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 Mastercard Black Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Blue Business Plus from Amex comes from American Express at $0/yr; the Mastercard Black Card from Barclays (Luxury Card) at $699/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
These cards are close on the fundamentals (similar bonus value, similar fee). The right pick depends on which category you spend the most in and which transfer partners best fit your travel goals.
| Feature | Blue Business Plus from Amex | Mastercard Black Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $699 |
| Sign-up bonus | 15,000 Membership Rewards points | No public welcome offer |
| Bonus value (est.) | $270 | $0 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $3,000 in 3 mo | $0 in 0 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | Barclays (Luxury Card) |
| Card category | business | travel |
| Best earning category (All_purchases_first_50k_per_year) | 2x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | amex-mr | None |
| 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
Mastercard Black Card
$699/yr · No public welcome offer
Editorial take: Mastercard Black Card
The mid tier of the Barclays Luxury Card lineup. The $200 airline + $100 dining credits offset $300 of the $699 AF before lounge value, and the 1.5cpp cash-back rate is the best of the Luxury Card tiers. Still hard to beat Sapphire Reserve or Venture X on transferable-points flexibility, but the all-stainless body and concierge appeal to some.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Blue Business Plus from Amex or Mastercard Black Card?
- The Blue Business Plus from Amex has the bigger bonus, 15,000 Membership Rewards points, worth roughly $270, versus No public welcome offer (~$0) on the Mastercard Black Card.
- Is the Blue Business Plus from Amex's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Mastercard Black Card?
- The Blue Business Plus from Amex has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Mastercard Black Card's $699 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Mastercard Black Card's benefits to clear $699 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 Mastercard Black Card?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Barclays (Luxury Card)) 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 Mastercard Black Card 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. Mastercard Black Card: $0 in 0 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.