American Express is often recognized as a luxury issuer thanks to its high-end cards. Two of Amex’s most popular products are the American Express® Gold Card and American Express Platinum Card®.
When I was looking to elevate my travel experience in 2019, I was drawn to the Amex Platinum for its luxurious reputation, even though I was already a Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) cardholder.
Both cards offer the allure of elevated travel and an upscale lifestyle, thanks to their earning rates, statement credits and the shine of their metal finish. The Amex Gold has a $325 annual fee (see rates and fees), which pales in comparison to the Amex Platinum’s new $895 annual fee (see rates and fees).
With high annual fees and a range of statement credits, the stakes are higher than ever when considering your next premium card. Let’s find out which card makes sense for you.
Amex Gold vs. Amex Platinum welcome offer
With the Amex Gold, new cardmembers can find out their offer and see if they’re eligible for as high as 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
This welcome offer is worth up to $2,000 based on TPG’s October 2025 valuations.
Prospective Amex Platinum cardmembers can find out their offer and see if they’re eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
This welcome offer can be worth up to a staggering $3,500 based on TPG’s valuations.
Amex has a strict once-in-a-lifetime policy for welcome offers, so I recommend checking if a welcome offer is available to you before applying. Keep in mind that you may not be eligible for the Amex Gold’s welcome offer if you have or previously had the Amex Platinum.
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Winner: Amex Platinum. Its welcome offer has the potential to be far more valuable.
Related: Is the Amex Gold worth the annual fee?
Amex Gold vs. Amex Platinum benefits
The Amex Platinum and Amex Gold are two of the best rewards cards. Both offer incredible value despite their annual fees. Let’s take a closer look at the perks offered by each card.
Standout Amex Platinum benefits
The Amex Platinum comes with a ton of perks to justify its $895 annual fee. First, the card offers numerous statement credits each calendar year, which are related to travel and a premium lifestyle.
Here’s a high-level overview of the top benefits that cardmembers can maximize:
| Hotel | Receive up to $600 each calendar year (up to $300 semiannually) in hotel statement credits, valid on prepaid Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings (of two nights or more for THC) with American Express Travel® when you pay with your Amex Platinum. |
|---|---|
| Equinox | Receive up to a $300 Equinox statement credit per calendar year (subject to automatic renewal). |
| Oura Ring | Receive up to a $200 annual Oura Ring statement credit per calendar year on direct Oura Ring purchases (hardware only). |
| Clear Plus | Receive up to a $209 Clear Plus statement credit per calendar year to cover the annual membership (subject to automatic renewal). |
| Airline incidentals | Receive up to $200 in airline incidental statement credits per calendar year on charges like seat selection, bag fees and lounge access that are charged by your one selected qualifying airline. |
| Resy | Receive up to $400 each calendar year (up to $100 quarterly) in Resy statement credits for purchases at participating U.S. Resy-affiliated restaurants (no reservations required). |
| Lululemon | Receive up to $300 each calendar year (up to $75 quarterly) in Lululemon statement credits on purchases made at U.S. stores (excluding outlets) and online. |
| Saks Fifth Avenue | Receive up to a $100 each calendar year (up to $50 semiannually) in Saks Fifth Avenue credits. |
| Digital entertainment | Receive up to $300 each calendar year (up to $25 monthly) in digital entertainment statement credits when you pay for eligible purchases with the Amex Platinum at select partners. |
| Uber | Receive up to $200 in Uber Cash every calendar year (for U.S. services), given as up to $15 in Uber Cash a month with an up-to-$20 bonus in December, when you add your Amex Platinum Card to your Uber account (redeem with any Amex card). It’s valid for Uber rides as well as Uber Eats orders in the U.S. |
Enrollment is required for select benefits.
These statement credits could offset the Platinum’s annual fee, but not all cardmembers will find them useful or applicable. At that point, the card’s annual fee becomes hard to justify. Other benefits of the card provide significant value that can’t be quantified.
This includes hotel elite status, including Gold elite status with Marriott and Hilton and Leaders Club Sterling status. Enrollment is required.
The card’s impressive airport lounge access for eligible cardmembers includes Centurion Lounges and a Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required). If you’re flying on Delta Air Lines, you’ll get access to Delta Sky Clubs (limited to 10 annual visits; unlimited visits can be unlocked by spending $75,000 or more on your card in a calendar year).
If you travel solo, Centurion Lounge access is fantastic, but if you often travel with family or friends, like I do, the lack of access for accompanying guests is quite frustrating for a nearly $900 card.
Related: How to maximize benefits with the Amex Platinum Card
Notable Amex Gold benefits
The Amex Gold has a shorter list of benefits, but perhaps for most cardmembers, that’s all they need.
Cardmembers can enjoy up to $424 in annual value from the card’s statement credits, including:
- Up to $120 in Uber Cash per calendar year: Valid on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S., and added to your Uber app once your card is added. Given as up to $10 each month.
- Up to $120 in dining statement credits per calendar year: Eligible merchants include Five Guys, Grubhub, Goldbelly, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wine.com. Cardmembers receive up to $10 each month with this benefit.
- Up to $100 in statement credits for Resy purchases per calendar year: You’ll get up to $50 in statement credits semiannually for eligible Resy purchases and dining at U.S. Resy restaurants. No reservation is required.
- Up to $84 in statement credits for Dunkin’ purchases per calendar year: Receive up to $7 per month for purchases made at U.S. Dunkin’ locations.
Enrollment is required for select benefits.
By maximizing these benefits, you’ll more than recoup the card’s $325 annual fee. As an Amex Platinum cardmember, I find these statement credits to be more practical and less of a juggling game when trying to determine which statement credits are left to use.
Winner: Amex Platinum. The Platinum card has a much more extensive list of benefits, including lounge access and hotel elite status. The trade-off is a much higher annual fee.
Related: Why I love my Amex Gold card — and will keep it for years to come
Earning points with the Amex Gold vs. Amex Platinum
The Amex Platinum and Amex Gold both earn American Express Membership Rewards points.
Let’s take a closer look at each card’s bonus categories:
| Card | Amex Platinum | Amex Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Earning rates |
|
|
You’ll be generously rewarded as an Amex Platinum cardmember if your purchases are primarily airline tickets or prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel (a 10% return based on TPG’s valuations).
Unfortunately, after that, the Amex Platinum is fairly ineffective, with no other bonus categories. All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar spent — a rate that most cash-back cards can easily outpace.
Meanwhile, the Amex Gold excels with its earning rates, making it easier for cardmembers to earn bonus points on more common purchases like dining at restaurants and shopping at U.S. supermarkets (spending caps apply).
These purchases provide an 8% return (based on TPG’s valuations). I reckon the average person spends more in these categories day to day than on airfare.
Despite the spending caps on dining and U.S. supermarket purchases, these two earning rates alone make the Amex Gold a better long-term card in your wallet.
Winner: Amex Gold. Although the Amex Platinum’s bonus categories earn points at a higher rate, the Gold card earns bonus points on more everyday spending categories.
Related: Who should (and who shouldn’t) get the Amex Gold card?
Redeeming and transferring points with the Amex Gold vs. Amex Platinum
There isn’t anything noteworthy to report as far as redeeming points with either card, outside of transfer partners. When redeeming Membership Rewards points for travel, you could squeeze out a little more value as a Amex Platinum cardmember by booking flights through Amex Travel via the International Airline Program.
Other than that, if you redeem points for cash back or gift cards, you’ll get poor value for your points. We don’t recommend these redemption methods.
If you want to really maximize your points, transfer them to Amex’s 20 airline and hotel program partners. I’ve consistently gotten more than 2 cents per point when redeeming my points for premium-cabin award tickets.
Top airline partners include Air Canada Aeroplan and Air France-KLM Flying Blue. These partners can get you an exceptional return on your points — especially if you can take advantage of a transfer bonus.
I recently used a 20% transfer bonus to Flying Blue to book a one-way business-class flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) for only 50,000 points.
Winner: Tie. Both cards offer the same redemption options and list of transfer partners.
Related: Best ways to use Amex Membership Rewards points, from business-class flights to Europe to budget-friendly hotel stays
Should I get the Amex Gold or Amex Platinum?
If you spend more on dining and at U.S. supermarkets, you should opt for the Amex Gold. However, if you travel frequently and want lounge access, in addition to earning bonus points on your airfare purchases, go for the Amex Platinum. The Amex Platinum’s statement credits are a huge incentive to apply, but only do so if you can maximize them; otherwise, the lower-annual-fee Amex Gold is a better choice.
Related: The best cards to pair with the Amex Gold
How to switch from the Amex Gold to the Amex Platinum
The Amex Gold and Amex Platinum are part of the same card family, so you can switch between the two by speaking with an American Express representative.
I don’t recommend upgrading on a whim; instead, wait for a lucrative upgrade offer. Without one, you’ll forfeit the ability to earn a welcome bonus on the Amex Platinum.
If you’re an Amex Platinum cardmember and can’t justify the annual fee, downgrade to the Amex Gold.
Bottom line
Both the Amex Platinum and Amex Gold are fantastic options for points and miles fans. Choose carefully, as one rewards you with higher earning rates on various purchases while the other adds a splash of luxury to your life and travels.
The Amex Gold’s earning rates offer more flexibility and make for an excellent card for everyday spending. However, if you’re a frequent jet-setter and prefer luxury benefits along with a more premium lifestyle, the Amex Platinum is a solid card worth its annual fee.
For the undecided folks, consider if there’s room for both of these cards in your wallet. The Amex Gold and Amex Platinum complement each other very well.
To learn more, check out our full reviews of the Amex Platinum and Amex Gold.
Apply here: Amex Platinum
Apply here: Amex Gold
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click here.
