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

The The Platinum Card from American Express costs $895/yr vs $95/yr for the Bilt Obsidian Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $800 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 Bilt Obsidian 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 Bilt Obsidian Card doesn't?

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

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

Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Bilt Obsidian Card has a lower $95/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 Bilt Obsidian Card

Annual fees: The Platinum Card from American Express $895/yr, Bilt Obsidian Card $95/yr. Strongest bonus categories: The Platinum Card from American Express on hotels, Bilt Obsidian Card on rent and dining.

Card data as of October 12, 2026.

Credit card comparison
Overview
	The Platinum Card from American Express American Express · $895/yr	Bilt Obsidian Card Cardless · $95/yr
Annual fee	$895	$95 Lowest
Welcome offerCurrent public offer	As high as 175,000 points — offers vary	$200 in rewards
Rewards	American Express Membership Rewards	Bilt Points
Foreign transaction fee	None	None
Network	American Express	Mastercard World Elite
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
Flights	5x Highest	1x
Dining	1x	3x Highest
Grocery Stores	1x	3x Highest
Travel	1x	2x Highest
Mortgage	1x	1.25x Highest
Rent	1x	1.25x Highest
Hotels	1x	1x
Everything else	1x	1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
Travel	$600 hotel credit $219 CLEAR Plus credit $200 airline credit $120 Global Entry or up to $85 TSA PreCheck / 4 years · $120 every 4 years	$100 hotel credit
Rideshare & transit	$200 Uber Cash $120 Uber One credit	—
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 more 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	International Airline Program 5-40% off premium cabins	—
Car rental	Elite status with Hertz, National, Avis for upgrades	—
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 more 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	10% intro APR for 12 months 0% foreign transaction fees
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	Trip cancellation up to $2,000/trip Trip Delay
Baggage	$3,000 baggage insurance for lost or damaged bags	Luggage insurance up to $1,500
Rental car	$100,000 primary rental car coverage for $20-$25/rental $75,000 car rental loss and damage insurance	MasterRental Coverage
Purchase & returns	$10,000 purchase Cover against theft and damage for 90 days $300 return Cover when merchants won't accept returns within	Purchase Assurance
Extended warranty	Extended warranty adds 1 year to warranties under 5 years	Extended warranty up to $10,000/claim
Cell phone	$800 cell phone protection with $50 deductible	Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection
Other protections	Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges Global Assist Hotline with 24/7 emergency help traveling	—
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	3x points on your choice of dining or grocery (up to $25K/year on grocery) 2x points on travel Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage with no transaction fees $200 Bilt Cash welcome bonus upon approval (no spending required) $100 annual Bilt Travel hotel credit ($50 semiannually)
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	$95 annual fee plus $50 per authorized user Complex earning structure for housing rewards (requires spending tiers or Bilt Cash redemption) Bilt Cash expires at year-end with only $100 rollover Grocery bonus category capped at $25K/year spending Hotel credit requires 2-night minimum via Bilt Travel portal
	Card details	Card details

The Platinum Card from American Express
American Express · $895/yr
Bilt Obsidian Card
Cardless · $95/yr

Overview

Annual fee: The Platinum Card from American Express
$895
Bilt Obsidian Card
$95
Lowest
Welcome offerCurrent public offer: The Platinum Card from American Express
As high as 175,000 points — offers vary
Bilt Obsidian Card
$200 in rewards
Rewards: The Platinum Card from American Express
American Express Membership Rewards
Bilt Obsidian Card
Bilt Points
Foreign transaction fee: The Platinum Card from American Express
None
Bilt Obsidian Card
None
Network: The Platinum Card from American Express
American Express
Bilt Obsidian Card
Mastercard World Elite

Earn ratesPer $1 spent

Flights: The Platinum Card from American Express
5x
Highest
Bilt Obsidian Card
1x
Dining: The Platinum Card from American Express
1x
Bilt Obsidian Card
3x
Highest
Grocery Stores: The Platinum Card from American Express
1x
Bilt Obsidian Card
3x
Highest
Travel: The Platinum Card from American Express
1x
Bilt Obsidian Card
2x
Highest
Mortgage: The Platinum Card from American Express
1x
Bilt Obsidian Card
1.25x
Highest
Rent: The Platinum Card from American Express
1x
Bilt Obsidian Card
1.25x
Highest
Hotels: The Platinum Card from American Express
1x
Bilt Obsidian Card
1x
Everything else: The Platinum Card from American Express
1x
Bilt Obsidian Card
1x

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

Travel: The Platinum Card from American Express
$600 hotel credit
$219 CLEAR Plus credit
$200 airline credit
$120 Global Entry or up to $85 TSA PreCheck / 4 years · $120 every 4 years
Bilt Obsidian Card
$100 hotel credit
Rideshare & transit: The Platinum Card from American Express
$200 Uber Cash
$120 Uber One credit
Bilt Obsidian Card
—
Dining & delivery: The Platinum Card from American Express
$400 Resy credit
Bilt Obsidian Card
—
Entertainment & streaming: The Platinum Card from American Express
$300 streaming credit
Bilt Obsidian Card
—
Shopping & wellness: The Platinum Card from American Express
$300 Equinox credit
$300 Lululemon credit
$200 Oura Ring credit
$155 Walmart+ credit
Bilt Obsidian 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 more
Lufthansa Business Lounge access on Lufthansa Group
Plaza Premium Lounge access at airports with Global Lounge
Priority Pass Select with 1,300+ lounges globally
Bilt Obsidian 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
Bilt Obsidian Card
—
Airline perks: The Platinum Card from American Express
International Airline Program 5-40% off premium cabins
Bilt Obsidian Card
—
Car rental: The Platinum Card from American Express
Elite status with Hertz, National, Avis for upgrades
Bilt Obsidian Card
—
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 more
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
Bilt Obsidian Card
10% intro APR for 12 months
0% foreign transaction fees

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
Bilt Obsidian Card
Trip cancellation up to $2,000/trip
Trip Delay
Baggage: The Platinum Card from American Express
$3,000 baggage insurance for lost or damaged bags
Bilt Obsidian Card
Luggage insurance up to $1,500
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
Bilt Obsidian Card
MasterRental Coverage
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
Bilt Obsidian Card
Purchase Assurance
Extended warranty: The Platinum Card from American Express
Extended warranty adds 1 year to warranties under 5 years
Bilt Obsidian Card
Extended warranty up to $10,000/claim
Cell phone: The Platinum Card from American Express
$800 cell phone protection with $50 deductible
Bilt Obsidian Card
Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection
Other protections: The Platinum Card from American Express
Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
Global Assist Hotline with 24/7 emergency help traveling
Bilt Obsidian Card
—

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
Bilt Obsidian Card
3x points on your choice of dining or grocery (up to $25K/year on grocery)
2x points on travel
Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage with no transaction fees
$200 Bilt Cash welcome bonus upon approval (no spending required)
$100 annual Bilt Travel hotel credit ($50 semiannually)
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
Bilt Obsidian Card
$95 annual fee plus $50 per authorized user
Complex earning structure for housing rewards (requires spending tiers or Bilt Cash redemption)
Bilt Cash expires at year-end with only $100 rollover
Grocery bonus category capped at $25K/year spending
Hotel credit requires 2-night minimum via Bilt Travel portal

Card details

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

Category-by-Category Winner

The Bilt Obsidian Card wins in 3 of 3 categories. The The Platinum Card from American Express leads in 0. 4 more categories depend on booking channel or caps.

Hotels

Depends: via amextravel

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

Rent

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 1.25X vs 1X

1.25X via tiered option or up to 1X via Bilt Cash option; no transaction fee; no annual cap on housing payments

Mortgage

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 1.25X vs 1X

1.25X via tiered option or up to 1X via Bilt Cash option; no transaction fee

Dining

Depends: 3X applies only while dining is the elected 3X category (dining or grocery). Dining is the default at account opening; grocery can be chosen within 30 days of opening or each January.

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 3X when conditions are met; The Platinum Card from American Express earns 1X (1X without restrictions)

Travel

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 2X vs 1X

Grocery Stores

Depends: up to $25,000/yr; 3X applies only if grocery replaces the default dining as the elected 3X category (switch within 30 days of opening or each January); grocery 3X is limited to $25,000 a year.

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 3X when conditions are met; The Platinum Card from American Express 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.

Close — depends on how much of the credits you use

Scenario	The Platinum Card from American Express	Bilt Obsidian Card	Ongoing winner	Year-one winner
Light spender: $1,000/month	Rewards: $180 Credits (our usable estimate): $1,356 − Annual fee ($895) Ongoing: $641 Year one: $641	Rewards: $264 Credits (our usable estimate): $20 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $189 Year one: $389	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): $1,356 − Annual fee ($895) Ongoing: $1,181 Year one: $1,181	Rewards: $1,056 Credits (our usable estimate): $20 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $981 Year one: $1,181	Close — depends on how much of the credits you use	Close — depends on how much of the credits you use

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The The Platinum Card from American Express costs $895/yr — that's $800 more than the Bilt Obsidian Card ($95/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $800 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 $800 fee gap for your own usage.

Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $800 fee gap means the The Platinum Card from American Express needs roughly $800 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on hotels and flights and everyday spend.

What You Give Up

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

Choosing Bilt Obsidian 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

Get the Bilt Obsidian Card if you:

+Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
+Do most of your spending at grocery stores

The Bottom Line

Close — depends on how much of the credits you use

Published annual fees: The Platinum Card from American Express $895/yr, Bilt Obsidian Card $95/yr — a $800 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 $95/yr for the Bilt Obsidian Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $800 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 Bilt Obsidian 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 Bilt Obsidian Card doesn't?: The The Platinum Card from American Express offers lounge access, travel credits, dining credits, cell phone protection. The Bilt Obsidian Card offers cell phone protection.
Should I get the The Platinum Card from American Express or the Bilt Obsidian Card?: Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Bilt Obsidian Card has a lower $95/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 · Cardless cards

Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published October 12, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.