each category per year, then 1 point.
  • Terms and limitations apply.
  • Reduce travel costs, show appreciation for employees and clients, and offset everyday expenses by using points to get something back and grow your business.
  • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $175.
  • Apply online to qualify for this offer. See offer terms for details.
Card Rating

Purchase Intro
APR: N/A

Purchase APR
N/A

Credit Needed
Excellent

Annual Fee
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $175

Disclaimer: Discover is a paid advertiser of this site.
Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. See the Discover online credit card application for full terms and conditions on offers and rewards.

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