Amex Platinum Card - Using the $20 Digital Entertainment Credits

By now we all know that The Platinum Card® from American Express is a premier player in the travel rewards card arena. With premium travel benefits any traveler would love, statement credits that help offset its $695 annual fee (rates and fees), and a long list of perks, it’s no wonder the card continues to grow in popularity.

One of the card’s most recently added benefits is the digital entertainment credit of up to $20 per month (up to $240 per year). Although the credit isn’t applicable to all digital entertainment expenses, we’ll dig deeper into which services trigger this credit, some little-known pricing options, and how to ensure you’ll receive the maximum value.

If you have the Amex Platinum card or are considering it, you’ll want to be sure to explore your options for using your monthly entertainment credit. Note that terms apply and enrollment may be required, so be sure to check your American Express account.

Let’s look at how the credit works, including which services and products are eligible, specific details about each of those providers, and estimated pricing to help you decide how to use your credits.

Table of contents

How Does the Amex $20 Digital Entertainment Credit Work?
Securing the Amex Platinum Card
Final Thoughts

Table of Contents

How Does the Amex $20 Digital Entertainment Credit Work?
Securing the Amex Platinum Card
Final Thoughts

How Does the Amex $20 Digital Entertainment Credit Work?

Amex Digital Entertainment Credit — Image Credit: American Express

The Amex Platinum card’s digital entertainment credit of up to $20 per month is valid only for specific purchases and subscriptions. Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your card on 1 or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times.

You must enroll for the entertainment credit benefit before signing up for a subscription or making a purchase. Register by logging into your Amex Platinum card account online. Click the Rewards & Benefits box, then select the Benefits tab. Scroll down to find the $240 Digital Entertainment Credit option, and click on Get Started.

You may make your purchase of a weekly, monthly, or annual subscription with 1 eligible vendor or multiple eligible providers. Still, the maximum credit is $20 per calendar month and $240 in a calendar year. If you do not use the credit each month, the amount for that month will be forfeited.

Purchases made with a mobile app do not qualify.

Now let’s look closer at your options for using the credit with the partner providers.

Audible

Man with headphones on plane — Sit back, relax, and enjoy an audiobook with your Audible subscription. Image Credit: cottonbro via Pexels

While there’s a lot to be said for cozying up with a good book and a cup of coffee on a rainy day, listening to an intriguing novel while on a long-haul flight without having to carry a heavy book certainly has its benefits.

Leading digital platform company Overdrive tells us that over 506 million ebooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines were checked out by readers in 2021. Library systems surpassed 1 million digital checkouts in 2021¹ — and this is just a portion of the digital literary marketplace.

That’s why digital media company Audible is so popular. It’s a subscription-based service that allows Amazon account members to download an app and listen to podcasts, audiobooks, guided wellness, and original content.

Here are your options for a subscription to Audible:

Plus — $7.95 per month for unlimited access to thousands of titles in the Plus Catalog
Premium Plus — $14.95 per month for the Plus Catalog + 1 premium credit
Premium Plus with Extra Credits — $22.95 per month for the Plus Catalog + 2 premium credits
Premium Plus Annual — $149.50 per year for the Plus Catalog + 12 premium credits
Premium Plus Annual with Extra Credits — $229.50 per year for the Plus Catalog + 24 premium credits

Individual audiobook purchases on Audible are also eligible for the digital entertainment credit.

Not sure if you’ll use Audible frequently enough to warrant subscribing? Sign up for a 30-day free trial of Audible Premium Plus to test it out.

Hot Tip: If you have an Amazon Prime account, you will have additional access to Audible Originals and some Prime audiobooks (via Prime Reading). Prime members also receive 2 free premium selection titles when signing up for a free 30-day trial of Audible Premium Plus.

Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, and The Disney Bundle

Family watching Disney Plus — Image Credit: Disney

If there’s a Disney or sports fan in your family, or you want access to a variety of movies and TV shows, you’ll love the options offered by Disney Plus that qualify for the entertainment credit.

Here are the options you’ll have from this provider.

Disney+ — $7.99 per month or $79.99 for an annual subscription
ESPN+ — $6.99 per month or $69.99 for an annual subscription
Hulu —- $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year with ads; $12.99 per month without ads
The Disney Bundle — $13.99 per month for Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu with ads; $19.99 per month for Hulu without ads
Disney+, Hulu Live TV (with ads), ESPN+ Bundle — $69.99 per month
Disney+, Hulu Live TV (without ads), ESPN+ Bundle — $75.99 per month

The best value, of course, is The Disney Bundle, but individual subscriptions do qualify for the entertainment credit, up to $20 total per month, up to $240 per year.

Be sure to enroll in the offer before your purchase by logging in to your online Amex Platinum card account.

Hot Tip: Qualified college students can sign up for ad-supported Hulu for just $1.99 per month.

The New York Times

The New York Times has been around since 1851, has won 130 Pulitzer Prizes, and is read worldwide.

With such a widespread readership, it can be quite annoying to find a NYT article quoted online, and when you try to access it, you discover that only subscribers can view it. This scenario won’t happen to you anymore.

A digital subscription to the NYT is affordable and even more so with your Amex digital entertainment credit. Here are your options for subscribing to the publication either digitally and/or in print:

Digital Version — Frequently offered at $1 per week for the first year, then the price increases to $17 every 4 weeks.

Delivery of The New York Times newspaper includes unlimited access to the digital version and 2 subscriptions to share. Here are your options for having the publication delivered:

Weekend — Saturday and Sunday delivery, regular price $10 per week, 50% off = $5 per week
Three-Day — Friday, Saturday, and Sunday delivery, regular price $15 per week, 50% off = $7.50 per week
Weekday — Monday through Friday delivery, regular price $15 per week, 50% off = $7.50 per week
Daily — Monday through Sunday delivery, regular price $20 per week, 50% off = $10 per week

Hot Tip: If you love The New York Times Cooking or The New York Times Games, you can subscribe to unlimited access for just $40 per year. Pay with your Amex Platinum card, receive just 1 of your $20 monthly Amex digital entertainment credits and get an entire year’s subscription for a net $20.

SiriusXM

If you’re a road warrior or just spend a lot of time commuting to/from work in your vehicle, having quality radio programming could be of value to you. SiriusXM radio is known mainly for its premium programming sans commercial interruption.

In addition to its popular entertainment subscriptions, you may not know that SiriusXM also offers specialty subscriptions for mariners and those in aviation.

Here are your options for subscribing to SiriusXM radio:

Personal Subscription Options

Streaming Platinum — Free 3-month trial, then $10.99 per month, for those without a car radio
Car + Streaming Select — Special offer of $4.99 per month for 1 year, then $16.99 per month
Car + Streaming All Access — Special offer of $8.25 per month for 1 year, then $21.95 per month

All packages come with access to over 300 channels. Car + Streaming Select All Access includes the ability to customize your stations with your own selected content/music plus 2 dedicated Howard Stern channels.

Specialty Subscription Options

SiriusXM Marine — Starts at $14.99 per month; receive weather radar, forecasts, surface temps, fish mapping, and more
SiriusXM Aviation — Starts at just $29.99 per month; receive satellite-based weather with coast-to-coast coverage

Eligible purchases do not include SiriusXM Safety, Telematics Connected Vehicle services, SiriusXM Business subscriptions, ads, or Pandora.

Peacock TV

Family watching TV — Enjoy access to thousands of hours of programming with Peacock TV. Image Credit: Ketut Subiyanto via Pexels

Let’s wind down our Amex digital entertainment credit options by looking at Peacock TV and its offerings. Peacock is owned and operated by NBC, so it’s no surprise the streaming service is named after the NBC logo.

While you can access basic Peacock TV streaming for free, you’ll need to purchase a subscription for the premium versions.

Here are your options for signing up with Peacock:

Free Access — Watch thousands of hours of TV, exclusive programs, news, sports, kids shows, and Spanish language TV with complimentary access
Premium Access — $4.99 per month; includes all the basic viewing access plus live sports, hit movies, live events, and expanded access to kids’ shows and movies
Premium Plus Access — $9.99 per month; enjoy your Peacock TV subscription ad-free and watch select streaming on your mobile device

If you’re a customer of COX or Xfinity, you may have access to Peacock TV for free.

Hot Tip: Check out Peacock TV’s annual plans — at $49.99 for an entire year, you could use just 1 of your $20 digital entertainment monthly credits and be pay a net amount of $29.99 for an annual Peacock Premium subscription.

Securing the Amex Platinum Card

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 150,000 points with the Amex Platinum card! (The current public offer is 80,000 points.)

If you don’t yet have the Amex Platinum card, those with excellent credit may qualify and receive a generous welcome bonus offer once meeting minimum spending requirements after card approval.

The Amex Platinum card is packed with valuable premium benefits that can save money, make travel more comfortable, and provide protection when you need it. We estimate the card’s value to be nearly $5,000 each year if you utilize all the perks.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Platinum card‘s digital entertainment credit of up to $20 monthly is great if you’re already paying for 1 or more of these subscriptions. If you’re not currently subscribed to any of these services, you might translate the benefit as getting a complimentary Audible Plus subscription, free digital access to The New York Times, a SiriusXM radio subscription, and premium Peacock TV access, all for around $2 net per month.

Let’s break down the economics.

Audible Plus subscription — $7.95 per month
Unlimited digital access to The New York Times — $1 per week (approximately $4 per month)
SiriusXM Car + Streaming Select subscription — $4.99 per month
Peacock TV Premium Access subscription — $4.99 per month

That’s a total of around $22 per month. If you utilize the $20 credit, you’re paying about $2 per month for all of those services.

Here’s another option for using your $20 per month entertainment credit:

The Disney Bundle — $13.99 per month
Unlimited digital access to The New York Times — approximately $4 per month
Peacock TV Free Access
SiriusXM Car + Streaming Select subscription — $4.99 per month

This combination totals approximately $23 a month, or about $3 net out-of-pocket.

Additionally, don’t forget to check out any discounted annual plans that these digital entertainment providers may offer. Just 1 of the $20 monthly digital entertainment credits could potentially make an annual plan a greater value.

Of course, there are several combinations for which you could subscribe, but the bottom line is that you find value when using the credit for a subscription service you’ll actually use and enjoy.

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

Featured Image Credit: American Express

Frequently asked questions

Is the Amex digital entertainment credit worth it?

If you currently pay for a subscription or find value in enrolling in a new subscription with any of the eligible providers, it can be worth it.

Economically, it makes sense to use the entire $240 in annual credits, but you may need to subscribe to more than 1 service to receive the full amount.

You’ll also want to follow up on any special pricing you received to be sure the service doesn’t renew at a higher amount.

How do I use the Amex $20 monthly digital entertainment credit?

In order to be eligible for the credit, you must enroll in the benefit via your Amex Platinum card online account.

Go to the Rewards & Benefits section, select Benefits, and then select the $240 digital entertainment credit option. To finish enrollment, click the Get Started button.

Make the purchase with any of the eligible vendors using your Amex Platinum card, and receive a statement credit of up to $20 per calendar month.

Does The Business Platinum Card® from American Express have a digital entertainment credit?

No. The $20 monthly digital entertainment credit is a benefit on the personal Amex Platinum card.

Is the Amex digital entertainment credit the same as the Amex streaming credit?

No. The digital entertainment credit offered on the Amex Platinum card is only valid for purchases with service providers that include Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, SiriusXM, and Peacock.

Sending feedback...

Your feedback has been sent. Thank you!

We take your comments very seriously as they really help us to improve the site.

If you'd like to add a comment to this article and share your valuable feedback and opinions, please click here to leave your comment.

We really appreciate it!
- Alex & Erin

An error occurred please try again later

About Christine Krzyszton

Christine was born in Northern Michigan but spent most of her career operating her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services offices throughout the state. Her previous experience involved building and writing business plans in the mergers and acquisitions sector in New York, as well as staffing in the insurance and financial technology software field. Her successful insurance and financial services career has been an excellent foundation from which to source her knowledge for many of Upgraded Points’ travel insurance articles.

Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.

18 comments

William April 9, 2022

I think this doesn’t apply to yearly subscriptions. You have to be on the monthly payment plan to get the credit from Amex…even though Disney Bundle cheaper paying annually.

Reply
- Jarrod West April 9, 2022
  
  Hi William,
  
  Correct, it is a $20 monthly credit towards one or more of the eligible services.
  
  Reply
  - Yuffie June 14, 2022
    
    I was told the Walmart+ charge is a part of the $20 monthly credit. Is that right?
    
    Reply
    - Christine Krzyszton June 14, 2022
      
      Hi Yuffie. No, Walmart+ is not eligible for the Monthly Digital $20 Entertainment credit. There is, however, a separate Walmart+ credit. Here is the information on that credit: https://upgradedpoints.com/credit-cards/reviews/american-express-platinum-card/walmart-plus-credit/
      
      Reply
  - Evan September 18, 2022
    
    When you say “One or more of the eligible services”, do you mean they will cover multiple but only up to $20? I.E. if my Disney+ bundle is $12.99, and Peacock is $4.99, would they cover both?
    
    Reply
    - Christine Krzyszton September 19, 2022
      
      Hi Evan. Yes, that is correct. You can pay for more than 1 service with the Amex Platinum card but you will only receive a maximum of $20 in statement credits each month. You can see some examples of this in the last portion of the article.
      
      Reply
Leticia June 23, 2022

Can I add my credit card to my husband current Disney bundle and still get the credit monthly?

Reply
- Jarrod West June 23, 2022
  
  Hi Leticia,
  
  You sure can!
  
  Reply
David August 1, 2022

Can I transfer my business to a personal and get the bonus?

Reply
- Christine Krzyszton August 1, 2022
  
  Hi David. If you are asking if you can transfer a business credit card to a personal consumer credit card, you cannot. You must apply separately for a personal credit card. If you are asking about transferring a business account for one of the digital entertainment services to a personal account, I don’t think it matters whether it is a business or personal account as long as you pay for the service with the Amex Platinum card. If you’re not asking either of these, please clarify. Thank you.
  
  Reply
TD August 1, 2022

I have the Amex Platinum, but I don’t see this offer. Is this just for some people?

Reply
- Christine Krzyszton August 2, 2022
  
  Hi TD. Log in to your online card account, click on Rewards and Benefits, then Benefits. It should be listed there, along with the details.
  
  Reply
  - TD August 4, 2022
    
    Looks like it doesn’t apply to the Amex Platinum Delta. That was the issue. Thanks.
    
    Reply
    - Christine Krzyszton August 5, 2022
      
      Ah, yes. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum card is a totally different card. Thanks for the follow up.
      
      Reply
TG September 17, 2022

Hi, I already have a subscription for Audible. Do I need to cancel that and make a new subscription or just update my Apple Pay and make them take from my Amex Platinum card in order to get the $20?

Reply
- Christine Krzyszton September 18, 2022
  
  You should not need to cancel your subscription. When the charge posts to your Amex Platinum card you should see the credit shortly after.
  
  Reply
Billy Helsabeck January 19, 2023

I have several apparently covered subscriptions, but I am on annual plans. How do I register these plans with American Express?

Reply
- Katie Seemann January 20, 2023
  
  Hi Billy,
  You’ll just need to change your billing card to your Amex Platinum card. Since these credits are monthly, it may make sense to switch your plans to monthly once you can to take advantage of the credits.
  
  Reply

Earn Points

Use Points

Business Credit Card Reviews

Business Guides

Air Travel Guides

Airline Points

Earn & Use Hotel Points

Hotel Loyalty Program Reviews

The Amex Platinum Card – How To Use the Monthly Digital $20 Entertainment Credit [2022]