Many people assume an American Express card with no preset spending limit lets you charge as much as you want. It doesn’t. Amex offers 7 such cards, split between personal options for frequent travelers and business options for owners who need flexible spending. Each has its own fees, rewards, and eligibility requirements, so compare the picks below before you apply.
Quick Overview of the Best Amex Cards With No Preset Spending Limit
American Express offers 7 cards with no preset spending limit — 3 personal and 4 business — with annual fees from $95 to $895. No preset spending limit does not mean unlimited spending; the amount available adapts to factors including your spending patterns, payment history, credit record, and stated income (Source: American Express).
For premium travel perks, the Platinum Card® from American Express ($895 annual fee; rates & fees) provides access to more than 1,550 airport lounges worldwide. For everyday rewards, the American Express® Gold Card ($325 annual fee; rates & fees) earns 4x points at restaurants (up to $50,000 per year) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year).
On the business side, the American Express® Business Gold Card ( $375 annual fee; rates & fees) earns 4x points in the 2 categories where your business spends the most each month (up to $150,000 per year).
Personal cards suit individuals and frequent travelers, and business cards are open to sole proprietors, contractors, and small-business owners, not just large companies. Good to excellent credit is generally required, and Amex offers a spending power tool that checks whether a specific purchase will be approved before you make it (Source: American Express).
Best Amex No Preset Spending Limit Cards Right Now
- Platinum Card® from American Express: This is best for frequent luxury travelers who will use its perks; the widest lounge access of any travel card, with more than 1,550 lounges across 8 networks; $895 annual fee.
- American Express® Gold Card: This is best for people who spend heavily at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets; 4x points in both categories on capped annual spend; $325 annual fee.
- American Express Green Card® (closed to new applicants)*: This is best for travelers who want a lower-fee option; 3x points on travel, transit, and dining plus an up-to-$219 CLEAR+ credit; $150 annual fee.
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: This is best for business travelers who want premium perks; the same lounge access as the personal Platinum plus business-specific credits; $895 annual fee (rates & fees).
- American Express® Business Gold Card: This is best for businesses that want to maximize points; 4x on the top 2 eligible categories where you spend most each month up to $150,000 per year; $375 annual fee.
*The information regarding the American Express Green Card® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and neither provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
Card Comparison
|
Card Name |
Personal / Business |
Best For |
Annual Fee |
Welcome Offer |
Key Benefits (May Require Enrollment) |
|
Amex Platinum card |
Personal |
Worldwide lounge access and premium perks |
$895 | Apply and find out if you’re eligible for as high as 175,000 points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. |
5x on flights (up to $500,000 per year), access over 1,550 lounges, more than $1,400 in annual credits, hotel elite status |
|
Amex Gold card |
Personal |
Dining and U.S. supermarkets |
$325 | Apply and find out if you’re eligible for as high as 100,000 points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. |
4x dining and U.S. supermarkets, 3x flights, monthly dining and Uber credits |
|
Amex Green card (closed to new applicants) |
Personal |
Travel, transit, and dining |
$150 | No welcome offer is available. |
3x travel, transit, and dining, up to $219 CLEAR+ credit, travel protections |
|
Amex Business Platinum card |
Business |
Worldwide lounge access and premium perks |
$895 | As High As 300,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $20,000 in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. |
5x AmexTravel.com flights and hotels, over 1,550 lounges, up to $200 airline credit, business credits |
|
Amex Business Gold card |
Business |
Earning lots of points |
$375 | As High As 200,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 200,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $15,000 in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. |
4x on top 2 categories (up to $150,000 per year), travel protections, The Hotel Collection |
|
Business Green Rewards Card from American Express |
Business |
No-annual-fee employee cards (rates & fees) |
$95 (rates & fees) |
Earn 15,000 points after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months. |
2x AmexTravel.com, no-cost employee cards, pay-over-time, purchase protection |
|
Graphite™ Business Cash Unlimited Card |
Business |
Cash-back earnings |
$295 (rates & fees) |
Earn $1,500 cash-back in the form of Reward Dollars after spending $50,000 within the first 6 months of Card Membership. |
Unlimited 2% cash-back, 5% AmexTravel.com flights and hotels, up to 99 employee cards |
How Does Amex’s No Preset Spending Limit Work?
Some Amex cards do not assign a preset spending limit when you’re approved, but no preset limit is not the same as no spending limit. American Express sets a flexible range based on factors such as your spending patterns, payment history, credit record, and stated income, and that range can shift from month to month (Source: American Express).
A cardholder with a stated income of $50,000, for example, may not be approved for a $20,000 charge in a single month. If you have a large purchase coming up, the Amex spending power tool tells you instantly whether it will be approved. Staying current on payments and using the card regularly may increase how much you can spend over time.
Amex Platinum Card: Best for Worldwide Lounge Access and Premium Perks
The Amex Platinum card is built for frequent travelers who want top-tier lounge access and will use its statement credits to offset the $895 annual fee. It earns 5x points on flights booked directly or through AmexTravel.com, up to $500,000 per year.
- Access to over 1,550 lounges worldwide across 8 networks
- More than $1,400 in annual statement credits (airline, hotel, entertainment, and more)
- Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, and Leading Hotels of the World status
- Fine Hotels + Resorts access, trip delay insurance, and purchase protection
Some of these benefits require enrollment before use.
Amex Gold Card: Best for Dining and U.S. Supermarkets
The Amex Gold card is a strong everyday earner for people who spend heavily on food, pairing high rewards rates with monthly credits that offset much of the $325 fee.
- 4x points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year, then 1x)
- 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1x)
- 3x points on flights booked directly or through AmexTravel.com
- Up to $120 dining, $120 Uber Cash, $100 Resy, and $84 Dunkin’ credits annually
Some of these benefits require enrollment before use.
Amex Green Card: Best for Travel and Transit (Closed to New Applicants)
The Amex Green card carries the lowest fee of the 3 personal options and rewards a broad mix of travel and dining spend.
- 3x points on restaurants, travel, and transit
- Up to $219 annual CLEAR+ credit
- Trip delay and baggage insurance
- Rental car insurance and purchase protection
- $150 annual fee
Amex Business Platinum Card: Best for Worldwide Lounge Access and Premium Perks
The Amex Business Platinum card mirrors the personal Platinum’s premium travel benefits and adds credits aimed at business spending.
- Access to more than 1,550 lounges, including Amex Centurion Lounges
- Up to $200 annual airline fee credit and up to $600 in prepaid hotel credits
- Business credits on U.S. purchases, including up to $1,150 Dell, up to $360 Indeed, and up to $300 ChatGPT Business
- 5x points on AmexTravel.com flights and prepaid hotels; 2x on eligible business categories and on purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million in the 2x categories per year)
- $895 annual fee
Some of these benefits require enrollment before use.
Amex Business Gold Card: Best for Earning Lots of Points
The Amex Business Gold card automatically rewards your top spending categories each month, which suits businesses with concentrated, variable expenses.
- 4x points on the top 2 eligible categories each month (up to $150,000 combined per year, then 1x)
- Eligible categories include U.S. advertising, U.S. tech and software, U.S. gas, U.S. restaurants, transit, and U.S. wireless
- Access to The Hotel Collection
- Trip delay, baggage, and rental car insurance, plus purchase protection
- $375 annual fee
Amex Business Green Card: Best for No-Annual-Fee Employee Cards
The Amex Business Green card is the entry-level business option, earning modest rewards while letting you add employee cards at no extra cost.
- 2x points on eligible AmexTravel.com purchases, 1x on everything else
- Employee cards at no additional cost
- Pay Over Time flexibility and no preset spending limit
- Baggage insurance and purchase protection
- $95 annual fee
Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card: Best for Cash-Back
The Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited card keeps things simple with flat-rate cash-back and no bonus categories to track.
- Unlimited 2% cash-back on eligible purchases
- 5% cash-back on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
- Reward Dollars redeemable for statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout
- Up to 99 employee cards (metal cards $95 per year; plastic expense cards no annual fee) (rates & fees)
- $295 annual fee
Our Card Selection Methodology
These picks are based on the value each card delivers relative to its annual fee, including rewards rates, statement credits, travel benefits, and approval requirements. We compare publicly available cards that carry no preset spending limit against current welcome offers and everyday earning potential. For a full breakdown of how cards are scored and ranked, see our credit card rating methodology.
Final Thoughts
American Express offers 7 cards with no preset spending limit, with annual fees ranging from $95 to $895. The right one depends on your priorities.
Frequent travelers may lean toward the premium personal cards, while owners who need flexible spending across variable expenses may prefer a business option. Review the comparison table and top picks above to find a card that matches how you actually spend.
