American Express Platinum vs Bilt Mastercard
Last updated July 2026
American Express Platinum
The premium travel card built on lounges and credits
Advantages
- Best lounge access in the industry: Centurion, Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta), Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and more
- Over $1,500 in annual credits: $200 airline, $200 hotel, $300 Equinox, $240 digital entertainment, $200 Uber, and others
- 5x Membership Rewards points on flights booked through Amex Travel and prepaid hotels
- Free Global Entry / TSA PreCheck credit every 4 years
- Access to Fine Hotels + Resorts with premium hotel perks
Drawbacks
- $695 annual fee, the credits are only valuable if you'd spend the money anyway
- Only 1x base rate on non-bonus spending
- Credits are fragmented across many merchants (Uber, Saks, Equinox, etc.)
Bilt Mastercard
The only credit card that earns points on rent
Advantages
- 1x points on rent up to 100K points/yr with no transaction fee (unique to Bilt)
- No annual fee
- 3x on dining, 2x on travel, 1x on everything else
- Transfer partners include Hyatt, American, United, Air France/KLM, Marriott, and 15+ others
- Rent day (1st of month) doubles multipliers on non-rent spending
Drawbacks
- Must use the card 5+ times per statement to earn any rewards, easy to miss
- Base 1x on non-bonus categories same as Sapphire Preferred
- Points from rent capped at 100,000/yr
American Express Platinum and Bilt Mastercard both play in rewards credit cards, but they're aimed at different buyers. American Express Platinum is built for frequent premium travelers who will use Centurion lounges and fragmented credits. Bilt Mastercard is built for renters spending $1,500+/mo on rent who want points without paying a fee. Which one fits depends on which of those descriptions sounds more like you.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | American Express Platinum | Bilt Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $695 | $0 |
| Base Rewards Rate | 1x on most spending | 1x on most spending |
| Bonus Categories | 5x flights + prepaid hotels via Amex Travel | 1x rent (up to 100K/yr), 3x dining, 2x travel |
| Sign-Up Bonus | Typically 80K-175K MR points after minimum spend | No traditional bonus; occasional targeted offers |
| Transfer Partners | 20+ airline and hotel partners | 15+ including Hyatt, American, United, Air France |
| Annual Travel Credit | $200 airline + $200 hotel + $200 Uber + more | -- |
| Lounge Access | Centurion + Delta Sky Club + Priority Pass + Plaza Premium | -- |
| Insurance Protections | Trip delay, cancellation, secondary rental car | Cell phone protection; rental car secondary |
| Unique Feature | -- | Only card that earns points on rent with no fee |
| Earn Requirement | -- | Must use card 5+ times/month to earn rewards |
Too Close to Call
American Express Platinum and Bilt Mastercard land roughly even overall; the right pick depends on which of their strengths matters more to you.
American Express Platinum's standout strength: Best lounge access in the industry: Centurion, Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta), Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and more. Bilt Mastercard's standout strength: 1x points on rent up to 100K points/yr with no transaction fee (unique to Bilt). Neither dominates across the board, and both have well-known weak spots. American Express Platinum's biggest drawback: $695 annual fee, the credits are only valuable if you'd spend the money anyway. Bilt Mastercard's biggest drawback: Must use the card 5+ times per statement to earn any rewards, easy to miss. Pick the one whose strengths line up with what you actually need.
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