Is American Express a Good Credit Card in 2025? [Honest Review]

Introduction: Why This Amex Review Matters in 2025

Have you wondered, “Is American Express a good credit card in 2025?” You’re not alone. With its hundreds of credit card options, Amex credit cards are constantly being bandied about in discussions in personal finance circles and Reddit posts, so let’s explore what makes American Express so special and whether American Express cards are indeed the right fit for your wallet in the year ahead.

In 2025, American Express credit cards are still recognized for their premium perks, powerful rewards programs, and a certain level of prestige. However, with high annual fees and inconsistent acceptance in some locations, they may not be suitable for everyone.

In this straightforward, expert-driven guide, we’ll explain:

• Which Amex cards offer the best value in 2025
• Who should consider applying and who shouldn’t
• An in-depth look at Amex benefits, fees, and rewards
• How American Express’ top-tier cards compare to other options
• What’s new for Amex this year, and what’s coming up

Whether or not you’re a first-time applicant, if you’re considering American Express, this article strips away the confusion and misinformation, providing a transparent, hands-on, real-world approach to help you decide if American Express belongs in your wallet this year.

What Makes American Express Different From Other Credit Cards?

When you think of American Express, the words “prestige,” “luxury,” and “top-notch service” likely come to mind. But what, exactly, makes Amex credit cards different from regular Visa or Mastercard? In 2025, those differences matter more than ever, especially if you’re in the market for a card that reflects your lifestyle, credit goals, or business needs.

A Legacy of Prestige: A Brief History of Amex

The idea of American Express conjures images of a financial institution founded in 1850. Its early cachet was based on limited access, exceptional benefits, and a strict approval process, which made it the go-to card for wealthy customers and frequent travelers. Fast forward to 2025, and that legacy lives on, though Amex has expanded its card offerings to serve a wider variety of people.

Key Differentiators in 2025:

• Exclusive partnerships with Delta, Hilton, and Marriott
• Membership Rewards® Program, one of the most flexible travel rewards point programs
• Concierge services, purchase protections, and luxury travel benefits
• New applicant credit-building options in the spotlight again

Customer Experience and Service Reputation

What is an American Express credit card like with great customer support? Inquire as to any longtime cardholder, and you’re likely to get glowing reviews of Amex’s superior service model.
What sets it apart:

• 24/7 live customer service with U.S.-based representatives upon request for at no extra charge, really, no charge at all
• High dispute resolution and friendly fraud chargeback satisfaction
• Top-notch, fully mobile banking app (voted best in fintech)

This white-glove service significantly contributes to Amex’s impressive customer retention and satisfaction scores, making it far more than just a card but a full-service experience.

Acceptance & Limitations: Where Amex Falls Short

There are trade-offs to using American Express, despite the numerous benefits available, especially when compared with Visa or Mastercard.

Here’s what to know in 2025:

• Merchant Acceptance: Amex is still not accepted at some small merchants, especially those outside the U.S., due to higher transaction fees.
• International Travel: While Amex has improved its global network, some destinations still pose issues for card use.
• Annual Fees: These are cards with high annual fees, such as the Platinum or Gold, and their costs, as high as they are, only make sense if you’re optimizing the rewards and benefits.

🔍 Quick Recap: What Makes Amex Stand Out?

Feature	American Express (Amex)
Rewards System	Flexible points via Membership Rewards®
Customer Service	Industry-leading, U.S.-based
Cardholder Perks	Travel credits, lounge access, and protection
Acceptance	Limited at small merchants & overseas
Brand Perception	Travel credits, lounge access, and protection

Pros and Cons of American Express Cards in 2025

If you’re wondering, “Is American Express a Good Credit Card for me in 2025? You’ll want an unvarnished view of the advantages and drawbacks. Amex cards have trade-offs, just like any financial product. They come loaded with rewards and benefits, but only if you use them thoughtfully.

Key Advantages [Perks & Rewards That Stand Out]

American Express is renowned for its most premium benefits packages in the credit card world. Here is why Amex stands out in 2025:

✅ Robust Rewards Ecosystem

• With the Membership Rewards® Program, you can earn points on everything from flights to groceries.
• Redeem for travel, gift cards, Amazon purchases, statement credits, or transfers to partners like Delta, Hilton, or Emirates.

✅ Luxury Travel Benefits

• Amex Platinum cardholders get:
  • Global Lounge Collection® access
  • $200 airline fee credit
  • CLEAR® & TSA PreCheck® reimbursement
  • Hotel elite status and upgrades (Hilton, Marriott)

✅ Top-Tier Purchase Protections

• Most cards have extended warranty, return protection, and purchase insurance.
• Up-to-date access to Amex Offers: Deals on various name-brand merchants such as Amazon, Whole Foods, and more.

✅ Best-in-Class Customer Service

• 24/7 U.S.-based support
• Rapid fraud resolution
• In-app chat and card lock/unlock, and dispute resolution

Potential Drawbacks to Consider

For all its prestige, Amex isn’t perfect for everyone. However, certain types of cardholders may find some of its limitations outweigh its perks.

⚠️ High Annual Fees

• Platinum Card®: $695/year
• Gold Card®: $250/year
• Unless you are using the benefits, it can sting with these fees.

⚠️ Merchant Acceptance Gaps

• Many small-business owners in America (and also many international vendors) still don’t take Amex.
• Visa/Mastercard offers broader universal acceptance.

⚠️ Requires Good to Excellent Credit

• The majority of Amex cards require a 670+ credit score (700+ for premium products).
• Not great for credit rebuilders unless you get started with the Amex EveryDay® or a co-branded card.

Is the Value Worth the Fee? [Case Examples]

To figure out if Amex is worth it in 2025, here’s this:

📊 Example: Platinum Card for a Frequent Traveler

• Lounge access: ~$600/year value
• Uber credits: $200/year
• Hotel improvements, CLEAR, travel insurance: $500 or more
• If you are a frequent traveler, you could easily see more than $1,200 in benefits each year.

📉 Example: Casual Spender with Low Travel Needs

• Might only use a few perks
• Competing cash-back cards (like Citi® Double Cash) may get you a higher everyday return

💡 TL;DR: Weighing Amex’s Pros & Cons

✔ Best for:

• High spenders
• Frequent travelers
• Loyalty rewards optimizers

✖ Not ideal for:

• Those who prefer cash-back simplicity
• Users on a budget are skipping annual fees
• People with limited credit history

Best American Express Credit Cards Reviewed

If you’re still wondering, “Is American Express a good credit card in 2025?” the response largely depends on which Amex issue you are asking about. American Express provides a variety of cards designed to suit different lifestyles, spending habits, and financial goals. Whether you’re the kind who likes to travel the world in high style or wants a card that is going to pay big dividends when you pull it out of your wallet, there’s likely an Amex card that’s right for you.

Let’s break down the top contenders this year.

Amex Platinum Review: For Luxury Travelers

The American Express Platinum Card® continues to be the card against which all other premium travel cards are still measured.

🔑 Key Features:

• Welcome bonus: 175,000 points (after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months)
• 5X points on flights and hotels booked with the card, prepaid hotels included
• Access to Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass, and Delta Sky Club
• $200 airline fee credit, $240 digital entertainment credit
• Annual Fee: $695

✅ Who It’s Best For:

• Frequent flyers
• Affluent tourists seeking VIP treatment
• High-spending professionals

⚠️ Consider Before Applying:

• Requires a high credit score (720 or higher is advised)
• Only worth the fee if you play a couple of times a year

Amex Gold Review: A Reward Sweet Spot?

The American Express Gold Card® falls somewhere between the high rewards categories and lifestyle utility, and it’s a top pick in the food and travel category.

🔑 Key Features:

• 4X points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets
• 3X on flights
• $120 dining credit (Grubhub, Cheesecake Factory, etc.)
• $120 Uber Cash
• Annual Fee: $250

✅ Who It’s Best For:

• Had cook-it-yourself foodies in families
• Travelers looking for a strong rewards card who aren’t ready to commit to full-premium status
• Anyone who spends $250+ per month on food

⚠️ Consider Before Applying:

• No lounge access
• Lower value if you don’t eat out or travel very often

Amex Blue Cash Preferred® – Beginner-Friendly Option

This card is among the best Amex cards for beginners or everyday cardmembers with a preference for tools for simplifying their expenses or pocket money back at the end of the day.

🔑 Key Features:

• 6% cash back in U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year DispatchQueue)
• 6% on eligible U.S. streaming subscriptions
• 3% on transit and gas
• Welcome offer: $250 after you spend $3,000 in the first 6 months
• Annual Fee: $0 intro for first year, then $95

✅ Who It’s Best For:

• Budget-conscious cardholders
• Households with higher-than-average grocery and streaming spend
• Cashback seekers who prefer not to keep track of points

⚠️ Consider Before Applying:

• Cashback caps apply
• Not as travel-focused as Platinum or Gold

Side-by-Side Comparison: Platinum vs Gold vs Blue Cash

Feature	Platinum	Gold	Blue Cash Preferred
Annual Fee	$695	$250	$0 intro, $95 after 1st yr
Best For	Frequent travelers	Dining & grocery spend	Everyday family spending
Travel Perks	✅✅✅	✅	❌
Rewards Type	Membership Rewards®	Membership Rewards®	Cashback
Credit Score Recommended	720+	680+	670+
Welcome Bonus	175k points	60k points	Every day family spending

🎯 Choosing the Right Amex Card for You:

Ask yourself:

• Do I travel frequently or want luxury perks? → Go Platinum
• Do I spend a lot on food & groceries? → Gold is your sweet spot
• Want a simple, low-fee cash-back card? → Blue Cash Preferred

Is American Express Good for Building Credit?

If you are hoping to improve your credit profile, you may be asking: “Is American Express a good credit card to build credit with in 2025?”

The answer? Yes, but with caveats. Although Amex is recognized for rewarding high creditworthiness, it has several tools and card options that can aid responsible users in increasing their credit score in the long term.

What Credit Score Do You Need for Amex in 2025?

In general, American Express looks for applicants with good to excellent credit, but some cards are easier to qualify for than others.

📊 Typical Approval Ranges:

• Premium cards (Platinum, Gold): 700–750+
• Mid-tier cards (Blue Cash, Amex EveryDay): 670 or more
• Entry-level or cobranded card: 640+ (few cards available)

Tip: Try Amex’s pre-qualification tool to get a soft check before you apply: it won’t impact your score, and it’ll tell you which cards you may qualify for.

If you want to check your score, click the button:

Do Amex Cards Help Improve Credit Score?

Yes. American Express reports to the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion), and their reporting is quite dependable.
Here is how an Amex card can help your credit:

✅ On-Time Payment History

• Amex features autopay resources and alerts to help you stay disciplined.
• You want to lay the groundwork for a strong FICO score.

✅ Long Credit History

• The older Amex accounts will generally stay on your credit report, regardless of whether they’re still open.
• This contributes to the average account age, a key credit factor.

✅ Low Credit Utilization

• Most American Express (Amex) cards have high credit limits. To help pad your score and protect you from having to adjust to new balances between statements suddenly, try to keep your balance under 30 percent of your limit.

Starter Options for New-to-Credit Users

If you are new to credit cards, some beginner-friendly American Express credit cards are:

🌱 Amex EveryDay® Credit Card

• No annual fee
• Earn 2X points at supermarkets.
• Excellent for new-to-credit consumers who want to get into the Membership Rewards fold

🏷️ Co-Branded Retail Cards (e.g., Amazon, Delta SkyMiles® Blue)

• Lower entry barriers
• Continue to help you build credit and earn rewards or cash back
• By the way, these are all cobranded cards – even the one on the bottom.

💡 Pro Tip: Use Amex’s “Pay It Plan It®” Feature Wisely

• This handy payment feature enables you to control your balances without damaging your utilization: a massive win in the effort to build healthy credit habits.

TL;DR – Is Amex Good for Credit Building?

Factor	Amex Score Impact
Reports to Bureaus	✅ Yes, all 3 major bureaus
Helps Credit History	✅ Long-standing account reporting
Good Starter Cards	✅ Yes, but limited options
Easier to Qualify?	❌ Not always — many cards require 670+

Exclusive 2025 Changes to Know About American Express

American Express is not simply relying on its heritage. By 2025, Amex introduced new benefits, tightened up some policies, and shifted strategically to keep ahead of its rivals in the constantly evolving credit card market.
If you’re a long-time cardholder or a prospective applicant, these changes can make a big difference in terms of how much value you’re getting from your card and whether Amex is still the right fit.

What’s New with Amex in 2025?

Let’s explore the major updates that affect American Express credit cardholders this year:

🔄 Revamped Membership Rewards® System

• Same Day Redemption Rates for travel bookings (vary based on demand from airline/hotel partner)
• New transfer partners: Singapore Airlines and Etihad Guest
• Amex now offers better “partial point + cash” redemptions. Amex

💼 Business Card Upgrades

• Added benefits on Amex Business Platinum and Blue Business Plus
• New bonus categories: AI tools, remote software, and cloud storage subscriptions
• Business owners can now tap into year-end expense categorization tools (very useful for taxes held)

✈️ Travel Credits & Partnerships Expanded

• It now comes with a $150 Airbnb credit
• Additional Centurion Lounge locations in Chicago, Dubai, and Tokyo
• New concierge hotel booking portal in the Amex mobile app

📉 Fee Adjustments on Select Cards

• Amex Gold now has an opt-out downgrade path to a Green Card with a reduced annual fee.
• On the plus side, Platinum is still paying $695 out for another year, though if you want to redeem Uber and streaming credits for the $240 “lifestyle wallet,” it’ll have to be in one allotment.

Predictions: Where Amex Is Headed in 2026 and Beyond

Here’s where experts say American Express is headed based on 2025 trends and fintech news:

🔮 Likely Future Developments:

• AI-Enhanced Spend Analysis: Custom reward optimization tips in the app
• BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) Expansion: A beefed-up “Plan It®” for bigger purchases
• Cryptocurrency Cashback Options: There have been rumors that Dosh is working on a deal with one of the largest crypto platforms.
• Enhanced Sustainability Efforts: Potential bonus points for green spending

These forward-looking plays suggest that Amex is evolving beyond a traditional credit card brand and is closer to becoming a hybrid lifestyle + financial management platform.

TL;DR — 2025 Amex Updates at a Glance

Update Type	Details
Rewards Program	More transfer partners, dynamic redemptions
Business Cards	FRESH BONUS CATEGORIES & TAX BREAKS
Travel & Lifestyle Perks	Airbnb credits, lounge access expansion
Card Fees	Simplified credits, downgrade options added
Tech & Future Vision	AI abilities, BNPL tools, potential crypto rewards

Who Should Get an American Express Credit Card? [Use Case Scenarios]

Now, let’s get something out of the way: American Express credit cards are not one-size-fits-all. By 2025, the response to “Is American Express a good credit card?” boils down to who you are, how you spend, and which perks matter most to you.
We can help answer your questions by looking at some real-world user scenarios to help you get a sense of whether Amex is a good fit for your lifestyle or whether another issuer would be better.

👤 1. The Frequent Traveler

You’ll love Amex if…

• You fly 5+ times a year.
• You’re interested in airport lounge access, hotel status and travel insurance
• You’re looking to start earning points you can use for flights and hotels

Best Card Match:

• ✅The Platinum Card® from American Express
• 5X points on airfare
• Centurion Lounges access + Global Entry/CLEAR credits
• Elite status with Hilton & Marriott for doing nothing!

Verdict: For frequent travelers who can maximize benefits, the Amex Platinum is a high-end pick.

👩‍🍳 2. The Foodie & Urban Explorer

You’ll love Amex if…

• You eat out a few times a week
• You are spending a fortune on groceries and food delivery
• If you’re interested in rewards, you can redeem them monthly

Best Card Match:

• ✅ American Express® Gold Card
• 4X points at restaurants and US supermarkets
• $240 in Uber and dining credits per year

Verdict: An excellent choice for foodies who want to earn big rewards on everyday spending.

🏠 3. The Everyday Family Spender

You’ll love Amex if…

• Your spending on groceries, gas, and streaming is in check
• You prefer straightforward cashback to points
• You’re in search of value without a hefty annual fee

Best Card Match:

• ✅ Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Learn more. In addition, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has a $95 annual fee.
• 6% cash back at US supermarkets
• 3 percent at gas stations and for transit
• No annual fee in year one ($95 after)

Verdict: Perfect for no-frills spenders who want great daily rewards.

👩‍💼 4. The New Credit Builder

You’ll love Amex if…

• You have limited or no credit history
• You’re ready to slightly abuse your card
• You eventually want to upgrade to a higher-end Amex card upon growing older

Best Card Match:

• ✅ Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
• No annual fee
• Earns rewards as it helps you build credit
• Ideal for entry-level approval

Verdict: A solid entry door to the Amex ecosystem for new users.

❌ Who Should Not Get an American Express Card?

• You shop a lot at places that don’t take Amex
• You can’t make an argument for an annual fee
• You don’t want to deal with the hassle of maximising perks
• You have a credit score of 640 or less (Amex options are extremely limited)

TL: DR Is Amex Right for You?

Profile Type	Best Card Recommendation	Amex Suitability
Frequent Traveler	Platinum Card	✅✅✅
Foodie/Urban Spender	Gold Card	✅✅
Family Saver	Blue Cash Preferred	✅
Credit Builder	Amex EveryDay	✅
Low Spender/Bad Credit	Likely better options elsewhere	❌

Conclusion: Should You Apply for an American Express Card in 2025?

Is American Express a good credit card in 2025? The short answer is: it depends on who you are and what you do with your money, but for the right person, it’s not just good, it’s fantastic.

✅ Why Amex Might Be a Smart Move

• Our frequent travelers can’t get enough of the benefits: lounge access, travel insurance, and flexible points.
• Families and friends: How to make this card work for you. This card has 3% and 2% categories, so you can’t rack up big-time rewards on dining and groceries.
• Entry-level options help beginners build their credit responsibly.

With strong security features, superb customer service, and a dynamic rewards system, American Express is still a high-value proposition in the long term, especially if you’re the kind of cardholder who uses benefits, redemptions, and credits.

⚠️ When You Might Want to Pass

• You want universal acceptance, especially overseas
• You can’t justify high annual fees, or don’t maximize rewards
• Your credit score is below 640, or you’re carrying high debt

🎯 Final Verdict:

Profile	Amex Good Fit?
High-Spending Travelers	✅✅✅
Rewards-Focused Professionals	✅✅
Everyday Budgeters	✅ (w/ Blue Cash)
First-Time Credit Users	✅ (limited options)
Low-Credit or Fee-Averse Users	❌

📝 Pro Tip: Before you apply, make sure to weigh the value of rewards against the annual fee, and be sure to check out Amex’s prequalification tool so as not to rack up unnecessary hard pulls.

🚀 Your Next Step:

If American Express meets your lifestyle and credit needs, don’t wait. Pick the right card and use it smartly, and start getting real value. Still unsure? Take a second look at our use case breakdown, and browse through our guide to the best cashback cards in 2025 for comparison.

FAQs — Is American Express a Good Credit Card for Me?