Amex Gold vs Amex Platinum: which should you get?

Both are American Express cards on the Membership Rewards points system, but they solve different problems. The Amex Gold has a $325 annual fee; the Amex Platinum has a $895 annual fee (raised in September 2025).

The Gold is built around everyday food spending: 4x points at restaurants and on U.S. groceries. The Platinum is built around travel: Centurion and Priority Pass lounge access, airline and hotel credits, and premium travel perks.

Amex Gold: it carries up to about $424/yr in credits (Uber Cash, dining, Dunkin', Resy) plus strong 4x earning on food. At a $325 fee, it's the better pick if a lot of your spending is dining and groceries.

Amex Platinum: it stacks well over $1,000 in potential credits (airline, hotel, Uber, entertainment, CLEAR, Walmart+) plus the best lounge access in the market — but the $895 fee only makes sense if you fly often and will actually use those coupon-book credits. If you won't, it's an expensive card for lounge access you could get cheaper.

1. 1Look at where your money goes: if it's mostly dining and groceries, the Gold's 4x and food credits win.
2. 2If you fly regularly and will use lounges plus the airline, hotel, and Uber credits, the Platinum's value can far exceed its fee — but only if you claim everything.
3. 3Whichever you pick, enroll in and use every recurring credit each month; unused Amex credits don't roll over and quietly erase the card's value.