Amex Platinum vs. Amex Business Platinum: Which Should You Choose?

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.

Both The Platinum Card^® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express are rewards cards that offer plenty of extras when you’re an account holder. If you’re trying to decide between the two, here’s what you need to know about choosing the Amex Platinum vs. the Amex Business Platinum.

Amex Platinum vs. Amex Business Platinum

While you can get some of the same great perks with both offers from American Express credit cards, there are some differences in the benefits you receive. As a result, it’s important to figure out which extras you’re more likely to use and then get the card that makes the most sense for you.

	Amex Platinum	Amex Business Platinum
Annual fee	$695 (Terms apply)	$695 (Terms apply)
Welcome bonus	Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on 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 months of card membership
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 50% more points on purchases of $5,000 or more, and 35% points back when you use points to buy flights
Redemption rate	Generally 1 cent per point (through Amex Travel)	Roughly 1.54 cents per point (through Amex Travel)
Credits	Up to $200 Uber Cash (terms apply) Up to $200 airline fee credit $100 for Global Entry every four years or $85 TSA PreCheck every 4.5 years $189 CLEAR® Plus membership credit Up to $200 credit with The Hotel Collection (requires a minimum two-night stay) or Fine Hotels & Resorts Up to $240 credit for select digital entertainment subscriptions Up to $300 annually in statement credits for an Equinox digital or club membership Up to $100 statement credit for Saks Fifth Avenue purchases Enrollment required for select benefits	Up to $200 airline fee credit $100 for Global Entry every four years or $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4.5 years $189 CLEAR® Plus membership credit Up to $400 annual credit for Dell purchases Up to $360 annual credit for Indeed Up to $150 annual credit for Adobe Up to $120 annual credit for wireless telephone services Enrollment required for select benefits
Airport lounge access	Centurion Lounge International American Express Delta Sky Club Priority Pass Enrollment required for select benefits	Centurion Lounge International American Express Delta Sky Club Priority Pass Enrollment required for select benefits
Hotel perks	Complimentary benefits through Fine Hotels & Resorts, including WiFi, room upgrades, daily breakfast, and late check-out Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status Hilton Honors Gold Status Enrollment required for select benefits	Complimentary benefits through Fine Hotels & Resorts, including WiFi, room upgrades, daily breakfast, and late check-out Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status Hilton Honors Gold Status Enrollment required for select benefits
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	$300 for employee cards
	Learn more	Learn more

5 key differences between the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum

There are plenty of similarities between these cards. 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. You’ll also have access to Fine Hotels & Resorts perks and will receive Gold Status in both the Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors programs.

However, when considering the Amex Platinum vs. Amex Business Platinum, 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. Credits

While each card comes with a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees, there are some important differences in the other credits available.

With the Amex Platinum card, for example, you receive $15 in Uber Cash each month (except December, when you receive an additional $20); terms apply. If you know you’re going to use the rideshare app, this can make the Platinum card an attractive choice. On top of that, the Platinum card also offers you a $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. 

Each year, Amex Platinum cardmembers also get an airline fee credit up to $200, a CLEAR® Plus membership credit of up to $189, up to $200 in credits for qualifying hotel stays at properties in The Hotel Collection (requires a minimum two-night stay) and Fine Hotels & Resorts portfolios, up to a $240 digital entertainment credit for eligible subscriptions from Disney+, The Disney Bundle, Hulu, ESPN+, Peacock, and The New York Times, and up to $300 annually in statement credits for an Equinox digital or club membership.

With the Amex Business Platinum card, you can receive an annual airline fee credit of up to $200, which can be used to cover the cost of checked bags or incidental fees, an up to $189 credit for an eligible CLEAR® Plus membership, plus another up to $400 annual credit for Dell computer purchases. The Amex Business Platinum also offers up to $360 in annual Indeed credit, up to $150 in annual Adobe credit, and up to $120 in annual wireless telephone services credit.

Don't forget that enrollment is required for select benefits with both Platinum cards.

2. 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.

3. Welcome offer

With the Amex Platinum card, you could earn a generous welcome offer. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases on your new card in the first 6 months. These bonus points can amount to a significant value in travel when you book through Amex Travel.

There is a big welcome bonus with the Amex Business Platinum card — but you have to spend bigger, too. Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. You may need to plan some major business purchases in order to meet the minimum spending for that bonus.

4. A 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.

5. Fees

Neither of these cards charge a foreign transaction fee, which can be useful when you go overseas.

However, there is a small difference when it comes to the annual fee (terms apply): The Amex Platinum charges $695 and the Amex Business Platinum charges $695.

There is also 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 $300 to add an employee Business Platinum card to your account. Be aware of the extra cost involved with the Business card.

FAQs

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?

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.

Luxury Travel Benefits

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

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The Platinum Card^® from American Express

Learn How to Apply

See rates and fees | Terms Apply

Current Offer

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on 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

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases on your new card in the first 6 months
• Select your metal card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu
• 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
• Access to Centurion and Priority Pass airport lounges
• Select benefits require enrollment.

Drawbacks

• High annual fee

Card Details

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases on your new card in the first 6 months
• 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
• Terms apply