Monthly spending. We rank on rewards minus the full annual fee, so statement credits and perks are listed separately and never counted for you.
Choosing between the American Express® Gold Card ($325/yr) and the The Platinum Card from American Express ($895/yr) comes down to where you spend most. Both cards can deliver real value. Let’s break it down, then run your numbers to find the winner.
Strongest in dining at 4% (up to $50,000/yr). 4X points at restaurants worldwide, 4X on U.S. supermarkets, 3X on flights.
Perfect if: You spend enough in bonus categories to easily offset the annual fee.
Apply Now5X on flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel. Global Lounge Collection access.
Perfect if: You spend enough in bonus categories to easily offset the annual fee.
Apply Now| Feature | American Express Gold Card | The Platinum Card from American Express |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $325 | $895 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 100,000 points after $8,000 spend in 6 months | 175,000 points after $12,000 spend in 6 months |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 0% | 0% |
| Base Reward Rate | 1% | 1% |
| Dining Rewards | 4% (up to $50,000/yr) | 1% |
| Groceries Rewards | 4% (up to $25,000/yr) | 1% |
| Rates with conditions not counted in the rows above |
3% on flights Earns 3% only on flights booked direct with the airline or on AmexTravel.com. Hotels, car rentals and cruises earn 1%. |
5% on flights Earns 5% only on flights booked direct with the airline or on amextravel.com, and on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com. Hotels booked direct, car rentals and cruises earn 1%. |
| Key Benefits | 4X points at restaurants worldwide, 4X on U.S. supermarkets, 3X on flights. | 5X on flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel. Global Lounge Collection access. |
American Express Gold Card pulls ahead for dining, groceries spending.
The $570/year fee difference means The Platinum Card from American Express needs to earn about that much more in rewards to justify its cost.
American Express Gold Card carries $424/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings), while The Platinum Card from American Express carries $1,174/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings). Those only count if you’d actually use them. Worth checking against your own habits before treating them as a discount on the fee.
Not sure which fits your life? Enter your spending below and we’ll do the math. The calculator ranks purely on rewards minus the full annual fee, so credits and perks are yours to judge.