How does adding an authorized user work?

When you add an authorized user to your card, they can use the card to make purchases and can access some of the card’s benefits. Adding an authorized user can make sense when you want a household member to receive benefits such as lounge access and other perks. The additional rewards earned from an authorized user’s purchases can also be a plus.

What is the difference in annual fees between the Amex Platinum card and Amex Gold card?

The Amex Platinum card has an $895 annual fee, and the Amex Gold card has a $325 annual fee. There’s a $570 difference between the annual fees.

Which card earns more Membership Rewards points, the Amex Platinum card or Amex Gold card?

Either card could earn more, depending on your spending habits. If you frequently spend on airfare booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com, you could earn more with the Amex Platinum card. But the Amex Gold card earns well on everyday spending categories, including 4x points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 annually) and on U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 annually).

Does the Amex Gold card have airport lounge access?

No, the Amex Gold card does not have airport lounge access.

Can I have both the Amex Platinum card and Amex Gold card at the same time?

Yes, you can have both cards at the same time. They both earn Membership Rewards points but have different bonus categories, statement credits, annual fees, and travel benefits.

Can I upgrade from the Amex Gold card to the Amex Platinum card?

Yes, eligible cardholders can upgrade from an Amex Gold card to an Amex Platinum card. Check your Amex account for an upgrade offer or consider submitting a new application for the Amex Platinum card if you want both cards.

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

Updated: September 28, 2026, 7:19am CDT

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Table of Contents

Quick Overview: Amex Platinum Card vs. Amex Gold Card
Amex Platinum card vs. Amex Gold Card: Full Comparison
Welcome Offers
Earning Points
Redeeming Points
Statement Credits
Airport Lounge Access
Hotel Program Privileges
Rental Car Perks
Concierge and Travel Assistance
Travel Insurance
Shopping Benefits
Annual Fees and Additional Users
Which Card Is Right for You?
Final Thoughts

We may be compensated when you click on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express is good for frequent travelers who will use the premium airport lounge and hotel perks, and the American Express^® Gold Card is good for those who spend more on dining and groceries but still travel. Both cards earn Membership Rewards points but differ in annual fees, rewards, statement credits, and benefits. See how these cards compare and where they offer the most value.

Quick Overview: Amex Platinum Card vs. Amex Gold Card

The Amex Platinum card has an $895 annual fee (rates & fees) and offers access to more than 1,550 airport lounges, including Centurion Lounges (Source: American Express). The Amex Gold card has a $325 annual fee (rates & fees) and no lounge access (Source: American Express).

You can earn 4x Membership Rewards points on dining worldwide with the Amex Gold card, and the Amex Platinum card earns 5x on flights and prepaid hotels booked via AmexTravel.com.

The Amex Platinum card offers more than $3,000 in annual credits, and the Amex Gold card has more than $300 in annual credits, plus up to $120 in Uber Cash annually. Both cards earn valuable Membership Rewards and share the same transfer partners. You can access hotel and rental car elite status with Hilton, Marriott, National, and more using the Amex Platinum card, and the Amex Gold card offers Hertz status.

Enrollment is required for some benefits.

Amex Platinum card vs. Amex Gold Card: Full Comparison

Compare the Amex Platinum card and the Amex Gold card side by side:

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Benefit	Amex Platinum Card	Amex Gold Card
Welcome offer	Apply and find out if you're eligible for as high as 175,000 points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.	Apply and find out if you're eligible for as high as 100,000 points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Earnings	5x points on flights purchased directly with the airlines or through AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1x) 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com 1x points on all other purchases	5x points on prepaid hotels via AmexTravel.com and the Amex Travel App™ 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (limit of $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1x) and restaurants worldwide (limit of $50,000 in spending per calendar year, then 1x) 3x points on airfare purchased directly from the airline or on AmexTravel.com 2x points on prepaid car rentals and cruises via AmexTravel.com. 1x points on all other purchases
Top redemptions	Transfer to airline and hotel partners. Redeem for AmexTravel.com bookings. Gift cards, statement credits, retail shopping, event tickets
Top travel benefits	Access to over 1,550 airport lounges worldwide, including Centurion Lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, 10 visits a year to Delta Sky Clubs (when traveling the same day with Delta, plus the ability to unlock unlimited visits), and Priority Pass (enrollment required) Marriott Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Honors Gold, Leaders Club Sterling, National Emerald Club Executive, Avis Preferred, and Hertz President’s Circle elite status, upon enrollment Elite-style benefits and access to Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection Access to Platinum Card Concierge	Access to The Hotel Collection Hertz Five Star status (enrollment required)
Other statement credits and benefits	Annual statement credits: up to $200 in airline incidental credits, up to $600 in prepaid hotel credits, up to $219 in CLEAR+ credit, up to $300 in digital entertainment credits, up to $200 in Uber Cash, and more (enrollment required) Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit Amex Offers, enrollment required	Up to $120 in Uber Cash ($10 a month) for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when adding your Amex Gold card to the app Up to $120 in credits with some dining ($10 a month), up to $100 in Resy credit, up to $84 in Dunkin’ credit, enrollment required Amex Offers, enrollment required
Annual fees and authorized users	$895 annual fee (rates & fees) Additional Platinum cardholders for $195 per card (rates & fees) No authorized user fee for companion Platinum cards (rates & fees)	$325 annual fee (rates & fees) Additional Cards (up to the first 5): $0 annual fee. 6th or more Additional Cards: $35 annual fee per Card. (rates & fees)

BEST OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating

The Amex Platinum card reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum card reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and elite status.

Welcome OfferYou may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount — all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
As High as 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:
Up to $3,850

Annual Fee

$895

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, the Platinum Card^® from American Express is a top choice.

The card offers premium perks like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and several annual card credits. The Amex Platinum card is easily worth the annual fee for frequent travelers who use the lounges and travel credits, and hard to justify for those who won’t.

Pros & Cons

Pros

The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far): Get access to over 1,550 worldwide lounges, including Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
5 points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
5 points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

$895 annual fee (rates & fees)
Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags).

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards^® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel^®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts^® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel^® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 Delta Sky Club visits (subject to visit limitations) when flying on an eligible Delta flight, Priority Pass™ membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. *As of 01/2026
$200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card^® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card^® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
$300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
$600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel^® using the Platinum Card^®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights™ by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® to pay for eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. As a Platinum Card^® Member you have special access to reservations on select nights at participating sought after Resy restaurants in select cities through Platinum Nights™ by Resy. Simply add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile to book your reservation.
$219 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $219 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card^®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card^® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
Start your vacation sooner and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts^® through American Express Travel^®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4pm late check-out.
$300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Get up to a $12.95* statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Platinum Card^®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
$895 annual fee.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

TOP PICK

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out, and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out, and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets.

Welcome OfferYou may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
As High As 100,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:
Up to   $2,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

With the Amex Gold card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There are several other benefits of the Amex Gold card, including monthly dining credits.

Pros & Cons

Pros

5x points on prepaid hotels via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App
4x points at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
4x points at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter

Cons

$325 annual fee (rates and fees)
4x categories for restaurants and U.S. supermarkets have annual spend caps

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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.
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.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It^® lets you tap in the American Express^® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It^® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express^® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star^® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express^® service and support. Only for American Express^® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Welcome Offers

Both cards have generous welcome offers.

This is the current offer for the Amex Platinum card:

Apply and find out if you're eligible for as high as 175,000 points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

This is the current offer for the Amex Gold card:

Apply and find out if you're eligible for as high as 100,000 points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Earning Points

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

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Bonus earning category	Amex Platinum Card	Amex Gold Card
Flights purchased directly from airlines or from AmexTravel.com	5 points per $1	3 points per $1
Prepaid hotels purchased from AmexTravel.com	5 points per $1	5 points per $1
Other travel not purchased from AmexTravel.com	1 point per $1	1 point per $1
Restaurant purchases	1 point per $1	4 points per $1 (capped at $50,000 per calendar year; 1x thereafter)
U.S. supermarkets	1 point per $1	4 points per $1 (capped at $25,000 per calendar year; 1x thereafter)
All other purchases	1 point per $1	1 point per $1

Bottom Line:

Earnings are highest for flights and prepaid hotel purchases through AmexTravel.com with the Amex Platinum card and for prepaid hotel purchases through AmexTravel.com with the Amex Gold card.

Redeeming Points

Both the Amex Platinum card and the Amex Gold card earn Membership Rewards points and have the same redemption options:

Redeem points for flights with AmexTravel.com (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

Other redemption options earn less than 1 cent per point:

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 uses of your points is to transfer them to Amex airline partners.

Statement Credits

Uber Lyft Ride Share App Selection Upgraded Points LLC 2 — Uber Cash is a benefit on both cards (enrollment required). Image Credit: Upgraded Points

Statement credits can offset the cost of an annual fee. Enrollment is required for some credits.

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Benefit	Amex Platinum Card	Amex Gold Card
Dining credits	$0	Up to $120
Resy credits	Up to $400 ($100 per quarter)	Up to $100 ($50 semi-annually)
Dunkin’ credits	$0	Up to $84 ($7 a month)
Uber Cash	Up to $200 Uber Cash per calendar year, $15 monthly from January to November and $35 in December. Add the card to your Uber account. Uber Cash can be used for Uber rides and Uber Eats in the U.S.*	Up to $120 Uber Cash ($10 per month) for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when adding your Gold card to the app*
Uber One credits	Up to $120
Airline fee credits	Up to $200	$0
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit	Up to $120 every 4 years	$0
CLEAR+ credit	Up to $219	$0
Equinox credit	Up to $300	$0
Prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays	Up to $600 (up to $300 each half of the year)	$0
Walmart+ credit	Up to $155	$0
Digital entertainment credit	Up to $300 ($25 per month)	$0
SoulCycle credit	Up to $300	$0
lululemon credit	Up to $300 ($75 per quarter)	$0
Oura Ring credit	Up to $200	$0

** An Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.

The Amex Platinum card offers over $3,000 in credits per year, and the Amex Gold card has more than $300 in annual credits and up to $120 in Uber Cash.

Airport Lounge Access

Amex Platinum Card

Frequent travelers with the Amex Platinum card can access over 1,550 lounges in the American Express Global Lounge Collection (Source: American Express). That includes Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass™ Lounges, and Delta Sky Clubs (when traveling on Delta the same day). The Amex Gold card does not offer lounge access.

Hotel Program Privileges

Aruba Marriott Resort main pool — Get elite hotel benefits with your Amex Platinum card. Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino. Image Credit: Katie Seemann

Here’s a look at the hotel benefits each card has to offer:

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American Express credit card	Hotel program elite status and benefits
Amex Platinum Card	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status upon enrollment Hilton Honors Gold status upon enrollment Leaders Club Sterling status upon enrollment Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits The Hotel Collection benefits
Amex Gold Card	The Hotel Collection benefits

The Amex Platinum card includes Marriott Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Honors Gold, and Leaders Club Sterling status. Elite members receive benefits such as upgraded rooms, higher bonus point earnings, and late checkout.

Amex Platinum cardholders also have access to the Fine Hotels + Resorts collection of properties, with perks such as room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, late checkout, early check-in, complimentary Wi-Fi, and a $100 property credit.

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

Rental Car Perks

The Amex Platinum card offers elite status with 3 car rental programs:

The Amex Gold card provides Hertz Five Star status upon enrollment.

Concierge and Travel Assistance

The Amex Platinum card offers Platinum Concierge service to help with restaurant reservations, gifts, and access to special events on a 24/7 dedicated phone line.

Both cards offer access to the Global Assistance Hotline 24/7 for travel assistance, such as emergency cash and medical evacuation, with coverage available when you travel more than 100 miles from home.

The Amex Platinum card’s Premium Global Assistance Hotline covers emergency medical evacuation services for the cardholder and qualifying family members.

Bottom Line:

The Amex Platinum card has a premium version of the Global Assist Hotline, which offers emergency medical transportation and evacuation coverage at no cost to the cardholder when approved and coordinated through the service.

Travel Insurance

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance

Reserve and pay for your rental car in full with your card and decline the car rental agency’s collision damage waiver to activate rental car coverage with either card. Damage, theft, and loss of use are covered. The Amex Platinum card has a $75,000 limit, and the Amex Gold card has a $50,000 limit.

Coverage is secondary to other car insurance and valid worldwide, with some exceptions and vehicle exclusions. Both cards also have access to premium car rental protection for a single low fee that covers the entire rental period.

Trip Interruption, Trip Cancellation, and Trip Delay Coverage

The Amex Platinum card offers trip interruption, cancellation, and delay coverage. The Amex Gold card does not include trip cancellation or interruption coverage and has lower trip delay coverage than the Amex Platinum card.

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Benefit	Amex Platinum Card	Amex Gold Card
Trip interruption and trip cancellation	$10,000 per trip maximum of $20,000 per account per 12-month period	N/A
Trip delay	Up to $500 per trip when the delay is 6 or more hours	Up to $300 per trip when the delay is 12 or more hours

Baggage Insurance Plan

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. The Amex Platinum card covers 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, and coverage is provided in excess of other insurance.

Shopping Benefits

Purchase Protection

Both cards offer purchase protection coverage. An eligible item you have purchased with your card is covered for theft or damage for up to 90 days from the date of purchase. Coverage limits are $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 annually.

Extended Warranty

Both cards offer extended warranty protection for up to an additional year beyond the manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years or less for eligible purchased items. The coverage is limited to $10,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per year.

Amex Offers

Upon enrollment, you can save with Amex Offers or earn additional Membership Rewards points. Find and enroll in Amex Offers in your online Amex account, then complete the purchase in the offer to receive a statement credit or bonus Membership Rewards points.

Annual Fees and Additional Users

The Amex Platinum card has an $895 annual fee, and the Amex Gold card has a $325 annual fee. Both cards allow you to add additional cardholders:

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American Express card	Authorized user information
Amex Platinum Card	Additional Platinum cardholders for $195 per card No-annual-fee for companion Platinum cardholders For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here
Amex Gold Card	Additional Cards (up to the first 5): $0 annual fee. 6th or more Additional Cards: $35 annual fee per Card. For rates and fees of the Amex Gold card, click here

Which Card Is Right for You?

Choose the Amex Platinum card if you frequently travel, would use the lounge access and hotel elite status, and could offset the annual fee with statement credits. The Amex Gold card is better if dining and U.S. supermarket spending are a large part of your budget and you travel less frequently, or if you want strong rewards earning potential without needing premium travel perks.

Consider both cards if you want to combine the Amex Gold card’s everyday rewards earning with the Amex Platinum card’s premium travel perks.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Platinum card is better for cardholders who travel frequently and value premium travel benefits, and the Amex Gold card is better for cardholders who spend a lot on groceries and dining.

Using both cards could make sense, because their rewards and benefits complement each other. But you’d need to get enough value from either card to offset the annual fee.