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Side-by-side

The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab vs Mastercard Titanium Card

Both are travel travel cards. The The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab comes from American Express at $695/yr; the Mastercard Titanium Card from Barclays (Luxury Card) at $299/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 ($1,440 more in estimated value) than the Mastercard Titanium Card's. Get the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab first; revisit the Mastercard Titanium Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureThe Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles SchwabMastercard Titanium Card
Annual fee$695$299
Sign-up bonusUp to 80,000 Membership Rewards pointsNo public welcome bonus
Bonus value (est.)$1,440$0
Min spend to unlock bonus$8,000 in 6 mo$0 in 0 mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressBarclays (Luxury Card)
Card categorytraveltravel
Best earning category (Flights_direct_or_amextravel)5x1x
Transfer partnersamex-mrNone
Headline benefits
  • Invest with Rewards 1.1c/pt into Schwab
  • Centurion + Priority Pass + Delta Sky Club
  • 5X flights, 5X prepaid hotels
  • $1,500+ in annual credits
  • Priority Pass Select ($469 value)
  • 2x airfare and hotels via LuxuryCardTravel
  • 24/7 Concierge
  • No foreign transaction fees
Read the full review
The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab
$695/yr · Up to 80,000 Membership Rewards points
Read the full review
Mastercard Titanium Card
$299/yr · No public welcome bonus

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.

Editorial take: Mastercard Titanium Card

The entry tier of the Barclays Luxury Card lineup. The $299 AF buys Priority Pass Select and a real metal card, but earning is weak (1x base, 2x on Luxury Card Travel bookings) and the cash-back redemption rate is only 1 cent per point. Better only as a status-and-lounge play for people who do not want to carry a Sapphire Reserve or Venture X.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab or Mastercard Titanium Card?
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 No public welcome bonus (~$0) on the Mastercard Titanium Card.
Is the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab's $695 annual fee worth it compared to the Mastercard Titanium Card?
Premium cards like the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab ($695/yr) earn their fee through credits, travel, dining, lounge access, statement reimbursements. If you'd actively use $695+ of those credits, the math works. The Mastercard Titanium Card at $299/yr trades some perks for a lower commitment.
Can I have both the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab and Mastercard Titanium Card?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Barclays (Luxury Card)) the application rules don't conflict. 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 The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab or the Mastercard Titanium Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab: $8,000 spend in 6 months. Mastercard Titanium Card: $0 in 0 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.