Foodie
- Dining $600
- Groceries $600
- Flights $100
- Other $700
Amex Gold vs Amex Platinum
Amex Gold vs Platinum is really food versus travel. Gold earns elevated points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets and carries a moderate fee with food-focused credits. Platinum carries a much higher fee, earns elevated points on flights and prepaid Amex hotels, and leans on a long list of travel and lifestyle credits plus lounge access. Both earn Membership Rewards.
Amex changes credits and fees often—confirm current terms before you apply. Use the MaxPoints calculator presets below to see which card nets more on your spend.
How MaxPoints helps
Gold vs Platinum articles often count every credit at face value. MaxPoints compares both on your real spend and only the credits you’d use.
- Pick a preset or enter your own monthly dining, grocery, and travel spend.
- Count only credits you’d spend without the card—especially on Platinum.
- Compare Year 1 and Year 2+ after each fee.
Open the free credit card rewards calculator — no signup required.
Spend presets
Illustrative monthly spends. Open a mix in the calculator, then change any dollar amount.
Frequent flyer
- Dining $350
- Groceries $350
- Flights $500
- Hotels $300
- Other $700
Balanced
- Dining $450
- Groceries $450
- Flights $250
- Hotels $150
- Other $800
Quick comparison
Typical differences only. Fees, credits, and earn rates change—confirm current terms with the issuer before you apply.
Where it shines
Amex Gold (typical story)
Restaurants and U.S. supermarkets
Amex Platinum (typical story)
Flights and prepaid hotels; premium travel perks
Fee feel
Amex Gold (typical story)
Moderate fee; food credits help if you’d use them
Amex Platinum (typical story)
High fee; needs several credits you’d really use
Lounges
Amex Gold (typical story)
No lounge access
Amex Platinum (typical story)
Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass, and more
Everyday spend
Amex Gold (typical story)
Strong on food; base rate elsewhere
Amex Platinum (typical story)
Base rate on most everyday spend
Best next step
Amex Gold (typical story)
Amex Platinum (typical story)
| Angle | Amex Gold (typical story) | Amex Platinum (typical story) |
|---|---|---|
| Where it shines | Restaurants and U.S. supermarkets | Flights and prepaid hotels; premium travel perks |
| Fee feel | Moderate fee; food credits help if you’d use them | High fee; needs several credits you’d really use |
| Lounges | No lounge access | Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass, and more |
| Everyday spend | Strong on food; base rate elsewhere | Base rate on most everyday spend |
| Best next step | Run Is Amex Gold worth it? | Run Is Amex Platinum worth it? |
Tips
Platinum is not a food card. If dining and groceries dominate, Gold usually earns far more on spend.
Platinum credits are the swing factor. Count only credits you’d spend anyway—many people overcount them.
Holding both is common. Gold for food and Platinum for travel perks can work when both fees still clear. Model the pair, not just each card.
Same points currency. Both earn Membership Rewards, so transfer partners don’t decide this one.
Amex bonus rules apply. Amex limits welcome bonuses by card family—check eligibility before you apply.
FAQ
Gold for people whose spend is mostly dining and groceries; Platinum for frequent travelers who will use its credits and lounges. Run a MaxPoints preset with your numbers.
Only if the travel perks and credits you’d actually use cover the higher fee. Without lounges and travel credits, Gold usually nets more.
Yes, and many people do. Make sure the combined fees still clear after you count only credits you’d use.
Gold. Platinum doesn’t earn bonus points on restaurants.
Yes. The calculator is free and doesn’t require a signup.
Food or travel? Load a preset, keep only the credits you’d use, and see whether Gold, Platinum, or both fit your wallet.
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