Two ultimate reward cards for the frequent traveler.
Both of these cards offer a high welcome offer and accelerated points mainly on travel purchases. They are similar in many aspects, but the main difference between them is that the Citi Prestige® Credit Card is a credit card, while The Platinum Card® from American Express is a charge card, meaning you have to pay your balance in full every month (see Rates & Fees).
See the other perks and benefits these cards offer in the comparison table below.
|
Citi Prestige® Credit Card
|
The Platinum Card® from American Express
|
|---|---|
|
★★★★★ 3.4 / 5.0 |
★★★★★ 4.4 / 5.0 |
| N/A |
|
| 50,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months | 60,000 points after spending $5,000 in your first 3 months |
|
5x points on flights and dining, 3x points on hotels and cruises and 1x points on all other purchases |
5x points on directly-booked flights or on flights and hotels on Amex Travel. 1x points on all other purchases |
|
17.99% to 25.99% variable |
None (Charge Card) |
| $495 | $550 |
|
APR: 17.99% to 25.99% variable
Fee: $5 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater |
Not a feature of a charge card |
|
APR: 27.49% variable Fee: $10 or 5% of the transaction, whichever is greater |
Not a feature of a charge card |
| None | None |
| Up to $39 | Up to $38 |
| $75 | $175 |
| 23 days | None |
| $0.50 | $0 |
| 670 | 680 |
| Credit | Charge |
| Rates & Fees | Rates & Fees |
Which card should you choose?
Citi Prestige® Credit Card
- VIP lounge access
- Easy points transfer to certain airline loyalty programs
- Up to $250 annual travel credit
The Citi Prestige® Credit Card has a solid program that rewards everyday spending: Earn 5x points on air travel and hotels, 3x points on dining and entertainment and 1x points on all other purchases. The card also comes with an unmatched benefit called Citi Price Rewind — a price match feature that reimburses you for purchases if Citi can find a lower price elsewhere within 60 days. Hotel goers also get a complimentary fourth night hotel stay when booking through ThankYou.com. You'll also get two practical features with your card — purchase protection and travel protection.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- $200 airline fee credit
- $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- $200 in credits for Uber each year
You can rack up 5x points with The Platinum Card® from American Express when you book flights and hotels directly with an airline or American Express Travel. To add to that, the card comes with a lavish welcome bonus of 60,000 points when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months of card membership. Cardholders also have access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection — that's over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide. On top of everything else, you'll get complimentary Starwood Preferred Guest Gold status.
What’s next?
The Citi Prestige® Credit Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express can give you that VIP feeling, but is that what you want? If you’re shaking your head yes, the next move is to apply for whichever card has features aligned with your spending and lifestyle.
If neither have you jumping for joy, there are plenty of other credit cards out there. Compare the features of some other rewards credit cards below to find the perfect piece of plastic.