Revolut Ultra and the American Express Platinum Card are the two big "premium travel membership" products in the UK, and they cost within £55 of each other. One is a debit account, the other a credit card, which changes more than you'd think. I've compared them using Revolut's Ultra page and fees, checked today, and the Amex Platinum terms from our Amex Gold vs Platinum guide, checked against Amex on 21 October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Fees: Revolut Ultra £595 a year (or £60 a month) for new customers. Amex Platinum £650 a year.
- Spending abroad: Ultra has no foreign transaction fees. Amex Platinum charges 2.99% on non-sterling spending.
- Lounges: both unlimited. Amex Platinum includes a guest on Priority Pass plus Centurion lounges.
- Extras: Platinum has £400 a year of dining credits and hotel Gold status. Ultra has cancel-for-any-reason cover, 4.00% savings and a big subscription bundle.
- Points: both earn about 1 point per £1, and both can be converted to airline miles.
Revolut Ultra vs Amex Platinum side by side
| Revolut Ultra | Amex Platinum | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Debit account (Revolut Bank UK) | Credit card |
| Annual cost | £595 upfront or £60 a month | £650 |
| Minimum term | 12 months | Annual fee, refunded pro rata if you cancel |
| Credit check | No credit check for the plan | Yes, minimum income £35,000 |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | 2.99% |
| Lounges | Unlimited, 1,000+ lounges | Unlimited Priority Pass with a guest, plus Centurion, Eurostar and Delta lounges |
| Travel insurance | Yes, plus cancel-for-any-reason cover | Yes, for cardholder and family (age limits apply) |
| Hotel status | No | Gold with Accor, Hilton, Marriott and Meliá, plus Radisson Premium |
| Credits | Subscription bundle valued by Revolut at £4,000 a year | £400 a year of dining credits |
| Points | 1 RevPoint per £1 | 1 Membership Rewards point per £1 |
| Savings | 4.00% AER (variable) up to £200,000 | N/A |
| Representative APR | N/A | 685.3% APR variable (includes the £650 fee) |
Amex Platinum's purchase rate was 29.1% variable at our last check, and you pay no interest if you clear the balance in full each month. Credit is subject to status. The Representative APR looks high because it includes the annual fee.
Which costs less?
Revolut Ultra is £55 a year cheaper paid upfront: £595 against £650. Paying monthly, Ultra costs £720 a year, which is more than Platinum.
Ultra's price rose for new customers on 14 October 2026, from £540 a year (£55 a month), and existing customers move to the new price on 19 December, according to DepositScout's report on Revolut's fees page. Platinum's UK fee stayed at £650 as of late September 2026, Reward Flight Finder reports, even though Amex raised the US card's fee.
The bigger difference is how you leave. Ultra is a 12-month plan, so monthly payers may pay a break fee if they downgrade early. Amex refunds the Platinum fee pro rata if you cancel part-way through a card year.
Which is better abroad?
Revolut Ultra is much better for spending abroad, because it has no foreign transaction fees and unlimited currency exchange. Amex Platinum charges 2.99% on every non-sterling transaction.
That fee adds up. Spend £5,000 abroad in a year on Platinum and you'll pay about £150 in fees, about three times what the 5,000 points you'd earn are worth. Ultra also gives £2,000 a month of free ATM cash and monthly global eSIM data. Amex isn't accepted everywhere abroad either.
If you choose Platinum, it's worth carrying a fee-free debit card such as Revolut's free Standard plan for spending in other currencies. Our Revolut Standard review covers that plan.
Which has better lounges and travel perks?
On lounges, Amex Platinum is stronger for couples and families. It gives unlimited Priority Pass access for you and a supplementary cardholder, each with a free guest, plus Amex Centurion lounges (including Heathrow Terminal 3), Eurostar and Delta lounges. Revolut Ultra gives unlimited access to 1,000+ lounges for the cardholder, with lounge terms on guests.
On hotels, Platinum wins: Gold status with Accor, Hilton, Marriott and Meliá, plus Radisson Premium, which can mean upgrades and late checkout. Ultra has no hotel status.
On cancellations, Ultra wins. Its cancel-for-any-reason cover refunds up to 70% of a cancelled trip or event, up to £5,000 a year, if you paid with Revolut, booked at least 72 hours before departure and claim at least 24 hours before. Platinum's travel insurance covers the usual listed reasons, such as illness.
Both include travel insurance with age limits and exclusions, so read each policy before relying on it.
Which gives more value in credits and rewards?
They're built differently. Platinum's main credit is £400 a year of dining credit: £100 every six months at UK restaurants plus £100 every six months abroad, at participating restaurants. If you'd eat at those restaurants anyway, it takes the effective fee down to £250.
Ultra's value comes from savings and subscriptions. It pays 4.00% AER (variable) on savings up to £200,000, and includes Revolut's largest bundle, with Financial Times Premium Digital, ClassPass, WeWork, MasterClass, Uber One and more. Revolut values the bundle at £4,000 a year, but that assumes full price for everything.
Points are close. Both earn about 1 point per £1, and both convert to Avios at 1:1. Ultra earns on spending abroad without a fee, while Platinum's welcome bonus can be large. Check Amex's current offer before you apply. Our cashback vs Avios guide explains how much points are worth.
Try Ultra's rewards on your own spending:
- Monthly card spending£2,500
- RevPoints value (% of spend)1%
- Ultra yearly cost£595
Take Action: Add up your yearly spending abroad, your dining at Amex partner restaurants and how often you travel with a partner. Those three numbers usually decide it.
Debit account vs credit card: why it matters
This is the difference people overlook.
- Ultra is a debit account. There's no credit check for the plan, no risk of interest and no effect on your credit file. Eligible deposits are FSCS protected up to £120,000.
- Platinum is a credit card. You need to pass a credit check and earn at least £35,000. You get credit card protection on purchases, but if you don't clear the balance in full, interest at 29.1% variable applies.
If you already manage credit cards well and pay in full each month, Platinum's credit-card format isn't a problem. If you'd rather avoid credit altogether, Ultra is the simpler choice.
Which should you choose?
| You... | May suit you |
|---|---|
| Spend a lot in foreign currencies | Revolut Ultra |
| Travel with a partner and want lounge guests | Amex Platinum |
| Stay in Hilton, Marriott or Accor hotels often | Amex Platinum |
| Book expensive non-refundable trips | Revolut Ultra |
| Keep a large cash balance | Revolut Ultra |
| Would use £400 of dining credits | Amex Platinum |
| Want to avoid credit and credit checks | Revolut Ultra |
Some heavy travellers use both: Platinum for UK spending, hotels and lounge guests, and Revolut for spending abroad. If that's you, Revolut's free plan or Revolut Metal may be enough on the Revolut side. Compare Ultra with Revolut's other travel plan in our Metal vs Ultra comparison.
If you're already on Ultra
Your price rises from £55 to £60 a month on 19 December 2026. If you pay monthly and mostly use lounges, check whether Platinum (£650 a year, with guests) or Revolut Metal (£165 a year) would suit you better. If you don't accept the price change, Revolut's terms let you close your account free before it takes effect. A free downgrade is at Revolut's discretion.
Investing through Revolut carries risk. Capital at risk: the value of investments can go down as well as up.
FAQ
Is Revolut Ultra better than Amex Platinum?
Revolut Ultra is better if you spend a lot abroad, because it has no foreign transaction fees, and if you'd use its 4% savings and cancel-for-any-reason cover. Amex Platinum is better if you travel with a guest, want hotel status, or would use its £400 of dining credits. Ultra costs £595 a year, Platinum £650.
Does Amex Platinum charge foreign transaction fees?
Yes. Amex Platinum charges a 2.99% non-sterling transaction fee on spending abroad or in foreign currencies, as checked in October 2026. Revolut Ultra has no foreign transaction fees and unlimited currency exchange, so it's the cheaper card to use outside the UK.
Do Revolut Ultra and Amex Platinum both include lounge access?
Yes. Revolut Ultra includes unlimited access to more than 1,000 airport lounges. Amex Platinum includes unlimited Priority Pass access for the cardholder and a supplementary cardholder, each with a free guest, plus Centurion, Eurostar and Delta lounges. Platinum is stronger if you travel with someone.
How much is Revolut Ultra compared with Amex Platinum?
Revolut Ultra costs £595 a year paid upfront or £60 a month for new UK customers from 14 October 2026. Amex Platinum costs £650 a year. Paying monthly, Ultra works out at £720 a year, which is more than Platinum. Existing Ultra customers pay £55 a month until 19 December 2026.
Do I need a credit check for Revolut Ultra?
No credit check is needed to upgrade to Revolut Ultra, because it's a paid plan on a debit account rather than a credit product. Amex Platinum is a credit card, so you need to pass a credit check and have a minimum income of £35,000. Credit is subject to status.
The bottom line
Revolut Ultra and Amex Platinum cost about the same but suit different travellers. Ultra is the better value if you spend a lot in foreign currencies, keep a large cash balance or want cancel-for-any-reason cover. Platinum is better for couples who use lounges together, hotel loyalists and anyone who'd use the dining credits.
If Ultra sounds like the right fit, sign up to Revolut on the free plan and upgrade in the app. Our Revolut Ultra review covers every perk in detail.