Which American Express cards have no foreign transaction fees?

The American Express foreign transaction fees are 2.7% of all international transactions or 0%, depending on the Amex card. There are plenty of American Express cards with no foreign transaction fee. Those cards tend to be the best options for travel.

If you’re unfamiliar with foreign transaction fees, they’re a surcharge for using a credit card with a foreign merchant. Credit cards with foreign fees usually charge 1%-3% of the purchase price. That can really add up, especially since Amex’s 2.7% foreign fee is on the higher end of the spectrum.… read full answer

Here are the American Express foreign transaction fees:

• American Express cards with foreign transaction fees charge 2.7%.
• Many American Express credit cards have no foreign transaction fees.
• Amex foreign transaction fees apply when you buy things abroad OR shop at foreign merchants online.
• Some of the best American Express cards with 0% foreign fees include the American Express Platinum card and the American Express® Gold Card, as well as the American Express® Green Card and the Amex cards affiliated with Marriott, Hilton and Delta.

If you’re looking for an international credit card, it’s best to get one with no foreign transaction fee, and American Express does have a good selection. But American Express cards aren’t accepted by nearly as many foreign merchants as Visa and Mastercard. So you may find yourself somewhere your Amex won’t work. And that’s why it’s probably better to have a Visa or Mastercard for travel.

American Express is accepted in more than 160 countries and territories internationally. That includes all the members of the United Nations, except for those under U.S. sanctions. Amex cards are more widely accepted in some international destinations than others, though. It should be pretty easy to find merchants that take American Express cards in Australia, Canada, Mexico and India, for example. But it will be much tougher in smaller countries that aren’t known for doing business with the U.S. or attracting American tourists. … read full answer

Overall, American Express credit cards and prepaid cards aren’t nearly as widely accepted internationally as cards that belong to the three other major U.S. card networks. Visa is accepted in 200+ countries and territories. And Mastercard works in 210+. So you should probably bring a Visa or Mastercard credit card with no foreign transaction fee when you travel abroad, at least as a backup to your Amex.

On that note, it’s worth mentioning that some American Express credit cards will cost you more to use internationally than others. Several American Express credit cards have no foreign transaction fee. Others charge 2.7% of every international purchase.

The best American Express credit cards for international travel are the Starwood Preferred Guest and Gold Delta SkyMiles® cards. Both offer great travel rewards, including nice initial spending bonuses. Neither charges foreign transaction fees. And Amex waives their annual fees the first year your account is open.

You may also want to consider the USAA Rewards American Express Card, which is the best credit card on the Amex network for other types of international perks. It gives you very good travel insurance coverage, for example. And you can even get financial assistance for emergencies while you’re out of the country. You don’t have to worry about paying a foreign fee or an annual fee, either.

The Amex Blue Cash Everyday foreign transaction fee is 2.7%. Both Amex Blue Cash Everyday and the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express have that same foreign fee, applicable to any purchases processed internationally.

American Express offers cards that do not have foreign transaction fees, like the American Express® Gold Card… read full answer and the American Express Platinum card. The tradeoff here is their large annual fees. There are, though, some American Express cards with no foreign transaction fee and no annual fee like the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Card.

Here’s some info about Amex Blue Cash Everyday:

• Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.7%
• Annual Fee: $0 for Amex Blue Cash Everyday; $0 intro 1st yr, $95 after for Blue Cash Preferred
• Rewards Rate: 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 spent per year), 2% back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores, and 1% back on all other purchases, earned as statement credits for Amex Blue Cash Everyday; 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 spent per year), 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit, and 1% back on all other purchases, earned as statement credits for Blue Cash Preferred
• APR: 14.74% - 24.74% (V)

Keep in mind American Express may not be the best choice to take abroad due to lower international acceptance than Visa or Mastercard. While Visa and Mastercard are accepted in 200+ countries, Amex lags behind at 160+ countries. There are lots of credit cards with no foreign transaction fee on those other networks, too.