A credit card with high-end perks can make a huge difference in your life — especially if you’re a frequent traveler. In many cases, it’s not just about the points you can earn but also about the extras you receive. Free airport lounge access? Airline credits? Other benefits? Even with a steep annual fee, it can be worth the cost if you get good use out of the perks.
If you’re trying to decide between the Amex Platinum and the Amex Business Platinum, here’s what you need to know.
Amex Platinum vs. Amex Business Platinum
Amex Platinum
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Amex Business Platinum
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FinanceBuzz value calculation2 <p class="">These values are based on the <a href="https://financebuzz.com/financebuzz-credit-card-valuation">FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model</a>, which takes a look at rewards earned via spending, the welcome offer, and the annual fee. We used a valuation of 1 cent/point unless otherwise stated above. These are estimated values - your actual earnings will depend on how much you spend and in what categories.<br></p> | Year 1: $2,280
Year 2: $1,480 |
Year 1: $2,062
Year 2: $562 |
Annual fee | $695 | $695 |
Welcome bonus | Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in the first 6 months | Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months |
Earning 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 | 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on Amextravel.com; 1.5X points on eligible purchases at U.S. suppliers of construction materials and hardware, U.S. retailers of electronic goods, U.S. providers of shipping, software and cloud systems, and eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million per year, then 1X), and 1X points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases (purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus) |
Credits |
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Airport lounge access |
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Hotel perks |
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Rental car perks | Complimentary membership in premium car rental programs, along with discounts and upgrades | Complimentary membership in premium car rental programs, along with discounts and upgrades |
Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
Authorized user fee | $195 for additional Platinum cards | $350 for employee cards |
Learn more | Learn more |
What both cards do well
There are plenty of similarities between these cards. For example, you’ll earn Membership Rewards with both, which can often be transferred on a 1:1 basis with a variety of Amex partner airlines and hotels. Here are some other similarities:
- Welcome offer: Both cards have competitive and lucrative welcome offers. Business cards sometimes have higher bonuses, but that comes with a higher spend requirement so be sure you can meet the spend requirement if the bonus is a deciding factor for you. Here's how the compare:
Amex Platinum: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in the first 6 monthsAmex Business Platinum: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months
- Earning rate on travel: While some of the details of the earning rates for each card differ, both cards offer 5X points on flights and hotels. This makes them both appealing travel rewards cards.
- Travel perks: These two cards also offer a number of the same travel perks. For example, both cards offer airport lounge access, complimentary benefits through Fine Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status, Hilton Honors Gold Status, complimentary membership in premium car rental programs, and trip cancellation and delay insurance. I especially like that these cards give you access to a number of different airport lounges and hotel statuses. This makes it easier to find a lounge or hotel that suits your needs.
- Travel-related credits: The Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum both offer a $200 annual airline fee credit, an annual CLEAR® Plus membership credit, and a credit for Global Entry every four years. Once again, if you’re looking for travel perks, these credits stand out.
- No foreign transaction fees: Neither card charges a foreign transaction fee, which is a benefit I always look for in a travel rewards card.
Where they differ
When considering the Amex Platinum vs. Amex Business Platinum, you should also consider the key differences between the two cards. You’ll be able to figure out which is best for you based on how you can earn points, the available benefits, and the costs involved.
1. Big differences in credits
While each card comes with a credit for various travel-related fees — including Global Entry or TSA PreCheck — there are some important differences in the other credits available.
With the Amex Platinum card, you also receive:
- $15 in Uber Cash each month (except December, when you receive an additional $20); terms apply. Starting 11/8/2024, you must use an Amex card as the payment method to redeem your Amex Uber Cash benefit
- Up to $100 credit for shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue, divided up so that you receive $50 January through June and the other $50 during the second half of the year
- Up to $200 in credits for qualifying hotel stays of at least two nights booked through American Express Travel
- Up to $240 digital entertainment credit for eligible subscriptions
- Up to $155 in Walmart+ credits
- Up to $199 CLEAR® Plus membership credit
With the Amex Business Platinum card, you can receive:
- Up to $400 annual credit for Dell computer purchases
- Up to $360 in annual Indeed credit
- Up to $150 in annual Adobe credit
- Up to $120 in annual wireless telephone services credit
- Up to $199 credit for an eligible CLEAR® Plus membership
Ultimately, how valuable these credits are depends on if you’ll actually use them. For example, I often use Uber, and I think I would find value in the hotel stays and digital entertainment credits that come with the Amex Platinum.
I probably wouldn’t use the Indeed or Adobe credits, so the Business Platinum is less appealing to me. However, it might be different for you. Evaluate which credits are actually valuable to you when deciding between these cards.
Don't forget that enrollment is required for select benefits with both Platinum cards.
Winner: It’s a tie. Either one could be more valuable depending on which credits you use. After all, the Amex Business Platinum card is a business credit card, so it probably doesn’t make much sense for the average consumer.
2. The Business version has additional earning rates
Both of these cards offer cardholders the chance to earn 5X Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels on Amextravel.com. If you’re a frequent traveler, either of these cards will likely work well for you.
However, the American Express Business Platinum card has the added advantage of giving cardmembers 1.5X points per dollar spent on qualifying eligible purchases at U.S. suppliers of construction materials and hardware, U.S. retailers of electronic goods, U.S. providers of shipping, software and cloud systems, and eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million per year, then 1X) (up to 1 million additional points per year). So if you often need to make big purchases for your business, you could get extra points.
Winner: Amex Business Platinum
3. 35% airline bonus
When you use the Amex Business Platinum card, you receive 35% of your points back (up to 1,000,000 points per calendar year) when you use points to book a flight through the American Express Travel website. If you do a lot of business travel, this points rebate can make a big difference.
The Amex Platinum card does not currently offer anything like this.
Winner: Amex Business Platinum
4. Different authorized user fees
There is a difference in costs when you add authorized users. You can add an authorized user to your Amex Platinum card for $195. With the Amex Business Platinum card, though, you’ll pay $350 to add an employee Business Platinum card to your account. Be aware of the extra cost involved with the Business card.
However, neither of these cards charge a foreign transaction fee, which can be useful when you go overseas. I always look for this benefit when researching travel cards.
Winner: Amex Platinum
FAQ
How are the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum different?
The Amex Platinum is a consumer card while the Amex Business Platinum is a business card. This means you don’t need to have a small business to qualify for the Amex Platinum, but you need to have a business to qualify for the Business Platinum card.
And while both cards offer premium benefits, like complimentary airport lounge access and elite hotel status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, there are also some differences in benefits depending on the card you choose. For instance, the Amex Platinum provides up to $200 in annual Uber Cash, which is good for Uber rides and Uber Eats orders, while the Amex Business Platinum offers up to $400 in annual Dell Technologies credit. Select benefits do require enrollment.
How do you get approved for the Amex Business Platinum?
The Amex Business Platinum is a business credit card, which means you need to have a business to get approved for it. Additionally, you likely need good or excellent credit to be approved. Good credit scores typically start above 670 while excellent credit scores are often above 740.
What credit score do you need to get approved for the Amex Platinum?
The Amex Platinum likely requires a good or excellent credit score to be approved. This typically means having a credit score above 670 might give you a good chance of being approved, but having a credit score above 740 might be even better.
Is the Amex Business Platinum worth it?
The Amex Business Platinum may be worth it for business owners who can take advantage of the card’s premium perks and benefits. This includes an annual Dell Technologies credit and statement credits for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry applications.
Also, this credit card offers automatic elite hotel status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, complimentary access to Global Lounge Collection lounges, and a 35% points reimbursement when using Membership Rewards points to pay for eligible fares.
Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Is the Amex Platinum worth it?
The American Express Platinum is one of the most prestigious travel cards on the market because of its premium travel benefits. This could make it worth it for frequent travelers who will use the free airport lounge access and elite hotel status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy. Other contributing benefits include up to $200 in annual Uber Cash, up to $100 in annual Saks Fifth Avenue credits, purchase protection, cell phone protection, extended warranty coverage, and travel insurance. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Which card is best for you?
The best travel credit card for you depends on how you plan to use it. If you have a lot of business costs, travel frequently for work, and can comfortably spend enough to earn the welcome bonus, the Amex Business Platinum could be the right move for you.
On the other hand, if you don’t have business expenses, the Amex Platinum would be the better choice. Even if you have a business, it might still make sense to stick with the regular Amex Platinum if you don’t think you’ll spend enough to get the big benefits.
Additionally, consider the perks and credits offered by the Amex Platinum vs. Amex Business Platinum. Which are you more likely to make use of? For me, this makes it easy to favor the Amex Platinum, but it could be different for you depending on your spending habits.
Be honest about what perks you’re more likely to use and move forward with the card that makes the most sense. Either way, it’s a good idea to only spend what you can pay off in a month. Carrying a balance on these rewards cards could cost you big time.