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BEST FOR CUSTOMIZABLE REWARDS
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
Reward rate
5
5% cash back on your first $2,000 in eligible net purchases each quarter on the combined two categories you choose.
3
5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center.
-1
1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
1
1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
$200 bonus
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
16.74% - 26.74% (Variable)
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Pros
- Multiple rotating and fixed bonus categories, which can make it easier to earn rewards quickly
- The $200 sign-up bonus (after spending $1,000 within the first 120 days of account opening) increases the card’s first-year value
Cons
- The $2,000 combined spending cap each quarter for your chosen 5% categories limits your ability to rake in rewards
- Having to track and enroll in rotating categories can be a hassle for some
- New! $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.
- 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories you choose
- 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center
- 2% cash back on one everyday category, like Gas Stations/EV Charging Stations, Grocery Stores or Restaurants
- 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
- 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 16.74% – 26.74%
- No Annual Fee
- Pay over time by splitting eligible purchases of $100+ into equal monthly payments with U.S. Bank ExtendPay™ Plan.
- Terms and conditions apply.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Purchase intro APR
0% Intro APR on purchases for the first 15 billing cycles.
Balance transfer intro APR
0% Intro APR on balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles.
BEST FOR PERSONAL LOAN ALTERNATIVE
Upgrade Cash Rewards Elite Visa®
Reward rate
2.2
Earn 2.2% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a payment
Intro offer
$200
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
8.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Pros
- You won’t need to use your reward earnings to offset any maintenance fees.
- You’ll earn a bonus after you open a Rewards Checking account and make three purchases with the card in your first 60 days.
Cons
- The high end APR range is well above average. That could prove costly if you don’t have the credit needed to qualify for the lower range and you end up carrying a balance.
- You won’t get a break on interest if you carry a balance since there are no intro APR offers on purchases or balance transfers.
- $200 bonus on your Upgrade Card after opening a Rewards Checking account and making 3 debit card transactions within 60 days.*
- New Feature: Pay your balance in full early each month and avoid interest with EarlyPay.
- Earn 2.2% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a payment
- See if you qualify in seconds with no impact to your credit score
- No Fees – $0 annual fees, $0 activation fees, $0 maintenance fees
- Combine the flexibility of a card with the low cost and predictability of a loan
- Access to a virtual card, so you can start earning while you wait for your card to arrive in the mail.
- Contactless payments with Apple Pay® and Google Pay™
- Mobile app to access your account anytime, anywhere
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud liability
- *To qualify for the $200 welcome bonus, you must open and fund a new Upgrade Rewards Checking Account and make 3 debit card transactions within 60 days of your Upgrade Card account opening. The bonus credit will be posted to your Upgrade Card as a rewards credit within 1-2 billing periods following the third debit transaction on your Rewards Checking account. Your Upgrade Card must be in good standing to receive the bonus.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Purchase intro APR
N/A
Balance transfer intro APR
N/A
BEST FOR GAS
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Reward rate
3
3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
1
New! 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
-1
1% Cash Back on other purchases.
1
1% Cash Back on other purchases.
Intro offer
$200
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
16.24%-27.24% Variable
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Pros
- It carries one of the best combined cash back rates available at no annual fee at U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets. Those two categories make up a big chunk of the average person’s budget.
- You can earn $7 back per month on The Disney Bundle streaming package, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ (each month you spend $13.99 or more on an eligible subscription, terms apply). To earn that much back in a month via the card’s 3 percent categories, you’d typically need to spend over $230.
Cons
- You’ll only earn 3 percent cash back on your first $6,000 in annual spending in each of the card’s bonus categories (then 1 percent). While that’s a high limit, it could hold you back if you’re sharing an account across multiple households.
- The card carries a 2.7 percent foreign transaction fee, so it’s not a good option if you’re looking for a single rewards card you can use at home and abroad.
- Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- No Annual Fee.
- Balance Transfer is back! Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 16.24% to 27.24% variable APR.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
- New! 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
- Get $7 back each month after using your Blue Cash Everyday® Card to spend $13.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription to The Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. Enrollment required.
- Terms Apply.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Purchase intro APR
0% on purchases for 15 months
Balance transfer intro APR
0% on balance transfers for 15 months
BEST FOR GROCERIES
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Reward rate
6
6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
1
6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
3
3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
0
3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
1
1% Cash Back on other purchases
Intro offer
$350
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
16.24%-26.24% Variable
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Pros
- The base reward program is uber-lucrative, making this card a good choice for people looking for long-term value.
- You don’t have to keep track of rotating spending categories or enrollment deadlines.
Cons
- There is no intro APR offer on balance transfers.
- You won’t earn the extra rewards for grocery shopping at major superstores and wholesale clubs, as those don’t count as U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn a $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months after account opening. Plans created after that will have a fixed monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
- Low intro APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 16.24% to 26.24%.
- 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).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
- $95 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Purchase intro APR
0% on purchases for 12 months
Balance transfer intro APR
N/A
BEST FOR ROTATING CASH BACK CATEGORIES
Discover it® Cash Back
Reward rate
5
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
1
Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
Intro offer
Cashback Match™
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
13.49% - 24.49% Variable
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Pros
- Discover will match the cash back you earn at the end of the first year.
- There are a few cash back redemption options, including credit to your account and donations.
Cons
- You must enroll to take advantage of the bonus categories each quarter.
- There is a spending limit on your highest cash back category each quarter ($1,500 in combined purchases per quarter).
- Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
- New! Discover helps remove your personal information from select people-search websites. Activate by mobile app for free.
- Every $1 you earn in cash back is $1 you can redeem.
- New Intro APR: Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 13.49% to 24.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- No annual fee.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Purchase intro APR
0% for 15 months
Balance transfer intro APR
0% for 15 months
BEST FOR UP TO 2% CASH BACK
Citi® Double Cash Card
Reward rate
2
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
Intro offer
$200 Cash Back
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
16.24% - 26.24% (Variable)
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Pros
- You can convert your cash back earnings to Citi ThankYou points when paired with a card like the Citi Premier® Card, which can be redeemed for travel, gift cards and more.
- There are no spending category restrictions or rotating categories
Cons
- Your rewards can expire with this card if you don’t use it for a year.
- The sign-up bonus spending requirement is higher than you’ll find on many no-annual-fee cash back cards.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
- For a limited time, earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 16.24% – 26.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Purchase intro APR
N/A
Balance transfer intro APR
0% intro for 18 months on Balance Transfers
A closer look at Creditcard’s top American Express cards
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for dining and entertainment
- What we love about the Capital One SavorOne: It’s rare for a no annual fee card to earn such robust rewards rates in these particular categories in dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery store categories.
- Who this card is good for: Socialites and social butterflies who will make the most out of the SavorOne’s very generous dining rewards.
- Alternatives: The Discover it Chrome card is another card that offers competitive rewards rates on dining. It also tacks on gas rewards which is great for people who are often on the go, something that the SavorOne falls a bit short on.
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express: Best overall cash back for families
- What we love about the Blue Cash Preferred: The rewards categories on this card are some of the most popular spending categories for most consumers so if you play your cards right (pun intended), you’ll have a nice stack of rewards in your cash back match in your first year.
- Who this card is good for: On-the-go people who spend a fair amount of money at gas stations and restaurants. You can earn 2 percent in those categories on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1 percent.
- Alternatives: The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards card outpaces the Discover it Chrome by a lot if your main squeeze is getting the most out of dining rewards.
Citi Rewards+ Card: Best for rewards on small purchases
- What we love about the Blue Cash Preferred: Thanks to the Citi Rewards+ Round Up feature, every purchase you make will be rounded up to the nearest 10 points. For example, a $4 coffee would be worth 10 points.
- Who this card is good for: Frequent supermarket and gas station shoppers who want to earn cash back rewards easily without big spending habits.
- Alternatives: If you want to expand beyond the Citi ThankYou® Points program, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card offers unlimited flat-rate rewards on all purchases, casting a wide net on your earning opportunities outside of a designated points program.
What is American Express?
American Express began as a freight-forwarding business in 1850 and has since grown to be one of the largest credit card issuers in the world. The J.D. Power 2021 Credit Card Satisfaction Study ranked American Express first in customer satisfaction among credit card issuers. American Express, also known as Amex, is both a payment processing network and a credit card issuer, meaning that Amex issues credit cards to consumers and facilitates transactions with merchants through their network. Networks, which include Visa, Mastercard and Discover as well as American Express, make money by taking a cut of each transaction they process. Many, but not all, American Express credit cards are both issued by American Express and part of the American Express payment network.
Statistics from the Nilson Report, a news publication devoted to the card and mobile payment industry, offer insight into the company’s presence worldwide:
American Express highlights
- U.S. cards: 53.8 million
- U.S. purchase volume: $691.52 billion
- Purchase volume outside the U.S.: $313.36 billion
The J.D. Power 2021 Credit Card Satisfaction Study ranked American Express first in customer satisfaction among credit card issuers. It scored 838 on a scale of 1,000, followed by Discover coming in second (837).
The company, sometimes called Amex, offers cards for consumers, travelers, small businesses and corporations. American Express also offers other financial products and services including savings accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs).
The American Express network
American Express is both a payment processing network and a credit card issuer. That means Amex issues credit cards to consumers and facilitates transactions with merchants through their network. Networks, which include Visa, Mastercard and Discover as well as American Express, make money by taking a cut of each transaction they process.
Many, but not all, American Express credit cards are both issued by American Express and part of the American Express payment network.
How to contact American Express
- Personal cards: 1-800-528-4800
- Small business cards: 1-800-492-3344
- Corporate cards: 1-800-528-2122
More options are available on the American Express website.
Creditcard's Insight
Before applying for one of its credit cards, check to see if you can be preapproved by American Express. You can get pre-screened ahead of time to see if you’ll be approved and you get the benefit of avoiding a hard pull on your credit report. Bankrate’s CardMatch tool can be a great way to get started on finding a likely fit.
What benefits and features does American Express offer?
Payment flexibility plans
Using the Pay It Plan It® feature, you can pay small purchase amounts under $100 throughout the month with the American Express® App. The Pay It Plan It feature lets you group up to 10 purchases of $100 or more into an adjusted repayment plan for an upfront fee. You’ll enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use the feature to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months after account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33 percent of each purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors. For full details, see our guide to Amex Pay It Plan It.
American Express Membership Rewards
Some cardholders are eligible for the Membership Rewards loyalty program. You can earn points through purchases and qualifying Amex Offers. Membership Rewards points can be redeemed for travel, shopping, statement credits, gift cards, charitable donations and more. Cardholders can transfer Membership Rewards rewards points to American Express hotel and airline partners (often at a 1:1 value) or use points to book through AmexTravel.com (there may be fees associated with transferring points).
Creditcard's Insight
Through AmexTravel.com, cardholders can book travel with points earned through the Membership Rewards program and even take advantage of some added benefits. You can earn a percentage of your points back when redeeming on the website or earn at boosted rates when using the Amex travel portal with select cards like The Platinum Card, Gold Card and more.
Amex Offers
American Express cardholders can access exclusive deals and additional rewards through Amex Offers. Benefits of Amex Offers include discounts, cash back and additional Membership Rewards points. Amex Offers vary by card, and cardholders must activate to qualify. Limits and expiration dates may apply.
Pros and cons of American Express credit cards
- Pros
- Wide consumer base: With cards for cash back, airlines, hotels, general travel, supermarkets, businesses and more, American Express provides a variety of options for nearly all types of consumers.
- Loyalty perks: American Express has connections with some of the top hotel and airline brands in the world, giving the opportunity for loyal customers to get extra rewards through their credit card.
- Affordable options available: American Express offers multiple no annual fee options that still provide rewards and welcome offers.
- cons
- High annual fees: Some of Amex’s best credit cards come with a steep annual fee. Although the rewards available with these cards can make it worthwhile, this can lead to some hesitance and eliminate some potential cardholders.
- Limited redemption opportunity: Some Amex cards only offer statement credits, which can restrict how you choose to receive and spend your money.
- High approval threshold: The majority of Amex’s options require a good-to-excellent credit score to be approved.
Who should get an American Express credit card?
Once you’ve considered your options to find which rewards and card details matter most to you, it’ll be easier to narrow down which American Express card will bring you the most value.
The following profiles are just a few examples of the types of consumers who may benefit from specific American Express cards, but may help you determine your perfect match.
Many families will be hard-pressed to find any card on the market that can bring them more value on everyday spending than the Blue Cash Preferred Card. Its rewards categories, particularly supermarket and dining purchases, align with the everyday spending that is important to parents and kids on-the-go, whether they’re in a bustling city, rural America or anywhere in between.
Anyone looking to travel in style and with convenience (and who can afford the $695 annual fee) can find their ideal card in The Platinum Card. As one of the most high-end cards on the market, it offers benefits and perks with some of the top airlines and finest hotels around the world. If you’re willing to pay and plan to maximize its benefits, this card can set luxury travelers’ experiences apart and even make it easier to travel more with rewards.
Not everyone can justify The Platinum Card or even needs its premium rewards. Those looking to redeem rewards less regularly but still earn on their everyday spending will find much more value in the Gold Card. You’ll still earn rewards on travel purchases, but the card’s highest-earning categories are restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, meaning you don’t have to be a world traveler to maximize your value (but you’ll still get plenty of premium perks).
Like its personal card counterpart, The Business Platinum Card is ideal for business travelers looking for luxury (and willing to pay for it). Anyone who spends much of their time in airports for business will likely find the experience much more enjoyable after gaining access to the benefits and services the Platinum Card offers. The business version also includes business-specific perks, which can improve productivity as well as comfort.
How to choose an American Express credit card
No two American Express credit cards are exactly the same or offer the same perks. There are several American Express cards with perks that are great for and designed with small business owners specifically. By figuring out what you need from your card—like higher rewards rates for business travel—you can decide if a card like the Blue Business Plus card is right for you.
If you want to earn cash back for your purchases, you need to decide which type is best. Whether flat-rate cash back or bonus category cash back is better for you all depends on your needs. Searching for simplicity? Your best bet is a flat-rate cash back card like the Cash Magnet card.If you’re hoping to earn elevated rewards in specific categories, your first step should be determining what categories you spend most heavily in. For frequent flyers loyal to a specific airline, like Delta, Delta SkyMiles Gold card is likely the best choice. People who spend heavily in other categories like groceries or dining out have plenty of options as well.
American Express offers cards that can benefit many different types of travelers. If your travel is business-focused, consider the Business Platinum. If you’re a leisure traveler, The Platinum Card can provide you with excellent travel benefits (though those benefits come at a premium cost). Determining what’s important to you while you travel is essential to help you narrow your choices.
How we chose our top American Express credit cards
Rewards
Whether the card offers cash back, travel points/miles or multi-purpose rewards for eligible purchases and the potential returns based on rewards rate (1 percent cash back per $1 spent, 1 mile per $1 spent, and so on).
Perks and benefits
Whether the card offers extras such as retail discounts, extended warranties on purchases, travel insurance and financial management tools.
Annual fee
Whether the card charges an annual fee and if so, how much the card’s overall value and benefits might offset the fee.
Introductory offers
Whether the card has a welcome offer or similar sign-up incentive and how much it adds to the card’s overall value.
Variable APR
How the card’s annual percentage rate (APR) compares with current averages as an indicator of cost and value.
Foreign transaction fee
Whether the card charges a foreign transaction fee for purchases that require a currency conversion and how the fee affects the card’s overall value.
Frequently asked questions about credit cards for excellent credit scores
Amex has a slightly higher interchange fee than other networks like Visa and Mastercard. As a result, some merchants opt out of paying the higher fee, resulting in a lower acceptance of American Express cards. According to the company’s 2020 Annual Report, by year’s end American Express had:
- Maintained approximately 99 percent acceptance among U.S. merchants that accept credit cards
- Added 3.7 million merchants in international markets
- Received approval to begin operating in China and entered card-issuing agreements with 16 Chinese banks
Amex generally requires cardholders to have good or excellent credit to qualify. However, one option is opening an Amex card that can help with credit building, like the Blue from American Express® Credit Card.
The information about the Blue from American Express Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
The recommended score to apply for an Amex credit card is good to excellent, ranging from 670 to 850 on the FICO scale.
No. There are Amex cards that don’t charge an annual fee at all or that have $0 introductory annual fees for the first year. Cards with the most premium benefits will likely have annual fees.