American Express Platinum vs Chase Freedom Unlimited
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.)
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Flat-rate cashback with bonus categories for daily spending
Advantages
- 1.5% on all purchases as a baseline
- 3% on dining and drugstores; 5% on Chase Travel bookings
- No annual fee
- Rewards become transferable points if paired with a Sapphire card
- Accepted globally via Visa network
Drawbacks
- No 5% rotating categories like Discover
- 3% has no bonus outside dining/drugstore
- Foreign transaction fee of 3%
American Express Platinum and Chase Freedom Unlimited 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. Chase Freedom Unlimited is built for set-and-forget buyers who want reliable cashback without tracking categories. Which one fits depends on which of those descriptions sounds more like you.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | American Express Platinum | Chase Freedom Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $695 | $0 |
| Base Rewards Rate | 1x on most spending | 1.5% on non-category spending |
| Bonus Categories | 5x flights + prepaid hotels via Amex Travel | 3% dining + drugstores; 5% Chase Travel |
| Sign-Up Bonus | Typically 80K-175K MR points after minimum spend | Typically $200 or 20K UR after minimum spend |
| Redemption Options | -- | Statement credit, direct deposit, gift cards; transferable if paired |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | -- | 3% |
| International Acceptance | -- | Visa, global acceptance |
| Credit Score Tool | -- | Chase Credit Journey free VantageScore |
| Transfer Partners | 20+ airline and hotel partners | -- |
| 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 | -- |
American Express Platinum Wins
American Express Platinum takes it overall (9/10 vs 8/10), but Chase Freedom Unlimited is still the sharper pick for set-and-forget buyers who want reliable cashback without tracking categories.
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. Its biggest drawback ($695 annual fee, the credits are only valuable if you'd spend the money anyway) is easier to live with than Chase Freedom Unlimited's (no 5% rotating categories like Discover). Chase Freedom Unlimited isn't out of the running though — its own standout strength is 1.5% on all purchases as a baseline. If you fit the profile of set-and-forget buyers who want reliable cashback without tracking categories, that alone can flip the decision.
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