10 playing 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 cardholder, you’ll earn 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year) and 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and flights booked through Amex Travel, in addition to getting an up to $200 annual airline fee statement credit and automatic Gold elite status with Marriott and Hilton. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

But that’s not all. Cardholders also receive other benefits*, including:

* Enrollment is required for select benefits.

With so many benefits to keep track of, some Amex Platinum cardholders feel like the 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 10 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.

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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 owning the card.

All miles can be used to book travel and erase 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 (see rates and fees), but all authorized users (who can be added at no additional cost) can enjoy many of the card’s benefits.

For more information, read our full review of the Capital One Venture X.

Apply here: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Travelers love the Chase Sapphire Reserve® because it offers a variety of benefits to cardholders, plus high points bonuses on purchases made through its affiliated Chase Travel℠ portal. 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.

You can transfer points to 14 airline and hotel partners or use them to book travel and cover purchases through statement credits. There is a $550 annual fee and a $75 charge for adding an authorized user, but as a new cardholder, you can earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

For more information, 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 high annual fee of the Chase Sapphire Reserve, there’s the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. 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, in addition to 2 points per dollar spent on all other travel and 1 point per dollar spent on everything else.

The card’s annual fee is $95, and new applicants can receive 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of owning the card, plus a $300 statement credit automatically applied to your account when you make purchases with Chase Travel in the first year of holding the card.

For more information, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

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 with Citi Travel℠, shop online, buy gift cards and make purchases with travel partners once they’re transferred. Every calendar 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.

As a new cardholder, you can earn 70,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. If you apply through our affiliate link, you’ll earn a lower 70,000-point bonus, so we suggest applying directly through Citi.

For more information, read our full review of the Citi Strata Premier Card.

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 spent at restaurants (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases at U.S. supermarkets per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar), 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly or with Amex Travel and 2 points per dollar on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked with Amex Travel. Other purchases earn 1 point per dollar.

Amex Gold cardholders also receive up to $120 in Uber Cash distributed monthly, up to $120 in dining statement credits distributed monthly, up to $100 in credits with Resy given semi-annually and up to $84 in monthly statement credits with Dunkin. When fully utilized, these credits provide enough value to more than cover the card’s $325 annual fee (see rates and fees). Enrollment is required for select benefits. Uber c ash will only be deposited into one Uber account when you add an Amex Card as a payment method.

Plus, cardholders have access to the same Hotel Collection benefits and Amex Offers as those with The Platinum Card® from American Express. When you apply for the Amex Gold, you can earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of having the card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

For more information, read our full review of the American Express Gold Card.

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 with a banking or investment relationship with the bank can earn up to a 75% bonus on all of their rewards, depending on the size of their account balances. That translates to 3.5 points per dollar spent on travel and 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 at 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.

This card offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points when you make $4,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.

For more information, read our full review of the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card.

Apply here: Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card

Travelers seeking another luxury travel card may prefer the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card, as it offers a variety of premium card benefits. Cardholders receive a complimentary 12-month Priority Pass membership, access to the Visa Luxury Hotel Collection, up to $100 to apply toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees and an annual statement credit of $325, which can be used for eligible travel purchases or dining, takeout and restaurant delivery purchases. The annual statement credit adds significant value to the card, helping offset its $400 annual fee.

With the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through the Altitude Rewards Center, as well as 3 points per dollar spent on eligible travel purchases and mobile wallet spending with Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, and 1 point per dollar spent on everything else.

As a new cardholder, you can earn 50,000 points after spending $4,500 in the first 90 days of having the card.

The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve 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.

Learn more: U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve card review

Hilton loyalists love the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card because it automatically grants Hilton Diamond elite status as well as an array of other benefits. Cardholders receive an annual up to $400 Hilton resort statement credit (two $200 statement credits sem-annually), an up to $200 flight credit ($50 in statement credits each quarter) on eligible flight purchases, an up to $199 Clear Plus credit and a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at participating Waldorf Astoria and Conrad Hotels & Resorts.

The card also includes a Priority Pass membership and 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 the $450 annual fee. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

You’ll earn 14 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio, as well as 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 cardholders can earn 175,000 Hilton Honors points after they spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.

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.

Learn more: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card review

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is the premier card for Marriott Bonvoy members. It includes up to $300 in annual statement credits (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). You’ll also receive up to $120 in property credits when you book at least two nights at a Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis. Moreover, cardholders get a Priority Pass membership and up to $120 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Enrollment is required.

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 other eligible purchases. 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.

Currently, you can earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.

For more information, read our full review of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card.

Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

If Delta is your favorite transfer partner of the Amex Platinum, then the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card should be one of yourLu2020 frontrunners. As a cardholder, you’ll earn 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar spent on other eligible purchases. Plus, you can earn 70,000 miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your card in the first six months of card membership.

Although there’s a steep $650 annual fee (see rates and fees), cardholders receive all kinds of benefits, including unlimited access to Delta Sky Club lounges when traveling on a same-day, Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. Starting in February 2025, that will change 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 an up to $240 Resy credit (up to $20 each month in statement credits), up to $10 back in statement credits each month after using the card for U.S. ride-hailing purchases with select providers and 15% off when booking award travel with Delta (though this is not available on partner-operated flights or taxes and fees).

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 headstart of 2,500 MQDs each Medallion Qualification Year to get closer to status with the card.

For more information, read our full review of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card.

Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card

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.