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The American Express Platinum Card® is packed with a seemingly endless list of perks in exchange for an $895 annual fee (see rates and fees) — but not everyone wants to pay such a princely sum for the entire slate of benefits — and you don’t have to.
Other cards offer similar benefits at a much lower price — in some cases without an annual fee at all. We looked at a few of the best perks of the Amex Platinum Card and figured out how to closely replicate them cheaply. We prioritized cards in this order: those without an annual fee, those with an annual fee under $100 and a couple that have an annual fee that’s waived the first year.
Of course, the Amex Platinum has a few benefits that can’t be duplicated, like Centurion Lounge access, but you can get a card or two that offer similar benefits with a much lower price tag.
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges – more than any other credit card company on the market* – enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
- More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
- More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
- More Value! $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
- Whenever you need us, we’re here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
Foreign transaction fee
Amex Platinum Card alternatives
For airport lounge access, get the …
- Intro APR for balance transfers
- Global Entry and TSA PreCheck® application fee credit
- Limited to four free lounge visits per year
- You cannot transfer points to travel programs
Information about personal and small business credit cards issued by U.S. Bank has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication.
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card has no annual fee and you get four Priority Pass lounge visits per year. These visits also get you access to Priority Pass partner restaurants and non-lounge experiences (like nap rooms and gaming centers) that even the Amex Platinum doesn’t cover. While this is a far cry from the unlimited airport lounge access you get with the Amex Platinum, it might be enough to cover all, or most, of your airport lounge needs.
Another cheap credit card with lounge access
- United℠ Explorer Card: It has a $0 intro annual fee for the year, then $150, and includes two United Club lounge one-time passes per cardmember year that are worth over $100.
For primary rental car insurance, get the …
Bilt Mastercard®
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Rewards
Earn 1X points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year, 3X points on dining, 2X points on travel, and 1X points on other purchases. Use the card five times each statement period to earn points.
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Welcome bonus
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
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Regular APR
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Balance transfer fee
Up to 5% for each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5.
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
Pros
- Earns ultra-valuable flexible rewards
- No annual fee
- Primary rental car insurance
- Earn points on rent without paying a fee
Cons
- No welcome bonus
- Requires at least five purchases per month to earn points
Did you know Amex Platinum’s rental car coverage* is actually secondary? Shocking but true. In fact, Amex requires you to enroll in premium rental car protection and pay either $19.95 or $24.95 every time you rent if you want primary coverage.
A big benefit of the premium rental car protection is that you’re covered for up to 42 consecutive days (up to 30 days for Washington State residents), whereas other plans typically end after 31 consecutive days. That won’t matter if your trips are usually less than a month, but it’s worth pointing out.
To get primary rental car insurance without an $895 annual fee or additional fee for every rental, get the Bilt Mastercard®.
You might’ve heard of the Bilt Mastercard® if you’re a renter because it allows you to earn points on rent without any transaction fees and has no annual fee. Its primary rental car insurance covers up to $50,000 in damage or theft (except for New York residents renting within the United States, then it’s secondary).
That’s an excellent benefit for a no-annual-fee credit card that earns points that transfer to a long list of partners like Air Canada Aeroplan, Alaska Atmos Rewards and United MileagePlus.
Other cheap cards with primary rental car coverage in the U.S.
- Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card: Along with no annual fee, this card comes with primary rental car coverage for up to $75,000 for physical damage, theft, vandalism and reasonable towing or loss-of-use charges. To qualify, you just need to pay for your entire rental with your card.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card: It has primary auto rental coverage and only a $95 annual fee. You’re covered for up to $60,000 for theft and collision damage, plus you’ll get a card that’s uniquely versatile and earns bonus rewards in a variety of popular categories, including 3X points on dining, streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).
*Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
For trusted traveler program credits, get the …
Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Card
Information about the Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by CNBC and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
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Rewards
2% cash back on every eligible net purchase (when deposited into an eligible Fidelity account)
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Welcome bonus
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
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Regular APR
16.74% to 26.74% based on your creditworthiness
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Balance transfer fee
Either 5% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
Pros
- Unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases when deposited into an eligible Fidelity account
- No annual fee
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Cons
- No welcome bonus
- High credit score required
The Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card earns unlimited 2% cash back (when deposited into an eligible Fidelity account) and has no annual fee or foreign transaction fees. You’ll also get up to $100 in rewards when you pay for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee with your card.
While that won’t cover the full $120 Global Entry fee, it’s still a generous benefit for a card that costs nothing to keep long-term and will cover your entire TSA PreCheck fee. You can also deposit your rewards directly into a Fidelity account, which is an easy way to save for your future.
Other cheap cards with trusted traveler program credits
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: If you want to sign up for a trusted traveler program, you could get the application fee reimbursed if you have the Capital One Venture Rewards card. It has a $95 annual fee, and you get up to $120 in credit for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application. Plus, you’ll earn at least 2X miles on every purchase and have the ability to transfer rewards to partners like Avianca LifeMiles, Qantas Frequent Flyer and Virgin Red.
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card: Another benefit with this card is $100 in credit for a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee. Along with the lounge visits we mentioned earlier, you could come out way ahead without paying an annual fee. That means TSA PreCheck could be completely free, while Global Entry would only cost $20 out-of-pocket.
- Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card: This card also offers up to $100 for a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee on top of its up to $100 for airline incidentals, like seat upgrades, baggage fees and in-flight purchases. Between these two benefits alone, you could come out ahead year after year. I’ve had this card for several years, since it’s such an easy win.
To earn transferable rewards, get the …
The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card offers generous bonus spending categories and lets you transfer points to airline and hotel partners, which is rare for a credit card with no annual fee.
- Access to all of the Wells Fargo transfer partners including Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) and Virgin Red
- No annual fee
- Excellent bonus spending categories
- Intro-APR for purchases
- No travel credits or other valuable travel perks
- Lacks key travel protections such as trip delay reimbursement and trip cancellation/interruption coverage
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Select Learn More to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s a $200 cash redemption value.
- Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up – like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
- $0 annual fee.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 18.74%, 24.74%, or 28.74% variable APR thereafter.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
Balance transfer fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign transaction fee
Other cheap cards that earn flexible travel rewards
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Another strong contender, you’ll earn at least 1.25 miles per dollar spent on every purchase and the ability to transfer them to all Capital One’s partners. While there aren’t many bonus categories, there’s also no annual fee, and you get access to several strong loyalty programs.
- Bilt Mastercard®: This card offers arguably the best transfer partners of any travel credit card, including heavy hitters Atmos Rewards, United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt — again, with no annual fee.
To reduce airline fees, get the …
- Up to $100 annual airline incidental credit
- 25% to 75% more points for Preferred Rewards members
- No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
- No special financing offers on new purchases
- You cannot transfer points
Information about Bank of America cards has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication.
The Amex Platinum Card allows you to choose an eligible airline and receive up to $200 back per calendar year to cover incidental charges with that airline, such as upgrade fees, in-flight snacks or checked bags (enrollment required).
With the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card, you get up to $100 back per year — which is more than the card’s annual fee — for airline incidentals, would could be seat upgrades, checked bags, in-flight purchases or anything else that pops up. Best of all, it’s not tied to any airline, so you can mix and match until you use the entire credit.
Other cheap cards that can help reduce airline fees
- Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card: In exchange for a $95 annual fee, you get a $50 annual credit for airline purchases of at least $50, including most fees. That cuts the card’s fee in half, and you’ll earn a great return on hotel and airline travel. It’s a nearly perfect card for travelers, especially if Wells Fargo can add more transfer partners.
- Co-branded airline credit cards: Most co-branded airline cards get you, and a handful of travel companions, a first checked bag for free. While the benefit only applies to travel with that specific airline, this can easily save you $70 in fees per person per round-trip flight. For lower-cost options check out cards such as: Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® ($0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99), The New United℠ Explorer Card ($0 intro annual fee the first year, then $150; see rates and fees), Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card ($0 intro annual fee the first year, then $150; see rates and fees) or Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card ($99 annual fee).
Amex Platinum benefits you can’t cheaply replace
Alas, there are a few benefits that the Amex Platinum does so well, they’re veritably impossible to duplicate with a low-cost card, including:
- Centurion Lounge access: If you want to get into this Amex-branded chain of airport lounges, you’ll need to have a premium Amex card, such as the Amex Platinum Card.
- CLEAR membership credit: You’ll get up to $209 back annually for a CLEAR® Plus membership (excluding any applicable taxes and fees; subject to auto-renewal). This is a big win if you use this expedited screening program a lot.
- Shopping and wellness credits: The Amex platinum has the market cornered on lifestyle credits with over $1,000 in annual credits for lululemon, Saks, Equinox, Oura Ring and Walmart+ (subject to auto-renewal; terms apply). Although these aren’t the most straightforward benefits, you won’t find this array of perks on other cards.
- Dining credit: Amex bought the Resy booking platform some years ago, and now you can get up to $400 in Resy credit every year (up to $100 in statement credits each quarter; enrollment required). While dining credits are also a perk on the American Express® Gold Card, that’s another card with a sizable annual fee (see rates and fees).
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For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
Based in New York, Stephen Freeman is a Senior Editor at Trending Insurance News. Previously he has worked for Forbes and The Huffington Post. Steven is a graduate of Risk Management at the University of New York.