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If you’re looking for a premium rewards card, the American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express cards are top choices from Amex. Both options are different from typical credit cards as these Amex cards allow you to carry a balance for certain charges, but not all. And both come with some luxurious benefits that enhance your cardmember experience.
In this Amex Gold vs. Platinum comparison, you’ll learn about each card’s rewards, benefits, and fees so you can make an informed decision.
Amex Gold vs. Platinum
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| FinanceBuzz star ratings |
4.9
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5.0
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| FinanceBuzz value calculation1 | Year one earnings: $1,784
Year two earnings: $1,184 |
Year one earnings: $2,280
Year two earnings: $1,480 |
| Annual fee | $325 | $695 |
| Welcome bonus | Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership | Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in the first 6 months |
| Earning rate | 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year, after that 1X), 4X at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X), 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com, 2X on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases | 5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases |
| Redemption rate | Up to one cent per point | Up to one cent per point |
| Annual credits |
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| Travel perks |
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| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
| Credit needed | Excellent, Good | Excellent, Good |
| Learn how to apply or Read our review | Learn how to apply or Read our review |
When to go with the American Express Gold
The Amex Gold is a better choice if you:
- Spend more on groceries and eating out
- Want to spend less in annual fees
- Are an infrequent traveler
Here’s a better look at how these play out.
Groceries and dining rewards
You can earn the most with the Amex Gold for restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets. I like to change where I shop and dine often, so I appreciate that this card doesn’t limit certain stores. You can earn 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year, after that 1X), 4X at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X), 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com, 2X on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases. On top of that, you receive over $400 in annual benefits that you can use for dining.
Based on my own shopping habits, I spend about $350 eating out and $1,000 on groceries each month. With the Amex Gold I would earn:
- 16,800 points from eating out
- 48,000 points at U.S. supermarkets
This is enough points to earn you up to $648 in travel through Amex, up to $648 on select gift cards and checkout purchases, or a $388 statement credit. Additionally, you can transfer your points to a partner at a higher rate. For example, you can exchange 1,000 Amex points for 1,600 AeroMexico points, making my 64,000 Amex points worth 102,400 instead. That is good for three economy tickets to Hawaii during the low season.
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Save money on fees
When it comes to fees, the big difference between the cards is their annual fees. The American Express Platinum Card has a higher annual fee of $695, which is more than double the cost of the Gold Card's $325 annual fee.
Along with the lower annual fee, the Amex Gold does not charge a fee to add on an authorized user. The Amex Platinum does charge an annual $195 fee for authorized users.
Flexible perks
Travel reward credit cards are great, but if you are like me and spend more on everyday purchases than on trips, the Amex Gold is a better fit. Even though Amex Gold has an annual fee, the credits are ones that are easier to cash in on and enjoy. If I used the Amex Platinum, I would feel guilty for not being able to use all of the travel perks and that I wasn’t getting the most bang for the $195 fee.
When to go with the American Express Platinum
The Amex Platinum is a better choice if you:
- Love to travel
- Enjoy luxury perks and experiences
- Can earn the annual fee back
High-earning travel rewards
With the Amex Platinum, your travel spending will go further. You can earn 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and prepaid hotels booked on Amextravel.com.. To show you just how fast these points can add up, I will plan a 10-day trip to Sydney from Los Angeles for two. For the dates and hotel selected, it will cost $3,930 (taxes and fees included). Using the Amex Platinum to book this trip will earn 19,650 points or almost $200 in travel rewards through Amex.
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Remember, you can transfer your points to Amex partners, which can possibly make your points stretch even further. At the time of publishing, you would be able to transfer 19,000 of these points to 38,000 Hilton Honors points.
Luxurious perks
If you prefer to travel in style, one of the perks that comes with the Amex Platinum is access to the Global Lounge Collection, a network of over 1,400 airport lounges in more than 140 countries, as well as partner lounges like Delta Sky Club and Priority Pass Select.
Booking hotel stay with the Platinum Card, will give you more bonuses when paired with the Fine Hotels & Resorts program — a program offering a $550 total average value in free perks when you stay at an eligible hotel. Benefits may include:
- Free breakfast for two
- Room upgrades when available
- Property credit valued at $100
- Guaranteed late check-out
- Early check-in when available
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
If you prefer to stay at Marriott properties, you might also enjoy the complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status that you get as an Amex Platinum cardholder.
Earn over $1,000 in statement credits
There’s no argument that the American Express Platinum annual fee of $695 is high. However, the fee is worth it if you cash out on all of the perks and statement credits the card has to offer. If I wanted to make the most of the Platinum card, I would:
- Switch my gym membership to an annual, digital Equinox membership - up to $300 saved
- Switch my streaming over to Disney+ bundle rather than Netflix or Prime - up to $240 saved
- Use UberEats once a month instead of hitting the drive thru - up to $200 saved
- Use the Saks Fifth Avenue $100 credit for sale item gifts - up to $100 saved
By replacing my spending habits to fit what earns statement credits, I can easily earn back up to $840 without even touching the travel perks, like the up to $200 annual hotel credit.
5 key differences between the Amex Gold and Amex Platinum
The American Express Gold Card and the Platinum Card from American Express are popular choices for rewards card enthusiasts, and both American Express credit cards offer access to the Membership Rewards program and allow you to transfer your points to Amex travel partners. However, there are some distinct differences you should be aware of before you submit a card application.
1. Credits
With both the American Express Gold and Platinum cards, you’ll get some valuable credits, which can help offset the cost of the card’s annual fees.
Amex Gold benefits include up to over $400 worth of credits:
- Up to $120 dining credit: Earn up to $10 a month in statement credits when you use your card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys.
- Up to $120 Uber Cash: Receive $10 per month in Uber Cash that can be used for Uber rides or Uber Eats orders when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
- Up to $84 annual Dunkin' credit: Receive up to $7 monthly Dunkin' credit, up to $84 each year, when you use your Amex Gold at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
- Up to $100 annual Resy credit: Each calendar year, you can receive up to $100 in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants or other qualifying Resy transactions. This benefit is split as up to $50 in statement credits every six months.
- Select benefits require enrollment.
When it comes to credits, the Platinum Card from American Express is the clear winner. The Platinum Card offers far more value, allowing you to earn up to over $1,000 more in statement credits:
- Up to $200 Uber Cash: You can enjoy $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a $20 bonus in December. Starting 11/8/2024, you must use an Amex card as the payment method to redeem your Amex Uber Cash benefit
- Up to $200 hotel credit: When you prepay through Amex Travel for eligible stays at properties in the Fine Hotels & Resorts and Hotel Collection (requires a minimum two-night stay) portfolios, you can get up to $200 back as a statement credit.
- Up to $200 airline incidentals credit: Enjoy up to $200 back for baggage fees and eligible inflight purchases on a qualifying airline.
- Up to $199 CLEAR® Plus credit: Get up to $199 back each year when you use your card to book your CLEAR® Plus membership.
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit: Breeze through airport security by applying for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. You’ll get up to a $120 statement credit every 4 years for the Global Entry application fee or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4.5 years (for a 5-year plan only).
- Up to $240 digital entertainment credit: When you use your card to pay for your Disney+, The Disney Bundle, Hulu, ESPN+, Peacock, and The New York Times subscriptions, you could get up to a $240 statement credit each year.
- Up to $300 Equinox credit: Cardmembers can receive up to $300 annually in statement credits for an Equinox digital or club membership.
- Up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit: If you shop at Saks Fifth Avenue or Saks.com, you can get up to $100 in statement credits for purchases you make.
- Select benefits require enrollment.
2. Earning rates
Both cards are rewards credit cards. With the Amex Gold Card, you can earn American Express Membership Rewards points according to the following structure: 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year, after that 1X), 4X at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X), 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com, 2X on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases.
The Platinum Card from American Express offers a different rewards structure: 5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
If you travel often, you would likely earn more rewards with the Platinum Card than with the Gold Card. However, if you spend more money at U.S. supermarkets or on dining out, it may make more sense to apply for the Gold Card because you could eventually earn a higher rate of return on those purchases.
3. Welcome offer
American Express Gold Card cardholders can receive a hefty welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.
With the Platinum Card from American Express, you can earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in the first 6 months of account opening.
How you plan to spend in the first months of card membership could be the deciding factor for you between these two cards.
4. Purchase protections
Earning points is not the only perk these two rewards credit cards boast. Both also offer purchase protection which can help safeguard your purchases against theft, loss, or accidental damage. Here’s where you will be covered:
Purchase protection
For eligible items purchased with either card, you are covered for theft, loss, or accidental damage within 90 days of purchase. Both cards will cover up to $10,000 per purchase and $50,000 within a calendar year.
Car rentals
Both the Gold and Platinum cards give you secondary car rental loss and damage insurance. But with the Platinum Card, you’ll also get premium membership to car rental programs like Hertz Gold Plus Rewards and the National Emerald Club. With your premium membership, you can qualify for upgrades and special discounts. Select benefits require enrollment.
Extended warranty
Both cards extend the manufacturer's warranty on eligible purchases, adding an extra year to warranties of five years or less. This can be particularly beneficial for electronics and appliances, ensuring longer protection for your investments.
Return protection
The Gold card does not offer this perk, but the Platinum card will cover you up to $300 per purchase ($1,000 per calendar year) for items purchased and rejected by the merchant for return within the 90-day window.
5. Fees
When it comes to fees, the big difference between the cards is their annual fees. The American Express Platinum Card has a higher annual fee of $695, which is more than double the cost of the Gold Card's $325 annual fee.
Neither card charges a foreign transaction fee, making them good choices for traveling abroad.
If you plan on adding an authorized user to your account, it’s important to keep additional user fees in mind. With the Gold Card, there’s no annual fee for up to five additional cards. If you have to add six or more users, you’ll pay $35 for each additional card.
With the Platinum Card, you have the option of adding a complimentary Companion Platinum Card to your Platinum account. The person who you designate as a cardmember can earn rewards — however, they won’t get benefits like access to airport lounges or Uber Cash.
However, if you want to add additional users at the full Platinum level, it will cost you $195 per additional user.
Can I use the Amex Gold and Platinum?
Clearly both cards have their unique advantages based on the type of spender you are, but if you feel like you fit both categories, you can use both cards. Unlike other credit card companies, Amex allows you to use both the Amex Gold and Platinum cards simultaneously if you choose to apply for and are approved for both.
You can then choose which card you use to optimize how many points you earn. The points you earn from each card will accumulate in a single Membership Rewards account, making it easy to track and redeem.
FAQ
Which is better, the Amex Gold or the Amex Platinum?
The better card between the Amex Gold and Amex Platinum is the one that best suits your lifestyle and spending habits. Though both cards come from the same credit card issuer and have some similarities, there are important differences between them. For example, both cards earn valuable Amex Membership Rewards points, but the Amex Gold is more suited for earning on dining and U.S. supermarket purchases while the Amex Platinum is geared toward travel spending.
This is made even more clear with each card’s benefits. The Amex Gold offers up to $120 in dining credit each year, while the Amex Platinum offers a fee reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, complimentary airport lounge access, free elite hotel status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, and more. Select benefits require enrollment.
Is the Amex Gold card worth it?
The American Express Gold Card has a $325 annual fee. The card offers substantial value through its annual credits. This includes up to a $120 dining credit at select restaurants and food delivery services and up to a $120 Uber Cash for rides or Uber Eats orders (in $10 monthly credits ). You also receive up to an $84 annual Dunkin' credit and up to a $100 annual Resy credit. These benefits alone can potentially exceed the annual fee, not including the Membership Rewards points earned on everyday purchases.
Is the Amex Platinum card worth it?
With a hefty $695 annual fee, it might not make sense to have this card if you don’t travel often. But the Amex Platinum Card is worth it if you can take advantage of the card’s premium travel perks and benefits.
The Amex Platinum provides up to $200 in Uber Cash each year , which can be used for Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, up to $100 in annual Saks Fifth Avenue credits, up to $200 airline incidentals credit on a qualifying airline, plus several other valuable credits. You also get complimentary airport lounge access through the Priority Pass and Amex Centurion Lounge networks. Additionally, Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors hotel elite statuses are included, and you get free travel insurance coverage when you book trips using your card, which can keep you financially protected on your travels. Select benefits require enrollment.
What credit score do you need for the Amex Gold?
The Amex Gold typically requires a good or excellent credit score to qualify, though American Express might also consider other credit factors when reviewing your application. Good credit scores can range from 670 to 739 while excellent credit scores are between 740 and 850.
What credit score do you need for the Amex Platinum?
You typically need a good or excellent credit score to qualify for the Amex Platinum since it’s a premium travel credit card product with loads of perks and benefits. Good credit scores start above 670 while excellent credit scores are above 740.
Which card is best for you?
If you can’t choose between the American Express Gold Card and the Platinum Card, it’s important to keep your spending habits in mind as you decide on a new card.
The Platinum Card from American Express likely makes the most sense for frequent travelers. If you fly or stay at hotels several times a year, it might be one of the best travel credit card options. You can take full advantage of all the offered credits, helping to offset the hefty $695 annual fee. But if you travel only occasionally, you won’t be able to enjoy the full value of those credits, possibly making the extra cost not worthwhile.
If you’re looking for more of a general rewards card rather than a travel rewards card, the American Express Gold Card may be a better choice. You can earn more points on everyday expenses, such as at U.S. supermarkets. With a lower fee, you could more quickly recoup your costs and enjoy your rewards.
Big Rewards at Restaurants
Current Offer
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership
Annual Fee
$325
Rewards Rate
4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year, after that 1X), 4X at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X), 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com, 2X on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases
Luxury Travel Benefits
Current Offer
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in the first 6 months
Annual Fee
$695
Rewards Rate
5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases