The Nectar Credit Card by American Express is a rewards card that enables cardholders to earn Nectar points on their spending. The across-the-board 1% rewards rate on all categories make it a relatively good card to use for general spending and further value is found in the 20,000 Nectar point welcome bonus, which we value at around £100 - but the card isn't right for everyone. Read our review to decide if it's a good card for you.

Amex Nectar Credit Card Review

The Nectar Credit Card delivers a solid overall rewards rate compared to average rewards rates in the market, with cardholders able to earn around 1% across all categories of spending (except warehouse spending earns 0.5%).

There have been a few changes to the Nectar card. Namely, the annual fee has risen from £25 to £30 (although this fee is still waved in the first year) and you can now earn extra points by inviting a friend (5,000 per friend or family member, up to 90,000 bonus points or a maximum of £150 cashback per calendar year, which you may notice is a low value for points - seems to be one third of the potential value).

Representative example: Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.1% p.a. (variable) and an annual fee of £30, the representative APR is 35.8% variable.

Amex Nectar card benefits

Technically, you'll earn rewards of 2 Nectar points for every £1 spent on the Amex Nectar card - these are in addition to the Nectar points you earn on purchases at Nectar partners as part of the Nectar loyalty program. As Nectar points are worth approximately 0.5 pence each, the rewards rate is an extra 1% (2 points/£1 * £0.005/point = 1%) of your card purchases.

You can earn 3 points per £1 spent at Nectar partners when paying with the Amex Nectar card and using a loyalty card, making the effective rewards 1.5% at Nectar partners. There's also a Welcome Bonus of 20,000 Nectar points that is valued at £100 assuming 0.5p/Nectar point - to earn this, spend at least £2,000 in the first 3 months of card ownership.

The Nectar card carries a £30 annual fee, which is waived the first year. In ongoing years, you need to spend £2,500 to earn enough rewards to pay for the annual fee.

As the APR is higher than average, cardholders should be particularly careful about paying their full balance each month. If you carry a balance and pay interest charges, these will just eat away at any rewards you have earned.

The Nectar Card Benefits & Features

Representative example: Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.1% p.a. (variable) and an annual fee of £30, the representative APR is 35.8% variable.

Potential Value of Nectar Rewards

How valuable is the Nectar Credit Card? As with all credit card points rewards systems, it depends on how good you are at managing and redeeming your points, and how much you spend. First, let's assume that a Nectar point is worth 0.5 pence. The following table shows the value of different amounts of Nectar points:

On the Amex Nectar card, you earn 2 Nectar points for every £1 spent. So the more you spend the more you earn. Below we show the estimated value of rewards by level of general spending on the card, for both year 1 (when the annual fee is waived and you can earn a 20,000 point welcome bonus) and in subsequent years.

Bottom Line: The Nectar Credit Card by American Express delivers an expected 1% rewards rate on all spending where Amex is accepted, except warehouse retailers. The Nectar card is the most valuable during the first year when the £30 annual fee is waived and you can earn a 20,000 Nectar point welcome bonus.

Other Nectar Card Features

Global Assist Helpline

The Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card gives cardholders access to American Express’s Global Assist program. If all goes well, you will never need it! But in case of trouble while you abroad, Global Assist provides access to an English-speaking doctor or lawyer, 24 hours a day. They can also put you in touch with an embassy or consulate, if necessary; or provide local medical assistance by arranging hospitalization, finding a specialist, or delivering hard-to-find supplies (e.g., contact lenses or prescriptions).

How do Nectar Points Work?

Nectar Points can be earned by shopping at around 50 participating retailers, such as Sainsbury’s, Pizza Express, BP, British Gas, Argos and others. For a complete list see the Nectar website. Nectar points are usually worth £0.05, but you may find even more value through Double Up vouchers or other offers from Nectar.

Nectar points are earned on the Nectar Credit Card at a rate of 2 Nectar points/£1 spent (or 1 Nectar point/£1 at warehouse stores). Doing the math, given a Nectar point's £0.05 value, you earn 1% on general spending and 0.5% at warehouse retailers.

Nectar points can be redeemed:

• in store by swiping your Nectar card at the till, with retailers such as Sainsbury’s, Argos and BP

• online with evouchers via the Nectar online store, with retailers such as ebay, Esso, Argos, British Airways and more (for a more complete list, see Nectar’s official list).

Please note that you must have shopped and earned Nectar points at a particular Sainsbury’s store before you can redeem any Nectar points there. This seemingly minor condition can really catch people out. Imagine the case where you normally shop at your local Sainsbury’s but - come time to redeem your accumulated Nectar points - you drive to a larger Sainsbury’s store that has Homeware and Toys sections. When you get to the till, you may find that your Nectar points are not working if you haven’t used your Nectar card at that store in the past 12 months. Be sure you’ve shopped at a particular Sainsbury’s store before (in past 12 months) if you want to redeem Nectar points there.

Pro tip: Also, be aware that Nectar points do not expire, but if you don’t earn or redeem any Nectar points in a rolling 12-month period, then your Nectar account may be closed and all Nectar points lost.

FAQs

How much is 100 nectar points worth?

While the value you get from nectar points depends on how you redeem them, we assume they're worth 0.5p each so 100 nectar points would be worth 50p.

How can you earn 20,000 Nectar points quickly?

You can earn 20,000 Nectar points by taking out an Amex Nectar credit card and spending £2,000 in your first three months of card membership. This welcome offer is only available to new cardmembers who have not held a personal American Express Card within the previous 24 months.

How much is 20,000 Nectar points worth?

Assuming a value of 0.5p per Nectar point, the value of the Amex Nectar card 20,000 welcome bonus is £100.

If you achieve a different Nectar point value, your rewards on this card will vary.

How Does the Nectar Credit Card by American Express Compare Against Other Credit Cards?

To better understand the value of the Nectar Credit Card you need to look at it in the context of other available options. We’ve compared this card to other grocery rewards and cashback cards so you can see which has more earning potential for you.

Why trust our picks? Our analysis is based on a review of more than 100 UK credit cards from 25 providers, assessed across fees, APRs, rewards, introductory offers and other key features. Latest rolling analysis conducted between January and March 2026. See our full methodology here.

Nectar Credit Card vs Platinum Cashback Credit Card

The Platinum Cashback card by Amex earns ongoing cashback of 0.75% to 1.25% on all purchases depending on annual spend, paid as a statement credit once a year. New cardholders can earn 5% for the first three months, capped at £125. A minimum annual spend of £3,000 applies to earn any cashback. The card carries a £25 annual fee.

Representative example: Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.1% p.a. (variable) and a £25 annual fee, the representative APR is 34.6% variable.

Quick takeaway: The two cards are comparable in ongoing rewards value (approximately 1% for the Nectar card and 0.75% to 1.25% for the Platinum Cashback) and carry similar annual fees (£30 and £25 respectively). Welcome bonuses are similar in value. The main consideration is how rewards are delivered: Nectar points can be spent at Sainsbury's and partner brands as they accumulate, while cashback appears as an annual statement credit. Both run on the Amex network, so acceptance at some retailers may be limited.

Nectar Credit Card vs Platinum Cashback Everyday Credit Card

The Platinum Cashback Everyday card by Amex is a no-annual-fee cashback card earning 0.5% on spending up to £10,000 per year and 1% above that. New cardholders can earn 5% for the first five months, capped at £125, subject to eligibility. A minimum annual spend of £3,000 applies to earn any cashback. Rewards are paid as a statement credit once a year.

Representative example: Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.1% p.a. (variable) with no annual fee, the representative APR is 29.1% variable.

Quick takeaway: The two cards are similar in rewards value. The Nectar card carries a £30 annual fee (waived in year one) and earns approximately 1% in Nectar value; the Platinum Cashback Everyday has no fee and earns 0.5% to 1% cashback. Welcome bonuses are comparable in value. The main difference is how rewards are delivered. Nectar points can be spent at Sainsbury's and partner brands as they accumulate, while cashback on the Everyday card is paid as a single annual statement credit. Both run on the Amex network, so acceptance at some retailers may be limited.

Card details correct as of July 2026. Terms, fees and cashback rates are subject to change; always verify current details at americanexpress.com before applying. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. ClearScore is a credit broker, not a lender.