The best American Express cards 

Which Amex bank card will earn you probably the most cashback or rewards within the UK in 2025?

There are a selection of various American Categorical playing cards, so which is one of the best?

On this greatest purchase information, I’ll take you thru my prime picks whether or not you wish to get your first card or change the one you have already got.

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The most effective American Categorical for welcome gives

There are a selection of nice welcome bonuses from American Categorical that would earn you greater than £100 further in your first few months. They’re usually boosted too, making them much more worthwhile.

Importantly you possibly can solely get these gives (on most playing cards – extra on this in a bit) in case you’ve not an an Amex in your title within the final two years.

Every provide additionally comes with a spending requirement to set off the bonus, so be certain that your regular spending will match this.

The most effective first Amex card welcome gives

To maintain you eligible for extra welcome bonuses, I’d truly solely think about one in all these two playing cards, though you’ll earn much less from the bonus. They hardly ever have boosted welcome offers so I’d go for them at any time.

In case you aren’t going to later for a second bonus with the Amex Platinum then you might additionally think about the Amex Most popular Rewards Gold – although I’d wait till it’s boosted.

Listed below are the usual gives you possibly can anticipate, and we share boosted Amex welcome offers right here.

Further Amex welcome gives

After the Nectar or Platinum Cashback, there’s the possibility to get one other boosted provide on each the British Airways American Categorical Premium Plus (so long as you’ve not had both BA Amex card within the final two years) and the American Categorical Platinum bank cards (so long as you’ve not had the Most popular Rewards Gold or Rewards playing cards in the identical time). I’ve written in additional element about this multiple Amex welcome offer hack here.

Nonetheless, these playing cards include huge charges and the bonuses have massive spending necessities, so I’d wait till they’re boosted and you’ll earn extra factors.

If you’re a member of Vitality well being or life insurance coverage then additionally, you will be eligible for a £100 assertion credit score whenever you spend £2,000 within the first three months, even in case you’ve acquired another Amex.

Right here’s what you might be based mostly on elevated sign-up gives which have run in 2024.

The most effective American Categorical card for spending

So what do you do when you’ve acquired bonus (or bonuses) and also you’re confronted with a payment in the beginning of the second 12 months? Properly, I’d be seeking to ditch that card and discover an alternate.

However the headline cashback/reward fee isn’t the one factor to think about. You must take into consideration whether or not there’s a payment or minimal spend. And also you additionally have to determine the way you wish to obtain your a refund – as money or factors?

Relying on which card you went to to your first card (the Nectar or Cashback), I’d truly then get the opposite one subsequent or have a look at the Amex Most popular Rewards Gold which is free in 12 months one.

However after the primary 12 months on every of those, the annual charges on all three will eat into your cashback earnings.

However if you wish to maintain an Amex, then there’s the Amex Rewards card or BA Amex that are each at all times free. Simply don’t get these (or the Gold) in case you haven’t but claimed these further Platinum and BA Amex Premium Plus welcome bonuses.

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There’s a last class to think about when selecting your Amex – are there extras that include the cardboard? And in that case, how a lot will they price?

This desk exhibits the principle further card advantages you would possibly wish to benefit from.

Amex Card	Key further advantages	Annual payment
Most popular Rewards Gold	2 x £5 Deliveroo credit score each month 4 Precedence Go airport lounge visits annually	£195
Platinum	Worldwide household journey Insurance coverage £200 UK eating credit score every calendar 12 months (£100 each six months) £50 Harvey Nicholls credit score till the top of June 2025 Airport lounge entry all 12 months	£650
British Airways Premium Plus	BA Companion voucher in case you spend £15,000 annually (lasts 24 months, and legitimate in all courses)	£300
British Airways	BA Companion voucher in case you spend £15,000 annually (lasts 12 months, and solely legitimate in economic system)	Free

I wouldn’t maintain the Gold card as soon as the payment kicks in after the primary 12 months. I’d additionally keep away from the Platinum after the 12 months which features a welcome bonus.

It’s a tougher name with the BA playing cards. In case you go for the free BA card, it’s solely legitimate for 12 months and solely in economic system, which could make it exhausting so that you can discover a flight you wish to use as tickets are launched 12 months upfront on the BA website, so you might properly miss out on huge locations.

The Premium Plus voucher lasts longer, however you’ll be paying £300 to get it. From my expertise it’s exhausting to get that again on economic system flights, so that you’d wish to goal for Enterprise.

However, to make use of a 2-4-1 Companion voucher it is advisable have sufficient Avios factors to pay for the primary flight AND it’s important to pay for taxes and charges on prime. If that’s unlikely then neither are price it. And also you additionally have to weigh up whether or not you’ll have the ability to get a less expensive flight procuring round.

Greatest Amex to guard your Amex Reward factors

In case you determine to cancel the Platinum card on the finish of your first 12 months, ensure you defend any Amex Membership factors linked to it earlier than doing so. You’ll have to swap them or open up a distinct Reward card to make sure you don’t lose them.

There are two choices right here. The Reward card and the Most popular Reward Gold card. Bear in mind, don’t open up both of those playing cards earlier than the Platinum in case you suppose you’ll attempt for the boosted welcome provide on that card in some unspecified time in the future.

Greatest Amex for 2-4-1 flight vouchers

Two American Categorical playing cards can earn you British Airways companion vouchers. Nonetheless, don’t get the free BA Amex card earlier than the BA Amex Premium Plus if you wish to attempt for the upper welcome provide with the latter card detailed additional up this text.

With the Premium Plus you’ll have to spend £15,000 within the first 12 months you’ll get a BA Companion voucher. This will get you 2-4-1 flights or an improve and is legitimate for 2 years and in all flight courses. Bear in mind there’s a £300 annual payment.

However after this 12 months you may have two choices. In case you cancel utterly you gained’t lose your Avios as they’ll have been added to your British Airways Government Membership account. This resets the clock to allow you to (doubtlessly) get one other bonus in two years time.

Or you possibly can downgrade to the free BA Amex simply through a name or reside chat and this may imply you retain an Amex with out a new credit score test.

In case you select to maintain spending on it you continue to have to hit £15,000 in a 12 months for a BA Companion voucher to make use of in economic system class, legitimate for a only one 12 months.

With each companion vouchers, keep in mind it is advisable have sufficient Avios factors saved as much as cowl the price of one ticket earlier than including the 2-4-1 voucher, and you continue to pay tax and charges on each tickets.