The Platinum Card® from American Express vs. American Express® Gold Card: Editorial reviews
What we think of the Amex Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card is a good choice for people who spend a lot on dining and groceries. Its annual fee is much lower than the Platinum Card, making it appealing for those on a budget. The card offers 4X points on up to $50,000 spent annually at restaurants worldwide and 4X points on up to $25,000 spent annually at U.S. supermarkets, which is perfect for foodies— home chefs and restaurant aficionados alike.
In addition, Amex Gold Card’s perks like Uber Cash and dining credits help offset the $325 annual fee (see rates and fees) for many people. But if you’re not into things like Uber, Resy, or Dunkin’, these credits may not mean much to you. Additionally, this card lacks benefits like airport lounge access, TSA PreCheck® credits, and hotel elite status— surprising, considering the annual fee. If you spend a lot on dining and groceries, the Gold Card could be well worth it anyway.
Note: To receive the Uber Cash benefit you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express Gold Card must be a method of payment on your Uber account. This benefit may only be used in the United States.
What we think of the Amex Platinum Card
In contrast, The Platinum Card® from American Express is geared toward luxury travelers who can maximize its extensive benefits. Although it comes with a high $695 annual fee (see rates and fees), the range of perks—airport lounge access, hotel elite status, valuable travel credits, and more—can easily justify the cost for those who travel frequently. The Platinum Card’s offerings make it not just a status symbol (although it certainly is) but relatively practical for anyone looking to elevate their travel experiences.
However, the average consumer may have a hard time finding almost $700 in value out of this card. While generous, the statement credits are extra-specific and may not mean much to certain travelers. On top of that, the Platinum Card’s bonus categories are limited to travel, so you’re not going to be racking up a ton of points on your daily expenses— those will only net you 1 point per dollar spent.
Where the Amex Gold Card wins
Lower annual fee
The Amex Gold Card’s annual fee of $325 is substantially lower than the Platinum Card’s $695. This makes the Gold a more accessible option for those who don’t want to commit to high fees (although we know $325 is still quite high), while still enjoying valuable rewards.
Dining and supermarket rewards
The Gold Card offers generous rewards on dining and U.S. supermarket purchases, providing better everyday earning potential than Platinum’s exclusively travel-focused reward categories.
Gold also comes with more dining-centric statement credits which may be more easily maximized than some of the Platinum Card’s credits. A lot of the value of this depends on where you do most of your spending, though.
Where the Amex Platinum Card wins
Travel perks
The Platinum Card reigns supreme in travel benefits, providing perks like access to exclusive airport lounges, hotel elite status, and more. Additionally, frequent travelers can earn more points on their travel expenses than with the Gold Card, as Amex Platinum earns 5X points on up to $500,000 spent annually on flights booked with Amex Travel or directly with airlines (then 1X) and 5X points on qualifying hotel stays booked with Amex Travel.
Gold’s travel rewards pale in comparison, only offering 3X points on flights booked via Amex Travel or directly with airlines. Here’s how their travel perks compare:
Airport lounge access
- Amex Platinum cardholders can access the exclusive Centurion Lounge network, Delta Sky Clubs, Priority Pass Select lounges (enrollment required), and more.
- Amex Gold members don’t get any airport lounge access benefits.
Hotel benefits
- Platinum members can access a $200 annual statement credit for qualifying hotel bookings, elite status with Marriott and Hilton hotels, and benefits on eligible bookings with The Hotel Collection or the Fine Hotels + Resorts Collection.
- Gold card members can enjoy a $100 experience credit when booking a two-night stay with the Hotel Collection through American Express Travel.
CLEAR Plus & TSA PreCheck/Global Entry
Airline credits
- Platinum members have up to $200 in airline incidental fee statement credits each calendar year.
- Gold members don’t get any airline credits.
Travel insurance benefits
- Both Amex Gold and Amex Platinum members get access to travel insurance benefits, but for Amex Platinum members, that also includes trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
▶︎ Learn more: Guide to American Express Travel Insurance
Note: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Statement credits
With over $1,500 in statement credits available for various travel and everyday expenses, the Platinum Card offers plenty of value to offset its higher annual fee for people who can utilize these benefits.
Gold offers some credits, but they provide less than one-half of the Platinum Card’s overall statement credit value. Here’s how their statement credits stack up:
Gold:
-
Dining credits: Up to $120 annually in dining credits — limited to $10 monthly — on dining purchases at, specific qualifying establishments, including Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
-
Uber Cash: Up to $120 annually in Uber Cash ($10 per month). Your Gold card must be added to the Uber app to qualify for this benefit. This benefit is only usable for Eats and Rides orders in the United States.
-
Resy credit: Up to $100 in statement credits per year (up to $50 semi-annually) when you pay with your Gold card at U.S. Resy restaurants.
-
Dunkin’ credit: Up to $7 per month in statement credits (up to $84 yearly) to use at Dunkin’ locations when you enroll and pay with your Gold card.
Platinum:
-
Digital entertainment credit: Up to $240 credit annually — limited to $20 monthly — on qualifying digital entertainment purchases
-
Equinox: Up to $300 statement credit annually on Equinox membership fees
-
Saks Fifth Avenue: Up to $100 credit annually on Saks Fifth Avenue purchases — limited to $50 in each half of the calendar year. Enrollment required.
-
Walmart+: Up to $155 credit annually for monthly Walmart+ membership fees
-
Uber Cash: Up to $200 annually in Uber Cash ($15 per month and $20 extra in December after you add your card as a method of payment to your Uber account)
Where there’s no clear winner
Rewards points
Both cards provide impressive earning opportunities but in different contexts. The Gold Card excels in everyday spending with higher points on common categories, while the Platinum Card is better for travel-related purchases. Depending on individual spending habits, one may be better than the other.
Travel insurance benefits
Both cards offer travel insurance, but the Platinum Card includes additional protections like trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
However, the Gold Card still provides essential coverage, making it a valuable option for occasional travelers. And since the Gold Card isn’t considered as much of a travel credit card as the Platinum, we’re keeping the two equal in this category.
No foreign transaction fees
Neither card has any foreign transaction fees, so they can be used internationally without incurring additional charges. Note, however, that Amex has a lower international acceptance rate than Mastercard or Visa, so there’s a chance a merchant won’t accept your card when traveling overseas.
Amex Gold vs. Amex Platinum: Rewards
Welcome bonus
The Amex Gold Card offers 60,000 Membership Rewards Points when you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months. This offer can be worth roughly $1,200, depending on how you redeem your points. Plus, for a limited time, new cardholders can earn 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants within the first 6 months of card ownership (up to $100 total). Offer ends 11/6/24.
The Amex Platinum offers 80,000 Membership Rewards Points when you spend $8,000 in the first 6 months. This offer can be worth roughly $1,600, depending on how you redeem your points.
▶︎ See our picks: Best Credit Card Welcome Offers
Earning rewards
Both cards provide some pretty impressive ways to earn points. The Gold card offers more chances to earn points on everyday spending while the Platinum card’s 5X Membership Rewards on travel makes it better for those who travel frequently.
Amex Gold rewards:
- 4X points at restaurants (on up to $50,000 per year, then 1X)
- 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 each year, then 1x points)
- 3X points on flights you book via the Amex travel site or directly with an airline
- 1X points on other eligible purchases
Amex Platinum rewards:
- 5X points on flights you book through Amex Travel or directly with airlines (on up to $500,000 annually, then 1X points)
- 5X points on qualifying hotel stays booked via Amex Travel
- 1X points on other eligible purchases
Which is better, the Amex Gold Card or the Amex Platinum Card?
If you’re still debating whether to get the American Express Platinum or the American Express Gold Card, consider this: how much are you willing to spend, what do you tend to spend money on, and what benefits can you actually utilize?
If you spend a lot on dining and groceries, the Gold card seems right up your alley. If you spend a lot on travel and would benefit from luxury benefits like airport lounge access and hotel elite status, the Platinum card is where it’s at. Either way, make sure you can squeeze enough value out of the card to make the annual fee worth it.
Does it make sense to have both the Amex Gold and Platinum Cards?
You probably don’t want to apply for both cards concurrently as it reduces your chance of earning the welcome bonus with each. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a bad idea to have both— we’d just recommend staggering your applications to maximize your chances of earning the welcome offers.
If you’re a dedicated enough traveler, the two could make a harmonious pairing in your wallet. The Gold can do most of the work of earning the points, as its categories are more useful for daily spending, and the Platinum can give you access to all of the luxury travel benefits your heart desires.
However, there’s a small caveat here. If you want to acquire both cards at some point, it’s best to apply for Gold first, then Platinum. American Express has added fine print to the Amex Gold offer saying you may not be eligible for the welcome bonus if you currently have or have had the Amex Platinum. The inverse isn’t currently true, meaning you can apply for Gold first, earn its bonus, then apply for the Platinum card and earn its bonus.
If you have one of these cards and want another card to maximize your rewards, but paying over a thousand dollars in annual fees doesn’t sound appealing, you might be better off looking for a mid-tier rewards card or cash-back card from another card provider.
