9 cards that compete with the Amex Platinum

The Platinum Card® from American Express has a high $695 annual fee (see rates and fees), but it offers a long list of benefits.

As an Amex Platinum cardmember, you earn 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 of these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels and flights booked through American Express Travel®.

In addition, cardmembers receive a wide array of statement credits, hotel and car rental elite status, travel protections and special offers through Amex Offers.

With so many benefits to keep track of, some Amex Platinum cardmembers feel like their card acts more like a coupon book than a premium travel card.

If you are unsure whether to keep your Amex Platinum, consider switching to one of these 9 rewards credit cards.

Related: How to maximize benefits with the Amex Platinum Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a worthy competitor in the luxury rewards card space. The card includes an annual $300 travel credit when booked through Capital One Travel, a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus, a Priority Pass membership, access to Capital One Lounges and a credit of up to $120 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

It earns 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars and 5 miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals when booking through Capital One Travel, as well as 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases. Plus, as a new cardmember, you can earn a welcome bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

All miles can be used to book travel and even cover eligible travel purchases, or you can transfer them to one of Capital One’s 15-plus airline and hotel partners. The card does have an annual fee of $395, but authorized users (a number of which can be added at no additional cost) can enjoy many of the card’s benefits.

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$395 isn’t a small amount, but it’s significantly less than what an Amex Platinum cardmember pays each year.

To learn more, read our full review of the Capital One Venture X.

Learn more: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Travelers love the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) because it offers a variety of benefits to cardholders, plus high points bonuses on purchases made through Chase Travel℠.

With this card, you’ll receive an annual $300 travel credit, up to a $120 credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus, access to every Chase Sapphire Lounge, a Priority Pass membership, access to The Edit (Chase’s rebranded luxury hotel program), primary rental car coverage and travel and shopping purchase protections.

Additionally, you’ll earn 3 points per dollar spent on travel and dining (including eligible takeout and delivery services), 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked through Chase Travel, 10 points per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Travel and 10 points per dollar spent on Chase Dining purchases. All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar.

Note that you won’t earn bonus points on travel until after the first $300 is spent on travel annually.

You can transfer points to 14 airline and hotel partners or use them to book travel and cover purchases through statement credits. You’ll have to pay a $550 annual fee, but that means you’ll save $145 each year compared to paying for an Amex Platinum. Sapphire Reserve authorized users cost $75 each.

New cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

As a cardmember of the Amex Platinum and the Sapphire Reserve, TPG credit cards writer Danyal Ahmed consistently gets better value out of his Sapphire Reserve thanks to its amazing earning rates and flexible travel credit.

To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve

For people who want to earn Ultimate Rewards points without the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s high annual fee, there’s the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees).

While this card doesn’t include lounge access and other premium benefits, it does come with primary rental car insurance, a $50 annual hotel statement credit on bookings made through Chase Travel and travel and shopping purchase protections. Additionally, you’ll receive a 10% points bonus on all purchases at the end of every year.

Travel booked through Chase Travel earns 5 points per dollar. You’ll also earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining (including eligible takeout and delivery services), online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs) and select streaming services, 2 points per dollar spent on all other travel and 1 point per dollar spent on everything else.

This card’s annual fee is a reasonable $95. New applicants can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees) earns flexible ThankYou points that can be used to book travel through CitiTravel.com, shop online, buy gift cards and transferred to travel partners for airline or hotel redemptions.

Every year, you’ll receive a $100 credit toward a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) that’s booked through CitiTravel.com. This benefit alone covers the $95 annual fee.

You’ll earn 10 points per dollar on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com, 3 points per dollar spent at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations, as well as 3 points per dollar spent on air travel and other hotel reservations. All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar.

New cardholders will earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

To learn more, read our full review of the Citi Strata Premier.

Apply here: Citi Strata Premier Card

If you want to keep earning Membership Rewards points, the American Express® Gold Card may be the right card for you. With the Amex Gold, you’ll earn 4 points per dollar dining at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar), 4 points per dollar on groceries at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar), 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com and 2 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with amextravel.com and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.

Amex Gold cardmembers also receive up to $120 in Uber Cash per calendar year (up to $10 a month), up to $120 in dining statement credits (up to $10 per month) per calendar year, up to $100 in statement credits with U.S. Resy restaurants (up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually) per calendar year and up to $84 in monthly statement credits (up to $7 per month in statement credits) per calendar year with U.S. Dunkin’ Donuts locations. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.

When fully utilized, these credits provide enough value to more than cover the card’s $325 annual fee (see rates and fees). Uber Cash will only be deposited into one Uber account when you add an Amex Card as a payment method and pay with any eligible Amex card.

Plus, cardmembers have access to the same Hotel Collection* benefits as those with the Amex Platinum. Enrollment is required.

New applicants for the Amex Gold can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of cardmembership.

To learn more, read our full review of the American Express Gold Card.

*Eligible charges vary by property. Minimum two-night stay required.

Apply here: American Express Gold Card

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card is a great option for travelers who are loyal to Bank of America. It earns 2 points per dollar spent on travel and dining purchases, plus 1.5 points per dollar spent on everything else.

Cardholders who are also a member of the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program can earn up to a 75% bonus on all of their rewards, depending on the size of their account balances. That translates to up to 3.5 points per dollar spent on travel and up to 2.63 points per dollar spent on everything else.

While Bank of America doesn’t have any transfer partners, you can redeem your points for cash back, as a statement credit, for gift cards and for travel purchases through the Bank of America Travel Center without blackout dates.

You’ll also receive up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees every four years and up to $100 in airline incidental fee statement credits each year, the latter of which offsets the card’s $95 annual fee.

New cardholders can earn 60,000 online bonus points after making $4,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.

To learn more, read our full review of the Bank of America Premium Rewards.

Apply here: Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card

Hilton loyalists love the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card because it automatically grants Hilton Diamond elite status and offers an array of other benefits. Cardmembers receive a variety of statement credits, tailored toward both general travel and Hilton stays.

The card also includes an annual free night reward. Additional free night rewards can be earned when you spend $30,000 and $60,000 in a calendar year. These benefits easily outweigh this card’s $550 annual fee. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.

The information for the Hilton Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

You’ll earn 14 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio, 7 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or American Express Travel and car rentals booked with select car rental companies, 7 points per dollar spent on dining at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and 3 points per dollar spent on other eligible purchases.

New cardmembers can earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.

Learn more: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is the premier card for Marriott Bonvoy members. It includes up to $300 in annual statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) on eligible dining purchases made with the card at restaurants worldwide, plus automatic Platinum Elite status and a free night award every year after your renewal month (worth up to 85,000 points). Certain hotels have resort fees.

You’ll also receive up to $100 in property credits when you book at least two nights at a Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis. If that wasn’t enough, cardmembers get a Priority Pass membership and up to $120 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Enrollment is required; terms apply.

With this card, you’ll earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 3 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with the airline, and 2 points per dollar spent on everything else.

An annual fee of $650 (see rates and fees) applies, but the yearly statement credits, automatic elite status and free night certificate are worth at least that much. Plus, it’s still more affordable than the Amex Platinum, even if not by much.

New cardmembers can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership and an extra 50,000 bonus points after spending an additional $2,000 in purchases within the first six months.

To learn more, read our full review of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant.

Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

If Delta is your favorite Amex transfer partner, then the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card should be one of your frontrunners. As a cardmember, you’ll earn 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar spent on other eligible purchases.

Plus, new applicants can earn 70,000 miles after spending $5,000 in the first six months of card membership. This card frequently offers elevated welcome offers, so keep an eye out for one.

Although this card has a steep $650 annual fee (see rates and fees), cardmembers receive all kinds of benefits, including access to Delta Sky Club lounges when traveling on a same-day, Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. Access is limited to 15 free annual visits, with unlimited annual visits after spending $75,000 in a calendar year.

Plus, those without elite status will be added to the upgrade list after Medallion members when flying with Delta, while those with status will receive priority upgrades over other Medallion members. You’ll also receive various lifestyle and travel statement credits to help offset the annual fee.

It’s also possible to accelerate earning elite status with this card, as you’ll earn one Medallion Qualification Dollar for each $10 spent with the card in a calendar year. You’ll also earn a head start of 2,500 MQDs each Medallion Qualification Year to get closer to status with the card.

To learn more, read our full review of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve.

Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card

While the Amex Platinum still holds value for many cardmembers, others may feel inclined to get rid of the card in favor of another on the market. Fortunately, there are several great alternatives to consider.

Each card comes with its own pluses and minuses, though in many cases, each offers similar (if not better) benefits as the Amex Platinum for a lower annual cost. Regardless of where your loyalties lie, there’s a card that will suit your spending habits and travel goals.

Related: Is the Amex Platinum worth the annual fee?

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Delta Reserve card, click here.