Sapphire Reserve for Business vs. Amex Business Platinum: Which Is Best for Travel and Ad Spend?

If you run a business and spend heavily on travel or paid advertising, you’ve probably looked at the Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. Both are high-end, pay-in-full business cards with massive bonuses, lounge access, and travel perks — but they reward spending in very different ways.

Let’s break it all down: points, multipliers, credits, redemptions, and who each card is actually best for. If you’re spending $10,000+ a month on ads or flying frequently for work, choosing the right one can be worth thousands in value each year.
 

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. See rates & fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.

Which Premium Business Card Fits Your Use Case?

Points Multipliers: Travel and Ads

🔍 Sebby’s take:
Chase clearly targets performance marketers here. 3x on Facebook, Google, TikTok, and LinkedIn ads is clean and uncapped. Combine that with 8x through Chase Travel and 4x directly with airlines and hotels? This card is a points-earning machine.

Amex wins if you’re booking everything through Amex Travel and regularly make large $5k+ purchases. But for most modern startups and digital-first teams, Chase is more practical.

Annual Fees and Annual Credits

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. See rates & fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.

🔍 What actually matters:

The Amex credits are harder to fully utilize unless you’re already spending at Dell or running hiring campaigns on Indeed. The Chase credits, on the other hand, hit Google Workspace, Lyft, DoorDash — things most teams already use.
 

Amex still wins on lounges if you’re near a Centurion Lounge or frequently fly Delta, but Chase’s new Sapphire Lounges are getting better every month.

Redemption Value

• Chase points: Worth up to 2¢ via Points Boost or more when transferred to partners like Hyatt, United, or Singapore Airlines
• Amex points: Worth ~1.0–1.5¢ on average, depending on how you redeem
  • Up to 35% rebate on eligible airfare with “Pay With Points” (max 1M pts/year) until Sept 17, 2025.
     

🔍 For travel optimizers:

Chase Ultimate Rewards are arguably easier to use, thanks to valuable travel transfer partners and up to 2¢ in value via Points Boost. Amex has more transfer partners but fewer sweet spots and more hoops to jump through.

Who Each Card Is Best For

Final Verdict: Which Business Card Wins?

• ✅ Go with the Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ if your spend leans toward ads, travel, and SaaS tools. You’ll earn more points, redeem them more easily, and get credits you’ll actually use.
• ✅ Go with The Business Platinum Card® from American Express if your business flies Delta often, books prepaid flights through AmexTravel.com, or regularly makes large $5,000+ purchases in shipping or IT categories.
   

In a vacuum, the Sapphire Reserve for Business is the better all-around card for modern teams, creators, and eCommerce operators. It’s built for the digital economy.

FAQ

Which card gives more value for digital advertising?
The Sapphire Reserve for Business earns 3x points on social and search ads with no cap, beating the Amex Platinum’s 1.5x rate (which is also capped at $2M/year in eligible spend).
 

Can I carry a balance with either card?
Both cards are pay-in-full business cards, meaning the balance is due each month. These aren’t meant for carrying balances — they're rewards-optimized.
 

Does either card offer employee cards with benefits?
Yes, both offer employee cards. Chase lets you set individual spending limits and track employee transactions easily through your dashboard. Amex has similar tools, plus access to premium concierge services for primary and employee cardholders.
 

Do Chase and Amex points transfer to the same partners?
There’s some overlap (e.g., British Airways, Singapore Airlines), but Chase has Hyatt — a huge differentiator for hotel redemptions. Amex has more airline partners but fewer hotel sweet spots.