Zync from American Express Review

Zync from American Express is a standard charge card. If you’re not clear about what this means, don’t worry ; the difference between a charge card and a credit card is simple.  With a charge card like Zync from American Express, you need to pay your balance in full every month, but a credit card allows you to carry a balance and make minimum payments. The charge card is like a debit card but with some additional perks.

Credit vs. Debit vs. Charge

The American Express Zync card does have benefits over both credit cards and debit cards. Unlike a credit card, you don’t pay interest charges but you can still use Zync to build up your credit. Compared to a debit card there are no overdraft fees and with Zync from American Express you can earn rewards points. American Express does offer other charge cards with rewards, such as the AmEx Gold Card but the Zync card offers additional rewards plans that make it a particularly appealing card.

A Good Card for Younger Consumers

Zync from American Express is good for younger consumers. It allows you to learn how to use a credit card but since you can’t carry a balance you won’t go into a lot of debt and you’ll learn budgeting skills. It lets you build up your credit history so that you can get a good credit card in the future. And it allows you to earn rewards.

Zync Charge Card Rewards

As the Zync from American Express is aimed at younger users, it has a rewards program aimed at a younger crowd. Cardholders have the ability to choose a rewards program that “fits your lifestyle”:

1. The Go Pack (airline rewards)
2. Connect Pack (mobile and cable services)
3. Social Pack (restaurants)
4. Eco Pack (eco-friendly merchants)

If you don’t choose one of these packs – which have a price tag of $20 a year – the card has a standard AmEx rewards plan of one point per purchase per year. This flexibility can teach you a lot about finding the rewards credit card that is best for you!

Zync Card Features

The ability to set up AutoPay on the card helps make it easier to pay off the balance.  You can pick from a variety of options to have your balance paid automatically each month.  They also have a feature called Text MyAmex where you can get information about your Zync card sent to you via text message on demand.  American Express also offers account alerts to help you avoid late payments, manage your spending, and update you on irregular account activity.

Zync Card Fees

As with all charge cards, there is a yearly fee which should be factored in before you use the card. If you don’t intend on using the card very often, a fee-based card is not all that useful, as it’s somewhat like being charged for using debit. However, the yearly fee for the Zync from American Express is minimal – $25 a year – so you’ll make this back in rewards very quickly as long as you’re using the card. Compared to other charge cards, which typically carry much higher annual fees, the fee for Zync is quite reasonable.

Conclusion

Zync from American Express does not have the flexibility of carrying a balance like the standard credit card but that also means no interest chages.  Of course, since you can’t carry a balance, you’ll need to have an idea about how much you’re spending, and how you’ll pay off the card every month.

The fact that you can build up your credit while earning rewards points is the real benefit of the card.  American Express already has a great rewards plan but the additional flexibility of the rewards packs the Zync offers helps to make the card a great option. For more details, see the chart at the below this credit card review:

This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of American Express, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through American Express Affiliate Program