Amex Membership Rewards®: How to Earn and Redeem Points

5 Min Read | Published: December 18, 2025

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This article contains general information and is not intended to provide information that is specific to American Express products and services. Similar products and services offered by different companies will have different features and you should always read about product details before acquiring any financial product.

Elevate your experience with Amex Membership Rewards points. Learn how to earn, redeem, and leverage American Express Membership Rewards points wisely.

At-A-Glance

  • The Membership Rewards® points program makes it easy to earn points with a wide variety of redemption options and the chance to maximize your rewards.
  • Earn Membership Rewards® points automatically when you use an eligible American Express® Card for everyday purchases- no extra steps needed.
  • Redeem your points your way: book travel, transfer to airline or hotel partners, get statement credits, show with gift cards, or even cover your Card’s annual fee.

Membership Rewards® points turn your everyday spending into something more. With an eligible American Express® Card, you’ll earn points on the things you already buy—across multiple categories—so every purchase gets you closer to rewards. From flexible redemption options to ways to maximize the value of your points, we’ll dive into how the program works, ways to earn and redeem, and why Membership Rewards can pump up the value of every dollar you spend.

How Amex Membership Rewards Points Work

You’ll earn Membership Rewards points every time you make eligible purchases with your American Express Card. You can then choose how to use them, whether that means putting cash back into your account, treating yourself to a night out, or upgrading your next trip with a touch of luxury. The value of Membership Rewards points vary, depending on how and where you choose to redeem them. Points are not tied to one airline, hotel, or dining program, and they never expire as long as your account stays open and in good standing.

 

With Membership Points, you could:

  • Save more when you pay for dinner out with friends.
  • Add to your balance when you use your card to book flights or prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com.
  • Collect cash back from your weekly grocery run.
  • Pay less when traveling by public transit.

Did you know?

With the American Express Green Card®, you could earn up to 3X points whenever you use it to purchase transit fare.

How to Earn American Express Membership Rewards Points

While some Cards earn more than others in certain categories, you’ll typically earn at least one point for each eligible dollar you spend. And when you enroll more than one Card in the Membership Rewards program, you can combine points into a single program account. 

 

Here’s how you’ll earn:

  • Everyday Spending
    Depending on your American Express Card, you can earn rewards points on everyday travel, groceries, and dining worldwide — whether you’re dining in or ordering takeout. Click here to learn about each Card’s reward multipliers.
  • Welcome Offers
    You may earn points per account when you meet your Card’s minimum spending amount within a specified timeframe.
  • Referral Bonuses
    You can earn points just by referring a friend who is approved for and receives a participating American Express Card.
  • Amex Offers
    Amex Offers is a program that helps you earn statement credits on qualifying purchases from partnering companies. You can earn rewards by adding offers to your card before making select purchases. Just check out the offers tab on the American Express® App to get started.

Did you know?

You can align your maximum point-earning potential with the Card that fits your lifestyle, like Platinum for points on travel when booking through AmexTravel.com.

How to Redeem Amex Points

You can redeem your points anytime by logging in to your account and navigating to the Redeem Rewards section. And if you’d like to get more creative with point redeeming, you can also check out these options:

  • Book travel with American Express and transfer points
    When you book your flight or prepaid hotel through American Express® Travel, you can transfer the points you earn to 20 partnering programs, such as hotel loyalty or frequent flyer programs, or use them when completing other reservations, where you’ll see the option to use points for some or all of the trip.1
  • Use statement credits or gift cards
    You can convert your points into statement credits or gift cards within your Amex account and use them to pay for special events or a new restaurant booking.
  • Deposit into your checking account
    If you have an American Express® Rewards or Business Checking account, you can convert points and have them deposited directly into your account. Terms Apply. Learn more.
  • Pay with points
    When shopping with participating brands, you can redeem points right at checkout. For example, you can order food on Grubhub with your Gold Card, earn 4X points on the check, and later use those points to pay for more takeout.

Benefits of the Membership Rewards Program

The Membership Rewards program is a loyalty program that rewards you for each qualifying dollar you spend with your Amex Card. Opening an eligible Amex account usually means you’re automatically enrolled, but some Cards may charge a fee or require you to call the number on the back of your Card to sign up.

 

Once you’re enrolled, the program offers you the flexibility to redeem points in whatever way suits your wallet and lifestyle, whether you want to splurge or save. You’ll also enjoy a seamless online experience where you can transfer points to airline and hotel partners. Plus, the program gives you long-term opportunities to enhance your travel and lifestyle as points accumulate over time.

 

There are currently 5 Cards that offer automatic enrollment in the Membership Rewards program:

Frequently Asked Questions

The Takeaway

You can use Membership Rewards points freely in ways that fit your financial goals, whether that means making everyday purchases more affordable or saving on luxury travel. Think about how your lifestyle priorities align with how you earn and redeem points so you can make the most of every dollar. Learn more by exploring the full Membership Rewards points guide.

Headshot of Liv Gillespie

Liv Gillespie is a Philadelphia-based writer with a double M.A. in English Linguistics & Literature and Secondary Education. Her work focuses on personal finance.

All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express.

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