Selecting the greatest bank cards so as to add to your pockets could be difficult since every card presents completely different perks — that is very true for premium playing cards.
Plus, issuers preserve upping the ante by refreshing fashionable playing cards, including advantages and rising the playing cards’ annual charges, so there’s extra competitors on this area than ever.
Let’s evaluate the advantages and worth propositions of among the greatest premium bank cards accessible for brand new candidates. We’ll concentrate on eight premium rewards playing cards:
Methodology for evaluating the very best premium bank cards
For this comparability, we are going to evaluate these playing cards throughout seven classes:
- Annual charge
- Present welcome supply
- Level-earning potential
- Redemption choices
- Assertion credit and notable perks
- Lounge entry
- Journey and buy protections
This evaluation is predicated on a generic traveler attempting to determine which one in every of these playing cards is true for them. When selecting which one is the very best, premium bank cards have various perks and advantages, so the one which’s proper to your pockets will rely in your particular needs and desires.
Comparability of the very best premium playing cards
| Card | Annual charge | Further cardholder charge | Welcome supply | Welcome supply worth* | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Platinum | $695 (see charges and charges) | $195 for every further cardmember (see charges and charges) | Discover out your supply and see in case you are eligible for as excessive as 175,000 Membership Rewards Factors after spending $8,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership. Welcome presents differ and also you is probably not eligible for a suggestion. | As much as $3,500 |
|
| Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card | $395 | $0 for as much as 4 approved customers | Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | $1,388 |
|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve** | $795 | $195 for every further cardholder | Earn 100,000 bonus factors and a $500 Chase Journey℠ credit score after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
Be aware the promotional credit score is legitimate for a one-time use solely, if you happen to apply the promotional credit score to a transaction lower than $500, you’ll forfeit the remaining steadiness. |
As much as $2,550, together with the Chase Journey credit score |
Purchases that qualify for the $300 annual journey credit score won’t earn factors. |
| Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard | $595 | $175 annual charge for the primary three approved customers, $175 for every approved consumer after that | Earn 70,000 miles after spending $7,000 on purchases inside the first three months of account opening. | $1,085 |
|
| Delta Reserve | $650 (see charges and charges) | $175 per further cardmember (see charges and charges) | Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. | $840 |
|
| Hilton Honors Aspire Card | $550 (see charges and charges) | $0 for every further cardmember (see charges and charges) | Earn 150,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. | $750 |
|
| Marriott Bonvoy Good | $650 (see Charges & Charges) | $0 (see Charges & Charges) | Earn 185,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership. | $1,295 |
|
| United Membership Card | $695 | $0 for every further cardholder | Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. | $1,040 |
|
*Welcome supply worth is an estimated worth primarily based on TPG’s August 2025 valuations and isn’t offered by the issuer.
**It is vital to notice that for Sapphire Reserve cardholders who utilized earlier than June 23, 2025, new advantages and incomes charges take impact October 26.
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Annual charge
When contemplating a card’s annual charge, contemplate the advantages and assertion credit it presents to see whether or not the worth offered justifies the fee. Some playing cards with excessive annual charges can present a lot worth that you could be even web cash and are available out forward.
Whether or not or not a card fees a charge for further cardholders additionally issues. Half of the playing cards on our listing do not cost a charge for extra cardholders (although some restrict the variety of complimentary customers you’ll be able to add).
The Hilton Honors American Specific Aspire Card permits approved customers to get pleasure from an up-to-$100 property credit score for eligible two-night stays at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties.
In the meantime, approved customers on the Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard obtain Admirals Membership entry for themselves and their rapid relations or as much as two touring companions with a same-day boarding cross for an eligible flight.
Nonetheless, the Enterprise X is the winner of this class. At the beginning, its $395 annual charge is way decrease than the remainder of the group. Plus, you’ll be able to add as much as 4 approved customers for no further cost.
Associated: Have good credit score? Share it with a certified consumer
Welcome supply
All of the premium playing cards listed above include profitable welcome presents that may assist get you nearer to your subsequent massive journey.
Playing cards that earn transferable rewards and welcome presents are value greater than their cobranded counterparts. With the Amex Platinum, discover out your supply and see in case you are eligible for as excessive as 175,000 Membership Rewards Factors after spending $8,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership. Welcome presents differ and also you is probably not eligible for a suggestion. The Amex Platinum welcome supply is value as much as $3,500 primarily based on TPG’s August 2025 valuations.
Associated: The perfect welcome presents of the month
Factors-earning potential
One other vital facet when evaluating premium bank cards is the points-earning potential and the rewards you’ll be able to earn.
The Sapphire Reserve comes out on high right here. It probably the most worthwhile currencies on all kinds of purchases. Final Rewards are value 2.05 cents apiece, based on TPG’s August 2025 valuations.
Just like the Enterprise X, the Sapphire Reserve racks up extra bonus factors on journey booked by means of the issuer’s journey portal. Nonetheless, the cardboard pulls forward of Enterprise X by incomes extra factors on eating and flights and lodges booked instantly, plus bonus earnings with a number of companions.
That stated, the Enterprise X earns a strong 2 miles per greenback on on a regular basis spending, which is fairly simple to maximise with no need to trace spending classes.
The Hilton Honors Aspire Card takes the third spot, because of an unimaginable 14 factors per greenback at Hilton properties and seven factors per greenback on airfare (booked instantly or although Amex Journey), automobile leases (booked instantly with choose firms) and U.S. eating places. Primarily based on our August 2025 valuations, these bonuses characterize 7% and three.5% returns on spending, respectively.
Associated: Maximizing bank cards to change into points-rich with out spending a ton
Redemption choices
One other vital facet when evaluating premium playing cards is the redemption choices, and the one that gives most worth is using switch companions.
| Card | Redemption/switch choices |
|---|---|
| Amex Platinum | You possibly can redeem factors for an announcement credit score (at 0.6 cents per level), journey or switch them to one in every of 17 airways and three resort companions. |
| Capital One Enterprise X | You possibly can redeem miles for money again (at 0.5 cents per mile), journey purchases in your assertion (at 1 cent per mile), reward playing cards, PayPal, Amazon, tickets by means of Capital One Leisure or switch them to one in every of 15-plus airline and resort companions. |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | You possibly can redeem factors to ebook journey instantly by means of Chase Journey, and with the brand new Factors Increase redemption acceleration, your factors could be value as much as 2 cents apiece, relying on the particular redemption (see your rewards program settlement for full particulars).
You can even offset some purchases by means of Chase’s Pay Your self Again or switch them to one in every of 11 airways and three resort companions. |
| Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard | You possibly can redeem miles for flights on American Airways and its varied Oneworld alliance companions and nonalliance companions like Etihad Airways, upgrades, lodges, rental vehicles, experiences and Admirals Membership passes. |
| Delta Reserve | You possibly can redeem miles for flights on Delta and its varied SkyTeam or nonalliance companions like WestJet, seat upgrades, Delta Holidays, Delta Stays, automobile leases, SkyMiles experiences and magazines. |
| Hilton Honors Aspire Card | You possibly can redeem factors for stays at lodges within the Hilton Honors portfolio of manufacturers or switch to one in every of 26 airline companions. |
| Marriott Bonvoy Good | You possibly can redeem factors for resort stays within the Marriott Bonvoy program or switch them to one in every of 39 airline companions. |
| United Membership Card | You possibly can redeem miles for flights on United and its varied Star Alliance companions. |
Evaluation
The perfect premium bank cards on this listing are the Sapphire Reserve, the Amex Platinum and the Enterprise X, they usually’ve earned their spots because of the flexibility of transferable factors or miles that will not lock you into a particular set of airways or lodges.
Regardless that the Chase Sapphire Reserve has fewer switch companions than the Amex Platinum, Sapphire Reserve cardholders can redeem factors for journey instantly by means of Chase Journey at a price of as much as 2 cents per level, relying on the particular redemption (see your rewards program settlement for full particulars). In the meantime, Amex Platinum has 20 airline and resort switch companions in complete and diversified redemption choices.
The Enterprise X takes third place by providing 15-plus airline and resort switch companions. Whereas you’ll be able to switch to most applications at a 1:1 ratio, there are some exceptions: Accor Reside Limitless (2:1), JetBlue TrueBlue (5:3) and EVA Air Infinity MileageLands (2:1.5).
The cobranded premium airline playing cards usually supply extra redemption choices, however they do not have switch companions, and the miles can solely be used to ebook flights on their companion airways (each alliance and nonalliance).
Which of those three is greatest for you? That can rely in your most well-liked switch companions and their alignment together with your journey targets.
Associated: How you can switch bank card rewards to companion applications
Assertion credit and notable perks
All these premium card choices have many assertion credit and perks meant to offer worth to cardholders. In some instances, if you happen to make the most of the total worth of the credit and perks, you’ll be able to get well your annual charge and even obtain constructive worth.
| Card | Assertion credit and advantages |
|---|---|
| Amex Platinum |
Enrollment is required for choose advantages. |
| Capital One Enterprise X |
|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve |
|
| Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard |
|
| Delta Reserve |
Enrollment is required for choose advantages. |
| Hilton Honors Aspire |
Enrollment is required for choose advantages. |
| Marriott Bonvoy Good |
Enrollment is required for choose advantages. |
| United Membership Card |
|
**Upon enrollment, accessible by means of the Capital One web site or cell app, eligible cardholders will stay at that standing degree by means of the length of the supply. Please notice, enrolling by means of the traditional Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment course of (e.g. at Hertz.com) won’t robotically detect a cardholder as being eligible for this system and cardholders won’t be robotically upgraded to the relevant standing tier. Further phrases apply
Evaluation
After its refesh, the Chase Sapphire Reserve presents probably the most worth to be discovered with the credit. For starters, the $300 journey credit score is larger than most opponents and applies to any journey buy (versus simply charges or airfare, like a few of its competitors).
You may additionally obtain an as much as $500 annual resort credit score by means of The Edit, an as much as $300 annual StubHub and Viagogo credit score for reserving tickets and dwell leisure and complimentary subscriptions to Apple Music and Apple TV+ (one-time activation required). As well as, the credit score posts in a short time, whereas different playing cards require you to attend a whole assertion interval and even power you to name and have customer support manually problem you a credit score.
Amex presents a plethora of way of life and travel-focused credit on the Platinum, making it an in depth second. The entire worth of those credit is over $1,600. If you will get all or a lot of the advantages, you’ll greater than offset the cardboard’s annual charge. Nonetheless, the worth they’ll present in your state of affairs can differ.
The Enterprise X additionally has a $300 credit score, although it is extra restricted: It solely applies to bookings made by means of the Capital One Journey portal. Plus, with the anniversary 10,000 bonus miles, and if you happen to make the most of the total worth of the journey credit score, you’d web constructive worth yearly.
The cobranded resort playing cards supply substantial worth when staying at Hilton or Marriott properties and supply helpful hotel-related assertion credit and advantages like elite standing and free night time awards.
The cobranded airline playing cards present modest assertion credit, however the inflight reductions and free checked baggage could be very helpful if you happen to often fly on a type of airways.
Associated: The perfect bank cards to achieve elite standing
Lounge entry
| Card | Lounge entry |
|---|---|
| Amex Platinum |
Enrollment is required for choose advantages. |
| Capital One Enterprise X |
|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | |
| Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard |
|
| Delta Reserve |
|
| Hilton Honors Aspire | None |
| Marriott Bonvoy Good |
Enrollment is required. |
| United Membership Card |
Evaluation
This class is way harder to rank, provided that the worth of lounge entry is predicated on many elements — out of your typical departure airport(s) and your most well-liked airline(s) to how often you journey with company.
The Amex Platinum supplies entry to probably the most lounges for the first account holder; if you happen to journey with others, the worth adjustments. You could have to pay so as to add approved customers if you happen to aren’t spending sufficient in your card to earn visitor privileges.
The Enterprise X has Precedence Move and Capital One Lounge entry. The issuer debuted its first lounge at Dallas-Fort Price Worldwide Airport (DFW) in 2021 and has grown to have six places (one in every of which is branded as a Touchdown).
The Chase Sapphire Reserve additionally comes with Precedence Move membership and supplies entry to the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Membership, which has eight places. Moreover, if you happen to’re flying on a Star Alliance airline, you’ll be able to entry choose Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges.
The three airline playing cards would be the handiest for people who fly one service recurrently and may make the most of its lounges.
Associated: Finest bank cards for airport lounge entry
Journey and buy protections
All of those playing cards additionally present varied coverages and protections once you’re touring or making purchases, which may make your life simple if issues go awry. All of them have some mixture of the next protections and insurance coverage:
Evaluation
The Sapphire Reserve takes the cake right here as the very best premium bank card with its slew of protections like main automobile rental insurance coverage, emergency evacuation insurance coverage and journey accident insurance coverage.
The Enterprise X is available in second, because of pretty complete protections that embrace cellphone protection.
The Amex Platinum presents important journey insurance coverage protection*, however notice that the rental automobile profit supplies secondary protection**, and there’s no baggage delay protection.
Should you’re a United flyer, the United Membership additionally presents a strong slate of protections chances are you’ll wish to contemplate.
*Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply for journey insurances and protections. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars.
**Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Not all car sorts or leases are lined, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable by means of American Specific Journey Associated Companies Firm, Inc.
Whereas many of those advantages look comparable general, your greatest guess is to look at the variations and gaps after which decide how seemingly these are to have an effect on your journeys. All of those playing cards supply varied protections and insurances, so analyze what’s greatest to your wants.
Associated: Your full information to journey protections on American Specific playing cards
Backside line
You could suppose paying $395 or extra for a card’s annual charge is prohibitive. As you’ll be able to see, nonetheless, the very best premium bank cards carry quite a few advantages that may simply cowl that annual charge after which some.
As all the time, tailor your alternative primarily based on what’s most vital to you. This information ought to present a framework for deciding which premium bank cards are good matches to your pockets.
Apply right here: Amex Platinum
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Apply right here: Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard
Apply right here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Specific Card
Apply right here: Marriott Bonvoy Good American Specific Card
Apply right here: United Membership Card
Apply right here: Hilton Honors Aspire
Study extra: Capital One Enterprise X
For Capital One merchandise listed on this web page, among the advantages could also be offered by Visa® or Mastercard® and should differ by product. See the respective Information to Advantages for particulars, as phrases and exclusions apply.
For charges and charges of The Platinum Card from American Specific, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Marriott Bonvoy Good American Specific Card, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Specific Card, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Hilton Honors Aspire Card, click on right here.
