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.
All credit cards
Side-by-side
Blue Business Plus from Amex vs CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Blue Business Plus from Amex comes from American Express at $0/yr; the CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard from Citi at $99/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($803 more in estimated value) than the Blue Business Plus from Amex's. Get the CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard first; revisit the Blue Business Plus from Amex after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Blue Business Plus from Amex | CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $99 |
| Sign-up bonus | 15,000 Membership Rewards points | 65,000 miles |
| Bonus value (est.) | $270 | $1,073 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $3,000 in 3 mo | $4,000 in 4 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | Citi |
| Card category | business | travel |
| Best earning category (All_purchases_first_50k_per_year) | 2x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | amex-mr | aadvantage |
| Headline benefits |
|
Read the full review
Blue Business Plus from Amex
$0/yr · 15,000 Membership Rewards points
Read the full review
CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard
$99/yr · 65,000 miles
Editorial take: CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Blue Business Plus from Amex or CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard?
- The CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard has the bigger bonus, 65,000 miles, worth roughly $1,073, 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 CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard?
- The Blue Business Plus from Amex has no annual fee, so the question is whether the CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard's $99 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard's benefits to clear $99 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 CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Citi) the application rules don't conflict. 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 CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard 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. CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard: $4,000 in 4 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.