The Best American Express Business Cards for 2023

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American Express is known for offering some of the most rewarding cards, and their business card offerings are no exception. The best Amex business cards not only make it easy to earn bonus rewards on common business purchases, but some cards also come with bonus credits to help your business maximize its spending. Whether it’s plane tickets, advertising, office supplies, or something in between, there is likely an option for you.

Johnny and Natalie on a Serengeti Balloon Safari. Credit: Johnny Jet

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.

Quick List of the Best American Express Business Cards for 2023

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express – Travel rewards
American Express® Business Gold Card – Advertising and shipping purchases
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express – 2x Membership Rewards® points on the first $50,000 spent on everyday business purchases annually
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card – 2% cash back on up to $50,000 spent annually on eligible purchases
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card – Delta Airlines perks
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card – Hotel perks
The Plum Card® from American Express – Flexible repayment options

The Business Platinum Card from American Express

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express can be a business traveler’s best friend. This card is loaded with perks:

Complimentary airport lounge access (enrollment may be required)
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit
Transfer points to airline and hotel loyalty programs
Upgraded Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors loyalty status

Cardholders earn 5x Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com. Additionally, cardholders can get a 35% airline bonus when using their points to pay for all or part of a flight with a qualifying airline booked on amextravel.com, up to 500,000 bonus points annually.

Earn 1x points for each dollar spent on eligible purchases.

Cardholders earn 1.5x points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.

Other Perks

Additionally, unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.

Plus, get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Card.

Cardholders can get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when they use their Business Platinum Card®.

With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, with The American Express Global Lounge Collection®. You have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023. Enrollment is required for some lounges.

Also, cardholders can take advantage of the Pay Over Time Option, a flexible payment option to help manage cash for purchases of $100 or more (terms apply).

Should You Get This Card?

The Business Platinum Card from American Express is the best Amex business card for frequent flyers. You earn double the points on plane tickets compared to most rewards cards. Plus, free airport lounge access includes The Centurion, Priority Pass (enrollment required), Delta Sky Club, and Plaza Premium networks.

Your points are most valuable when redeemed for award flights. Each point is worth 1 cent each when redeeming award flights on AmexTravel.com. You get 35% of your points back on one airline of your choice plus business or first-class flights booked on any airline.

So if you redeem 40,000 points for a flight, you get 14,000 points back to redeem a second time.

The 1:1 Membership Rewards airline and hotel transfer partners are a potentially more valuable redemption option. Some of the airline partners include Delta, British Airways, Emirates, Qantas, and Singapore Airlines.

If you can use these benefits and take advantage of these perks, this is one of the best American Express business cards.

Welcome Offer

New The Business Platinum Card® from American Express cardholders have the opportunity to earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

The annual fee is $695 (See Rates & Fees).

American Express Business Gold Card

The American Express® Business Gold Card lets you earn Membership Rewards points. You earn 4x Membership Rewards® points on the 2 select categories where your business spent the most each month* (the 4x points apply to the first $150,000 in combined purchases annually, all other purchases earn 1x per $1 spent). Your bonus category options include:

Airfare purchased directly from the airlines
Advertising in select media (online, TV, and radio) – U.S. purchases only
U.S. purchases made directly from select technology providers of computer hardware, software, and cloud solutions
Gas stations – U.S. purchases
Restaurants – U.S. purchases
Shipping purchases – U.S. purchases

As Membership Rewards points are most valuable for booking award flights, one of your bonus categories might be airfare purchases. Besides airfare, only U.S.-based business purchases earn 4x points.

Although the American Express Business Gold card doesn’t come with lounge access or travel credits, you do get 25% of your points back* (up to 250,000 points back each calendar year). You also have access to the 1:1 Membership Rewards airline and hotel transfer partners. The Business Gold can be one of the best Amex business cards for those who travel several times a year but also want to earn rewards when sticking closer to home.

Welcome Offer

New American Express® Business Gold Card cardholders can earn 70,000 points after spending $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

American Express Business Gold cardholders also have access to a Pay Over Time Option that lets cardholders decide whether they want to pay for their eligible purchases in full each month or pay over time with interest (terms apply).

The Business Gold Card annual fee is $295 (See Rates & Fees).

The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express

If you’re on the hunt for one of the best Amex business cards without an annual fee, this next option is for you. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is the best flat-rate rewards card for earning Membership Rewards. You earn 2x Membership Rewards® points on the first $50,000 spent on everyday business purchases annually. All remaining purchases earn 1 point per $1.

Cardholders can also enjoy more flexibility to use their card for more purchases and rewards when buying above their credit limit. The amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to American Express, and other factors.

It doesn’t have an annual fee, which makes this a perfect primary or secondary card (See Rates & Fees).

The American Express Blue Business Cash Card

If you prefer cash rewards, get The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card.

Cardholders earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases of up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.

It also comes with Expanded Buying Power which gives cardholders the ability to spend beyond their credit limit. Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to American Express, and other factors.

It also doesn’t have an annual fee to worry about (See Rates & Fees). This is another best Amex business card that makes sense if you don’t want an annual fee.

However, if you would to compare cards, see our review of the Blue Business Cards from American Express. If you want another example of business cash rewards vs. travel rewards, the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business or Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business are two other options. They are also some of the best Capital One credit cards for travel.

Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card lets you earn SkyMiles on every purchase and enjoy other Delta perks.

Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases at U.S. shipping providers and eligible U.S. advertising purchases in select media. Effective 1/1/2024, this benefit will have a cap of $50,000 in eligible purchases per category per year.

Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants and earn 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.

Cardholders can also check or stow their bag with ease by getting their First Checked Bag Free on Delta Flights + Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding.

LTO! New Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card cardholders can earn 75,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on their new Card in their first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn an additional 5,000 Bonus Miles after making an eligible Delta purchase with their new card within their first 6 months. Offer Ends 10/25/23.

Card Members save 15% when booking Award Travel with miles on Delta flights when using delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.

Additionally, you can take $100 off your next Delta flight after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your card annually. You will earn a $100 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.

There is a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99 (See Rates & Fees).

However, if you’re interested in learning more about Delta cards, check out our guide to the best Delta credit cards. There are several best Amex business cards to choose from that are co-brand with Delta.

Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card

The best hotel card offers can pay for themselves with the annual free night certificate.

One of these is the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card.

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card cardholders can receive 1 Free Night Award annually after their Card renewal month. Plus, they can earn an additional Free Night Award after spending $60k in purchases on their Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.

By redeeming your first free night at any property that costs at least $125, you offset the annual $125 annual fee (See Rates & Fees).

Plus, this card also offers these Marriott Bonvoy benefits:

6x points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program
Earn 4x points at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and U.S. purchases for shipping
Get 2x points on all non-bonus purchases
Instant 15 Elite Night credits each year
Premium on-property internet access

Cardholders can also enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status making this our choice of the best Amex business cards for Marriott loyalists.

Plus, receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when booking directly. Terms and Conditions Apply.

Welcome Offer

Limited time offer! New Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card cardholders can earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after using their new Card to make $8,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. This offer ends on 11/01/2023.

Your points are most valuable when redeemed for hotel stays. Also, you have the option of transferring your points to airlines over 40 airlines on a 3:1 ratio. This isn’t the best transfer option, but transferring more than 60,000 points at once gives you 5,000 extra air miles, which helps equalize the ratio.

The Plum Card from American Express

The Plum Card® from American Express offers up to 60 days to pay with no interest‡ when you pay your minimum due by the Payment Due Date.

Plus, paying early pays off. Get an unlimited 1.5% Early Pay Discount on eligible charges within 10 days of your statement closing date and see the discount applied to your next statement when you pay at the least the Minimum Payment Due by the Please Pay By date.

Also, if you make large purchases or have variable business income, the extended grace period can save you a lot of money if you regularly carry a monthly balance.

This card also comes with premium roadside assistance. Both benefits can be valuable when traveling locally or abroad on a periodic business trip.

The annual fee is $250 and there are $0 foreign transaction fees‡ (See Rates & Fees).

Also, employee cards are free.

The Centurion Lounge. Credit: Johnny Jet

The Best American Express Business Cards

American Express business cards have helped pioneer the way small businesses pay for purchases. They offer some of the best business cards for travel rewards. And, American Express also has some exciting cash rewards options.

The Business Platinum Card from American Express

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is the most luxurious Amex business card. This is one of the best Amex business cards for frequent flyers. Some of the best travel benefits include:

Complimentary airport lounge access (Centurion, Priority Pass (enrollment required), Delta Sky Club, etc.)
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Earn 5x Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com; Earn 1x points for each dollar spent on eligible purchases.
Get 35% of redeemed points back on qualifying award flights booked on AmexTravel.com (up to 500,000 points annually)
1:1 airline and hotel point transfers

Your points are most valuable when redeemed for award flights. Each point is worth 1 cent each when booking award flights on AmexTravel.com. You get 35% of your points back (up to 500,000 per year) for all flights on one airline of choice. Plus, all business class and first-class flights booked on AmexTravel from any airline get 35% points back.

Benefits

Plus, get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Card.

Cardholders can get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when they use their Business Platinum Card®.

A better redemption option can be the Membership Rewards travel transfer partners. You can transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to airlines, including Delta, British Airways, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines.

Welcome Offer

The annual fee is $695 (See Rates & Fees).

Learn more about the benefits and ways to offset the annual fee in our in-depth Amex Business Platinum Card review.

American Express Business Gold Card

The American Express® Business Gold Card makes it easy to earn bonus Membership Rewards on your most frequent purchases.

You earn 4x Membership Rewards® points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from the two categories where your business spent the most each billing cycle from the categories listed below*:

Airfare purchased directly from the airlines
Advertising in select media (online, TV, radio) – must be a U.S. purchase
Select technology providers of computer hardware, software, and cloud solutions – must be made directly with the provider and must be a U.S. purchase
Gas stations (U.S. purchases)
Restaurants (U.S. purchases)
Shipping purchases (U.S. purchases)

Note that the $150,000 resets each calendar year. Should you go over the $150,000 limit in a calendar year, you’ll still earn 1x per $1 spent. All other purchases earn 1x point per $1 spent.

You can get 25% of your redeemed points back when booking award flights on AmexTravel (up to 250,000 points back per year)*. It’s also possible to transfer them to the Membership Rewards airline and hotel partners.

Welcome Offer

New American Express® Business Gold Card cardholders can earn 70,000 points after spending $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*

*Terms apply.

Unlike the Business Platinum Card, you won’t get annual travel credits or airport lounge access. However, your annual fee is only $295 (See Rates & Fees). If you’re undecided, check out this comparison post on the Amex Business Gold vs. Amex Business Platinum.

The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express earns 2x Membership Rewards® points on the first $50,000 in annual everyday business spending. All remaining spending earns 1x point per $1 spent.

This card doesn’t have an annual fee, so it’s an easy way to double your non-bonus spending for your current Amex Membership Rewards cards. It can also be an excellent first business card if you like redeeming your points for award travel.

If avoiding an annual fee is something you’d like to learn more about, visit our post of the best business cards with no annual fee. They can be a great way to build your business credit score.

The American Express Blue Business Cash Card

For 2% cash rewards and no annual fee (See Rates & Fees), check out The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card.

Cardholders earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.

Learn more and compare cards in this review of the Amex Blue Business Cards. As mentioned above, they can help you build up your business without having to worry about an annual fee.

The Plum Card from American Express

The Plum Card® from American Express offers up to 60 days to pay with no interest‡ when you pay your minimum due by the Payment Due Date.

The annual fee is $250, and there are $0 foreign transaction fees‡ (See Rates & Fees).

So, it’s worth considering when you can save at least $250 in interest charges.

Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card

There are very few business cards for hotel rewards. One of them is the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. The best reason to consider this card is for the free anniversary night award.

Perks

Other card benefits include:

Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
15 elite night credits each year
Premium on-property internet access
Earn 6x points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program
No foreign transaction fee (See Rates & Fees)

Plus, receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when booking directly. Terms and Conditions Apply.

Your points are most valuable when redeemed for hotel nights. Reward nights start at 5,000 points for off-peak nights. You can also transfer your points to over 40 airlines at a 3:1 ratio. While this isn’t the best transfer ratio, you do get 5,000 bonus airline miles when you transfer at least 60,000 Bonvoy points at once.

Additional Perks

This is also one of the best Marriott cards. Your U.S.-based purchases at gas stations, wireless telephone services, and shipping earn 4x points per $1 spent. Restaurant purchases worldwide also earn 4x points. All non-bonus spending earns 2x points per $1.

The annual fee is $125 (See Rates & Fees). Redeeming your annual free night award for a night that costs at least $125 easily lets this card pay for itself.

Summary

In summary, the best American Express business cards for most people will earn Membership Rewards you earn for travel. However, there are solid options if you desire cash rewards, Delta SkyMiles, or Marriott Bonvoy points as well. Which one do you prefer?

FAQs

What is the best American Express card for small businesses?

The best American Express business card for frequent flyers is The Business Platinum Card from American Express. It has many benefits, including a $200 airline free credit, complimentary airport lounge access, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit.

For no annual fee, consider one of the Amex Blue Business cards. The Amex Blue Business Plus earns 2x Membership Rewards per $1 on the first $50,000 in annual purchases, then 1x point per $1. For cash back, the Amex Blue Business Cash earns 2% back (in the form of statement credits) on up to $50,000 in annual purchases and then 1% back (also in the form of statement credits) for all remaining purchases.

What is the easiest American Express business card to get?

It’s not too hard to get a business card. These can be the easiest American Express business cards to qualify for:

Blue Business Plus from American Express
American Express Blue Business Cash Card
Marriott Bonvoy Business Card from American Express

You will need a personal credit score of at least 670 to have the best approval odds. However, you may still qualify if your score is in the mid-600s and you have sufficient business income.

How do I qualify for American Express business cards?

Here are several basic requirements to qualify for one of the best American Express business cards:

At least 18 years old
Have a Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number
Earn business income
Agree only to use the card for business or commercial purchases

Most Amex business cards only require you to have good credit. This means you should have a credit score above 670 to get an instant approval decision. But, premium cards like the Business Platinum or Business Gold will need a minimum of 740 personal credit scores to have the highest approval odds.

You do not need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to apply for a business card. If you are a sole proprietor, apply for a card using your Social Security Number. Make sure you include as much business income and personal income as possible to boost your approval chances too.

Related Articles:

And for rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, please click here.

And For rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, please click here.

For rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Plum Card® from American Express, please click here.

And For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, please click here.

The Best American Express Business Cards for 2023

Quick List of the Best American Express Business Cards for 2023