Annual fee $895. 5X flights booked direct or through Amex Travel and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel; 1X other eligible spend.
See if it fits my walletThe 3 reviewed personal cards that share the most card types and features with the Platinum Card.
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Very high fee; many credits have enrollment, merchant, portal, or cadence restrictions
Check current offer This link goes to American Express’s site. Dean earns nothing if you apply.Annual fee: $795, against $895 for the Platinum Card. Best fit: Frequent travelers who can use lounges and multiple credits. Dean’s catalog lists it as: Premium travel, Transferable points, Lounge.
Read Dean’s reviewAnnual fee: $595, against $895 for the Platinum Card. Best fit: Frequent travelers who use Citi Travel and named credits. Dean’s catalog lists it as: Premium travel, Transferable points, Lounge.
Read Dean’s reviewAnnual fee: $325, against $895 for the Platinum Card. Best fit: High food spenders who can use the recurring credits. Dean’s catalog lists it as: Dining, Grocery, Transferable points.
Read Dean’s review| Card | Annual fee | Rewards and benefit summary | Best fit | Main drawback | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platinum CardAmerican Express | $895 | 5X flights booked direct or through Amex Travel and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel; 1X other eligible spendGlobal Lounge Collection; $600 hotel credit; recurring travel and lifestyle credits; hotel status; travel protections | Frequent travelers who use lounges and the card's named credits | Very high fee; many credits have enrollment, merchant, portal, or cadence restrictions | American Express Checked 2026-07-22 |
| Sapphire ReserveChase | $795 | 8X Chase Travel; 4X flights and hotels booked direct; bonus dining under current terms$300 travel credit; Sapphire and Priority Pass lounges; premium travel and lifestyle credits; protections | Frequent travelers who can use lounges and multiple credits | Very high fee and many merchant-specific credits | Chase Checked 2026-07-22 |
| Strata EliteCiti | $595 | 12X portal hotels, car rentals, and attractions; 6X portal air and Citi Nights dining; 3X other dining; 1.5X other$300 hotel benefit; Splurge and Blacklane credits; Priority Pass; 4 Admirals Club passes; application-fee credit | Frequent travelers who use Citi Travel and named credits | High fee, portal dependence, and merchant-specific credits | Citi Checked 2026-07-22 |
| Gold CardAmerican Express | $325 | 4X restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets within terms; 3X flights booked direct or via Amex Travel; 1X otherUber Cash, dining, Resy, and Dunkin credits; Hotel Collection access; no foreign transaction fee | High food spenders who can use the recurring credits | U.S. supermarket cap and merchant restrictions; credits can create breakage | American Express Checked 2026-07-22 |
5X flights booked direct or through Amex Travel and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel; 1X other eligible spend.
Global Lounge Collection; $600 hotel credit; recurring travel and lifestyle credits; hotel status; travel protections.
Dean treats these as the reasons to hold the Platinum Card. If you would not use them, the card is worth less to you than its marketing says.
As high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points after $12,000 in purchases in the first 6 months. Amex shows your exact amount before you accept, and it may be less.
Dean read this offer on American Express’s own page on October 24, 2026. A welcome offer is paid once. Judge the card on what it does for you in year 2.
Dean lists the Platinum Card for excellent credit. It is a personal card on the Amex network. Availability: public national.
A listed credit range is a starting point, not an approval promise. American Express decides approval, your credit limit, and your rate when you apply.
Very high fee; many credits have enrollment, merchant, portal, or cadence restrictions.
Annual fee: $895. Dean checked the fee and terms against American Express on July 22, 2026. Terms can change after that date, so read the live offer before you apply.
Bank points can transfer to airline or hotel partners and can also be redeemed through a travel portal. Flexible travel partners, outsized award value, pooling across a card family.
Best for: Travelers willing to learn loyalty programs. Watch for: Poor redemptions, award availability, and transfer risk can erase value.
Miles or points offset travel purchases at a defined rate. Simple travel redemptions with fewer blackout concerns.
Best for: Travelers who value ease over award optimization. Watch for: Travel-only redemptions can be less flexible than cash.
High-fee cards bundle lounge access, travel credits, status, and protections. Airport lounges, hotel programs, travel credits, concierge, insurance.
Best for: Frequent travelers who naturally use the credits. Watch for: High fees and fragmented credits create breakage.
Transferred debt receives a temporary low or 0% APR. Can reduce interest while paying down existing card debt.
Best for: Borrowers who can repay within the promotional period. Watch for: Transfer fees, deadlines, excluded same-issuer debt, and post-offer APR matter.
Business card with points, airline, hotel, or premium travel benefits. Employee cards, travel protections, lounges, category rewards, large-spend bonuses.
Best for: Businesses with recurring travel or advertising, shipping, and software spend. Watch for: High fees and portal requirements must match real company spend.
Same rate on most eligible purchases.
Conditions to check: Excluded cash-like transactions and redemption value. Best for simplicity and uncategorized spend.
Moves bank points to airline or hotel loyalty programs.
Conditions to check: Transfer ratios, minimums, availability, expiration, and irreversible transfers. Transfer only after confirming an award.
Higher rewards or credits for issuer-portal bookings.
Conditions to check: Portal price, cancellation rules, elite credit, and direct-booking benefits. Compare the total trip terms, not only the multiplier.
Dean links directly to the issuer. Card terms and eligibility can change after the review date.