The American Express Rewards Credit Card is the simplest way into the Amex Membership Rewards programme. It has no annual fee, earns 1 point for every £1 you spend, and gives you access to the same flexible points currency as the more expensive Gold and Platinum cards. It does not come with lounge passes or travel credits, but for many people that is the point: it is a no-cost way to collect rewards without having to justify a fee.
This review explains how the card works, what its points are worth, how it compares with the other cards in our series, and the specific situations where it is genuinely useful. It completes our run through the main UK personal Amex cards, alongside our reviews of the Amex Gold, Amex Platinum, BA Amex, BA Amex Premium Plus and Marriott Bonvoy Amex. Details were checked against American Express’s own pages in October 2026.
Representative example: Representative 29.1% APR variable. Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.1% p.a. (variable). No annual fee. 18+, subject to status. Terms apply.
The Card at a Glance
- Annual fee: none.
- Earn rate: 1 Membership Rewards point for every full £1 spent on purchases.
- Redemptions: gift cards, shopping at Amazon and PayPal, statement credit, and travel, including transfers to airline partners.
- Protection: purchase protection up to £2,500 per item, refund protection up to £200, travel accident insurance up to £150,000 and Global Assist.
- Referrals: at least 4,000 points for each approved friend, up to 90,000 a year.
- Minimum income: £15,000. UK residents aged 18 or over with a UK bank account.
Who Is the Amex Rewards Credit Card For?
The card suits three types of people. The first is someone new to rewards who wants to try Membership Rewards without committing to a fee. The second is a light traveller who would not use lounge passes or travel credits and simply wants something back on everyday spending. The third, and perhaps the most important, is someone who already has Membership Rewards points on a Gold or Platinum card and wants to keep them alive after cancelling that card. We explain that last use in detail below.
It is less suitable for frequent flyers who would benefit from the Gold card’s higher earn rate on airline spending and lounge passes, and for British Airways loyalists who could earn a Companion Voucher on a BA Amex card. Like every rewards card, it only makes sense if you pay the balance in full every month. At 29.1% APR, interest would quickly cancel out the value of the points.
How You Earn Points
The earning structure could not be simpler. You collect 1 Membership Rewards point for every full £1 spent on purchases. There are no bonus categories, no caps and no spending thresholds to chase. Supplementary cards for family members or a partner earn into the same account, so household spending adds up faster.
As with all Amex cards, some transactions do not earn points, including balance transfers, cash advances, interest, fees and foreign exchange transactions. A non-sterling transaction fee applies when you spend in a foreign currency, so a fee-free card is usually the better choice abroad. Check the current fee in the card’s summary box.
To put the earn rate in context, a household spending £1,000 a month on the card would collect 12,000 points a year. That is equivalent to £60 in gift cards at American Express’s published rate, or more if transferred to an airline and used well. Compared with a cashback card, the advantage of points is the option to transfer them for travel, which can be worth considerably more than the cash value.
The welcome offer
American Express has historically offered a modest welcome bonus on this card for meeting a spending target in the first few months, but offers change and it is not always shown. Check the current offer before applying. You will not be eligible for any new Cardmember offer if you hold, or have held in the past 24 months, any personal American Express card.
What Your Points Are Worth
American Express publishes example redemptions for this card that show the baseline value of your points. Its examples include a £25 M&S gift card for 5,000 points, a £50 Selfridges gift card for 10,000 points and a £100 Amazon gift card for 20,000 points. That works out at half a penny per point. Using points with Amazon, PayPal or to reduce your card balance generally gives slightly less, at around 0.45p per point on American Express’s published rates.
Travel is where points can stretch further. American Express also lists one return economy flight to Dubai with Virgin Atlantic for 40,000 points as an example. Membership Rewards points can be transferred to airline and hotel loyalty programmes, though the partners and rates available can vary by card, so check what your account offers before you rely on a particular transfer. Transfers are irreversible and can only go into an account in your own name, so transfer only when you have found the reward you want.
If you are unsure how to judge whether a redemption is good value, our guide to how airline miles and points benefit regular travellers walks through a simple calculation you can use for any booking.
Do the points expire?
Not while your account is open and in good standing. American Express states that missing a monthly payment forfeits the points earned in the previous month, and that if you close your last Membership Rewards card you have 30 days to use your points before they are lost.
The Hidden Use: Keeping Your Points Alive
One of the most practical reasons to hold this card has nothing to do with earning. If you have built up a Membership Rewards balance on the Amex Gold or Platinum and decide the annual fee is no longer worth paying, cancelling that card on its own would leave you only 30 days to use your points. Holding a free Membership Rewards card such as this one means your points account stays open, so you can keep your balance and redeem it when the right opportunity comes along.
If you are planning this, apply for the Rewards Credit Card before cancelling the paid card, and confirm with American Express that both cards are linked to the same Membership Rewards account. Remember that holding any personal Amex card affects your eligibility for future welcome bonuses, so think about the order in which you apply for cards.
Other Benefits
- Purchase protection: eligible items bought on the card that are stolen or damaged within 90 days can be repaired, replaced or refunded up to £2,500 per item.
- Refund protection: if a UK retailer will not refund an eligible item, American Express will, up to £200.
- Travel accident insurance: up to £150,000 on public transport when you buy your ticket with the card.
- Global Assist: a 24/7 helpline when you travel outside the UK.
- PayPal Pay with Points: use points towards eligible PayPal purchases.
- Amex Offers and Experiences: statement-credit offers with retail and travel partners, and access to event tickets.
- Plan It: spread purchases of £100 or more into fixed monthly instalments with a set fee.
The insurance is card-linked cover with limits and exclusions, not a replacement for travel insurance. Read the documents on the American Express website before relying on it.
A Worked Example
The figures below are illustrative. Imagine a couple who put £15,000 a year of normal spending on the card, including a supplementary card. They earn 15,000 points a year at no cost. Redeemed as gift cards, that is worth £75. Saved for three years, they would have 45,000 points, enough on American Express’s own example for a return economy flight to Dubai with Virgin Atlantic plus some to spare, though taxes and charges would apply and award prices vary.
Compare that with the Gold card. The same couple, if they spent £1,500 of that £15,000 directly with airlines, would earn more points on Gold thanks to the higher airline rate and the £10,000 spending bonus, and would get four lounge passes. In the first year Gold is free, so it usually wins. From the second year, Gold costs £195, and the couple would need to value the extra points and lounge passes at more than that for it to remain the better choice.
The Downsides
- No travel perks. There are no lounge passes, travel credits or Companion Vouchers.
- A flat earn rate. 1 point per £1 everywhere, with no bonus for airline or travel spending.
- Low cash-out value. Gift cards and shopping redemptions give around half a penny per point.
- Transfer options may differ. Check which partners and rates are available on this card before planning a transfer.
- Foreign spending fee. Use a fee-free card abroad.
- Acceptance gaps. Some UK retailers do not accept American Express.
How It Compares With Other Amex Cards
Among the free Amex cards, the main alternative is the BA Amex Credit Card, which also earns 1 point per £1 but in Avios, and adds a Companion Voucher at £15,000 of annual spending. If you mainly fly British Airways, it is usually the better free card. If you want flexibility between airlines and shopping rewards, the Rewards Credit Card has the edge. The Amex Gold earns the same points faster and adds lounge passes, but costs £195 from year two.
BA Amex Credit Card: Representative 29.1% APR variable, based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.1% p.a. (variable), no annual fee. Amex Gold: Representative 85.8% APR variable, based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.1% p.a. (variable) and an annual fee of £195 (£0 in the first year). 18+, subject to status. Terms apply.
How to Get the Most From the Card
- Pay in full every month by Direct Debit, which also protects your points.
- Add a supplementary card so a partner’s spending earns points too.
- Save points for travel rather than cashing them out at half a penny each.
- Check Amex Offers regularly for statement credits at retailers you already use.
- Keep it open if you also hold a paid Membership Rewards card, so your points survive if you cancel.
Our Verdict
The American Express Rewards Credit Card is a solid, no-fee entry point to Membership Rewards. It will not transform your travel the way a Gold, Platinum or BA Amex card can, but it earns flexible points on everyday spending at no cost and offers useful purchase protection. Its most valuable role for many collectors is quietly keeping a Membership Rewards balance alive after a paid card is cancelled. If you pay in full every month and want simplicity, it is worth considering.
As with any credit product, approval depends on your circumstances and applying can affect your credit file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Amex Rewards Credit Card have an annual fee?
No. There is no annual fee.
How many points do I earn?
1 Membership Rewards point for every full £1 spent on purchases.
What are the points worth?
About half a penny each as gift cards, based on American Express’s examples such as 20,000 points for a £100 Amazon gift card. Travel redemptions can be worth more.
Can I keep my Gold or Platinum points with this card?
Holding another Membership Rewards card means your points account stays open if you cancel the paid card. Confirm with American Express that both cards share the same points account before cancelling.
What is the minimum income?
£15,000 a year, according to American Express’s eligibility criteria.
Representative example: Representative 29.1% APR variable. Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.1% p.a. (variable). No annual fee. 18+, subject to status. Terms apply. Late or missed payments can cause serious money problems and make it harder to obtain credit.
Card details were checked against American Express UK in October 2026 and may change at any time. Redemption values and transfer partners can change. Always read the current terms, summary box and insurance documents on the American Express website before applying. This review is general information, not financial advice. My Miles Journey is independent and is not affiliated with American Express.
Photos via Unsplash: Andre Taissin, rupixen, Vitaly Gariev and Konstantin Bel.