Founded all the way back in 1850 (even before Dough Roller was born!), American Express has spent the better part of 160 years providing financial services to consumers and businesses. Strangely, AMEX started out as an express mail service and did not make its way into the financial industry until 1882 by opening up a money order business.
Today, American Express is best known for its line of charge cards and credit cards to both consumers and small businesses. Year in and year out, American Express is voted as the favorite issuer of consumers (by a landslide no less), and even though most of its cards charge an annual fee, the card rewards more than make up for the cost.
Below you will find an up-to-date list of AMEX’s most popular credit cards as well as some of their diamond in the rough products. I consider these to be the best of what they offer, but if you think otherwise, please let me know.
American Express Consumer Cards
American Express® Premier Rewards Gold Card – One of the original and most stable American Express charge cards, the American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card opens by offering 15,000 membership points after you spend $1,000 in the first three months of card ownership. Membership points are awarded for every purchase and as an added bonus, first year cardholders will have the pricey $175 annual fee waived.
Blue Cash Everyday from American Express – The newest product to hit our list, the Blue Cash Everyday from American Express is a cash back credit card designed for everyday spenders. New members receive a $100 cash bonus after spending $1,000 in the first three months and also earn 3% cash back at supermarkets, 2% cash back at gas stations and department stores and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Best of all, the Blue Cash Everyday from American Express doesn’t carry an annual fee.
The Platinum Card® from American Express – If you don’t mind paying a monster annual fee, the Platinum Card from American Express can provide the best benefits of any credit card. 25,000 membership points are given after spending $1,000 in the first three months (sense the trend here) plus a $200 travel fee reimbursement is provided to cardholders annually. The annual fee to own the Platinum Card from American Express is $450 but it includes a lot of other perks only it’s members will receive.
Blue Cash Preferred® from American Express – An upgraded version of the Everyday, the Blue Cash Preferred from American Express almost doubles the cashback cardholders receive. $150 cash is earned after spending $1,000 in three months and members will earn 6% cash back at supermarkets, 3% cash back at gas stations and department stores and 1% cash back on everything else. Unfortunately, there is a $75 annual fee associated with the Blue Cash Preferred from American Express.
Delta Airlines – Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card – Immediately following a spend of $500 in three months, cardholders of the Delta Airlines – Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card will earn 30,000 bonus miles. Your first checked bag on Delta flights is always free as well as the first checked bag in up to nine members of your booking party. Double miles are given on Delta purchases and single miles are earned on all other purchases. The annual fee is $95 but not charged during the first year.
Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card – One of the best travel credit cards a consumer can hope to own, the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card dishes out 10,000 Starpoints after one purchase and another 15,000 Starpoints after spending $5,000 in the first six months. Those 25,000 Starpoints are good enough for a multiple night stay at select Starwood locations. Additional points are earned on every purchase and the $69 annual fee charged to Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card members is waived the first year.
TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express – If I had the credit to open this account, I would because the TrueEarnings Card from Costco and American Express is the only card that offers 1% cash back at Costco. 3% cash back is awarded on gas purchases (for the first $3,000 spent annually), 2% cash back on travel and at restaurants and 1% cash back on all other purchases. A 0% intro APR for six month adds another benefit to TrueEarnings Card from Costco and American Express cardholders as well as no annual fee.
American Express Business Cards
SimplyCash® Business Card from American Express OPEN – Simply cash says it all when describing the SimplyCash Business Card from American Express OPEN as this small business card gives 5% cash back on select office supply and wireless merchants, 3% cash back on gas and 1% cash back on everything else. The cash you earn is automatically credited every month and the SimplyCash Business Card from American Express OPEN acts as a credit card, not a charge card so a balance can be carried month to month. A big plus; there’s no annual membership fee.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN – One of the most notable status symbols in the financial world, the Business Platinum Card from American Express OPEN has no preset spending limit and offers $200 in reimbursements for travel expenses every year. Cardholders earn points on every purchase and are provided dedicated representatives and concierge service for anything their heart may desire. The price to receive these benefits is a hefty $450 annual fee.
The Plum Card® from American Express OPEN – A charge card, the Plum Card from American Express comes with one major benefit. Business owners that pay their bill 10 days early are entitled to receive a 1.5% discount, which equates to a 1.5% cash back rate. Remember though, this is a charge card and payments are due in full every month so if your business needs a line of credit rather than a charge card, this is not the one for you. The Plum Card from American Express OPEN has a $185 annual fee, not charged year one.
The New Business Gold Rewards Card® from American Express OPEN – A points charge card, the New Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN gives triple points on airfare, double points on gas, advertising and and shipping purchases and single points for all other buys. There is no limit to the amount of points a business can earn annually but there is a $175 annual fee charged. First year New Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express members will have that fee waived for the first year.
Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions expressed here are authors alone, not those of American Express, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through American Express Affiliate Program.
Published or updated January 27, 2012.
