Editorial take: Blue Business Plus from Amex
The silent workhorse of the Amex MR ecosystem. 2x on everything up to $50k/year with no annual fee. Pair it with the Platinum or Gold to unlock transfers, and you have a powerful everyday earner.
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Side-by-side
Blue Business Plus from Amex vs American Express Business Gold
Both are business travel cards. The Blue Business Plus from Amex comes from American Express at $0/yr; the American Express Business Gold from American Express at $375/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
Both cards come from American Express and target business spenders, so the choice usually comes down to whether you'll use the premium-tier benefits. The American Express Business Gold costs $375 more per year, only worth it if you'll actually use the upgraded perks.
| Feature | Blue Business Plus from Amex | American Express Business Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $375 |
| Sign-up bonus | 15,000 Membership Rewards points | 100,000 Membership Rewards points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $270 | $1,800 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $3,000 in 3 mo | $15,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | American Express |
| Card category | business | business |
| Best earning category (All_purchases_first_50k_per_year) | 2x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | amex-mr | amex-mr |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Blue Business Plus from Amex
$0/yr · 15,000 Membership Rewards points
Read the full review
American Express Business Gold
$375/yr · 100,000 Membership Rewards points
Editorial take: American Express Business Gold
The 4x on your top two categories each month is uniquely flexible, if your business spend varies, this auto-adapts. The credits need active use to offset the fee.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Blue Business Plus from Amex or American Express Business Gold?
- The American Express Business Gold has the bigger bonus, 100,000 Membership Rewards points, worth roughly $1,800, versus 15,000 Membership Rewards points (~$270) on the Blue Business Plus from Amex.
- Is the Blue Business Plus from Amex's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the American Express Business Gold?
- The Blue Business Plus from Amex has no annual fee, so the question is whether the American Express Business Gold's $375 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the American Express Business Gold's benefits to clear $375 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Blue Business Plus from Amex.
- Can I have both the Blue Business Plus from Amex and American Express Business Gold?
- Yes, though both are issued by American Express so the same issuer-specific application rules apply (Chase 5/24 if applicable, Amex once-per-lifetime bonus, etc.). Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Blue Business Plus from Amex or the American Express Business Gold first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Blue Business Plus from Amex: $3,000 spend in 3 months. American Express Business Gold: $15,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.