The Amex Platinum Card: How To Use the Monthly Digital $25 Entertainment Credit in 2026

The Platinum Card^® from American Express has an $895 annual fee (rates & fees) and offsets part of it with a monthly statement credit for digital subscriptions. This page covers how that credit works, which purchases trigger it, what the eligible services cost, and how to arrange subscriptions so the credit posts every month.

Quick Overview: Amex Platinum Card Digital Entertainment Credit

The Amex Platinum card provides up to $25 in statement credits each month on eligible digital subscriptions, worth up to $300 per calendar year (Source: American Express). Amex calls this the digital entertainment credit, though it’s also referred to as the streaming credit or the $300 entertainment credit. Enrollment is required before you subscribe, and any unused portion of the $25 left in a calendar month is forfeited. There are 10 qualifying services, and purchases made through the Apple App Store or Google Play do not count. Most eligible plans cost less than $25 per month, so reaching the full $300 generally means having more than 1 subscription at a time.

How Does the Amex $25 Monthly Digital Entertainment Credit Work?

The credit applies to eligible subscriptions charged directly to your Amex Platinum card. Amex issues up to $25 in statement credits per calendar month, capped at $300 per calendar year (Source: American Express). The cap applies at the account level, so charges from additional cardholders draw on the same $25.

Enrollment is required first. Log in to your Amex Platinum card account online, click the box that says “Rewards & Benefits,” then select the benefits tab. Scroll down to where it says “$300 Digital Entertainment Credit” and click where it says “Get Started.” Amex notes that enrollment can take up to 24 hours to finalize, so complete it before signing up for anything.

Where you buy matters as much as what you buy. Subscriptions purchased through the Apple App Store or Google Play do not trigger the credit because the charge must come from the provider’s website and be billed directly to your card (Source: American Express). In practice, an existing subscription billed through an app store must be canceled and reactivated directly with the provider before any credit will post.

A further restriction took effect on August 1, 2026. Peacock bundles, add-on subscriptions, and subscriptions bought through a third party no longer qualify, though standalone Peacock plans purchased from Peacock still do.

How To Use the Full $300 Entertainment Credit

The credit resets on the first of each calendar month and does not roll over. Spend only $12 on eligible subscriptions in March and you forfeit the other $13. Hitting $300 means having eligible charges post in all 12 months at $25 or more each time.

Here are 3 combinations that reach or approach the monthly cap:

• Hulu with ads ($11.99) plus Peacock Premium ($12.99): That’s $24.98 per month, or $299.76 in credits over a year, and both plans stay useful on their own.
• Disney+ with ads ($11.99) plus ESPN Select ($13.99): $25.98 per month, which clears the cap and returns the full $300, with 98 cents per month not reimbursed.
• YouTube TV alone ($82.99): A single subscription clears the cap every month and returns the full $300. The catch is the $995.88 annual cost, so this only works if you already want live TV from YouTube.

Annual plans need more thought. Peacock Premium costs $129.99 per year, and that single charge triggers 1 statement credit of $25, leaving $104.99 out of pocket. The remaining 11 months of credit go unused unless a second eligible subscription is billed to your card each month. The same math applies to Paramount+ at $89.99 per year and Disney+ Premium at $189.99 per year. The annual price is lower than 12 monthly payments, but you capture $25 in credits instead of up to $300.

Annual billing works best as the smaller half of a pairing. Pay for 1 service annually in January, keep a monthly subscription running the rest of the year, and both the discount and the remaining credits stay in play.

Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, and the Disney+ Bundle

Disney’s services qualify individually and as a bundle. Disney+ costs $11.99 per month with ads or $18.99 without, and Hulu matches those prices. The Disney+ and Hulu bundle costs $12.99 per month with ads or $19.99 without, which makes it cheaper than paying for both services separately, and the most efficient way to use a single charge.

ESPN’s streaming has moved into the ESPN app. As of September 17, 2026, ESPN Select costs $13.99 per month and ESPN Unlimited costs $31.99, both up from $12.99 and $29.99 (Source: ESPN). Unlimited exceeds $25, so it maxes the credit by itself.

The New York Times

A digital New York Times subscription is frequently offered at $1 per week for an introductory year, then renews at $25 every 4 weeks. At the standard rate, it consumes almost exactly 1 month of credit with nothing left over.

Because the billing cycle is 4 weeks rather than calendar-monthly, 2 charges land in the same calendar month roughly once a year. The second charge that month gets no credit.

Peacock TV

Peacock raised its prices on August 18, 2026. Select is now $8.99 per month or $89.99 per year, Premium is $12.99 per month or $129.99 per year, and Premium Plus is $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year.

Bundled Peacock plans, including the Apple TV pairings, stopped qualifying on August 1, 2026.

Paramount+

Paramount+ raised prices in January 2026. Essential costs $8.99 per month or $89.99 per year, and Premium costs $13.99 per month or $139.99 per year. Essential is the cheapest eligible streaming subscription on the list, which makes it a useful second charge next to a service in the $12 to $13 range.

Paramount+ Essential is also one of the 2 Walmart+ Video Streaming Choice options, so it can be covered the same way Peacock can.

The Wall Street Journal

A digital Wall Street Journal subscription costs $4.99 per month plus tax. The WSJ digital bundle, which adds MarketWatch and Barron’s, costs $5.99 per month plus tax.

That makes WSJ the cheapest eligible subscription on the list and the most useful top-up charge. Adding it to Peacock Premium Plus at $19.99 comes to $24.98 per month, which uses almost all of the credit without going over.

YouTube TV and YouTube Premium

YouTube Premium costs $15.99 per month for an individual plan, $159.99 per year, or $26.99 per month for a family plan covering up to 5 additional members. Eligible students pay $8.99 per month with annual verification.

YouTube TV costs $82.99 per month for the base plan and includes more than 100 live channels. Like ESPN Unlimited, it clears the $25 monthly cap on its own.

Which Streaming Services Are Not Covered?

Netflix is not eligible, and neither are HBO Max, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Starz, AMC+, Spotify or Apple Music. The list is closed. If a provider is not among the 10 partners Amex names, the charge earns no credit, no matter how closely it resembles an eligible service.

It’s worth mentioning 2 former partners. Audible was eligible when the benefit launched but was removed on October 2, 2023, replaced by The Wall Street Journal. SiriusXM followed on May 8, 2024. Anyone who set up one of those subscriptions years ago and stopped checking their statements has been paying full price since.

Bundles are the other trap. A Peacock plan bundled with Apple TV was an eligible charge until August 1, 2026, and isn’t anymore, so a subscription that posted a credit every month through July may stop posting one. Amex publishes the current partner list and terms on its benefit terms page, which is the source of truth governing this monthly credit.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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.
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Applicants with excellent credit may qualify for an American Express welcome offer after meeting the minimum spending requirement. The digital entertainment credit is one of several statement credits on the card, alongside travel, dining, and lounge access benefits.

Final Thoughts

The digital entertainment credit is worth close to its full $300 only if $25 in eligible charges post every calendar month. Unused amounts expire, most qualifying plans cost less than $25, and app store billing disqualifies the charge entirely. Amex Platinum cardholders already paying for 2 eligible subscriptions capture most of the value. Everyone else should expect a number well below $300.