Amex Platinum vs Wyndham Earner Plus: Which Is Better In 2025?

Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Breakdown

‍

[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "7579", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "Wyndham Loyalists"} ]]

‍

Why We Like It

‍

Let's break down the specific features that make the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus card a compelling choice.

‍

• It offers generous rewards on everyday purchases like gas and groceries, on top of accelerated earnings at Wyndham hotels.
• Cardholders automatically receive Wyndham Rewards Platinum status, unlocking valuable perks like early check-in and late checkout.
• You'll receive an anniversary points bonus each year, which is enough for a free night at many participating hotels.

‍

Pros

‍

• A generous welcome offer provides a substantial points bonus after meeting an initial spending requirement.
• There are no foreign transaction fees, making it a cost-effective choice for use abroad.
• Redemption options are flexible, allowing you to use points for hotel stays, gift cards, airline transfers, and more.

‍

Cons

‍

• The card has an annual fee, which may not be worth it for infrequent guests.
• It doesn’t provide a free anniversary night certificate, a common perk on competing hotel cards.
• Rewards are most valuable when redeemed for Wyndham hotel stays, offering limited flexibility for travelers who are not loyal to the brand.

Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus vs American Express Platinum Card®

‍

Categories

‍

Deciding which is better, Amex Platinum or Wyndham Earner Plus, depends entirely on your travel style and spending habits. Each card is designed for a different type of consumer, making one a clear winner depending on your priorities.

‍

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: This is a premium travel rewards card built for frequent travelers who can take full advantage of luxury perks, extensive airport lounge access, and various statement credits.
• Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card: This hotel credit card is best for those loyal to Wyndham properties, offering strong rewards on hotel stays, gas, and select everyday spending categories.

‍

Redemption

‍

The Platinum Card® from American Express: Membership Rewards points offer incredible flexibility, primarily geared towards travel. You can transfer points to a wide array of airline and hotel partners or use them to book flights and hotels directly through American Express Travel.

‍

Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card: Points are best used for award nights at thousands of Wyndham properties worldwide, including brands like Days Inn and Ramada. While other options like gift cards and merchandise are available, redeeming for hotel stays typically provides the most value.

‍

Travel Perks

‍

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: This card offers a premium travel ecosystem built for luxury and convenience. Cardmembers receive extensive airport lounge access through the American Express Global Lounge Collection, elite status with select hotel partners, and pay no foreign transaction fees. Travel can be booked through the comprehensive American Express Travel portal. Its benefits are designed to offset a high annual fee.
• Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card: This card’s travel ecosystem is focused on the Wyndham hotel portfolio. It provides automatic Wyndham Rewards elite status for enhanced stays and also charges no foreign transaction fees. It lacks the broad lounge access or flexible travel portal of a premium card, but it comes with a much lower annual fee, making it a practical choice for brand-loyal travelers.

‍

Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

‍

For a more personalized approach, a tool like Kudos can help you compare cards using your own spending data.

‍

• Test drive credit cards: Before you apply, Kudos can simulate your potential earnings with a new card by analyzing your actual spending history. This gives you a clear picture of a card’s net value after accounting for annual fees.
• Approval odds analysis: Get a detailed analysis of your approval chances based on your credit report, helping you apply with more confidence.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card within three months of applying through Kudos, the platform will match it.
• Unbiased recommendations: The platform includes nearly 3,000 credit cards in its database, with over 95% of them from issuers that do not offer commissions to Kudos, aiming for impartial advice.

Who Should Choose the American Express Platinum Card®?

‍

The American Express Platinum Card® is tailored for the frequent traveler who values luxury experiences and can fully leverage its suite of premium benefits. This individual is someone who will consistently take advantage of perks like extensive airport lounge access, complimentary hotel elite status, and exclusive dining opportunities. Ultimately, the ideal cardholder is a savvy spender who can strategically use the card's various statement credits for travel, entertainment, and retail to easily justify the annual fee.

Who Should Choose the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus?

‍

The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card is tailor-made for brand loyalists who frequently stay at Wyndham properties, including its portfolio of hotels, vacation rentals, and timeshares. This cardholder is looking to maximize rewards on their stays and everyday spending, particularly on gas, dining, and groceries. In exchange for the $75 annual fee, they gain automatic Wyndham Rewards Platinum membership and its associated perks, plus an annual 7,500-point anniversary bonus that can be redeemed for a free night.

Alternatives to Consider

‍

If our Amex Platinum vs. Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus comparison has shown that neither card is a good fit, don't worry. There are plenty of other travel rewards cards that might better suit your spending habits and travel style.

‍

[[ COMPARE_CARD * {"ids": ["510", "509"], "bestCategoryIds":["17", "18", "19"], "bestForTexts":["Annual Travel Credit", "Exceptional Value"]} ]]

Tips for Application Success

‍

Before You Apply

‍

• Check Your Credit Score - Most premium travel cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Review the Benefits - Make sure the card’s perks, like lounge access or hotel status, align with your lifestyle.
• Know the Issuer’s Rules - Be aware of any application restrictions, such as limits on welcome offers for previous cardholders.

‍

Application Strategy

‍

• Time your application - Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet spending requirements for a welcome offer.
• Space out your applications - Some issuers, like Barclays, can be sensitive to many recent credit inquiries, so it's wise to plan your applications over time.
• Activate your benefits - Many perks on premium cards, like the statement credits on the American Express® Platinum Card®, require manual enrollment after approval.

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 everyday spending?

‍

The Wyndham Earner Plus card generally offers stronger reward rates on everyday categories like gas and groceries. In contrast, the American Express® Platinum Card® primarily rewards spending on flights and prepaid hotels.

‍

What are the annual fees for these cards?

‍

The American Express® Platinum Card® has a high annual fee justified by its extensive travel perks, while the Wyndham Earner Plus card has a much more modest annual fee. For the most current fee information, it's best to consult the issuers directly.

‍

Is the Amex Platinum card worth it if I don't travel frequently?

‍

For those who don't travel often, it can be challenging to get enough value from the American Express® Platinum Card® to justify its annual fee, as its benefits are heavily geared toward travel. Terms Apply.

‍