American Express The Business Platinum Card vs Classic Green Card
Both are American Express cards. Here is every spend category, ranked by what each card actually returns.
Everything else
- The Business Platinum Card 2.0% 1x base rate
- Classic Green Card 2.0% 1x base rate
Dining
- Classic Green Card 6.0% 3x
- The Business Platinum Card 2.0% 1x base rate
Electronics stores
- The Business Platinum Card 4.0% 2x
- Classic Green Card 2.0% 1x base rate
Home improvement
- The Business Platinum Card 4.0% 2x
- Classic Green Card 2.0% 1x base rate
Shipping
- The Business Platinum Card 4.0% 2x
- Classic Green Card 2.0% 1x base rate
Flights
- Classic Green Card 6.0% 3x
- The Business Platinum Card 2.0% 1x base rate
Flights · portal
- The Business Platinum Card · American Express Travel 10.0% 5x
Hotels
- Classic Green Card 6.0% 3x
- The Business Platinum Card 2.0% 1x base rate
Hotels · portal
- The Business Platinum Card · American Express Travel 10.0% 5x
Public transit
- Classic Green Card 6.0% 3x
- The Business Platinum Card 2.0% 1x base rate
Rideshare & taxis
- Classic Green Card 6.0% 3x
- The Business Platinum Card 2.0% 1x base rate
Tolls
- Classic Green Card 6.0% 3x
- The Business Platinum Card 2.0% 1x base rate
What the numbers are doing
The table is earn rate only — annual fees are not netted out of it. These cards charge The Business Platinum Card $895 and Classic Green Card $150 a year, so a thin lead in one category may not cover the difference.
Where they differ: Classic Green Card takes dining, flights, hotels and public transit, plus 2 more; The Business Platinum Card takes electronics stores, home improvement and shipping.
| Category | Best card |
|---|---|
| Everything else | The Business Platinum Card2.0% |
| Dining | Classic Green Card6.0% |
| Electronics stores | The Business Platinum Card4.0% |
| Home improvement | The Business Platinum Card4.0% |
| Shipping | The Business Platinum Card4.0% |
| Flights | Classic Green Card6.0% |
| Flights · portal | The Business Platinum Card · American Express Travel10.0% |
| Hotels | Classic Green Card6.0% |
| Hotels · portal | The Business Platinum Card · American Express Travel10.0% |
| Public transit | Classic Green Card6.0% |
| Rideshare & taxis | Classic Green Card6.0% |
| Tolls | Classic Green Card6.0% |
Content preview. Apple Wallet controls the layout; visible categories vary by device. Categories that rank the same as Everything else are left off; every other category is in pass details.
Every category, every card
Everything else
- The Business Platinum Card — 2.0%
- Classic Green Card — 2.0%
Dining
- Classic Green Card — 6.0%
- The Business Platinum Card — 2.0%
Electronics stores
- The Business Platinum Card — 4.0%
- Classic Green Card — 2.0%
Home improvement
- The Business Platinum Card — 4.0%
- Classic Green Card — 2.0%
Shipping
- The Business Platinum Card — 4.0%
- Classic Green Card — 2.0%
Flights
- Classic Green Card — 6.0%
- The Business Platinum Card — 2.0%
Flights · portal
- The Business Platinum Card · American Express Travel — 10.0%
Hotels
- Classic Green Card — 6.0%
- The Business Platinum Card — 2.0%
Hotels · portal
- The Business Platinum Card · American Express Travel — 10.0%
Public transit
- Classic Green Card — 6.0%
- The Business Platinum Card — 2.0%
Rideshare & taxis
- Classic Green Card — 6.0%
- The Business Platinum Card — 2.0%
Tolls
- Classic Green Card — 6.0%
- The Business Platinum Card — 2.0%
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