American Express OptBlue Rates
Current American Express merchant discount rates for OptBlue merchants. Updated for 2025-2026. Understand the true cost of accepting Amex.
Last updated: February 2026 · Source: American Express OptBlue rate schedule
American Express operates differently from Visa and Mastercard. As a "closed loop" network, Amex typically acts as both the card network and the card issuer. This means Amex sets merchant discount rates (MDR) rather than interchange fees.
OptBlue is Amex's program for small and medium-sized merchants (under $1M annual Amex volume). Through OptBlue, your payment processor handles Amex transactions and sets variable pricing similar to Visa/Mastercard interchange-plus.
American Express OptBlue Discount Rates
Card-Present (Retail/Restaurant)
| Industry / Card Type | Discount Rate |
|---|---|
| Retail Card-Present | 1.850% + $0.10 |
| Restaurant Card-Present | 1.900% + $0.10 |
| Supermarket | 1.600% + $0.10 |
| Gas/Petroleum | 1.850% + $0.10 |
Card-Not-Present (E-Commerce / MOTO)
| Transaction Type | Discount Rate |
|---|---|
| E-Commerce (Consumer) | 2.350% + $0.10 |
| E-Commerce (SafeKey Authenticated) | 2.150% + $0.10 |
| Mail Order / Telephone Order | 2.400% + $0.10 |
| Recurring Billing | 2.250% + $0.10 |
Business & Corporate Cards
| Card Type | Discount Rate |
|---|---|
| Amex Business Card | 2.500% + $0.10 |
| Amex Corporate Card | 2.600% + $0.10 |
| Amex Corporate Purchasing | 2.700% + $0.10 |
Premium Consumer Cards
| Card Type | Discount Rate |
|---|---|
| Amex Gold / Green | 2.200% + $0.10 |
| Amex Platinum | 2.400% + $0.10 |
| Amex Centurion (Black) | 2.700% + $0.10 |
Network Fees & Assessments
Unlike Visa and Mastercard, Amex discount rates typically include most network fees. However, some additional fees may apply:
| Fee Type | Rate |
|---|---|
| Amex OptBlue Network Fee | 0.150% |
| Amex International Processing | 0.400% |
| Amex Cross-Border Fee | 0.450% |
Note: OptBlue rates vary by processor and can be negotiated. The rates shown are representative averages. Your actual rates depend on your processor agreement and volume tier.
OptBlue vs Direct Amex Relationship
OptBlue (via Processor)
- Variable, interchange-like pricing
- One statement, one processor
- Best for <$1M annual Amex volume
- Rates negotiable with processor
Direct Relationship
- Flat rate, negotiated with Amex
- Separate Amex merchant account
- Best for >$1M annual Amex volume
- Direct Amex support and benefits
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlike Visa and Mastercard where the card network sets interchange and processors add a markup, American Express traditionally sets a single "merchant discount rate" that covers everything. This is because Amex acts as both the card network and the card issuer for most Amex cards.
OptBlue is American Express's program that allows third-party payment processors to offer Amex acceptance to small and medium-sized merchants. With OptBlue, merchants get variable pricing similar to Visa/Mastercard interchange-plus, rather than a flat rate. This often results in lower costs for merchants.
OptBlue is available to merchants processing less than $1 million in annual Amex volume. Merchants processing more than $1 million typically go direct with Amex under a different pricing structure. Your processor can determine which program applies to you.
Historically, Amex rates have been higher than Visa and Mastercard. However, with OptBlue and increased competition, the gap has narrowed significantly. For many merchants, OptBlue rates are now competitive with premium Visa and Mastercard cards.
It depends on your customer base. Amex cardholders tend to have higher incomes and spend more per transaction. If declining Amex means losing sales, the higher processing cost may be worth it. OptBlue has made Amex acceptance more affordable for small businesses.
American Express typically reviews and updates OptBlue rates annually. Unlike Visa and Mastercard which have scheduled April/October updates, Amex rate changes can occur at different times of the year.
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