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Advertiser disclosure
The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That’s why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don’t cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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Olivia Mittak is a credit cards editor at TPG. She specializes in maximizing earn for points and miles, finding the best welcome bonuses and choosing the right credit cards for your wallet.
October 23, 2026 • 15 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
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The American Express® Gold Card and American Express Platinum Card® are two of the most well-known travel rewards cards out there.
Each card comes with a sizable annual fee ($325 for the Amex Gold; see and $895 for the Amex Platinum; see ), so it’s important to carefully consider which option is best for you.
If you spend heavily at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets or you regularly make purchases with the merchants covered by its statement credits, the Amex Gold will likely be a great fit for you. If you prefer to book airfare directly with the airline and want a broader range of travel and lifestyle benefits, the Amex Platinum will probably be a better choice.
Let’s dive deeper into the comparison.
Amex Gold vs. Amex Platinum: At a glance
| Card Features | Amex Gold | Amex Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $325 | $895 |
| Welcome offer | New cardmembers can find out their offer and see if they are eligible for as high as 100,000 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.) | New cardmembers can find out their offer and see if they are eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.) |
| Authorized user fee |
$0 for the first five authorized users, then $35 per user beyond that (see rates and fees) | $195 (see rates and fees), there’s also no-annual-fee Companion Platinum option |
Quick picks by traveler type
| Best for… | Card |
|---|---|
| Travelers who don’t mind booking through issuer travel portals | Amex Gold |
| Those who already make purchases covered by its statement credits or who spend most of their budget on restaurants and U.S. groceries | Amex Gold |
| Travelers looking for lounge access | Amex Platinum |
| Those who want comprehensive travel and lifestyle benefits | Amex Platinum |
Amex Gold vs. Amex Platinum: Welcome bonus
Currently, new Amex Gold cardmembers can find out their offer and see if they are eligible for as high as 100,000 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.
Meanwhile, new Amex Platinum cardmembers can find out their offer and see if they are eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
These are the standard offers for both cards. According to TPG’s October 2026 valuations, these welcome offers are worth up to $2,000 and up to $3,500, respectively.
Winner: Amex Platinum. Its potential welcome offer is more valuable, although it requires significantly more spending to earn.
Amex Gold vs. Amex Platinum benefits
Here’s a high-level overview of the top benefits that cardmembers can maximize (enrollment is required for select benefits):
| Amex Gold | Amex Platinum | |
|---|---|---|
| Statement credits |
|
|
| Lounge access | None | Eligible cardmembers receive access to Amex’s Global Lounge Collection, which includes:
Eligible cardmembers also receive a Priority Pass Select membership, granting them access to over 1,900 lounges worldwide. |
| Hotel elite status | None | Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold status, plus Leading Hotels of the World Leaders Club Sterling status |
Given that its annual fee is over $500 higher, the Amex Platinum offers significantly more perks than the Amex Gold.
Statement credits
The Amex Gold is easy to get outsize value from if you’re able to easily use its merchant statement credits. While the Amex Platinum also offers plenty of restricted statement credits, as a cardmember of both of these cards, I’ve found it more forgiving with its perks.
I’ve found the Amex Platinum’s lodging statement credit, digital entertainment statement credit, Uber Cash and U.S. Resy statement credit very easy to use. For cardmembers who already book eligible hotels and dine at participating Resy restaurants, these credits can offset a substantial portion of the Platinum’s annual fee.
Conversely, to get sufficient value out of the Amex Gold, you’ll need to fully use its Uber Cash credit, U.S. Resy credit and dining statement credit each year. The Uber Cash and U.S. Resy statement credit are easy enough, but the dining statement credit is quite restricted and may be difficult for cardmembers to take advantage of.
I use my Amex Gold’s dining statement credit to cover a Grubhub+ membership and have found it’s the easiest way to use that particular perk.
If you’re already spending regularly with Uber, Dunkin’ Donuts and the dining brands covered by the Amex Gold, its annual fee won’t be much of an issue for you. Otherwise, you may appreciate the greater flexibility offered by the Platinum’s statement credits.
Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Other benefits
The Amex Platinum takes a significant lead over the Amex Gold in terms of other benefits. It provides lounge access and hotel elite status, while the Amex Gold does not.
I appreciate how extensive the Amex Platinum’s lounge access is for eligible cardmembers, and I recommend it as the best choice for lounge access. In addition, I like being able to use the card’s complimentary Hilton Gold status and Marriott Gold status when I stay at those brands (enrollment required).
Lounge access gives me a break from the hectic pace of the airport, while elite hotel status can grant me perks like late checkout and room upgrades, subject to availability.
That said, if you have lounge access through another card and don’t frequently stay with Hilton or Marriott, the Amex Gold’s benefits may be sufficient for you.
Winner: Amex Platinum. This card is much easier to get outsize value from, and it has a lot more benefits than the Amex Gold.
How to earn and redeem rewards with the Amex Gold vs. Amex Platinum
Earning rewards
Let’s take a closer look at each card’s bonus categories:
| Card | Amex Gold | Amex Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Earning rates |
|
|
The Amex Gold is the better pick for everyday spending, since it earns bonus points at U.S. grocery stores and restaurants worldwide (subject to spending caps). If you’re focused on earning bonus rewards on airfare, the Amex Platinum is the better pick since it earns more points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines.
Neither card is a good choice for earning bonus points on hotels booked direct, since their hotel bonus categories are restricted to purchases made through Amex Travel. The Platinum’s new Airbnb earning rate also requires booking through Amex Travel, rather than directly with Airbnb. They also both lack a general travel category.
The Amex Gold has more travel-focused categories overall compared to the Amex Platinum, but all of these categories (except flights) require booking through Amex Travel. That could be a strength if you don’t mind booking through issuer portals, but those who prefer flexibility won’t find much value in these categories.
The differences between these cards’ earning categories are why I enjoy holding both. I can use my Amex Gold at restaurants and U.S. grocery stores, and my Amex Platinum on flights.
Redeeming rewards
Since both of these cards earn Membership Rewards points, their redemption methods are the same. You can use your points for gift cards, PayPal, at Amazon.com checkout, for statement credits and for travel booked through Amex Travel.
The best way to use your rewards is by transferring them to Amex’s 20 transfer partners. This is how you can achieve (or surpass) our valuation of Membership Rewards points at 2 cents per point.
Winner: As far as earning rates are concerned, the Amex Gold has the slight edge thanks to its everyday spending categories. Regarding redemptions, it’s a tie since both cards earn the same rewards currency.
Can I have both the Amex Gold and Amex Platinum?
Yes, and in fact, it’s something I recommend considering if you can handle paying both annual fees.
From my perspective, the Amex Gold is more of a lifestyle card with some travel perks, while the Amex Platinum is a travel card with a few lifestyle-oriented perks. That makes these two cards great complements to each other.
You could use both cards to maximize many of your everyday and travel purchases by taking out the Gold for restaurant and U.S. grocery purchases and the Platinum for flights booked directly.
If you’re traveling infrequently or don’t want to pay an annual fee in the hundreds, I recommend considering alternatives to the Amex Gold and Amex Platinum.
Should I get the Amex Gold or Amex Platinum?
If you’re looking for a way to get more out of your restaurant and U.S. grocery purchases, the Amex Gold is likely the better pick for you. If you’re a frequent traveler who values lounge access, a great earning rate on flights booked directly with an airline and hotel elite status, the Amex Platinum can add a lot to your wallet.
Upgrading or downgrading between the Amex Gold and Amex Platinum
If you have one of these cards and wish to switch to the other, call the number on the back of your card. Just remember that you won’t receive a welcome offer by upgrading or downgrading, unless you receive an upgrade offer from Amex. Upgrading or downgrading may also make you ineligible for either card’s welcome bonus in the future.
I don’t recommend upgrading the Amex Gold to the Amex Platinum unless you receive an upgrade offer.
Bottom line
The Amex Gold and Amex Platinum are among the most well-known travel rewards cards available. Which card makes the most sense for you will largely come down to your spending habits and annual fee tolerance.
It can make a lot of sense to hold both of these cards, but if you’re only interested in one, choose the card that you feel would be easier to maximize. If you’re going out of your way to make certain purchases just to justify an annual fee, that card may not be the right pick for you.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click here.
