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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Augusta Stone is a credit cards writer for TPG. She joined the TPG team in 2023 and is excited to take points and miles beginners with her on a journey toward maximizing rewards.
May 14, 2026 • 13 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
The article reviews top alternatives for those considering replacing a premium travel card known for its extensive benefits and high cost.
Highlighted options include cards offering transferable rewards, travel perks, and statement credits, each catering to different spending habits and preferences.
Some alternatives focus on simplicity, food-related benefits, or maximizing rewards on housing expenses, while others emphasize premium travel perks at lower costs.
Comparisons are provided to help readers match card features with their travel and lifestyle needs.
What to consider
Eligibility for certain benefits or welcome offers may vary and could be subject to spending thresholds or enrollment requirements.
Some credits or perks are split by calendar periods or require booking through specific travel portals.
Valuations of points and benefits are based on TPG's May or September 2026 data and may change over time.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed side-by-side comparison of leading premium and mid-tier travel cards, including which features best align with your personal travel and spending patterns.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
Even with all the benefits it offers, the Amex Platinum isn't for everybody. With multiple statement credits to track, some may think it takes too much effort to maximize.
If you're debating whether to keep your Amex Platinum, consider switching to one of these seven rewards credit cards.
The best cards to replace your Amex Platinum
Each of the cards I've selected earns transferable rewards and provides its own suite of benefits, credits and perks for cardholders to enjoy.
If you want to keep earning Membership Rewards points, the Amex Gold may be the right card for you.
THE POINTS GUY
Welcome offer: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
This offer is worth up to $2,000, per TPG's May 2026 valuations.
Earning rates:
5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App™
4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent)
4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent)
3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline, amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App
2 points per dollar spent on car rentals booked on amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App
2 points per dollar spent on cruises booked on amextravel.com
1 point per dollar spent on other eligible purchases
Annual fee: $325 (see )
Why it can replace your Amex Platinum: The Amex Gold earns Membership Rewards points (the same rewards as the Amex Platinum) and provides a solid list of perks for a lower annual fee than its premium counterpart.
The Amex Gold's statement credits could be potentially easier to maximize than the Amex Platinum's — especially if you spend more frequently on food. Standout benefits include:
Up to $120 in Uber Cash per calendar year (up to $10 a month when you enroll with your Amex Gold and pay with any Amex card; U.S. rides and U.S. Uber Eats orders only)
Up to $120 in dining statement credits with select merchants (up to $10 per month) per calendar year
Up to $100 in statement credits with U.S. Resy restaurants (up to $50 in statement credits semiannually) per calendar year
Up to $84 in monthly statement credits (up to $7 per month) per calendar year with U.S. Dunkin' locations
Enrollment is required for select benefits
Plus, cardmembers have access to the same The Hotel Collection* benefits as those with the Amex Platinum.
*Eligible charges vary by property. Minimum two-night stay required.
Bilt Palladium Card
The Bilt Palladium is the premium travel card for Bilt members to earn valuable Bilt Points on everyday purchases.
THE POINTS GUY
Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points and Bilt Gold status (through the rest of the calendar year in which it was earned and the following calendar year, excluding rent or mortgage) after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. Cardholders also receive $300 in Bilt Cash upon approval. Up to $100 of Bilt Cash earned rolls over each year.
According to TPG's May 2026 valuations, this offer is worth $1,100 in points. If you combine these points with the $300 in Bilt Cash, you'll receive up to $1,400 in value from the bonus.
Earning rates:
2 points per dollar spent on everyday spending†
Up to 1.25 points per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments*
4% Bilt Cash earned on everyday spending (if you opt to earn Bilt Cash; up to $100 of Bilt Cash rolls over each year)
*In order to unlock the full 1.25 points per dollar spent, you'll need to opt in to Bilt 2.0's tier-rewards system and spend 100% of your rent in non-housing purchases.
†Tax payments do not earn points.
Annual fee: $495 (see )
Why it can replace your Amex Platinum: The Bilt Palladium rivals the Amex Platinum as a premium option in the Bilt ecosystem. It's an excellent card for earning Bilt points, which TPG's valuations place at a whopping 2.2 cents each.
Many of the annual benefits for cardholders are travel-oriented. A highlight is the card's up to $400 in credits for hotel bookings made through the Bilt Travel portal. This statement credit is split biannually each calendar year, so you'll receive $200 to use in the first six months of the year, and $200 to use in the last six months of the year.
Bilt could be a great choice for renters and homeowners, since you have the option to unlock points on your housing expenses.
The Capital One Venture X is a worthy competitor in the luxury rewards card space thanks to its solid suite of benefits for a relatively low annual fee.
THE POINTS GUY
Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Per TPG's valuations, this offer is worth about $1,388.
Earning rates:
10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5 miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
2 miles per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
Annual fee: $395
Why it can replace your Amex Platinum: The Venture X is Capital One's premium travel rewards card. It charges a much lower annual fee than the Amex Platinum in exchange for easy-to-earn rewards and select travel benefits.
The Venture X's highlight perks are its $300 annual statement credit for select travel booked through Capital One Travel and 10,000 bonus miles on each account anniversary. These two benefits alone offset the card's $395 annual fee, since TPG's valuations deem 10,000 Capital One miles to be worth $185.
Like the Venture Rewards, the miles you earn from the Venture X can also be used to book travel and even cover eligible travel purchases, or you can transfer them to one of Capital One’s 15-plus airline and hotel partners.
For people who want to earn Ultimate Rewards points for a modest annual fee, there’s the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
THE POINTS GUY
Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
This is worth $1,538, per TPG's May 2026 valuations.
Earning rates:
5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Travel℠ (excluding the $100 hotel credit)
5 points per dollar spent on Lyft purchases (through Sept. 30, 2027)
5 points per dollar spent on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more (through Dec. 31, 2027, with a limit of 25,000 bonus points)
3 points per dollar spent on dining, gas and electric vehicle charging, vacation homes booked with top brands* select streaming services and online grocery store purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
2 points per dollar spent on all other travel not booked through Chase Travel
Why it can replace your Amex Platinum: While this card doesn’t include lounge access and other premium benefits like the Amex Platinum, it does come with a number of useful travel benefits.
These perks include primary rental car insurance, a $100 annual hotel statement credit on bookings made through Chase Travel and travel and shopping purchase protections. Additionally, you’ll receive a 10% points bonus on all purchases at the end of every year (This benefit is being discontinued to cardholders who apply on or after June 15, 2026. If you applied prior to June 15, 2026, eligible purchases made through Oct. 1, 2026, will continue to earn the 10% bonus and will be awarded by Jan. 31, 2027.)
Travelers love the Chase Sapphire Reserve because it offers a variety of benefits to cardholders.
THE POINTS GUY
Welcome offer: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
This offer is worth $2,050, according to TPG's valuations.
Earning rates:
10 points per dollar spent on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases (of at least $150; maximum of 50,000 points; through Dec. 31, 2027)
8 points per dollar spent on purchases made through Chase Travel (including The Edit)
5 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027)
4 points per dollar spent on flights and hotels booked directly
3 points per dollar spent on dining worldwide
1 point per dollar spent on everything else
Annual fee: $795
Why it can replace your Amex Platinum: The Sapphire Reserve is a direct competitor of the Amex Platinum in that it provides multiple statement credits.
With this card, you’ll receive an annual $300 travel credit, up to a $120 credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus every four years, access to every Chase Sapphire Lounge, a Priority Pass membership, access to The Edit (Chase’s luxury hotel program), primary rental car coverage and travel and shopping purchase protections.
Note that you won't earn points on travel until after the first $300 is spent on travel annually.
The Citi Strata Premier is a solid points earner that comes with a modest annual fee.
THE POINTS GUY
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
This offer is worth $1,140, per TPG's May 2026 valuations.
Earning rates:
10 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through the Citi Travel portal
3 points per dollar spent on purchases in the following categories, with no caps or annual limits:
Air travel
Electric vehicle charging stations
Gas stations
Other hotels
Supermarkets
Restaurants (including takeout)
1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Annual fee: $95
Why it can replace your Amex Platinum: This card is a great choice if you value earning rates more than statement credits. While it serves a different purpose than the Amex Platinum, if you want to switch up your strategy, the Strata Premier is a great choice.
Plus, every year, you’ll receive a $100 credit toward a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) that’s booked through CitiTravel.com. This benefit alone covers the $95 annual fee.
While the Amex Platinum still holds value for many cardmembers, others may feel inclined to replace the card with another on the market. Fortunately, there are several great alternatives to consider.
Each card comes with its own pros and cons, though in many cases, each offers similar (if not better) benefits as the Amex Platinum for a lower annual fee.
Regardless of where your loyalties lie, there’s a card that will suit your spending habits and travel goals.
