American Express® Business Platinum vs PayPal Cashback Mastercard
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Business Platinum | PayPal Cashback Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $895 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | Up to 300,000 Membership Rewards® Points | No current offer |
| Advertising | 1% | 1.5% |
| Shipping | 1% | 1.5% |
| Office supplies | 1% | 1.5% |
| Phone & internet | 1% | 1.5% |
| Travel | 5% | 1.5% |
| Everything else | 1% | 1.5% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $642 | $675 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Cash back only |
| Network | Amex | Mastercard |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of business spending, the American Express® Business Platinum earns about $642 a year in rewards and the PayPal Cashback Mastercard about $675, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Business Platinum charges $895, but carries about $1,530 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The PayPal Cashback Mastercard has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard delivers more total value, about $163 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and advertising. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the American Express® Business Platinum earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the PayPal Cashback Mastercard pays plain cash back. Favor the American Express® Business Platinum if you will use travel transfers, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the American Express® Business Platinum currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the American Express® Business Platinum if your spending leans toward travel. Pick the PayPal Cashback Mastercard if your spending leans toward advertising, shipping, office supplies.