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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
The best time to apply for these popular American Express cards based on offer history
Olivia Mittak is a credit cards editor at TPG. She specializes in maximizing earn for points and miles, finding the best welcome bonuses and choosing the right credit cards for your wallet.
September 29, 2026 • 19 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
Welcome offers for travel rewards cards can fluctuate significantly, making timing important for maximizing value.
Historical data on past offers helps applicants decide when to apply to secure the most advantageous bonuses.
Eligibility for welcome offers may be restricted by previous card ownership or holding higher-tier products in the same family.
Some cards feature more frequent elevated offers, especially those associated with airline and hotel loyalty programs.
What to consider
You may only earn one welcome bonus per lifetime for each card, so waiting for a top offer is crucial.
Eligibility for a bonus can be affected if you have or previously had a higher-tier card in the same product line.
Targeted offers may differ from publicly available ones, and not all applicants will qualify for the highest bonuses.
What you'll miss from the article
Detailed historical charts and guidance on the optimal timing to apply for specific travel rewards cards based on past offer trends.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
One of the best reasons to apply for a travel rewards card is the welcome offer. By hitting certain minimum spending requirements, you can often earn tens — or hundreds—of—thousands of points or miles within the first few months of opening a new card.
Welcome offers change frequently, and part of any successful travel rewards strategy is knowing when it's the right time to apply for a specific card. After all, you wouldn’t want to miss out on a haul of bonus points by applying too early — or too late.
However, without tracking welcome offers on specific cards over time, you may lack the necessary context to determine whether a particular offer is worth applying for at any given moment.
We’ve done that work for you and compiled all of the information you'll need into one handy guide. You can also check our frequently updated list of the best increased card offers to apply for.
In this article, we’ll focus on American Express, which offers some of the best cobranded and proprietary rewards cards available from any issuer.
Best American Express welcome offers
Here are some of the most popular Amex cards, with guidance on when you should apply for each.
Just note that we’re only discussing publicly available welcome offers. Some folks may receive targeted offers with more bonus points or cash back. Additionally, offers may change at any time, and some of the offers mentioned below may not be available.
Keep in mind that American Express only allows you to earn one bonus per lifetime on each of its cards, so make sure to wait for the best time to apply. In addition, you may not be eligible for a welcome offer if you've already held a higher-tier card in the same family.
For example, if you currently have or have previously held the American Express Platinum Card®, you may not be eligible for a welcome offer on the American Express® Gold Card.
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 300,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases within the first three months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 200,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases within the first three months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
Earn $1,500 cash back (in the form of Reward Dollars) after spending $50,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. (Reward Dollars can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.)
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as $300 cash back after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer; Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.)
Here are the offers we have seen on the Amex Platinum:
Welcome offer history
Approximate date
Offer
Value*
February 2026 to present
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
Up to $3,500
June 2025 to February 2026
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
Up to $3,500
August 2023 to June 2025
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
$1,600
*Valuations are based on TPG's September 2026 valuations and are not from the issuer.
Highest welcome offer
When the Amex Platinum ran its highest-ever offer, applicants could find out their offer and see if they were eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. (Offer no longer available; welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
When to apply
Generally, apply for this card only if you can secure a welcome offer of 150,000 points or more, whether through a targeted or limited-time offer.
The Amex Business Platinum often extends even more lucrative welcome offers than its personal counterpart and offers many of the same luxury perks, though some of its statement credits are focused on typical business expenditures.
Cardmembers pay the same $895 annual fee for the Business Platinum (see rates and fees) as the consumer Platinum.
Here are the offers we have seen on the Amex Business Platinum:
Welcome offer history
Approximate date
Offer
Value*
March 2026 to present
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 300,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases within the first three months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
Up to $6,000
June 2025 to March 2026
Earn 200,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases within the first three months of card membership.
$4,000
July to September 2025
Earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership.
$3,000
April to June 2025
Earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after spending $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel® within the first three months of card membership.
Up to $3,500
April 2024 to April 2025
Earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership.
$3,000
December 2022 to April 2024
Earn 120,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership.
$2,400
*Valuations are based on TPG's valuations and are not from the issuer.
Highest welcome offer
With the current welcome offer on the Amex Business Platinum, you may be eligible for as high as 300,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.) If you receive an offer for the full 300,000 points, that's by far the best we've seen.
When to apply
Any time this card’s welcome offer equals or tops 200,000 points, it’s worth considering.
The Amex Gold is an excellent everyday choice for foodies since it earns 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide on up to $50,000 per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter) and on up to $25,000 per calendar year at U.S. supermarkets (then 1 point per dollar spent). These are solid earning rates for a card with a $325 annual fee (see ).
THE POINTS GUY
Here are the offers we have seen on the Amex Gold:
Welcome offer history
Approximate date
Offer
Value*
April 2026 to present
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
Up to $2,000
June 2025 to April 2026
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
Up to $2,000
November 2024 to June 2025
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
$1,200
July to November 2024
Earn 60,000 bonus after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first six months of card membership (up to $100 back).
Up to $1,300
October 2023 to July 2024
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
$1,200
July 2022 to October 2023
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
$1,200
*Valuations are based on TPG's valuations and are not from the issuer.
Highest welcome offer
New applicants could find out their offer and see if they were eligible for as high as 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. (Offer no longer available; welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
When to apply
If you're able to get at least 60,000 points in your offer, it's worth applying.
The Amex Business Gold card is great for small businesses thanks to its strong earning structure. It earns 4 points per dollar spent on your top two eligible spending categories each billing cycle (up to $150,000 per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent). Cardmembers pay $375 each year to hold this card (see ).
THE POINTS GUY
Here are the offers we've seen on the Amex Business Gold:
Welcome offer history
Approximate date
Offer
Value*
March 2026 to present
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 200,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases within the first three months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
Up to $4,000
July 2024 to March 2026
Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership.
$2,000
*Valuations are based on TPG's valuations and are not from the issuer.
Highest welcome offer
With the current welcome offer, new cardmembers may be eligible for as high as 200,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
When to apply
If you see an offer for this card with 100,000 points or more and a spending requirement that you and your small business can easily meet, it’s worth applying.
The American Express Graphite Card carries a $295 annual fee (see ) and is aimed at high-spending businesses that want to earn cash back with American Express.
THE POINTS GUY
Welcome offer history
Since this card hasn't been around for too long, its current welcome offer is the only one we've seen. Currently, new cardmembers can earn $1,500 cash back in the form of Reward Dollars after spending $50,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. (Reward Dollars can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.)
When to apply
While we can't say for certain what future offers on the Amex Graphite Card will look like, we encourage you to apply for the current offer if you're interested in the card.
The Blue Cash Preferred is one of the best cash-back cards currently available, with high 6% cash back earning rates on U.S. streaming subscriptions and U.S. supermarkets (U.S. supermarkets are subject to a $6,000 spending cap per calendar year, then 1%; users receive cash back in the form of Reward Dollars that they can redeem as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.)
The card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95 annually thereafter (see ).
THE POINTS GUY
Here are the offers we have seen on the Amex Blue Cash Preferred:
Welcome offer history
Approximate date
Offer
Value
February 2026 to present
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as $300 cash back after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer; Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.)
Up to $300
October 2022 to February 2026
Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
$250
Highest welcome offer
This card’s welcome offer doesn’t vary much, but currently new cardmembers may be eligible for as high as $300 cash back after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer; Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.)
When to apply
Consider applying if you're eligible for an offer of at least $250 cash back.
Though its earnings aren’t as solid as those of the Blue Cash Preferred, the Blue Cash Everyday still earns cash back at a steady rate. This card's lower earning rates are understandable, given that it has no annual fee (see ).
(Users receive cash back in the form of Reward Dollars that they can redeem as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.)
THE POINTS GUY
Here are the offers we have seen on the Amex Blue Cash Everyday:
Welcome offer history
Approximate date
Offer
Value
February 2026 to present
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as $200 cash back after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer; Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.)
Up to $200
January 2023 to February 2026
Earn $200 back as a statement credit after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
$200
Highest welcome offer
When the Blue Cash Everyday had its highest offer, new cardmembers could earn $200 cash back after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership (no longer available).
When to apply
Go for an offer with at least a $200 cash-back bonus.
American Express is the sole issuer of Delta's cobranded consumer and business cards. Amex's Delta cards feature elevated offers more commonly than most of their proprietary cards, so it's very important to know when it's the right time to apply.
American Express offers a range of cobranded Hilton cards to suit every traveler, from beginners to hardcore Hilton loyalists. Like Amex's Delta cards, the Hilton cards receive elevated welcome offers more frequently than the cards we've featured in this guide.
If you're interested in one of Amex's Hilton cards, we have a guide on when it's best to apply, based on the offer history of all Hilton cards.
Marriott American Express cards
Marriott's portfolio of cards can be more challenging to track because it includes cards issued by Chase and American Express. The two issuers don't necessarily put elevated offers on their Marriott cards at the same time. Plus, both issuers have their own application rules and restrictions.
If you're interested in one of Amex's Marriott cards, we have a guide to the offer history of all Marriott cards to help you know when it's the right time to apply.
Bottom line
Pay attention to the welcome offers of any travel rewards cards you may be interested in, as offers can change frequently. Applying at the wrong time could mean missing out on thousands of bonus points or hundreds of dollars in cash back.
Before applying for any new card, look at the range of its previous welcome offers. Then, when an offer hits the higher end of that range, you can feel sure you’re getting a great deal and making the right choice for your rewards strategy.
To learn more about credit card bonus offers over time, see the following:
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click .
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold, click .
For rates and fees of the Amex Graphite card, click .
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred, click .
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday, click .
