Side-by-side comparison of rewards, fees, and benefits
American Express
American Express
Too close to call: at a typical $24,000/yr spending profile these cards land within $10/yr of each other.
Everyday profile: $24,000/yr across groceries, gas, dining, online shopping, streaming, and everything else. Signup bonuses excluded (first-year only). Statement credits counted at typical usage rates, not face value.
| Card | Rewards | Credits | Fee | Net/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Business Gold | $738 | $0 | -$375 | $363 |
| Marriott Bonvoy Business | $480 | $0 | -$125 | $355 |
Booking through the card issuer's travel site. Point values adjust automatically.
Simple Advanced view shows effective return rates (multiplier × point value) instead of just multipliers. | American Express Business GoldAmerican Express | Marriott Bonvoy BusinessAmerican Express |
|---|---|---|
Annual Fee | $375 | $125 |
Sign-Up Bonus | 100,000 pts | 75,000 pts |
Point Value How much each point is worth in cents. This varies based on how you redeem (cash back, travel portal, or transfer partners). | 1.0¢(Travel Portal) | 1.0¢(Travel Portal) |
Dining | 4x | 4x |
Grocery | 1x | 2x |
Flights | 1x | 2x |
Hotels | 1x | 6x |
Gas | 4x | 4x |
Online Shopping | 4x | 2x |
Everything Else | 1x | 2x |
Fast Food Quick-service restaurants (MCC 5814). Most "dining" bonuses include fast food. | 4x | 4x |
Streaming Subscriptions like Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, etc. | 1x | 2x |
Internet Home internet and cable bills. | 1x | 2x |
Cell Phone Cell phone bills (may incur processing fees). | 1x | 2x |
Home Utilities Electricity, gas, water, sewer, trash. | 1x | 2x |
Travel/Airline Credit | - | - |
Est. Perks Value | - | - |
Lounge Access | No | No |
* Est. Perks Value: Requires enrollment; varies by usage. Excludes Travel/Airline Credit (shown separately).
Amex Platinum ($2,884): $600 FHR/THC hotel credit, $400 Resy dining, $300 lululemon, $300 digital entertainment, $320 Uber ($200 cash + $120 Uber One), $209 CLEAR+, $200 Oura, $155 Walmart+, $100 Saks, $300 Equinox.
CSR ($984): $420 DoorDash promos, $120 DashPass membership, $324 Apple TV and Apple Music, $120 Lyft credits.
Marriott Bonvoy Business earns more on travel (2x flights vs 1x). Marriott Bonvoy Business excels at everyday spending like grocery and other. Marriott Bonvoy Business has a lower annual fee ($125 vs $375). Your best choice depends on where you spend the most.
Our Wallet Optimizer analyzes your spending across all categories to recommend the best cards for your lifestyle.
Optimize My Wallet