The Platinum Card® from American Express vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
A worthy contender in the premium card market is the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Similar to the Amex Platinum, the card carries a steep annual fee but also a number of benefits and credits that can justify that price tag if fully maximized. In exchange for the $550 annual fee, the card comes with a $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass lounge access with enrollment, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck reimbursem*nt and benefits at hotels with The Edit (previously The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection).
Cardholders can earn 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals when purchasing travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Those points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel, and points can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to airline and hotel partners like United and Hyatt. These perks—especially the $300 annual travel credit—may be more accessible to utilize than the Amex Platinum airline incidentals credit.
The Platinum Card® from American Express vs. American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) is the mid-range option for those who wish to earn American Express Membership Rewards points. Some cards offer bonuses for dining and others for U.S supermarket spending, but the American Express Gold Card is an industry leader by offering the opportunity to earn 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point per dollar), 3 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.
Like the Amex Platinum, the card also offers some potential valuable credits that, if fully maximized, can offset the card’s $250 annual fee. But these credits may not align with where you’re spending your money. And if you’re seeking plush travel perks, the card doesn’t come with any.
The Platinum Card® from American Express vs. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (rates & fees) is packed with extras that put it firmly in competition with the Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve® but at an annual fee—$395—that leaves the others far behind. The card earns 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25 and 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel, comes with an annual travel credit of $300 for bookings through Capital One Travel and complimentary Priority Pass Membership with enrollment.
It may not have the various potential credits that come with the Amex Platinum, but it’s also several hundred dollars cheaper each year when it comes to annual fee expenses (rates & fees). The main potential drawback to choosing the Venture X over the Amex Platinum card is that the Amex Platinum offers far more airport lounge access than the Venture X card.
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Is the Amex Platinum worth it?
Julian Kheel
Credit Cards Expert
Becky Pokora
Credit Cards Writer
Harlan Vaughn
Credit Cards Lead Editor
The lounge benefits lead the way when it comes to the Amex Platinum, so be sure you’re going to use them regularly to make the card worth it. But beyond that, take a good look at the monthly credits. Some of them aren’t easy to use, depending on where you live, but others, like the digital entertainment credit, the CLEAR® Plus credit, and even the Walmart+ credit are easy to “set and forget” and can make the card worth it if they cover services you already pay for.
Julian Kheel
Credit Cards Expert
If you already have one or more premium travel cards, the Amex Platinum may have too many overlapping benefits to make it worth its stratospheric annual fee, especially since it layers in more terms and conditions than the competition. But for someone looking for luxe access and VIP perks, The Platinum Card can provide dividends worth more than the upfront cost.
Becky Pokora
Credit Cards Writer
If you’re a frequent traveler and value lounge access, The Platinum Card is one of the best to have as your companion because the lounge network is so extensive. The travel and lifestyle credits can offset the annual fee, but they’re hard to track and may not be useful for those who don’t live in or travel to major cities.
Harlan Vaughn
Credit Cards Lead Editor
