American Express® Gold Card vs Platinum (Morgan Stanley)

American Express® Gold Card
$325/yr
7.5/10
VS

Platinum (Morgan Stanley)
$895/yr
5.5/10
Quick Answer
American Express® Gold Card charges $325/yr with 1X base rewards. Platinum (Morgan Stanley) charges $895/yr with 1X base rewards. American Express® Gold Card offers better overall value for most spenders when comparing fees, rewards, and benefits side by side.
Apply for American Express® Gold Card →
PointsPick may earn a commission. Disclosure
Apply for Platinum (Morgan Stanley) →
PointsPick may earn a commission. Disclosure
Winner by Category
Annual Fees
American Express® Gold Card
Lower annual fee ($325 vs $895)
Rewards Earning
American Express® Gold Card
4 earning categories
Benefits & Protection
American Express® Gold Card
6 benefits vs 0
Statement Credits
Platinum (Morgan Stanley)
$1439 in annual credits
Flexibility
American Express® Gold Card
Transferable points to airline/hotel partners
OUR PICK
American Express® Gold Card wins for most people
The $570 fee difference is hard to justify unless you maximize premium benefits.
Apply for American Express® Gold CardPREMIUM PICK
Platinum (Morgan Stanley) wins for heavy spenders
If you can offset the higher fee with credits and perks, this card delivers more value.
Apply for Platinum (Morgan Stanley)Rewards Earning: Detailed Comparison
American Express® Gold Card
| Dining | 4.0X |
| U.S. Supermarkets | 4.0X (up to $25,000) |
| Flights | 3.0X |
| Everything Else | 1.0X |
Platinum (Morgan Stanley)
| Flights (Amex Travel) | 5.0X |
| Hotels (Amex Travel) | 5.0X |
| Everything else | 1.0X |
Card Benefits: Detailed Comparison
American Express® Gold Card (6 benefits)
- Trip Delay Insurance (up to $500)
- Baggage Insurance Plan
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance
- Purchase Protection (up to $1,000)
- Extended Warranty
- Return Protection (up to $300)
Platinum (Morgan Stanley) (0 benefits)
See full review for benefits details.