UK comparison · verified 18 July 2026
Revolut Ultra vs Amex Platinum
Both publish a base earning rate of one point per £1 of eligible spend, but they solve different problems: Ultra is a debit-account plan built around spending and travel, while Platinum is a premium credit card with Membership Rewards, insurance and possible Section 75 protection.
At the same point-value assumption, Ultra paid annually starts £110 ahead on membership fees, and Amex adds 2.99% on non-sterling transactions. Platinum can still be the better personal choice when you genuinely use enough of its benefits or value its credit-card protections. The calculator keeps those two questions separate.
Ultra vs Platinum value calculator
Compare like with like. Enter only annual spend that would be eligible for points, use one shared Avios-equivalent value assumption, then add only the benefits you personally expect to use.
Sterling purchases that earn the published base rate.
The model applies Amex's 2.99% fee to this amount.
Pence per point. This is your planning assumption, not a cash value.
Annual £ value you would otherwise pay for and actually use.
Do not use headline retail values for benefits you would not buy.
Important: the model excludes welcome offers, credit-card interest, boosted earning, insurance claim values and Revolut exchange-rate differences. It assumes the Amex balance is paid in full. If you carry a balance, interest can outweigh the rewards.
Point value minus membership fee and the modelled Amex non-sterling fee. Personal benefits are excluded.
Adds only the two benefit values you entered. Protection differences remain qualitative, not priced.
| Annual model | Revolut Ultra | Amex Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Base points modelled | 22,000 | 22,000 |
| Gross value at your point assumption | £220 | £220 |
| Membership fee | −£540 | −£650 |
| Non-sterling transaction fee modelled | £0* | −£120 |
| Points-only after fees | −£320 | −£550 |
| Your personally valued benefits | £0 | £0 |
| Benefits-inclusive net value | −£320 | −£550 |
*Ultra currently has no money-currency fair-use limit or weekend surcharge. This model does not claim its conversion is costless: Revolut's own rate applies and the app shows any applicable cost. The only direct FX difference calculated here is Amex's published 2.99% fee.
Ultra and Platinum side by side
Published UK terms checked on 18 July 2026. Welcome offers are intentionally omitted because they change too quickly for evergreen comparison maths.
| Feature | Revolut Ultra | Amex Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Debit-account paid plan | Credit card |
| Fee | £540 annually or £55 monthly | £650 annually |
| Base earning | 1 RevPoint per £1 eligible spend | 1 Membership Rewards point per full £1 eligible spend |
| Selected travel earning | Merchant and in-app boosts vary and are not modelled | 2 points per £1 through Amex Travel; not modelled |
| British Airways conversion | British Airways is listed; public wording is up to 1:1. Check the app | 1 MR point to 1 Avios; minimum 1,000 in increments of 500 |
| Point expiry | 3 years after each RevPoint is earned | No expiry while enrolled and compliant |
| Non-sterling use | No Ultra fair-use limit or weekend surcharge for money currency; Revolut's own rate applies | 2.99% non-sterling transaction fee |
| Borrowing cost | Not applicable: debit card | 29.1% purchase rate; 685.3% representative APR variable, including the annual fee in the statutory example |
| Purchase dispute route | Card-scheme chargeback may apply; no Section 75 | Section 75 may apply to qualifying purchases; chargeback may also be available |
Eligible-spend rules differ. Revolut excludes several merchant categories including utilities, tax, education and cash-like transactions. Amex excludes interest, fees, cash advances, balance transfers, prepaid-card loading, foreign-exchange transactions and refunded amounts.
Abroad and purchase protection
This is where the products are least interchangeable. One is a debit spending plan; the other is a regulated credit agreement.
Amex adds 2.99% abroad
A £4,000 non-sterling spend input creates a £119.60 Amex fee in the calculator. Platinum still earns its base point, but the fee remains.
Ultra avoids that specific Amex fee
Ultra has no published plan fair-use limit or weekend surcharge for money-currency exchange. Revolut's own exchange rate still applies, so the calculator does not invent a broader cash saving.
Section 75 is a real structural difference
For a qualifying credit-card purchase with a cash price over £100 and no more than £30,000, the issuer can be jointly liable for breach of contract or misrepresentation. Eligibility depends on the payment chain and circumstances.
Chargeback is not Section 75
Revolut debit-card disputes use card-network chargeback rules. Paid-plan insurance and Revolut Pay buyer protection are separate, conditional protections—not a substitute for Section 75.
When using both can make sense
The decision does not have to be exclusive. A two-card strategy can preserve each product's strongest use without pretending every benefit has face value.
Use Platinum selectively for protected sterling purchases
Where Amex is accepted, paying directly can retain the possibility of Section 75 on qualifying purchases. Pay the statement in full.
Use Ultra for non-sterling spending
This avoids Amex's stated 2.99% fee. Choose local currency at the terminal and check the conversion shown in Revolut.
Count only benefits that replace real spending
If a lounge visit, dining credit or subscription would not otherwise cost you money, enter £0 for that portion rather than its advertised retail price.
Keep points flexible until a booking is ready
Both airline-transfer routes are irreversible. Membership Rewards has the clearer published BA ratio; RevPoints transfers and partner ratios should be confirmed in-app before moving points.
Ultra vs Platinum questions
Is Revolut Ultra better than Amex Platinum for earning points?
On ordinary eligible base spend, both publish one point per £1. With a shared point-value assumption, Ultra paid annually has the lower membership fee. The currencies and transfer rules are not identical, so confirm the redemption you intend to use.
Which is cheaper: Ultra or Platinum?
Ultra costs £540 with annual billing or £660 across 12 monthly payments. Platinum costs £650 annually. Ultra is £110 cheaper when paid annually, while monthly-billed Ultra is £10 more over 12 months.
Which is better for spending abroad?
Amex Platinum charges 2.99% on non-sterling transactions. Ultra has no money-currency fair-use limit or weekend surcharge, but Revolut's own exchange rate applies. The calculator models only the avoided Amex fee, not an invented wider saving.
Does Revolut Ultra have Section 75 protection?
No. Ultra is a debit card. Card-network chargeback, paid-plan insurance or Revolut Pay buyer protection may apply in different circumstances, but they are not Section 75.
Are RevPoints and Membership Rewards worth the same?
No fixed cash value applies to either currency. This calculator uses one editable Avios-equivalent assumption only to make a transparent planning comparison. Amex publishes 1 Membership Rewards point to 1 Avios for British Airways; Revolut's current public wording is up to 1:1 and the live partner ratio should be checked in-app.
Can it make sense to hold both?
Yes. One possible approach is Platinum for selected sterling purchases and benefits, and Ultra for non-sterling spending. Whether two annual fees make sense depends on the benefits you genuinely use.
Why are welcome offers not in the calculator?
Welcome offers are temporary and have detailed eligibility rules. Excluding them keeps the evergreen result based on recurring fees, base earning and published foreign-currency charges. A current offer can be considered separately when applying.