--- title: "Amex Gold vs. Platinum: Is the $570 Higher Annual Fee Worth It?" description: "The Amex Gold costs $325 a year and the Platinum costs $895, so which card earns its fee depends on how you eat, book and travel." url: https://travel.skoop.news/american-express-gold-vs-american-express-platinum-which-car-474923/ published: 2026-10-24T11:39:33.842023-04:00 modified: 2026-10-24T11:39:33.842032-04:00 section: "Travel" publisher: "skoop.news" language: en keywords: ["Platinum", "Amex Gold", "Amex Platinum", "American Express Travel", "Morgan Stanley", "Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card", "American Express Platinum Card", "U.S", "Resy", "Schwab"] hashtags: ["#AmexGold", "#AmexPlatinum", "#AmericanExpressTravel", "#Travel", "#travelnews"] image: https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Ayni_Airport_Terminal_%28Sughd%2C_Tajikistan%29.png/1280px-Ayni_Airport_Terminal_%28Sughd%2C_Tajikistan%29.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail --- # Amex Gold vs. Platinum: Is the $570 Higher Annual Fee Worth It? > The Amex Gold costs $325 a year and the Platinum costs $895, so which card earns its fee depends on how you eat, book and travel. Published 2026-10-24 · Updated 2026-10-24 · Travel, [skoop.news](https://skoop.news/) ## In brief - The annual fee for the Amex Gold is $325, while the Amex Platinum charges $895 [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). - New Amex Gold cardmembers can be eligible for as many as 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). - The Amex Gold offers up to $120 per calendar year in dining statement credits at Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, Grubhub (including Seamless), The Cheesecake Factory and Wonder [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). ## Two fees, one big gap The annual fee for the Amex Gold is $325, while the Amex Platinum charges $895 [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). If you are choosing between the two cards, that gap is over $500, and the Platinum has significantly more perks because of it [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). This piece compares the fees, welcome bonuses and credits of both cards, and then says who each card suits. ## Welcome bonuses compared New Amex Gold cardmembers can be eligible for as many as 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). New Amex Platinum cardmembers can be eligible for as many as 175,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 in the first six months [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). According to TPG's October 2026 valuations, those offers are worth up to $2,000 for the Gold and up to $3,500 for the Platinum [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). The Platinum wins on welcome bonus, because its potential offer is more valuable, although it requires significantly more spending [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). Amex allows only one welcome bonus per card in a cardmember's lifetime [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). You may also miss the Gold welcome bonus if you have or previously had the Platinum [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). ## What the Gold credits cover The Amex Gold offers up to $120 per calendar year in dining statement credits at Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, Grubhub (including Seamless), The Cheesecake Factory and Wonder [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). The card is described as a good fit if you spend heavily at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, or if you regularly buy from the merchants its credits cover [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). ## What the Platinum adds The Amex Platinum offers up to $600 per calendar year in lodging statement credits [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). It also offers up to $200 per calendar year in airline incidental credits for charges such as seat selection, bag fees and lounge access from one selected qualifying airline [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). A Clear+ statement credit of up to $219 per calendar year covers the annual membership [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). For travel perks, Platinum cardmembers receive a Priority Pass Select membership with access to over 1,900 lounges worldwide [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). The card also includes Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold status, plus Leading Hotels of the World Leaders Club Sterling status [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). The author says the Platinum's lodging, digital entertainment, Uber Cash and U.S. Resy statement credits are very easy to use [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). If you book eligible hotels and dine at participating Resy restaurants, those credits can offset a substantial portion of the annual fee [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). ## The Platinum comes in six versions There are six distinct versions of the American Express Platinum card [[2]](https://wtop.com/news/2026/07/theres-more-than-one-american-express-platinum-card/). All six share no foreign transaction fees, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck reimbursement, and cellphone protection [[2]](https://wtop.com/news/2026/07/theres-more-than-one-american-express-platinum-card/). The American Express Platinum Card earns five points per dollar on flights booked directly or through American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year) and on hotels booked through American Express Travel [[2]](https://wtop.com/news/2026/07/theres-more-than-one-american-express-platinum-card/). The Business Platinum Card offers as high as 300,000 points after spending $20,000 within the first three months [[2]](https://wtop.com/news/2026/07/theres-more-than-one-american-express-platinum-card/). The Schwab version offers an annual appreciation bonus of up to $1,000, depending on the size of Schwab holdings [[2]](https://wtop.com/news/2026/07/theres-more-than-one-american-express-platinum-card/). The Morgan Stanley version qualifies holders for a $695 annual engagement bonus if they hold a Platinum CashPlus account with Morgan Stanley [[2]](https://wtop.com/news/2026/07/theres-more-than-one-american-express-platinum-card/). The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card has an annual fee of $350 [[2]](https://wtop.com/news/2026/07/theres-more-than-one-american-express-platinum-card/). ## What this means for you Choose the Gold if you spend heavily at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, or regularly buy from merchants covered by its statement credits [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). Its fee is $325, and its welcome offer needs $8,000 in spending [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). Choose the Platinum if you prefer to book airfare directly with the airline and want broader travel and lifestyle benefits [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). Its fee is $895, and its welcome offer needs $12,000 in spending [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). Check your history before you apply. Amex allows only one welcome bonus per card in a lifetime, and having had the Platinum can affect your Gold eligibility [[1]](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/). ## Sources 1. [American Express Gold vs. American Express Platinum: Which card shines brighter?](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-vs-amex-gold/) — The Points Guy 2. [There's More than One American Express Platinum Card](https://wtop.com/news/2026/07/theres-more-than-one-american-express-platinum-card/) — WTOP News Image: Photo (illustrative): Albertocsc~enwiki / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ayni_Airport_Terminal_(Sughd,_Tajikistan).png) --- Written from the sources above and checked twice (rules and an independent model) before publishing. How we work: https://skoop.news/how-we-work/ · Corrections: https://skoop.news/corrections/