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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Blue Business Plus from Amex vs U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Blue Business Plus from Amex comes from American Express at $0/yr; the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card from U.S. Bank at $0/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 | U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | 15,000 Membership Rewards points | 20,000 bonus points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $270 | $200 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $3,000 in 3 mo | $1,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | U.S. Bank |
| 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
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
$0/yr · 20,000 bonus points
Editorial take: U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
A no-annual-fee travel earner: 4X on travel and at gas and EV stations (on the first $1,000 per quarter) with a 20K welcome offer worth $200. Points are capped at 1 cent each, so treat this as cash-value travel earnings rather than transferable points.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Blue Business Plus from Amex or U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
- The Blue Business Plus from Amex has the bigger bonus, 15,000 Membership Rewards points, worth roughly $270, versus 20,000 bonus points (~$200) on the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card.
- Is the Blue Business Plus from Amex's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
- The Blue Business Plus from Amex has no annual fee, so the question is whether the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card's $0 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card's benefits to clear $0 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 U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and U.S. Bank) 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 U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature 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. U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card: $1,000 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.