The best Amex overall
Welcome offer: 60,000 points (after spending $5,000 in the first three months)
At $550, the Platinum Card has one of the highest annual fees of any mainstream card. However, as long as you're willing to float it up front, you can get way more value back from the card — for instance, I got more than $2,000 in value from it during my first year.
The Platinum Card earns American Express Membership Rewards. These points can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, or more. However, the best option is to transfer them to a frequent flyer partner.
The card offers 5x points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline, as well as flights and pre-paid hotels booked through Amex Travel. It earns 1x point on everything else. It also offers up to $200 in Uber credits each cardmember year, as well as $200 in airline credits each calendar year — if you open the card mid-year, it's possible to earn that twice in your first cardmember year.
The card comes with a number of perks, including access to more than 1,200 airport lounges within the Priority Pass network, as well as Delta Sky Clubs and proprietary American Express Centurion Lounges. It also offers complimentary gold elite status with Marriott, Starwood, and Hilton hotels, as well as up to $100 per year in shopping credits at Saks Fifth Avenue.
The annual fee may turn a lot of people off from this card, but if you can get past that, the return it offers is tough to beat.
Pros: Valuable perks, useful benefits, possible to get outsized value
Cons: High annual fee — even though you can make it back, and more, you'll still have to float that at first
Click here to learn more about the Platinum Card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.The best AmEx for dining rewards
Welcome offer: 25,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $2,000 in the first three months. Until January 9: Get up 20% back at US restaurants within the first three months, up to $100 total.
This October, American Express launched a massive reboot of its Premier Rewards Gold card, or "PRG," rebranding it as the American Express Gold Card, releasing a new metal design and limited-edition rose gold version, and totally overhauling the rewards and benefits on the card. Because that wasn't quite enough, AmEx also launched a fairly unique new welcome bonus.
Right now, this is arguably the best card available for food, unless you're only interested in cash back, rather than potentially more valuable rewards points, and unless you find yourself abroad at restaurants often.
The new Gold Card earns 4x points at US restaurants and on up to $25,000 per year at US supermarkets (and 1x point after that), 3x points on flights booked directly with the airline, and 1x point on everything else. Based on the fact that you can easily redeem Membership Rewards points for more than 1¢ of value each, that makes this the highest-earning card for everything food-related.
Like the old PRG, the Gold Card offers a $100 airline fee credit each calendar year, and adds up to $120 of dining credits — split into $10 each month — at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Steak House, or participating Shake Shack locations.
New card members — those who haven't previously had the Premier Rewards Gold — can earn a welcome bonus of 25,000 points when they spend $2,000 in the first three months. Additionally, those who apply before January 9 can get 20% back on all US restaurant charges — up to $100 total — in the form of a statement credit.
While it's difficult to assign an exact value to Membership Rewards points, The Points Guy subjectively estimates each point as worth 1.9¢. That makes the welcome bonus worth $575 — $475 for the points, and up to $100 back from restaurants. Even without factoring in the annual credit benefits, that's more than enough to make up for the card's $250 annual fee.
Check out our full review for more details.
Keep in mind that it's possible to be targeted for a higher welcome bonus.
Pros: Stellar rewards on dining and groceries, useful benefits, lower annual fee than the Platinum Card.
Cons: Relatively high annual fee compared to some other cards.
Click here to learn more about the Amex Gold Card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.The best Amex for families
Welcome offer: 15,000 points (after spending $1,000 in the first three months)
The EveryDay Preferred is a strong option for anyone looking for a Membership Rewards card, but who's not interested in a premium card like the Platinum or PRG. It also has a strong points-earning scheme and a lower annual fee of $95.
The card earns 3x points per dollar spent at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 each year — 1x point per dollar after that), 2x points at US gas stations, and 1x point on everything else. You can also get 2x points on reservations made through Amex Travel.
Best of all, if you make 30 or more purchases in a billing period, you'll earn a 50% bonus. That means that those little $3 and $4 charges for things like coffee or a snack can help you get a ton of points quickly.
The card also offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months, before switching to a variable 14.74–24.74% APR. If you have a big purchase coming up and want some time to pay it off, but don't want to pay interest fees, this is a great option.
Pros: Low annual fee, strong rewards structure, earns valuable points, 50% bonus when you make at least 30 transactions in a billing period
Cons: Relatively low welcome offer
Click here to learn more about the Amex EveryDay Preferred.The best no-fee Amex
Welcome offer: 10,000 points (after spending $1,000 in the first three months)
The Amex EveryDay is a no-annual-fee version, which still offers solid rewards. It earns 2x points at US supermarkets (again up to $6,000 of purchases per year, then 1x after that) and at AmexTravel.com, and 1x on everything else. It also offers 20% more points when you make 20 or more purchases in a billing period.
It has the same introductory APR offer, and, like most Amex cards, features a few travel and purchase protections, as well as access to the Amex Offers program.
While most people will be better off with the Preferred, the regular EveryDay is still a strong option — especially since there's no annual fee.
Pros: No annual fee, bonus points available.
Cons: Earns points slower than most cards with annual fees.
Click here to learn more about the Amex EveryDay from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.The best cash-back Amex
Welcome offer: $200 statement credit (after spending $1,000 in the first three months)
If you're less excited about earning Membership Rewards points — which can be valuable, but also tricky to redeem — and want to stick with cash back, the Blue Cash Preferred is the best option, despite its $95 annual fee.
The card earns a huge 6% cash back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases per year (and 1% after that), 3% back at US gas stations and some US department stores, and 1% cash back on everything else.
Like the EveryDay cards, the Blue Cash Preferred offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months, before switching to a variable 14.74–25.74% APR.
The Blue Cash Preferred comes with a handful of travel and purchase protections as well. Cash back comes in the form of a statement credit, so effectively you can use it to "erase" purchases.
Pros: Bonus cash-back on useful categories, easy to earn enough cash back to offset the annual fee, introductory APR
Cons: High annual fee for a cash-back card
Click here to learn more about the Blue Cash Preferred from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.The best Amex with a 0% intro APR
Welcome offer: $150 statement credit (after spending $1,000 in the first three months)
The Blue Cash Everyday is similar to the Blue Cash Preferred, with a different earning structure and no annual fee.
The card earns a lower 3% cash back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 each year — and 1% after that — 2% back at US gas stations and select department stores, and 1% cash back on everything else. While many people spend enough in the bonus categories to make the Blue Cash Preferred the better option, this remains a decent card for anyone who's strictly opposed to paying an annual fee.
If you're looking to make a major purchase and pay it off over time, like an appliance or an engagement ring, you can take advantage of the 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months (after that, it reverts to a variable 14.74–25.74% APR). You'll earn cash back on the purchase, which you can put right towards paying it off.
Pros: No annual fee, introductory APR, solid cash-back earning rates
Cons: Lower cash-back earning rate than annual fee cards
Click here to learn more about the Blue Cash Everyday from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.Check out our guide to the best credit card rewards, bonuses, and perks
Credit cards with good rewards programs and great new member offers make it easier than ever to rack up a lot of points.
Since the 2016 launch of the Sapphire Reserve credit card by J.P. Morgan Chase, rewards credit cards have exploded into a mainstream obsession.
This was particularly evident among Millennials and Gen X-ers, as they jumped into the once-obscure world of credit card rewards and bonuses, drawn by the lure of high sign-up bonuses, special perks, and the opportunity to use points for free flights, hotel stays, and even first class tickets.
Now, more than two years after the debut of the Sapphire Reserve, what's the best move for someone seeking to boost their stock of credit card points and frequent flyer miles? Here are some of the top credit cards currently available, based on sign-up bonuses, rewards earned on everyday spending, benefits, and overall value.
Here are our top picks for the best credit card rewards and sign-up bonuses:
- Best credit card rewards overall: Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Best for rewards on dining and groceries: American Express Gold Card
- Best card with a low annual fee: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- Best cash or points card with no annual fee: Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Best for travel perks and benefits: Platinum Card® from American Express
- Best for simplicity: Capital One Venture Rewards card
- Best for frequent flyers: Airline rewards credit cards
