The Nectar Amex is one of the best-value everyday rewards cards for anyone who shops at Sainsbury's or Argos, and it has a neat trick: Nectar points convert to Avios. Here's what it offers, how much it's really worth, and how it fits with other Amex cards.
Foundations
Nectar Amex Credit Card Review 2026: Good for Sainsbury's Shoppers?
Nectar Credit Card from Amex review for 2026. 20,000-point bonus, 2 Nectar points per £1, free first year then £30, converting to Avios and whether it's worth it.
Key takeaways
- £0 in year one, then £30 a year. Representative 35.8% APR variable (includes the £30 fee), purchase rate 29.1% variable. Credit is subject to status.
- Welcome bonus: 20,000 Nectar points (worth £100) for £2,000 spend in three months (Head for Points).
- Earn 2 Nectar points per £1, or 3 per £1 at Sainsbury's when you also scan your Nectar card.
- Worth about 1% back at 0.5p a point, or 1.25 Avios per £1 if you convert to Avios.
- Holding another personal Amex in the last 24 months rules you out of the bonus.
What does the Nectar Amex include?
| Feature | Nectar Credit Card from Amex |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 in year one, then £30 |
| Representative APR | 35.8% variable (includes the £30 fee) |
| Purchase rate | 29.1% variable |
| Welcome bonus | 20,000 Nectar points for £2,000 spend in 3 months |
| Earn rate | 2 Nectar points per £1; 3 per £1 at Sainsbury's with your Nectar card |
| Points value | 0.5p each at Sainsbury's, Argos and other partners |
| Converts to Avios | Yes: 400 Nectar points = 250 Avios |
| Foreign spending | 2.99% non-sterling fee |
| Minimum income | £20,000 |
How much is the Nectar Amex worth?
At 0.5p per Nectar point, 2 points per £1 is effectively 1% back on everything you spend. That's double the base rate of the free Amex Cashback Everyday card. At Sainsbury's, you get 3 points per £1 in total: 2 from the card and 1 from scanning your Nectar card.
The 20,000-point bonus is worth £100 at Sainsbury's or Argos. Work out what a year could earn you:
Calculator
What would the Nectar Amex earn on your spending?
- Monthly card spending£800
- Value of Nectar points (% of spend)1%
- Annual fee from year two£30
Cashback a year£66
Per month£8.00
After the yearly fee of£30
Over 5 years£330
Assumes 2 Nectar points per £1 at 0.5p each (1%). Sainsbury's spending earns a little more when you scan your Nectar card. The fee is £0 in year one.
From year two, you need to spend about £3,000 a year to cover the £30 fee. Head for Points suggests £5,000 or more to make the card clearly worthwhile.
Take Action: Link your Nectar account to the card when you apply, and keep scanning your Nectar card at Sainsbury's to earn the extra point per £1.
Can you convert Nectar points to Avios?
Yes. Nectar and Avios have a two-way conversion: 400 Nectar points become 250 Avios. That means the card's 2 points per £1 work out at 1.25 Avios per £1, the same rate as the £300-a-year BA Premium Plus card, for a £30 fee.
The 20,000-point bonus becomes 12,500 Avios. Whether converting is better than spending at 0.5p depends on how you use Avios. Head for Points suggests aiming for 1p to 1.75p per Avios when you redeem, which can make conversion worthwhile for flights. Our cashback vs Avios guide explains how to value them.
Is the Nectar Amex worth it?
It's worth it for most people who'd use the points, especially Sainsbury's and Argos shoppers. The first year is free, so you get the £100 bonus and 1% back for nothing.
It's less good if:
- You spend under about £3,000 a year (from year two, the fee eats the value)
- You travel abroad a lot (2.99% foreign spending fee)
- You'd rather have cash than points
Nectar Amex and other Amex cards
The 24-month rule works differently for the Nectar card. You won't get its bonus if you've held any personal Amex card in the previous 24 months. But holding the Nectar card doesn't stop you getting the Amex Gold or Platinum bonus later, because those only look at cards that earn Membership Rewards.
So if you want both, it usually makes sense to get the Nectar card first. After that, you could add the American Express Gold Card (Representative 85.8% APR variable, credit subject to status), which is free in year one with a 35,000-point referral bonus plus a £100 Selfridges card until 12 January 2027. See our Amex Gold review.
| Nectar Amex | Amex Gold | Cashback Everyday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | £0, then £30 | £0, then £195 | £0 |
| Welcome bonus | 20,000 Nectar points (£100) | 35,000 points + £100 Selfridges via referral | Up to £125 |
| Ongoing earn | ~1% or 1.25 Avios per £1 | 1 point per £1 | 0.5% to 1% |
Eligibility
You need to be over 18 with a UK address and a personal income of at least £20,000. Being a supplementary cardholder on someone else's Amex doesn't count against you for the bonus. You can apply without the bonus and still get the free first year. Credit is subject to status.
FAQ
Is the Nectar Amex credit card free?
The Nectar Credit Card from American Express is free for the first year, then costs £30 a year. The Representative APR is 35.8% variable, including the £30 fee, with a 29.1% variable purchase rate. You can cancel before the second year's fee.
How many Nectar points does the Amex card earn?
The Nectar Amex earns 2 Nectar points per £1 on eligible spending. At Sainsbury's, you earn 3 points per £1 in total when you also scan your Nectar card. New cardholders get 20,000 bonus points for spending £2,000 in the first three months.
How much are Nectar points worth?
Nectar points are worth 0.5p each when you spend them at Sainsbury's, Argos and other partners, so 20,000 points are worth £100. You can also convert them to Avios at 400 Nectar points to 250 Avios, which can be worth more if you redeem for flights.
Can I get the Nectar Amex if I have another Amex card?
You can apply, but you won't get the welcome bonus if you've held any personal American Express card in the previous 24 months. Supplementary cards on someone else's account don't count. You'll still get the free first year and normal earn rate.
Is the Nectar Amex better than a cashback card?
For most spenders, yes. At 0.5p per point, the Nectar Amex returns about 1% on everyday spending, double the base rate of the free Amex Cashback Everyday. From year two you pay £30, so you need to spend about £3,000 a year to come out ahead.
The bottom line
The Nectar Amex is one of the best everyday rewards cards in the UK: free for a year, £100 of points upfront and about 1% back, or 1.25 Avios per £1. It's especially good for Sainsbury's and Argos shoppers. If you also want Amex Gold, get the Nectar card first so you don't lose its bonus.
When you're ready to add a points card, apply for Amex Gold with our referral link. Representative 85.8% APR variable. Credit is subject to status.
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