American Express® Business Gold Card

vs. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

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ByDoug Milnes, CFA
Reviewed byBrett Holzhauer
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ByDoug Milnes, CFA
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Reviewed byBrett Holzhauer
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Updated: March 19, 2024

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American Express business credit cards allow cardholders to maximize their rewards and take advantage of various benefits and perks. Among the company’s business card lineup are the American Express® Business Gold Card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.

MoneyGeek compared the two credit cards on several factors — including rewards programs, annual fees, welcome offers and more — to help you choose which is more suitable for your needs. For instance, the American Express® Business Gold Card’s annual fee is $295, $400 cheaper than The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.

Comparison Overview: American Express® Business Gold Card vs. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

  • American Express® Business Gold Card
    The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
  • Has Annual Fee
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  • Has Balance Transfer Offer
  • Has APR Offer
  • Cash Back Rewards
  • Travel Rewards
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American Express® Business Gold Card At a Glance

The American Express® Business Gold Card is a solid option for high-spending business owners who want great returns on their investment. It has a welcome offer of 70,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of account opening. Additionally, the points you earn can be transferred to Amex’s various hotel and airline partners.


  • American Express® Business Gold Card

    A dynamic rewards card for high-spending business owners


    • 1–4 Points per $1Rewards Rate
    • 19.49% – 28.49% VariableAPR
    • $375Annual Fee
    • Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit

    Pros

    • Generous welcome points offer
    • Potentially high rewards
    • Dynamic bonus categories
    • Offers monthly credits on select services

    Cons

    • Comes with an annual fee
    • Complex reward system
    • High rewards has spending limit
    • Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
    • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.
    • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.
    • Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.
    • Get $12.95 back in statement credits each month when you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. $12.95 plus applicable taxes.
    • Your Card – Your Choice. Choose from Gold or Rose Gold.
    • *Terms Apply

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express At a Glance

You can get plenty of value from the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express if you’re a high-spending business owner who’s also a frequent flyer. The card provides various luxury travel and lifestyle benefits that justify the high annual fee of $695. It also has no foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for international travel.


  • The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

    Top-tier business card with premium travel benefits


    • 1–5 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
    • 19.49% – 28.49% VariableAPR
    • $695Annual Fee
    • Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit

    Pros

    • Impressive welcome offer
    • Great rewards on business spending
    • Significant statement credits
    • Airport lounge access
    • Extensive travel protections and perks

    Cons

    • High annual fee
    • No intro APR offers
    • Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
    • 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
    • Earn 1.5X points (that's an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
    • Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
    • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Card.
    • $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Business Platinum Card®.
    • The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
    • $695 Annual Fee.
    • See rates and fees
    • Terms Apply.

Comparison Summary

MoneyGeek analyzed the differences between the American Express® Business Gold Card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express to help you determine the best business credit card for you.

Card Detail
Comparison Summary

Travel Coverage

Both cards offer baggage insurance, trip delay insurance and rental car loss and damage insurance. However, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express also has trip cancellation and interruption insurance (subject to terms and conditions).

Winner: Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Welcome Bonus

American Express® Business Gold Cardholders can earn 70,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership.

On the other hand, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers 120,000 Membership Rewards points after cardholders spend $15,000 in the first three months.

Winner: Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Rewards

The American Express® Business Gold Card lets you earn 4X points on the two business categories where you spend the most. Categories include airfare purchases directly from airlines and all purchases at U.S. restaurants, gas stations, advertising in select media and select technology providers.

Meanwhile, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express allows you to earn 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel, as well as 1.5X points on business categories and business purchases of $5,000 or more.

Winner: Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Annual Fee

The annual fee for the American Express® Business Gold Card is $295 per year. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express annual fee is $695.

Winner: American Express® Business Gold Card

Card Benefits

Aside from its generous rewards program, Amex also offers other benefits to its cardholders. The American Express Business Gold gives you a 25% airline bonus after booking your flight with American Express Travel using its Pay with Points program.

On the other hand, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express gives you access to Amex’s Global Lounge Collection. It also offers a 35% airline bonus and an airline fee credit to receive up to $200 per calendar year for baggage fees and other incidentals charged by the airline.

Winner: Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Which Card Should You Get?

Before choosing between the American Express® Business Gold Card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you should first consider your business needs and spending habits. This information will help determine which card is best for you.

Who Should Consider the American Express® Business Gold Card?

The American Express® Business Gold Card would most benefit business owners who want to maximize their rewards on purchases and enjoy flexibility in redeeming them.

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    Business owners who use online, TV and radio advertising or make purchases from gas stations, restaurants and select technology providers can earn 4X points on their first $150,000 spent in combined purchases from any two business categories each calendar year.

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    International travelers can use the American Express® Business Gold Card to pay for purchases made abroad since the card has no foreign transaction fees.

Who Should Consider the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express?

Since The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the most expensive business credit cards on the market, it’s best suited for business owners who incur high expenses and frequently travel.

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    Business owners who spend over $5,000 every month can easily earn the card’s welcome offer of 120,000 Membership Rewards points within the first three months.

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    Frequent flyers who want access to airport lounges and hotel upgrades will enjoy the perks of this card.

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EXPERT OPINION

Both of these cards earn outstanding value, and while each of these have significant annual fees, both of them can be justified by taking advantage of each one’s benefits. However, if you’re looking for luxury travel and benefits for high spending, the Amex Platinum is the card to choose.

But regardless of which card you choose, be sure your business can afford the annual fee of either card.

Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs

Choosing the best business credit card can be challenging. MoneyGeek answered some frequently asked questions to help you further understand the differences between the American Express® Business Gold Card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.

If you want to earn rewards for your business purchases using a card with a cheaper annual fee, then the American Express® Business Gold Card is for you. But if you’re a high-spending business owner who travels often, the American Express Business Platinum is the better option.

Since Amex allows customers to have up to five American Express credit cards, you can get the American Express® Business Gold Card even if you already have the Business Platinum Card® from American Express and vice versa.

The points you earn on either card are Membership Rewards. As you earn these points, they will all be deposited in the same place.

Yes, you can switch to The Business Platinum Card® from American Express if you feel the need to upgrade. However, American Express will review your eligibility based on your account history before approving your application.

You need a good to excellent credit score for your application to be approved.

For the American Express® Business Gold Card, you have to spend $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership to earn 70,000 Membership Rewards points. For the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you have to spend $15,000 in the first three months to receive 120,000 Membership Rewards points.

Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options

The American Express® Business Gold Card and the Business Platinum Card® from American Express are attractive options for high-spending small business owners. However, if you want more opportunities to earn rewards, consider a rewards credit card instead.

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


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*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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