Platinum vs Gold

By Quy Dinh · Updated Oct 24, 2026

The short answer

They’re built for different people. The Platinum is for travel: lounges, 5x on flights and big hotel credits. The Gold is for everyday life: 4x at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, with food credits. If you don’t fly often, the Gold earns more for about a third of the fee.

Both earn the same Membership Rewards points, so many people hold both. Amex may not give the Gold’s welcome offer to people who have or had a Platinum, so read the offer terms first.

Pick the Platinum if

You fly several times a year and want lounge access
You’d use the hotel and travel credits

Pick the Gold if

Most of your spending is dining and groceries
You don’t need lounges
You want a lower fee

Side by side

Feature	Platinum American Express	Gold American Express
In one line	Worth the $895 only if you’ll really use the lounges and most of the credits; for everyone else, a cheaper card does more.	One of the best cards for people who spend most on food: 4x at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, with up to $424 a year in food and Uber credits against a $325 fee.
Annual fee	$895	$325
Statement credits	Up to $3,274 a year in 14 credits	Up to $520 a year in 5 credits
How it earns	5x Flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel 5x Prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel 5x Prepaid Airbnb stays booked through Amex Travel 2x Prepaid car rentals and cruises booked through Amex Travel 1x Everything else	4x Restaurants worldwide 4x U.S. supermarkets 5x Prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel 3x Flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel 2x Prepaid car rentals, Airbnb stays and cruises through Amex Travel 1x Everything else
Lounge access	Centurion Lounge access Delta Sky Club access Priority Pass Select Other Global Lounge Collection lounges	None
Welcome offer	As high as 175,000 points after you spend $12,000 on purchases in the first 6 months. Amex tells you your exact offer after you apply, before you accept the card.	As high as 100,000 points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 6 months. Amex tells you your exact offer after you apply, before you accept the card.
Counts toward Chase 5/24	Yes	Yes

Credits are counted at their full cash value; see each card’s page for how each one works and which need activation. Offers change; the bank’s page has the current one.

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