Broadly speaking, there are three types of credit cards: entry-level (often with low or no annual fees), mid-tier (annual fees around the $100-$300 mark) and premium (annual fees of $400 or more).
A lot of focus is put on the two ends of the spectrum, focusing on the best credit cards with no annual fee or the best premium credit cards. We get regular questions about whether premium credit cards are worth the annual fee — but there’s much less focus on the middle ground.
So how, exactly, are mid-tier credit cards unique? What do they offer to justify their annual fees, and what do they lack when compared to their premium counterparts?
In this guide, we’ll compare the most popular premium and mid-tier credit cards from American Express, Capital One and Chase. We’ll exclude Citi because while the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees) is a popular mid-tier travel card, its luxury sibling — the Citi Prestige® Card — is no longer available to new applicants.
The information for the Citi Prestige has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
American Express mid-tier vs. premium cards
In its vast cards portfolio, American Express offers The Platinum Card® from American Express, the American Express® Gold Card and the American Express® Green Card. Here’s how they’re similar and different:
| Amex Platinum Card | Amex Gold Card | Amex Green Card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $695 (see rates and fees) | $325 (see rates and fees) | $150 |
| Welcome offer | Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. You may be targeted for a higher offer through the CardMatch tool; not everyone will receive the same offer, and offers may change at any time. | Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Plus, earn 20% back in statement credits on global restaurants up to $100 in the first six months of card membership. Offer ends Nov. 6. | Earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. |
| Value of welcome offer* | $1,600 | Up to $1,300 | $800 |
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| Earning rates |
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| Credit score required | 670 or above^ | 670 or above^ | 670 or above^ |
* Based on TPG’s September 2024 valuations; valuations are not provided by the card issuer.
**When traveling on same-day Delta flights; Effective February 1, 2025: Eligible Platinum Card Members will receive 10 Visits per Eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight
^ Based on TPG’s research and not provided by the card issuer.
The information for the Amex Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Amex Platinum vs. Amex Gold and Amex Gold vs. Amex Green
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An argument for the Amex Platinum Card
If you’re looking for a card stacked with benefits and perks, you can stop scrolling — you’ve found it in the Amex Platinum.
Cardmembers who take advantage of all the annual perks and benefits on the Amex Platinum will realize that this card is well worth its annual fee in the right hands.
It’s also among the best cards for buying airfare or paying the taxes and fees on your award flights. You’ll earn 5 miles per dollar on those purchases (up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and also enjoy travel and purchase protections that go into effect when paying with your card (terms apply).
Still, these perks come at a cost: a hefty annual fee of $695. If you can maximize the value this card offers, that annual fee is easily justified. But if not, you’ll likely prefer one of Amex’s cheaper options.
To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Platinum Card.
Apply here: The Platinum Card from American Express
An argument for the Amex Gold Card
For those looking for a card that has better earning rates on common spending categories, the Amex Gold packs a punch. It’s one of the best cards to use at restaurants, for food delivery in the U.S. and at supermarkets.
With an annual fee of $325, this card falls somewhere between the mid-tier and luxury card categories and doesn’t have a clear competitor from other issuers. But no matter how you classify it, this card offers up to $424 in annual value for those who can maximize the monthly Uber Cash benefit and credits for select restaurants — easily offsetting the card’s annual fee.
Plus, Amex Gold cardmembers still earn a respectable 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel. Based on TPG’s September 2024 valuations, that’s a 6% return on spending.
To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Gold Card.
Apply here: American Express Gold Card
An argument for the Amex Green Card
The versatility of the Amex Green is what so many people like about it.
It comes with an up to $199 Clear credit every calendar year to fully cover the cost of your Clear membership — which more than justifies the annual fee alone. You’ll also get up to $100 in LoungeBuddy credits each calendar year, making your travel experience even better and adding more value to your card.
Earning categories on the Amex Green Card are also strong. Cardmembers earn 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar on broadly defined travel and commuting categories, plus 3 points per dollar at restaurants around the world and 3 points per dollar on takeout and delivery in the U.S.
Learn more: Amex Green
Capital One mid-tier vs. premium cards
The Capital One premium credit card is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card; its mid-tier counterpart is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
| Capital One Venture X | Capital One Venture Rewards | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $395 (see rates and fees) | $95 (see rates and fees) |
| Welcome offer | Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. | Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
| Value of welcome offer* | $1,388 | $1,388 |
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| Earning rates |
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| Credit score required | 740^ | 670^ |
* Based on TPG’s September 2024 valuations; valuations are not provided by the card issuer.
^ Based on TPG’s research and not provided by the card issuer.
Related: Capital One Venture vs. Capital One Venture X
An argument for the Venture X
The Venture X clearly offers more benefits than its less-expensive counterpart. If you’re looking for perks like lounge access, cellphone protection and an annual travel credit, here’s a card that offers all of that and more.
Plus, according to TPG’s September 2024 valuations, the combination of the anniversary bonus miles and annual travel credit is worth more than the cost of the annual fee.
The card’s earning rates aren’t bad, but you need to book your travel through a portal to maximize these rates. That being said, 5 to 10 miles per dollar on most travel bookings is definitely a great return on spending.
To learn more, read our full review of the Venture X card.
Apply here: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
An argument for the Venture Rewards
The greatest argument for the Venture Rewards against the Venture X may be the fact that they have the same welcome offer right now and earn the same amount on everyday spending. Venture Rewards cardholders can still earn a valuable welcome bonus and earn 2 miles per dollar on everyday purchases.
While you won’t get benefits like unlimited lounge access, you will get discounted entry to Capital One Lounges and reimbursement for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee — solid perks for a much lower annual fee.
To learn more, read our full review of the Venture Rewards card.
Apply here: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Chase mid-tier vs. premium cards
Chase’s premium credit card is the Chase Sapphire Reserve®; its popular sibling is the mid-tier Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
| Sapphire Reserve | Sapphire Preferred | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $550 | $95 |
| Welcome offer | Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. | Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
| Value of the welcome offer* | $1,230 | $1,230 |
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| Earning rates |
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| Points redemption rates in Chase Travel | 1.5 cents apiece | 1.25 cents apiece |
| Credit score required | 740^ | 670^ |
* Based on TPG’s September 2024 valuations; valuations are not provided by the card issuer.
^ Based on TPG’s research and not provided by the card issuer.
Related: Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve
An argument for the Sapphire Reserve
While the Sapphire Reserve’s $550 annual fee seems high at first, consider that you get $300 in travel credits that apply automatically to a broadly-defined concept of what counts as travel.
Moreover, perks like reimbursing your application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and free food and drinks in airport lounges can bring that annual fee down to very little — or could make it effectively $0.
The Sapphire Reserve also has some of the best travel protections in the industry, making it a great card to use when paying for even a small part of your trip so these protections will go into effect.
Add to that the card’s strong earning categories and an elevated redemption rate of 1.5 cents per point when redeeming points through Chase Travel — great for paying for flights when you find a good price or booking hotels that aren’t part of a points program.
To learn more, read our full review of the Sapphire Reserve.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
An argument for the Sapphire Preferred
Sapphire Preferred cardholders still get a great number of travel protections to help when something goes wrong during a trip. On top of that, there’s a $50 hotel credit to use each year and a 10% points bonus on your cardmember anniversary each year. This card’s potential value here can’t be understated.
And despite the fact that the Sapphire Preferred carries just a $95 annual fee, it still has strong earning categories. It earns well on dining, streaming services and online grocery orders — categories where many Americans spend regularly.
To learn more, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Bottom line
In this guide, we compared the best premium credit cards and best mid-tier credit cards available from the same banks. This way, you can see how they’re similar and how they’re different while earning the same types of points or miles and being offered by the same issuer.
On the one hand, seeing a ton of perks and benefits listed for a credit card can be enticing. On the other hand, people see the high annual fees on premium credit cards and question whether those annual fees are worth it. After looking through these comparisons, there should be something that works for your wallet based on your travel style, travel goals and spending habits.
If one of these cards caught your eye and you plan to apply, make sure to look at our guide to credit card application rules and restrictions to improve your chances of being approved.
Related: How to choose the best credit card for you
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here.
