Whether it’s plane tickets, advertising, office supplies, or something in between, there is likely a business rewards option for you this coming year. American Express is known for offering some of the most rewarding cards, and their business card offerings are no exception. The best Amex business cards not only make it easy to earn bonus rewards on common business purchases, but some cards also come with bonus credits to help your business maximize its spending. You can earn cash back, Membership Rewards® Points, and more.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The Best American Express Business Cards for 2024
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express – Travel rewards
- American Express® Business Gold Card – Advertising purchases
- The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express – 2x Membership Rewards® points on the first $50,000 spent on everyday business purchases annually
- The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card – 2% cash back on up to $50,000 spent annually on eligible purchases
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card – Delta Airlines perks
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card – Hotel perks
- The Plum Card® from American Express – Flexible repayment options
The Business Platinum Card from American Express – 150,000 Bonus Points
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express can be a business traveler’s best friend. This card is loaded with perks:
- Complimentary airport lounge access (enrollment may be required)
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit
- Transfer points to airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Upgraded Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors loyalty status
Cardholders earn 5x Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com. Additionally, cardholders can get a 35% airline bonus when using their points to pay for all or part of a flight with a qualifying airline booked on amextravel.com, up to 500,000 bonus points annually.
Earn 1x points for each dollar spent on eligible purchases.
Cardholders earn 1.5x points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
Other Perks
Additionally, unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on the curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
Plus, get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Card.
Cardholders can get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when they use their Business Platinum Card®.
With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, with The American Express Global Lounge Collection®. You have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023. Enrollment is required for some lounges.
Also, cardholders can take advantage of the Pay Over Time Option, a flexible payment option to help manage cash for purchases of $100 or more (terms apply).
Should You Get This Card?
The Business Platinum Card from American Express is the best Amex business card for frequent flyers. You earn double the points on plane tickets compared to most rewards cards. Plus, free airport lounge access includes The Centurion, Priority Pass (enrollment required), Delta Sky Club, and Plaza Premium networks.
Your points are most valuable when redeemed for award flights. Each point is worth 1 cent each when redeeming award flights on AmexTravel.com. You get 35% of your points back on one airline of your choice, plus business or first-class flights booked on any airline.
So if you redeem 40,000 points for a flight, you get 14,000 points back to redeem a second time.
The 1:1 Membership Rewards airline and hotel transfer partners are a potentially more valuable redemption option. Some of the airline partners include Delta, British Airways, Emirates, Qantas, and Singapore Airlines.
If you can use these benefits and take advantage of these perks, this is one of the best American Express business cards.
Welcome Offer
New The Business Platinum Card® from American Express cardholders can earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on their Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
The annual fee is $695 (See Rates & Fees).
American Express Business Gold Card – 100,000 Bonus Points
The American Express® Business Gold Card lets you earn Membership Rewards points. You earn 4x Membership Rewards® points on the 2 select categories where your business spent the most each month (the 4x points apply to the first $150,000 in combined purchases annually, all other purchases earn 1x per $1 spent). Your bonus category options include:
- U.S. purchases at electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
- Monthly wireless telephone service charges that are made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
- Transit purchases, including trains, taxicabs, rideshares, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
- Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, and radio)
- U.S. purchases at gas stations
- U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
Additionally, American Express Travel purchases through amextravel.com earn 3x points per $1.
All annual spending above $150,000 for the bonus categories and all non-bonus spending earns an unlimited 1x point per $1.
Welcome Offer
New American Express® Business Gold Card cardholders can earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. The card comes in three metal designs: Gold, Rose Gold, and Limited Edition White Gold. White Gold design is only available while supplies last. New cardholders can make their selection when they apply. Terms apply.
The annual fee is $375 (See Rates & Fees).
The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express – 2x Points
If you’re on the hunt for one of the best Amex business cards without an annual fee, this next option is for you. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is the best flat-rate rewards card for earning Membership Rewards. You earn 2x Membership Rewards® points on the first $50,000 spent on everyday business purchases annually. All remaining purchases earn 1 point per $1.
Cardholders can also enjoy more flexibility to use their card for more purchases and rewards when buying above their credit limit. The amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to American Express, and other factors.
New The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express cardholders can earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after they spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within their first 3 months of Card Membership.
There is a $0 annual fee, which makes this a perfect primary or secondary card (See Rates & Fees).
The American Express Blue Business Cash Card – 2% Cash Back
If you prefer cash rewards, get The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card.
Cardholders earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases of up to $50,000 per calendar year, and then 1% cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
It also comes with Expanded Buying Power which gives cardholders the ability to spend beyond their credit limit. Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to American Express, and other factors.
New The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card cardholders can earn a $250 statement credit after they make $3,000 in purchases on their Card in their first 3 months.
It also doesn’t have a $0 annual fee to worry about (See Rates & Fees). This is another best Amex business card that makes sense if you don’t want an annual fee.
However, if you would to compare cards, see our review of the Blue Business Cards from American Express.
If you want another example of business cash rewards vs. travel rewards, the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business or Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business are two other options. They are also some of the best business Capital One cards for travelers.
Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card – 55,000 Bonus Miles
Here’s an airline option that also happens to be one of the best Amex business cards. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card lets you earn SkyMiles on every purchase and enjoy other Delta perks.
Cardholders can earn:
- 2x Miles per $1 spent on eligible purchases at U.S. shipping providers and eligible U.S. providers for advertising in select media, on up to $50,000 of purchases per category per year
- 2x Miles per $1 spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta
- Plus, 2x Miles on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants
- 1x Mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases
Cardholders can also check or stow their bags easily by getting their First Checked Bag Free on Delta Flights plus Priority Boarding. They also get a 20% savings (in the form of a statement credit) on eligible in-flight Delta purchases.
Additionally, receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit for future travel after spending $10,000 in purchases in a year. Plus, get an annual statement credit of up to $150 after using your Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
Welcome Offer
New Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card cardholders can earn 55,000 Bonus Miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on their new Card in their first 6 months of Card Membership.
There is a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (See Rates & Fees).
However, if you’re interested in learning more about Delta cards, check out our guide to the best Delta credit cards. There are several best Amex business cards to choose from that are co-brand with Delta.
Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card – 3 Free Nights
The best hotel card offers can pay for themselves with the annual free night certificate.
One of these is the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, which also happens to be one of the best Amex business cards.
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card cardholders can receive 1 Free Night Award annually after their Card renewal month. Plus, they can earn an additional Free Night Award after spending $60k in purchases on their Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
By redeeming your first free night at any property that costs at least $125, you offset the annual $125 annual fee (See Rates & Fees).
Plus, this card also offers these Marriott Bonvoy benefits:
- 6x points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program
- Earn 4x points at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and U.S. purchases for shipping
- Get 2x points on all non-bonus purchases
- Instant 15 Elite Night credits each year
- Premium on-property internet access
Cardholders can also enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status making this our choice of the best Amex business cards for Marriott loyalists.
Plus, receive a 7% discount on eligible bookings as a benefit of being both a Marriott Bonvoy® member & a Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Member when you book directly with Marriott through an eligible channel for a participating property under the Amex Business Card Rate.
Welcome Offer
New offer: New Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card cardholders can earn 3 Free Night Awards after using their new Card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Each Free Night Award has a redemption level of up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points, for a total potential value of up to 150,000 points, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees. Terms apply.
Your points are most valuable when redeemed for hotel stays. Also, you have the option of transferring your points to airlines over 40 airlines on a 3:1 ratio. This isn’t the best transfer option, but transferring more than 60,000 points at once gives you 5,000 extra air miles, which helps equalize the ratio.
The Plum Card from American Express – Payment Perks
The Plum Card® from American Express offers up to 60 days to pay with no interest when you pay your minimum due by the Payment Due Date.
Plus, paying early pays off. Earn an unlimited 1.5% Early Pay Discount on eligible charges within 10 days of your statement closing date and see the discount applied to your next statement when you pay at the least the Minimum Payment Due by the Please Pay By date.
Also, if you make large purchases or have variable business income, the extended grace period can save you a lot of money if you regularly carry a monthly balance.
This card also comes with premium roadside assistance. Both benefits can be valuable when traveling locally or abroad on a periodic business trip.
The annual fee is $250, and there are $0 foreign transaction fees‡ (See Rates & Fees).
Also, employee cards are free.
Summary of The Best Amex Business Cards
In summary, the best American Express business cards for most people will earn Membership Rewards you earn for travel. However, there are solid options if you desire cash rewards, Delta SkyMiles, or Marriott Bonvoy points as well.
American Express business cards have helped pioneer the way small businesses pay for purchases. They offer some of the best business cards for travel rewards. And, American Express also has some exciting cash reward options.
FAQs
What is the best American Express card for small businesses?
The best American Express business card for frequent flyers is The Business Platinum Card from American Express. It has many benefits, including a $200 airline free credit, complimentary airport lounge access, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit.
For no annual fee, consider one of the Amex Blue Business cards. The Amex Blue Business Plus earns 2x Membership Rewards per $1 on the first $50,000 in annual purchases, then 1x point per $1. For cash back, the Amex Blue Business Cash earns 2% back (in the form of statement credits) on up to $50,000 in annual purchases and then 1% back (also in the form of statement credits) for all remaining purchases.
What is the easiest American Express business card to get?
It’s not too hard to get a business card. These can be the easiest American Express business cards to qualify for:
- Blue Business Plus from American Express
- American Express Blue Business Cash Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Business Card from American Express
You will need a personal credit score of at least 670 to have the best approval odds. However, you may still qualify if your score is in the mid-600s and you have sufficient business income.
How do I qualify for American Express business cards?
Here are several basic requirements to qualify for one of the best American Express business cards:
- At least 18 years old
- Have a Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number
- Earn business income
- Agree only to use the card for business or commercial purchases
Most Amex business cards only require you to have good credit. This means you should have a credit score above 670 to get an instant approval decision. However, premium cards like the Business Platinum or Business Gold will need a minimum of 740 personal credit scores to have the highest approval odds.
You do not need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to apply for a business card. If you are a sole proprietor, apply for a card using your Social Security Number. Make sure you include as much business income and personal income as possible to boost your approval chances too.
Related Articles:
- How Hard Is It To Get The Amex Business Platinum Card?
- Best Small Business Credit Cards
- Best Credit Card Offers
And for rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, please click here.
And For rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Plum Card® from American Express, please click here.
And For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, please click here.
