750+ online stores that DEFINITELY accept American Express

Have an American Express (Amex) card but don't know which online stores will accept it? We've taken the guesswork out so that you can use your Amex card during your shop and earn points and receive the member rewards you're entitled to, and avoid any surcharges.

Note that while some places don't accept American Express, they might accept PayPal, which is a portal that allows you to pay for goods with your credit card. In most cases, this includes American Express. Likewise you can link your Amex card to Afterpay. Interested in getting an American Express card? Compare American Express cards and apply for one here.

---

Points to keep in mind

While the above list isn't definitive, it does provide an idea of the scope of retailers that accept American Express without charge. In this list, there may be some retailers, in particular aggregators and marketplaces, that only accept American Express for certain items. You will be informed of this during the checkout process. The surcharges mentioned are for American Express payments only. Some of these retailers may place a surcharge on ALL credit cards that go through their checkout. Again, you will be informed of this during the checkout process.

---

What kinds of American Express cards are there?

American Express cards come in 2 formats: those issued by American Express itself and "companion cards", which are available from most major Australian banks. With a companion card, you'll receive an American Express card and either a Visa or Mastercard as well. Like other credit cards, American Express credit cards come in different variations including high-income-earner cards (Platinum, Black), low rate and fee cards, frequent flyer cards and store cards (David Jones).

---

How does Apple Pay work with American Express?

As of 19 November 2015, you can use your American Express card to pay via Apple Pay on your iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch. Note that for now, only American Express cards issued by American Express (not a bank) are Apple Pay enabled.

---

What are American Express rewards?

American Express Membership Rewards is the rewards program of American Express. Once approved for your American Express card, you’ll automatically be enrolled in American Express Membership Rewards. You accrue points with purchases which you can use to book travel, redeem shopping rewards or transfer to Frequent Traveller Partners like Qantas and Velocity. You can also use these points to access discounts at Myer.

---

How do I get an American Express card?

Eligibility for American Express cards varies between cards. However, an applicant must be 18 years or older, an Australian resident or citizen, have a good credit rating and must meet the minimum income requirement for the card. You can compare and apply for an American Express card online here.

---

Is there a fee for having an American Express card?

Annual fees for American Express cards vary depending on which card you choose to apply for. Some American Express cards have a $0 p.a. annual fee for the first year and will then charge you an annual fee thereafter. Details of your annual fee will be provided to you during the application process.

---

Are there any surcharges for using American Express cards?

Some merchants will charge a surcharge for using an American Express card. This surcharge is typically around 2% of the total cost. You will be advised during the checkout process whether a surcharge is included in your cost for using this credit card. We've noted stores that do this in the table above.

---

Why don’t some merchants allow you to pay by American Express?

Every time a customer swipes their card, merchants are required to pay that credit card company a fee for using their service. This is known as a merchant service fee and is why some retailers require a minimum spend in order to accept credit cards. American Express purchases are no different. According to the RBA, as at October 2015, the average merchant service fee for American Express cards was 1.70%. In comparison, the average cost of accepting Visa or Mastercard is 0.83% and Diners is 2.16%. Some merchants don't want to pay these fees and hence won't accept the card, while others will charge a surcharge to use it. However, as you can see from our list, there are plenty of stores that do.

---

Which retailers DO NOT accept American Express?

While many smaller stores might choose not to accept American Express due to the extra fees, some larger retailers don't either. Here are some well-known retailers that do not accept American Express (and don't offer PayPal payments to get around your card):