Network

Key Benefits

Pros

• +Extensive lounge network including Centurion Lounges with 2 guests
• +Up to 99 employee cards at no additional cost
• +5x on flights booked direct or via Amex Travel
• +$520 in annual statement credits (airline, Dell, wireless)
• +Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Hilton Honors Gold status

• +3x points on travel, shipping, advertising, and internet/cable/phone up to $150K/year
• +$1,000 welcome bonus after $8,000 spend in 3 months
• +Transfer points 1:1 to top airline and hotel partners like United, Hyatt, and Southwest
• +Cell phone protection up to $1,000 per claim with $100 deductible
• +Free employee cards that earn at full rate

Cons

• −High $695 annual fee requires significant travel to justify
• −5x hotel earnings limited to prepaid Amex Travel bookings
• −No bonus categories for common business expenses like office supplies or shipping
• −Amex acceptance more limited than Visa/Mastercard internationally
• −Base earn rate of 1x on non-category spend is below average

• −$150,000 annual cap on 3x bonus categories before falling to 1x
• −No dining or grocery bonus categories
• −Points require transfer partner knowledge to maximize value
• −$8,000 spending requirement for welcome bonus may be high for some businesses
• −No statement credit features to offset annual fee

Network

Key Benefits

Pros

• +Extensive lounge network including Centurion Lounges with 2 guests
• +Up to 99 employee cards at no additional cost
• +5x on flights booked direct or via Amex Travel
• +$520 in annual statement credits (airline, Dell, wireless)
• +Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Hilton Honors Gold status

• +3x points on travel, shipping, advertising, and internet/cable/phone up to $150K/year
• +$1,000 welcome bonus after $8,000 spend in 3 months
• +Transfer points 1:1 to top airline and hotel partners like United, Hyatt, and Southwest
• +Cell phone protection up to $1,000 per claim with $100 deductible
• +Free employee cards that earn at full rate

Cons

• −High $695 annual fee requires significant travel to justify
• −5x hotel earnings limited to prepaid Amex Travel bookings
• −No bonus categories for common business expenses like office supplies or shipping
• −Amex acceptance more limited than Visa/Mastercard internationally
• −Base earn rate of 1x on non-category spend is below average

• −$150,000 annual cap on 3x bonus categories before falling to 1x
• −No dining or grocery bonus categories
• −Points require transfer partner knowledge to maximize value
• −$8,000 spending requirement for welcome bonus may be high for some businesses
• −No statement credit features to offset annual fee

Network

Key Benefits

Pros

• +Extensive lounge network including Centurion Lounges with 2 guests
• +Up to 99 employee cards at no additional cost
• +5x on flights booked direct or via Amex Travel
• +$520 in annual statement credits (airline, Dell, wireless)
• +Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Hilton Honors Gold status

• +3x points on travel, shipping, advertising, and internet/cable/phone up to $150K/year
• +$1,000 welcome bonus after $8,000 spend in 3 months
• +Transfer points 1:1 to top airline and hotel partners like United, Hyatt, and Southwest
• +Cell phone protection up to $1,000 per claim with $100 deductible
• +Free employee cards that earn at full rate

Cons

• −High $695 annual fee requires significant travel to justify
• −5x hotel earnings limited to prepaid Amex Travel bookings
• −No bonus categories for common business expenses like office supplies or shipping
• −Amex acceptance more limited than Visa/Mastercard internationally
• −Base earn rate of 1x on non-category spend is below average

• −$150,000 annual cap on 3x bonus categories before falling to 1x
• −No dining or grocery bonus categories
• −Points require transfer partner knowledge to maximize value
• −$8,000 spending requirement for welcome bonus may be high for some businesses
• −No statement credit features to offset annual fee