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 The Platinum Card from American Express ($895/yr) and the Bilt Card (Blue) (no annual fee) 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.
5X 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 Now1x points on everyday spend, up to 1.25x points on rent and mortgage (no fee).
Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.
Apply Now| Feature | The Platinum Card from American Express | Bilt Card (Blue) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $895 | $0 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 175,000 points after $12,000 spend in 6 months | None |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 0% | 0% |
| Base Reward Rate | 1.0% | 1.0% |
| Rates with conditions not counted in the rows above |
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%. |
None |
| Key Benefits | 5X on flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel. Global Lounge Collection access. | 1x points on everyday spend, up to 1.25x points on rent and mortgage (no fee). |
These cards are closely matched across categories, so the winner comes down to your specific spending mix.
The $895/year fee difference means The Platinum Card from American Express needs to earn about that much more in rewards to justify its cost.
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.