Credit Cards
OUR PICK · 7 tested
Amex Platinum
Frequent travelers who fly 20+ times per year and can use Centurion Lounges, capped Delta Sky Club visits, and the $200 airline fee credit. The card's value depends on traveling enough to capture its stacked credits, and got harder to justify after the September 2025 fee increase to $895.
ALSO WORTH IT
Capital One Venture X
Anyone who travels at least once a year and wants a premium card whose annual fee offsets itself. The $300 travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles fully cover the $395 fee before using any other benefit.
Amex Gold
Cardholders who spend heavily at restaurants and grocery stores. A household spending $1,000 per month on dining and $800 per month at US supermarkets earns 86,400 Membership Rewards per year at 4x.
Annual fee rose from $695 to $895 on September 18, 2025, and several new credits require narrow, specific merchants (Resy, Equinox, lululemon, Oura) that fewer cardholders will use.
Points or cash back earned per dollar on everyday spending categories (dining, groceries, travel) and on purchases outside any bonus category.
The introductory offer value and the spend required to earn it. Scored on point value at reasonable redemption rates relative to the spend requirement.
What the annual fee buys you in statement credits, perks, and benefits. Including how much effort it takes to capture the stated value.
Lounge access, trip cancellation and delay protection, rental car insurance, travel credits, and hotel or airline elite status earned through card spend.
How usable and transferable your rewards are. Including transfer partner quality, portal redemption value, and whether you can get full value without a specific loyalty program.
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