Find Your Best
American Express® Gold Card
vs. The Platinum Card® from American Express
Updated: March 19, 2024
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Both American Express cards reward cardholders generously and have no foreign transaction fees. With the American Express® Gold Card, you can earn four points for each dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants. Meanwhile, the Platinum Card offers a $200 airline fee credit each year and 5x points when you book a flight through American Express Travel or directly with the airline.
Comparison Overview: American Express® Gold Card vs. The Platinum Card® from American Express
- American Express® Gold CardThe Platinum Card® from American Express
- Has Annual Fee
- Has Balance Transfer Offer
- Has APR Offer
- Cash Back Rewards
- Travel Rewards
American Express® Gold Card At a Glance
The American Express® Gold Card has a welcome offer of 60,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within your first six months of card membership. You also get a $120 dining credit and $120 for Uber each year. When you use your card to book flights through American Express or with the airlines directly, you get three reward points for each dollar.
- American Express® Gold Card
Best rewards card for frequent fliers and diners
- 1–4 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- See Pay Over Time APR*APR
- $250Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- Top-tier rewards on dining and groceries
- Great annual bonus credits
- Transfer points to multiple airline partners
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- High annual fee
- Limited premium travel perks
- No rewards on hotel stays or car rentals
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year. After reaching the cap, earn 1X point per dollar spent.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with the airline or on amextravel.com.
- Receive $10 in Uber cash each month when you add your Amex Gold to your Uber account, totaling up to $120 per year. This can be used for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. To receive this 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. The Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States.
- Get up to $10 in monthly statement credits when you use the Amex Gold at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and select Shake Shack locations, totaling up to $120 per year. Enrollment required.
- Earn a $100 experience credit (with a two-night minimum stay) when booking The Hotel Collection using American Express Travel. The experience credit varies by property.
- Choose between a Gold or a Rose Gold card to match your style.
- No foreign transaction fees. See rates and fees.
- The annual fee is $250. See rates and fees.
- Terms apply.
Moneygeek.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
The Platinum Card® from American Express At a Glance
With the Platinum Card, you can earn 100,000 bonus reward points once you spend $6,000 on purchases within the first six months. You also receive $200 in airline fee credit each year.
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
Great rewards card for air travel with premium benefits
- 1–5 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- See Pay Over Time APR*APR
- $695Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- Top-level travel rewards rates
- Extensive premium travel benefits
- Generous high-value annual credits
- Transfer points to airline partners
Cons
- High annual fee
- Annual credits may not be relevant for all cardholders
- You can earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. Choose your preferred metal card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- You will earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, up to $500,000 per calendar year. You will also earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel.
- Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection bookings require a minimum two-night stay.
- You can get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible digital entertainment purchases, including Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal, with your Platinum Card®.
- Enjoy complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries with the American Express Global Lounge Collection®. This gives you more lounge options than any other credit card issuer as of March 2023.
- Save on eligible delivery fees and shipping with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and receive up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back each month.
- You can receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your selected airline to your Platinum Card®.
- Enjoy up to $200 in Uber Cash annually for rides or eats orders in the U.S., along with Uber VIP status, available to the Basic Card Member only.
- Get up to $189 back per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus membership when you use your card. CLEAR® Plus speeds up security at 50+ airports and is available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- Receive a $100 statement credit every four years for Global Entry application fees or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck® application fees every 4.5 years when charged to your Platinum Card®. If approved for Global Entry, you will also get access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop with confidence knowing you can get up to $100 in annual statement credits for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue stores or saks.com with your Platinum Card®, split into $50 semi-annual credits. Enrollment is required.
- Unlock exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy by adding your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- The card has a $695 annual fee. See Rates and Fees
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates and Fees
Moneygeek.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Comparison Summary
In the table below, MoneyGeek listed differences between the American Express® Gold Card vs. The Platinum Card so you can choose which travel credit card suits your situation best.
Card Detail | Comparison Summary |
|---|---|
Travel Coverage and Purchase Protection | The American Express® Gold Card offers baggage insurance, car rental and loss insurance in eligible territories and purchase protection. The Platinum Card provides purchase protection and insurance for your car rental, loss and baggage. On top of that, you also get complimentary travel insurance coverage. Winner: The Platinum Card |
Welcome Bonus | You can earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points once you spend $4,000 on qualified purchases within your first six months with the American Express® Gold Card. With The Platinum Card, you can earn 100,000 Membership Reward points when you spend $6,000 on purchases within the first six months. Winner: The Platinum Card |
Rewards | The American Express® Gold Card offers 4x Membership Rewards per dollar on specific worldwide restaurants and U.S. supermarkets. You also get $120 Uber Cash and $120 dining credit annually. With The Platinum Card, you get automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status, premium car rental status for various car rental programs and airport lounge access. Winner: The Platinum Card |
Annual Fee | The American Express® Gold Card has a $250 annual fee. The Platinum Card annual fee is $695. Winner: American Express® Gold Card |
Which Card Should You Get?
The best travel credit card for you will depend on what you need. MoneyGeek listed important details that may fit what you’re looking for.
Who Should Consider the American Express® Gold Card?
Individuals who fly and dine frequently should consider the Gold Card since it has outstanding rewards points for dining, airlines and supermarkets. Unlike other cards, you can transfer your reward points to other airline and hotel loyalty programs to maximize your free travel, and even have a maximum of five authorized users with no additional annual fee.
Cardholders can earn four points for each dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets and three points per dollar if you use this card to book flights through American Express or directly with the airline.
The card can have up to five authorized users, which helps you earn points much quicker.
The card has no foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside the U.S.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
Who Should Consider the The Platinum Card® from American Express?
The Platinum Card from American Express is a great option for frequent travelers that want luxury benefits and generous rewards. Cardholders get complimentary travel insurance, no foreign transaction fees, access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, concierge services and more.
You can transfer points to partner airlines through their frequent flier programs.
You get complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status.
You can earn 5x points directly on airline purchases and prepaid hotels and flights booked through American Express Travel, up to $500,000 per year.
EXPERT OPINION
Both of these cards are solid options for consumers that spend generously, and want significant rewards. However, the divider between the two cards is the lifestyle of the cardholder. If you are a regular traveler, meaning more than once a quarter, you may find the Platinum Card worth it. If you travel a few times per year and enjoy eating out, the Gold Card will get the job done. While The Platinum Card is packed with benefits, the $695 annual fee is a steep ask. So if you decide the Platinum Card is your best choice, be sure to have a plan to utilize the benefits.
Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs
MoneyGeek listed frequently asked questions about the American Express® Gold Card vs. The Platinum Card to better show the differences between both travel credit cards.
Is the American Express® Gold Card better than the Platinum Card?
The card that suits you best depends on your unique situation, so it’s best to assess what you need. If you prefer a card with a lower annual fee and don’t need a lot of premium benefits, the Gold Card might be a better choice. But if you travel often and prefer more luxury benefits like airport lounge access, The Platinum Card may be better for you.
Can you get the American Express® Gold Card if you have The Platinum Card?
Yes, it’s possible to get both cards. However, if you have The Platinum Card, you can get a free additional Gold Card for an authorized user.
Can you transfer points from the American Express® Gold Card to The Platinum Card?
Both cards earn American Express Membership Rewards points, so even if you spend on both cards, all of your points will be deposited into one place.
Can you switch from the American Express® Gold Card to The Platinum Card?
It’s possible to switch from the Gold Card to The Platinum Card, just contact American Express.
What’s harder to get, the American Express® Gold Card or The Platinum Card?
It may be more difficult to get The Platinum Card since it has a much higher APR and annual fee compared to the Gold Card. Additionally, both cards are charge cards with no predetermined limit, which makes them a bit more difficult to get.
How much do you have to spend for the American Express® Gold Card vs The Platinum Card to get the welcome bonus?
With the American Express® Gold Card, you need to spend $4,000 on qualified purchases within six months to earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points. On the other hand, The Platinum Card earns 100,000 bonus reward points if you spend $6,000 within the first six months.
Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options
If you aren’t fully convinced by the generous benefits and features of the American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card, you might want to check the other travel credit cards.
Learn more about credit cards in general
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About Doug Milnes, CFA
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.
sources
- American Express. "Important Information Regarding Rates, Fees, and Other Cost Information." Accessed January 7, 2022.
- American Express. "Welcome to Membership Rewards!." Accessed January 7, 2022.
*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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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.