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.
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Blue Business Plus from Amex comes from American Express at $0/yr; the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card from American Express at $195/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
For most people the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is the stronger pick today — the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($575 more in estimated value) than the Blue Business Plus from Amex's. Get the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card first; revisit the Blue Business Plus from Amex after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Blue Business Plus from Amex | Hilton Honors American Express Business Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $195 |
| Sign-up bonus | 15,000 points | 175,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $300 | $875 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $3,000 in 3 mo | $8,000 in 6 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | American Express |
| Card category | business | hotel |
| Best earning category (All_purchases) | 2x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | amex-mr | hilton-honors |
| Headline benefits |
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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.
If you stay at Hiltons, this is the underrated middle tier — the $60/quarter credit + the $15k-spend Free Night routinely cover the $195 fee, and Gold status is real value at any Hilton property.
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.