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The American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express are some of the most flexible cards that American Express offers. Additionally, each card comes with its own specialty. Given that both can be premium cards, being able to use all of the perks is important. Each card accumulates valuable Membership Rewards® Points yet provides distinct benefits tailored to varied lifestyles. Here’s our Amex Gold vs. Amex Platinum comparison to help you decide which is best for you.
Best for premium travelers: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Great for foodies and travelers: American Express® Gold Card
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Amex Gold vs. Amex Platinum
Which American Express card is better? It depends on your spending and travel habits. Both cards offer perks that can help you save money while enjoying life. Both also have unique benefits that can fit your spending habits. And both have welcome offers that are worth noting.
Welcome Offer for Amex Gold & Platinum Cards and Annual Fees
The Amex Gold and Platinum travel cards have enticing welcome offers for new card members to earn and enjoy. Note that both cards also have offers that can be earned in 6 months. Most banks require the spending requirements to be made in 3 months.
However, you may be eligible for a bigger welcome offer. To see if you qualify, you will need to use the CardMatch™ tool. It’s free to see if you are targeted for the enhanced bonus offer, and takes about a minute to check. You only have to enter your basic contact information and the last four digits of your Social Security Number to see the best credit offers.
The welcome offer for either card is “once in a lifetime”. So, returning card members won’t be able to earn a second Gold Card or a repeat Platinum Card bonus.
Now, let’s look at the offer for each card.
Amex Platinum
New The Platinum Card® from American Express cardmembers can earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $8,000 on purchases on their new Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
The annual fee is $695 (See Rates & Fees) but can be offset with the perks, which are valued at over $1,400.
Amex Gold
New American Express® Gold Card cardholders can earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
Plus, get the American Express® Gold Card in either the Gold, Rose Gold, or Limited-Edition White Gold metal design. White Gold design is only available while supplies last.
This welcome bonus is smaller than the Platinum Card’s, but that annual fee is only $325 (See Rates & Fees).
Best for premium travelers: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Great for foodies and travelers: American Express® Gold Card
Earning Amex Membership Rewards Points
Both cards earn American Express Membership Rewards®.
Amex Platinum
The Platinum Card® from American Express earns up to 5x Membership Rewards® points on purchases:
- Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year
- Earn 5x Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
- 1x point for everything else
Being able to earn 5x points on flights and hotel bookings makes the Amex Platinum one of the best cards for earning travel miles. Most cards earn up to 3x travel miles on similar purchases. Being able to earn points on different hotel and airline purchases makes this ideal if you want flexibility and aren’t committed to only one hotel or airline.
Amex Gold
The American Express® Gold Card earns:
- 4x Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1x points for the rest of the year)
- 4x Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1x points for the rest of the year)
- 3x Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com
- 2x Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com
- 1x Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
The Gold Card makes it easy to earn bonus points on common lifestyle or travel purchases.
Redeeming Amex Gold & Platinum Membership Rewards
The redemption options and point values for both cards are similar:
- Award travel
- 1:1 point transfers to airlines and hotel
- Gift cards
- Statement credits
- Online shopping credits
- Charity Donations
Booking award flights on AmexTravel.com and requesting gift cards have the highest redemption values. Each point is worth 1 cent each (i.e., 80,000 Membership Rewards= $800).
Points are worth less than 1 cent each for other awards.
Amex Gold & Platinum Special Card Features
In addition to how you earn bonus Membership Rewards and the welcome bonus value, the extra card benefits are important to consider. The perks can help you save a small fortune during your daily routine.
Amex Platinum
As might be expected, The Platinum Card® from American Express has more special features than the Gold Card.
Cardholders can get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when they pay with the Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
Also, select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card.
Plus, American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Now there are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
This is one of the best travel cards.
Other Platinum Card from American Express Benefits
This can also be one of the best cards for streaming services, as there is also a digital entertainment credit. Cardholders can get up to $20 in statement credits each month when they pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card®. Enrollment required.
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry access (as a statement credit) are also included, along with CLEAR perks. Breeze through security with CLEAR® Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues and get up to $189 back per year on your membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card.
Another exciting benefit is the ability for cardholders to get up to $300 back each year in the form of statement credits on an Equinox+ subscription or any Equinox club membership when they pay with their Platinum Card. Enrollment required.
Plus, get a $155 Walmart+ credit, which covers the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. The cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax.
Get the full details and learn more in our in-depth The Platinum Card from American Express review.
The annual fee is $695 (See Rates & Fees) but can be offset with the perks, which are valued at over $1,400.
Amex Gold
The American Express® Gold Card balances travel and dining privileges:
- Up to $120 annual dining credit at select brands ($10 per month; terms apply, enrollment required)
- Up to $100 on-site credit at The Hotel Collection of American Express Travel (2-night minimum)
- Baggage delay insurance (up to $1,250 for carry-ons and $500 for checked baggage)
The $100 hotel credit is available to cardholders to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities, plus a room upgrade upon arrival (if available) when you book a stay of at least two consecutive nights with American Express Travel at over 600 properties. Note that qualifying activities vary by property.
This can be a great hotel card if you want to use it at various locations.
Dining Credit Perks
Cardholders can enjoy up to $120 dining credits annually, making it one of the best cards for dining and restaurants.
Another perk is the ability to earn up to $10 in statement credits on a monthly basis when you use your Gold Card to pay at the following dining establishments (enrollment is required):
- Grubhub
- The Cheesecake Factory
- Goldbelly
- Wine.com
- Five Guys
When to Go for the Amex Platinum
Choosing The Platinum Card® from American Express can be a better choice in these instances:
- Are a frequent flyer
- Want to earn 5x Membership Rewards on flights and hotels
- Can use the airport lounge benefits
- Prefer travel rewards to dining rewards
- Want to earn a larger welcome bonus
Another reason to consider the Amex Platinum is if you want the most luxurious card that American Express offers to the general public.
It’s one of the most expensive cards, but it has a valuable welcome bonus and many valuable travel perks.
Related: Just How Hard Is It To Get The Amex Platinum Card?
When to Go for the Amex Gold
The American Express® Gold Card is a great option for these reasons:
- Want to earn bonus Membership Rewards on dining and grocery purchases
- Can earn bonus points on flights booked directly from the airline or AmexTravel.com
- Prefer dining credits to travel credits
- Won’t regularly use the Platinum Card unique card benefits
- Desire a lower annual fee
The Amex Gold doesn’t have as many travel benefits, but that can be okay if you don’t need complimentary airport lounge access or Global Entry/TSA PreCheck.
This card is also a better option if you don’t travel frequently. You will most likely have an easier time maximizing the Amex Gold dining perks versus the Amex Platinum travel benefits.
Summary of Amex Platinum vs. Amex Gold Credit Card Review
Both the Amex Gold and the Amex Platinum are two of the best travel points rewards cards due to the 1:1 point transfers and flexible rewards options. Whether you want to maximize travel or dining purchases settles the Amex Gold vs. Amex Platinum comparison.
Best for premium travelers: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Great for foodies and travelers: American Express® Gold Card
FAQs
Is Amex Gold better than Platinum?
The American Express® Gold Card can be better than The Platinum Card® from American Express if you want to earn bonus points on dining and grocery purchases but fewer Membership Rewards on travel. As an added benefit, the American Express® Gold Card is available in rose gold.
Consider The Platinum Card® from American Express if you’re a frequent flyer who can benefit from these perks:
- 5x Membership Reward travel purchase rewards (terms apply)
- Global Lounge Collection membership (Centurion, Priority Pass (enrollment required), Escape, Delta Sky Club)
- Global Lounge or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- CLEAR benefits (terms apply)
Does it make sense to have the Amex Gold and Platinum?
Having both the Amex Gold and Amex Platinum can make sense if you use both cards enough to offset the annual fees.
You can use the American Express® Gold Card for its dining credits and 4x purchase rewards on dining and supermarket purchases. Then, you can use The Platinum Card® from American Express for travel bookings to earn 5x Membership Rewards along with the various travel credits and elite traveler benefits.
Is the Amex Platinum worth it?
The Platinum Card® from American Express can be worth having if you’re a frequent flyer and you can use the card’s various travel benefits.
Earning 5x Membership Rewards on qualifying flights and hotels, along with the 1:1 point transfers, is a good start.
But, to justify the $695 annual fee, you will need to use some or all of these benefits:
- Global Lounge Collection airport lounge benefit
- Trip cancellation and delay benefits
Staying at upscale hotels can easily utilize the hotel credits. Several flights and lounge visits can use the airline fee credit and airport lounge benefits.
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For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of The American Express® Gold Card, please click here.
