Must you get each the Amex Platinum and Gold playing cards?

We all know what you are considering: Why pay hefty annual charges on two playing cards that earn the identical kind of factors? Nicely, for us (and lots of others), it is completely worthwhile.

Certainly, the mixed $1,000-plus price ticket on The Platinum Card® from American Specific and American Specific® Gold Card may be confronting. Nonetheless, 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 may make sense to carry each the Platinum and Gold playing cards. Listed here are 4 the explanation why.

Earn two welcome bonuses

In the course of the first yr that you’ve got a card, the welcome bonus is without doubt one of the most beneficial advantages, if not probably the most worthwhile.

Between these two playing cards, you possibly can 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 Specific Membership Rewards factors at 2 cents apiece, which means these welcome bonuses are value an unimaginable as much as $2,800.

Remember to test the CardMatch device as it’s possible you’ll be focused for an elevated welcome supply on one or each playing cards. (These gives are topic to vary at any time.)

There are a few software restrictions to concentrate on:

• You will solely earn a welcome supply on every card as soon as per lifetime.
• It is best to use for the Gold first after which the Platinum; if you happen to do it the opposite approach round, you may be ineligible to earn Gold welcome supply.

Associated: An entire information to Amex’s one-bonus-per-lifetime restrictions

Speed up your earnings

You possibly can earn 1000’s of additional factors annually 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 ebook flights, as you will earn 5 factors per greenback spent immediately with airways or with Amex Journey*. That compares to three factors per greenback on the Amex Gold.

For pay as you go resorts booked via Amex Journey, Platinum is once more the best way to go, incomes 5 factors per greenback spent as a substitute of simply 2 factors per greenback with the Amex Gold.

Then, you will need to use the Amex Gold on 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: The way to 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 1000’s — of {dollars} again in your pocket.

The Amex Gold’s $325 annual payment (see charges and costs) 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 payment (see charges and costs) may 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 payment 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 Advantageous Lodges + Resorts or The Lodge 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 while you add the eligible Amex card as a fee methodology and redeem with any Amex card.

Associated: American Specific Gold vs. American Specific Platinum: Which one is best for you?

Shield your purchases and journey

Each the American Specific Platinum and Gold playing cards supply prolonged guarantee and buy safety advantages.

Nonetheless, the Amex Platinum card gives extra complete safety advantages, particularly for frequent vacationers, whereas the Amex Gold card offers extra restricted protection.

The purchasing and journey protections that the Amex Platinum gives and the Amex Gold would not embody:

• Cellphone safety
• Emergency medical transportation (if coordinated by the profit administrator)
• Return safety
• Journey cancellation and interruption insurance coverage*
• Journey delay insurance coverage*
• Greater protection for automobile rental loss and harm, 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 is probably not cost-effective for everybody. Contemplate the next:

• Lounge entry: For those who not often use airport lounges or do not spend sufficient on the Platinum to unlock visitor entry, it’s possible you’ll not get sufficient worth from the cardboard.
• Grocery purchases: For those who primarily store at big-box retailers like Walmart or Goal or via grocery supply companies 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 companies (like Grubhub and Uber) that you’re going to obtain assertion credit for; if not, it’s possible you’ll find yourself spending to “save” cash.

Backside line

The Amex Gold card’s decrease annual payment and bonus factors on eating and groceries might swimsuit many customers, whereas the Platinum card’s increased payment is value it for individuals 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 evaluations of the Amex Platinum and Amex Gold playing cards.

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Apply right here: Amex Gold card
Apply right here: Amex Platinum card

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For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum Card, please click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Amex Gold Card, please click on right here.