CardRewardsEditorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Our analysis is based on publicly available card data and is reviewed regularly by our editorial team. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content. Last updated: June 2026.
Ranked by effective value per dollar at Express — including welcome offer math, redemption value, and annual fee.
Rankings are generated by our algorithm based on earn rates, point valuations, fees, and benefits — not paid placement. We don't accept compensation to rank cards higher. How we rank
The Platinum Card from American Express earns the top spot for Express purchases at 9.0¢ per dollar — a $895 annual fee, factoring in welcome offers and ongoing rewards. We ranked every card in our database against Express purchases using the same scoring engine that powers our search. The list below orders cards by net value to you, not by what pays the biggest affiliate commission. Cards 4–10 are still solid picks; they just trade off some of the headline value for fewer fees, broader networks, or simpler redemptions.
Amex
Ranked by effective value per dollar at Express — including welcome offer math, redemption value, and annual fee.
Rankings are generated by our algorithm based on earn rates, point valuations, fees, and benefits — not paid placement. We don't accept compensation to rank cards higher. How we rank
The Platinum Card from American Express earns the top spot for Express purchases at 9.0¢ per dollar — a $895 annual fee, factoring in welcome offers and ongoing rewards. We ranked every card in our database against Express purchases using the same scoring engine that powers our search. The list below orders cards by net value to you, not by what pays the biggest affiliate commission. Cards 4–10 are still solid picks; they just trade off some of the headline value for fewer fees, broader networks, or simpler redemptions.
Amex
Ranked by effective value per dollar at Express — including welcome offer math, redemption value, and annual fee.
Rankings are generated by our algorithm based on earn rates, point valuations, fees, and benefits — not paid placement. We don't accept compensation to rank cards higher. How we rank
The Platinum Card from American Express earns the top spot for Express purchases at 9.0¢ per dollar — a $895 annual fee, factoring in welcome offers and ongoing rewards. We ranked every card in our database against Express purchases using the same scoring engine that powers our search. The list below orders cards by net value to you, not by what pays the biggest affiliate commission. Cards 4–10 are still solid picks; they just trade off some of the headline value for fewer fees, broader networks, or simpler redemptions.
Amex
Capital One
Citi
The Platinum Card from American Express earns 9.0¢ per dollar at Express, the highest in our database. The $895 annual fee pays for itself once you're spending at least the equivalent each year. It's the right pick if you want maximum value on this category and don't mind paying for a premium card.
All 10 cards ranked by effective value per dollar.
| Card | Hotels Rate | Effective Value | Annual Fee | Fee Offset | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Platinum Card from American ExpressAmex | 5x Membership Rewards | 9.0¢/$ | $895 | $697.50 | amex |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 10x Venture Miles | 18.5¢/$ | $395 | — | visa |
| Citi Strata Premier CardCiti | 10x ThankYou Points | 15.0¢/$ | $95 | — | mastercard |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 5x Venture Miles | 9.3¢/$ | $95 | — | mastercard |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Credit CardWells Fargo | 5x Wells Fargo Rewards | 7.5¢/$ | $95 | — | visa |
| Chase Sapphire ReserveChase | 4x Ultimate Rewards | 7.2¢/$ | $795 | $868 | visa |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 5x Venture Miles | 9.3¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
| American Express Gold CardAmex | 2x Membership Rewards | 3.6¢/$ | $325 | $152 | amex |
| Chase Freedom FlexChase | 5x Ultimate Rewards | 5.4¢/$ | $0 | $30 | mastercard |
| U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature CardUsbank | 4x Usbank Altitude Rewards | 4.0¢/$ | $0 | — | visa |
Other brands in Shopping where the top picks above also earn well.
Want to filter by spend amount, network, or fee preference?
Open in full search with filters →Capital One
Citi
The Platinum Card from American Express earns 9.0¢ per dollar at Express, the highest in our database. The $895 annual fee pays for itself once you're spending at least the equivalent each year. It's the right pick if you want maximum value on this category and don't mind paying for a premium card.
All 10 cards ranked by effective value per dollar.
| Card | Hotels Rate | Effective Value | Annual Fee | Fee Offset | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Platinum Card from American ExpressAmex | 5x Membership Rewards | 9.0¢/$ | $895 | $697.50 | amex |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 10x Venture Miles | 18.5¢/$ | $395 | — | visa |
| Citi Strata Premier CardCiti | 10x ThankYou Points | 15.0¢/$ | $95 | — | mastercard |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 5x Venture Miles | 9.3¢/$ | $95 | — | mastercard |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Credit CardWells Fargo | 5x Wells Fargo Rewards | 7.5¢/$ | $95 | — | visa |
| Chase Sapphire ReserveChase | 4x Ultimate Rewards | 7.2¢/$ | $795 | $868 | visa |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 5x Venture Miles | 9.3¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
| American Express Gold CardAmex | 2x Membership Rewards | 3.6¢/$ | $325 | $152 | amex |
| Chase Freedom FlexChase | 5x Ultimate Rewards | 5.4¢/$ | $0 | $30 | mastercard |
| U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature CardUsbank | 4x Usbank Altitude Rewards | 4.0¢/$ | $0 | — | visa |
Other brands in Shopping where the top picks above also earn well.
Want to filter by spend amount, network, or fee preference?
Open in full search with filters →Capital One
Citi
The Platinum Card from American Express earns 9.0¢ per dollar at Express, the highest in our database. The $895 annual fee pays for itself once you're spending at least the equivalent each year. It's the right pick if you want maximum value on this category and don't mind paying for a premium card.
All 10 cards ranked by effective value per dollar.
| Card | Hotels Rate | Effective Value | Annual Fee | Fee Offset | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Platinum Card from American ExpressAmex | 5x Membership Rewards | 9.0¢/$ | $895 | $697.50 | amex |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 10x Venture Miles | 18.5¢/$ | $395 | — | visa |
| Citi Strata Premier CardCiti | 10x ThankYou Points | 15.0¢/$ | $95 | — | mastercard |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 5x Venture Miles | 9.3¢/$ | $95 | — | mastercard |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Credit CardWells Fargo | 5x Wells Fargo Rewards | 7.5¢/$ | $95 | — | visa |
| Chase Sapphire ReserveChase | 4x Ultimate Rewards | 7.2¢/$ | $795 | $868 | visa |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 5x Venture Miles | 9.3¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
| American Express Gold CardAmex | 2x Membership Rewards | 3.6¢/$ | $325 | $152 | amex |
| Chase Freedom FlexChase | 5x Ultimate Rewards | 5.4¢/$ | $0 | $30 | mastercard |
| U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature CardUsbank | 4x Usbank Altitude Rewards | 4.0¢/$ | $0 | — | visa |
Other brands in Shopping where the top picks above also earn well.
Want to filter by spend amount, network, or fee preference?
Open in full search with filters →
