Amex Platinum vs Amex Gold
Two Membership Rewards cards compared
Verified October 2026
The Amex Gold ($325) undercuts the Amex Platinum ($895) on annual fee. Pick the Amex Platinum for everyday flights purchased directly from airlines or via Amex Travel spending (5x); pick the Amex Gold for everyday prepaid hotel stays spending (5x).
At a Glance
The Platinum Card from American Express
- Annual Fee
- $895
- Signup Bonus
- 175,000 points
- Network
- American Express
- Points Currency
- Membership Rewards
- Earning Rates
-
All Other Purchases 1xFlights Purchased Directly From Airlines Or Via Amex Travel 5x
American Express Gold Card
- Annual Fee
- $325
- Signup Bonus
- 100,000 points
- Network
- American Express
- Points Currency
- Membership Rewards
- Earning Rates
-
Flights 3xRestaurants 4xUs Supermarkets 4xPrepaid Hotel Stays 5x
Category Breakdown
How they compare across key categories
Annual Fee
Amex Gold winsAmex Platinum $895 vs Amex Gold $325
Welcome Bonus
Amex Platinum winsAmex Platinum: 175,000 points after $12,000 in 6 months vs Amex Gold: 100,000 points after $8,000 in 6 months
Top Earning Rate
TieAmex Platinum: 5x on flights purchased directly from airlines or via Amex Travel vs Amex Gold: 5x on prepaid hotel stays
Perks & Credits
Amex Gold winsAmex Platinum: 3 listed benefits vs Amex Gold: 6 listed benefits
Transfer Partners
TieAmex Platinum: 20+ airline and hotel partners vs Amex Gold: 20+ airline and hotel partners
Perks & Benefits
The Platinum
- Airline incidentals credit ($200)
- Uber credit ($200)
- Lounge access
American Express Gold
- Dining credit ($120)
- Resy credit ($100)
- Dunkin credit ($84)
- Uber Cash ($120)
- Hotel Collection credit ($100)
- Hertz Five Star status
Which Is Right for You?
Get the Amex Platinum if...
- Premium benefits to offset the $895 fee
- Earns 5x on flights purchased directly from airlines or via Amex Travel
- Airline incidentals credit ($200)
Get the Amex Gold if...
- Lower $325 annual fee
- Earns 5x on prepaid hotel stays
- Earns 4x on restaurants
- Dining credit ($120)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Amex Platinum or Amex Gold better?
The Amex Gold ($325) undercuts the Amex Platinum ($895) on annual fee. Pick the Amex Platinum for everyday flights purchased directly from airlines or via Amex Travel spending (5x); pick the Amex Gold for everyday prepaid hotel stays spending (5x). Both earn transferable rewards, so many points collectors hold one from each ecosystem.
Which has the lower annual fee, the Amex Platinum or Amex Gold?
The Amex Gold has the lower annual fee at $325, versus $895 for the Amex Platinum.
Which card earns points faster?
The Amex Platinum earns up to 5x on flights purchased directly from airlines or via Amex Travel, while the Amex Gold earns up to 5x on prepaid hotel stays.
Can I have both the Amex Platinum and the Amex Gold?
Yes. They're issued independently, so you can hold both and earn Membership Rewards and Membership Rewards side by side.
Ready to use your points?
Search award flight availability across all partner airlines in one place.
Search award flightsNeed More Points?
Earn bonus points with these credit card offers
Can't find availability at your current points balance? These credit cards earn points you can put towards your next flight.
The Platinum Card from American Express
Personal · Annual fee $895
175,000 points
after $12,000 in 6 months
- Airline incidentals credit ($200)
- Uber credit ($200)
- Lounge access
American Express Gold Card
Personal · Annual fee $325
100,000 points
after $8,000 in 6 months
- Dining credit ($120)
- Resy credit ($100)
- Dunkin credit ($84)
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Personal · Annual fee $795
100,000 points
after $6,000 in 3 months
- Annual Travel Credit ($300)
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit ($120)
- The Edit Hotel Credit ($500)
Chase Ink Business Preferred®
Business · Annual fee $95
100,000 Ultimate Rewards points
after $8,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
- 3x points on travel & shipping
- 3x points on advertising
- 3x points on internet/cable/phone
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Personal · Annual fee $95
75,000 points
after $5,000 in 3 months
- Hotel credit ($50)
- DoorDash DashPass
- Peloton credit ($60)
Capital One Venture Rewards
Personal · Annual fee $95
75,000 points
after $4,000 in 3 months
- Capital One Travel credit ($300)
Credit card approval subject to eligibility. Terms and conditions apply. American Express cards shown are available to US residents only.