Best American Express Business Credit Cards Of May 2024

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) offers appealing reward rates on a couple of purchase categories and a decent range of Hilton benefits and status perks for those who prefer Hilton properties and charges an annual fee.

Rewards: Earn 12 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio and 5 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per dollar spent on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3 points thereafter.

Welcome offer: Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $8,000 in purchases on the card within the first six months of card membership, offer ends 6/5.

Annual fee: $195

Other benefits and drawbacks: The card provides 10 complimentary Priority Pass lounge visits per year after enrollment (must enroll by June 30, 2024). Cardholders also receive complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status and can earn Hilton Honors Diamond status after spending $40,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year.

In addition to charging no foreign transaction fees, the card offers car rental damage and loss insurance¹, baggage insurance², extended warranty² and purchase protection² on top of more standard convenience benefits.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (terms apply, see rates & fees) is packed with many of the same benefits as the personal card version, but it charges a high annual fee in exchange. If you’re able to take advantage of enough of these benefits, the card might be worth the cost, so make sure you can fully utilize all the card has to offer before applying.

Rewards: Earn 5 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels through American Express Travel, 1.5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software and 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 and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases with the card within the first 3 months of card membership.

Annual fee: $695

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express grants cardholders access to American Express Centurion Lounges and, when flying Delta, Delta Sky Clubs (effective 2/1/25, eligible card members will receive 10 visits per year). It also offers a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership with enrollment and over $1,000 worth of credits for various business services and subscriptions in the first year of membership. Up to $800 in cellphone protection is also available to cardholders who pay their monthly cellphone bill with their card. There’s a limit of two approved claims per 12 month period and a $50 deductible applies⁴.

The American Express® Business Gold Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) offers excellent, targeted rewards for a $375 annual fee. Users gain decent perks and a solid welcome bonus, but the card’s major benefit is its rewards potential. However, whether the entire package will be enough to make the annual fee worthwhile is up to the individual.

Rewards: Earn 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on the 2 select categories where a business spends the most each month (up to $150,000 combined purchases per calendar year), 3 points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on Amex Travel and 1 point per dollar is earned for other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of opening an account.

Annual fee: $375

Other benefits and drawbacks: The card also offers a number of convenience perks like QuickBooks integration and vendor pay through Bill.com. Plus, it doesn’t have a set spending limit—instead the limit shifts based on various factors like spending and purchase history.

The many travel perks and lack of foreign transaction fees help the Amex Gold glitter: An up to $100 experience credit for qualifying dining, spa and resort activities when you stay at least two consecutive nights at a Hotel Collection hotel, a baggage insurance plan for covered losses², car rental damage and loss insurance¹ and trip delay insurance³. Other perks include purchase protection² and extended warranty benefits².

A points card to mirror The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card reward-earning structure, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (terms apply, see rates & fees) offers the ability to earn Membership Rewards® while also receiving a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate of 18.49% - 26.49% applies.

Rewards: Earn 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners up to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, then 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.

Annual fee: No annual fee

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express offers car rental loss and damage insurance¹, purchase protection² and extended warranty benefits² in addition to the mostly standard Amex business convenience benefits like QuickBooks integration.

The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) offers a decent balance of rewards and benefits for businesses that often book stays at Marriott hotels. The card offers Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status for no extra charge, premium in-room internet access and has no foreign transaction fees. The rewards earned are also eligible to be redeemed for flights and rental cars, but the annual fee should be carefully weighed against these benefits.

Rewards: Earn 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program, 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping and 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn three Free Night Awards after spending $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of account opening.

Annual fee: $125

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card’s biggest benefits are related to Marriott Bonvoy programs and hotels: In addition to the welcome bonus offer for eligible new cardholders, all cardholders receive a free night each year after the card account anniversary. Another night is earned after reaching a $60,000 annual eligible spending threshold in a calendar year. These free nights are limited to hotels requiring 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points or fewer and do not cover resort fees required by some hotels in the program.

The card also offers Amex’s baggage insurance plan², car rental damage and loss insurance¹, extended warranty² and purchase protection² benefits as well as the standard array of Amex convenience benefits.

An intro APR offer and a flat cash-back earning rate with no annual fee make The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) a solid option for small businesses in need of inexpensive financing for large purchases and a simple rewards structure.

Rewards: Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%.

Welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.

Annual fee: No annual fee

Other benefits and drawbacks: In addition to a low introductory purchase APR of 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a 18.49% - 26.49% variable APR applies and capped flat-rate rewards earning, The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card offers car rental loss and damage insurance¹, purchase protection² and extended warranty² benefits. For a no annual fee card, these are solid extra benefits.

The Business Green Rewards Card from American Express* earns bonus rewards on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel. It also has no preset spending limit and offers a small collection of travel benefits and protections.

Rewards: Earn 2 points per dollar on eligible purchases at American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership.

Annual fee: $95

Other benefits and drawbacks: Although it does come with car rental loss and damage insurance and baggage insurance, plus extended warranty and purchase protections, the Business Green Rewards Card from American Express* doesn’t provide much in the way of benefits not already available with almost every other Amex card. And for its $95 annual fee, the rewards aren’t spectacular.

The Amazon Business Prime American Express Card* offers even better rewards than the Amazon Business card on the same purchase categories with near-identical benefits and no annual fee. The key difference between these cards will be your willingness to obtain a Prime membership and pay its associated fees.

Rewards: Earn 5% back in rewards or 90 day terms on eligible U.S. purchases at Amazon Business, AWS, Amazon.com and Whole Foods on the first $120,000 spent in a calendar year with an eligible Prime membership, 1% thereafter. Earn 2% at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and 1% on other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn a $125 Amazon.com gift card upon approval.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: The only major differences in perks between this card and the Amazon Business American Express Card* is that the Prime version offers a 90-day no-interest financing window or a 5% bonus earning rate versus the 60-day window offered with the Amazon Business card or a 3% earning rate.

For businesses with big spending at Amazon Business, on Amazon.com, Whole Foods or on AWS, the Amazon Business American Express Card* can bring big rewards. The Amazon Business American Express Card* also includes several heavy-hitting benefits you’d expect from Amex, such as purchase protection and car rental damage and loss insurance—all with no annual fee.

Rewards: Earn 3% back in rewards or 60 day terms on U.S. purchases at Amazon Business, AWS, Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market. The 3% rate applies to the first $120,000 in purchases each calendar year. Earn 2% back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and 1% on other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn a $100 Amazon.com gift card upon approval for the card.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Amazon Business American Express Card* advertises its expense management tools as a huge plus, like the ability to assign an account manager, connect to Quickbooks or receive year-end summaries, but the weight-bearing benefits are in its travel perks like baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, and the lack of foreign transaction fees. Other benefits include purchase protection and extended warranties.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) charges a $350 annual fee. That price tag puts it squarely between the higher annual fee of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card and the lower annual fee of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card. Some might say this card offers the best of both worlds: solid rewards and an array of decent travel benefits including a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, an annual companion certificate good for domestic, Caribbean or Central American Main Cabin round trip tickets (you pay taxes and fees) and first checked bag free.

Rewards: Earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and hotels, 1.5 miles per dollar on eligible transit, U.S. shipping & individual purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $100,000 per calendar year), and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.

Annual fee: $350

Other benefits and drawbacks: In addition to its airline-specific rewards, the card also offers a $120 rideshare credit for up to $10 back every month, trip delay insurance³, car rental loss and damage insurance¹, baggage insurance² and no foreign transaction fees. These benefits come on top of common Amex benefits like purchase protection² and an extended warranty².

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) has a lower annual fee than the other Delta SkyMiles business cards, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card. But the rewards it earns also aren’t nearly as generous as its sibling cards. The benefits are fewer too, but the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card does offer Main Cabin 1 Priority boarding, a $200 Delta flight credit each calendar year you spend $10,000 in purchases and a 20% discount on Delta in-flight purchases when you pay with your card (savings come in the form of statement credits).

Rewards: Earn 2 miles per dollar on eligible purchases with U.S. shipping providers and U.S. advertising in select media up to $50,000 per category per year, 2 miles per dollar on purchases directly with Delta and at restaurants and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 55,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150

Other benefits and drawbacks: In addition to the Delta-specific benefits the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card offers, the card also includes a baggage insurance plan² and car rental loss and damage insurance¹. Outside of travel benefits, the card offers Amex-standard convenience benefits and extended warranty² and purchase protections².

For its high annual fee, the rewards offered by the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) are a bit underwhelming—but the perks are solid. For business owners and operators who fly Delta often, the card may be worth the cost, but consider carefully.

Rewards: Earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible purchases made directly with Delta, 1.5 miles per dollar on eligible transit, U.S. shipping and U.S. office supply store purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases. After spending $150,000 in a calendar year, earn 1.5 miles per dollar on eligible purchases the rest of the year.

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months.

Annual fee: $650

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card offers complimentary access to the Centurion Lounge, Delta Sky Clubs and Escape Lounge when flying Delta same-day (effective 2/1/25, cardholders will receive 15 Delta Sky Club visits per year; unlimited visits can be earned when total purchases exceed $75,000 in 2024 and each calendar year thereafter).

Cardholders also receive four one-time guest passes for access to the Delta Sky Club, a Delta Companion certificate good for first class, Comfort+ or main cabin round trip domestic, Caribbean or Central America trip upon renewal each year (you must pay taxes and fees, terms apply), Main Cabin 1 priority boarding, first checked bag free, access to a concierge and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® statement reimbursement credit. Other more standard benefits include trip delay insurance³, trip cancellation and interruption insurance³, a baggage insurance plan², car rental loss and damage insurance¹, extended warranty protection², purchase protection² and cellphone protection³.

The Lowe’s Business Rewards Card from American Express* offers excellent rewards for the first six months, then okay rewards after that. Contractors are likely also to appreciate the purchase protection and extended warranty benefits which can provide extra peace of mind on eligible tool and appliance purchases.

Rewards: Earn 2% cash back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. office supply stores, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and at Lowe's. All other eligible purchases earn 1% cash back.

Welcome offer: Earn 5% cash back on all eligible purchases at Lowe’s in the first 6 months, 2% thereafter.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: In addition to the purchase protection and extended warranty benefits, the Lowe’s Business Rewards Card from American Express* includes car rental loss and damage insurance.