Which American Express Credit Card is Right for You?

If you're looking for a credit card that rewards your everyday spending, American Express offers options geared toward different types of cardholders. But choosing between them can come down to where you spend the most and which perks you'll actually use.

The American Express® Gold Card emphasizes rewards on dining and groceries, making it a strong option for everyday spending. The American Express Platinum Card® is geared more toward frequent travelers who can take advantage of its premium travel benefits.

Both cards earn Membership Rewards® points, but their annual fees, earning rates and benefits are considerably different. Here's how the Gold and Platinum cards compare and what to consider when deciding which one fits your spending and travel habits.

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Amex Cards Overview

Assessing the value of American Express Membership Rewards® points can be tricky because their value varies depending on how you redeem them.

You can use points for travel, purchases and other redemption options, or transfer them to participating airline and hotel loyalty programs. Transfer partners include Delta Air Lines and JetBlue, along with international carriers such as Air France-KLM, British Airways and Singapore Airlines. Transfer ratios vary by partner, so it's worth comparing your options before moving your points.

For this comparison, we assume each Membership Rewards point is worth one cent, although you may get more or less value depending on how you redeem your points.

Eligible American Express cards can also provide rental car insurance benefits. WalletHub's 2026 study gave American Express consumer cards an 86% score for rental car insurance coverage.

American Express also offers optional Premium Car Rental Protection for a flat fee per rental period rather than a daily fee. The coverage can include eligible SUVs and luxury vehicles and provides primary coverage for damage to or theft of the rental car. Coverage limits, exclusions and other terms apply.

Amex Gold Card

American Express® Gold Card

The American Express Gold Card is geared toward people who spend heavily on dining and groceries and want to turn that spending into travel rewards.

The $325 annual fee is substantial, so you'll get the most value if the card's rewards and statement credits fit expenses you already have.

The card has no foreign transaction fee and a host of perks such as travel protections, up to $120 in Uber cash, dining credits and three points for flights booked through the American Express travel portal. See rates and fees.

View Offers

• Annual fee. $325
• Foreign transaction fee. None.
• Rewards. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™. Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines. Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. 
• $100 Resy credit. Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at more than 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required. 
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold. Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your card to your Uber account, and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. 
• Free nights: Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property. 
• Redemption. Points are redeemable at a rate of one cent each for flights booked through Amex and certain gift cards (points are worth less for most other redemption options).
• Terms apply. See rates and fees.

American Express Platinum Card®

American Express Platinum Card®.
At $895, the card's annual fee has climbed to a level that might seem out of reach for the typical card user. But the card packs in a laundry list of perks to overcome the fee. Points are redeemed for travel, not cash back, so this card is intended for the serious traveler.

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.

Terms apply. See rates and fees.

View Offer

• Interest rate. See Pay Over Time APR.
• Annual fee. $895. Each Additional Platinum Card is $195 annually. Companion Platinum Cards have no annual fee.
• Foreign transaction fee. None.
• Rewards. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection. You also earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year.
• $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 on eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at more than 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Cardmembers also get access to select reservations through Platinum Nights™ by Resy.
• $300 Digital Entertainment Credit. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month for eligible purchases with participating digital entertainment providers. Enrollment required.
• $219 CLEAR+ Credit. Get up to $219 in statement credits per calendar year after paying for a CLEAR+ membership with your Platinum Card®. Terms apply.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline and receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for eligible incidental airline fees. Terms apply.
• $300 lululemon Credit. Get up to $75 in statement credits each quarter for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores, excluding outlets, and lululemon.com. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit. Get up to a $12.95 statement credit each month, plus applicable taxes, after paying for a monthly Walmart+ membership with your Platinum Card®. Terms apply.
• Other benefits. Get access to more than 1,550 airport lounges through the Global Lounge Collection®, including Centurion Lounges, 10 Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass™ membership (enrollment required) and other select partner lounges.
• Redemption. Membership Rewards® points can be redeemed in several ways, including for travel, transfers to participating airline and hotel loyalty programs, statement credits, eligible card charges and gift cards. Point values vary depending on how you redeem them.
• Terms apply. See rates and fees.

Amex Card Comparison

*Platinum earns 5X on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel®, on up to $500,000 in these purchases per calendar year.

Where are American Express credit cards accepted?

You might have heard that many merchants refuse to accept American Express cards. While this used to be true, the company's U.S. acceptance rate is now on par with Visa and Mastercard, and its international acceptance rate has almost caught up.

One retail exception worth noting — Costco does not accept American Express cards for in-store or online shopping.

Rewards cards dos and don'ts

As with any rewards credit card, be sure to weigh these benefits against annual fees. Take some time to understand how to use your credit card effectively.

In addition, while reward credit cards are great if you use them wisely, always pay them off in full each month to avoid interest, which can dwarf anything you might gain from rewards.

Don't increase your spending to hit a required minimum that triggers a bonus; otherwise, these cards can be a false economy as you’d be overspending.

**Enrollment might be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

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