Best American Express credit cards of December 2024

You'll need good to excellent credit to qualify for the best American Express cards. Having a credit score greater than 700 can improve your chances of approval.

It is unlikely that someone with a poor credit score would be approved for an American Express card. The company does not currently offer any cards designed for those who need to establish or rebuild their credit.

Applying for an Amex card is simple. Select from the list of best American Express credit cards above and click on the "Apply Now" button. It will take you to a new page with the secure application.

The application can be completed in minutes and requests only basic personal and financial details, such as your name, contact information and annual income. In many cases, once you submit an application, you will receive immediate approval if eligible.

There is no one best American Express credit card for everyone. The best card for you depends on factors such as your personal preferences and spending habits.

For instance, the CardName is a top choice for those who want to earn cash back on everyday spending. Meanwhile, those who travel frequently may prefer the CardName as it awards Membership Rewards points and comes with perks valuable to frequent travelers.

To determine the best American Express card for your situation, consider what you normally purchase, whether you'd like travel rewards or cash back and if you plan to carry a balance. In that case, you'll want to look for a card with a low interest rate or with flexible finance options.

While American Express does not explicitly state a limit, online reviewers say the company typically restricts people to a total of five cards.

American Express Membership Rewards is the company's travel rewards program. Account holders with participating cards earn points for every purchase they make, and many cards offer bonus points in certain categories of spending.

Once accumulated, points can be used to book travel through the Amex travel portal, transferred to partnering loyalty programs, redeemed for statement credits or used for shopping or gift cards. There is also an option to donate points to charity.

For more information, see our guide to the American Express Membership Rewards program.

On its website, American Express suggests three ways to increase a credit limit:

• Wait: After you have established a record of consistent on-time payments, your account may be automatically considered for a credit limit increase.
• Ask: Within your online account, there is typically an option to request a credit limit increase. You can also call your card's customer service line to make a request.
• Apply: Applying for a new card is another way to increase your amount of available credit. This can be a good option if you'd like to diversify the type of rewards you receive. For instance, maybe you have a cash back card but would like one that offers Membership Rewards as well.

Regardless of which method you choose, you are most likely to receive a positive response if you have made on-time payments on your current card and maintain a good credit score.

If you are a current cardholder, you may receive a pop-up message when you login to your online account alerting you to an upgrade offer. You can also check the Amex Offers section of your account for possible upgrades. If you don't see one, call the customer service line to see if one is available to you.

No, American Express offers several cards that do not charge an annual fee.

See our full list of American Express credit cards to explore no-annual-fee options. 

Merchants must pay interchange fees to process credit card payments. American Express has traditionally had fees that are slightly higher than Visa and Mastercard, leading some merchants to choose not to accept Amex cards for payment.