Which American Express Card is Right for You?

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. All information about the American Express® Green Card have been collected independently by Fancy Travel Pointers. American Express® Green Card is no longer available through Fancy Travel Pointers.

Choosing the Best American Express Card for You

The following cards are available to new applicants and earn American Express Membership Points:

Personal Card Options:
American Express® Green Card
American Express® Gold Card
American Express Platinum Card®

Business Card Options:
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Business Green Rewards Card from American Express
American Express® Business Gold Card
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

When Selecting a Card, Does the Order Matter?

It is important to carefully decide which American Express PERSONAL cards you would like to eventually hold.

Essentially, if you’d eventually like to be eligible for welcome offers on all 3 of these cards, this is the order you should open them:

💚 Once you get the welcome offer on the American Express® Green Card, you can still get the welcome offers on the American Express® Gold Card and Platinum Card® from American Express.

💛 Once you get the welcome offer on the American Express® Gold Card, you can NO LONGER get the welcome offer on the Green card. But you are eligible for the welcome offer on Platinum Card® from American Express.

🤍  Once you get the welcome offer on Platinum Card® from American Express, you are no longer eligible for welcome offers on the American Express® Green Card or the American Express® Gold Card.

When selecting an American Express business credit card, these rules do not apply.


Best Cards for High Spend Categories

I find the personal Gold AND business Gold cards to be the sweet spot for best points earning opportunities.

American Express® Gold Card

  • 4x restaurants worldwide (up to $50K annually, then 1x)
  • 4x grocery US supermarkets (up to $25K annually, then 1x)

American Express® Business Gold Card
4X Membership Rewards® points on the first $150k in combined purchases each calendar year from the 2 categories where your business spends the most in each billing cycle from these categories:
(1x thereafter)

  • Wireless telephone service charges from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
  • US media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
  • Electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
  • Restaurants, including takeout and delivery
  • Gas stations
  • Transit purchases (trains, taxis, ride share, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways)

Best Card for Luxury Travel & Lifestyle

Platinum Card® from American Express is jam packed with credits that can elevate your travel and lifestyle. See the full breakdown of credits & perks here.


My Take

American Express points are extremely valuable when using for travel and earning them should be a part of your overall traveling with points strategy.

Thank you for supporting my small business! When you use my affiliate links to apply for a credit card, I earn a commission from the bank. But you still get the same great offer! And this helps me keep my guides and personal help free.
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

Similar Posts