Which is the best American Express credit card?

American Express credit cards – commonly known as Amex cards – are a popular choice among customers looking for extra rewards when spending money.

These cards come in all sorts of forms, from cashback credit cards to travel cards that reward you with points when you go on holiday. Some are free to get, while others have a fee attached.

If you’re seeking maximum value on your day-to-day spending and travel perks, and will pay off the balance due in full each month, an American Express credit card might be a good option – although they might not be as widely accepted as Mastercard or Visa cards.

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The best American Express credit cards

There isn’t necessarily a ‘best’ Amex credit card, as different options may or may not suit people’s spending habits.

For instance, someone who doesn’t travel abroad often might not get as much use out of an Amex card that offers Avios points, compared to a frequent flyer.

Below, we list some of the most popular credit cards for different uses, such as no annual fee, cashback, rewards and travel perks.

You won’t be eligible for any “welcome bonus” offers if you have held an Amex card in the past 24 months.

The best Amex card with no annual fee

If you’re just dipping your toes into the world of credit cards or Amex, the British Airways American Express Credit Card may be a good option. It doesn’t have an annual fee, and it lets you collect Avios on any purchases you make, giving you more value for your money.

Some of its perks include:

• 10,000 bonus Avios when you spend £2,000 in the first three months of cardmembership. The offer is only for a limited time period and ends on 6 October, after which it reverts to 5,000 bonus Avios. It is only available for those who haven’t had an Amex card in the last 24 months.
• One Avios for every £1 spent on purchases.
• 1,000 Avios when you add the first Supplementary Card – an extra card issued to a family member or friend – to your account.
• Get a companion voucher when you spend £15,000 each cardmembership year.

Eligibility:

• Earn at least £15,000 per year

The best Amex card for cashback

Out of the Amex range, the American Express Cashback Everyday Credit Card gives the most cashback without having to pay any annual fees.

Some of its perks include:

• Get 5% cashback on your purchases (up to £125) for the first five months of your cardmembership. This offer is only available if you haven’t had an Amex card in the last 24 months.
• After the bonus period, earn 1% cashback on spending above £10,000, which falls to 0.5% if you spend less than £10,000.
• There is no limit on how much cashback you can earn in a year, provided you spend a minimum of £3,000.

Eligibility:

• Earn at least £15,000 per year

The best Amex card for rewards

The American Express Preferred Rewards Credit Card comes with a host of rewards and points that can help offset the cost of the card – a £195 fee that comes in after a year.

Some of its perks include:

• Earn 20,000 bonus Membership Rewards points when you spend £3,000 in the first three months. You don’t qualify if you’ve already had an Amex card in the past 24 months.
• Earn three points for every £1 spent on Amex Travel and two points for every £1 spent directly with airlines
• Get £10 back per month on Deliveroo, which could equate to £120 back a year
• Four complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge passes a year at up to 1,300 lounges at airports around the world
• Other benefits include US $100 hotel credit when you book two or more nights with The Hotel Collection, which can go towards spa purchases or food and beverage, late check-out, room upgrades and more.

Eligibility:

• Earn at least £20,000 per year

You can use points towards purchases made on your card, whether you’re going on holiday or dining out. For instance, 40,000 points means up to £200 in gift cards.

We look at other credit cards offering airport lounge access in a separate guide.

The best Amex card for travel

The American Express Platinum Credit Card comes with a substantial fee of £650 per year, but depending on how you use the travel benefits offered, it may be worth getting.

Some of its perks include:

• Earn 50,000 bonus Membership Rewards points when you spend £6,000 in the first three months. You don’t qualify if you’ve already had an Amex in the past 24 months.
• Get £250 in travel credit, which can be used on a single prepaid purchase of flights, hotels and car hire. It’s valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
• Get up to £200 in dining credit to spend in the UK, and another £200 abroad for participating restaurants
• Earn 2x points on Amex Travel for every £1 spent.
• Earn one point for every £1 spent
• Complimentary access to over 1,400 lounges at airports around the world
• Travel rewards, including US $100 hotel credit, travel insurance, car rental and complimentary hotel benefits

Eligibility:

• Earn at least £35,000 per year

If you’re unsure whether this card works for you, you may consider testing it out for a year. The sign-up bonus of 50,000 Membership Rewards points (worth £250) and £400 annual dining credit in the UK and abroad is the equivalent of the fee for the first year.

The best Amex card for frequent flyers

An alternative option is the British Airways American Express Premium Plus Credit Card, which offers extra Avios points for a limited time. This account has a £300 annual fee and a representative APR of 135.7% variable.

Some of its perks include:

• Earn 60,000 bonus Avios points when you spend £6,000 in the first three months of cardmembership. The offer is only for a limited time period and ends on 6 October, after which it reverts to 30,000 bonus Avios. It is only available for those who haven’t had an Amex card in the last 24 months.
• Get a companion voucher in any cabin – including business and first class flights – when you spend £15,000 in a year.
• Earn 3x Avios with British Airways or BA Holidays for every £1 spent
• Earn 1.5x Avios for every £1 spent on purchases.

Eligibility:

• Earn at least £35,000 per year

We look at the best time to book flights for savvy travellers who want the best value for money on their holidays.

Which is the best American Express Avios credit card for me?

The right card will ultimately come down to your spending habits. The more you spend on the card, the better value the Premium Plus card becomes, since the greater gain of Avios points will mitigate the annual fee. It’s also worth bearing in mind that other credit cards offer Avios rewards, such as those from Barclaycard, while you can also boost your Avios balance by opting for specific bank accounts.

Other American Express credit cards to consider

American Express offers a handful of other credit cards tied to specific reward schemes or brands. If you are a regular customer of these firms, then you may be better off considering one of these cards.

For example, the American Express Nectar Credit Card allows you to earn two Nectar points for every £1 spent (rising to three points on spending with Nectar partner firms). You can bag a bonus of 20,000 further points if you spend £2,000 in the first three months with the card.

There’s also the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Credit Card, which offers two points on each £1 you spend, moving to six points when you spend on eligible Marriott properties. You get an automatic silver status upgrade and receive 15 Elite Night Credits towards the hotel’s loyalty programme. You can also earn an introductory bonus of 20,000 points when you spend £3,000 in the first three months. There’s an annual fee of £95 to consider, though.

Get the most from your American Express card

Whichever American Express card you go for, if you want to make the most of the ability to earn rewards, you’ll need to put as much of your usual spending each month as possible on the card.

This can be a little trickier with American Express cards since they are not accepted by all retailers, but enough retailers do to allow you to put a significant portion of your spending on the card and maximise your returns.

However, it’s important that you do not view this as a reason to spend more than usual each month. Rewards credit cards only benefit shoppers who can clear their balance in full every month; otherwise, the interest charged on any outstanding balance will quickly eat into the value of the rewards you’ve earned.