American Express credit cards are accepted at more than 80 million locations worldwide. According to Amex, 99% of U.S. establishments that take credit cards (more than 10 million businesses) accept American Express cards.
Although American Express hasn’t always been so widely accepted, it’s been adding thousands of locations around the world since 2019, rapidly catching up to credit giants Visa and Mastercard.
“These days, your Amex is more likely than ever to be accepted at most merchants. I always carry two cards as a general precaution, but it’s really rarely necessary.”
— Mary Beth Eastman
Now, you’re more likely than ever to hear “Yes, we take Amex.”
Vault’s Viewpoint on American Express
- American Express is accepted almost everywhere credit cards are accepted in the U.S.
- One notable U.S. exception is warehouse retailer Costco, which only takes Visa.
- Worldwide, American Express products and services are available in more than 200 countries.
Is American Express Accepted Everywhere?
No. American Express still isn’t accepted everywhere, even in the U.S., although the network has been steadily expanding its reach. You’re most likely to find your Amex card accepted at major U.S. retailers, while small businesses and some overseas locations are most likely to be behind.
That said, there are more than 80 million locations worldwide that do accept American Express, and the company has closed the gap within the U.S., according to its CEO.
Why Isn’t American Express Accepted Everywhere?
In simple terms, not all merchants or businesses accept American Express because of how much it costs to do so.
While every credit card company charges a merchant “swipe fees” (also known as transaction fees, processing fees or “discount rates”), every time they process a card transaction, they don’t all charge the same amount. American Express generally charges a rate that’s one point higher than Visa or Mastercard, which some businesses—especially small businesses—can find tough to swallow.
In 2022, for example, the average American Express discount rate was 2.34%, although it could be as high as 3.5% in some cases. Mastercard averages 1.5% to 2.6% in comparison.
However, American Express has been making great strides in enticing businesses to accept its cards, and pricing isn’t always as expensive as smaller merchants think. Amex offers a program called OptBlue, which allows small businesses to contract with third-party providers to accept American Express cards. These providers can charge their own rate to attract business, which in turn gives small businesses more flexibility to accept Amex.
Who Takes American Express?
In general, most of your favorite major U.S. retailers will accept American Express as a payment method, including:
- Aldi
- Amazon
- Apple
- Barnes and Noble
- Best Buy
- CVS
- DICK’s Sporting Goods
- Dollar General
- Duane Reade
- Home Depot
- JCPenney
- Kohl’s
- Kroger
- Macy’s
- Nordstrom
- Sam’s Club
- Target
- TJ Maxx
- Walgreens
- Walmart
- Whole Foods
You can also pay with American Express at many gas stations, including:
- Exxon
- Gulf
- Hess
- Mobil
- Murphy USA
- Murphy Express
- Shell
Many restaurant brands accept American Express, including (but not limited to):
- Arby’s
- Cheesecake Factory
- Chick-Fil-A
- Dunkin’
- McDonald’s
- Panera Bread
- Shake Shack
- Starbucks
- Taco Bell
Your favorite local small business or restaurant may take American Express, too; these are often marked by the Shop Small logo on a door or window decal, making them easier to find.
Outside the U.S.
American Express has been just as busy expanding its reach worldwide. For instance, in 2022, it added 59,000 places in Australia alone. You can pay with American Express in many other countries as well, including China, Great Britain, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada and India, among hundreds of others.
Where Is American Express Not Accepted?
Although American Express is one of the world’s largest card issuers by purchase volume, it’s behind Visa and Mastercard in terms of market share. This could be because American Express still isn’t accepted in some places and parts of the world.
Of major U.S. retailers that do not accept American Express, Costco may be the biggest and most well-known. Costco only accepts Visa credit cards at its warehouses, so Mastercard, Discover and American Express credit card holders may want to choose an alternative payment method when shopping there. Although Costco does accept mobile wallet payments, such as Apple Pay, your connected American Express card still may not be accepted.
Elsewhere, you may find that smaller merchants and businesses are less likely to accept American Express compared to Visa and Mastercard. This includes local restaurants and mom-and-pop boutiques, too.
Globally, there are some countries where you won’t be able to use your Amex at all. These include countries with tenuous U.S. relations, such as Cuba, Iran and Sudan.
How to Find Places That Take American Express
You can find places that take American Express by using the map tool on the American Express website. This tool allows you to search by a business’ name and location; you can also narrow your search to Shop Small businesses and online merchants.
However, note that not all stores that accept American Express show up on the map. For example, Target doesn’t appear on the map, but its stores do accept American Express cards.
If you don’t find your preferred merchant on the map, you can also check with the business directly. Many companies list their accepted forms of payment on their website.
What if a Merchant Doesn’t Accept American Express?
Sometimes, when you’re out and about, you’ll encounter a merchant that doesn’t accept American Express. If you have a big purchase to make—or just want to make sure you’ll be able to complete your transaction—you may want to call ahead and check.
If you’ve found a business that doesn’t take Amex cards, you can try asking the merchant directly to consider accepting American Express.
Overall, though, if you only own American Express credit cards, it might be a good idea to add another card to your wallet from a different network (like Visa or Mastercard). Carrying a backup card, or another form of payment such as cash or checks, can cover your bases if Amex isn’t accepted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do Some Stores Not Accept American Express?
Though the majority of U.S. stores that take credit cards also accept American Express, there are some holdouts. The most common reason for stores not to accept American Express is the transaction processing cost (or the perception of the cost). According to American Express, many businesses believe they’ll get a lower rate with another card company, but that’s not always the case. Amex says it costs about the same to accept American Express as it does to accept Visa or Mastercard.
Which Is More Widely Accepted: Discover or American Express?
Both American Express and Discover are accepted at 99% of U.S. stores that take credit cards, putting them roughly neck-and-neck in terms of U.S. acceptance rates. Outside of the U.S., Discover is accepted in many countries across North and South America, Europe and Asia, plus Australia and a few countries in Africa. American Express is also accepted across those same continents; you can use your Amex in virtually any country that’s a member of the U.N., aside from those sanctioned by the U.S.
Is American Express Worth It?
For card members, there are plenty of reasons why American Express is worth adding to your wallet. Aside from being accepted at most places, American Express is also focused on creating a superior customer experience, providing lucrative welcome offers, generous membership rewards and multiple other benefits. Its cards aren’t a fit for everyone, though. Some come with steep annual fees, although they’re usually offset by premium perks. Weigh the benefits against the fees to decide whether American Express is worth it for your situation.
