Which is the best Amex cash-back card?

The best American Express cash-back card for you will be the one that has an annual fee you’re comfortable paying, matches your spending mix so you’ll maximize rewards earning, and has benefits you can use. Keep in mind that even if a card has an annual fee, your level of spending may result in greater earnings compared to a no-annual-fee card.

How does Amex cash-back work?

Amex cash-back Reward Dollars accumulate in your account until you are ready to use them. Once your balance is 25 Reward Dollars or more, you can use those rewards, at a value of 1 cent each, for a statement credit toward your card balance. You can also redeem rewards for gift cards or shopping at select retailers. You cannot use your Reward Dollars towards the minimum payment due on your account. Reward Dollars do not expire as long as your card is in good standing.

Can you get cash-back on a business card?

Yes. The Amex Blue Business Cash card earns 2% cash-back on every purchase up to $50,000 in purchases each calendar year. After that, it earns 1% cash-back.

Do Amex cash-back cards charge foreign transaction fees?

Yes. All of the cards featured in this article, with the exception of the Amex Plum card, charge a foreign transaction fee of 2.7%.

16 Best Ways To Earn Lots of Amex Cash-back Rewards [2023]

While navigating the points and miles world may seem daunting at times, cash-back rewards can stand out as a less complicated way of earning and redeeming rewards. Cash-back rewards cards can also offer good value, especially for those consumers who spend a lot on everyday purchases.

Today we’re going to look at a collection of cash-back rewards cards issued by American Express and more specifically, talk about how to earn lots of cash-back with these cards.

If you’ve considered adding a cash-back card to your wallet, whether to supplement your current portfolio of cards or you’re just starting out, you’ll want to look at the cash-back cards American Express has to offer.

Here’s how to earn lots of cash-back on Amex rewards cards and which cards offer this option.

Table of Contents

The Value of Amex Cash-back
- Simplicity
- Liquidity
Amex Personal Credit Cards That Earn Cash-back
Earn Lots of Cash-back on Amex Personal Credit Cards
Amex Business Credit Cards That Earn Cash-back
- American Express Blue Business Cash™ Credit Card
- The Plum Card® from American Express
Earn Lots of Cash-back on Amex Business Credit Cards
Final Thoughts

The Value of Amex Cash-back

Cash-back earned on American Express cash-back rewards cards is earned first as Reward Dollars. Reward Dollars are worth 1 cent each at redemption time when you can choose to redeem for a statement credit. Additional redemption options include gift cards or shopping at select retailers, but the value for each Reward Dollar could be less than 1 cent for these options.

Aside from the economic value, Amex cash-back offers these additional benefits:

Simplicity

Earning cash-back is straightforward. No need to navigate complex earning and redemption options, activate special offers, or register for bonus earnings. You simply receive a small percentage, based on the amount of your purchases, as a cash-back reward.

Liquidity

Cash-back rewards are extremely liquid. The cash-back you earn on your card, for example, accumulates in your account and when your balance is 25 Reward Dollars or more, you can request a statement credit. This makes it easy to offset previous expenses.

Bottom Line: Reward Dollars earned on your American Express cash-back rewards card are simple to earn, easy to manage, and generally worth 1 cent each at redemption time.

Amex Personal Credit Cards That Earn Cash-back

If you’re looking to earn cash-back rewards on purchases you make on a daily basis, American Express has a few card options to consider.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

American Express Cash Magnet® Card

Earn Lots of Cash-back on Amex Personal Credit Cards

Woman paying at restaurant cafe dining out — It’s easy to earn cash-back on everyday purchases with Amex cash-back cards. Image Credit: WavebreakMediaMicro via Adobe Stock

1. Earn a Welcome Offer

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card, Amex Blue Cash Everyday card, and Amex Cash Magnet card each offer the opportunity to earn a welcome cash-back bonus by meeting minimum spending requirements after approval.

Welcome offers can vary, so be sure to check for the latest offer prior to applying for any card.

2. Refer a Friend

An additional way to earn lots of cash-back is to refer friends and family to apply for an American Express-issued card. When your referral gets approved for a card, you will earn a cash-back bonus.

3. Add an Authorized User

Add authorized users to any of these personal cards, and you’ll be earning rewards on all of their purchases. Be aware that the primary cardholder is responsible for purchases made by these additional users.

4. Buy More at U.S. Supermarkets

You’ll be earning bonus cash-back on purchases at U.S. supermarkets with both the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card and the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card. Because grocery stores sell more than just groceries, you can earn more cash-back by purchasing additional items you need such as beauty supplies, small appliances, pharmacy items, hardware, clothing, pet supplies, and much more. Annual purchasing limits do apply.

5. Fill up the Tank

Once again, using your Amex Blue Cash Preferred card and Amex Blue Cash Everyday card at U.S. gas stations is a great way to earn bonus cash-back.

6. Don’t Forget Streaming Services

You’ll want to add the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card as your default payment for any eligible streaming services as you’ll earn bonus cash-back for these purchases.

7. Need a Metro or Bus Pass?

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card earns bonus cash-back on transit, including tolls, buses, trains, parking, and more.

8. Make Purchases Online

With the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card, you’ll earn cash-back at U.S. online retailers. Retailers eligible for cash-back in this category include, but are not limited to:

Apparel, footwear, and accessories stores
Auto and home supply stores
Book stores
Computer and electronic stores
Department stores
Drugstores
Furniture stores (e.g., Wayfair.com)
Major retailers (e.g., amazon.com, walmart.com)
Personal and household care
Pet stores (e.g., chewy.com)
Sporting goods stores
Toy and hobby stores

9. Earn on Every Other Purchase

You can be assured that every purchase you make will earn cash-back rewards. The Amex Cash Magnet card earns a flat rate of 1.5% cash-back on every eligible purchase.

Plus, both the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card and the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card earn 1% cash-back on all non-bonus category purchases.

10. Make a Large Purchase

If your household is in need of new appliances, furniture, or other large purchase, you may want to use your card to take advantage of the introductory 0% APR period offered on all of our featured personal cards.

The Amex Blue Cash card offers a 0% APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of card approval, while the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card and Amex Cash Magnet card offer 0% APR periods of 15 months from the date of card approval.

After this period, normal variable interest rates will apply. Current interest rates are listed in the card tables above.

You may also choose to use the Plan It feature to set up monthly payments to pay for your purchase, without payment fees, for an introductory period. The Amex Blue Cash Card offers this feature for 12 months from the date of card approval, while the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card offers it for 15 months from card approval. After that, normal fees and any applicable interest rates apply.

In addition to saving on interest rates and fees, you will also be earning cash-back rewards on your purchases.

11. Amex Offers

Amex Offers have the potential to earn you lots of cash-back. When you log in to your online card account you’ll find dozens of offers from select retailers and service providers. Add the offers you’re interested in to your card (click on the Add to Card icon), and receive the associated cash-back bonus after you make the eligible purchase.

Bottom Line: Amex personal cash-back rewards cards offer earnings on every purchase, additional bonus cash-back in several everyday purchase categories, 0% APR periods that can save you money on large purchases, and shopping offers that make it easy to earn additional cash-back.

Amex Business Credit Cards That Earn Cash-back

Woman working on laptop — An Amex business cash-back card can ensure that every purchase earns rewards. Image Credit: Anna Shvets via Pexels

Running your own business can be a challenge. You may prefer a simple way to keep track of all your expenses and make sure you’re earning rewards on all of those business expenditures. Fortunately, American Express offers 2 cash-back business cards that can help with that.

American Express Blue Business Cash™ Credit Card

The Plum Card® from American Express

Earn Lots of Cash-back on Amex Business Credit Cards

1. Earn a Welcome Offer

With the Amex Blue Business Cash card, you’ll have the opportunity to jumpstart your earnings by meeting minimum spending requirements after card approval. Once you’ve completed the required spending, you’ll earn a cash-back bonus.

Welcome offers vary and terms apply, so be sure to check the most recent offer prior to applying.

2. Refer a Friend

Once you’re a cardholder, you’ll be able to earn more cash-back by referring other business owners. For each referral who gets approved for a card, you’ll earn a cash-back bonus.

Log in to your online Amex card account to access the Refer a Friend link or code. Check out our how-to article for more details.

3. Add Employee Cards

Adding additional employee cards can help you manage your business expenses and ensure that every purchase, even those made by employees, is earning cash-back rewards.

4. Earn on Every Purchase

Every purchase you make on the Amex Plum card earns 1.5% cash-back (applied as a discount to your statement) when you pay your account early (within 10 days of the statement closing).

The Amex Blue Business Cash card earns 2% cash-back on every eligible purchase, up to $50,000 in purchases each calendar year, then 1% cash-back after that.

5. Invest in Your Business

If you need to make a large business purchase, you might consider using your Amex Blue Business Cash card and take advantage of the introductory 0% APR period for purchases. The period starts when you are approved for the card and continues for 12 months. During this period, you can pay for the purchase over time and not incur interest charges.

You’ll save money and you’ll earn cash-back rewards on the purchase. After the 12-month 0% APR period expires, normal interest rates apply. You can find the most current interest rates in the card table above. Terms apply.

6. Amex Offers

Log in to your online card account to explore up to 100 Amex Offers. Select the offers you want to add to your card, make the eligible purchase, and earn more cash-back.

Bottom Line: Amex business cash-back rewards cards ensure that all of the purchases you or your employees make earn rewards that can be used to offset business expenses. Additionally, large business purchases may be paid back over time by utilizing the 0% APR period. Terms apply.

Final Thoughts

Amex cash-back cards make it easy to earn rewards on everyday purchases and redeem those rewards to offset previous purchases. For these reasons alone, each of our featured cards could be a match for the right consumer.

If you’re a frequent traveler, however, you may not be able to realize the best earnings or redemption options with an American Express cash-back rewards card.

If you spend a lot on travel, you may want to consider a card that rewards those purchases well and has travel redemption options that deliver potentially greater value. To learn more about the best travel rewards cards, be sure to check out this list of our top recommendations. If you’re looking for a first-time travel rewards card, we’ve got you covered there, as well.

The information regarding the American Express Cash Magnet® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Plum Card® from American Express, click here.

The Value of Amex Cash-back

Simplicity

Liquidity

Amex Personal Credit Cards That Earn Cash-back

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

American Express Cash Magnet® Card

Earn Lots of Cash-back on Amex Personal Credit Cards

1. Earn a Welcome Offer

2. Refer a Friend

3. Add an Authorized User

4. Buy More at U.S. Supermarkets

5. Fill up the Tank

6. Don’t Forget Streaming Services

7. Need a Metro or Bus Pass?

8. Make Purchases Online

9. Earn on Every Other Purchase

10. Make a Large Purchase

11. Amex Offers

Amex Business Credit Cards That Earn Cash-back

American Express Blue Business Cash™ Credit Card

The Plum Card® from American Express

Earn Lots of Cash-back on Amex Business Credit Cards

1. Earn a Welcome Offer

2. Refer a Friend

3. Add Employee Cards

4. Earn on Every Purchase

5. Invest in Your Business

6. Amex Offers

Final Thoughts

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best Amex cash-back card?

How does Amex cash-back work?

Can you get cash-back on a business card?

Do Amex cash-back cards charge foreign transaction fees?

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