American Express Personal Credit Cards Review

(December 2024)

In This Article

Our Verdict

Consider American Express if you are looking for one of the financial companies that offer one of the best credit cards on the market. Get access to 20 various personal credit cards with huge benefits and rewards. You can use the card to pay for travel expenses, flight tickets, Walmart purchases TV subscriptions and many others. However, ensure you have a good to excellent credit score and prepare for high-interest rates on your credit cards. Call the following numbers for more information:

800-528-4800, 1-800-567-2639, 1-877-891-0821.

Pros

  • Rewards on purchases
  • Numerous card options
  • Wide range availability by regions and states
  • Zero percent intro APR
  • Zero annual fee
  • Spending management programs

Cons

  • Unavailable for non-US citizens
  • High interest rate
  • High credit score requirement
  • Not available to users with zero credit history
  • High annual fee on cards
  • Late fees

Who This Product Is Best For

Consider this product if you are a Card user who:

  • Prefers issuers with a wide range of presence across the country
  • Wants numerous options on credit cards
  • Has a taste for cards with reward packages.
  • Wants issuer with free intro benefits

Who This Product Isn't Right For

Check out other card issuers if you are a card user who:

  • Has poor credit scores
  • Is looking for cards with fee-free features
  • Doesn’t like credit cards with a high annual fee
  • Doesn’t want credit cards with high interest rates
  • Loves to carry outstanding balances to another month.

What This Product Offers

Travel credit cards: Earn rewards when you use one of the Amex travel credit cards. You can earn between 45,000 to 150,000 points within 3 to 6 months of being a holder of the card.

 Expect a high annual fee though it varies per card, you have between $95 and $695 as an annual fee. However, not every card in the travel credit card category has an annual fee.

Choose Hilton Honors Card or Delta SkyMiles® Blue to avoid paying annual fees while using Amex travel credit cards.

Cash-back credit cards: Take advantage of credit cards that offer one of the best cash-back rates at US supermarkets. You can earn up to 6% cash back on your purchase when using Amex cash-back credit cards at the supermarket.

Also, enjoy the no-annual fee package that credit cards in this category offer. You can also earn $200 – $300 as cash back when you spend $2,000 – $3,000 in the first 6 months of using the card.

No annual fee credit cards: Get any of these cards and enjoy all the services that Amex credit cards offer while you also benefit from no annual fee package with rewards and cash back.

Product Details

Travel credit cards

The Platinum Card®

Membership rewards: 100,000 points in the first 6 months of usage

Annual fee: $695

APRs: 20.74% to 28.74%

Required credit score: 670+

American Express® Gold Card

Membership rewards: Spend up to $4000 and earn 75,000 points within the first 6 months

Annual fee: $250

APRs: 20.74% to 28.74%

Required credit score: 670 – 850

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Membership rewards: Earn 75,000 points when you spend up to $2000 on purchases in the first 6 months of usage

Annual fee: Start paying $99 per year after enjoying a 0% annual fee in your first year on the card.

APRs: 20.49%  to 29.49%

Required credit score: 670 to 850

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Membership rewards: Get up to 75,000 points as bonus miles and 10,000 points through flight activities when you spend up to $3000 on the card in your first 6 months.

Annual fee: $250

APRs: 20.49% to 29.49%

Required credit score: 670 to 850

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card

Membership rewards: Get 85,000 points within your first three months when you spend $4000 on purchases through the card.

Annual fee: $250

APRs: 20.49% – 29.49%

Required credit score: 750 – 850

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Membership rewards: Receive up to 95,000 reward points when you spend $5000 in your first 3 months on the card.

Annual fee: $650

APR: 20.49% – 29.49%

Required credit score: 670 – 850

Hilton Honors Card

Membership rewards: Get 100,000 when you spend $1000 in your first 1 month on the card.

Annual fee: None

APR: 20.49% – 29.49%

Required credit score: 670 – 850

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Membership rewards: Get 150,000 points within the first 3 months when you spend $2000 on purchases using the card.

Annual fee: $95

APR: 20.49% to 29.49%

Required credit score: 670 – 850

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Membership rewards: Spend $5000 in your first 6 months on the card and earn 100,000 points

Annual fee: $550

APR: 20.49% to 29.49%

Required credit score: 670 to 850

American Express® Green Card

Membership rewards: Get 45,000 points when you spend $2000 in your first 6 months

Annual fee: $150

APR: 20.74% to 28.74%

Required credit score: 750 – 850

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Membership rewards: Spend $4000 on purchases in your first 3 months on the card and get up to 150,000 points

Annual fee: $450

APR: 20.49% to 29.49%

Required credit score: 750 – 850

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

Membership rewards: Earn a 10,000 bonus when you spend $1000 through the card in your first 6 months

Annual fee:

APR: 20.49% to 29.49%

Required credit score: 750 – 850

Cash-back credit cards

Blue Cash Preferred® Card

Membership rewards: Get back $300 as cash back when you spend $3000 in your first 6 months on the card

Annual fee: Enjoy a 0% intro fee in your first year and be paying $95 in the subsequent years

APR: 18.74% to 29.74 %

Required credit score: 670 plus

Late fee: maximum of $40

Blue Cash Everyday® Card

Membership rewards: Get back up to $250 as cash back when you spend $2000 within your first 6 months on the card.

Annual fee: None

APR: 18.74% to 29.74%

Required credit score: 670 plus

Late fee: maximum of $40

Cash Magnet® Card

Membership rewards: Spend $2000 on purchases in your first 6 months and get back $200 as a cash-back bonus

Annual fee: None

APR: 18.74% to 29.74%

Required credit score: 670 plus

Late fee: can reach up to $40

No annual fee credit cards

Blue Cash Everyday® Card

Membership rewards: Gain $250 cash back when you spend $2000 on the card in your first 6 months.

Annual fee: None

APR: Enjoy 0% interest-free in your first 15 months. Then, continue paying 18.74% to 29.74% per year.

Required credit score: 670 plus

Cash Magnet® Card

Membership rewards: Get back $200 on cash back when you spend $2000 in your first 6 months on the card.

Annual fee: Maximize the 0% interest benefit in your first 15 months then continue to pay 18.74% to 29.74% per year.

APR: None

Required credit score: 670 plus

Hilton Honors Card

Membership rewards: Get 100,000 on the spending worth $1000 on the card within your first 3 months

Annual fee: None

APR: 20.49% to 29.49%

Required credit score: 670 plus

Amex EveryDay® Credit Card

Membership rewards: Take advantage of 0% on interest for the first 15 months before you start paying 17.74% to 28.74% per year.

Annual fee: None

APR: Take advantage of 0% on interest for the first 15 months before you start paying 17.74% to 28.74% per year.

Required credit score: 670 plus

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

Membership rewards: Secure 10,000 miles points on purchases that are worth $1000 within your first 6 months on the card.

Annual fee: None

APR: 20.49% to 29.49%

Required credit score: 670 plus

Where This Product Stands Out

Various credit cards

With American Express, one thing is certain. Access as many credit cards as you want with numerous eye-catching benefits. Do you even know that Amex offers one of the best APRs for supermarket shopping in America? If you are not aware, choose Amex EveryDay® Credit Card and discover the benefits like double membership rewards, with a supermarket rate discount that can be up to 6%.

Multiple rewards

Get access to multiple rewards on any of the Amex personal credit cards. You can earn rewards per purchase like cash back, and rewards points. You are also entitled to some milestone reward points or cash back when you spend a certain amount of cash within your first 3 months to 6 months on the card.

A good numbers of credit cards with free annual fee cards

Do you need a credit card with zero annual fees? Amex provides you with a good number of personal credit cards that charge zero annual fees.

Zero percent on APRs

Choose Amex as your issuer of personal credit cards and secure access to a pool of cards that offers 0% APRs. You can use your credit card for an interest-free period within the first 15 months of usage. In fact, some credit cards give you a chance to continue using 0% on interest as long as you are paying the minimum payment before the due date.

Available across all states

Get access to Amex services from anywhere in America as this financial institution is present in all states in America.

Where This Product Falls Short

Complicated rewards

Expect some confusion while trying to calculate your possible rewards and benefits. A card may offer up to 5 benefits which are specific to periods and purchasing activities.

Few card with 0% APRs benefit

Reduce your expectation in getting many cards with 0% APRs benefit from Amex.  You can only access two credit cards that offer 0% APRs.

High interest rates

Expect high interest rates which can reach up to 29.49%. Bear in your mind that Amex doesn’t have a secured personal credit card which may reduce your interest.

Unspecified rates

Know that the rates on Amex credit cards are variable. While it’s an opportunity for you to qualify for the best rate if you have a good credit score, you may develop anxiety if your credit score is not too good.

Compulsory Late fee

Note that you may have to pay a late fee that can be as high as $40 if you default on your payment.

How to Qualify for This Product

Don’t expect accurate information to know if you qualify for an Amex credit card unless you contact the bank to directly confirm your qualification. However, get the following requirements ready to increase your eligibility.

  • Get a good credit score between 670 to 850
  • Use the prequalify feature on the issuer’s website to know where you stand
  • Fashion out how you are going to manage the card.

How to Apply for This Product

Take these steps to apply for an Amex credit card without stress.

  • Apply online
  • Apply on phone
  • Visit the bank to Apply in person.
  • Use the pre-qualify feature on the Amex website
  • Provide your personal information

Get the following documents ready before you proceed with your application.

  • Provide your legal name
  • Provide your social security number
  • Submit proof of age to show you are over 18
  • Submit proof of independence if you are over 18 but still under 21 years.
  • Provide your employment information
  • Tender your annual and monthly income.

In addition, always use pre-qualify programs on the Amex website to determine your possible chance of approval and the kind of credit card you are likely to get.

Alternatives to This Product

Wells Fargo

Consider Wells Fargo if you need more personal credit cards with 0% intro APRs as well as zero annual fees.

Chase Bank

Consider Chase to have access to personal credit cards with a relatively lower interest rate than Amex. Chase offers a maximum interest of 27.74% compared to Amex’s 29.49%

Petal

Don’t bother yourself with your credit score because this issuer picks no interest in it, yet, you can get a favorable rate of 17.74% and 1.5% cash back on your purchases.

Discover

Choose Discover credit cards if you know your credit score is not good enough. You can still get a credit card at a competitive rate of 27.74%.

Customer Reviews

American Express gains a reasonable 3.9 stars from 5 stars on the Consumer Affairs website after over 4 million verified reviews. Likewise, Better Business Bureau’s website records A positive rating for Amex after closing over 5000 complaints with the bureau in the last 4 years. However, things take a downturn as the bank grabs 1.06 stars from possible 5 stars in 303 reviews.

Methodology

We reviewed *this product* based on 20 data points in the categories of loan details, loan costs, eligibility and accessibility, customer experience and the application process. We rated *this

product* based on the weighting assigned to each category:

  • Loan cost: 35%
  • Loan details: 25%
  • Customer experience: 20%
  • Eligibility and accessibility: 10%
  • Application process: 10%

Within each major category, we also considered several characteristics, including available loan amounts, repayment terms and applicable fees. We also looked at minimum credit scores and time in business requirements and the geographic availability of the lender. Finally, we evaluated *this product* customer support tools, borrower perks and features that simplify the borrowing process—like online applications, prequalification options and mobile apps.

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