Amex sits at the top of the prestige pyramid in credit cards, but "best" depends entirely on how you spend. The Platinum charges $695 a year, the Gold runs $325, and the Blue Cash Preferred is only $95, and each one wins for a different shopper.
This guide compares the top picks, breaks down the math for each one, and points out where to start if your credit is not ready for an Amex yet. For a deeper card-by-card walkthrough of the entire Amex lineup, see our American Express cards ranked guide. Terms and conditions apply.
Best for premium travel: Amex Platinum
The Platinum Card is built for frequent travelers who use airline lounges and hotel perks. The annual fee is $695, which sounds steep until you tally the credits.
Cardholders get up to $200 a year in airline incidental credits, $200 in hotel credits on Fine Hotels and Resorts and Hotel Collection bookings, $240 in digital entertainment credits, and $189 toward a CLEAR Plus membership. The card also unlocks Centurion Lounge access, Priority Pass membership, and Delta Sky Club access on same-day Delta flights.
The rewards rate pays 5x Membership Rewards points per dollar on flights booked direct with airlines or amextravel.com (up to $500,000 per year) and 5x on prepaid hotels through amextravel.com. Everything else earns 1x. Check Amex's official site for the latest welcome offer and credit values.
Best for foodies: Amex Gold
The Gold Card costs $325 a year and is laser-targeted at people who spend heavily on dining and groceries. You earn 4x Membership Rewards on restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the US, on up to $50,000 in purchases per year) and 4x at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year, then 1x). Flights booked direct with airlines or amextravel.com earn 3x.
The Gold also includes up to $120 a year in dining credits split across Grubhub, Resy, Five Guys, and others, plus $120 in Uber Cash and $84 in Dunkin' credits. Used in full, those credits more than cover the $325 fee.
If you spend $400 a month at restaurants and $500 a month at U.S. supermarkets, you earn about 43,200 Membership Rewards points a year, worth roughly $864 at the standard 2 cents per point travel valuation. For the highest-value ways to redeem those points, our guide on the best ways to use American Express points walks through which transfer partners and redemptions actually maximize value.
Best for everyday cash back: Blue Cash Preferred
The Blue Cash Preferred Card is the value pick of the Amex lineup. The annual fee is $95 and the rewards are flat cash back, not points, which makes the math easy.
You earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 a year, then 1%), 6% on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% on transit and U.S. gas stations, and 1% on everything else. A family spending the full $6,000 at U.S. supermarkets pulls in $360 a year just from groceries, before adding streaming and gas.
The card runs a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months, then a variable APR in the high teens to high 20s. Check Amex's official site for the latest intro APR period.
Not approved? Build credit first
Amex is one of the toughest issuers to approve. Most approved applicants for the Platinum, Gold, and Blue Cash Preferred have FICO scores of 700 or higher, plus a history of on-time payments and no recent late marks.
If your file is thin or you have had past credit trouble, applying cold is likely to result in a denial and a hard pull on your report. The smarter sequence is to build a credit base first.
The Self Visa Credit Card is built for this stage. You start with a Self Credit Builder Account, and after three on-time payments and $100 in savings, Self invites you to open the Visa with no extra credit check. Your savings serve as the security deposit, so approval is straightforward, and reports go to all three bureaus.
Twelve to eighteen months of on-time payments on the Self Visa usually lifts a thin or rebuilding file into Amex-approval territory. That sequence beats applying cold and getting hit with a denial.
Best no-annual-fee Amex
If you want an Amex on your wallet but do not want to pay an annual fee, the Blue Cash Everyday Card and Cash Magnet Card are the main options. Blue Cash Everyday earns 3% at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 a year), 3% on U.S. gas, and 3% on online retail (each capped). Cash Magnet pays 1.5% flat. Our roundup of the best no annual fee American Express cards compares the rewards rates and credit requirements for each option side by side.
Neither one matches the rewards of the paid cards, but both have no annual fee and serve as a reasonable entry point into the Membership Rewards or cash back system. They also count toward Amex's customer history, which can speed up approvals for premium cards later.
How to pick the right Amex for you
Total your spending in the categories where each card pays bonus rates. For dining-heavy households, the Gold usually wins. For families that spend at U.S. supermarkets and on streaming, Blue Cash Preferred wins. For travelers who fly often and stay at higher-end hotels, the Platinum's credits and lounges win.
Count only the credits you will actually use. The Platinum looks great on paper, but if you do not stay at Fine Hotels and Resorts or watch streaming services tied to the credits, half the value disappears.
Factor in your credit score. Premium Amex cards are not the place to apply with a thin or damaged file. Build first, apply later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What credit score do I need for the best Amex cards?
Most approved applicants for the Platinum, Gold, and Blue Cash Preferred have FICO scores of 700 or higher. Some cardholders with scores in the 670 range have been approved, but with lower credit lines. Check Amex's official site for the current underwriting guidance.
Are Amex cards accepted everywhere?
In the United States, Amex is accepted at about 99% of the merchants that take credit cards. International acceptance is weaker than Visa or Mastercard, especially in small shops and outside major cities. A Visa or Mastercard backup is smart for overseas travel.
Can I have more than one Amex card?
Yes. American Express allows you to hold up to five consumer credit cards at the same time, plus charge cards on top. Many people pair the Gold (for dining and groceries) with the Platinum (for travel credits and lounges) or the Blue Cash Preferred.
Do Amex cards charge foreign transaction fees?
The Platinum, Gold, and Blue Cash Preferred do not charge foreign transaction fees. The Blue Cash Everyday and Cash Magnet do charge a 2.7% foreign transaction fee, so they are poor choices for international purchases.
