Guide to American Express Membership Rewards program

The American Express Membership Rewards program offers a multitude of strong transfer options for your points. Its combination of flexibility and value makes it one of the more coveted credit card rewards programs out there.

Why should you sign up for the American Express Membership Rewards program?

One of the main draws of the American Express Membership Rewards program is the sheer number of transfer partners available. While not all partners accept point transfers at a 1:1 ratio, Amex has a whopping 21 partners. Chase Ultimate Rewards has just 12 transfer partners in comparison.

If you value flexibility and spending your points on travel, the Amex Membership Rewards program should be high on your list of reward programs.

How much are American Express Membership Rewards points worth?

On average, American Express Membership Rewards points are worth about 2 cents per point according to our calculations based on the Amex site at the time of writing. Unlike some other point programs, Amex points are not worth 1 cent when redeemed for cash back or statement credits.

American Express cards that earn Membership Rewards points

Of American Express’s 30 plus cards, about a third of those can help you earn Membership Rewards points – six personal cards and four business cards.

These cards offer varied earning categories, with many offering just one or two. Some of these cards also offer additional point bonuses when you make a certain number of purchases in a given month.

• Amex Membership Rewards cards
• American Express credit cards

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Name	Product	Welcome offer	Rewards	Annual fee	Filter values
The Platinum Card® from American Express		60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.	5x points on directly-booked flights or on flights and hotels on Amex Travel. 1x points on all other purchases	$550		Get 5x Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel and 5x points on eligible hotels booked on amextravel.com. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express® Gold Card		35,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months	3x points on directly-booked flights; 4x at restaurants; 4x at US supermarkets on up to $25,000 annually (then 1x points)	$250		35,000 bonus Membership Rewards® Points when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The Business Platinum® Card from American Express		50,000 points after spending $10,000 and 50,000 points after spending an additional $15,000 in the first 3 months	5x points on flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel, 1.5x points if you spend $5,000 on a single eligible purchase on up to 1 million additional points per year and 1x points on all other purchases	$595		Earn 50,000 points after spending $10,000 and an extra 50,000 points after spending an additional $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express® Business Gold Card		Up to $500 back on FedEx shipments within the first 3 months, offer ends November 6, 2019	4x points on two categories on up to $150,000 combined annually, then 1x points after that and on all other purchases	$295		Up to $500 back in the form of statement credits by purchasing qualifying services with FedEx using your American Express® Business Gold Card within the first 3 months, offer ends November 6, 2019. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express		N/A	2x points on everyday business purchases on up to $50,000 annually, then 1x points	$0		Earn 2x Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases on up to $50,000 with no category restrictions. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Business Green Rewards Card from American Express		N/A	3x points at U.S. restaurants and direct hotel and airfare purchases on up to $50,000 (then 1x), 2x points on purchases through Amex Travel and 1x points on all other purchases	$95		Earn 3x points at U.S. restaurants and direct hotel and airfare purchases on up to $50,000 (then 1x), 2x points on purchases through Amex Travel and 1x points on all other purchases. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card		15,000 points after spending $1,000 in your first 3 months	2x points at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year then 1x points after that and on all other purchases	$0		Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you use your new card to make $1,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express® Green Card		25,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months	2x points at amextravel.com and 1x points on all other purchases	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)		Earn 2x Membership Rewards® points at amextravel.com and 1x points for all eligible purchases.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card		15,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months	3x points at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 annually (then 1x), 2x points at US gas stations and 1x points on all other purchases	$95		Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of opening your account.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Blue from American Express® Card		N/A	2x points on Amex Travel and x points on all other purchases.	$0		Earn 2x points on Amex Travel and x points on all other purchases.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Name	Product	Welcome offer	Rewards	Annual fee	Filter values
Hilton Honors American Express Card		75,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Card after you use your new Card to make $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.	7x points on Hilton Honors purchases, 5x at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations, 3x on all other purchases	$0		Earn 75,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the card within your first 3 months of card membership. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express® Gold Card		35,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months	3x points on directly-booked flights; 4x at restaurants; 4x at US supermarkets on up to $25,000 annually (then 1x points)	$250		35,000 bonus Membership Rewards® Points when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express		$250 after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months	6% on select US streaming services, 3% on transit and US gas stations, 6% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 annually, then 1% after that and on all other purchases	$95		Earn $250 bonus cash back after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express		75,000 miles and 5,000 MQMs after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months plus $100 when you make a Delta purchase in the same timeframe	2x miles on Delta purchases and 1x miles for all other purchases	$195		Earn 75,000 miles and 5,000 MQMs after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months plus $100 when you make a Delta purchase in the same timeframe. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express		60,000 Bonus Miles after you use your new Card to make $2,000 in purchases within your first 3 months and a $50 Statement Credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months. Offer expires 10/30/2019.	2x miles on Delta purchases and 1x miles on all other purchases	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)		Earn 60,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months, plus $50 when you make a direct Delta purchase in the same timeframe. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The Platinum Card® from American Express		60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.	5x points on directly-booked flights or on flights and hotels on Amex Travel. 1x points on all other purchases	$550		Get 5x Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel and 5x points on eligible hotels booked on amextravel.com. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Blue Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express		10,000 Bonus Miles after spending $500 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership	2x miles at US restaurants and on direct Delta purchases and 1x miles on all other purchases	$0		Earn 10,000 bonus miles after spending $500 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express		75,000 miles and 10,000 MQMs after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months	2x miles on direct Delta purchases and 1x miles on all other purchases	$450		Earn 75,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card		125,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card after you use your new Card to make $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.	12x points on Hilton Portfolio spending, 6x at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations, 3x on all other purchases	$95		Earn 125,000 Hilton Honors™ Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 or more in purchases with your new card within the first 3 months of card membership. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express® Blue Business Cash Card		N/A	2% cash back on all purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%	$0		Earn 2% cash back on all purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express		N/A	2x points on everyday business purchases on up to $50,000 annually, then 1x points	$0		Earn 2x Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases on up to $50,000 with no category restrictions. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express® Business Gold Card		Up to $500 back on FedEx shipments within the first 3 months, offer ends November 6, 2019	4x points on two categories on up to $150,000 combined annually, then 1x points after that and on all other purchases	$295		Up to $500 back in the form of statement credits by purchasing qualifying services with FedEx using your American Express® Business Gold Card within the first 3 months, offer ends November 6, 2019. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The Business Platinum® Card from American Express		50,000 points after spending $10,000 and 50,000 points after spending an additional $15,000 in the first 3 months	5x points on flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel, 1.5x points if you spend $5,000 on a single eligible purchase on up to 1 million additional points per year and 1x points on all other purchases	$595		Earn 50,000 points after spending $10,000 and an extra 50,000 points after spending an additional $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card		125,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months	12x points at Hilton, 6x points on select business and travel and 3x points on all other purchases	$95		Earn 125,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the card within the first 3 months of card membership. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card		40,000 miles and 10,000 MQMs after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months	2x miles on direct Delta purchases and 1x miles on all other purchases	$450		Earn 40,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Business Green Rewards Card from American Express		N/A	3x points at U.S. restaurants and direct hotel and airfare purchases on up to $50,000 (then 1x), 2x points on purchases through Amex Travel and 1x points on all other purchases	$95		Earn 3x points at U.S. restaurants and direct hotel and airfare purchases on up to $50,000 (then 1x), 2x points on purchases through Amex Travel and 1x points on all other purchases. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express		30,000 miles after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months plus $50 after making a direct Delta purchase in the same timeframe	2x miles on Delta purchases and 1x miles on all other purchases	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)		Earn 30,000 miles after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months plus $50 after making a direct Delta purchase in the same timeframe. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card		75,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months	6x points at Marriott Bonvoy, 4x points at US restaurants, US gas stations and on US wireless telephone and shipping services, 2x points on all other purchases	$125		Earn 75,000 bonus points after you use your new card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of card membership. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express		35,000 miles and 5,000 MQMs after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months plus $100 after making a direct Delta purchase in the same timeframe	2x miles on direct Delta purchases and 1x miles on all other purchases	$195		Earn 35,000 miles and 5,000 MQMs after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months plus $100 after making a direct Delta purchase in the same timeframe. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The Plum Card® from American Express		N/A	1.5% discount when you pay early	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($250 thereafter)		Get a 1.5% discount when you pay early, with no cap on what you can earn back. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express		$150 after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months	2% at US gas stations and select US department stores, 3% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year, then 1% after that and on all other purchases	$0		Earn a $150 bonus statement credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. All information about this card has been collected independently by Finder. Rates & fees	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express Cash Magnet® Card		$150 after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months	1.5% cash back on all purchases	$0		Earn a $150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 or more in purchases with your new card within the first 3 months of card membership. All information about this card has been collected independently by Finder. Rates & fees	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card		15,000 points after spending $1,000 in your first 3 months	2x points at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year then 1x points after that and on all other purchases	$0		Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you use your new card to make $1,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card		15,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months	3x points at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 annually (then 1x), 2x points at US gas stations and 1x points on all other purchases	$95		Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of opening your account.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Not all Membership Rewards cards feature a welcome offer, so you’ll want to carefully examine your spending habits versus available cards to determine your best choice for earning points.

Transferring points

Unfortunately, you can’t transfer points earned using some of Amex Membership Rewards cards.

The following cards are not eligible to transfer points:

Transfer partners

You have a wide variety of travel partners to choose from provided you’re using an Amex card that can transfer points. We’ve listed transfer values as of the time of writing below and you can learn more about redeeming your points for best value.

Data obtained May 2019. Values are subject to change and should be used only as a general guide.

How to navigate account

American Express makes it easy to access your Membership Rewards account from your online dashboard. Sign in and click Explore Rewards to see your points balance, points earned and options for redemption. Or click Rewards from the top nav.

Below your points snapshot, you’ll find a navigation bar of five tabbed redemption options. Points required for your purchases vary by redemption option and retailer.

Pay with Points at Checkout

Put your points toward online orders at such retailers as Amazon, Grubhub and Walmart. You may also see local merchants as an option — for us, the option to use points for New York City taxis.

Redeem for Gift Cards

Redeem your points for future spending at big names in clothing, travel, dining and entertainment. Boost your points redemption by 10% or more through curated promotions and “sale” cards.

Cover Your Card Charges

Cash in your points for credit toward eligible charges on your current statement.

Book Travel

Use your points toward insider fares on flights, hotels, cars, cruises and packages.

Go Shopping

Search for limited-time offers and membership perks at select retailers, and Amex credits all or part of your purchase with your points on your next statement.

Bottom line

The American Express Memberships Rewards program couples strong point values with great flexibility and opportunities for bonus point earnings. Make sure to apply for an Amex card that can transfer points to take advantage of the true value of the program and explore the world.

If Amex cards don’t offer the perks and earning categories you want, compare your reward card options to find one that fits your spending habits.

Frequently asked questions

• Do American Express Memberships Rewards points expire?

  No. Your Membership Rewards points have no expiration date. However, you can lose earned points by returning purchased items, making late payments or canceling your account.

• Is the Amex Membership Rewards program free?

  It depends on your card. Many cards are enrolled automatically for free when you activate your account. Others need to pay an annual fee to participate. Check out the Amex Membership Rewards site for a full list of cards that need to pay.

• Can I transfer points to a friend?

  No. You currently can’t transfer accumulated points to a friend’s account.

• Can I transfer points between Amex cards?

  No. Your Amex points are stored in a single account pool. You can transfer those points to partners so long as you own a card that allows you to do so.