‘Level Up’ Your Understanding of Amex Card Levels (2024)

Fast forward to today: That simplecredit cardidea has evolved into a plethora of possibilities ready to suit the incredibly diverse lifestyles, tastes, and spending habits of a 21st Century generation. Today, American Express offers several categories of credit cards, each with unique card variations to suit any Card Member from the everyday shopper to the luxury traveler. While some people think of these card variations as “levels,” it’s more accurate to think of each as its own, special category with its own benefits and rewards so you can choose the card that matches your purchasing preferences:

• Entertainment andtravel credit cardsare still at the core, offering different benefits and rewards-earning opportunities for Card Members whose business or personal preferences have them spending on the go.
• Rewards points cards, for Card Members with more general spending habits.
• Cash back cards, for those who prefer to earn money by spending money, in the form of a statement credit.

Understanding the value and nuances of each American Express Card’s benefits can help you choose the right Card for you and your lifestyle. Terms apply to all benefits for the Credit Cards listed below and all offers listed are subject to change.

If you’re an avid traveler and restaurant-goer, these three “classic” American Express Cards were designed to meet your needs. The Membership Rewards® points you earn with these credit cards – and other eligible American Express Cards – won’t expire as long as you have at least one active, enrolled Card, and there’s no cap to how many you can earn, so they’ll be waiting for whenever you’re ready to redeem them.

American Express^® Green Card. Travel-oriented extras include no foreign transaction fees³and up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year when using your Card to pay for a CLEAR^® Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal). CLEAR uses unique attributes, such as eyes or fingerprints, to digitally verify identity to help its members move faster through security at select airports nationwide.

Consider the Green Card if: you’re a more casual traveler and diner, can pay an annual fee of $150,3 and you desire a fairly flexible repayment scheme.

American Express^® Gold Card. Similar to Green, but with 4X points at restaurants and 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel. Gold also adds 4X points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 a year in purchases, and 1X points on other eligible purchases. Gold’s annual fee is $250,4 and you typically have to pay your balance in full each month unless you opt into Pay Over Time – with interest, of course. Despite the supermarket spending perk, Gold still emphasizes travel and dining, but also adds:

• An automatic $10 a month in Uber Cash after adding your Gold Card to your Uber account, for up to $120 per year that can be spent on Uber rides and Uber Eats in the U.S.
• A $100 experience credit, which varies by property, that can be spent on any qualifying dining, spa, or resort activities when you book at participating The Hotel Collection properties through American Express Travel and stay for two consecutive nights.

Interested in earning Membership Rewards points for the purchases you make every day? These two American Express Cards – Amex EveryDay and Amex EveryDay Preferred – reward you for regular spending, from restocking the fridge to filling the gas tank and more. Your spending earns Membership Rewards points that can be redeemed in a variety of ways, such as travel, gift Cards, and statement credits.

Amex EveryDay Credit Card.This no annual fee Card will get you 2X points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, 2X points for purchases made through Amex Travel, and 1X points on other eligible purchases. Plus, use your Card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 20% extra points on those purchases less returns and credits. Terms apply.⁷

Consider the Amex EveryDay Cardif:you’re interested in a Card that allows you to earn rewards for everyday purchases like groceries and don’t want to pay an annual fee.⁷

Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card.With a $95 annual fee, this Card offers 3X points at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 in per year in purchases, 2X points at U.S. gas stations and Amex Travel, and 1X points on other eligible purchases. Plus, use your Card 30 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 50% extra points on those purchases less returns and credits. Terms apply.⁸

Consider Amex EveryDay Preferredif:you’re interested in a Credit Card that offers more rewards for spending at supermarkets and gas stations.⁸

If earning points isn’t for you – or you want to expand the ways you can earn Credit Card benefits – American Express offers three Cards that earn you cash back on all eligible purchases. Instead of earning points that you can then redeem for a number of options, cash back can be redeemed for statement credits – effectively earning you a discount on every purchase. Each Card has different potential bonus categories, outlined below, so you can find the right cash back Card to match your spending habits.

What’s more, all three Cards – Cash Magnet, Blue Cash Everyday, and Blue Cash Preferred – allow new Card Members to enjoy $0 introductory Plan It^®fees^9,10,12for plans set up during the first 12–15 months of Card Membership, depending on the Card. Plan It by American Express lets you make purchases of $100 or more on the Card and split them into fixed monthly installments. For each plan created after the introductory period ends, you’ll pay a fixed monthly Plan It fee, disclosed up front. Your plan fee will be up to 1.33% of each purchase moved into a plan, with the exact percentage determined by the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors. In other words, you’ll pay a fixed monthly Plan It fee for each new plan you create – instead of the annual percentage rate (APR) you’d typically pay when carrying a balance on your Card. Any purchases not included in a Plan will be subject to interest charges if the remaining monthly statement balance is not paid off on or before the payment due date.

Cash Magnet Card.Perhaps the most straightforward of American Express’ cash back Cards is the Cash Magnet, with unlimited 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases. There’s no annual fee.⁹

Consider the Cash Magnet Cardif:you want to earn rewards in the form of cash back instead of points, you like simplicity, and don’t want to pay an annual fee.⁹

Blue Cash Everyday Card.This is a no annual fee¹⁰cash back Card that aims to help you earn rewards for everyday essentials. For example, the Card offers:

• $84 Disney Bundle Credit, which allows you to get a $7 monthly statement credit (up to $84 back annually) after using your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday Card to spend $9.99 or more each month on a subscription (subject to auto-renewal) to the Disney Bundle. Valid only at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.¹¹
• $180 Home Chef Credit, which allows you to get up to $15 in statement credits monthly for online purchases made with meal kit delivery service, Home Chef, on your Blue Cash Everyday Card (up to $180 in statement credits annually). Enrollment required. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Subscription subject to auto-renewal.¹¹
  
• 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 in yearly purchases.
• 3% cash back at U.S. online retailers, on up to $6,000 in yearly purchases.
• 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 in yearly purchases.
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
  

Consider the Blue Cash Everyday Cardif:you want a no-annual-fee grocery, gas, and online retail rewards Card that earns you cash back instead of points, in addition to select streaming and meal-kit credits.

Blue Cash Preferred Card.Blue Cash Preferred offers cash back opportunities on additional spending categories like streaming subscriptions and transit. With the Card’s $95 annual fee¹²come a variety of reward opportunities that can be especially valuable for families and those who use a lot of streaming services, tend to cook at home, or even commute to work. For example, with this Card you can get:

• 6%cash back at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 in purchases per year.
• 6%cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
• 3%cash back at U.S. gas stations.
• 3%cash back on transit, including tolls, parking, trains, buses, and more.
• 1%cash back on all other eligible purchases.
  

Consider the Blue Cash Preferred Cardif:you tend to spend a lot at grocery stores and gas stations and love using your streaming services.