Amex Business Gold vs. Platinum: Which is best?

Choosing between the Amex Business Gold and Amex Business Platinum comes down to whether your business spends more on everyday operations or frequent travel. Both cards offer strong Membership Rewards earning potential, but they reward completely different spending patterns.

The Business Gold Card is built for companies with recurring expenses in categories like advertising, dining, and gas. The Business Platinum Card is designed for businesses that book frequent flights and rely on premium travel perks. This comparison breaks down the key differences in rewards, benefits, and card value to help you decide which one best fits your business needs.

Overview of Amex Business Gold Card

The Amex Business Gold Card is built for companies with recurring spending in everyday business categories. Its rewards structure favors businesses that invest heavily in advertising, dining, gas, and other operational expenses.

This card carries a $375 annual fee and works well for small to mid-sized businesses with predictable monthly purchases. Companies that frequently buy from office supply stores, gas stations, or restaurants can maximize point earnings in the card’s 4X bonus categories.

Amex Business Gold benefits and features

The Business Gold Card rewards your top spending categories with flexible, high-value point multipliers. It automatically applies 4X Membership Rewards points to the two categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle. Eligible 4X categories include:

• Advertising purchases with select media providers and online platforms
• Electronic goods and cloud services
• Dining at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
• Gas stations across the U.S.
• Transit purchases, including rideshare services and parking
• Wireless telephone services purchased directly from carriers

New cardholders can earn 175,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $15,000 in the first three months. The card charges no foreign transaction fees, offers purchase protection on eligible new items for 90 days, and extends manufacturer warranties of five years or less by up to one additional year.

Earning structure and rewards program

The Business Gold Card automatically adapts to your monthly spending patterns. Your earning breakdown works like this:

• 4X points on your top two spending categories (up to $150,000 in combined purchases per year, then 1X)
• 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amex Travel (up to $150,000 per year, then 1X)
• 1X points on all other eligible purchases

To maximize rewards, concentrate recurring expenses in eligible 4X categories and track which categories earn the bonus multiplier each month. Membership Rewards points never expire while your account is open and can be redeemed for travel, transferred to airline and hotel partners, or used for statement credits. Transfers typically provide the best redemption value.

Overview of Amex Business Platinum Card

The Amex Business Platinum Card is designed for companies that travel frequently and want premium airport lounge access, hotel benefits, and elevated Membership Rewards earning on flights and hotels. Its rewards and perks deliver the most value for businesses with significant travel spending.

This card carries an $895 annual fee and caters to companies with regular domestic or international travel. Businesses that book flights directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, or that rely on premium hotel perks, will get the strongest return.

Amex Business Platinum benefits and features

The Business Platinum Card offers top-tier rewards on travel spending and access to a broad network of airport lounges. Cardholders earn 5X Membership Rewards points on:

• Flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel
• Prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel

You’ll also earn 2X points on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million per year), plus 1X points on all other eligible purchases.

New cardholders can earn 250,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $20,000 in the first three months. Key travel benefits include access to the Centurion Lounge network, Delta Sky Club when flying Delta, and Priority Pass Select lounges. Cardholders may bring up to two guests into Centurion Lounges for $50 per guest unless they’ve spent at least $75,000 in a calendar year, in which case two guests are complimentary.

The card includes complimentary Gold elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors (enrollment required), which offers room upgrades when available, late checkout, and bonus points on hotel stays. Additional benefits include access to National and Avis status levels and premium protections on travel purchases.

Premium travel and lifestyle perks

The card offers up to $120 in Global Entry or $85 in TSA PreCheck credits every four years. Through the Fine Hotels & Resorts program, cardholders receive benefits at more than 1,800 luxury properties, including room upgrades when available, daily breakfast for two, a $100 hotel credit, early check-in, and late checkout. These perks require booking through American Express Travel.

Platinum cardholders also have access to a 24/7 concierge service that can assist with travel planning, dining reservations, and event tickets. Additional protections include cell phone coverage of up to $800 per claim (with a $50 deductible) when the monthly bill is paid with the card.

Amex Business Gold vs. Platinum comparison

The biggest difference between the Amex Business Gold and Business Platinum is how they reward spending. The Gold Card offers higher rewards on everyday business purchases, while the Platinum Card focuses on premium travel benefits and elevated earning on flights and hotels.

Annual fees and value proposition

The Business Gold charges a $375 annual fee, and the Business Platinum costs $895. Both cards can offset their fees when used strategically, but the right choice depends on your spending.

The Business Gold offers up to $240 in statement credits each year for purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores. It also offers up to $155 back for a Walmart+ membership. Many businesses break even by earning 37,500 points annually, which requires $9,375 in spending in 4X categories.

The Business Platinum offers nearly $1,500 in possible annual credits from Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, wireless service providers, airline fees, Clear Plus, and Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. These credits offer strong value when used consistently, especially for teams that travel often. To break even through point earnings alone, you need at least 89,500 points per year.

Rewards and points earning

Both cards earn Membership Rewards points, but they reward different spending patterns.

Earning points with the Business Gold

The Business Gold applies 4X points to your top two spending categories each billing cycle. These bonus categories include advertising, dining, gas, and other common business expenses. It also earns 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, and 1X points on all other purchases.

Spending points with the Business Gold

Points transfer to airline and hotel partners, can be redeemed for travel through Amex Travel, or can be used for statement credits. Transfers often provide the highest redemption value.

Earning points with the Business Platinum

The Business Platinum earns 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel. It also earns 2X points on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million annually, and 1X points on all other purchases.

Spending points with the Business Platinum

Platinum cardholders receive 35% of their points back when using Pay with Points for eligible flights. This applies to first and business class tickets with any airline or economy flights with the selected airline, up to one million points back each year.

Travel benefits comparison

The Business Platinum offers premium travel perks. The Business Gold offers lighter travel protections for occasional travel.

Amex Business Gold travel benefits

• Trip delay insurance
• Baggage insurance up to $500 for checked bags
• Car rental loss and damage insurance
• Access to The Hotel Collection with a $100 experience credit on qualifying stays

Amex Business Platinum travel benefits

• Access to Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Club, and Priority Pass Select lounges
• Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors Gold status
• Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits with property credits, early check-in, and late checkout
• Enhanced baggage insurance and premium travel protections
• Points rebates on eligible flight redemptions

Who should choose Amex Business Gold?

The Amex Business Gold Card works best for companies that spend heavily in everyday business expense categories. Its automatic 4X system offers strong value for businesses with recurring expenses in areas like advertising, dining, gas, and electronics.

This card aligns well with e-commerce companies, consulting firms, marketing agencies, delivery services, and local service businesses. These businesses often spend most of their budget on operational costs rather than flights or hotel stays. The lower annual fee also makes it accessible for smaller teams that want strong rewards without the premium price of a travel-focused card.

Break-even analysis shows you need to earn 37,500 points per year to offset the annual fee when redeeming for travel. That requires $9,375 in spending across 4X categories or $37,500 in total spending. Most small businesses exceed this threshold, which makes the Business Gold a practical choice for operations-focused companies.

Who should choose Amex Business Platinum?

The Amex Business Platinum Card is best for companies that travel often and want premium benefits at airports and hotels. Its strongest value comes from frequent flights, regular hotel stays, and consistent use of the card’s travel credits.

This card fits consulting firms, sales teams, executive groups, and any business with a national or international travel schedule. Companies that fly even a few times per month can get meaningful value from Centurion Lounge access, hotel elite status, and the Fine Hotels & Resorts program.

To offset the annual fee through point earnings alone, you need to earn at least 89,500 points per year. That requires $17,900 in flight spending at the 5X rate or $89,500 in general spending. The Platinum makes the most sense for businesses that can use its lounge access, hotel benefits, and extensive annual credits throughout the year.

Alternative small business credit cards to consider

If neither the Amex Business Gold nor the Business Platinum fits your spending patterns, a few other business credit cards offer strong value for general expenses or travel.

The Chase Ink Business Preferred card offers a lower $95 annual fee with competitive rewards. It earns 3 percent points on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services, and advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines. It also provides useful travel protections and points that transfer to multiple airline partners.

Capital One Spark Cash Plus delivers unlimited 2 percent cashback on all purchases with no spending caps. The $150 annual fee makes it a good fit for businesses that want simple rewards without managing bonus categories. Cashback deposits directly to your statement, which keeps rewards easy to use for companies that prefer cash over points.

Some businesses prioritize simplicity or want card features that support employee spending, accounting integrations, or predictable cashback. Others prefer rewards that align with their travel needs or vendor payments. These cards offer a range of benefits that may be a better match depending on your spending profile and operational needs.

Choose Ramp for even more savings

The Ramp card takes a fundamentally different approach from points-based cards like the Amex Business Gold and Platinum. While those cards require careful tracking of bonus categories and strategic point redemption to maximize value, Ramp focuses on delivering real savings through automation and intelligence. Businesses using Ramp save an average of 5% on their spend through automated insights and optimization features.

Instead of travel perks and complex rewards structures, Ramp provides built-in spend management features that deliver measurable bottom-line impact. The platform's AI-powered technology automatically identifies duplicate subscriptions, negotiates better prices with vendors, and flags opportunities to save—functions that go beyond traditional credit card rewards to directly improve business profitability.

Key features include:

• Average of 5% savings on business spend through automated insights
• Cashback on purchases with no annual fee
• Automated expense management and receipt matching
• AI-powered savings insights that identify cost-cutting opportunities
• Real-time spending controls and unlimited virtual funds for employees
• Travel management software

Apply for a Ramp corporate card and start receiving cashback on all your purchases.