Methodology
To identify the best American Express credit cards for different types of applicants, WalletHub’s editors regularly compare all of the American Express credit cards in our database of 1,500+ credit card offers, considering both cards issued by American Express and cards that are on the American Express network but issued by another bank or credit union.
In general, we evaluate each Amex card’s rewards, fees, interest rates, approval requirements and special features and other key WalletHub Rating components. Comparisons are tailored to the intended usage category, however, and selections are made based on the expected cost/savings for the cardholder.
WalletHub’s Key Rating Components
Two-Year Cost: 38% – We evaluate each card’s overall value by comparing its annual fee to the rewards earned by a typical cardholder over a two-year period.
Rewards: 29% – We examine earning rates, bonus categories, redemption options, and redemption values to estimate potential returns for the average user.
Editor’s Rating: 12% – Our editorial team assesses how each card stacks up against the rest of the American Express lineup and against cards from competing issuers, factoring in the cost, rewards structure, extra benefits, and overall effectiveness as a primary everyday card.
Fees: 11% – We review all major costs, including annual fees, foreign transaction fees, and other charges that could affect long-term value.
User Reviews: 7% – We incorporate feedback from cardholders to better understand real-world experiences with things like rewards, customer service and account management, along with overall satisfaction.
Other Features: 3% – We consider additional perks such as travel protections, lounge access, and shopping perks that enhance the overall card experience.
A few cards featured on this page may use a slightly adjusted scoring methodology to reflect different user needs, including options designed for those seeking flexible payment or financing features.
How Two-Year Cost Is Calculated
Two-year cost is used to approximate the monetary value of cards for better comparison and is calculated by combining annual and monthly membership fees over two years, adding any one-time fees or other fees (like balance transfer fees), adding any interest costs, and subtracting rewards. Negative amounts indicate savings. When fees or other terms are presented as a range, we use the midpoint for scoring purposes.
Rewards bonuses and credits have been taken into account for two-year cost calculations. However, bonuses applicable to only a very small portion of cardholders are not considered. For example, credits and bonuses awarded for spending or redeeming rewards through a company portal with non-co-branded cards have not been taken into account. Similarly, bonuses and credits related to spending with specific merchants using a non-co-branded card have not been taken into account (for example, if Card A offers credits with DoorDash, this feature would not be factored into calculations because it is hard to assess how many cardholders would use the benefit or exactly how much value they'd get from it).
Cardholder Spending Profiles
Given that different users have different goals and are likely to use their credit cards differently, we identified spending profiles that are representative of different users’ financial priorities and behaviors. For each cardholder type, we have assumed a specific amount of monthly spending by purchase type (e.g., groceries, gas, etc.), as well as an average balance, balance transfer amount, amount spent on large purchases and average monthly payment. Spending assumptions are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for consumers and PEX data for businesses.
Sources
WalletHub actively maintains a database of 1,500+ credit card offers, from which we select the best American Express credit cards for different applicants as well as derive market-wide takeaways and trends. The underlying data is compiled from credit card company websites or provided directly by the credit card issuers. We also leverage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to develop cardholder profiles, used to estimate cards’ potential savings.
Other Best American Express Business Credit Cards
Below, you can check out other American Express business credit card offers that didn’t quite make the cut for our best list but could still prove worthwhile in the right hands.