Amex Blue Business Plus Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
We recommend waiting for a targeted offer before applying. The standard 15,000-point bonus is low, and American Express has not historically offered higher public bonuses. While this is a valuable card to hold for earning Membership Rewards with no annual fee, timing matters. After opening a higher tier American Express Business card, you may be targeted for offers as high as 50,000–75,000 points on the Blue Business Plus.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
The Amex Blue Business Plus credit card is a straightforward way to earn Membership Rewards points without affecting your 5/24 status. It earns 2x points on all purchases up to $50,000 annually, so there is no need to track spending categories. It is also the only no annual fee card open to new applicants that earns Membership Rewards points.
- 2x points on all purchases (up to $50,000 annually)
- No annual fee
- 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months
These benefits are useful, but relatively minor compared to other cards. The low welcome bonus of 15,000 points is not compelling, and the $3,000 spending requirement would be better directed toward a card with a higher sign-up bonus.
If you already have the Amex Business Gold or Amex Business Platinum, you may receive targeted offers for this card with a higher bonus. Another use case is downgrading from one of those cards. If you are no longer getting value from a high annual fee card, this lets you keep your Membership Rewards points without paying a fee.
The Blue Business Plus is a “keep forever” card since it’s the only no annual fee option that earns Membership Rewards points. If you’re aware of targeted offers, it can make sense to wait and apply when an elevated offer appears.
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
Here are some exceptions where the card might not be good for you:
- This card offers no standout benefits compared to the many other cards available.
- If you want a larger sign-up bonus and more perks, and are willing to pay an annual fee for them, this card likely will not meet your needs.
What to Know About Amex Membership Rewards
Amex points are great in theory. We just find them harder to collect and more expensive to hold than Chase points.
- If you’re in the points game long enough, you’ll dabble in both main systems (Chase & Amex).
- Amex has a one card bonus every 7 years rule, so ultimately, there will be more of a limit to how many you can collect via sign-up bonuses.
- There is only one no-fee card that allows you to earn and keep Membership Rewards points - the Blue Business Plus card.
- Delta and Hilton are solid transfer values and having Amex points gives you top-off flexibility if you are invested in either of those systems.
- We do find Amex travel a higher quality of service over the Chase travel portal.
How The Amex Blue Business Plus Credit Card Fits In The Amex Membership Rewards Ecosystem
The best way to add Blue Business card is through a targeted offer after opening a higher-tier Amex business card. American Express has not historically offered elevated public bonuses on this card, so the standard 15,000-point offer is typically underwhelming.
Many users are targeted for significantly higher offers after opening a Business Gold or Business Platinum card, sometimes up to 75,000 points. A strong strategy is to start with one of those cards, then wait for a targeted offer before applying for this one.
- American Express Business Gold: $375 annual fee with a 100,000-point bonus. Strong earning rates on common business categories and useful credits can justify keeping it long term.
- American Express Business Platinum: Premium option with a 200,000-point bonus and a $895 annual fee. Extensive perks and credits can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Other Amex business cards offer less value in this ecosystem:
- American Express Blue Business Cash: Similar structure but earns cash back instead of Membership Rewards points.
- Business Green: Low welcome bonus that doesn’t justify its $95 annual fee.
- Business Plum: Limited features and not a card we recommend.
This approach allows you to maximize your Membership Rewards earnings while ultimately holding a no-annual-fee card to preserve your points long term.
Card Information
Differentiating Perks
Historical Card Offers
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Estimated Next Offer
Amex Blue Business Plus Application Rules
You'll be declined if you apply for a third Amex card in 90 days
This business card will not show on your personal credit report, so it won't count against your 5/24 status
Amex will decline your application if you already have 5 credit cards (not charge) and apply for a sixth
Card approval not subject to 5-personal-cards-in-24-months rule
Amex allows only 1 bonus per specific card every 7 years (yours or that version of the card)
After you apply, Amex may show a pop-up saying you're ineligible for the welcome bonus
Best for Series
Below is a snapshot of where this card performs best compared to the other cards in our database:
