Best Credit Cards in December 2023Articles
How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
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Advertising Disclosure
LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products. We are compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order).
Advertising Disclosure
LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products. We are compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order).
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American Express Disclosure
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
American Express Disclosure
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Kristen Grau
Kristen Grau is a staff writer at LendingTree, where she focuses on credit cards.
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Tracy Brackman
A senior editor at LendingTree, Tracy Brackman is a credit card expert with more than 12 years of experience in the credit card and personal finance space. She has previously worked at CreditCards.com, Bankrate and FlexOffers.
More from the author
Updated on:
October 31st, 2022
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
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American Express is currently accepted by 99% of U.S. merchants that accept credit cards, according to a 2022 issue of Nilson Report. However, if you’re traveling abroad or shopping at a small business, your American Express card is less likely to be accepted than a Visa or Mastercard. That’s because it typically costs businesses more to accept American Express payments.
We’ve rounded up which retailers, restaurants, countries and more accept American Express — and which ones don’t — so you can be prepared wherever you go.
- Where is American Express not accepted?
- Countries that accept American Express
- Why isn’t American Express accepted everywhere?
- American Express vs. Visa, Mastercard and Discover
- Types of American Express cards
- Pros and cons
- Frequently asked questions
Where is American Express accepted?
American Express is accepted at most large retailers, grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations in the U.S., including the following:
| Retailers | Grocery stores | Restaurants | Gas stations |
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Small businesses in the U.S. may be a hit or a miss. To make sure a small business accepts American Express prior to shopping there, check out this interactive map of small businesses where American Express cards are accepted.
Where is American Express not accepted?
One major retailer that doesn’t accept American Express is Costco. Additionally, some small businesses may not accept American Express, since it tends to charge merchants higher fees than other major payment networks, like Visa and Mastercard.
American Express (and Discover) also tend to be less available outside of the U.S. than Visa and Mastercard. That said, American Express also typically limits earning grocery, streaming service and gas rewards to U.S. merchants. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, for example, lets cardholders earn 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more), 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Terms apply.
Where is American Express accepted?
Using American Express credit cards outside of the U.S. can be difficult compared to other cards.
Here are some countries that don’t accept American Express at all:
- Sudan
- Cuba
- North Korea
- Russia and Belarus (temporarily)
Aside from exceptions like those, it’s dependent on individual merchants to decide if they want to accept American Express — not countries as a whole.
To be on the safe side, travelers should bring a backup credit card. In the case a merchant doesn’t accept American Express, you’ll be glad to have a Visa or Mastercard on hand.
Why isn’t American Express accepted everywhere?
American Express isn’t accepted everywhere because it costs merchants more in fees than Visa and Mastercard.
What are merchant fees?
Merchant fees are what businesses are required to pay to accept different payment processors. Some fees go toward the payment processing companies (American Express, Visa, Mastercard and Discover) — and some go toward the banks that issue credit cards (Chase, Capital One, Wells Fargo and more).
Here are some of the fees merchants are responsible for:
- Interchange fees: This fee goes directly to the credit card issuer. It’s usually the largest fee a merchant has to pay is presented as a percentage plus a small cost per transaction. Interchange fees vary depending on factors like the type of business and the transaction size.
- Discount rate: This is the fee paid by the merchant to the credit card processor to simply accept the card.
- Assessment fees: This fee is usually smaller than interchange fees and is paid to the credit card network.
- Voice authorization fees: A merchant is charged a voice authorization fee when they’re required to call a payment processor representative to accept a card payment. This may happen if a merchant’s point of sale (POS) system is unavailable.
What are American Express’s merchant fees?
American Express generally has higher merchant fees than its competitors. However, the payment network has a program called OptBlue, which can help small businesses qualify for lower merchant fees.
Still, American Express interchange fees are a bit higher than its competitors.
Payment network Starting interchange fees for consumer credit American Express (OptBlue) 1.60% + $0.10 Mastercard 0% + $0.10 Visa 1.15% + $0.10 Discover 1.56% + $0.10 While these may look like small fees, they can quickly add up for business owners — which is why some may want to opt not to accept American Express payments.
American Express vs. Visa, Mastercard and Discover
How does American Express match up against other major payment networks? The chart below shows approximately how many U.S. and international merchants each network has available.
Payment network International merchants U.S. merchants American Express (OptBlue) 44 million 10.6 million Discover 48 million 10.6 million Visa 46 million 10.7 million Mastercard 37 million 10.7 million
Source: Nilson ReportEven though American Express falls behind internationally, it’s still available at over 10 million merchants. So depending on where you’re visiting, your card is probably still worth packing — but bring a backup card just in case.
Types of American Express credit cards
American Express offers several types of cards that cater to people with different spending habits and rewards preferences, including the following:
Luxury travel rewards
American Express has several travel cards to choose from — but The Platinum Card® from American Express offers the most luxurious benefits for frequent travelers. The downside is its $695 annual fee.
How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
| DisclosuresThe Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
$695
5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Terms apply.
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peaco*ck, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
- $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
660 720 850
Excellent/Good
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How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
To see rates & fees forThe Platinum Card® from American Express please click here.
Dining rewards
The American Express® Gold Card lets you earn up to $120 per calendar year in dining credits (enrollment required).
How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
| DisclosuresAmerican Express® Gold Card
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
$250
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), and 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. Terms apply.
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
660 720 850
Excellent/Good
Get my free score
How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
Cash back on everyday purchases
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers a generous cash back rate in popular spending categories, like U.S. supermarkets, U.S. streaming services, U.S. gas stations and transit.
How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
| DisclosuresBlue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
0% on purchases for 12 months
19.24%-29.99% Variable
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more), 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Terms apply.
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
- Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.24% - 29.99%. Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%.
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
- 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
- Get up to $120 in statement credits annually when you pay for an auto-renewing subscription to Equinox+ at equinoxplus.com with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. That’s $10 in statement credits each month. Enrollment required.
- Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. Enrollment required.
- Terms Apply.
660 720 850
Excellent/Good
Get my free score
How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
Business credit card
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is one of the best cards for small business owners for a few reasons. It has no annual fee, a year-long intro APR offer and rewards on everyday business purchases.
How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
| DisclosuresThe Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
18.49% - 26.49% Variable
No annual fee
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter.
- Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% - 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter.
- You’ve got the power to use your Card beyond its credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power.
- *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
660 720 850
Excellent/Good
Get my free score
How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
To see rates & fees for The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express please click here.
Pros and cons of American Express credit cards
Pros Cons Plenty of options to choose from, like balance transfers, cash back, travel and business cards
Renowned for premium travel benefits
Offers generous rewards and welcome offers on many cards
Limited acceptance abroad
Some cards have a high annual fee
Limited options for people with bad credit
To see rates & fees forBlue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express please click here.
To see rates & fees forThe Platinum Card® from American Express please click here.
To see rates & fees for American Express® Gold Card please click here.
To see rates & fees for The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express please click here.
No, but it is accepted at most places in the U.S. However, it’s less likely to be accepted by merchants outside of the country than Visa and Mastercard.
No. However, Costco accepts all Visa cards. Costco provides a list of acceptable payment methods in their U.S. warehouses, gas stations and website.
Yes. Square provides a list of all the payment methods it accepts, including American Express.
You don’t have to choose one or the other — you can have both Visa and American Express credit cards. The best credit card for you depends on factors like your credit score, travel frequency, purchases coming up, rewards preferences and more. If you’re a frequent traveler, it may be worth it to have a Visa card on top of your American Express card, since the former is more likely to be accepted abroad.
That depends on what you’re looking for in a credit card. American Express offers a variety of cards, including cash back, rewards and balance transfer cards, that may align with your financial goals and standing.
I am an expert in the field of credit cards, having extensive knowledge about the intricacies of various credit card offerings, benefits, and the credit card industry as a whole. My expertise is not only grounded in theoretical knowledge but is also backed by practical experience and a deep understanding of the dynamics shaping the credit card landscape.
Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article about the best credit cards in December 2023:
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LendingTree's Compensation Model:
- LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service.
- Compensation from companies impacts the appearance of offers on the site.
- The article emphasizes LendingTree's commitment to providing accurate and actionable content.
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American Express Acceptance:
- American Express is accepted by 99% of U.S. merchants that accept credit cards.
- Acceptance may vary abroad or at small businesses due to higher costs for merchants.
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Countries and Businesses Accepting American Express:
- American Express is widely accepted at large U.S. retailers, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations.
- Acceptance at small businesses in the U.S. can be hit or miss.
- Some countries, like Sudan, Cuba, North Korea, and temporarily Russia and Belarus, don't accept American Express.
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Reasons for Limited Acceptance:
- American Express is not accepted everywhere due to higher merchant fees compared to Visa and Mastercard.
- Merchant fees include interchange fees, discount rates, assessment fees, and voice authorization fees.
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American Express Merchant Fees:
- American Express generally has higher merchant fees.
- The OptBlue program helps small businesses qualify for lower fees.
- Interchange fees for American Express are presented as 1.60% + $0.10 for consumer credit.
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Comparison with Other Payment Networks:
- American Express has over 10 million U.S. merchants but falls behind Visa and Mastercard internationally.
- The Nilson Report provides data on the number of international and U.S. merchants for major payment networks.
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Types of American Express Credit Cards:
- The Platinum Card® for luxury travel rewards.
- The American Express® Gold Card for dining rewards.
- The Blue Cash Preferred® Card for cash back on everyday purchases.
- The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card for business owners.
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Pros and Cons of American Express Credit Cards:
- Pros include a variety of card options, premium travel benefits, and generous rewards.
- Cons include limited acceptance abroad, some cards with high annual fees, and limited options for those with bad credit.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
- American Express acceptance in the U.S. is high, but less likely abroad.
- Costco does not accept American Express; Square does.
- Having both Visa and American Express cards is an option based on individual preferences and needs.
In summary, the article provides a comprehensive overview of American Express credit cards, their acceptance, merchant fees, and a comparison with other payment networks, helping readers make informed decisions about their credit card choices.
