With the global coronavirus pandemic keeping us all safe at home (and, unfortunately, not traveling at all), you might be starting to think about how best to use your American Express Membership Rewards.
They’re very valuable and incredibly flexible, after all, so why not use them for online shopping, charity, or gift cards?
- What are Amex rewards points worth?
- How to use your Amex rewards points
- Earning rewards from home
- FAQ
Amex points value: how much are Amex points worth?
There are a huge number of things you can do with your American Express rewards points from the comfort of your own home, but the average value of your points depends on how you use them.
Here’s a quick summary on your non-travel options.
| Option | Average point value | Possibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Pay with points at checkout | 0.7 cents per point | Amazon, Best Buy, Dell.com, Newegg, Saks Fifth Avenue, and more |
| Give to charity | 0.7 cents per point | Donate to any of the thousands of charities registered with JustGiving |
| Redeem for gift cards | 0.5 to 1.0 cents per point | Gift cards available from hundreds of vendors |
| Cover your card charges | 0.6 cents per point | Simply apply your points to cover eligible charges (not available on Corporate Card accounts) |
| Shop with Amex merchant partners | 0.5 cents per point | Shop with hundreds of Amex partner merchants |
Check out all the details with the American Express Membership Rewards calculator. Select your card, and you’ll be able to see all the various redemption options you can choose from.
Best ways to use your Amex rewards points besides travel
Let’s cover these options in a bit more detail.
Pay with Amex points online
There are a number of online shops where you can use your American Express Membership Rewards to cover all or part of your purchase at checkout. Some of these are:
- Amazon,
- Best Buy,
- Boxed,
- Dell.com,
- Grubhub,
- Newegg,
- Saks Fifth Avenue,
- Seamless.com,
- Staples,
- Walmart, and
- anywhere else that allows you to check out with PayPal.
It’s hard to argue with the value and flexibility of this option, especially with so many brick and mortar retailers currently shut down.
Related: Pocket The Most Rewards Possible – Credit Cards With No Annual Fee
Use your Amex rewards to donate to charity
There’s really never been a better time to give to charity, and using your Amex rewards is a great way to do this. This is done through the JustGiving platform for online giving, where there are over 25,000 charities, fundraising efforts, and schools registered.
Some of the bigger named charities on the site include:
- Unicef,
- The World Wildlife Foundation,
- Doctors Without Borders,
- Help for Heroes,
- …and so many more.
Buy gift cards with Amex points
The value of your American Express rewards points varies when redeeming for gift cards, depending on which you get. If you play it right, you can get a full 1 cent per point, however, so it’s worth taking some time to look through what’s available.
Gift card categories include the obvious stuff like flights, hotels, and prepaid Amex cards, but there are loads of retail, dining/takeout, and other options available. Some of these include:
- Apple’s app store and iTunes,
- Home Depot,
- Barnes & Noble,
- Zappos,
- Crate and Barrel,
- Sephora,
- Nike,
- and dozens more.
Use Amex rewards to cover charges on your card
Averaging at 0.6 cents per point, using your Amex rewards to cover charges on your Amex card won’t get you the highest value for your points, but it’s still not a bad idea.
Not all charges are eligible, however, so you’ll have to check your online statement to see which you can use your points towards. It’s all done online, and a credit usually appears on your statement in less than 48 hours.
Use your Amex rewards at Amex merchant partners
American Express has hundreds of merchant partners who offer discounts on products through an Amex branded shopping portal.
While your points are only worth 0.5 cents each when used this way, if you poke around you might find some great discounts that boost their relative value. It’s probably not the best way to use your points, but it’s one of the available options.
Related: Best Credit Card Offers, Sign-up Bonuses, and Deals
American Express travel
It’s no secret that you get the biggest bang for your American Express Membership Rewards if you redeem them for travel. In fact, you can get over 2 cents per point if you transfer your points to one of the American Express travel partners.
Long story short: if you plan to travel again in the future, you may just want to hang on to your points for now.
Earning American Express rewards while staying safe at home
If you don’t have an American Express card that earns Membership Rewards points, why not get one now? You can earn points while shopping from home, or anywhere else for that matter.
Here are some of the cards you might consider.
| Amex Card | Welcome Bonus | Earn Rate | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Blue Card | None | * 1 point per $1 spent | $0 |
| American Express Everyday Card | 10,000 points once you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months | * 2 points per $1 spent at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 spent) * 1 point per $1 spent on everything else |
$0 |
| American Express Everyday Preferred Card | 15,000 points once you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months | * 3 points per $1 spent at US supermarkets * 2 points per $1 spent at US gas stations * 1 point per $1 spent on everything else |
$95 |
| American Express Green Card | 30,000 points once you spend $2,000 in the first 3 months | * 3 points per $1 spent on dining, transit, or travel * 1 point per $1 spent on everything else |
$150 |
| American Express Gold Card | 35,000 points once you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months | * 4 points per $1 spent at restaurants, and US supermarkets (up to $25,000 spent) * 3 points per $1 spent on flights * 1 point per $1 spent on everything else |
$250 |
| The Platinum Card from American Express | 60,000 points once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months | * 5 points per $1 spent on flights or prepaid hotels * 1 point per $1 spent on everything else |
$550 |
No fee simplicity
Sometimes simple is best. The
You earn 1 point per $1 spent using the card, for no annual fee. Other than a few other insurance coverages, there aren’t any other bells and whistles with this card.
No fee, but with a welcome bonus and a better earn rate
Why not take it up a notch with the
For no annual fee and a few additional features, this is a big step up.
Good welcome bonus, great earn rate on groceries and gas
If you’re willing to pay an annual fee, you can get the
This card has a potential welcome bonus of 15,000 points, after which you’ll earn 3 points per $1 spent at supermarkets (up to $6,000 spent), 2 points per $1 spent at gas stations, then 1 point per $1 spent on everything else.
This is a great earn rate on everyday groceries and gas for a relatively low annual fee.
Solid welcome bonus, reasonable fee
The
If you spend frequently in these high earning categories, this may be the card for you.
Good welcome bonus, great earn rate on groceries
Another step up is the
On the other hand, the points earn rate is impressive. You also get 4 points per $1 spent on restaurants and supermarkets (up to $25,000 spent), 3 points per $1 spent on flights, and 1 point per $1 spent on everything else.
Top of the line welcome bonus, but a hefty fee
Finally, the granddaddy of them all. The
For non-travel purchases you’ll get 1 point per $1 spent, but 5 points per $1 spent on flights or prepaid hotels. If travel isn’t your thing, one of the less expensive cards might be better suited.
FAQ
We hope this helps you figure out how best to use your American Express Membership Rewards points (or help you decide just to hang on to them for now).
What’s the value of an Amex point?
The average value of an American Express Membership Rewards point depends on how you redeem it. For non-travel options, the value generally ranges between 0.5 and 1.0 cents per point, but it can go upwards of 2.0 cents per point if transferred to one of Amex’s travel partners.
What’s included in the Amex Rewards catalog?
The American Express catalog includes goods from hundreds of American Express merchant partners, including Apple, Sephora, Best Buy, Google, Lulu Lemon, and many more.
Which American Express card is best for rewards?
Right now The Platinum Card from American Express has the best welcome bonus, but for everyday non-travel earn rate, you might want to look closely at the American Express Everyday Preferred Card.
What’s the best credit card for me?
Not sure which card you want? Confused by all the options that are available? We’re here to help. Head on over to our Rate Your Wallet quiz to find out what credit cards may better suit your financial goals.
Your turn
Are you an avid collector of Amex Membership Rewards?
What’s your favorite way to use your points?
Is there anything we haven’t talked about here?
Let us know in the comments.
