Compare American Express credit cards for March 2023

93% of American Express customers in our 2023 customer satisfaction survey would recommend the brand to a friend

Acceptance at smaller merchants remains an issue

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The American Express range

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Name	Product	Rewards earn rate	Max. intro bonus	Annual/monthly fees	Representative APR	Ratings	Link	Incentive	Representative example
The American Express Rewards® Credit Card Finder Award		1 point per £1 spent	10,000 points	£0	28.8% APR (variable)	Finder score ★★★★★ User survey ★★★★★	Check eligibility Read review	Earn 1 Membership Rewards® point for every £1 spent thereafter. Earn up to 90,000 bonus points per year through refer a friend, 4,000 points awarded for every friend approved. 1 point = 0.45p (min 1000 points) to shop, other rewards have differing conversions	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.8% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 28.8% APR (variable).	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
British Airways American Express® Credit Card Finder Award		1 point per £1 spent	5,000 points	£0	28.8% APR (variable)	Finder score ★★★★★ User survey ★★★★★	Check eligibility Read review	New Cardmember Offer: Earn 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend £3,000 in your first 3 months of account opening. Terms Apply	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.8% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 28.8% APR (variable).	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express® Platinum Cashback Everyday Credit Card Finder Award		1% cashback	£100	£0	28.8% APR (variable)	Finder score ★★★★★ User survey ★★★★★	Check eligibility Read review	New cardmember offer: Get 5% cashback on your purchases (up to £100) for the first three months of Cardmembership. Terms apply. Spend £0 to £10,000 and receive 0.5% cashback on all purchases. Spend over £10,000 and receive 1% cashback on purchases.	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.8% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 28.8% APR (variable).	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express® Nectar Credit Card Finder Award		3 points per £1 spent with selected partners 2 points per £1 spent elsewhere	20,000 points	Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £25 per annum	34.3% APR (variable)	Finder score ★★★★★ User survey ★★★★★	Check eligibility Read review	Earn 20,000 bonus Nectar points when you spend £2,000 in your first 3 months. Earn a minimum of 3 Nectar points for virtually every £1 spent at Nectar partners, and 2 Nectar points for virtually every £1 spent elsewhere.	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.8% (variable) p.a. with a fee of Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £25 per annum, your representative rate is 34.3% APR (variable).	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express® Platinum Cashback Credit Card Finder Award		1.25% cashback	£125	£25 per annum	34.3% APR (variable)	Finder score ★★★★★ User survey ★★★★★	Check eligibility Read review	New cardmember offer: Get 5% cashback on your purchases (up to £125) for the first three months of Cardmembership. Terms apply. Spend £0 to £10,000 and receive 0.75% cashback on all purchases. Spend over £10,000 and receive 1.25% cashback on purchases.	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.8% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £25 per annum, your representative rate is 34.3% APR (variable).	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card Finder Award		6 points per £1 spent with selected partners 2 points per £1 spent elsewhere	20,000 points	£75 per annum	46.6% APR (variable)	Finder score ★★★★★ User survey ★★★★★	Check eligibility Read review	Earn 6 points for every £1 spent at eligible Marriott properties. Earn 2 points for virtually every £1 spent elsewhere. Earn up to 90,000 bonus points per year through refer a friend, 9,000 points awarded for every friend approved. Points can be redeemed for hotel stays of varying values (min 15000pts)	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.8% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £75 per annum, your representative rate is 46.6% APR (variable).	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card Finder Award		3 points per £1 spent with selected partners 1 point per £1 spent elsewhere	20,000 points	Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £160 per annum	72.4% APR (variable)	Finder score ★★★★★ User survey ★★★★★	Check eligibility Read review	2 points earned per £1 spent on travel related purchases and spending abroad. 3 points for every £1 spent when booking through American Express Travel.	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.8% (variable) p.a. with a fee of Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £160 per annum, your representative rate is 72.4% APR (variable).	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card Finder Award		3 points per £1 spent with selected partners 1.5 points per £1 spent elsewhere	25,000 points	£250 per annum	108.9% APR (variable)	Finder score ★★★★★ User survey ★★★★★	Check eligibility Read review	Earn 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend £3,000 in your first 3 months of Cardmembership. Terms apply. 18+, subject to status. New Cardmembers Only	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.8% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £250 per annum, your representative rate is 108.9% APR (variable).	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express The Platinum Card Finder Award		2 points per £1 spent with selected partners 1 point per £1 spent elsewhere	30,000 points	£575 per annum	458.2% APR (variable)	Finder score ★★★★★ User survey ★★★★★	Check eligibility Read review	Earn 2 points per every £1 spent on amextravel.co.uk and 1 point per every £1 spent elsewhere.	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.8% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £575 per annum, your representative rate is 458.2% APR (variable).	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Vitality American Express® Credit Card (Vitality Members only) Finder Award		0.5% cashback	N/A	£0 (but £4.75 fee for the Vitality programme)	44.3% APR (variable)	Finder score ★★★★★ User survey ★★★★★	Read review	0.5% on £1 to £10,000 of yearly spend and 1% thereafter. Paid on anniversary. Must spend £3,000 annually to earn cashback. Earn up to 2% additional cashback on first £1,000 spend each month based on Vitality products held and monthly activity points earned. New cardmember offer: earn £100 statement credit when £2,000 spent in first three months.	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.8% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £6.5 per month, your representative rate is 40.0% APR (variable).	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express Basic Charge Card Finder Award		N/A	N/A	£0	N/A (this product is a charge card).	Finder score ★★★★★ User survey ★★★★★	Read review	Access to tickets for must-see music, theatre and film events, often before they go on sale to the general public with American Express Experiences.		Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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No longer just the preserve of city mogul types, Amex now has a range of cards to suit credit card first-timers through to high-flying big-spenders. You can earn flights, holidays, hotel stays, gift vouchers and more with its numerous rewards programmes, which include American Express Experiences – bringing cardholders tickets to some of the most popular gigs, films and theatre shows.

American Express is also more widely-accepted than it used to be, has constantly-manned 24/7 customer service and has enhanced security measures for cardholders (including refund, purchase and fraud protection).

More about American Express

American Express offers many benefits for credit card customers and these are just some of them.

• Customer Service. Credit where credit’s due – the US generally does customer service better than us Brits. Our trials of Amex’s customer service and our user survey only strengthened this view. American Express provides almost-alarmingly-chirpy customer service 24 hours a day seven days a week; over the phone, by text, through email or straightforward mail. American Express also has a “Global Assist” team so even when you’re outside the UK, you can still contact someone, any time of the day, regardless of what country you’re calling from.
• Security and fraud prevention. To minimise fraudulent use of your card, American Express uses secure systems and early detection programmes. A key feature, however, is the “Fraud Protection Guarantee” whereby you won’t be held responsible for fraud as long as you use your card carefully. American Express credit card customers also register for a “SafeKey” to add security to online purchases and you get free text and emails of your card activity.
• Section 75 protection. All UK credit cards come with protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Purchases of individual items between £100 and £30,000 can be refunded if for some reason you don’t get what you paid for. Charge cards technically aren’t covered by this rule, however Amex voluntarily provides purchase protection on its charge cards.
• Global acceptance. American Express credit cards are accepted in a large number of countries around the world. Additionally, when you make a purchase abroad, it is converted to US dollars and then into UK pounds once the transaction goes through. If you make a purchase in the US or in US dollars, it is directly converted to UK pounds.
• Digital capability. To ensure you’re on top of your finances, you can manage your account online or via the Amex app, anywhere in the globe, at any time. This does not just include your credit card balance, but you can also pay bills and review your rewards and loyalty points as well.

How to apply for an American Express credit card

The quickest way to apply for an American Express card is online. You simply fill out an online form providing personal information such as name, address, income and work status.

Eligibility requirements

There are basic eligibility requirements you will most likely need to meet to be accepted for an American Express credit card. The eligibility requirements are as follows:

• You are aged 18 years or over
• You have a permanent UK home address
• You have a current UK bank or building society account
• You don’t have a history of bad debt
• You have been working for longer than one year if self-employed

American Express have a range of cards with several different requirements, so you will need to check your eligibility against each card when you apply (as they may differ). When you do apply, it can take as little as 10 minutes and you can get a response regarding eligibility in 60 seconds.

Typically you won’t be approved if you’ve got a history of bad debt or don’t meet the above eligibility criteria. If you’ve got an outstanding CCJ or are on an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) it is also likely you will not be approved. Equally, if you don’t have a credit record at all, you may be turned down.

Pros and cons of American Express credit cards

Our Verdict

There’s no doubt about it, American Express is one of the big hitters in the credit card market but you’ll need to look at your own financial situation before deciding whether it could work for you.

It scored 5 out of 5 stars in our 2022 Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards and there’s plenty to take advantage of with its cards such as earning holidays, flights, hotel stays and gift vouchers. However, your credit report will need to be in fairly good shape to get approved for one in the first place. Plus, you may be charged a monthly fee for the privilege.

Do a little research and compare Amex cards to its competitors above to see what might work for you.

American Express customer reviews

American Express won our customer satisfaction awards in 2023, with customers praising its rewards and customer service. One customer said “I love the cashback features of the credit card and the offers they provide throughout the year.”

Elsewhere, American Express has mixed to negative reviews from customers, according to review sites like Trustpilot and reviews.io. On Trustpilot, American Express currently has an average rating of 1.7 out of 5, based on over 2,300 reviews, which is considered a “poor” rating overall.

73% of American Express customers on Trustpilot gave it a “bad” rating, with many citing poor customer service and numerous fees as major negatives. However, other customer reviews reported that they had never had any issues with the Amex customer service.

Amex also has an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 according to reviews.io, albeit this is only based on a handful of reviews. 71% of customers would recommend American Express, according to reviews.io.

Frequently asked questions

• How can I pay my bill?

  The main ways to pay your bill are by direct debit (you can manage this facility via online services or in the app), debit card, internet banking, at your bank or by cheque.

• How do I register to manage my card account online?

  This can be done via the website’s online registration service. Alternatively, you may wish to download the Amex App – you can register there too. You’ll then be able to set up your own unique user ID and password for instant secure access.

• How do I report my card lost or stolen and/or need a replacement?

  You can notify American Express quickly and easily through online services, or simply call customer services and their 24/7 customer assistance will be able to help.

• How do I get cash on my American Express Card?

  Eligible credit cardmembers are automatically enrolled for cash access upon card issuance (reviewed after 6 months if ineligible at this time). Charge cardmembers must apply for cash access by completing an enrolment form.

• How do I redeem and or transfer my Membership Rewards points?

  The best way to do this is to check out the available rewards online and once you’ve made a choice, click to redeem or transfer points to frequent flyer or frequent guest programme partners. You can also do this by calling customer services.

• Are Amex cards metal?

  As of January 2022, the Platinum card is metal. For metal versions of other Amex cards, however, you may have to wait!

  Across the pond, American Express has issued metal versions of its Platinum, Gold and Centurion cards.

• Are Amex and American Express the same?

  Yes. “Amex” is essentially a nickname, used interchangeably with American Express. Some people use Amex to refer to the Network (Amex cards aren’t on the Visa or Mastercard networks – Amex has its own network), and American Express to refer to the card issuer.