Compare gold and platinum credit cards

Gold and platinum credit cards were once seen as the most prestigious cards to have - with the highest credit limits around - and only available to the elite.

But today, things are a little more democratic.

Gold and platinum cards still often come with added benefits, such as rewards and higher credit limits, but they are now more widely available.

There's also a much wider range of gold and platinum cards on the market - with perks varying from card to card. Some might offer insurance, for instance, or exclusive access to events, while others might focus on reward points.

Be aware that some premium credit cards charge high annual fees while others don’t. If the card you want to apply for charges a fee, you need to weigh up whether you’re likely to make full use of the benefits on offer to decide whether it’s worth applying for it.

Some popular choices today include the Amex Gold, American Express Platinum Cashback, Barclaycard Platinum, and First Direct Gold card. But there are lots of other options too.

You’re most likely to get a gold or platinum credit card if you have a good credit record. 

Some of the most exclusive credit cards will be invitation only, but others will be more easily accessible. For example, although you might need to meet minimum income requirements, there’s at least one credit card that is available to those with annual salaries of under £7,000. (The First Direct Gold credit card only asks for a minimum annual income requirement of £6,800.)

Exact eligibility criteria will vary depending on the card you’re applying for. As an example, if you want to apply for the American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday credit card, you will need to have no history of bad debt, a permanent UK home address, a UK current account and be prepared to spend at least £3,000 a year on your credit card – if you don’t, you won’t qualify for cashback. 

To be eligible for the welcome cashback bonus that comes with the card, you also must not have held a personal American Express credit card in the past 24 months. 

Our eligibility checker matches you with the credit cards you're most likely to get based on your circumstances.

We then tailor the results depending on what you're looking for - a gold card, for example.

This way you can rule out cards you're less likely to qualify for ahead of time, so you won't hurt your credit score by putting in applications that are later rejected.

That's because it uses a “soft search” credit check when comparing cards for you, which doesn't appear on your credit file to anyone except you.