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With American Express, there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” business card. The best American Express business card for you depends on your businesses spending, whether you prioritize travel perks or the flexibility of cash flow management.
American Express offers a range of options tailored to carious business needs, from premium travel benefits to unique cash-back features and flexible payment options.
Today we’ll look at the top three American Express business cards and find out which one suits your business best:
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is best for travel benefits and high spenders
The American Express® Business Gold Card is best for those who have high spending in certain categories
The Plum Card® from American Express is for cash-back and extended payment flexibility
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for Travel Perks and Premium Rewards
The American Express Business Platinum Card® is a top-tier choice for business owners who frequently travel and want access to premium travel perks along with high rewards on big purchases.
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Travel Benefits: This card offers access to Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and other luxury airport amenities, ensuring a comfortable travel experience. Additionally, it includes a 35% points rebate when booking first or business class flights through Amex’s travel portal, making it a powerful card for those aiming to maximize their points on premium airfare.
Flexible Spending with 1.5x Points: This card earns 1.5X Membership Rewards points in several key business categories: U.S. purchases for construction materials, hardware supplies, electronics, software, and cloud systems, as well as U.S. shipping providers. Plus, you’ll earn 1.5X points on any single purchase of $5,000 or more, capped at $2 million in purchases per yer.
Point Transfers to Travel Partners: Like other American Express Membership Rewards cards, the Business Platinum allows you to transfer points to over 20 airline and hotel loyalty programs, making it an excellent option for businesses that want high flexibility in redeeming points for travel.
Annual Fee: At $695, the Business Platinum carries a premium fee, but for frequent travelers, the perks and flexibility in earnings and redemption award often justify the cost.
Ideal For: Businesses with people who travel or frequent large purchases that want to maximize rewards on premium flights and enjoy exclusive travel benefits.
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The American Express® Business Gold Card: Customizable Points in Top Spending Categories
The American Express® Business Gold Card is designed for businesses that value earning a lot of points in their primary spending categories, along with the flexibility to transfer points to travel partners.
4x Points in Top Spending Categories: The Business Gold Card earned 4x points on the top two categories in which you spend the most each month. Eligible categories include U.S. purchases for advertising (online, TV, radio), gas stations, shipping, restaurants, and airfare purchased directly from airlines. There’s a cap of $150,000 per calendar year on 4x earnings across these categories, and after that, you’ll earn 1x points.
Flexible Redemption Options: Points earned with the Business Gold card can be transferred to Amex’s travel partners, making it a versatile card for both everyday spending and travel rewards.
Annual Fee: The Business Gold Card has a $375 annual fee, which is not as high compared to the Business Platinum card but still provides valuable travel flexibility and high rewards.
Ideal For: Businesses with consistent spending in key categories like businesses who run ads who want to maximize points on these purchases and have the flexibility to redeem points through travel partners.
The Plum Card® from American Express: Best for Cash Flow Flexibility and Simple Cash Back
The Plum Card® from American Express offers unique benefits for businesses that need extended payment options or simple cash back rewards. Here’s how this card stands out:
1.5% Cash Back for Early Payments: This card provides unlimited 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases if you pay the statement balance within 10 days of the statement closing date. This is an appealing option for businesses with the cash flow to pay off balances early and earn back a portion of their expenses.
Extended Payment Terms: The Plum Card® offers up to 60 days to pay your balance without interest if you pay the minimum due by the statement due date. This flexibility is valuable for businesses working with net 30 or net 45 terms, as it provides additional time to cover expenses without accruing interest.
Annual Fee: The Plum Card® comes with a $250 annual fee, lower than the Business Platinum and Business Gold, making it a cost effective choice for businesses that value extended payment terms and cash flow flexibility.
Ideal For: Businesses looking for flexible payment terms, or those who want cash back rewards for paying early and may not prioritize travel rewards.
How to choose the Best American Express Business Card: Travel Rewards, Category Points, or Cash Flow Flexibility?
The best American Express business card for you depends on how your business operates and what kind of rewards matter most. Here’s a quick guide:
If Travel Rewards and Premium Perks are a Priority: The Business Platinum Card® is the ideal choice, offering extensive travel benefits, high point earnings on large purchases, and transferability to travel partners. This card provides excellent value for businesses that often travel.
If You Want High Points in Specific Categories: Choose the Business Gold Card for customizable rewards. With 4x points in the top two spending categories each month, this card is valuable for businesses with significant expenses in advertising, shipping, restaurants and other eligible categories.
If Cash Flow Flexibility or Simple Cash Back is Key: The Plum Card® offers unique benefits with extended payment terms and early payment cash back rewards. It’s a strong choice if you prefer flexibility over rewards.
Maximize Rewards with a Combines Strategy
One advantage of the American Express business card lineup is the ability to combine cards to maximize benefits.
For instance, pairing the Business Gold Card with the Business Platinum Card® can allow you to earn 4x points on top spending categories while also enjoying lounge access when redeeming those points for flights.
Considering Personal Cards? The American Express Gold and Platinum Cards
In addition to its powerful business lineup, American Express also offers personal cards, like the American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express, which can complement your business rewards strategy.
The Amex Gold Card offers 4x points on dining and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year, then 1x), making it ideal for earning points on personal dining and grocery purchases.
Its $325 annual fee is often offset by monthly dining and Uber credits, plus it provides access to the same valuable Membership Rewards program as Amex’s business cards.
The Amex Platinum Card® is another excellent choice for personal travel perks, with benefits like 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year), extensive lounge access, and travel credits.
It’s perfect for business owners who frequently travel personally, with premium benefits and access to a broad range of travel partners.
Combining a personal Amex card with a business card allows business owners to maximize points both professionally and personally while taking advantage of transfer partners and premium benefits across both cards.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right American Express business card comes down to your business’s unique spending needs and reward preferences.
For travel-focused rewards, the Business Platinum Card® provides extensive value with its lounge access, 1.5 point bonus on large purchases, and premium travel perks.
For customizable rewards, the Business Gold Card is unbeatable in key categories, while the Plum Card® is an excellent choice for businesses seeking cash flow flexibility and simple cash-back rewards.
Whether you’re aiming to enhance travel experiences, maximize points in specific spending areas, or simplify your payment terms, American Express has a card that can meet your business needs.
† Better Than Points may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on BetterThanPoints.com are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. BetterThanPoints.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers.
