Is the The Platinum Card from American Express worth the higher annual fee?

The The Platinum Card from American Express costs $895/yr vs $0/yr for the Apple Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $895 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the The Platinum Card from American Express also lists lounge access, travel credits, dining credits).

Which card earns more rewards, the The Platinum Card from American Express or Apple Card?

Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.

What benefits does the The Platinum Card from American Express have that the Apple Card doesn't?

The The Platinum Card from American Express offers lounge access, travel credits, dining credits, cell phone protection. The Apple Card offers travel credits.

Should I get the The Platinum Card from American Express or the Apple Card?

Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Apple Card has a lower $0/yr fee; the The Platinum Card from American Express must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $895/yr.

The Platinum Card from American Express vs Apple Card

Annual fees: The Platinum Card from American Express $895/yr, Apple Card $0/yr. Strongest bonus categories: The Platinum Card from American Express on hotels, Apple Card on everyday spending.

Card data as of November 13, 2026.

Credit card comparison
Overview
	The Platinum Card from American Express American Express · $895/yr	Apple Card Goldman Sachs · No annual fee
Annual fee	$895	$0 Lowest
Welcome offerCurrent public offer	As high as 175,000 points — offers vary	—
Rewards	American Express Membership Rewards	Cash back
Foreign transaction fee	None	None
Network	American Express	Mastercard
Earn ratesPer $1 spent · points and cash back aren’t ranked against each other
Flights	5x	1%
Hotels	1x	1%
Everything else	1x	1%
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
Travel	$600 lodging credit $250 Airbnb Experiences credit $219 CLEAR Plus credit $200 airline credit $120 Global Entry or up to $85 TSA PreCheck / 4 years · $120 every 4 years	Extra 2% Booking.com Travel Credits · $2 per transaction
Rideshare & transit	$200 Uber Cash $120 Uber One credit	$60 Uber One trial · $60 one-time
Dining & delivery	$400 Resy credit	—
Entertainment & streaming	$300 streaming credit	—
Shopping & wellness	$300 Equinox credit $300 Lululemon credit $200 Oura Ring credit $155 Walmart+ credit	—
Perks & access— means none on record
Lounges	Airspace Lounge access at US airports with 2 guests 26 Centurion Lounges worldwide with premium dining 10 Delta Sky Club visits per year when flying Delta Escape Lounge access at US airports with food and beverages International Amex Lounges at select global airports Global Lounge Collection with 1,550+ airport lounges Show 3 moreShow fewer Lufthansa Business Lounge access on Lufthansa Group Plaza Premium Lounge access at airports with Global Lounge Priority Pass Select with 1,300+ lounges globally	—
Hotel status & programs	Hilton Gold with 80% bonus points and breakfast Leaders Club Sterling Status at Leading Hotels Marriott Gold with 25% bonus points and upgrades Fine Hotels + Resorts: $100 credits and upgrades Hotel Collection access with room upgrades and credits	—
Airline perks	Platinum Member Airfares, 10% average premium savings	—
Car rental	Elite status with Hertz, National, Avis for upgrades	5%+ off Hertz rentals + perks
Other perks	Amex Offers 24/7 premium travel assistance with medical transport Premium Events Collection™ Early access to concerts and events 24/7 Platinum Concierge for travel and lifestyle help Free expedited card replacement in 24-48 hours worldwide Show 5 moreShow fewer Entertainment access with exclusive presales and VIP events No foreign transaction fees on international purchases save Roadside assistance with up to 4 service calls per year Platinum Nights by Resy Platinum Travel Service	Share card with family and teens Interest-free payments on Apple gear Color-coded spending insights
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
Trip insurance	$10,000 trip cancellation coverage per covered trip $500 trip delay Cover for delays exceeding 6 hours	—
Baggage	$3,000 baggage insurance for lost or damaged bags	—
Rental car	$100,000 primary rental car coverage for $20-$25/rental $75,000 car rental loss and damage insurance	—
Purchase & returns	$10,000 purchase Cover against theft and damage for 90 days $300 return Cover when merchants won't accept returns within	Zero Liability on unauthorized transactions No fees on international purchases Biometric security on every purchase
Extended warranty	Extended warranty adds 1 year to warranties under 5 years	—
Cell phone	$800 cell phone protection with $50 deductible	—
Other protections	Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges Global Assist Hotline with 24/7 emergency help traveling	No late fees or penalty APR 24/7 lost/stolen card assistance worldwide
Pros & cons
Pros	Access to 9 lounge networks including exclusive Centurion Lounges with 2 guests free $200/year Uber Cash plus a $120 Uber One membership credit $400/year Resy dining credit at select restaurants Automatic Marriott Gold and Hilton Gold status with room upgrades and breakfast 5X points on flights booked direct or via Amex Travel	No annual fee, no late fees, and no penalty APR Daily Cash deposited immediately rather than monthly 3% back at Apple and select merchants (Uber, Walgreens, Nike, etc.) 2% back on all Apple Pay purchases No foreign transaction fees
Cons	$895 annual fee requires significant credit utilization to break even Many credits require specific merchants (Resy, Equinox, lululemon, Oura) Only 1X points on non-travel purchases limits everyday earning Secondary car rental coverage unless paying $24.95/rental for primary $195 authorized user fee after first 3 free cards	Only 1% back when using physical card (non-Apple Pay) Requires iPhone to apply and manage the card No sign-up bonus No travel-related benefits or protections Limited 3% merchant list compared to category cards
	Card details	Card details

The Platinum Card from American Express
American Express · $895/yr
Apple Card
Goldman Sachs · No annual fee

Overview

Annual fee: The Platinum Card from American Express
$895
Apple Card
$0
Lowest
Welcome offerCurrent public offer: The Platinum Card from American Express
As high as 175,000 points — offers vary
Apple Card
—
Rewards: The Platinum Card from American Express
American Express Membership Rewards
Apple Card
Cash back
Foreign transaction fee: The Platinum Card from American Express
None
Apple Card
None
Network: The Platinum Card from American Express
American Express
Apple Card
Mastercard

Earn ratesPer $1 spent · points and cash back aren’t ranked against each other

Flights: The Platinum Card from American Express
5x
Apple Card
1%
Hotels: The Platinum Card from American Express
1x
Apple Card
1%
Everything else: The Platinum Card from American Express
1x
Apple Card
1%

Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record

Travel: The Platinum Card from American Express
$600 lodging credit
$250 Airbnb Experiences credit
$219 CLEAR Plus credit
$200 airline credit
$120 Global Entry or up to $85 TSA PreCheck / 4 years · $120 every 4 years
Apple Card
Extra 2% Booking.com Travel Credits · $2 per transaction
Rideshare & transit: The Platinum Card from American Express
$200 Uber Cash
$120 Uber One credit
Apple Card
$60 Uber One trial · $60 one-time
Dining & delivery: The Platinum Card from American Express
$400 Resy credit
Apple Card
—
Entertainment & streaming: The Platinum Card from American Express
$300 streaming credit
Apple Card
—
Shopping & wellness: The Platinum Card from American Express
$300 Equinox credit
$300 Lululemon credit
$200 Oura Ring credit
$155 Walmart+ credit
Apple Card
—

Perks & access— means none on record

Lounges: The Platinum Card from American Express
Airspace Lounge access at US airports with 2 guests
26 Centurion Lounges worldwide with premium dining
10 Delta Sky Club visits per year when flying Delta
Escape Lounge access at US airports with food and beverages
International Amex Lounges at select global airports
Global Lounge Collection with 1,550+ airport lounges
Show 3 moreShow fewer
Lufthansa Business Lounge access on Lufthansa Group
Plaza Premium Lounge access at airports with Global Lounge
Priority Pass Select with 1,300+ lounges globally
Apple Card
—
Hotel status & programs: The Platinum Card from American Express
Hilton Gold with 80% bonus points and breakfast
Leaders Club Sterling Status at Leading Hotels
Marriott Gold with 25% bonus points and upgrades
Fine Hotels + Resorts: $100 credits and upgrades
Hotel Collection access with room upgrades and credits
Apple Card
—
Airline perks: The Platinum Card from American Express
Platinum Member Airfares, 10% average premium savings
Apple Card
—
Car rental: The Platinum Card from American Express
Elite status with Hertz, National, Avis for upgrades
Apple Card
5%+ off Hertz rentals + perks
Other perks: The Platinum Card from American Express
Amex Offers
24/7 premium travel assistance with medical transport
Premium Events Collection™
Early access to concerts and events
24/7 Platinum Concierge for travel and lifestyle help
Free expedited card replacement in 24-48 hours worldwide
Show 5 moreShow fewer
Entertainment access with exclusive presales and VIP events
No foreign transaction fees on international purchases save
Roadside assistance with up to 4 service calls per year
Platinum Nights by Resy
Platinum Travel Service
Apple Card
Share card with family and teens
Interest-free payments on Apple gear
Color-coded spending insights

Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record

Trip insurance: The Platinum Card from American Express
$10,000 trip cancellation coverage per covered trip
$500 trip delay Cover for delays exceeding 6 hours
Apple Card
—
Baggage: The Platinum Card from American Express
$3,000 baggage insurance for lost or damaged bags
Apple Card
—
Rental car: The Platinum Card from American Express
$100,000 primary rental car coverage for $20-$25/rental
$75,000 car rental loss and damage insurance
Apple Card
—
Purchase & returns: The Platinum Card from American Express
$10,000 purchase Cover against theft and damage for 90 days
$300 return Cover when merchants won't accept returns within
Apple Card
Zero Liability on unauthorized transactions
No fees on international purchases
Biometric security on every purchase
Extended warranty: The Platinum Card from American Express
Extended warranty adds 1 year to warranties under 5 years
Apple Card
—
Cell phone: The Platinum Card from American Express
$800 cell phone protection with $50 deductible
Apple Card
—
Other protections: The Platinum Card from American Express
Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
Global Assist Hotline with 24/7 emergency help traveling
Apple Card
No late fees or penalty APR
24/7 lost/stolen card assistance worldwide

Pros & cons

Pros: The Platinum Card from American Express
Access to 9 lounge networks including exclusive Centurion Lounges with 2 guests free
$200/year Uber Cash plus a $120 Uber One membership credit
$400/year Resy dining credit at select restaurants
Automatic Marriott Gold and Hilton Gold status with room upgrades and breakfast
5X points on flights booked direct or via Amex Travel
Apple Card
No annual fee, no late fees, and no penalty APR
Daily Cash deposited immediately rather than monthly
3% back at Apple and select merchants (Uber, Walgreens, Nike, etc.)
2% back on all Apple Pay purchases
No foreign transaction fees
Cons: The Platinum Card from American Express
$895 annual fee requires significant credit utilization to break even
Many credits require specific merchants (Resy, Equinox, lululemon, Oura)
Only 1X points on non-travel purchases limits everyday earning
Secondary car rental coverage unless paying $24.95/rental for primary
$195 authorized user fee after first 3 free cards
Apple Card
Only 1% back when using physical card (non-Apple Pay)
Requires iPhone to apply and manage the card
No sign-up bonus
No travel-related benefits or protections
Limited 3% merchant list compared to category cards

Card details

Add a 3rd or 4th card to this comparison →

Category-by-Category Winner

No unconditional category winner — 3 categories depend on how you earn.

Hotels

Depends: via amextravel

The Platinum Card from American Express earns 5X when conditions are met; Apple Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)

Vacation Rentals

Depends: via issuer travel portal; Link an Airbnb account in your name to your American Express online account and book prepaid through Amex Travel; Airbnb bookings made directly with Airbnb earn 1X.

The Platinum Card from American Express earns 5X when conditions are met; Apple Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)

Flights

Depends: via AmexTravel; up to $500,000/yr

The Platinum Card from American Express earns 5X when conditions are met; Apple Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)

Year One vs Ongoing Value

Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.

Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.

Scenario	The Platinum Card from American Express	Apple Card	Ongoing winner	Year-one winner
Light spender: $1,000/month	Rewards: $180 Credits (our usable estimate): $1,381 − Annual fee ($895) Ongoing: $666 Year one: $666	Rewards: $120 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $120 Year one: $150	Close — depends on how much of the credits you use	Close — depends on how much of the credits you use
Heavy spender: $4,000/month	Rewards: $720 Credits (our usable estimate): $1,381 − Annual fee ($895) Ongoing: $1,206 Year one: $1,206	Rewards: $480 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $480 Year one: $510	The Platinum Card from American Express	The Platinum Card from American Express

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The The Platinum Card from American Express costs $895/yr — that's $895 more than the Apple Card (no annual fee). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $895 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.

The The Platinum Card from American Express includes travel credits, dining credits, lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, complimentary hotel status. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $895 fee gap for your own usage.

Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $895 fee gap means the The Platinum Card from American Express needs roughly $895 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on hotels and vacation rentals and everyday spend.

What You Give Up

Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.

Choosing Apple Card means losing:

-Airport lounge access
-Global Entry credit

Which Card Is Right for You?

Get the The Platinum Card from American Express if you:

+Fly frequently and value airport lounge access

The Bottom Line

Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.

Published annual fees: The Platinum Card from American Express $895/yr, Apple Card $0/yr — a $895 difference before welcome offers and credits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the The Platinum Card from American Express worth the higher annual fee?: The The Platinum Card from American Express costs $895/yr vs $0/yr for the Apple Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $895 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the The Platinum Card from American Express also lists lounge access, travel credits, dining credits).
Which card earns more rewards, the The Platinum Card from American Express or Apple Card?: Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
What benefits does the The Platinum Card from American Express have that the Apple Card doesn't?: The The Platinum Card from American Express offers lounge access, travel credits, dining credits, cell phone protection. The Apple Card offers travel credits.
Should I get the The Platinum Card from American Express or the Apple Card?: Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Apple Card has a lower $0/yr fee; the The Platinum Card from American Express must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $895/yr.

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Official issuer pages: American Express cards · Goldman Sachs cards

Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.