§ 003 · The catalog
Three Amex cards we actually use.
We don't review every card Amex makes. We review the three we'd put in our own wallet — and we tell you when not to get one. Apply through any link below and we earn a referral bonus from American Express.
Travel rewards
Platinum
Lounge access, hotel status, and a points engine you actually use.
- Welcome offer
- 80,000 Membership Rewards points
- Annual fee
- $695
Dining + groceries
Gold
The dining and grocery card that actually pays for itself.
- Welcome offer
- 60,000 Membership Rewards points
- Annual fee
- $325
Cash back
Blue Cash Preferred
The everyday cash-back card that doesn't pretend to be anything else.
- Welcome offer
- $250 statement credit
- Annual fee
- $95 (\$0 first year)
How we pick
We only list cards we'd recommend to a friend. Two filters: the welcome offer has to clear $500 in real value at standard redemption rates, and the ongoing rewards have to make sense for someone who pays the statement in full each month. If you carry a balance, none of these are right for you — find a 0% APR card first, then come back.
Want a card we don't cover? Email us. We don't add cards to chase referral payouts.