American Express® Business Gold Card
vs. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Business owners who want to make the most out of their expenses may find either the American Express® Business Gold Card or the Business Platinum Card® from American Express the best option for their credit card needs. MoneyGeek compared the two to help you decide which card is better for you.
Updated: November 4, 2024
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American Express business credit cards allow cardholders to maximize their rewards and take advantage of various benefits and perks. Among the company’s business card lineup are the American Express® Business Gold Card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
MoneyGeek compared the two credit cards on several factors — including rewards programs, annual fees, welcome offers and more — to help you choose which is more suitable for your needs. For instance, the American Express® Business Gold Card’s annual fee is $295, $400 cheaper than The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
Comparison Overview: American Express® Business Gold Card vs. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- American Express® Business Gold CardThe Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- Has Annual Fee
- Has Balance Transfer Offer
- Has APR Offer
- Cash Back Rewards
- Travel Rewards
- Hotel Benefits
- Airline Benefits
- Has Rewarding Welcome Offer
- Has Foreign Transaction Fee
- Recommended CreditGood–ExcellentGood–Excellent
American Express® Business Gold Card At a Glance
The American Express® Business Gold Card is a solid option for high-spending business owners who want great returns on their investment. It has a welcome offer of 70,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of account opening. Additionally, the points you earn can be transferred to Amex’s various hotel and airline partners.
- American Express® Business Gold Card
A dynamic rewards card for high-spending business owners
- 1–4 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- 19.49% – 28.49% VariableAPR
- $375Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- Generous welcome points offer
- Potentially high rewards
- Dynamic bonus categories
- Offers monthly credits on select services
Cons
- Comes with an annual fee
- Complex reward system
- High rewards has spending limit
Introductory Offers
- Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months.
Rewards
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards points on the top two eligible spending categories each month, up to $150,000 annually.
- Earn 3X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.
Perks & Benefits
- Get up to $20 in monthly statement credits for eligible purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores, totaling up to $240 annually.
- Receive up to a $12.95 monthly statement credit for a Walmart+ membership.
- Choose from three metal card designs: Gold, Rose Gold, and Limited Edition White Gold.
APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- Enjoy a 0% Intro APR for six months on eligible purchases, then a variable APR of 18.74% to 27.74%. See Rates and Fees
- Terms Apply.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express At a Glance
You can get plenty of value from the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express if you’re a high-spending business owner who’s also a frequent flyer. The card provides various luxury travel and lifestyle benefits that justify the high annual fee of $695. It also has no foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for international travel.
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Top-tier business card with premium travel benefits
- 1–5 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- 19.49% – 28.49% VariableAPR
- $695Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- Impressive welcome offer
- Great rewards on business spending
- Significant statement credits
- Airport lounge access
- Extensive travel protections and perks
Cons
- High annual fee
- No intro APR offers
Introductory Offers
- Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $20,000 in the first three months.
Rewards
- Earn 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1.5X points on eligible purchases at U.S. construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as purchases of $5,000 or more.
- Earn 1X point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Perks & Benefits
- Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases in the first year.
- Get a $200 Airline Fee Credit for incidental fees charged by a selected airline.
- Receive up to $199 in statement credits for CLEAR Plus Membership renewal.
- Access over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide with the American Express Global Lounge Collection.
- Up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or $85 credit for TSA PreCheck every 5 years
APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- $695 annual fee. See rates and fees.
- Terms apply.
Comparison Summary
MoneyGeek analyzed the differences between the American Express® Business Gold Card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express to help you determine the best business credit card for you.
Card Detail | Comparison Summary |
---|---|
Travel Coverage | Both cards offer baggage insurance, trip delay insurance and rental car loss and damage insurance. However, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express also has trip cancellation and interruption insurance (subject to terms and conditions). Winner: Business Platinum Card® from American Express |
Welcome Bonus | American Express® Business Gold Cardholders can earn 70,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership. On the other hand, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers 120,000 Membership Rewards points after cardholders spend $15,000 in the first three months. Winner: Business Platinum Card® from American Express |
Rewards | The American Express® Business Gold Card lets you earn 4X points on the two business categories where you spend the most. Categories include airfare purchases directly from airlines and all purchases at U.S. restaurants, gas stations, advertising in select media and select technology providers. Meanwhile, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express allows you to earn 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel, as well as 1.5X points on business categories and business purchases of $5,000 or more. Winner: Business Platinum Card® from American Express |
Annual Fee | The annual fee for the American Express® Business Gold Card is $295 per year. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express annual fee is $695. Winner: American Express® Business Gold Card |
Card Benefits | Aside from its generous rewards program, Amex also offers other benefits to its cardholders. The American Express Business Gold gives you a 25% airline bonus after booking your flight with American Express Travel using its Pay with Points program. On the other hand, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express gives you access to Amex’s Global Lounge Collection. It also offers a 35% airline bonus and an airline fee credit to receive up to $200 per calendar year for baggage fees and other incidentals charged by the airline. Winner: Business Platinum Card® from American Express |
Which Card Should You Get?
Before choosing between the American Express® Business Gold Card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you should first consider your business needs and spending habits. This information will help determine which card is best for you.
Who Should Consider the American Express® Business Gold Card?
The American Express® Business Gold Card would most benefit business owners who want to maximize their rewards on purchases and enjoy flexibility in redeeming them.
Business owners who use online, TV and radio advertising or make purchases from gas stations, restaurants and select technology providers can earn 4X points on their first $150,000 spent in combined purchases from any two business categories each calendar year.
International travelers can use the American Express® Business Gold Card to pay for purchases made abroad since the card has no foreign transaction fees.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
Who Should Consider the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express?
Since The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the most expensive business credit cards on the market, it’s best suited for business owners who incur high expenses and frequently travel.
Business owners who spend over $5,000 every month can easily earn the card’s welcome offer of 120,000 Membership Rewards points within the first three months.
Frequent flyers who want access to airport lounges and hotel upgrades will enjoy the perks of this card.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
Both of these cards earn outstanding value, and while each of these have significant annual fees, both of them can be justified by taking advantage of each one’s benefits. However, if you’re looking for luxury travel and benefits for high spending, the Amex Platinum is the card to choose.
But regardless of which card you choose, be sure your business can afford the annual fee of either card.
Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs
Choosing the best business credit card can be challenging. MoneyGeek answered some frequently asked questions to help you further understand the differences between the American Express® Business Gold Card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
If you want to earn rewards for your business purchases using a card with a cheaper annual fee, then the American Express® Business Gold Card is for you. But if you’re a high-spending business owner who travels often, the American Express Business Platinum is the better option.
Since Amex allows customers to have up to five American Express credit cards, you can get the American Express® Business Gold Card even if you already have the Business Platinum Card® from American Express and vice versa.
The points you earn on either card are Membership Rewards. As you earn these points, they will all be deposited in the same place.
Yes, you can switch to The Business Platinum Card® from American Express if you feel the need to upgrade. However, American Express will review your eligibility based on your account history before approving your application.
You need a good to excellent credit score for your application to be approved.
For the American Express® Business Gold Card, you have to spend $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership to earn 70,000 Membership Rewards points. For the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you have to spend $15,000 in the first three months to receive 120,000 Membership Rewards points.
Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options
The American Express® Business Gold Card and the Business Platinum Card® from American Express are attractive options for high-spending small business owners. However, if you want more opportunities to earn rewards, consider a rewards credit card instead.
Learn more about credit cards in general
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
sources
- American Express. "American Express® Business Gold Card." Accessed November 4, 2024.
- American Express. "Business Platinum Card® from American Express." Accessed November 4, 2024.
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