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The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
vs. The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Updated: March 19, 2024
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Being among the best credit card options for small businesses, we compare The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express and American Express Blue Business Cash Card in terms of their benefits, features, fees, rewards and other factors to help you determine which one is better suited for your needs.
They both have striking similarities, such as both having no annual fee, a 0% introductory offer for purchases for 12 months and the ability to spend over your credit limit. However, they also provide different benefits that we will look further into.
Comparison Overview: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express vs. The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
- The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American ExpressThe American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
- Has Annual Fee
- Has Balance Transfer Offer
- Has APR Offer
- Cash Back Rewards
- Travel Rewards
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express At a Glance
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has no annual fee, offers great rewards and gives leeway for spending flexibility. It also features a 0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 12 months then a subsequent variable rate from 16.99% – 24.99% based on your creditworthiness. You can earn 2x points on the first $50,000 spent (1x points thereafter) in purchases every year.
- The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Great no-annual-fee card for earning rewards on business spending
- up to 2X Membership Rewards® pointsRewards Rate
- 18.49% – 26.49% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR on purchases
- Simple flat-rate rewards on all purchases
- Flexible redemption options
- Good for small businesses
Cons
- No intro APR on balance transfers
- Foreign transaction fees
- Fees for transferring points and booking flights through American Express Travel
Introductory Offers
- Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $3,000 in the first three months.
- Enjoy a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening, then a variable APR of 17.74% - 25.74% after that. APR will not exceed 29.99%. See Rates and Fees
Rewards
- Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases like office supplies and client dinners, up to $50,000 per year. After that, earn 1 point per dollar.
APRs, Fees, and Penalties
- No annual fee. See Rates and Fees
Perks & Benefits
- Expanded Buying Power lets you spend beyond your credit limit, adapting to your card usage and payment history. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
- Terms Apply.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card At a Glance
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express offers 2% cashback on the first $50,000 each year and 1% thereafter. It offers a generous introductory rate of 0% for the first 12 months, then a 16.99% to 24.99% variable rate; which is still lower than most business cards. You also get to enjoy expanded buying power which lets you spend beyond your credit limit.
- The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Straightforward cash back for businesses with no annual fee
- 1–2% Cash Back*Rewards Rate
- 18.49% – 26.49% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- High flat-rate cash back
- No annual fee
- Modest intro APR offer on purchases
Cons
- Cap on cash back earnings
- Foreign transaction fee
- Introductory Offers
- Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on your card within the first 3 months.
- Rewards
- Earn 2% cash back on eligible purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back is automatically credited to your statement.
- APRs, Fees, and Penalties
- Enjoy a 0.0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 12 months. After that, a variable APR of 17.74% to 25.74% applies, based on your creditworthiness. APRs will not exceed 29.99% See Rates and Fees
- No annual fee. See Rates and Fees
- Perks & Benefits
- Take advantage of Expanded Buying Power to spend beyond your credit limit. The amount adjusts with your card usage, payment history, and other factors.
- Terms Apply.
Comparison Summary
We listed the similarities and differences between the American Express Blue Business Cash Card and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express to help you decide which card to pick.
Card Detail | Comparison Summary |
|---|---|
Travel Coverage and Purchase Protection | The American Express Blue Business Plus Credit Card provides purchase protection of up to $1,000 per occurrence and up to $50,000 per cardmember account per year. The American Express Blue Business Cash Card offers similar purchase protection coverage together with car rentalinsurance as well as a global assist hotline. Winner: American Express Blue Business Cash Card |
Welcome Bonus | American Express Blue Business Plus Credit Card provides a welcome bonus of 15,000 membership rewards points after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases within your first three months. Meanwhile, American Express Blue Business Cash Card lets you earn $250 statement credit after also spending $3,000 in your first three months. The $250 statement credit might have more value than 15,000 points but adding the reward points might allow for a bigger redemption. Winner: Tie |
Rewards | The American Express Blue Business Plus Credit Card lets you earn reward points fast with its 2x points on any category on the first $50,000 spent per year, then 1x point thereafter. American Express Blue Business Cash Card, on the other hand, earns you a reward in the form of 2% cashback on all eligible purchases for up to $50,000 per year then 1% after which is automatically credited to your statement. Whether reward points or cashback is more useful depends on the user’s preferences and spending habits. However, American Express Membership Rewards are generally valued at 2 cents per point. Winner: American Express Blue Business Plus Credit Card |
Annual Fee | The American Express Blue Business Plus Credit Card and American Express Blue Business Cash Card both do not have annual fees. Winner: Tie |
Loyalty Programs | The American Express Blue Business Plus Credit Card offers more varied rewards to be redeemed for its loyalty programs as opposed to American Express Blue Business Cash Card users who only receive cashback. Winner: American Express Blue Business Plus Credit Card |
Which Card Should You Get?
The deciding factor whether to choose the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card or The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is the reward points vs cashback system. We’ll get into more details on who would benefit from each card.
Who Should Consider the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express?
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is well-suited for small business owners who don’t like paying for annual fees, but want to maximize points earnings across different categories. This card is also the better option for those who are looking to spend Membership Rewards points instead of simply receiving cashback.
The American Express Blue Business Plus Credit Card is ideal for small business owners who plan on spending a significant amount in the first year and need a break for paying.
The card is also for business owners who think they won’t reach the $50,000 annual limit since the rewards are sliced in half afterwards.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
Who Should Consider the The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card?
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is suited for small business owners who want to enjoy benefits through a simple reward system like: 2% cashback on the first $50,000 spending and 1% afterward. The cardholder doesn’t have to worry about redeeming rewards as well because the cashback is automatically credited.
The American Express Blue Business Cash Card is well-suited for people who don’t care to maximize travel rewards.
The card is also ideal for small business owners who spend over their credit limit and have purchase needs across different categories.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
EXPERT OPINION
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is a much more valuable card if you’re willing to take a few extra steps to redeem your Membership Rewards at a high rate. If that isn’t of interest to you, there’s nothing wrong with the Blue Business Cash Card for your everyday purchases.
Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs
You may still have some questions choosing between the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card. We’ve provided answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
Is the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express better than the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card?
Yes, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is better if you want to redeem valuable rewards; an option that American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card doesn’t have because it only features cashback.
Can you get The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express if you have the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card?
Yes, you can get both cards. However, keep in mind the issuer’s 2/90 rule, which means you can’t be approved for more than two Amex cards in a 90-day period.
Can you transfer points from the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card?
Yes, the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express earns Membership Rewards, and all rewards earned from one or more cards live in the same place. However, this is only possible as long as the cards belong to the same account holder
Can you switch from The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card?
Yes, if you decide to earn cash back instead of reward points, you can ask to change your card.
What’s harder to get, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express or the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card?
American Express doesn’t provide an upfront information regarding the required limits for each card, but consumers report that you should have a credit rating of 690 or higher to get approved for the Blue Business Plus credit card, while a third-party website reports a minimum score of 670 to get the Blue Business Cash Card.
How much do you have to spend for The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express vs American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card to get the welcome bonus?
You can earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points as a welcome bonus on the American Express Blue Business Plus Credit when you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases within your first three months of card membership.
For the American Express Blue Business Cash Card, you have to spend $3,000 in purchases on your card in the first three months to earn a $250 statement credit.
Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options
While The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express and American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card are solid credit cards for small business owners, there are other valuable business credit cards to choose from if these options don’t fit your needs.
Learn more about credit cards in general
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About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
sources
- American Express. "The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express." Accessed January 7, 2022.
- American Express. "American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card." Accessed January 7, 2022.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.