16 Best Cards from American Express – Special Offers, Rewards & Benefits – Money Crashers

If you’ve ever stood in front of a checkout terminal wondering which card to swipe for maximum rewards, American Express is basically the kid in class who always has extra credit opportunities. From generous cash-back rates at U.S. supermarkets to first-class airport lounges and hotel upgrades, Amex cards can turn everyday spending into serious valueif you pick the right one.

This guide breaks down the 16 best cards from American Express, inspired by the Money Crashers lineup but updated with today’s perks, rewards, and quirky little benefits. We’ll walk through consumer cash-back cards, travel powerhouses, and small-business workhorses, then finish with real-world experiences to help you decide which Amex fits your wallet (and your personality).

Why American Express Cards Stand Out

Membership Rewards vs. Cash Back

American Express runs two main “languages” of rewards:

• Membership Rewards points – flexible points you can use for travel, gift cards, statement credits, and transfers to airline and hotel partners.
• Cash back (Reward Dollars) – simple, statement-credit friendly rewards on cards like Blue Cash Preferred and Blue Cash Everyday.

If you’re a traveler or deal-chaser who loves squeezing value out of loyalty programs, Membership Rewards cards may be your playground. If you just want your rewards to quietly reduce your bill every month, cash-back cards may be the better choice.

Built-In Amex Protections & Perks

Across many Amex cards you’ll often see a familiar perks toolkit: purchase protection, extended warranty, car rental loss and damage insurance (when you use the card and decline the rental agency’s coverage), and travel accident coverage. Terms vary by card, but the general idea is that your card isn’t just a payment methodit’s also a mini safety net.

Welcome Offers & Qualification Rules

Amex is known for strong welcome offers, especially on premium travel and business cards. But there’s a catch: for most cards, you’re only eligible for the welcome offer once per card in your lifetime. That means strategy mattersdon’t rush into a card until you’re ready to comfortably meet the minimum spend requirement within the bonus period.

Best Consumer Cash-Back Cards from American Express

1. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Best for: Families and heavy grocery shoppers who practically live at U.S. supermarkets.

The Blue Cash Preferred is often considered Amex’s cash-back MVP for everyday life. It offers a standout cash-back rate at U.S. supermarkets (on up to a capped annual amount) plus elevated rewards on select U.S. streaming services, U.S. gas stations, and transit like rideshares and public transportation. Everyday essentials become stealthy little rewards machines.

There’s an annual fee, but if your grocery and streaming spending is even moderately high, the extra rewards can easily justify it. This card is ideal if you want premium-level rewards without getting into the complexity of travel transfer partners or award charts.

2. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Best for: Cash-back seekers who hate annual fees.

The Blue Cash Everyday is the “younger sibling” of the Blue Cash Preferred: similar categories, smaller multipliers, and zero annual fee. You still earn elevated cash back at U.S. supermarkets, on U.S. online retail purchases, and at U.S. gas stations, just at lower rates compared to the Preferred version.

If you’re just starting out with rewards cards, don’t have huge grocery bills, or simply dislike annual fees, Blue Cash Everyday gives you a nice balance of value and simplicity. It’s also a smart starter card before you decide to upgrade into the more powerful Preferred version later.

Best Consumer Travel Cards from American Express

3. The Platinum Card® from American Express

Best for: Frequent travelers who treat airports like a second home.

The Platinum Card is Amex’s flagship travel card and one of the most benefit-heavy cards on the market. It shines with:

• Strong points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, plus elevated earnings on prepaid hotels.
• Extensive airport lounge access via the Amex Global Lounge Collection.
• Annual travel, hotel, digital entertainment, and lifestyle credits that can add up to well over the annual fee if fully used.

The annual fee is high and has recently increased, but for travelers who leverage the lounge access, hotel perks, and statement credits, it can still deliver outsized value. If you only fly once or twice a year, though, this card may feel like bringing a private jet to a bus stop.

4. American Express® Gold Card

Best for: Foodies, home cooks, and casual travelers.

The Amex Gold Card is often called the “sweet spot” travel-and-dining card. It typically offers elevated Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets (up to a yearly cap), along with solid earnings on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel.

On top of that, the Gold card usually comes with monthly dining and Uber-related credits in the U.S., which can offset much of the annual fee if you consistently use them. If your budget regularly flows through grocery stores and dining out, the Gold can rack up points quickly without forcing you into the ultra-premium card tier.

5. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Best for: Loyal Delta flyers who like priority treatment.

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve is tailored to people who practically have a favorite gate agent. It focuses on Delta-specific perks such as airport lounge access (Delta Sky Club access when flying Delta, and often entry for same-day Delta itineraries), priority boarding, free checked bags, and opportunities to earn elite-qualifying rewards faster.

It’s a great fit if you’re based at a Delta hub, fly the airline frequently, and want your travel day to feel less chaotic and more VIP.

6. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Best for: Regular Delta travelers who want meaningful perks but don’t need top-tier luxury.

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum card typically offers elevated miles on Delta purchases and select everyday categories, plus perks like a free checked bag, priority boarding, and a companion certificate after you renew and meet spend requirements. It’s a mid-tier card that can boost your Delta experience significantly without the Reserve card’s higher annual fee.

7. Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Best for: Occasional Delta flyers who still want free bags and priority boarding.

The Delta Gold focuses on the basics: a free checked bag for you (and often companions on the same reservation), priority boarding, and boosted miles on Delta purchases and some everyday categories. If you fly Delta a few times a year and would otherwise pay baggage fees, this card can easily justify itself.

8. Hilton Honors Card from American Express

Best for: Travelers who love Hilton hotels and want to earn points every night away from home.

The no-annual-fee Hilton Honors Amex offers bonus points on Hilton stays and other categories, making it a low-commitment way to dip into the world of hotel rewards. Regular Hilton guests might pair this with a higher-tier Hilton card eventually, but as a starter option it’s a friendly gateway into free nights and room upgrades.

Best Business Cards from American Express

9. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Best for: Business owners who travel regularly and want premium perks on the company dime.

The Business Platinum is like the consumer Platinum’s professional cousin. It typically offers:

• Elevated rewards on flights and certain prepaid hotels.
• Rich airline, hotel, and statement credits geared toward business travel and operations.
• Premium lounge access and strong travel protections.

It’s ideal for businesses that spend heavily on travel, client meetings, and conferences. For purely local or online-only businesses with minimal travel, the high annual fee may be harder to justify.

10. The Plum Card® from American Express

Best for: Businesses that value cash-flow flexibility.

The Plum Card is a charge card rather than a traditional credit card. Its superpower is payment flexibility: you may get either a discount for paying early or extra time to pay (with terms that can vary), which can be incredibly helpful for businesses with uneven revenue streams.

It’s less about flashy travel perks and more about smoothing out your working capital needsperfect for businesses with seasonal or project-based income.

11. American Express® Business Gold Card

Best for: Growing businesses that spend heavily in specific categories.

The Business Gold card usually earns elevated Membership Rewards points in select categories where your business spends the most, such as advertising, technology, gas, or travel. The categories often adjust dynamically based on your spending, making this card attractive for owners who want powerful rewards but don’t have time to micromanage category choices every month.

12. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

Best for: Delta-loyal business travelers who want a premium in-flight and airport experience.

The Delta Reserve Business card adds elite-feeling perks for you and, potentially, employees. Think Sky Club access when flying Delta, priority services, a free checked bag, and opportunities to help accelerate your progress toward higher Delta Medallion status. If a lot of your business travel is on Delta, this card can make work trips noticeably more comfortable.

13. The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Best for: Small businesses wanting simple, flat-rate cash back.

The Blue Business Cash card typically offers a straightforward flat cash-back rate on eligible purchases up to a yearly cap, then a lower rate after that, with no annual fee. There’s no rotating categories, no quarterly activation, and no mental gymnasticsjust reliable cash-back that shows up as a statement credit.

For freelancers, consultants, and small business owners who just want their business expenses to quietly earn something, this is a “set it and forget it” option.

14. Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Best for: Businesses that want to earn flexible Membership Rewards points on everyday spending.

Blue Business Plus is similar to Blue Business Cash but pays out in Membership Rewards points instead of cash back. It often features a flat points rate on eligible purchases up to a yearly limit, then a reduced rate after thatall without an annual fee.

If you like the idea of transferring points to airline and hotel partners for big redemptions, this card can quietly build your business’s travel war chest with everyday expenses.

15. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

Best for: Business owners who fly Delta regularly and want solid perks at a mid-tier fee.

The Delta Platinum Business card often includes a free checked bag, priority boarding, elevated miles on Delta purchases and select categories, and a companion certificate on renewal when conditions are met. For businesses that send employees on regular Delta flights, this card can deliver substantial value through both rewards and reduced travel friction.

16. Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card

Best for: Small businesses with occasional Delta travel that still want airline perks.

The Delta Gold Business card offers the core airline featureslike a free checked bag and priority boardingplus bonus miles on Delta and some business-related categories. It’s a logical starter card for small businesses that want to keep costs down but still upgrade the travel experience.

How to Choose the Right American Express Card

With 16 strong contenders on the table, how do you decide which cardor combination of cardsis right for you?

• Start with your biggest expenses. If groceries and streaming dominate your budget, Blue Cash Preferred or Amex Gold may shine. If airlines and hotels eat your paycheck, look at the Platinum or co-branded Delta and Hilton options.
• Decide how you want to redeem rewards. Cash back is simple and predictable. Membership Rewards points can be more lucrative if you’re willing to learn transfer partners and booking sweet spots.
• Be honest about annual fees. Premium cards can “pay for themselves” only if you actually use the credits and benefits. If you don’t see yourself consistently using lounges, hotel credits, or dining offers, a low-fee or no-fee card may be smarter.
• Separate personal and business spending. Using business cards for business expenses not only maximizes rewards in the right categories but also makes tax time much less painful.

Tips to Maximize Amex Offers, Rewards & Benefits

Once you’ve picked your Amex card, the real fun is squeezing every drop of value out of it:

• Use Amex Offers. Regularly check the “Offers” section of your account for targeted deals that give you statement credits or bonus points for spending with specific merchants.
• Stack category bonuses. Use your highest-earning card for each type of purchase: Blue Cash Preferred or Amex Gold for groceries, Platinum for airfare, Delta cards for airline incidentals, and so on.
• Enroll in credits. Many statement credits (like certain travel, dining, or streaming credits) require enrollment. Take five minutes to toggle them on so you don’t miss out.
• Leverage travel partners. If you hold a Membership Rewards-earning card, learn a few high-value transfer partners. Booking business-class flights or aspirational hotels with transferred points can massively increase your reward value.

Real-World Experiences with American Express Cards (500-Word Deep Dive)

Knowing the reward rates is one thing; understanding what it actually feels like to live with an Amex card is another. Here’s how these cards tend to play out in real life.

Take a family that spends heavily at U.S. supermarkets and on streaming services. With the Blue Cash Preferred, their Sunday grocery run and Netflix subscription quietly rack up meaningful cash back every month. They don’t obsess over airline charts or hotel brandstheir statement simply shrinks a bit, and that’s enough to feel like a win. The biggest “behavior change” is just remembering to use the right card at the supermarket instead of a debit card.

Now picture a frequent traveler with the Platinum Card. For them, the card becomes part of the travel ritual: checking lounge locations before they get to the airport, booking flights directly with airlines or through Amex Travel to earn extra points, and using hotel credits to justify nicer properties than they’d normally book. The annual fee can feel scary at first, but when they add up lounge visits, hotel credits, and airline fee credits over the year, the value often becomes very clear.

Amex Gold cardholders frequently describe it as their “daily driver.” Because it rewards both dining and U.S. supermarket spending, they can earn strong points on both takeout nights and meal-prep Sundays. The monthly dining credits push them to rotate among participating restaurants or delivery services, which can be a fun excuse to try new places instead of defaulting to the same old spot.

Business owners often fall in love with the flexibility of cards like Blue Business Cash and Blue Business Plus. Rather than juggling rotating bonus categories, they can simply route all eligible business expensessoftware subscriptions, online ads, shipping, client lunchesthrough a single card and watch the rewards pile up. At tax time, the clear separation between business and personal spending can be just as valuable as the rewards themselves.

On the airline side, Delta cardholders commonly talk about the psychological comfort of free checked bags and priority boarding. Even if they’re not road warriors, knowing they’ll save on baggage fees and have a better shot at overhead bin space makes travel days less stressful. For families, the companion certificate on certain Delta cards can be a game-changer for annual vacations, turning what would have been a full-price ticket into a deeply discounted (or nearly free) seat.

Finally, many Amex users appreciate the brand’s customer service reputation and purchase protections. Whether it’s disputing a charge, getting help after a product arrives damaged, or dealing with trip disruptions, cardholders frequently report that Amex support feels more “white glove” than some competitors. Those experiences don’t show up in reward calculators, but they matter a lot when something goes wrong.

The bottom line: the “best” American Express card isn’t just about the highest rewards multiplier. It’s about how well the card’s perks, protections, and ecosystem fit your real lifeyour spending habits, your travel patterns, and even your tolerance for tracking credits. When the fit is right, an Amex card can feel less like a piece of plastic and more like a financial tool that actually works with you.

Conclusion: Which Amex Card Should You Get?

If you’re a grocery and streaming power user, start with Blue Cash Preferred or Amex Gold. If airports are your natural habitat, Platinum or a Delta co-branded card might serve you better. Small-business owner? A combination of Blue Business Cash or Blue Business Plus with Business Gold or Business Platinum can cover a lot of ground.

Whichever path you choose, remember that welcome offers, reward rates, and fees can change. Always review the latest terms from American Express before you apply, and choose the card that fits your lifestylenot just the one with the flashiest perks.