Best Cards for Earning American Express Membership Rewards Points

American Express Membership Rewards points open the door to some of the best travel opportunities in the game, from booking flights and hotels to transferring to 20+ airline and hotel partners. Amex cards let you earn points quickly and redeem them for top-tier award bookings. Check out our top picks for earning Amex Membership Rewards below, and start maximizing spending for your travels.

Personal Cards

🏆 Best for Restaurants

American Express® Gold Card

Annual Fee: $325

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply

As high as 100kBonus Points

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

The American Express Gold Card is a premium card that offers lucrative rewards for dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, along with valuable travel benefits, making it an excellent choice for foodies and frequent travelers. While it does come with an annual fee, the card's combination of rewards and perks can provide substantial value to those who frequently dine out and travel.

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🏆 Best for Luxury Benefits

American Express Platinum Card®

Annual Fee: $895

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply

As high as 175kBonus Points

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

The Amex Platinum is a premium card offering a range of exclusive travel and lifestyle benefits, including access to luxury airport lounges, annual travel credits, and Membership Rewards points that can be redeemed for travel or other rewards. With a high annual fee, this card is designed for individuals who value premium perks and are frequent travelers looking to enjoy a heightened level of luxury and convenience.

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American Express® Green Card

Annual Fee: $150

40,000Bonus Points

Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.

If you're on the fence about joining the Amex family, getting the Amex Green card is a solid place to start. It offers a competitive earning rate of 3x points on spending categories that include travel, restaurants, and transit. So if you aren't a full-time or regular traveler who would benefit from the luxury perks of its bigger brother, the Platinum Card® from American Express, and a majority of your spending falls into those categories, this could be a great option.

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Business Cards

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Annual Fee: $0

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply

15,000Bonus Points

Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is a business credit card designed for those who want a straightforward way to earn rewards on their business expenses. It offers Membership Rewards points on all eligible purchases, making it a versatile and rewarding choice for business owners.

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🏆 Best for Flexible Bonus Earning

American Express® Business Gold Card

Annual Fee: $375

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply

As High As 200,000Bonus Points

Apply to find out your offer. You may be eligible for as high as 200,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $15,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

The Amex Business Gold Card is a flexible business credit card that lets you choose two categories in which to earn extra rewards, such as travel, advertising, or technology, making it a versatile choice for businesses with varying spending needs. With valuable benefits such as purchase protection and access to the American Express business ecosystem, this card is designed to help businesses maximize their rewards and manage expenses efficiently.

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🏆 Best Luxury Business Card

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Annual Fee: $895

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply

As High As 300,000Bonus Points

Apply to find out your offer. You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

The Business Platinum card is a premium business credit card offering a range of exclusive travel and business benefits, including airport lounge access, annual airline fee credits, and 5X Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels through American Express Travel®. With a higher annual fee, this card is designed for businesses looking to elevate their travel experience and enjoy a suite of luxury perks.

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Which Card is Right for You?

American Express Membership Rewards credit cards are built for those who love high-end perks and flexible rewards. Frequent travelers might gravitate towards the Amex Platinum, with its luxury travel benefits like lounge access and hotel credits. If you prefer rewards on everyday spending, the Amex Gold (great for foodies) or the no-annual-fee Amex Everyday card could be your go-to. Business owners can rack up some serious points with the Amex Business Platinum or Business Gold, designed to reward frequent purchases in business-related categories. With multiple options, there’s an Amex Membership Rewards that'll fit beautifully into your wallet.

Other Ways to Earn

Amex Membership Rewards cards let you earn points across a wide range of spending categories, like dining, groceries, and travel. You can earn even more points by shopping through the Amex Offers portal, which regularly features deals and discounts at popular stores and services. Some cards even offer bonus points when you book flights or hotels directly with American Express Travel®. Don’t forget, the more cards you hold within the Membership Rewards family, the faster your points can add up!

Pros and Cons

Pros

Points can be transferred to over 20 airline and hotel partners, including Delta, British Airways, and Marriott

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You can earn pretty sweet rewards on travel, dining, and grocery purchases
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Amex Offers provide ongoing savings and bonus points with select retailers
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No foreign transaction fees on many Membership Rewards cards, making them great for international trips

Cons

Some cards, like the Platinum Card, come with hefty annual fees

American Express isn’t as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard, especially abroad

Some travel perks, like lounge access, only apply to the Platinum card, limiting them to higher fee cards

FAQs

What’s the best way to use American Express Membership Rewards points?

The best way to get the most value from your points is by transferring them to Amex’s airline and hotel partners. Frequent flyer programs like Delta SkyMiles or British Airways Executive Club tend to offer great value for your points, especially for international flights in business or first class.

Do Amex Membership Rewards points expire?

As long as your account remains open and in good standing, your points don’t expire. However, closing an account could result in the loss of any points you haven’t redeemed or transferred.

Can I pool points across different American Express cards?

Yes! You can combine your points from multiple American Express cards that earn Membership Rewards, which is great if you’re looking to boost your balance for a big redemption. Just make sure each card is linked to the same Membership Rewards account.

How do I earn bonus points with American Express?

Amex cards offer plenty of ways to earn bonus points, including through specific spending categories like restaurants, groceries, and travel. You can also earn extra points by using Amex Offers and by booking through the Amex Travel portal.

Why Trust Daily Drop?

At Daily Drop, our editorial team is made up of seasoned travel and credit card experts who have spent years mastering travel rewards and testing the best strategies firsthand. Founder Nate Buchanan, of Kara and Nate, has personally earned and redeemed millions of points and miles over the past 10+ years, saving tens of thousands of dollars on travel. Our team shares similar hands-on experience, ensuring our recommendations are practical, tested, and built on real-world knowledge. After all, we wouldn’t be Daily Drop if we weren’t practicing what we preach.

Our independent reviews break down rewards, perks, fees, and overall value to help you make informed decisions. We also analyze audience data, considering reader engagement and trends, so our recommendations reflect what actually matters to you.

While we may earn a commission if you apply for a card through our site, our opinions are our own — based solely on expert analysis and firsthand experience, not influenced by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Our goal is simple: helping you maximize your rewards and travel smarter.

Read our full methodology for more information.

Authors

Written by: McKay Moffitt

Writer

Edited by: Tiffany Eastham

Writer & Editor

Updated:Oct 9, 2025