Best American Express Credit Cards Of April 2024

Anyone who flies Delta with regularity can find benefit in the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card’s (terms apply, see rates & fees) annual companion certificate, good for one round-trip ticket per year to the U.S., Mexico, Central America or the Caribbean in an eligible fare class (taxes and fees must still be paid). If you typically fly first-class, this perk alone can be worth the cost of the card.

The SkyMiles Reserve Card also offers cardholders access to Delta Sky Club lounges when flying Delta same-day along with four guest passes each year (effective February 1, 2025, cardholders will receive 15 Delta Sky Club visits per year and can earn unlimited visits by spending $75,000 or more on the card in 2024 and each calendar year thereafter).

Who it’s best for: Delta flyers who appreciate Sky Club access.

Rewards: Earn 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.

Annual fee: $650

Other benefits and drawbacks: Holding the card each year nets you $2,500 in MQD toward elite status and with every $10 spent on the card you’ll earn $1 MQD, making leveling up much easier. You can also earn up to $240 in Resy restaurant credits with enrollment, an up to $200 Delta Stays credit and up to $120 in rideshare credits with enrollment over the course of the year to help offset the annual fee. Delta loyalists will benefit from the Delta Sky Club access when flying Delta and access to American Express Centurion Lounges, but the rewards outside of Delta spending are mediocre.

The Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express* earns a whopping 14 Hilton Honors points per dollar spent on properties under the Hilton umbrella. Ownership of the card also comes with top-tier Hilton Diamond elite status and other perks like resort and airline incidental fee credits.

Who it’s best for: Anyone looking for top-tier Hilton status without the stress.

Rewards: Earn 14 Hilton Honors bonus points at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton Portfolio, 7 points per dollar on eligible purchases for flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies and U.S. restaurants and 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 175,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.

Annual fee: $550

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Aspire Card is the only consumer hotel credit card we’re aware of that offers automatic top-tier status. Cardholders also get an annual free night award certificate and have the ability to earn an additional night award after spending $30,000, and another per year after spending $60,000 on the card. The annual up to $400 in Hilton resort statement credits and up to $200 in airline incidental credits, if maximized, could make it worth the card’s annual fee.

The American Express® Green Card* recently got a refresh that makes it a great Amex card for earning travel rewards and accessing extra benefits without a high annual fee.

Who it’s best for: Casual travelers who like earning points and occasional lounge access.

Rewards: Earn 3 points per dollar on travel and transit including flights, hotels, taxis, rideshare services, trains, parking and more, 3 points per dollar on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 40,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 6 months.

Annual fee: $150

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Amex Green Card also offers up to $189 in CLEAR® Plus credit each year, a $100 LoungeBuddy credit and doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. Cardholders can also benefit from various travel protections including trip delay insurance and car rental loss and damage insurance plus consumer benefits like purchase protection and extended warranty.

The American Express® Gold Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) offers solid value for most. The earnings rate is among the highest in the industry at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets. The card earns Membership Rewards® points which are highly flexible and easy to redeem.

Who it’s best for: High spenders at restaurants and grocery stores.

Rewards: Earn 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point per dollar), 3 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.

Annual fee: $250

Other benefits and drawbacks: Choose from standard gold or rose gold as the color for your physical card. Other cost-saving benefits include up to $120 annually in dining credits for select restaurants with enrollment and an up to $120 Uber Cash benefit once you add your card to your Uber account, both issued in $10 monthly increments. If maximized, these perks could justify the card’s $250 annual fee.

The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card* is a solid card for those looking to earn American Express Membership Rewards points while only paying a moderate annual fee.

Who it’s best for: Those who use their card daily and are looking for easy bonus categories.

Rewards: Earn 3 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1 point per dollar), 2 points per dollar on U.S. gas stations and eligible travel purchases like prepaid hotel stays, vacation packages and cruises booked through AmexTravel.com and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $2,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.

Annual fee: $95

Other benefits and drawbacks: The American Express EveryDay Preferred Credit Card offers secondary rental car insurance coverage and return protection.

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) is an attractive mid-range credit card for travelers who favor Hilton brand hotels, offering many benefits for a modest annual fee.

Who it’s best for: Those desiring elite status and strong points earning with Hilton Hotels.

Rewards: Earn 12 Hilton Honors bonus points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 6 points on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations, 4 points on eligible U.S. online retail purchases and 3 points for other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 130,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.

Annual fee: $150

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Surpass card comes with Hilton Honors Gold status which confers benefits like a free food and beverage credit at participating hotels, possible room upgrades and the fifth consecutive night free on reward stays.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) is an option for frequent Delta travelers who want a leg up on earning Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) to qualify for elite status but who don’t prioritize a card with Delta Sky Club access.

Who it’s best for: Travelers who fly with a companion on Delta looking for free flights.

Rewards: Earn 3 miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2 miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1 mile per dollar on other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.

Annual fee: $350

Other benefits and drawbacks: Those who can take advantage of the complimentary Companion Certificate perk earned each year after card renewal (good on eligible fare classes when you pay taxes and fees) will more than likely come out ahead of the card’s annual fee, but the certificate only applies to Delta domestic, Caribbean or Central American main cabin flights.

While the annual fee has increased slightly, the card does come with up to $120 in credits for Resy restaurants with enrollment and up to $120 in credits for rideshare services with enrollment along with another up to $150 Delta Stays credit, helping to offset the higher-than-usual annual fee.

Those looking for automatic Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and an annual free night award can find value in the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card (terms apply, see rates & fees).

Who it’s best for: Occasional Marriott travelers looking for elite status and free nights.

Rewards: Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy® points per dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2 points) and 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $5,000 in purchases on the card within the first 6 months of account opening.

Annual fee: $250

Other benefits and drawbacks: The card also offers 15 nights of elite credit toward earning higher levels of status, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees and offers travel protections like rental car insurance¹ and a baggage insurance plan². Cardholders can also benefit from purchase protection² and extended warranty².

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) offers value well in excess of its annual fee to the Marriott-loyal frequent traveler through its rich suite of benefits, including up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide.

Who it’s best for: Big spending Marriott loyalists looking for luxury travel perks.

Rewards: Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program, 3 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months.

Annual fee: $650

Other benefits and drawbacks: If you don’t take full advantage of the card’s perks, a Marriott credit card with a lower carrying cost could be a better fit. Rewards on this card are best used for future Marriott stays or transferred to one of Marriott’s airline partners.

No other card comes with as much perk potential as The Platinum Card® from American Express (terms apply, see rates & fees). If you travel frequently and want to do so in style, this card deserves a place in your wallet. For anyone outside of a specific profile—an urban fitness buff who wants high rewards on flights and prepaid hotels—it may take some effort to justify the high annual fee.

Who it’s best for: Travelers who enjoy luxury experiences like lounge access and exclusive priority while traveling.

Rewards: Earn 5 Membership Rewards Points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $8,000 on purchases on the card in the first 6 months of card membership.

Annual fee: $695

Other benefits and drawbacks: The card carries a plethora of travel benefits including Global Entry and TSA PreCheck® credits, access to participating Priority Pass airport lounges worldwide after you enroll, Global Lounge Access, Delta Sky Club lounge access when you fly Delta (effective 2/1/25, American Express Platinum card members will receive 10 Delta Sky Club visits per year; unlimited visits can be earned when total purchases exceed $75,000 in 2024 and each calendar year thereafter), elite status with Hilton, Marriott, Hertz, Avis and National car rental with enrollment and more. The main question to ask yourself is: Will you be able to take advantage of enough of the perks and credits to make the annual fee worth it?

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (terms apply, see rates & fees) lets cardholders earn one of the best rates available on U.S. supermarkets and select streaming purchases.

Who it’s best for: Cash back seekers who spend mostly in popular categories.

Rewards: Earn 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) and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

Welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.

Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95

Other benefits and drawbacks: The cash-back rewards on this card are generous across a wide swath of categories. Be aware that rewards are issued as Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits and taking your earnings as Membership Rewards is not an option.

From a value standpoint, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) shines bright. It offers in-air benefits such as a free checked bag, priority boarding and 20% back on food, drinks and headsets while flying with Delta (rewarded via statement credit), all while keeping a reasonable annual fee. You can earn SkyMiles on practically everything you eat and drink, which can help your balance grow quickly. The welcome bonus just adds to the already appealing offer.

Who it’s best for: Delta flyers who check bags and want to earn more SkyMiles.

Rewards: Earn 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases, at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and 1 mile per dollar on other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150

Other benefits and drawbacks: Earn a $200 Delta flight credit toward future travel after you spend $10,000 in purchases during a calendar year. While this is not as substantial as the companion ticket (on eligible fare classes when you pay taxes and fees) offered by the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, it comes with a lower annual fee.

On top of the $200 in Delta credit you can earn up to a $100 Delta Stays credit, valid for a prepaid hotel or vacation home booking via the Delta Stays website simply by holding the card.

Delta has abolished award charts, which can make redeeming SkyMiles during peak periods a challenge. However, their web specials are among the most robust in the industry, and Delta does a good job of letting you know where the deals are.

The main benefit to the no annual fee Amex EveryDay® Credit Card* is that cardholders can earn a 20% bonus on all points earned when they make at least 20 purchases during the billing cycle. For those who want to dip their toes in the Membership Rewards-earning card pool without paying an annual fee, this card is a solid choice.

Who it’s best for: People who want to still earn valuable Membership Rewards without having to track bonus categories.

Rewards: Earn 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1X), 2 points per dollar when using the card to book trips through American Express Travel and 1 point for every eligible dollar on everything else. Plus, use the card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 20% extra points on those purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 10,000 points after spending $2,000 in qualifying purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: Outside of the potential points bonus for using the card multiple times in a month, several other no annual fee cards from American Express are more rewarding. However, this card does provide no-annual-fee access to transferable Membership Rewards points, so it can be a starter card or a great option to downgrade a higher annual fee Membership Rewards-earning card.

If you’re seeking a card that offers cash back in several everyday categories but don’t want to pay an annual fee, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (terms apply, see rates & fees) is a worthy choice.

Who it’s best for: Those who want strong cash back with no annual fee.

Rewards: Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and online retail purchases in the U.S. (on up to $6,000 in each category per year in purchases, then 1%), and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be easily redeemed for statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout.

Welcome offer: Earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 6 months.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: There’s no annual fee and you’ll still get above-average earnings at supermarkets, gas stations and online retail purchases in the U.S. But, the bonus earnings are capped at $6,000 in spending in each category per year.

The American Express Cash Magnet® Card* can be a solid choice for those looking for a simple, flat-rate cash-back card with access to money-saving Amex Offers and some travel protections.

Who it’s best for: People looking for uncomplicated cash back earning

Rewards: Earn 1.5% cash back.

Welcome offer: Earn $200 back after spending $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Cash Magnet comes with an introductory APR offer on purchases, which could be helpful for a large purchase, along with car rental loss and damage insurance.

If you’re in the market for a no annual fee hotel loyalty credit card, the Hilton Honors American Express Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) presents a lot of value, offering a solid welcome bonus, complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status and no foreign transaction fees.

Who it’s best for: Those who value Hilton Hotels and points but don’t like annual fees.

Rewards: Earn 7 Hilton Honors points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 5 points for each dollar of eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations and 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: In addition to the automatic Silver status just for holding the card, cardholders can reach Gold status with $20,000 in spending in a calendar year. Hilton Honors points, however, generally don’t carry as much value as other hotel points and this card lacks other meaningful perks beyond the Silver elite status.

The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) isn’t packed full of benefits, but doesn’t charge an annual fee either.

Who it’s best for: Those who want to earn miles but don’t travel enough to warrant high annual fees.

Rewards: Earn 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, and takeout and delivery in the U.S. and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 10,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in purchases on the card in the first 6 months.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Delta SkyMiles Blue card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees and the card offers 20% back on in-flight purchases. Cardholders can benefit from various travel and consumer protections like rental car insurance¹, purchase protection² and extended warranty².