American Express Platinum vs. Bilt Palladium: Choose Between Luxury Travel or Everyday Value 

• Written by Ryan Flanigan
  

  Ryan Flanigan

  Credit cards, travel and loyalty programs, personal finance strategies

  Ryan Flanigan specializes in helping readers learn how to maximize credit cards and understand the complexities of travel and loyalty programs. Ryan has been writing about credit cards and travel for five years. Previously, he spent two years writing for Bankrate's credit cards team, covering credit card news, analysis and strategies for how to make the most of your credit cards. He has also published work with AwardWallet and Miles To Memories, covering advanced points strategies and travel experiences. Ryan is also a Certified Credit Counselor with the National Association of Certified Credit Counselors. Ryan became interested in learning how to maximize travel rewards when planning his honeymoon, and now has over 10 years of experience using credit cards to their fullest potential to go on life-changing travel adventures. Before he began writing about credit cards, miles and points, Ryan performed globally as an entertainer, visiting over 50 countries and developing a lifelong love of travel. In his free time, Ryan enjoys traveling with his family, watching sports and coaching his son's baseball team. He loves going to Disney and flying first-class overseas whenever he can. Ryan can often be found in several points and miles communities and is always eager to chat about how credit cards can help you realize your travel dreams.

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• Edited by Emily Gadd, CCC™
  

  Emily Gadd, CCC™

  Credit Cards, Personal Finance, Health and Wellness

  Emily Gadd is a NACCC Certified Credit Counselor™, editor and personal finance expert responsible for writing about personal finance and credit cards. She got her start writing and editing at Healthline. She is passionate about creating educational content that makes complex topics accessible. Emily holds a credit counselor certification, accredited by the National Association of Certified Credit Counselors (NACCC). She lives in Seattle with her husband and two cats.

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• Reviewed by Jasmin Baron, CCC™
  

  Jasmin Baron, CCC™

  Credit Cards, Travel Rewards, Loyalty Programs, Family Travel, Credit Building, Credit Scores

  Jasmin Baron is a NACCC Certified Credit Counselor™ and CardCritics’ senior editor, responsible for editing and writing credit cards, travel rewards, loyalty program, and other credit-related content. She is passionate about personal finance education and enjoys sharing tips and tricks for making the most of credit card points and miles with her readers. Her expertise in maximizing credit card travel rewards originated from over two decades of aviation industry experience, including 18 years working as a pilot and college professor/flight instructor in her native Canada. Her work has appeared on sites such as CNN Underscored Money, Business Insider, The Points Guy, and point.me. When she’s not planning her next trip with credit card rewards, you’ll probably find her tinkering around in the kitchen, hanging out with her three kids, or playing with her dog, Benji.

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• Last Updated Feb 4, 2026

The best travel credit cards are often built around luxury perks and statement credits, but the right choice usually comes down to which benefits you’ll actually use. 

The American Express Platinum Card®, an advertising partner, has long been the flagship among American Express cards, with recently enhanced benefits that emphasize high-end travel experiences and a long list of statement credits. 

The newly launched Bilt Palladium Card takes a different approach, combining premium benefits with the ability to earn points on rent and mortgage payments — an expense most cards don’t reward — without transaction fees.

This guide compares the Amex Platinum and Bilt Palladium to help you choose the option that best fits your spending habits and travel needs.

How the Cards Compare: Amex Platinum vs. Bilt Palladium

Side By Side Comparison

Welcome Offers 

Both cards offer sizable welcome offers, but the structures and appeal of each vary based on your needs.

American Express Platinum Welcome Offer 

The Amex Platinum offers a generous welcome offer that can deliver outsized value for frequent travelers. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

While you can potentially earn a significant amount of American Express Membership Rewards points, the minimum spending requirement is quite high when compared to other cards. Membership Rewards points can be especially valuable for travelers who prefer flexibility, as they offer a wide range of transfer partners and allow bookings through Amex Travel®. 

Bilt Palladium Welcome Offer 

The Bilt Palladium also comes with a welcome offer: Get $300 of Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved, plus earn 50,000 Bilt Points and Gold Status when you spend $4,000 on purchases outside of rent and mortgage in your first 3 months.

Bilt points can be used toward travel, applied to rent or mortgage payments or transferred to a substantial list of airline and hotel partners. Bilt Cash can offer solid value, but will require planning to maximize it.

CardCritics™ Opinion 

If you’re looking to earn the most points possible, the Amex Platinum’s welcome offer wins out, even if you’re only offered the lower end of the potential bonuses. You also avoid the extra planning required to consistently maximize Bilt Cash. The two programs are comparable in point value and share some transfer partners. You’ll want to examine the differences in the programs to see where you’d get the most value. 

Earning Rewards 

Both cards approach earning rewards in different ways. The Amex Platinum offers higher multipliers in some areas, while the Bilt Palladium focuses on everyday value through flat-rate rewards and Bilt Cash.

How To Earn Rewards With American Express Platinum 

The Amex Platinum rewards travel spending. Here’s what you’ll earn with the card:

• 5x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel®, on up to $500,000 in purchases per year
• 5x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel®
• 1x Membership Rewards points on other purchases

How To Earn Rewards With Bilt Palladium 

The Bilt Palladium Card is better suited for everyday use. Here’s what you’ll earn with the card:

• 2x Bilt Points on everyday purchases, excluding rent and mortgage payments
• 4% Bilt Cash on everyday purchases, excluding rent and mortgage payments
• Up to 1.25x Bilt Points on rent and mortgage payments, with no transaction fees

CardCritics™ Opinion 

If you spend heavily on travel, the Amex Platinum’s bonus categories can be rewarding. However, the Bilt Palladium’s flat-rate earning structure offers substantial rewards for everyday non-bonused spending. As someone who holds both cards, I use the Platinum for travel and plan to use the Palladium for everyday spending that doesn’t earn elevated rewards elsewhere.

Redeeming Rewards 

Redemption flexibility is a major factor in determining a card’s long-term value. While there is some overlap in transfer partners, each program offers unique opportunities to redeem rewards. 

How To Redeem Rewards With American Express Platinum 

American Express Membership Rewards points can be redeemed in several ways:

• Transfer to airline and hotel partners: Transfer points to American Express transfer partners, including 17 airlines and 3 hotels (value varies by partner and redemption).
• Amex Travel: Redeem points for flights or Fine Hotels & Resorts bookings (1 cent per point), or prepaid hotels, prepaid car rentals, Select Homes & Retreats™ and cruises (0.7 cents per point) 
• Statement credit/cover charges: Use points for a statement credit (0.6 cents per point)
• Pay with points: Pay directly at checkout at participating retailers (0.7 cents per point) and NYC Taxi (1 cent per point)
• Gift cards: Trade in points for merchant gift cards (rate varies between 0.7-1 cent per point) and Amex gift cards (0.5 cents per point)

How To Redeem Rewards With Bilt Bilt Palladium 

Bilt Points also offer multiple redemption methods:

• Transfer to airline and hotel partners: Transfer points to 19 airlines and 5 hotels (value varies by partner and redemption).
• Bilt Travel: Redeem points for flights, hotels, car rentals and activities (1.25 cents per point) 
• Pay for home ownership: Use points toward a down payment for a home (1.5 cents per point)
• Statement credit/cover charges: Use points for a statement credit (0.55 cents per point)
• Pay for select fitness classes: Use points for select fitness classes (1 cent per point)
• Bilt Collection: Use points for home decor from the curated Bilt Collection (1 cent per point)
• Pay with points: Pay directly at Amazon or for Lyft rides (0.7 cents per point) 
• Gift cards: Trade in points for merchant gift cards (rate varies)

CardCritics™ Opinion 

Rewards enthusiasts and international travelers may find greater value in Membership Rewards. However, Bilt offers several exclusive, highly valuable transfer partners, higher-value benefits through its travel portal, and other unique redemption options, such as making a down payment on a home. 

While Membership Rewards offer higher potential value, Bilt Points are more practical to use and easier to get solid value with. I use my Membership Rewards exclusively for international airline partners, while Bilt Points cover my domestic flights or hotel stays.

Card Benefits 

Both cards’ benefits compare favorably with our best premium credit cards, though the Amex Platinum stands out for the sheer volume of its benefits.

American Express Platinum Benefits 

The Amex Platinum offers a laundry list of benefits across a variety of areas, but it takes a lot of work to maximize every perk. While it comes with a hefty $895 annual fee, the Amex Platinum is well worth it if you can take advantage of enough of its features.  

The card comes with several quality features. You’ll get automatic elite status in several hotel and car rental programs and top-tier travel protections and insurance. You’ll also get the most comprehensive airport lounge availability of any program, including access to Centurion Lounges.

Here’s a list of the card’s many credits, offering potentially over $3,500 in annual 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. This can be an annual savings of up to $300. To view participating partners, visit americanexpress.com/platinum. Enrollment required.
• $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 per year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel® using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card or any of the Additional Cards on your 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. Enrollment required.
• $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.
• $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 your Platinum Card®. Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
• Walmart+ Monthly Membership Credit: Receive a statement credit for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on your 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.
• $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.
• $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits each year at Equinox. Simply use your Platinum Card® to pay for an Equinox+ digital subscription, or an Equinox club membership subject to auto-renewal. Enrollment required.
• American Express Global Lounge Collection®: Eligible Card Members can enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, with a value of over $850 when you enroll into Priority Pass Select and make multiple visits to select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges each year. As of 07/2025.

I’ve had the Amex Platinum for several years and don’t mind the work required to maximize the benefits. The latest enhancements to the card have added significantly more value for me. I recommend periodically reviewing the value you’re getting and whether you’d shop in these areas without the card. If you’re overspending just to use benefits or not getting enough value in return, the card isn’t worth keeping at such a high price. 

Bilt Palladium Benefits 

While no card matches the volume of the Amex Platinum’s benefits, the Bilt Palladium Card does offer a decent benefits package, including solid travel insurance and cell phone protection. You’ll also have the option to pay rent and mortgage payments without transaction fees. 

Here are some of the card’s additional features:

• $200 Bilt Cash: Issued annually. Up to $100 on Bilt Cash rolls over into the next calendar year.
• $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit: Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings
• Priority Pass lounge access: Access to the Priority Pass lounge network for yourself and up to two guests.

I chose to upgrade my old Bilt Mastercard®** to the Palladium. While I’m not thrilled about having more semi-annual credits to use, I can incorporate this into my travel needs. I’m getting this card for the valuable flat rewards rate, not the benefits. As long as I can use the travel credit, I’ll likely keep the card.

CardCritics™ Opinion 

The Amex Platinum is the gold standard for expert travelers who fully maximize credits and can take advantage of the card’s top-level travel features. The Bilt Palladium may be more practical for those who prefer simplicity and benefits that don’t require tracking multiple enrollment-based perks. You’ll want to consider the three Bilt options to see which fits best before deciding on the Palladium.

Fees and Costs 

Both cards carry high annual fees. You’ll need to weigh the fees with what you get in return to determine which card works best.

American Express Platinum Fees and Costs 

The Amex Platinum has one of the highest annual fees on the market. Here’s a breakdown of the card’s fees:

• Annual fee:  $895  
• Authorized user fee: $195 per user
• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign transaction fee: None
• Cash advance: $10 or 5% of the cash advance amount, whichever is higher
• Late payment: Up to $40
• Returned payment: Up to $40

Bilt Palladium Fees and Costs 

While not as high as the Amex Platinum, the Bilt Palladium Card still isn’t cheap. Here are the card’s fees:

• Annual fee: $495 
• Authorized user fee: $95 per user
• APR: 10.00% Introductory APR applies to each New Card Purchase that posts to your account during the first 12 billing cycles after the date you open your account. After that, A 26.74% to 34.74% Variable APR applies to purchases. A 26.74% to 34.74% Variable APR applies to Balance Transfers, based on your creditworthiness.
• Foreign transaction fee: None
• Balance transfer fee: $5 or 5% of the transfer amount, whichever is higher
• Cash advance fee: $5 or 5% of the cash advance amount, whichever is higher
• Late payment: Up to $41
• Returned payment: Up to $41

CardCritics™ Opinion 

If you’re confident you’ll maximize enough of the card’s perks, the Amex Platinum’s higher fee can actually be easier to justify than the Bilt Palladium. I consistently get a return on my Amex Platinum that’s significantly higher than the card’s cost. While the Palladium’s lower fee and rent-earning capability may offer a clearer path to ongoing value, there’s less opportunity to get value from credits in return. 

How To Choose Between Amex Platinum and Bilt Palladium 

Choosing between the Amex Platinum and Bilt Palladium comes down to how you travel and spend. Here are some factors to help you choose between these cards.

Choose the American Express Platinum if you:

• Can justify the high annual fee
• Can utilize Amex’s airline and hotel transfer partners
• Want access to Amex’s extensive Global Lounge Collection
• Don’t mind keeping track of credits ranging from monthly to annually
• Spend with merchants and platforms that offer credits 

Choose the Bilt Palladium if you:

• Want solid rewards for everyday spending
• Can take advantage of Bilt’s airline and hotel transfer partners
• Plan to spend enough on the card to maximize rewards on rent or mortgage payments
• Have a plan for using Bilt Cash effectively

The Amex Platinum offers significantly more status- and credit-related benefits, while the Bilt Palladium shines with its ability to earn valuable rewards on all purchases. As with any card with an annual fee, you’ll need to review your spending and travel habits to determine whether the card’s features justify the cost.

The information related to the Bilt Palladium Card and Bilt Mastercard®** was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for this product.