Editorial take: Blue Business Plus from Amex
The silent workhorse of the Amex MR ecosystem. 2x on everything up to $50k/year with no annual fee. Pair it with the Platinum or Gold to unlock transfers, and you have a powerful everyday earner.
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Side-by-side
Blue Business Plus from Amex vs The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Blue Business Plus from Amex comes from American Express at $0/yr; the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab from American Express at $695/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,170 more in estimated value) than the Blue Business Plus from Amex's. Get the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab first; revisit the Blue Business Plus from Amex after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Blue Business Plus from Amex | The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $695 |
| Sign-up bonus | 15,000 Membership Rewards points | Up to 80,000 Membership Rewards points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $270 | $1,440 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $3,000 in 3 mo | $8,000 in 6 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | American Express |
| Card category | business | travel |
| Best earning category (All_purchases_first_50k_per_year) | 2x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | amex-mr | amex-mr |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Blue Business Plus from Amex
$0/yr · 15,000 Membership Rewards points
Read the full review
The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab
$695/yr · Up to 80,000 Membership Rewards points
Editorial take: The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab
The premium Platinum for Schwab brokerage customers. Same lounge access, FHR, and credit suite as the Personal Platinum, but the killer feature is Invest with Rewards at 1.1 cents per point cash-into-brokerage — the highest fixed-value MR redemption in the program. Best for cardholders who don't max out airline transfer partners.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Blue Business Plus from Amex or The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab?
- The The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab has the bigger bonus, Up to 80,000 Membership Rewards points, worth roughly $1,440, versus 15,000 Membership Rewards points (~$270) on the Blue Business Plus from Amex.
- Is the Blue Business Plus from Amex's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab?
- The Blue Business Plus from Amex has no annual fee, so the question is whether the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab's $695 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab's benefits to clear $695 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Blue Business Plus from Amex.
- Can I have both the Blue Business Plus from Amex and The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab?
- Yes, though both are issued by American Express so the same issuer-specific application rules apply (Chase 5/24 if applicable, Amex once-per-lifetime bonus, etc.). Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Blue Business Plus from Amex or the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Blue Business Plus from Amex: $3,000 spend in 3 months. The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab: $8,000 in 6 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.