We all know what you are pondering: Why pay hefty annual charges on two playing cards that earn the identical sort of factors? Properly, for us (and plenty of others), it is solely worthwhile.
Certainly, the mixed $1,000-plus price ticket on The Platinum Card® from American Categorical and American Categorical® Gold Card might be confronting. Nevertheless, these playing cards’ incomes charges and perks differ considerably.
If you wish to speed up your earnings, maximize card advantages and defend your purchases, it will probably make sense to carry each the Platinum and Gold playing cards. Listed below are 4 the reason why.
Earn two welcome bonuses
Throughout the first yr that you’ve got a card, the welcome bonus is without doubt one of the most useful advantages, if not essentially the most priceless.
Between these two playing cards, you’ll be able to earn as much as 140,000 bonus Membership Rewards factors:
- Amex Platinum: Earn 80,000 bonus factors after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.
- Amex Gold: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.
TPG March 2025 valuations peg American Categorical Membership Rewards factors at 2 cents apiece, that means these welcome bonuses are price an unimaginable as much as $2,800.
You should definitely examine the CardMatch software as chances are you’ll be focused for an elevated welcome provide on one or each playing cards. (These presents are topic to alter at any time.)
There are a few utility restrictions to concentrate on:
Each day Publication
Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day e-newsletter
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
- You may solely earn a welcome provide on every card as soon as per lifetime.
- It is best to use for the Gold first after which the Platinum; for those who do it the opposite manner round, you may be ineligible to earn Gold welcome provide.
Associated: A whole information to Amex’s one-bonus-per-lifetime restrictions
Speed up your earnings
You could possibly earn hundreds of additional factors every year by utilizing the proper card for every buy. A common information is to make use of the:
Let’s dive into the numbers…
Use the Platinum to e book flights, as you will earn 5 factors per greenback spent instantly with airways or with Amex Journey*. That compares to three factors per greenback on the Amex Gold.
For pay as you go lodges booked via Amex Journey, Platinum is once more the way in which to go, incomes 5 factors per greenback spent as an alternative of simply 2 factors per greenback with the Amex Gold.
Then, you will need to use the Amex Gold to your grocery and eating purchases, incomes 4 factors per greenback spent at eating places worldwide** and at U.S. supermarkets***. With the Platinum, you’d solely earn 1 level per greenback spent in these classes.
* on as much as $500,000 of those purchases yearly, then 1 level per greenback
** on as much as $50,000 in purchases per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback
*** on as much as $25,000 on purchases per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback
Associated: How one can earn over 300,000 factors in a yr
Maximize assertion credit
Each playing cards present annual assertion credit that may put lots of — and even hundreds — of {dollars} again in your pocket.
The Amex Gold’s $325 annual charge (see charges and charges) is greater than offset by as much as $424 in assertion credit, that are primarily targeted on eating. Cardmembers obtain:
- As much as $50 biannual Resy credit score: At Resy-affiliated U.S. eating places
- As much as $10 month-to-month eating credit score: At choose retailers like 5 Guys and Grubhub
- As much as $10 month-to-month Uber Money^: For Uber rides or Uber Eats orders within the U.S.
- As much as $7 month-to-month Dunkin’ credit score: At U.S. Dunkin’ areas
Enrollment is required.
In the meantime, the Amex Platinum’s excessive $695 annual charge (see charges and charges) might be greater than offset by as much as $1,500 in assertion credit — so long as you maximize all of them. The bulk are travel- and lifestyle-focused, with a few of our favorites being:
- As much as $200 annual airline charge credit score: Together with your most well-liked airline
- As much as $200 annual resort credit score: To offset pay as you go bookings with Amex Fantastic Inns + Resorts or The Resort Assortment (minimal two-night keep)
- As much as $199 annual Clear Plus credit score: To cowl your annual membership (topic to auto-renewal)
- As much as $20 month-to-month digital leisure credit score: Together with Disney+ and Peacock subscriptions
- As much as $15 month-to-month Uber Money^: For Uber rides or Uber Eats orders within the U.S.; bonus $20 in December
Enrollment is required.
^Uber Money will solely be deposited into one Uber account once you add the eligible Amex card as a cost technique and redeem with any Amex card.
Associated: American Categorical Gold vs. American Categorical Platinum: Which one is best for you?
Defend your purchases and journey
Each the American Categorical Platinum and Gold playing cards provide prolonged guarantee and buy safety advantages.
Nevertheless, the Amex Platinum card presents extra complete safety advantages, particularly for frequent vacationers, whereas the Amex Gold card gives extra restricted protection.
The buying and journey protections that the Amex Platinum presents and the Amex Gold would not embrace:
- Cellphone safety
- Emergency medical transportation (if coordinated by the profit administrator)
- Return safety
- Journey cancellation and interruption insurance coverage*
- Journey delay insurance coverage*
- Increased protection for automotive rental loss and injury, and baggage and journey delay insurance coverage
*Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance coverage Firm, an AIG Firm.
When it would not make sense
Holding each the Amex Platinum and Gold playing cards might not be cost-effective for everybody. Take into account the next:
- Lounge entry: In the event you not often use airport lounges or do not spend sufficient on the Platinum to unlock visitor entry, chances are you’ll not get sufficient worth from the cardboard.
- Grocery purchases: In the event you primarily store at big-box retailers like Walmart or Goal or via grocery supply providers that do not code as “supermarkets,” you won’t earn bonus factors in these classes.
- Assertion credit: Assess whether or not you already spend on providers (like Grubhub and Uber) that you’re going to obtain assertion credit for; if not, chances are you’ll find yourself spending to “save” cash.
Backside line
The Amex Gold card’s decrease annual charge and bonus factors on eating and groceries might swimsuit many customers, whereas the Platinum card’s greater charge is price it for many who can maximize its journey perks.
Combining each playing cards can enhance your Amex factors stability, elevate your travels and offset your spending on life-style purchases.
To be taught extra, learn our full opinions of the Amex Platinum and Amex Gold playing cards.
Apply right here: Amex Gold card
Apply right here: Amex Platinum card
For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum Card, please click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Amex Gold Card, please click on right here.
