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Amex Business Gold vs Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select: Which Is Better In 2026?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The American Express® Business Gold Card is ideal for businesses with variable expenses, as it automatically rewards your top two spending categories like advertising, shipping, and travel each billing cycle (Terms Apply).
- The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a great choice for frequent American Airlines flyers who want to earn miles on flights, as well as at restaurants and gas stations.
American Express® Business Gold Card Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at what makes the American Express® Business Gold Card (See Rates & Fees) a strong choice for many businesses.
- The card automatically optimizes your rewards by identifying your top two spending categories each billing cycle. Terms Apply.
- It offers flexible purchasing power that can adjust to your business's needs, which is ideal for growing companies. Terms Apply.
- Cardholders gain access to a suite of travel and purchase protections, along with benefits at select hotels. Terms Apply.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Pros
- Valuable Welcome Offer available for new Card Members. Terms Apply.
- Access to The Hotel Collection, which can provide benefits like room upgrades upon availability at participating properties. Terms Apply.
- Flexibility to transfer Membership Rewards® points to a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs. Terms Apply.
Cons
- Airport lounge access is more limited compared to other premium cards.
- It may not be the best fit for businesses with lower annual spending.
- The card’s purchasing power adjusts based on several factors, which may not suit businesses that prefer a traditional, preset credit limit.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This section breaks down why we like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®.
- It offers valuable travel perks for American Airlines flyers who don't have elite status.
- Cardholders can try out the benefits with no annual fee for the first year.
- The card has no foreign transaction fees, making it a solid choice for international trips.
Pros
- First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for the cardholder and eligible companions.
- Earn bonus miles at restaurants and gas stations, in addition to on American Airlines purchases.
- Spending on the card contributes to earning American Airlines AAdvantage® elite status.
Cons
- Lacks many of the travel and purchase protections that are common on other travel cards.
- The earning rates are not as competitive as what you might find with other premium rewards cards.
- It does not include airport lounge access, and some benefits are redundant for AAdvantage® elite members.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® vs American Express® Business Gold Card
Categories
Deciding which is better, Amex Business Gold or Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select, depends entirely on your spending habits and travel preferences. One card is a versatile tool for business owners, while the other is tailored for loyalists of a specific airline.
- American Express® Business Gold Card - This card is a versatile business tool best suited for business owners and growing companies that have variable expenses across different categories.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® - This mid-level airline card is designed for semi-frequent American Airlines flyers who want to earn miles and enjoy some travel perks.
Redemption
American Express® Business Gold Card: Points earned with this card offer significant flexibility, allowing you to transfer them to various airline and hotel partners, or redeem them for travel, gift cards, and statement credits.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: Rewards are earned as AAdvantage® miles, which are best redeemed for flights with American Airlines and its Oneworld® Alliance partners.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To make the right choice, a tool like Kudos can help you compare top-rated cards using your own spending data.
- Personalized recommendations: Get matched with the best card for you based on your actual transaction history, not generic advice.
- Test drive cards: Simulate your potential earnings with any card before you apply, using your real spending data to see a category-by-category breakdown without impacting your credit score.
- Approval odds analysis: Understand your chances of getting approved for different cards with a detailed analysis based on your credit report.
- Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of being approved through Kudos, the platform will match it.
- Extra rewards and bonuses: Earn sign-up bonuses, Kudos Boost rewards when shopping, and a $100 Kickstart+ reward for adding select cards to your Kudos wallet.
Who Should Choose the American Express® Business Gold Card?
The American Express® Business Gold Card is best suited for established businesses with dynamic spending patterns and annual expenses exceeding $50,000. This card is designed for companies whose monthly costs fluctuate across categories like U.S. advertising, shipping, gas, and restaurants. It automatically rewards your top two spending categories with 4X points on up to $150,000 in combined purchases annually (then 1X), making it ideal for those who want to maximize rewards without being locked into fixed bonus categories. Terms Apply.
Who Should Choose the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®?
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is primarily designed for casual American Airlines flyers who want to earn miles and enjoy some elite-like benefits without the high cost of a premium card. This card is a strong fit for individuals who fly with the airline a few times a year and can take advantage of perks like a free checked bag on domestic flights and discounts on inflight purchases. It's also ideal for those looking to accumulate AAdvantage miles through everyday spending at restaurants and gas stations, all while paying a moderate annual fee after the first year.
Alternatives to Consider
The Amex Business Gold vs Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select comparison showcases two excellent cards, but they won't be the perfect fit for every wallet. If you're still on the hunt for the right card, let's look at a few other compelling alternatives.
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Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score, as good to excellent credit is generally required.
- Plan your spending to naturally meet the welcome offer requirement.
- Review issuer-specific application rules, as restrictions on welcome offer eligibility are common.
Application Strategy
- Time your application before a large planned purchase to help meet spending requirements.
- Choose a card whose benefits and bonus categories align with your typical spending habits.
- Understand issuer restrictions, as some may limit eligibility for a welcome offer.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which card is better for earning travel rewards?
The best card depends on your travel habits. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® card is ideal for those loyal to American Airlines, while the American Express® Business Gold Card offers more flexible points that can be transferred to various airline and hotel partners.
What are the annual fees for these cards?
The American Express® Business Gold Card has a higher annual fee, reflecting its premium business-focused benefits and flexible rewards structure. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® card typically has a more moderate annual fee, which is often waived for the first year.
Can I get airport lounge access with either card?
Neither the American Express® Business Gold Card nor the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® card offers complimentary airport lounge access as a standard benefit. Travelers seeking this perk may need to consider more premium travel cards.
How do the welcome offers compare?
Welcome Offers for both cards vary, but the American Express® Business Gold Card's offer is typically point-based, while the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® card's offer rewards you with AAdvantage® bonus miles. Always check the current offer to see which better suits your immediate spending plans.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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