Key takeaways

  • Both the American Express Platinum Card and the Business Platinum Card from American Express are top-tier credit card options with premium benefits (and high annual fees to match)
  • The Amex Platinum Card may be a better choice for users who appreciate travel-related perks, but who also want to take advantage of the card's consumer spending credits
  • Business owners will want to check out the Business Platinum Card's higher bonus rate for business-related purchases, as well as its business-oriented spending credits
  • Before choosing either card, analyze your spending habits to ensure the value you'll get from the card surpasses its annual fee

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If you’re a fan of American Express credit cards and in the market for a new one, there’s no doubt you’ve considered some of the issuer’s top, premium-level cards: The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.

Even though the business version of the Amex Platinum has some of the same card benefits as the Amex Platinum, there are still major differences between the two. These differences could mean that one card is better than the other for certain types of spenders.

Here’s what we found in the battle of the Amex Platinum versus the Amex Business Platinum.

Main details

Card The Platinum Card from American Express The Business Platinum Card from American Express
Welcome bonus 80,000 points after you spend $8,000 in the first 6 months of account opening 120,000 points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
Rewards rate
  • 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines and via American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per year; terms apply)
  • 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
  • 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel
  • 1X points on all other purchases
  • 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
  • 2X points on prepaid rental cars booked through American Express Travel
  • 1.5X points on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more, as well as eligible purchases in key business categories (U.S. construction and hardware suppliers, electronic goods and associated retailers, software and cloud service providers and shipping providers; up to $2 million per calendar year combined)
  • 1X points on all other purchases
Annual fee $695 $695

The Platinum Card from American Express vs. The Business Platinum Card from American Express highlights

Because both cards are from the same issuer, they have a lot in common when it comes to card perks and benefits. However, there are some differences to note when deciding which card you’ll get.

Welcome bonus winner: Amex Platinum

The American Express Platinum card requires you to spend only $8,000 within the first six months of opening your account, while the Amex Business Platinum card requires cardholders to spend $15,000 within the first three months of account opening. That said, it’s worth noting that these spending requirements are relative since a business owner would likely find it easier to meet them than an individual.

According to our points and miles valuations, Amex points can be worth up to 2.1 cents each when redeemed with high-value Amex travel partners. That means your welcome bonus could be worth up to $2,100 for the Amex Platinum or $2,520 for the Amex Business Platinum.

Rewards rate winner: It depends

This is also somewhat of a relative comparison that boils down to the type of spending you plan to do on your Amex card. Both cards earn 5X points on airfare and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel, but the Amex Platinum caps spending to $500,000 per year. Prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel net 2X rewards on both cards, too.

If you’re a business owner who makes purchases in key business categories, you’ll earn 1.5X points on those purchases. You’ll also earn 1.5X points on purchases of $5,000 or more at a time (on up to $2 million in purchases per year). These types of purchases with the consumer Amex Platinum will earn you only 1X points.

Annual fee winner: Tie

Both the Amex Platinum and the Amex Business Platinum have an annual fee of $695, so they tie in this category.

Foreign transaction fee winner: Tie

Neither card charges foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.

Card benefits winner: It depends

There are many overlapping benefits with both cards, such as trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay insurance, extended warranty coverage, purchase protection, return protection, cellphone protection, concierge services and many more. Because many of the cards’ benefits overlap, the next best way to compare the cards is to look at the credits offered. If you can take advantage of enough credits, you can easily justify either card’s annual fee.

While both cards offer some overlapping credits, too — such as up to $200 in credits for airline incidental fees, up to a $189 credit for CLEAR® Plus Membership and up to a $100 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every four years — the consumer version of the Platinum card offers credits for Equinox, digital entertainment, Uber and other retailers that are not available with the business card.

On the other hand, with the Amex Business Platinum, you’ll get credits like up to a $400 statement credit on Dell purchases (up to $200 semi-annually), up to a $360 statement credit on Indeed hiring and recruiting products and services (up to $90 per quarter), up to a $150 statement credit per year on select Adobe purchases and up to $120 in statement credits for direct purchases from any U.S. wireless telephone provider (up to $10 per month).

Which card earns the most?

If you’re an entrepreneur that puts large business purchases on your credit card, you could stand to earn slightly more in rewards with the Amex Business Platinum. And although it’d be challenging to reach the $500,000 annual cap on flights with the Amex Platinum, there’s no cap on flights or prepaid hotels with the Business Platinum.

Spending example

For example, if you’re a business owner and hold the Amex Business Platinum, you could earn 1.5X points instead of 1X points on key business purchases and purchases of $5,000 or more (on up to $2 million per year). So, if you spend $100,000 per year in eligible 1.5X categories, you’ll earn 150,000 points (a value of at least $1,500). If you were to spend that same amount on the Amex Platinum, you’d earn only 100,000 points (a value of at least $1,000).

Why should you get the Amex Platinum?

Additional benefits

The benefits of the Amex Platinum are tailored toward luxury travelers, but they also include some lifestyle perks not offered on the Business Platinum card. Some of the benefits and credits you’ll get include:

  • Access to over 1,400 airport lounges
  • Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status
  • Up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
  • Up to a $189 credit for CLEAR® Plus Membership
  • Up to $200 in airline fee credits annually for incidentals with a qualifying airline
  • Up to $200 in credits per year for eligible prepaid hotel bookings at Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection properties via American Express Travel (two-night minimum stay required)
  • Up to $200 in Uber Cash for rides and delivery ($15 per month, plus an extra $20 in December)
  • Up to $240 per year in digital entertainment credits (up to $20 per month)
  • Up to $300 in eligible Equinox fitness statement credits per year (up to $300 credited annually, subject to auto-renewal, see offer terms for details)
  • Up to $100 for Saks Fifth Avenue purchases annually ($50 for January through June and $50 for July through December)
  • Up to a $100 credit on eligible stays with The Hotel Collection properties
  • Up to $155 in credits per year for Walmart+ membership

Redemption options

Both cards share similar redemption options since they come from the same issuer, and you’ll earn points in the American Express Membership Rewards program. You can redeem points for merchandise, gift cards, statement credits, travel booked through American Express Travel or transfers to Amex airline and hotel partners.

Recommended credit score

This is a premium Amex card, so you’ve got to have top-notch credit. To increase your approval odds for this card, you’ll need a good to excellent credit score (670 to 850).

Why should you get the Amex Business Platinum?

Additional benefits

Since the credits and perks of the Amex Business Platinum are more tailored to business owners, you won’t get quite as many lifestyle benefits as the consumer version of the card.

  • Up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
  • Up to a $189 credit for CLEAR® Plus Membership
  • Up to $200 in airline fee credits annually for incidentals with a qualifying airline
  • Up to $550 in statement credits or complimentary perks for booking with a Fine Hotels and Resorts program property, including an up to $250 complimentary credit per eligible stay
  • Up to $400 statement credit on Dell purchases (up to $200 semi-annually)
  • Up to $360 statement credit on Indeed hiring and recruiting products and services (up to $90 per quarter)
  • Up to $300 in credits for eligible cruise bookings
  • Up to $250 in statement credits for eligible stays at The Hotel Collection properties, including a $150 complimentary stay credit and a $100 experience credit for qualifying property activities
  • Up to a $150 statement credit per year on select Adobe purchases
  • Up to $120 in statement credits for direct purchases from any U.S. wireless telephone provider (up to $10 per month)

Redemption options

As mentioned, redemption options are similar to the Amex Platinum. You’ll earn Membership Rewards points, which can be redeemed for merchandise, gift cards, statement credits, travel booked through American Express Travel or transfers to Amex airline and hotel partners.

Recommended credit score

Like its nonbusiness counterpart, this card requires a good to excellent credit score.

The bottom line

Both The Platinum Card from American Express and The Business Platinum Card from American Express offer a generous welcome bonus and similar benefits for travel-related spending. The main difference comes down to the cards’ rewards structures and credits.

The card you should get will primarily depend on whether you’ll be using this card for personal or business spending. To find the best rewards card for you, first analyze your spending patterns. Then, choose the card that helps you earn the most rewards based on your normal spending categories.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.