What are the different levels of American Express cards?

Amex card levels are most clearly defined by its Membership Rewards-earning travel cards: Centurion card: Most premium Amex Platinum Card: Ultrapremium Amex Gold card: Premium Amex Green card: Midmarket Additionally, Amex has entry-level cards, including cash-back and no-annual-fee co-branded cards.

Is the Amex Centurion card higher than the Amex Platinum card?

Yes, the Centurion card is a higher-tier card than the Amex Platinum card.

What is the highest level American Express card?

The highest-level American Express card is the Centurion card, which is informally known as the Amex Black Card. This card is invite-only and has an annual fee of .

Is the Amex Gold card or Amex Platinum card better?

It depends. The Amex Platinum card is better for benefits while you’re traveling, such as airport lounge access, and the Amex Gold card is better for earning rewards on popular spending categories like dining and U.S. supermarkets. See our detailed comparison of the Amex Platinum card versus the Amex Gold card.

What is above the Amex Platinum card?

The only card that is above the Amex Platinum card is the Centurion card, also known as the Amex Black Card.

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The Ultimate Guide to American Express Card Levels [2026]

Updated: February 6, 2026, 8:18am CST

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Table of Contents

Overview
Travel Rewards
Cash-Back
Delta Air Lines
Marriott Bonvoy
Hilton Honors
Final Thoughts

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American Express cards are often associated with luxury and travel, but Amex offers various card tiers, from basic to ultrapremium, including no-annual-fee cards, cash-back cards and cards loaded with high-end benefits.

Premium isn’t always the best choice with Amex cards. For some people, it makes the most sense to choose the card that earns more rewards rather than the one with the best travel benefits.

This guide explains each level of Amex cards, from the most popular travel rewards cards to airline and hotel co-branded cards.

Overview

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Card Family	Cards	Best For
Ultrapremium	Platinum Card^® from American Express	Travel rewards
	Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card	Delta loyalists
	Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card	Marriott loyalists
	Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card	Hilton loyalists
Premium	American Express^® Gold Card	Travel rewards
	Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card	Delta loyalists
	Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card	Marriott loyalists
Midmarket	American Express Green Card^®*	Travel rewards
	Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express	Cash-back
	Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card	Delta loyalists
	Marriott Bonvoy American Express^® Card**	Marriott loyalists
	Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card	Hilton loyalists
Entry-Level	Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express	Cash-back
	Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card	Delta loyalists
	Hilton Honors American Express Card	Hilton loyalists

*The information regarding the American Express Green Card^® has been collected independently by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
** No longer open to new applicants. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Travel Rewards

Amex card family — Image Credit: American Express

There are 4 Amex card levels in the travel rewards category. Below, the cards are ordered from the most premium level at the top to the least premium:

Centurion^® Card from American Express*: Most premium
Amex Platinum card: Ultrapremium
Amex Gold card: Premium
Amex Green card: Midmarket

*The information regarding the Centurion^® Card from American Express was independently collected by Upgraded Points and was not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

The Centurion card, informally known as the Amex Black Card, is Amex’s most premium card. This invite-only product requires cardholders to have a longstanding history with Amex and high annual spending even to be considered for the card.

For most of us, the Amex Platinum card is the highest level of Amex cards we can reasonably attain. With a $895 annual fee (rates & fees), the Amex Platinum card’s benefits (some require enrollment) include access to more than 1,550 lounges worldwide, hotel and car rental elite status, annual and monthly statement credits, and comprehensive travel insurance. The card also earns 5x points on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year) and on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com. There’s a lot to love about the Amex Platinum card, which is generally the second-highest level of card available through Amex.

The next level down is the Amex Gold card. With a $325 annual fee (rates & fees), the Amex Gold card is actually one of the best cards for everyday spending because it earns 4x points at restaurants worldwide and takeout and delivery in the U.S. for up to $50,000 per year. It also earns 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year) and 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines and with AmexTravel.com. The card also offers monthly dining credits (enrollment is required) and Uber Cash credits for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders when you add your Amex Gold card to the app (you must pay with an Amex card to redeem the Uber Cash), as well as basic travel insurance.

Lastly, there’s the Amex Green card, which is the midmarket Amex card in this family. Even with a much more pared-down $150 annual fee (rates & fees), it earns 3x points at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and 3x points on transit and travel. Cardholders also get an annual CLEAR+ statement credit.

Cash-Back

Just as Amex has a few different levels of cards in the travel rewards category, it also has a couple for those who are focused on earning cash-back. These cards include:

Amex Blue Cash Preferred card: Midmarket
Amex Blue Cash Everyday card: Entry-level

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card is considered more premium than the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card.

With the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card, you earn up to 6% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year) and on certain U.S. streaming services, as well as 3% cash-back at U.S. gas stations and on transit. With a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (rates & fees), the card also has a monthly Disney streaming credit (enrollment is required).

The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card has a $0 annual fee (rates & fees) and earns 3% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets, on U.S. online retail purchases, and at U.S. gas stations (up to $6,000 per year in each category). There are also monthly statement credits eligible for Disney streaming purchases and Home Chef (enrollment is required).

Delta Air Lines

Amex Delta card family — Image Credit: American Express

Amex offers 4 distinct card levels for Delta co-branded credit cards, each with varying annual fees. These include:

Delta Reserve card: Ultrapremium
Delta Platinum card: Premium
Delta Gold card: Midmarket
Delta Blue card: Entry-level

All Amex Delta cards offer a 20% statement credit on Delta inflight purchases. Other than the Delta Blue card, all Amex Delta cards offer a complimentary checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights (for the cardholder and up to 8 additional travel companions on the same reservation) as well as 15% off on all future Delta award bookings.

At a $650 annual fee (rates & fees), the Delta Reserve card is the ultrapremium Delta card. It has perks such as an annual companion certificate and complimentary access to Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounges when you book with the card and fly with Delta.

The Delta Platinum card is the premium Delta card, with a $350 annual fee (rates & fees). It offers an annual companion certificate.

Hot Tip:

One of the easiest ways to get into a Delta Sky Club airport lounge is through eligible Amex cards. Learn more in our guide on the best credit cards for Delta Sky Club access.

The Delta Gold card, with a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 annual fee, offers a Delta flight credit of up to $200 for future travel when you spend $10,000 in a calendar year (rates & fees).

Lastly, the Delta Blue card is the most basic, with a $0 annual fee (rates & fees).

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Amex card family — Image Credit: American Express

There are 3 distinct card levels for Amex’s Marriott Bonvoy co-branded cards, from most premium to least:

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card: Ultrapremium
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card: Premium
Marriott Bonvoy card: No longer open for new applications

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card is considered an ultrapremium card, as it has a $650 annual fee (rates & fees) and offers unique benefits like complimentary Platinum Elite status, an annual Free Night Award valid for up to 85,000 points, 25 Elite Night Credits per year, and more.

With the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card, you get complimentary Gold Elite status, an annual Free Night Award Certificate valid for up to 50,000 points after you spend $15,000 in a calendar year, 15 Elite Night Credits per year, and more. This card has a $250 annual fee (rates & fees).

Although the Marriott Bonvoy card is no longer open to new applicants, it’s still the lowest-tier Marriott Bonvoy co-branded Amex card. It offers complimentary Silver Elite status, an annual Free Night Award Certificate valid for up to 35,000 points, and 15 Elite Night Credits per year.

Hilton Honors

Hilton Amex card family — Image Credit: American Express

The levels of Hilton Honors credit cards are below, with the most premium at the top:

Hilton Aspire card: Ultrapremium
Hilton Surpass card: Midmarket
Hilton Honors card: Entry-level

The Hilton Aspire card ($550 annual fee) (rates & fees) is the ultrapremium Hilton card, offering exclusive perks like Hilton Honors Diamond elite status, a Free Night Award every year after renewing your card, and up to $400 in Hilton Resort statement credits every year.

The next level down is the Hilton Surpass card, which offers Hilton Honors Gold status and a Free Night Award after you spend $15,000 in a calendar year. This card has a $150 annual fee (rates & fees).

At the entry level, the Hilton Honors card offers complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status with a $0 annual fee (rates & fees).

Final Thoughts

Each Amex card family has its own set of levels. For travel rewards cards that earn Membership Rewards points, the pecking order is: Centurion card, Amex Platinum card, Amex Gold card, and Amex Green card.

With cash-back cards, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card is higher than the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card.

With Delta, we’re looking at the Delta Reserve card as the top product, followed by the Delta Platinum card, Delta Gold card, and Delta Blue card.

On the Marriott Bonvoy side, there are the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card, and Marriott Bonvoy card (no longer open to new applicants).

Hilton Honors has 3 tiers of co-branded cards: the Hilton Aspire card, Hilton Surpass card, and Hilton Honors card.

Each of these cards could potentially offer tons of value to the right cardholder.