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The best American Express card depends on what you spend on and which benefits you will actually use. For October 2026, these nine picks cover no-annual-fee cash back, groceries, travel, Hilton and Delta loyalty, and small-business spending. Compare them by annual fee, eligible rewards categories and caps, practical benefits, and whether you need a personal or business account; confirm current terms and the offer shown to you before applying.
How to choose among American Express cards
There is no single best Amex card for every U.S. cardholder. The lineup includes cash-back and Membership Rewards cards, premium travel cards, airline and hotel cards, and small-business options. The selections below are an editorial shortlist, not a universal ranking: choose based on your spending, your appetite for an annual fee, and the rewards or benefits you can use.
- Start with your spending: Check whether a card’s eligible categories match where you actually spend. Category definitions and caps matter; a headline rate may not apply to every purchase at a merchant.
- Account for the annual fee: Consider the fee against rewards and benefits you expect to use, not just the card’s advertised credits or welcome offer.
- Choose rewards you can redeem: Cash back is straightforward; points can be useful when they fit your redemption preferences.
- Separate personal from business use: Business cards are intended for business spending and have account terms that should be reviewed separately.
Fees and rewards below reflect NerdWallet’s October 2026 comparison. They can change, so check the issuer’s current terms before applying.
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1. Blue Cash Everyday: best for no-annual-fee cash back
Blue Cash Everyday has no annual fee and advertises 3% cash back on eligible U.S. supermarket, gas-station, and online-retail purchases. Each category has a separate $6,000 annual purchase cap; purchases above a category’s cap earn 1%. It is a fit if those categories reflect your routine and you prefer cash back without an annual fee. Check the issuer’s current category definitions and APR.
#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.
See American Express no-annual-fee cards.
2. Blue Cash Preferred: best for higher cash back on groceries and streaming
Blue Cash Preferred offers 6% cash back at eligible U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1% on additional eligible supermarket purchases. NerdWallet lists a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, followed by a $95 annual fee. It also highlights streaming, gas, and transit rewards categories; check the live terms for rates, eligibility, and any caps. Compare the fee with the cash back you expect to earn from eligible spending rather than assuming the higher rate makes the card worthwhile.
3. American Express Gold Card: best for dining and everyday points
The Gold Card is oriented toward everyday rewards and travel, with dining and supermarket rewards among its highlighted categories. NerdWallet lists a $325 annual fee. Before choosing it, check the current reward rates and caps, and assess whether any credits are usable for you under their merchant, enrollment, or other conditions. Points are valuable only if the redemption options suit your plans.
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.
4. The Platinum Card: best for premium travel benefits
The Platinum Card is aimed at travelers who can make practical use of premium benefits. NerdWallet lists an $895 annual fee, and American Express’s surfaced card listing describes access to 1,550+ lounges. Lounge access is subject to eligibility and location rules; review the issuer’s current benefit terms. Also check credits for enrollment, booking, and merchant restrictions, and compare them with benefits you would otherwise pay for. Do not count a nominal credit as savings if you would not use it.
Its premium benefits do not make it the default choice for everyday spending: compare its current reward categories with your own purchases as well as its travel features.
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.
5. Hilton Honors American Express Card: best for occasional Hilton loyalty without an annual fee
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a co-branded option for people who stay with Hilton and want hotel-program rewards. Check current annual fees, earning terms, and any included status or stay benefits against how often you expect to use them. The issuer’s hotel-card listings are the place to verify current product terms: American Express hotel cards.
6. Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card: best for frequent Hilton stays
Surpass is another Hilton co-branded option to compare if you stay with the chain often enough to use its program-specific rewards and benefits. Its current fee, rewards, and status terms should be checked directly with American Express; do not infer value from a welcome offer alone. The right choice depends on your Hilton stays and the live card terms, not simply the hotel brand.
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.
7. Delta SkyMiles Gold: best for Delta flyers seeking airline-specific rewards
Delta SkyMiles Gold may suit travelers who regularly fly Delta and can use the card’s current airline-specific benefits. Compare its annual fee and benefits with the flights you expect to take, and review current terms for eligibility and restrictions. The available comparison evidence does not establish a current fee or benefit package for this card, so verify those details with American Express before applying.
8. Delta SkyMiles Platinum: best for frequent Delta travelers comparing richer airline benefits
Delta SkyMiles Platinum is a co-branded alternative for readers who are more committed to Delta. Whether it is preferable to Delta SkyMiles Gold depends on current fees, benefits, and how you travel and redeem miles. Those terms are volatile and should be confirmed with the issuer; choose it only if the benefits you can use justify its cost.
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.
9. Blue Business Plus: best for small-business points
Blue Business Plus is a small-business rewards card to consider if you want points for business spending rather than a personal cash-back card. Review its current earning terms, caps, fees, and account conditions with the issuer, and keep the business purpose and spending separate from your personal-card comparison. NerdWallet includes it among its small-business comparison picks.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to compare cards before applying
- Estimate eligible spending: Use your actual annual spending in the card’s eligible categories, and account for separate caps and purchases that may not qualify.
- Subtract only benefits you will use: For credits or travel perks, check enrollment, merchant, booking, and eligibility requirements. Do not treat a benefit’s face value as money saved unless it replaces spending you would otherwise make.
- Check the full current terms: Confirm the annual fee, APR, reward categories, caps, and benefit rules on the issuer’s page. NerdWallet’s October 2026 comparison also advises confirming card details with the issuer.
- Review your actual welcome offer: American Express says, “Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.” Offers can vary by applicant, so rely on the offer presented to you rather than a maximum advertised elsewhere. See the American Express U.S. cards listing.
- Apply for the right account type: Compare personal cards with personal needs and business cards with business spending, after reviewing the applicable account terms.
For additional October 2026 comparisons, see NerdWallet’s American Express card guide and Bankrate’s American Express card guide. Comparison lists can differ in the cards they include, and issuer terms remain the authority for current fees, offers, and benefits.
Quick Recap
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.
