What the Amex Uber One card does
The American Express Uber One credit card is a co-branded card that combines a standard rewards credit card with a membership to Uber One, Uber's subscription service. When you hold this card, you get Uber One membership included at no extra cost — you do not pay the separate Uber One subscription fee. The card itself earns cash back on purchases, with higher rates on Uber and Uber Eats spending.
The card is issued by American Express, not Uber. You explore through American Express, and the card appears on your American Express account. Uber One membership activates once your card is approved and you link it to your Uber account.
This is different from a basic Uber credit card or a basic Uber One membership. You are getting both the card and the membership bundled together, which changes what you pay and what you earn.
Key Takeaways
- The card includes Uber One membership at no additional cost, which normally costs money if you buy it separately.
- You earn cash back on all purchases, with higher rates specifically on Uber and Uber Eats transactions.
- The card has an annual fee, which American Express charges once per year.
- You must link the card to your Uber account for the membership benefit to work.
- The card is a standard American Express credit card, so approval depends on your credit history and income, not on whether you use Uber.
Rewards rates and how they work
The card earns cash back on two categories at a higher rate: Uber and Uber Eats purchases. It also earns a lower cash back rate on all other purchases. The exact rates vary — American Express changes them periodically — so you should check the current offer when you are considering the card.
Cash back is real money that reduces your credit card balance or can be withdrawn. It is not points that expire or that you have to spend at a specific merchant. You accumulate cash back as you spend, and you can use it however you want.
The higher rate on Uber and Uber Eats applies only to those two services. Spending at other restaurants, grocery stores, or gas stations earns the standard rate, even if you pay with this card.
The annual fee and whether it makes sense for you
American Express charges an annual fee to hold this card. The fee is charged once per year, usually on your card anniversary. This is not a monthly charge — it happens once.
Whether the card makes financial sense depends on how much you spend on Uber and Uber Eats, and whether you would buy Uber One membership separately anyway. If you spend a lot on Uber and Uber Eats and were already planning to pay for Uber One, the card may save you money because the membership is included. If you rarely use Uber or Uber Eats, the annual fee may cost more than you earn in cash back.
American Express publishes the annual fee amount on the card offer page. You should compare that fee against the cost of Uber One membership bought separately, plus the cash back you expect to earn, to decide if the card is worth it for your situation.
How to link the card to your Uber account
Once your American Express Uber One card is approved and arrives, you need to link it to your Uber account so that Uber One membership activates. You do this in the Uber app or on the Uber website under your payment methods or account settings.
Add the card as a payment method, and Uber will recognize it as the co-branded card. Uber One membership should set up automatically once the card is linked. You can verify this by checking your Uber One status in the app — it should show that your membership is active.
If membership does not set up within a few days of linking the card, contact American Express or Uber customer service. Sometimes there is a delay in the system syncing the information.
What Uber One membership includes
Uber One membership gives you discounts on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders, plus free delivery on Uber Eats orders above a certain amount. The specific discounts and free delivery thresholds change by location and over time, so you should check the Uber app to see what is available in your area.
The membership also covers Uber Eats Pass, which is a separate subscription that gives additional Uber Eats discounts. When you have Uber One, you do not need to buy Uber Eats Pass separately.
Because the card includes this membership at no extra cost, you get these benefits automatically once the card is linked to your account. You do not have to do anything else to set up them.
How credit approval works for this card
American Express decides whether to approve you for the card based on your credit score, credit history, income, and existing debts — the same factors they use for any American Express card. Whether you use Uber frequently or at all does not affect your approval odds.
If you are approved, you will receive the card in the mail within one to two weeks. If you are denied, American Express will tell you why in a letter. You can dispute inaccurate information on your credit report or reapply later if your credit improves.
Having a low credit score, recent late payments, or high existing debt makes approval less likely. If you are not sure whether you will be approved, you can check your credit score for free through your bank or a service like Credit Karma before you explore.
When to use this card versus paying with a different card
Use the Amex Uber One card for Uber and Uber Eats purchases to earn the higher cash back rate. If you have another card that earns an even higher rate on these categories, do the math: compare the cash back you would earn on each card against the annual fee on the Amex card.
For purchases outside Uber and Uber Eats, you may want to use a different card if that card earns a higher rate in that category. For example, if you have a card that earns 2% cash back on all purchases and the Amex Uber One card earns 1% on non-Uber purchases, use the other card for groceries or gas.
The main reason to keep this card is the included Uber One membership. If you would pay for that membership separately, the card may be worth the annual fee even if the cash back rates are not the highest available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use Uber to get the Uber One membership benefit?
No. The membership is included with the card whether you use Uber or not. If you never take Uber rides but order Uber Eats regularly, you still get the membership discounts on Uber Eats. The membership is active as long as the card is open and linked to your account.
What happens to my Uber One membership if I close the card?
Your Uber One membership ends when you close the card. If you want to keep Uber One benefits, you would need to buy a separate Uber One subscription from Uber, which costs money. Check Uber's website for the current subscription price in your area.
Can I earn cash back on Uber gift cards?
No. Cash back is earned on purchases made directly through Uber or Uber Eats using the card as payment. Buying a gift card and then using the gift card to pay does not earn cash back on the gift card purchase itself.
Is there a sign-up bonus when I first get the card?
American Express sometimes offers sign-up bonuses on the Uber One card, such as extra cash back if you spend a certain amount in the first few months. These bonuses change frequently. Check the current offer on the American Express website or the offer you received in the mail to see if a bonus applies.
What if I have a dispute with an Uber charge on this card?
Contact American Express to dispute the charge, just as you would with any credit card purchase. American Express will investigate and may reverse the charge if they find it was unauthorized or incorrect. You can also contact Uber directly to resolve the issue with the ride or order itself.