Amex Business Platinum vs United Business
Side-by-side comparison: signup bonus, annual fee, benefits, transfer partners. Updated daily from issuer pages.
Quick Answer
For year-one net value (welcome bonus minus annual fee), Amex Business Platinum comes out ahead at ~$5,105 even at a higher $895 annual fee vs $150. Amex Business Platinum sits in Amex MR; United Business sits in United MileagePlus. The right pick still depends on which credits and category multipliers fit your spending pattern — full breakdown below.
Amex Business Platinum
Highest first-year value among the 2 cards you're comparing — $7,054 after annual fee.
Amex
Amex Business Platinum
Annual Fee
$895/yr
Signup Bonus
300,000 Membership Rewards
Bonus Value
~$6,000
Benefits Value
~$1,949/yr
Spend Req.
$20,000 / 3mo
Rewards Currency
Amex MR
Network
Amex
Card Type
Business
Benefits
✈️ travel credit
CLEAR Plus Credit
$199/yr
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Credit
$120/yr
🛫 airline credit
Airline Incidental Fee Credit
$200/yr
🏛️ lounge
Centurion + Priority Pass Lounges
$400/yr
🛍️ shopping credit
Dell Technologies Credit
$400/yr
Indeed Credit
$360/yr
Adobe Credit
$150/yr
Wireless Credit
$120/yr
🎁 other
35% Pay With Points Rebate
Chase
United Business
Annual Fee
$150/yr
Signup Bonus
110,000 MileagePlus Miles
Bonus Value
~$1,485
Benefits Value
~$308/yr
Spend Req.
$5,000 / 3mo
Rewards Currency
United MileagePlus
Network
Visa
Card Type
Business
Benefits
🛫 airline credit
First 2 Checked Bags Free
$140/use
Priority Boarding
$50/yr
🏛️ lounge
2 United Club Passes Per Year
$118/yr
Quick winners by category
The fast answer if you came here looking for one specific thing.
Best for Travel
Amex Business Platinum
Wins on the full premium-travel stack — travel credit + hotel credit + lounge network + comprehensive travel insurance — all under one annual fee.
Best for Dining
Amex Business Platinum
Stronger dining category multiplier for everyday restaurant spending.
Best for Lounge Access
Amex Business Platinum
Stronger lounge network (Centurion + Priority Pass) than the other card's lounge access.
Best for Transfer Partners
Amex Business Platinum
Amex MR has 21+ transfer partners — better redemption flexibility.
Best for Beginners
United Business
Lower $150 annual fee makes the math safer for newer cardholders.
Best Overall Value
Amex Business Platinum
~$7,054 of first-year value after annual fee — wins the math.
Best for Premium Travel
Amex Business Platinum
Premium hotel credits, top-tier lounge access, and travel insurance built in — the luxury-travel pick.
Best for Luxury Travel
Amex Business Platinum
Stronger luxury-travel package: Centurion network + Fine Hotels & Resorts credit.
Biggest Credit Stack
Amex Business Platinum
Bigger statement-credit stack (~300/yr in tracked credits) — high ceiling if you use them.
What it's worth for your spending
Estimated first-year value (welcome bonus + benefits − annual fee) for four common spending profiles.
| Profile | Amex Business Platinum | United Business |
|---|---|---|
| Side hustle / freelancer ($50K/yr biz) | $8,062 | $2,858 |
| Established business ($200K/yr spend) | $11,140 | $6,782 |
Year-one value = welcome bonus + tracked benefits + estimated points value from spending − annual fee. Points valued at 1.5¢ each (transferable) or 1¢ each (cashback). Real-world value depends on how you redeem.
Side-by-side: every spec that matters
Higher value highlighted in green per row.
| Amex Business Platinum | United Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 300,000 Membership Rewards (~$6,000) | 110,000 MileagePlus Miles (~$1,485) |
| Annual fee | $895/yr | $150/yr |
| Authorized user fee | $350/user | $0 |
| Transfer partners | 21+ partners (Amex MR) | None (single program) |
| Travel credits | $519/yr | $190/yr |
| Lounge access | Centurion + Priority Pass (Amex) | Priority Pass |
| Dining rewards | 1x | 1x |
| Grocery rewards | 1x | 1x |
| Hotel rewards | 5x 5x on prepaid hotels via amextravel.com | 1x |
| Travel insurance | Comprehensive | Included |
| Cell phone protection | Included | Not standard |
| Foreign transaction fee | $0 | $0 |
| Mobile wallet | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay |
| Network | Amex | Visa |
Who should get the Amex Business Platinum?
- ✓You run an LLC / S-corp with $50K+/year of legitimate business spend — Biz Plat's 5× on flights + benefits package makes the $695 AF a tax-deductible business expense.
- ✓You use Dell / Adobe / Indeed for business spend — the targeted $400 Dell credit + $360 Adobe + $360 Indeed credits are easy to realise if you already buy these.
- ✓Personal Amex Plat-once-per-lifetime rule has been triggered — Biz Plat is a separate SUB you can still claim.
- ✓You're a frequent traveler willing to absorb a $895 annual fee for premium credits and lounge access.
- ✓Travel is one of your top 3 spending categories and you want to earn faster on flights, hotels, and ride-shares.
- ✓You have business income (LLC, freelance, side hustle) and want to separate spending while earning rewards.
- ✓You book aspirational hotels and want elite status, suite upgrades, and resort credits without earning them through stays.
Who should get the United Business?
- ✓You travel or dine out enough that a $150 fee pays back via credits and category multipliers.
- ✓You fly a specific airline 4+ times per year and want elite-style perks (free bags, priority boarding).
- ✓You have business income (LLC, freelance, side hustle) and want to separate spending while earning rewards.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a better welcome bonus, Amex Business Platinum or United Business?
Amex Business Platinum currently offers the stronger welcome bonus by estimated cash value (~6,000 vs ~1,485). Welcome bonus offers change frequently — check the current offer on each card's detail page before applying.
Is the Amex Business Platinum worth the 895 annual fee?
For first-year cardholders the answer is usually yes — the welcome bonus (~6,000) and statement credits alone typically cover the 895 fee several times over. After year one, the math depends on your spending patterns. Use our Annual Fee Calculator with your actual numbers to verify before renewing.
Is the United Business worth the 150 annual fee?
For first-year cardholders the answer is usually yes — the welcome bonus (~1,485) and statement credits alone typically cover the 150 fee several times over. After year one, the math depends on your spending patterns. Use our Annual Fee Calculator with your actual numbers to verify before renewing.
Can I have both the Amex Business Platinum and the United Business?
Yes — these cards are from different issuers (Amex and Chase), so holding both is fine. Each card has its own welcome bonus and benefits with no overlap rules between the two issuers.
Which card is better for transferring points to Hyatt?
Neither card transfers points to World of Hyatt. Only Chase Ultimate Rewards, Bilt Rewards and the co-branded World of Hyatt card transfer to Hyatt at 1:1. To stack Hyatt points without leaving these two ecosystems you'd need to add a Chase Sapphire or Bilt card alongside.
Which card has better airport lounge access?
Amex Business Platinum unlocks Centurion + Priority Pass; United Business unlocks lounge access. Both give you a real lounge experience, but the networks don't overlap — pick the card whose lounge footprint fits the airports you actually fly through.
Which card has the better overall value?
Based on first-year math (welcome bonus + tracked statement credits − annual fee), Amex Business Platinum comes out ahead at ~7,054 of net value vs ~1,643 for the other card. After year one, the better card for YOU depends on how naturally you'll use the credits and category bonuses.
Does Chase's 5/24 rule affect approval for these cards?
Yes — United Business is issued by Chase, so the 5/24 rule applies. If you've opened 5 or more cards in the last 24 months, Chase will likely deny your application. Amex Business Platinum is issued by Amex and isn't subject to 5/24.
Ready to apply?
Click through to the issuer's secure application page. Welcome bonus offers are confirmed at the time of approval, not at click time.
Amex
Amex Business Platinum
Welcome: 300,000 Membership Rewards · ~$6,000 est. value
Chase
United Business
Welcome: 110,000 MileagePlus Miles · ~$1,485 est. value
Run your own numbers
These calculators use the same data this comparison runs on — plug in your spending and see net value.
Last reviewed
2026-05-29
Data sources
Issuer pages (verified via Playwright on this date), TPG monthly valuations, public award charts.
Methodology
Editorial note: CreditPoints may earn a commission when you apply through some of the links on this page, but the side-by-side ranking, Quick Winners and Real-World Scenarios are algorithmic and identical for all readers. We never accept payment to change ordering.
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