Both cards earn the same Membership Rewards points and transfer to the same airline and hotel partners. The difference is everything around the points: fees, travel perks and credits. Gold suits everyday spenders who travel a few times a year. Platinum is effectively a travel membership with a credit card attached. Here's how they compare in October 2026, with figures checked against Amex's own pages.

Key takeaways

  • Annual fee: Gold £0 in year one, then £195. Platinum £650.
  • Welcome bonus: Gold 20,000 points (£3,000 spend in 3 months). Platinum 50,000 points (£6,000 spend in 3 months).
  • Earning: both earn 1 point per £1. Gold also earns 2 points per £1 on airline and foreign-currency spend, plus up to 10,000 bonus points a year for hitting £10,000 and £20,000 of spend.
  • Travel perks: Gold gives 4 free Priority Pass visits. Platinum gives unlimited Priority Pass with a guest, Centurion lounges, hotel Gold status and travel insurance.
  • Both charge 2.99% on spending abroad. Neither is fee-free for foreign currency.
Bar chart comparing Amex Gold and Platinum: Gold £195 annual fee from year two with £120 of Deliveroo credit, Platinum £650 fee with £400 of dining credits
Source: American Express UK and Head for Points, checked 21 October 2026

What's the difference between Amex Gold and Platinum in the UK?

Preferred Rewards Gold Platinum
Annual fee £0 in year one, then £195 £650
Welcome bonus 20,000 points for £3,000 spend 50,000 points for £6,000 spend
Earn rate 1 point per £1, 2 per £1 on airlines and foreign currency 1 point per £1
Annual spend bonus 5,000 points at £10,000 and again at £20,000 None
Lounges 4 free Priority Pass visits a year Unlimited Priority Pass with a guest, plus Centurion, Eurostar and Delta lounges
Hotel status None (Amex Hotel Collection benefits) Gold with Accor, Hilton, Marriott and Meliá, plus Radisson Premium
Credits £120 a year of Deliveroo credit (£5 a month) £100 every six months at UK restaurants plus £100 every six months abroad (£400 a year)
Travel insurance Not included Included for cardholder and family (age limits apply)
Foreign transaction fee 2.99% 2.99%
Minimum income £20,000 £35,000
Representative APR 85.8% APR variable 685.3% APR variable

The Representative APRs include the annual fees, which is why they look so high. The purchase rate on both is 29.1% variable, and you pay no interest if you clear the balance in full each month. Credit is subject to status.

How much do Amex Gold and Platinum cost?

Gold costs nothing in year one, then £195 a year. Platinum costs £650 a year from day one. Amex refunds the fee pro-rata if you cancel part-way through a card year.

The useful way to think about it is net cost after the perks you'd actually use:

  • Gold: £195 − £120 Deliveroo credit (if you order anyway) = £75 a year for the points, 4 lounge visits and the spend bonuses.
  • Platinum: £650 − £400 dining credit (if you'd eat at participating restaurants anyway) = £250 a year for unlimited lounges, hotel status, insurance and car hire cover.

If you'd pay for annual travel insurance anyway (often £50-£150 for a family), Platinum's net cost falls further.

Which card earns more points?

Gold earns more for most people. Both earn 1 point per £1 on everyday spend, but Gold adds:

  • 2 points per £1 on airline and foreign-currency spend (bear in mind the 2.99% foreign transaction fee)
  • 5,000 bonus points at £10,000 of spend in a card year, and another 5,000 at £20,000

So someone spending £20,000 a year earns 30,000 points with Gold (20,000 + 10,000 bonus) against 20,000 with Platinum. At around 1p per point when transferred to Avios, that's roughly £100 more value from Gold.

Both cards transfer to the same partners, including British Airways Avios at 1:1. See our Amex points strategy guide for the best redemptions.

Which card has better travel benefits?

Platinum, by a long way. It's built for frequent travellers:

  • Lounges: unlimited Priority Pass for you and your main supplementary cardholder, each with a free guest, at about 1,550 lounges. Also Amex Centurion lounges (Heathrow Terminal 3 in the UK), Eurostar lounges and Delta lounges.
  • Hotel status: Gold tier with Accor, Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy and MeliáRewards, plus Radisson Premium. That can mean upgrades, late checkout and breakfast.
  • Insurance: worldwide travel insurance for you and your family, plus car hire cover.
  • Extra cards: free supplementary cards, which can go to anyone, for example a parent.

Gold keeps it simple: 4 Priority Pass visits a year (£24 a visit after that), Hertz and Avis car hire perks, and Amex Hotel Collection benefits on 2+ night stays.

Take Action: Count last year's flights and hotel nights. If you flew fewer than 4-5 times, Gold's free lounge visits probably cover you.

How do the welcome bonuses compare?

Platinum's 50,000 points need £6,000 of spend in three months. Gold's 20,000 points need £3,000. Per pound spent, they're similar, but Gold's bonus comes with no fee in year one.

The important rule: you won't get a welcome bonus if you've held a personal Amex card in the past 24 months. So your first card choice matters. Many people start with Amex Gold, collect the bonus free, then decide whether Platinum's perks are worth it. Our Amex welcome bonus guide covers the rules in full.

Which should you choose?

Choose Gold if you:

  • Spend under about £20,000 a year on cards
  • Fly a few times a year and want occasional lounge access
  • Want a free first year to try Amex
  • Would use the Deliveroo credit

Choose Platinum if you:

  • Travel several times a year and will use lounges with a guest
  • Stay in Hilton, Marriott or Accor hotels regularly
  • Want family travel insurance included
  • Will use the £400 of dining credits
  • Earn at least £35,000

Consider neither if you often carry a balance. At 29.1%, interest wipes out any rewards. A cashback card or a 0% card would serve you better. See our guide to the best cashback credit cards.

FAQ

Is Amex Platinum worth it in the UK?

Only if you'll use its travel perks. The £650 fee is offset by £400 of dining credits, unlimited Priority Pass lounge access with a guest, hotel Gold status and travel insurance. If you travel a few times a year and use the credits, it can pay for itself; otherwise Gold at £195 is better value.

Does Amex Gold have lounge access?

Yes, limited. Amex Gold includes four free Priority Pass lounge visits per membership year, then charges £24 per visit. Platinum includes unlimited Priority Pass access for the cardholder and a guest, plus Centurion and other lounges.

Do Amex cards charge foreign transaction fees in the UK?

Yes. Both Amex Gold and Platinum charge a 2.99% non-sterling transaction fee on spending abroad or in foreign currency. Gold earns 2 points per £1 on foreign spend, but the fee usually outweighs the extra points, so a fee-free card is better abroad.

Can I upgrade from Amex Gold to Platinum?

Yes, you can ask Amex to upgrade your card, and you keep your points. But because you already hold a Membership Rewards card, you usually won't receive Platinum's new-customer welcome bonus, which requires not having held a personal Amex card in the past 24 months.

Which earns more points, Amex Gold or Platinum?

Usually Gold. Both earn 1 point per £1, but Gold adds 2 points per £1 on airline and foreign spend and up to 10,000 bonus points a year for spending £10,000 and £20,000. Platinum has no ongoing bonus categories.

The information in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Card terms were checked on 21 October 2026 and can change; credit is subject to status. Always check the current terms on the American Express website before applying.

Sources: Amex Gold card, Amex Platinum card, Head for Points: Gold vs Platinum.