How to Get Free Amex Card?
Getting an American Express (Amex) card for free typically means avoiding the annual fee or obtaining one without upfront costs. While Amex does not offer completely free premium cards, you can use several methods to get an Amex card with no fee or reduced cost.
1. Apply for a No-Annual-Fee Amex Card
American Express offers several credit cards with no annual fee, making them free to own.
Best No-Annual-Fee Amex Cards:
- Amex Blue Cash Everyday® Card – Earns cash back on groceries, gas, and online shopping.
- Amex Cash Magnet® Card – Offers 1.5% unlimited cash back on purchases.
- Amex Everyday® Card – Earns 2X points at supermarkets (first $6,000 per year).
- Amex Hilton Honors® Card – Good for hotel rewards with no annual fee.
Tip: Choose a no-fee Amex card to avoid paying any yearly cost.
2. Get a First-Year Annual Fee Waiver
Some Amex cards waive the first-year annual fee, allowing you to use them for free initially.
- Example: Amex Gold or Platinum sometimes offers a first-year fee waiver in promotional offers.
Tip: Before applying, check if there’s a welcome offer waiving the annual fee.
3. Use Amex Credits and Perks to Offset Fees
Many premium Amex cards come with credits, cashback, and benefits that can cover the annual fee.
How to Offset Amex Fees:
- Amex Platinum ($695 fee) – Comes with $1,500+ in annual credits, like Uber, airline, and hotel credits.
- Amex Gold ($250 fee) – Offers $240 in dining and Uber credits, reducing your real cost to near $0.
Tip: If you fully use the card’s benefits, it effectively becomes “free.”
4. Get an Amex Business Card with No Fee
Amex offers business credit cards with no annual fee or waived fees.
- Amex Blue Business Cash™ Card – No annual fee, earns 2% cash back on business purchases.
- Amex Blue Business Plus™ Card – No fee, earns 2X Membership Rewards on up to $50,000/year.
Tip: Even if you don’t have a business, freelancers and gig workers can apply.
5. Get an Amex Card Through Promotions
Sometimes, banks or employers offer exclusive deals where you can get an Amex card for free (with no annual fee).
- Bank Partnerships: Some banks offer Amex cards with fee waivers for VIP clients.
- Corporate Amex Cards: If your employer provides an Amex Corporate Card, you won’t pay fees.
Tip: Check bank promotions or employer benefits for free Amex card offers.
6. Request a Retention Offer to Waive the Fee
If you already have an Amex card with an annual fee, you can call Amex and request a retention offer to waive or reduce the fee.
- Call Amex Customer Service and say you’re considering canceling due to the fee.
- They might offer you a statement credit or a fee waiver to keep you as a customer.
Tip: This works best for long-time Amex cardholders.
7. Downgrade to a No-Fee Amex Card
If you have an Amex card with a high annual fee, you can downgrade to a no-fee version instead of canceling.
- Example: Amex Gold ($250 fee) → Amex Everyday (No fee).
Tip: This keeps your credit history intact without paying fees.
Final Thoughts
To get an Amex card for free, consider:
✔ Applying for a no-annual-fee Amex card.
✔ Looking for first-year fee waivers on premium cards.
✔ Using credits and perks to offset fees.
✔ Requesting a fee waiver or retention offer.
Would you like help choosing the best free Amex card for your needs? 😊