<body><div>Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page. KEY POINTS<ul><li>The Amex Platinum Card costs more than the Amex Gold Card, but its value is several times higher.</li><li>The Amex Gold Card offers $424 in annual credits, while the Amex Platinum Card can offer more than $1,500 in annual value (terms apply).</li><li>The Amex Platinum Card offers more diverse perks and its welcome offer is worth more than the Amex Gold Card.</li></ul>Join 20,000+ Americans getting smarter and richer with our expert money tipsGet on the path to financial success -- subscribe today for tips, guides, and top-tier financial products straight from the personal finance expertsBy submitting your email address, you consent to us sending you money tips along with products and services that we think might interest you. You can unsubscribe at any time. Please read our Privacy Statement and Terms &amp; Conditions.For travel cards with an annual fee, few cost more than The Platinum Card® from American Express. In fact, with a sticker price of $695 (see rates and fees), only two cards really outprice it: the Centurion Card from American Express ($5,000) and the Mastercard Gold Card ($995).That annual fee might make you shy away from this card, or pick up its less expensive alternative, the American Express® Gold Card. This card also has a hefty annual fee ($325, see rates and fees), but has far better earning rates at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants worldwide (terms apply).To be sure, both of these Amex cards have a place in the right person's wallet. However, if you're making your decision based on the annual fee alone, I think it's a mistake to choose the Amex Gold Card over the Platinum. Here's why.<h2>The Platinum Card® from American Express </h2>On American Express' Secure Website.Terms apply <img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2K0yPJ_0wPMNJiy00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2K0yPJ_0wPMNJiy00" width="480" height="304" >Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.4.50/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. Credit Score:Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850) PoorFairGoodExcellent300-579580-669670-739740-850Intro APRPurchases: n/aBalance Transfers: n/aAPRSee Pay Over Time APR Rewards1X-5X Membership Rewards® PointsAnnual Fee $695Welcome Offer80,000 Membership Rewards® Points<ul><li>This luxury travel card has some of the most prestigious perks you'll find — access to over 1,400 airport lounges, elite status with Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment required), and spending credits worth over $1,500 in value every year. Just be ready for the hefty annual fee, which can be offset in the first year with a welcome bonus worth $800 in points. Terms apply. Read Full Review</li><li>Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.</li><li>Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.</li><li>$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.</li><li>$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.</li><li>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.</li><li>$155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.</li><li>$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.</li><li>$200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.</li><li>$199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.</li><li>Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.</li><li>Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.</li><li>Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.</li><li>$695 annual fee.¤</li><li>Terms Apply.</li></ul>Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip delay and cancellation insurance and cell phone protection underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Extended warranty, purchase protection, car rental insurance, and baggage insurance underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. The Amex Gold Card can offer you up to $424 in annual spending credits. These break down to $120 in annual Uber Cash of $120, $84 in annual Dunkin' credits, $100 in annual Resy credits, and $120 in annual dining credits at participating restaurants (terms apply). If you use all these credits, your card would essentially pay you $99.The Amex Platinum Card, however, can offer you more than $1,500 in value. That's more than double its annual fee. These perks break down into the following:<ul><li>$200 hotel credit: $200 in statement credits annually when you book certain hotels through American Express Travel.</li><li>$240 digital entertainment credit: $20 in monthly statement credits for eligible subscriptions, such as Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.</li><li>$200 in Uber Cash: $15 monthly in Uber Cash for U.S. rides, plus a $20 bonus in December.</li><li>$200 airline fee credit: $200 each calendar year to cover incidentals, such as in-flight meals, on an eligible airline that you select.</li><li>$199 CLEAR Plus credit: Up to $199 in annual statement credits to cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus membership, excluding applicable taxes and fees.</li><li>$100 Saks Fifth Avenue statement credit. $100 in statement credits each year for Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com.</li><li>$155 Walmart+ credit: $12.95 monthly statement credit after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership.</li><li>$300 Equinox credit: Up to $300 each year on a digital subscription or Equinox club membership.</li><li>$100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. You can receive a statement credit every four years when you apply for Global Entry ($100) or every 4.5 years when you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck (up to $85).</li><li>Terms apply; enrollment may be required.</li></ul>If you were to take advantage of all these benefits, your card would pay you $999 annually after accounting for the annual fee. Let that sink in for a second.<h2>2. The perks aren't exclusive to dining</h2>The Amex Gold Card has a well defined audience: foodies who like to travel (or travelers who like to eat out). If you don't travel frequently, or you don't have a big eating out budget, the card won't be much help for you.The Amex Platinum Card is also a travel card. But its perks aren't limited to restaurants, Dunkin', and Uber Eats. As noted above, it has several credits, from entertainment to shopping. It also comes with complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges (terms apply), which isn't included with the Amex Gold Card. While I wouldn't say the card has something for everyone, its intended audience does seem wider than that of the Amex Gold Card.<h2>3. A bigger welcome offer</h2>The Amex Platinum Card offers one of the biggest welcome offers for a personal card. You can earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points Membership Rewards points for spending $8,000 on purchases within the first 6 months (terms apply). While I've seen bigger welcome offers for this card (up to 175,000 points), 80,000 is the standard.The Amex Gold Card doesn't have a bad welcome offer. In fact, its offer is also one of the best for a rewards card. You can earn 60,000 points + earn up to $100 back when you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months (terms apply).Finally, don't read this as a slam against the Amex Gold Card. It's an excellent travel card that deserves a place in any foodies' wallet. In fact, it might beat out the Amex Platinum Card for you, especially if you prefer dining credits. When all is said and done, get the card that saves you the most money. That could be a free credit card, or one of these exclusive cards from American Express.2024 Award Winner <h2>American Express® Gold Card </h2>On American Express' Secure Website.Terms apply <img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1NcJ5E_0wPMNJiy00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1NcJ5E_0wPMNJiy00" width="480" height="348" >Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.4.50/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. Credit Score:Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850) PoorFairGoodExcellent300-579580-669670-739740-850Intro APRPurchases: n/aBalance Transfers: n/aAPRSee Pay Over Time APR Rewards1X-4X Membership Rewards® PointsAnnual Fee $325Welcome Offer60,000 points + earn up to $100 back<ul><li>This card offers considerable value, as it earns 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X) and 4X points at restaurants. Plus, earn 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on American Express Travel. Meanwhile, over $600 in various spend credits can potentially offset the entire $325 annual fee. (Terms apply.) Overall, it’s an incredibly lucrative card for those who spend a lot in its bonus categories and can use its spend credits. Read Full Review</li><li>Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.</li><li>Get the American Express® Gold Card in either the Gold, Rose Gold or Limited-Edition White Gold metal design. White Gold design is only available while supplies last.</li><li>Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.</li><li>Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.</li><li>Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.</li><li>Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.</li><li>Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.</li><li>$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.</li><li>$84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Dunkin' locations.</li><li>$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.</li><li>$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.</li><li>Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.</li><li>No Foreign Transaction Fees.</li><li>Annual Fee is $325.</li><li>Terms Apply.</li></ul>• Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. • Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. • Trip delay insurance underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.  • Extended warranty, baggage insurance plan, car rental loss &amp; damage insurance, and purchase protection warranty underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. <h2>Alert: highest cash back card we've seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026</h2>This credit card is not just good – it's so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee! </div></body>

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3 Reasons to Get the Amex Platinum Instead of the Amex Gold Card

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page. KEY POINTS. The Amex Platinum Card costs...