Amex Blue Business Plus Card Review: Who It Works For, Its Reward, and Why Bycard is a Better Fit

Every business owner wants a card that keeps spending simple, earns strong rewards, and does not bury them in fees. The Amex Blue Business Plus is one of the most talked-about small-business cards because it promises exactly that. It delivers 2× points on the first $50,000 in purchases each year, has no annual fee, and gives your business 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases.

But the real question is always the same: Does this card fit the way your team spends today? And what happens when your needs grow beyond the $50k cap, require global spending, or become more digital-heavy with ads, subscriptions, and online tools?

This review breaks it all down using real numbers, examples, and a comparison with Bycard, a virtual prepaid solution used by businesses with high online spend.

What the Amex Blue Business Plus Credit Card Offers

The Amex Blue Business Plus Credit Card keeps its value simple and predictable. Here is what business owners get upfront:

1. 2× Membership Rewards Points Up to $50,000 Per Year

Amex awards 2× points per dollar on all eligible purchases until you hit the yearly $50,000 cap. After that, earnings drop to 1× point per dollar.

Why this matters:
Most business owners spend heavily on software, subscriptions, shipping, digital services, office supplies, and team purchases. Since the 2× rate applies to every category, many businesses hit the $50k cap fast.

2. No Annual Fee

According to Amex’s latest data, 72 percent of small businesses prefer no-fee business cards because fees reduce ROI on rewards. The Amex Blue Business Plus checks that box cleanly.

3. 0% Intro APR for 12 Months

Great for large upfront purchases or equipment upgrades. After the first year, the APR adjusts to a variable rate.

4. Expandable Buying Power

Amex provides a flexible spending ceiling based on business performance. Your limit adjusts depending on payment history and revenue patterns.

Who the Amex Blue Business Plus Suits Best

This card is built for small to mid-size businesses that want:

• Simple rewards
• Flat cash-back style earnings
• No category tracking
• No annual fee
• Easy employee card distribution
• Accounting-friendly monthly statements

The card works well for:

• Freelancers and sole proprietors

Those with steady but predictable yearly spend under $50k.

• Small teams

Companies with 2–10 employees that need central oversight but not the complexities of premium travel cards.

• Businesses that rarely travel

Since the card has foreign transaction fees, it’s better suited for domestic spending.

Why Should Look Beyond Amex Blue Business Plus

The Amex Blue Business Plus is not ideal for companies that:

• Spend more than $50k per year on non-bonus items

Once you cross the $50,000 cap, your rewards drop from 2× to 1×, cutting your value nearly in half.

• Operate globally or pay international vendors

Because Amex charges foreign transaction fees, global teams may lose money.

• Want premium travel perks

Cards like Amex Business Gold or Chase Ink Preferred offer stronger travel benefits.

• Need debit-like spending or more granular virtual card controls

Tech teams, ad buyers, and online-first businesses usually need tools outside Amex’s model.

How to Earn and Redeem Points

You earn Membership Rewards points on every swipe or purchase. Here is how the numbers can work out:

Sample Reward Snapshot

If your business spends $38,000 per year:

• First $38,000 earns 2× = 76,000 points
• Estimated value depending on redemption:
– Travel via Amex partners: 1.7–2.0 cents per point
– Cash-equivalents: 0.6–1 cent per point

76,000 points can translate into:
• A domestic round-trip flight
• $760 in statement credits (high-end transfer redemption)
• $450–$500 in gift cards

Transfer Partners That Matter

Top performers include:
• Delta SkyMiles
• British Airways Executive Club
• Hilton Honors
• Air Canada Aeroplan

These partners give Membership Rewards a strong reputation among travel-focused businesses.

Alternative Cards to Consider

Here are common choices when businesses outgrow the Amex Blue Business Plus reward structure:

• Amex Business Gold Card

• 4× points on top categories
• Better for big spenders
• Annual fee applies

• Chase Ink Business Preferred

• 3× points on online advertising, travel, shipping
• Excellent for digital-forward companies

• Capital One Spark Cash Plus

• 2 percent cash-back unlimited
• Charge card structure similar to Amex

Introducing Bycard: A Practical Alternative for Digital and Online Spend

Unlike the Amex Blue Business Plus, Bycard is a virtual prepaid solution, not a credit card. It works best for:

• Ad spend on platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Google
• Online subscriptions
• Distributed teams
• Vendor-level controls
• Multi-currency spending
• Real-time usage tracking

Some data from recent business surveys show:

• 67 percent of digital-first companies prefer virtual cards for better fraud protection.
• 54 percent say campaign-level spending visibility is a top priority.

Bycard is built specifically for these use cases.

Where Bycard Excels

• Instant virtual card creation
• Global multi-currency support
• Budget caps per card or per vendor
• Strong fraud controls
• Cleaner segmentation for advertising and online subscriptions

For teams running spend across the U.S., EU, Asia, or Africa, prepaid virtual cards often reduce billing friction, especially on ad platforms.

Amex Blue Business Plus vs Bycard: Key Differences at a Glance

Feature	Amex Blue Business Plus	Bycard
Card Type	Business credit card	Virtual prepaid card
USP	2× Membership Rewards points up to $50k	Instant 3-minute virtual card creation
Fees	No annual fee, but foreign transaction fees	No hidden costs, transparent pricing
Spend Controls	Basic expense tracking and employee cards	Unlimited virtual cards, vendor-level limits, category controls
Funding	Credit line, pay-in-full charge card	USDT or wire top-up, full balance control
Global Use	Not ideal for multi-currency spend	Multi-currency support, Visa/Mastercard acceptance
Best For	Reward seekers, domestic spenders, small teams	Media buyers, SaaS-heavy teams, global vendors, subscription management
Strengths	Rewards, 0% intro APR, no annual fee	30+ trusted BINs, campaign stability, safe online payments
Limitations	Reward cap after $50k, no instant cards, FX fees	No rewards, prepaid model only
Ideal Business Fit	Travel rewards and general business spend	Ad spend control, global payments, fast card issuance