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There is no single best American Express card for everyone. The right choice depends on whether you want cash back or points, what you spend on, whether you will use the benefits, and whether you need a personal or small-business account. This U.S. guide compares nine options by annual fee, rewards fit and likely usefulness—not by welcome-offer size. Fees and rewards below are drawn from NerdWallet’s October 2026 comparison; confirm live terms with American Express before applying.
How to choose among Amex cards
Start with the kind of return you will actually use. Cash back is straightforward; Membership Rewards points and airline or hotel rewards can be valuable when they fit your travel plans, but are less useful if you do not want to manage redemptions. Then compare the annual fee with the rewards on your real spending and benefits you expect to use. A credit or perk is not equivalent to cash if it requires enrollment, a particular merchant, or a qualifying booking.
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The nine cards below are an editorial selection across personal cash-back and travel cards, co-branded cards, and small-business options. The comparison sources do not agree on one shared nine-card shortlist, and the cards are not ranked as a universal best-to-worst list. See NerdWallet’s October 2026 comparison and the dated guides from Bankrate and The Points Guy; use the issuer’s live pages for terms.
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| Card | Best fit | What to weigh |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cash Everyday | No-annual-fee cash back on eligible household categories | Separate annual caps apply to the three 3% categories. |
| Blue Cash Preferred | Higher cash back on eligible supermarkets, streaming and other listed categories | $95 annual fee after its first-year introductory period and a supermarket cap. |
| American Express Gold Card | Everyday rewards and travel | $325 annual fee; consider dining and supermarket rewards alongside usable benefits. |
| The Platinum Card | Premium travel benefits | $895 annual fee; value depends on using relevant benefits and qualifying for them. |
| Hilton Honors American Express Card | Travelers who prefer Hilton | Check current fee, rewards and program benefits against your Hilton stays. |
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass | More frequent Hilton guests considering a hotel co-brand | Verify current annual fee, rewards, status benefits and terms with the issuer. |
| Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card | Travelers who regularly fly Delta | Compare the current fee and Delta benefits with your flight and redemption habits. |
| Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card | Delta loyalists who can use its current card benefits | Check current annual fee and benefit conditions; the relevant value depends on your Delta use. |
| Blue Business Plus | Small-business spending with points rewards | Compare business-account terms and points usefulness with your spending needs. |
Best no-annual-fee cash back: Blue Cash Everyday
Blue Cash Everyday is the clearest fit if you want cash back without an annual fee and spend in its eligible U.S. supermarket, gas-station and online-retail categories. NerdWallet’s October 2026 comparison lists 3% cash back in each category on up to $6,000 in annual purchases per category; purchases above the applicable cap earn 1%. Check the card’s current terms for category definitions and the post-introductory APR. Details are listed on NerdWallet’s comparison and Amex’s no-annual-fee card page.
#1 Best Overall
- Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- To report your Lost or Stolen Physical Visa Card, call Customer Service 24/7 at 1 (888) 524-1283 to cancel your Gift Card as soon as you can. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Visa Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including online.
Best higher-rate household cash back: Blue Cash Preferred
Blue Cash Preferred is worth comparing if its selected household categories match your spending closely enough to justify the fee. NerdWallet lists a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, followed by a $95 annual fee, and 6% cash back at eligible U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in annual purchases; spending above that cap earns 1%. The comparison also identifies streaming, gas and transit rewards, but check current issuer terms for rates, definitions and any limits before deciding. Estimate the cash back from your own eligible purchases, then subtract the recurring fee; do not assume the advertised rate applies to every grocery or streaming purchase.
Best everyday points card: American Express Gold Card
The Gold Card is aimed at people who can make good use of rewards on dining and eligible supermarket spending and who also value its travel orientation. NerdWallet lists a $325 annual fee for October 2026. Whether it is a sensible choice depends on the rewards you can redeem and on credits or other benefits you will genuinely use after meeting their conditions. Review the live issuer terms for category limits, eligible merchants, enrollment and redemption options rather than treating the nominal value of a benefit as automatic savings.
Rank #2
- Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- To report your Lost or Stolen Physical Visa Card, call Customer Service 24/7 at 1 (888) 524-1283 to cancel your Gift Card as soon as you can. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Visa Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including online.
Best premium-travel option: The Platinum Card
The Platinum Card is the premium-travel choice in this selection, not a default upgrade for every traveler. NerdWallet lists an $895 annual fee for October 2026. Amex’s surfaced U.S. card listing describes access to more than 1,550 lounges, but eligible locations, cardholder access rules and other restrictions depend on the official benefit terms. Check those conditions and the card’s travel credits against trips you already expect to take. The comparison indicates limited bonus categories outside qualifying travel, so it may be a poor match if most of your spending is everyday purchases.
Best for Hilton stays: Hilton Honors Card or Surpass
Both Hilton-branded options make most sense for people who expect to stay with Hilton and can use the program rewards and card benefits. The available October 2026 comparison evidence does not establish a full current fee-and-rewards comparison between these two cards, so verify each card’s live terms before choosing. Compare annual fee, eligible Hilton rewards, any status or stay-related benefits, and restrictions with the number and type of Hilton stays you actually plan. Amex’s hotel-card listing is the issuer starting point; do not rely on a past welcome offer as evidence of today’s terms.
Rank #3
- Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- Double check if the URL/website is genuine before entering card details online. Do not provide any gift card details (example: claim code) to someone you do not know or trust. There are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- If you believe that your Card has been lost or stolen, notify Mastercard immediately by calling 1-833-791-7288. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Mastercard Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Mastercard debit cards are accepted, including online. Your Amazon.com Balance cannot be used to purchase Mastercard gift cards.
Best for Delta loyalists: Delta SkyMiles Gold or Platinum
Delta’s Gold and Platinum co-branded cards are candidates for travelers whose flying and redemptions center on Delta. Their fit depends on current annual fees and which airline-specific benefits you can use—not simply on collecting miles. The October 2026 comparison evidence does not establish the cards’ complete current fee and benefit terms. Check the issuer’s current card pages, read conditions for benefits such as travel-related perks, and compare them with your expected Delta trips before applying.
Best small-business points option: Blue Business Plus
Blue Business Plus is the small-business choice here for readers who want rewards points rather than household cash back. It is a business account, so compare its account terms and reward structure with the business’s spending and redemption needs; it is not interchangeable with a personal card. NerdWallet’s October 2026 guide identifies it as a small-business rewards option. The evidence available for this comparison does not specify a current complete set of fees, rates or caps, so check the live issuer terms.
Rank #4
- Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- To report your Lost or Stolen Physical Visa Card, call Customer Service 24/7 at 1 (888) 524-1283 to cancel your Gift Card as soon as you can. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Visa Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including online.
Welcome offers, approval and current terms
Do not treat a headline welcome offer as guaranteed. American Express says, “Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer,” on its U.S. card listing. Check the offer actually shown to you and its spending requirement, timing, exclusions and eligibility terms before submitting an application. An offer can change or expire; a Hilton offer surfaced in earlier results ended July 29, 2026, so it is not a current offer for this October guide.
Annual fees, APRs, reward categories and benefit rules can change. The figures here are from NerdWallet’s October 2026 guide, not a guarantee that an issuer page will show identical terms when you apply. Use American Express’s current card pages to confirm the exact offer, rates, fees and conditions. No universal approval threshold is established here; avoid treating any card as a guaranteed approval.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
A practical way to make the final choice
- Write down your actual annual spending in the eligible categories you expect to use, rather than the card’s broad advertising categories.
- For each candidate, estimate rewards under current issuer terms, including caps and category definitions.
- Subtract the annual fee and count a credit or benefit only if you expect to meet its conditions and would otherwise make that purchase.
- Choose points or co-branded rewards only if you have a realistic way to redeem them for something you value.
- Compare the live application offer and terms on the American Express page immediately before applying.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
