The 7 best American Express business credit cards for 2024
Business owners can maximize their rewards by choosing a card that aligns with their spending habits and taking advantage of bonus categories, statement credits, and other perks.
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Kevin Payne is a finance and family travel expert. He writes about credit cards, travel, student loans, saving money, homeownership, careers, and entrepreneurship. His work has appeared in Forbes Advisor, The Ascent, FinanceBuzz, Slickdeals, Student Loan Planner, and more. He is working toward accreditation as an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC).
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Hanna Horvath is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Bankrate's senior editor of content partnerships.
Updated July 8, 2024, 2:19 PM EDT
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A great business card can help you leverage business spending to earn valuable rewards and enjoy premium perks. American Express offers a stellar lineup of business credit cards that can help you do just that.
Whether you're a frequent traveler or business owner, there's an Amex card that can fit your needs. Here are the American Express business cards, comparing their rewards and benefits to help you find the perfect card for your company.
Best American Express business credit cards
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- American Express® Business Gold Card
- The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
- The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
- Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
Comparing the best American Express Business credit cards
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The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Rewards:
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com
- 1.5X points on eligible purchases in key business categories and purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million per year)
- 1X points on other purchases
Annual fee: $695. See rates and fees.
The Business Platinum Card is the ultimate choice for business travelers who appreciate luxury perks. The card offers extensive airport lounge access, including Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta). Cardholders also enjoy hotel elite status with Hilton and Marriott, plus a host of valuable annual credits for travel, technology, and more.
However, these premium benefits come at a steep cost. The card has a $695 annual fee, one of the highest among business credit cards. It also has a complex reward structure, with different earning rates for categories and purchase amounts. Some of the annual credits, like the CLEAR credit or the Adobe credit, may not be useful for everyone.
Who it’s best for: Frequent business travelers who value luxury perks and are willing to pay a high annual fee for premium benefits.
Pros
- Extensive luxury travel benefits, including airport lounge access and hotel elite status
- Extensive luxury travel benefits, including airport lounge access and hotel elite status
- Generous statement credits for travel, technology, and more
- Large welcome bonus
- Flexible spending limit
Cons
- High annual fee
- Complicated rewards structure
- Some credits are difficult to use
- High spending requirement to earn the bonus
American Express® Business Gold Card
Rewards:
- 4X points on the top two categories where your business spends the most each month (out of six eligible categories) (up to $150,000 in combined purchases per year, then 1X)
- 3X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on Amextravel.com
- 1X points on other purchases
Annual fee: $375. See rates and fees.
The American Express Business Gold Card is a great fit for businesses with varied spending patterns. The card adapts to your spending, offering 4X points on your top two monthly spending categories from a list of six options, including:
- U.S. purchases at electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
- Monthly wireless telephone service charges from a provider in the U.S.
- Transit purchases, including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses and subways
- Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media
- U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- U.S. purchases at gas stations
This flexibility ensures you're always earning bonus points where you spend the most.
The card also offers expense management tools, including spending limits on employee cards and QuickBooks integration. However, it comes with a substantial annual fee, and the 4X bonus categories are capped at $150,000 in combined yearly purchases.
It's also worth noting that while the card has some travel perks, it doesn't offer airport lounge access or other luxury travel benefits.
Who it’s best for: Businesses with high expenses in varying categories who want to maximize their rewards earning potential.
Pros
- High reward rate in your top two spending categories each month
- No foreign transaction fees. See rates and fees.
- Flexible payment terms and useful expense management tools
- Travel and consumer protections
Cons
- Relatively high annual fee
- Bonus categories are limited to $150,000 in combined purchases per year
- No standout luxury travel benefits
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Rewards:
- 2% cash back on all eligible purchases, up to $50,000 per calendar year (then 1%)
Annual fee: $0. See rates and fees.
The American Express Blue Business Cash Card is an excellent choice for businesses that value simplicity. The card offers a flat 2% cash back on all eligible purchases, with no categories to keep track of. You’ll miss out on potentially higher bonus rates in specific categories, but it's a great option for everyday expenses.
The card also has no annual fee, making it a cost-effective option. It even offers an introductory APR offer on purchases, which can be helpful for businesses looking to make a large purchase and pay it off over time.
However, there are some limitations to keep in mind. The 2% cash back rate is capped at $50,000 in yearly purchases; after that, you'll earn 1% cash back. There are also foreign transaction fees, so it's not the best choice for international business travel.
Who it’s best for: Small businesses and startups looking for a simple cash back card with no annual fee and a generous introductory APR offer.
Pros
- Simple, straightforward rewards with no categories to track
- No annual fee
- Introductory APR offer on purchases
Cons
- 2% cash back is capped at $50,000 in purchases per year
- No introductory APR on balance transfers
- Foreign transaction fees. See rates and fees.
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Rewards:
- 2X points on all eligible purchases, up to $50,000 per calendar year (then 1%)
- 2X points on prepaid rental cars booked through AmexTravel.com
- 1X points on all other purchases
Annual fee: $0. See rates and fees.
The Blue Business Plus Credit Card is similar to the Blue Business Cash Card but earns points instead of cash back. This card can be a better choice for businesses that want flexibility, as points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, statement credits, and more.
With no annual fee, this card is a solid choice for small businesses with annual expenses under $50,000.
The Blue Business Plus Credit Card does have some of the same limitations as the Cash Card. There are spending limits on certain bonus categories and foreign transaction fees. The card has no premium travel perks or benefits, so it's not the best choice for business travelers.
Who it's best for: Small businesses seeking straightforward rewards on all purchases, with the flexibility of points.
Pros
- Simple, straightforward rewards with no categories to track
- No annual fee
- Introductory APR offer on purchases
- Membership Rewards points offer flexible redemption options
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- No standout travel perks or premium benefits
- No introductory APR offer on balance transfers
- Foreign transaction fees. See rates and fees.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
Rewards:
- 2X miles on purchases made directly with Delta
- 2X miles on eligible U.S. purchases at shipping providers and advertising purchases in select media (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1X)
- 2X miles at restaurants
- 1X miles on all other eligible purchases
Annual fee: There is a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150. See rates and fees.
If you're looking for luxury airline perks, the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Card probably isn't for you. But it’s a great option if you're an occasional business traveler and want entry-level perks. The card offers a free checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights, saving time and money on every trip.
The card also offers an annual $200 Delta travel credit (after spending $10,000 annually), which can reduce the annual fee for those who fly Delta at least once a year. The card's ongoing bonus rewards also align with common business expenses like U.S. advertising and shipping purchases.
This card falls a bit short in terms of redemption flexibility. Miles are best used on Delta flight awards, and there are limited additional redemption options.
Who it's best for: Business travelers who frequently fly Delta and can take advantage of the card's airline-specific perks.
Pros
- Free checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights
- Annual Delta flight credit and a discount on Delta award redemptions
- No foreign transaction fees. See rates and fees.
- In-flight discounts
Cons
- Limited redemption options primarily focused on Delta flights
- $0 intro annual fee first year, then $150 after. See rates and fees.
- Minimum spend requirements to earn flight credit
- No airport lounge access
Rewards
- 6X points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program (up to 18.5X points through the Bonvoy loyalty program with Gold Elite status)
- 4X points on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and U.S. purchases for shipping
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
Annual fee: $125. See rates and fees.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card offers incredible value for business owners who frequently stay at Marriott properties.
The 6X points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels can help you rack up points, especially when combined with the complimentary Gold Elite status. Elite status comes with enhanced room upgrades, late checkout, and bonus points on Marriott stays.
The card's bonus categories align with business expenses, and the 2X points on everything else is a nice baseline for daily spending.
One downside to this card is that it only makes sense for those loyal to Marriott. The rewards and benefits are focused on Marriott stays, with less flexibility for other travel redemptions. But for a Marriott devotee, this can be a very lucrative card.
Who it's best for: Business owners loyal to Marriott often stay at Marriott properties for work travel.
Pros
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- High bonus rates in multiple spending categories
- Free Night Award each year after card renewal
- No foreign transaction fees. See rates and fees.
- Generous welcome bonus
Cons
- $125 annual fee. See rates and fees
- Rewards and benefits favor Marriott loyalists
- Less redemption flexibility compared to general travel rewards cards
- No intro APR offer
Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
Rewards
- 5% cash back or 90-day payment terms on U.S purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Business, AWS, and Whole Foods Market (up to $120,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1%)
- 2% back on U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers
- 1% back on other eligible purchases
Annual fee: $0. See rates and fees.
The Amazon Business Prime American Express Card is a niche card designed for small businesses that make frequent Amazon.com purchases.
With no annual fee (with an eligible Amazon Prime membership), you can choose to earn either 5% cash back or receive 90-day payment terms on U.S. purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Business, AWS, and Whole Foods Market.
The 5% cash back is especially lucrative, though it's capped at $120,000 in combined purchases per calendar year.
Upon approval, new cardholders are also eligible for an Amazon.com gift card, which is a nice little bonus. However, the card does have some limitations. Redemption options are restricted to cash back or Amazon.com purchases, so there's no ability to transfer points to travel partners. You also must have an eligible Amazon Prime membership to apply for the card, which adds to the overall cost.
Who it's best for: Businesses that heavily utilize Amazon for supplies and want the flexibility to choose between rewards and payment terms.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Choice of rewards or payment terms on Amazon purchases
- Amazon.com gift card upon account approval
- High bonus rate on Amazon-related purchases
Cons
- Limited redemption options (cash back or Amazon purchases)
- Requires an Amazon Prime membership
- No intro APR offer
- 5% cash back is capped at $120,000 per year
American Express rewards: How to earn and use them
American Express offers several types of rewards across its business credit cards. Here's a breakdown of each:
Membership Rewards Points
Many Amex business cards, like the Business Platinum and Business Gold Card, earn Membership Rewards points. These are very flexible points that can be redeemed in multiple ways:
- Transferred to Amex's airline and hotel partners, often at a 1:1 ratio. This can yield high value for luxury travel bookings. Notable partners include Delta, British Airways, Marriott, and Hilton.
- Used to book travel directly through Amex Travel. Here, points are worth 1 cent each toward flights, and slightly less for other bookings.
- Redeemed for gift cards, often at 1 cent per point.
- Used for statement credits against specific charges, usually at a rate of 0.6 cents per point.
- Shopping directly at Amazon or other partners, usually at 0.7 cents per point.
To maximize the value of your points, it's best to transfer them to airline and hotel partners for high-value redemptions.
Cash back
Some Amex business cards, like the Blue Business Cash Card, earn straightforward cash back. Cash back is automatically earned as Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits. This provides some flexibility, as statement credits can essentially offset any purchase.
Co-branded rewards
Amex's co-branded business cards, like the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card, earn rewards specific to that brand. Delta SkyMiles can be redeemed for Delta flights or other limited options like gift cards or experiences. Marriott Bonvoy points can be redeemed for free nights at Marriott properties or transferred to airline partners. These rewards are best for businesses that are loyal to the specific brand.
How to choose the right Amex card for your business
With so many American Express business credit cards available, how do you choose the right one for your business? Here are some factors to consider:
- Type of rewards: Do you want to earn cash back, flexible travel points, or co-branded hotel or airline rewards? Choose a card that earns the type of rewards you'll find most valuable.
- Bonus categories: Look for a card that offers bonus rewards in your business's top spending categories.
- Annual fee: Consider whether you're willing to pay an annual fee. If so, make sure the rewards and benefits you'll receive will outweigh that fee.
- Travel benefits: If you travel frequently for business, look for a card with useful perks like airport lounge access, hotel elite status, or travel insurance.
- Business-specific features: For example, the Amex Business Platinum Card offers statement credits for Dell purchases, while the Amazon Business Prime Card offers 90-day payment terms. Consider what features could be useful for your business.
How to make the most of your American Express business card
Beyond choosing a card and using it for all your business expenses, here are a few more tips to make the most of your card:
- Utilize employee cards: Many Amex business cards allow you to add employee cards for free. This can help you rack up rewards faster and make tracking employee spending easier.
- Take advantage of Amex Offers: American Express provides cardholders special offers, such as bonus points or statement credits for spending at certain merchants.
- Use the benefits: Many Amex business cards have valuable perks like travel insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranties.
- Consider the Amex trifecta: The "Amex trifecta" is a strategy that involves pairing the Amex Business Platinum Card (for travel perks and 5X points on flights), the Amex Business Gold Card (for 4X points in your top categories), and the Blue Business Plus Card (for 2X points on everyday spending). This can help you maximize your earnings across all your business expenses.
- Use Amex's business management tools: Many Amex business cards come with expense management tools, such as spending limits on employee cards and integration with QuickBooks. Using these tools can help you better manage your business finances.
Frequently asked questions about American Express business cards
What type of business credit cards does American Express offer?
What's the difference between business and personal credit cards?
What credit score do I need for an American Express business credit card?
The bottom line
American Express business credit cards offer a range of valuable rewards and benefits for businesses of all sizes. By choosing the right card for your business spending and using it strategically, you can earn rewards that can be reinvested into your business or used for other goals.
Always use your card responsibly, pay your balance in full each month, and take advantage of the benefits your card offers to get the most value.
Editorial disclosure: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.