Editorial take: The Platinum Card from Amex
The granddaddy of premium cards with Centurion Lounge access, hotel elite status, and a mountain of credits. The $895 fee stings, but if you use even half the credits, you come out ahead.
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Side-by-side
The Platinum Card from Amex vs Bilt Palladium
Both are travel travel cards. The The Platinum Card from Amex comes from American Express at $895/yr; the Bilt Palladium from Bilt / Cardless at $495/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 Amex is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($2,375 more in estimated value) than the Bilt Palladium's. Get the The Platinum Card from Amex first; revisit the Bilt Palladium after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | The Platinum Card from Amex | Bilt Palladium |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $895 | $495 |
| Sign-up bonus | 175,000 points | 50,000 Bilt Points + $300 Bilt Cash + Bilt Gold status |
| Bonus value (est.) | $3,500 | $1,125 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $12,000 in 6 mo | $4,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | Bilt / Cardless |
| Card category | travel | travel |
| Best earning category (Flights) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | amex-mr | bilt |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
The Platinum Card from Amex
$895/yr · 175,000 points
Read the full review
Bilt Palladium
$495/yr · 50,000 Bilt Points + $300 Bilt Cash + Bilt Gold status
Editorial take: Bilt Palladium
Bilt 2.0's top tier ($495 AF), launched February 7, 2026 by Cardless. Stacks $400 hotel + $200 Bilt Cash + the Obsidian benefit set + Priority Pass with 2 guests. For Bilt loyalists who already hit the rent-day game hard, the math works; for everyone else, Obsidian is plenty.
The real-world take
TL;DR. Two premium cards aimed at different demographics. Platinum ($895) is the multi-airline, Centurion Lounge, broad-perks premium card. Palladium ($495) is the renter-anchored, Bilt-specific premium card. They share Priority Pass-style access (Palladium gives Priority Pass with 2 guests) but differ massively on transfer partners and credit categories.
The three dimensions that actually decide it. First, rent. Palladium earns on rent; Platinum cannot. If you are a renter, this is the deciding factor. Second, lounge access. Platinum has Centurion. Palladium has Priority Pass only. Centurion is meaningfully better at most U.S. hubs. Third, fee. $400 difference. Palladium's $400 hotel credit and $200 Bilt Cash credit largely offset its fee. Platinum's credits require active extraction from six different vendors.
Real customer scenario for each. If you pay rent, want premium travel, and would actually transfer points to American Airlines, Palladium is the better fit. If instead you are a homeowner, travel often, and use Centurion Lounges, Platinum is the right choice.
The trap to avoid. Holding both as a "renter who travels." The fees combine to $1,390 a year and the benefits overlap on Priority Pass-style lounge access. Pick the one whose primary value (rent earn vs Centurion access) matches your life.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, The Platinum Card from Amex or Bilt Palladium?
- The The Platinum Card from Amex has the bigger bonus, 175,000 points, worth roughly $3,500, versus 50,000 Bilt Points + $300 Bilt Cash + Bilt Gold status (~$1,125) on the Bilt Palladium.
- Is the The Platinum Card from Amex's $895 annual fee worth it compared to the Bilt Palladium?
- Premium cards like the The Platinum Card from Amex ($895/yr) earn their fee through credits, travel, dining, lounge access, statement reimbursements. If you'd actively use $895+ of those credits, the math works. The Bilt Palladium at $495/yr trades some perks for a lower commitment.
- Can I have both the The Platinum Card from Amex and Bilt Palladium?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Bilt / Cardless) 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 Amex or the Bilt Palladium first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. The Platinum Card from Amex: $12,000 spend in 6 months. Bilt Palladium: $4,000 in 3 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.