In the world of business credit cards, The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card and The Plum Card® from American Express offer unique features that cater to varying business needs.
The Blue Business Cash offers 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases annually, then 1% thereafter, with rewards automatically credited to your statement each billing cycle. This no-annual-fee card (rates & fees) provides a straightforward way for small businesses to earn cash back on expenses, though larger spenders may find more value in other options.
On the other hand, the Plum Card® is a business card that offers the flexibility to pay in full each month to earn rewards or carry your balance for up to 60 days with no interest.
This article will compare each card based on several factors to help you make an informed decision on which card is the best to add to your wallet.Full Reviews: The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card and The Plum Card® from American Express.
Pro Tip:
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (review) is almost identical to the Blue Business Cash, but it earns Amex Membership Rewards points that you can transfer to airlines over cash back.
Table of Contents
Overview: Blue Business Cash vs Plum Card
- Earn a $250 Statement Credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- 2% Cash Back On Up to $50,000 Per Year (1% Thereafter)
- 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 Months. After that, 16.74% - 28.49%. APRs will not exceed 29.99%.
- No Annual Fee (rates & fees)
- Earn 1.5% Cash Back When You Pay Balance Within 10 Days of Statement Closing Date OR Carry Your Balance for Up to 60 Days With Zero Interest
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- $250 Annual Fee and No Foreign Transaction Fees (rates & fees)
Welcome Bonus
Amex Blue Business Cash:
The Blue Business Cash currently offers the following welcome bonus:
Earn a $250 Statement Credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.Amex Plum Card:
Unlike most cards, the Amex Plum Card does not offer a welcome bonus for new applicants.
Earning Rewards
Amex Blue Business Cash:
The Blue Business Cash allows business owners to earn 2% cash back on up to $50,000 in eligible purchases every calendar year. After that, the card earns 1% back.
Plus, any cash back you earn is automatically credited to your card statement for easy rewards.
Amex Plum Card:
The Amex Plum Card has a unique way of approaching rewards. You have two options:
- Earn an unlimited 1.5% Early Pay Discount on eligible charges within 10 days of your statement closing date and see the discount applied to your next statement when you pay at the least the Minimum Payment Due by the Please Pay By Date; OR
- You can carry the balance interest-free for 60 days if you pay the minimum monthly amount by the due date.
The minimum monthly payment is 10% of the balance from new activity on your current billing statement plus the entire amount of any previously deferred balance, as long as your account is current.
This interest-free option could be a good choice for businesses that need extra flexibility with their cash flow.
Winner:
It depends. If you plan to pay off your balance in full each month, then the Blue Business Cash wins this category. If you need flexibility on your payments, then the Amex Plum can save you a lot of money in interest payments.
Card Benefits and Perks
Amex Blue Business Cash:
The Blue Business Cash offers the following card benefits:
- 0% Intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening. After that, a 16.74% - 28.49% APR applies. APRs will not exceed 29.99%.
- Expanded Buying Power.
- Secondary Rental Car Insurance.*
- Extended Warranty.*
- Purchase Protection.*
Amex Plum Card:
The Amex Plum Card offers the following card benefits:
- Purchase protection.*
- Extended warranty.*
- Secondary Rental Car Insurance.*
- No foreign transaction fees.
- No preset spending limit.
Winner:
Tie. The Amex Plum has no foreign transactions while the Blue Business Cash charges a fee. But the Blue Business Cash has an intro APR offer.
Value of the Annual Fees
Amex Blue Business Cash:
The Blue Business Cash is a great choice for small businesses because it has no annual fee (rates & fees).
This can help new businesses save on costs while still being able to earn cash-back rewards on their purchases.
You can also add up to 99 employees as authorized users free of charge.
Amex Plum Card:
The Amex Plum card has a $250 annual fee (rates & fees) and you can additional employees for no fee.
Winner:
Blue Business Cash. It is hard to compete with no annual fee.
Redeeming Rewards
Amex Blue Business Cash:
You can only redeem your rewards on the Blue Business Cash as a statement credit.
Rewards are automatically redeemed to your account within two months from the date of purchase.
For example, if you spent $2,000 on office supplies in March, a $40 credit will be posted on the May billing statement.
Amex Plum Card:
The Amex Plum’s rewards are automatically credited to the following billing statement, assuming you took the cash-back option over the extra time to pay off the balance.
Winner:
Tie. Both redeem cash back towards billing statements.
The Verdict
For most people the Blue Business Cash is a better option than Amex Plum Card.
The Blue Business Cash earns 2% cash back (up to $50,000 per year; 1% thereafter) with no annual fee.
But the Amex Plum could be an option if your business needs extra time to pay off its card statements.
Which card are you going to choose?
- Earn a $250 Statement Credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- 2% Cash Back On Up to $50,000 Per Year (1% Thereafter)
- 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 Months. After that, 16.74% - 28.49%. APRs will not exceed 29.99%.
- No Annual Fee (rates & fees)
- Earn 1.5% Cash Back When You Pay Balance Within 10 Days of Statement Closing Date OR Carry Your Balance for Up to 60 Days With Zero Interest
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- $250 Annual Fee and No Foreign Transaction Fees (rates & fees)
