The Amex Platinum Card vs. the Amex Gold Card [Detailed Comparison of Benefits and Perks]

BY 

Christine Krzyszton

- UPDATED: February 16, 2021

1. Credit Cards  / 
2. Strategies & Guides

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Making the choice to have an American Express card in your wallet is an easy decision, especially when the card earns flexible Membership Rewards points and comes with a long list of benefits.

Deciding which American Express card is the best for your situation could be a bit more difficult.

When comparing the American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express, both are excellent American Express card choices. However, each card has unique benefits and 1 card may be a better fit for you than the other.

There are several questions you can ask yourself when you’re considering applying for any rewards credit or charge card:

• Will I use most of the benefits that come with the card?
• Am I comfortable paying the annual fee?
• Does the card deliver enough value to offset the cost of the annual fee?
• Do the bonus spending categories on the card match up with my spending habits?

With these questions in mind, you can review the benefits that come with each card and a clear winner that matches your purpose will surface.

Here’s an overview of what each card has to offer so you can determine which of these popular American Express cards is a match for you.

Welcome Bonuses

While welcome bonuses vary widely, these initial bonus offerings can be a key factor in selecting a rewards-earning credit card.

Welcome bonuses are awarded after you’ve completed a minimum spending requirement in the first 3 months after card approval. For this reason, one of the first points to consider when selecting a card is whether you can comfortably meet the spending requirements and earn the bonus rewards.

Amex Card

Benefits & Info

New Welcome Offer The Platinum Card® from American Express Apply Now (at Amex's secure site)

Earn 60,000 75,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 6 months. Earn 10x points on eligible purchases, in your first 6 months, on your new Card at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases). UP's Bonus Valuation*: $1,650 Earn 5X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year) plus earn 5X Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Access 1,300+ airport lounges across 140 countries, including the amazing Centurion lounges. (This is our favorite lounge access card.) Up to $200 Uber Savings Annually. Up to $200 Airline Fee Credit. Up to $100 fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Up to $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit. Annual Fee: $550. Terms Apply. For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here. Must Reads: For more info on the Amex Platinum, see our thoughts on its benefits & perks, travel insurance coverage, and unbeatable airport lounge access. Take a look here for our full review. If you're a business owner, see our review of The Business Platinum Card from American Express. *This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP and not the card issuer.

Credit Card

Key Benefits & Info

New Welcome Offer American Express® Gold Card Apply Now (at Amex's secure site)

Earn 35,000 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first 6 months. Rose Gold is back. You can now choose between Gold or Rose Gold. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points Restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery, plus, earn 4X points for Uber Eats purchases too. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. Annual Fee: $250 For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here. Must Reads: For more info on the Amex Gold Card, see our guides on its benefits and perks, as well as our full review. *This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP and not the card issuer.

The Value of a Welcome Bonus

In this comparison, the welcome bonuses are offered in the form of Membership Rewards points that can be redeemed for 1 cent each for flights. For example, a 50,000 point welcome bonus would be worth $500 in travel.

It may be compelling to select the card with the highest welcome bonus (such as the Amex Platinum card 100k offer), but remember that you may be able to earn multiple points in bonus categories or find other benefits that offer good value to you with the Amex Gold card. It’s prudent to look at the entire package before selecting a card based solely on the size of the welcome bonus.

Airport Lounge Access

Amex Platinum Card

If you travel frequently, you’ll find the complimentary lounge access to over 1,300 lounges in the American Express Global Lounge Collection an impressive perk. The Global Lounge Collection includes lounges in the following networks:

• Centurion Lounges
• International American Express Lounges
• Priority Pass™ Select
• Delta Sky Clubs (when traveling with Delta)
• Airspace Lounge
• Escape Lounges

Bottom Line: Complimentary worldwide lounge access is a very desirable travel perk. The level of access offered by the Amex Platinum card has become the gold standard among premium travel rewards cards.

Amex Gold Card

The Amex Gold card does not offer any complimentary airport lounge access.

Bottom Line: If you value worldwide lounge access, the Amex Platinum card is a clear winner as the Amex Gold card does not offer any form of airport lounge access.

Hotel and Rental Car Program Elite Status and Benefits

Hotel Program Benefits

Everyone enjoys hotel benefits such as an upgraded room or late checkout. Here’s a look at the hotel benefits each card has to offer:

The Amex Platinum card includes hotel elite status with 2 popular hotel loyalty programs. Cardholders receive Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and Hilton Honors Gold status. Elite members receive benefits such as upgraded rooms, elevated bonus point earnings, late check-out, and more.

The Amex Platinum card has also partnered with the Fine Hotel & Resorts collection of properties to offer amenities such as room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, late check-out, early check-in, free Wi-Fi, and a special welcome gift.

Book a 2-night stay at any The Hotel Collection property with either card and receive a room upgrade, when available, and up to $100 in credits for qualifying purchases made at the hotel. Amex Platinum card members earn 5x Membership Rewards Points and Amex Gold card members earn 2x points for prepaid bookings.

While benefits at The Hotel Collection are only valid once per stay, you can book up to 3 rooms and each room will receive the $100 credit and upgraded room, when available.

Bottom Line: The Amex Platinum card does a nice job of providing complimentary hotel elite status and benefits at The Fine Hotel & Resorts and The Hotel Collection. The Amex Gold card hotel benefits are limited to The Hotel Collection properties. 

Rental Car Program Benefits

The Amex Platinum card offers benefit privileges, and even elite status, with 3 different car rental programs:

• National Emerald Club Executive Elite status
• Avis Preferred
• Hertz Gold Plus Rewards

The Amex Gold card does not partner with any car rental programs.

Point Earning Power

How a credit card earns rewards is one of the most important factors in selecting a card that will serve you well over the long term. Welcome bonuses are awarded only in the first year of card ownership, so beyond that period of time, you’ll want a card that closely aligns with your spending profile in order to continue earning plenty of rewards.

Earning rewards is important as their value can far exceed the cost of any annual fee you would have to pay on a card.

Here’s a look at the potential for earning Membership Rewards points with each card:

If you’re in the process of deciding between these 2 cards, how bonus category earnings align with your spending habits should be a part of your decision. If you purchase a lot of flights directly through an airline and Amex Travel, you’re going to find that the Amex Platinum card fits that spending profile.

If you dine out frequently, spend a lot on groceries, but still purchase flights and use Amex Travel, chances are that you’ll earn more with the Amex Gold card.

Focusing just on earning power here, and not considering the whole card package, there’s probably a clear winner that matches your greatest annual expenses.

Bottom Line: Earnings are highest for flights and pre-paid hotel purchases through Amex Travel with the Amex Platinum card while dining and grocery store purchases offer the highest earnings using the Amex Gold card.

Redeeming Points

Since both the Amex Platinum card and the Amex Gold card earn Membership Rewards points, you’ll find the same redemption options with either card:

• Redeem points for flights with American Express Travel (1 cent per point)
• Transfer points to airline partners
• Pay for New York City taxis
• Donate your miles to charity
• Transfer points to hotel partners
• Redeem for gift cards

In addition, you have the option to redeem your points in other ways for less than 1 cent per point. These redemptions are not recommended since you’re not getting the most value from your points:

• Shop with popular retailers like Amazon
• Redeem for a statement credit
• Shop at the online Amex shopping mall portal

Hot Tip: One of the best values for your points can be to transfer your Membership Rewards to airline partners. With numerous airline partners, you’ll have access to award flights on British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, Etihad Airways, and many more.

Annual Fees and Adding Additional Users

Annual Fees

The Amex Platinum card is a premium travel rewards card with a long list of travel benefits. Its high annual fee reflects the inclusion of all those premium benefits.

The Amex Gold card is not a premium travel rewards card and it lacks some of those high-end travel perks. Its annual fee may be appropriately less because of this, but the card still offers strong earning power.

For an in-depth review of each card along with more information about annual fees and other financial information, click the review links below:

• Amex Gold Card Review
• Amex Platinum Card Review

Adding Additional Users

Both cards allow you to add additional authorized users, although each card charges a different amount for the privilege:

Adding an additional authorized user to your card can expand your earning potential and allow the additional card user to utilize some of the benefits that the primary cardholder has.

An authorized user on your Amex Platinum card can enjoy the same lounge access as the primary cardholder. An additional user on the Amex Gold card can use the card for everyday purchases such as grocery shopping and dining out, which earns you points quickly.

Please keep in mind that the primary cardholder is responsible for charges made by the authorized users.

Hot Tip: A primary reason to add authorized users to your Amex Platinum card is that they receive the same complimentary worldwide lounge access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including the ability to bring guests. 

Statement and Shopping Credits

Annual statement and shopping credits, if you can utilize them, offer value that can offset the cost of an annual fee.

Credits for spending at a specific retailer or bonus category can directly impact your net out-of-pocket expense for the annual fee. While the Amex Platinum card offers as much as $500 per year, plus up to$100 for Global Entry every 5 years, the Amex Gold card comes with $340 in credits.

Travel Protections and Insurance

The Global Assist Hotline and the Baggage Insurance plans that come with the Amex Platinum card and the Amex Gold card have different levels of coverage with each card.

Global Assist Hotline

Assistance when things go wrong while traveling is available 24/7. You’ll need to make just 1 phone call to the Global Assistance Hotline to take advantage of this service. This service is offered with each card and coverage is valid when traveling more than 100 miles from home.

Benefits include:

• Translation services
• Lost passport replacement services
• Missing luggage assistance
• Emergency legal and medical referrals
• Emergency transportation assistance
• Credit card cancellation assistance
• Urgent message relay to family and friends
• Emergency cash wire transfer that can be charged to your card
• Embassy and consulate referral

While both cards come with the Global Assist Hotline benefit, the Amex Platinum card comes with a premium version of the plan.

The Premium Global Assistance Hotline that comes with the Amex Platinum card includes emergency medical evacuation services for the cardholder and covered family member.

Medical evacuation assistance services are provided with both cards, however, the coverage that comes with the Amex Gold card provides assistance with arranging these services only. The cardholder would be responsible for the cost of the actual evacuation transportation services, whereas the Amex Platinum card coverage provides the emergency transportation at no cost.

Bottom Line: The Amex Platinum card comes with a premium version of the Global Assist Hotline. The advantage of the Premium Global Assist Hotline is that emergency medical transportation and evacuation coverage is provided at no cost to the cardholder. The Amex Gold card does not have coverage that includes the cost of the actual medical evacuation services provided. 

Baggage Insurance Plan

Having your bag lost, stolen, or damaged can put a damper on your trip. The baggage insurance plans that come with both cards can help save the day.

With the Amex Gold card, you could receive up to $1,250 per covered person per trip or $500 per person for checked bags if your luggage is lost, damaged, or stolen. With the Amex Platinum card, coverage is provided for up to $3,000 per person for carry-on bags and up to $2,000 for checked bags.

You must pay for the entire common carrier ticket with your card. Coverage is provided in excess of other insurance and important terms and conditions apply.

Travel Benefits and Insurance Provided With Both Cards

There are several additional valuable travel benefits and protection that come with both the Amex Platinum card and the Amex Gold card.

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance

Reserve and pay for your rental car in full with your card in order to activate coverage. You must also decline the car rental agency’s collision damage waiver coverage. Damage, theft, and loss of use are covered for the rental car, up to $75,000.

Coverage is secondary to other auto insurance and valid worldwide with the exception of Australia, New Zealand, and countries on the Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned list. Certain vehicles are excluded and there are terms and conditions that apply.

Both cards also have access to premium car rental protection for 1 low fee that covers the entire rental period, not a daily fee like the rental agencies charge.

Trip Interruption, Trip Cancellation, and Trip Delay Coverage

You’ll find valuable trip disruption benefits on both cards if your trip needs to canceled or you experience a trip interruption, for covered reasons, during your travels. Card limits of coverage vary slightly for trip delay coverage.

Concierge and Travel Assistance

Both cards offer travel assistance, help with restaurant reservations, gift purchasing, or access to special events with a dedicated phone line available 24/7.

The Amex Platinum card comes with a premium Platinum Concierge service.

Shopping Benefits Provided With Both Cards

Purchase Protection

Both cards offer the same purchase protection coverage. An eligible item you have purchased with your card is covered for theft or damage for up to 120 days from the date of purchase.

Coverage limits are $10,000 per occurrence, $50,000 maximum per year.

Extended Warranty

Both cards offer identical extended warranty protection that offers up to an additional 2 years, in addition to the manufacturer’s warranty, for eligible purchased items.

The coverage is limited to $10,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per year.

Amex Offers

You can save hundreds of dollars each year or earn additional Membership Rewards points per dollar spent with the Amex Offers that are available with either card.

Amex Offers can be accessed when you log into your online American Express card account. Just select the offers you’re interested in and add them to your card by clicking on “Add to Card.” Once you’ve completed the described purchase, you will receive a statement credit or bonus Membership Rewards points.

American Express Auto Purchasing Program

Enjoy member savings when shopping for a vehicle plus be able to charge at least $2,000 of the purchase price on your American Express card. Post-purchase benefits for auto repairs and deductibles can also be worth up to $2,000 in value.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the benefits that come with the Amex Platinum card and Amex Gold card, but this article has highlighted the major benefits for comparison purposes.

Final Thoughts

You can’t go wrong with either of these fine American Express cards if you’ll use the benefits offered with the card you select.

The downside of each card, of course, is its annual fee. Fortunately in both cases, with welcome bonuses, statement credits, premium travel perks, or accelerated earnings on everyday purchases, it’s possible to derive value that could completely negate the annual fee.

So, which of these cards is the better card? The cards are really designed for 2 separate types of consumers. If you’re traveling frequently, value premium travel benefits, enjoy elite status perks, and spend a lot of money on travel, it’s quite obvious the Amex Platinum card is a match.

If you spend a lot on groceries, dine out frequently, but still travel throughout the year, the Amex Gold card could work well for you.

It’s possible that both cards in combination could be a fit as their earnings and benefits complement each other quite well. If you can maximize the benefit offerings on each card enough to diminish any net expense for the annual fee, it’s possible the card combo could make sense.

Finally, please be aware that we abbreviate benefit descriptions and the list of benefits is not all-encompassing. Before applying for any card, be sure to review associated pricing, fees, and benefit descriptions.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.