Amex Business Platinum Card vs. Amex Corporate Platinum Card [Detailed Comparison]

As your business grows, you may need to think seriously about a business credit card that can help you manage your business expenses. You may also want to secure a card that ensures you’ll earn rewards on those expenses and has redemption options that can add value to your bottom line.

If your business involves travel, having a card that provides premium travel benefits and protections might also be a priority.

Additionally, if you’re considering a corporate card for your business operation, you’ll want to keep reading. We’re comparing The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express to the Corporate Platinum Card^® by American Express*.

While both cards offer plenty of value for a business owner, they’re considerably different.

Join us as we look at the guidelines for applying, how each of these cards earns rewards, the redemption options you’ll have, and an overview of any benefits and protections that might add value to your business.

All information about the Corporate Platinum Card^® by American Express has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Amex Business Platinum Card vs. Amex Corporate Platinum Card — Overview

Before we dive into all the key details of the Amex Business Platinum card and the Amex Corporate Platinum card, let’s look at a high-level overview comparing our featured cards side-by-side.

*All information about the Corporate Platinum Card^® by American Express has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Business Credit Cards vs. Corporate Credit Cards

There are stark differences between a business credit card and a corporate credit card. We’ll talk about American Express-issued cards next, but first, let’s look at the general differences between these 2 types of cards:

• Liability for Debt — Typically, a business credit card requires the primary cardholder to be personally responsibility for any charges made on the card. With a corporate card, the business entity is normally responsible.
• Eligibility — Any business, large or small, can apply for a business credit card, while corporate cards may accept only incorporated businesses. Additionally, minimum annual revenue requirements and even a minimum number of employees may be required for eligibility.
• Card Features — Both business and corporate cards allow you to manage employee spending with tracking and spending-limit capabilities. Both types of cards also typically offer rewards earning and redemption options.
• Application Process — You can apply online for a business card, but applying for a corporate card may require a consultation with a representative to work through the application process and discuss available employee card options.

A corporate card may be the better choice if your business has an extraordinary amount of transactions, if spending limits need to be higher, or if you have 100 employees or more. Corporate cards may also feature a more enhanced card management system than a business card.

Bottom Line: Business credit cardholders are typically responsible for charges on the card, while the business is responsible for charges on a corporate card. Any business can normally qualify for a business card, but a corporate card may require the business to be incorporated and have specific revenue or employee levels. Both types of cards offer management tools and can offer rewards on purchases. 

Application Guidelines

Now let’s talk specifically about American Express-issued business and corporate cards.

It’s recommended that you have good to excellent credit to qualify for the Amex Business Platinum card — generally a score of 700 or better. It is possible to be approved with a slightly lower credit score as other factors of your credit history are considered. When applying for the Amex Corporate Platinum card, your business credit score and history will determine your acceptance.

Anyone with the appropriate credit history and a business, even a small business, can apply for the Amex Business Platinum card. The Amex Corporate Platinum card requires a business to meet the following criteria:

• Revenue of over $4 million each year
• Business address other than a home address
• 12 months or more in business
• Not a sole proprietor

One major difference between the Amex Business Platinum card and the Amex Corporate Platinum card is that your personal credit can be used to guarantee the debt on the Amex Business Platinum card, while the business would guarantee the debt on the Amex Corporate Platinum card.

Additionally, both cards require that the balance be paid off in full each statement period.

Hot Tip: Select American Express Corporate cardmembers may qualify for an annual statement credit offer, up to $150, for select personal American Express cards. 

The Value of a Welcome Offer

When you apply and are subsequently approved for the Amex Business Platinum card, you’ll have the opportunity to earn a welcome bonus after meeting minimum spending requirements during the period immediately following your card approval.

ELEVATED OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Welcome Offer

Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

150,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$3,300

Annual Fee

$695

APR

19.49% - 28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
• Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
• Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (cap applies)

Cons

• High annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)
• Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 5X Membership Rewards^® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
• Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
• Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card^®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card^®, here.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the Card.
• $189 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR^® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card^®.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
• $695 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.49% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

We value Membership Rewards points at approximately 2.2 cents each, which means a 100,000-point welcome offer would be worth up to $2,200.

Welcome bonuses and spending requirements change so be sure to check the most current offer before applying.

Note that the Amex Corporate Platinum card does not feature a welcome offer.

Earning Potential

It’s a smart decision to earn rewards on purchases you’re making anyway, especially when you have a lot of business expenses.

Here’s how you’ll earn rewards on all of the purchases you make with either the Amex Business Platinum card or the Amex Corporate Platinum card:

Bottom Line: The Amex Business Platinum card has the edge with a more robust earning structure than the Amex Corporate Platinum card. 

Redemption Options

The primary cardholder on the Amex Business Platinum card and company-designated program administrators on the Amex Corporate Platinum card have several redemption options for Membership Rewards earned on the corresponding cards.

Amex Business Platinum Card

• Flights — Redeem points at 1 cent each for flights via AmexTravel.com
• Transfer to Amex Transfer Partners — Transfer points to airline and hotel partners to purchase award flights or free hotel nights.
• Flight Upgrades — Use points to bid for flight upgrades.
• Pay With Points Rebate — Redeem points via AmexTravel.com for business or first class flights on any airline or any class flights on your preselected airline and receive a 35% rebate in points (up to 1 million points back per calendar year).
• Additional Redemption Options — Redeem points for statement credits, to shop at Amazon and select retailers, for gift cards, or prepaid hotels via AmexTravel.com.

Amex Corporate Platinum Card

• Certificates and Gift Cards — Purchase gift certificates or retail gift cards with Membership Rewards points earned on the card.
• American Express Gift Cards — Membership Rewards points may be used to purchase American Express gift cards online.
• Use Pay With Points — Use points to book select travel via AmexTravel.com or for purchases at Ticketmaster.
• Shop With Points — Link your Amex Corporate Platinum card to your Amazon account and use points for your purchases. You can also redeem points to shop with select retailers such as Best Buy, but shopping with points is generally a poor value.
• Statement Credit — Membership Rewards points are worth 0.5 cents each towards a statement credit. For example, you can redeem 20,000 points for a statement credit of $100.

For the Amex Business Platinum card, the primary cardholder has redemption privileges. For the Amex Corporate Platinum card, the company will designate administrators who are granted redemption privileges in the Corporate Membership Rewards Program. A company may also choose to allow individual cardholders to accumulate Membership Rewards and have redemption privileges.

Bottom Line: The Amex Business Platinum card offers more flexibility and additional options at redemption time than the Amex Corporate Platinum card. 

Travel Benefits and Protections

Travel benefits can save you money while protections can provide peace of mind knowing you’re covered should something go wrong during your travels.

Here are some of the key travel benefits and protections you can expect to receive on both the Amex Business Platinum card and the Amex Corporate Platinum card:

• American Express Global Lounge Collection — Receive complimentary unlimited access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide:
  • Centurion Lounges
  • Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta on the same day)
  • Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner
  • International Centurion Lounges
  • Select Lufthansa Lounges (when flying on a Lufthansa Group flight the same day)
  • Plaza Premium Lounges
  • Priority Pass Select (upon enrollment)
  • Select Virgin Clubhouse Lounges
• $189 CLEAR Plus Credit — Pay for CLEAR Plus expedited airport security membership with your card and receive up to $189 in statement credits.
• Up to $200 Airline Fee Credit — Log into your online card account and select your preferred airline. Use your card to make your purchase and receive a statement credit.
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit — Pay the application or renewal fee with your card and receive reimbursement for up to $100 Global Entry or up to $85 TSA PreCheck for application fees.
• Hilton Honors Gold Status — Sign in to your Amex card account online and register for this complimentary elite status benefit.
• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status — Receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status as long as you have the card. Registration is required.
• Fine Hotels & Resorts Benefits — Amex Business Platinum card benefits include room upgrades when available, daily breakfast for 2, noon check-in when available, 4 p.m. checkout, complimentary Wi-Fi, and an onsite amenity or experience (minimum value of $100). The Amex Corporate Platinum card offers the same benefits, however, the onsite amenity or experience value is based on prior year bookings.
• International Airline Program — Receive discounts of up to 20% on international fares with select airlines when using AmexTravel.com’s International Airline Program.
• Premium Global Assist Hotline — Enjoy 24/7 assistance with emergency transportation arrangements, medical referrals, translation services, and more. Cardholders are responsible for the actual services received.
• Roadside Assistance — Receive up to 4 service calls each calendar year, including tire changing, lockout service, jump-starting, limited towing, and fuel delivery.

Additional Travel Benefits and Protections — Amex Business Platinum Card

In addition to the list of shopping benefits and protections you’ll find on both cards, the Amex Business Platinum offers these additional features:

• No Foreign Transaction Fees — Unlike the Amex Corporate Platinum card which charges 2.5%, the Amex Business Platinum card does not charge foreign transaction fees (rates & fees).
• Points Rebate via AmexTravel.com — Business and first class flights purchased using Pay With Points on any airline via AmexTravel.com will receive a rebate of 35% of the points used. Any flights purchased with points via AmexTravel.com on your preselected airline using points will also receive the rebate.
• The Hotel Collection Benefits — Use your card to book a stay for a minimum of 2 nights and receive an upgraded room, when available, and a $100 experience credit to use onsite for dining, spa, and resort activities.
• Car Rental Program Benefits — Receive elite-style benefits such as discounted pricing, a grace period for returning your rental car, car upgrades, and more with Avis, Hertz, and National.

Bottom Line: While the Amex Corporate Platinum card comes with several travel benefits and protections, the Amex Business Platinum card offers additional benefits and protections such as no foreign transaction fees, a points rebate when booking flights via AmexTravel.com, and hotel and car rental benefits. 

Shopping Benefits and Protections

Shopping benefits can save you money while protections can save the day if an eligible item you purchase with your card becomes damaged.

Here are the shopping benefits and protections you can expect on both the Amex Business Platinum card and the Amex Corporate Platinum card:

• Cell Phone Protection — Pay for your monthly eligible cell phone service with your card and receive coverage for theft or damage, up to $800 per claim. There is a limit of 2 claims per eligible card account each 12-month period and there is a $50 deductible applied to each claim.

Amex Business Platinum Card

The Amex Business Platinum card offers these additional shopping benefits/protections:

• Dell Statement Credit — Receive up to $400 in annual statement credits for qualifying purchases at Dell Technologies, a limit of $200 from January through June, and another $200 from July through December.
• Wireless Services Statement Credit — Pay for your monthly wireless phone service with your card and receive up to $10 per month, $120 each year, as a statement credit.
• Adobe Statement Credit — Receive up to $150 each year in statement credits for qualifying Adobe purchases.
• Indeed Statement Credit — Purchases made directly with Indeed can qualify for up to $90 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of $360 in credits each calendar year.

Bottom Line: The Amex Corporate Platinum card does not list any shopping benefits or protections in its benefit descriptions other than cell phone protection. 

Annual Fees and Authorized Users

The Amex Business Platinum card charges an annual fee of $695 while the Amex Corporate Platinum card charges $550.

Adding employee cards is a key component to managing the expenses your business makes. Both cards provide card management tools and make it easy to add employee authorized users.

Adding an additional user to the Amex Business Platinum card will cost $350 each year for every additional cardmember. You can add Amex Gold card members for $45 each annually and there is no charge to add Amex Gold card members. You can add up to 99 additional card users.

Each Amex Corporate Green card issued to an employee has an annual fee of $75.

Hot Tip: Authorized users on the Amex Business Platinum card receive full unlimited access to the Amex Global Lounge Collection plus a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement. 

Final Thoughts

If your business has grown to the point where you’re considering a corporate card, you may want to first consider a premium business card. You’ll need to weigh the personal liability issue of a business credit card versus a corporate card, determine which has a better rewards program for your spending mix, and whether the management tools meet the expense activity of your business.

The Amex Business Platinum card may be a better choice over the Amex Corporate Platinum card depending on your business structure.

Finally, let’s clarify that not all of the benefits for both cards have been included in this article, only key ones. Benefit and protection descriptions have also been abbreviated, so you’ll want to access each card’s Guide to Benefits for full descriptions and the terms/conditions. Additionally, for the Amex Corporate Platinum card, some features, benefits, and fees are not publicly accessible but are disclosed and applied during the application process.

The information regarding the American Express^® Corporate Green Card was independently collected Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 

For the Global Assistant Hotline benefit of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express and The American Express Corporate Platinum Card^®, cardmembers can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Plus, we may provide emergency medical transportation assistance and related services. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

For the Cell Phone Protection benefit of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express and The American Express Corporate Platinum Card^®, coverage for a stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per Eligible Card Account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per Eligible Card Account per 12 month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.