Amex Platinum charges $195 per year for each authorized user you add
American Express charges a flat $195 annual fee for each authorized user you add to your Amex Platinum card account. This is separate from your primary cardholder fee, which is $695 per year. If you add three authorized users, you pay $195 × 3 = $585 on top of your own annual fee.
The fee hits your account on the same day you add the authorized user, then renews annually on your card's anniversary date. Unlike the primary cardholder fee, there is no way to waive or negotiate the authorized user fee — it is a fixed cost built into the card's structure.
An authorized user is someone you give permission to use a card linked to your account. They receive their own physical card with their name on it and can make purchases, but the bill goes to you. They do not have their own account or separate credit line — everything charges to your primary account.
Key Takeaways
- Each authorized user costs $195 per year, charged when you add them and again on your card anniversary each year.
- The authorized user fee is fixed and cannot be waived, even if you call American Express to negotiate.
- Authorized users get their own card and can make purchases, but all charges and payments flow through your primary account.
- You can remove an authorized user at any time to stop future annual fees, though you will still owe the fee for the current year.
- Some people add authorized users to share card benefits like lounge access or travel credits; others add them to build credit history for a family member.
When the $195 fee makes sense financially
The authorized user fee is worth paying only if the person using the card will generate enough value to offset $195 per year. The most common reason people add authorized users to Platinum is to share the card's travel and dining benefits.
Amex Platinum includes a $200 annual airline fee credit, a $100 annual Uber credit, and a $179 annual Equinox+ credit. If an authorized user will use the Uber credit or the airline credit, those benefits reduce the net cost of the $195 fee. A spouse or adult child who travels with you or uses Uber regularly might generate $195 or more in value from these credits alone.
The card also includes airport lounge access through the Centurion Lounge network and Priority Pass. If your authorized user will accompany you on flights and use lounges, that benefit has real value. A single Priority Pass lounge visit can cost $30 to $50 out of pocket, so a few trips per year can justify the fee.
If the authorized user will not use any of these benefits and you are straightforward adding them to share the card, the $195 fee is a pure cost with no offset. In that case, it usually makes more sense to add them to a different card with no authorized user fee.
How authorized user fees compare to other premium cards
Most premium travel cards charge for authorized users, but the amount varies. Chase Sapphire Reserve charges $75 per authorized user per year. Citi Prestige charges $50 per authorized user. Capital One Venture X charges $0 for the first authorized user and $195 for each additional one.
Amex Platinum's $195 per authorized user is the highest flat rate among major premium cards. However, Amex also offers the most generous credits and benefits, so the comparison depends on whether you will actually use those benefits. A card with a lower authorized user fee is not a better deal if you do not use the credits it includes.
Some cards offer a limited number of free authorized users. Capital One Venture X, for example, includes one free authorized user, then charges $195 for each one after that. If you only need one authorized user, Venture X would save you $195 per year compared to Platinum.
Removing an authorized user and stopping future charges
You can remove an authorized user from your Amex Platinum account at any time through your online account or by calling American Express. Once you remove them, future annual fees will not be charged. However, if you remove them after your card anniversary has passed for the year, you will still owe the $195 fee for that year — you cannot get a refund for a fee already charged.
The timing matters if you are trying to avoid a fee. If your card anniversary is in March and you add an authorized user in February, you will be charged $195 in February and again in March. If you remove them before March, you still owe the March fee. To avoid paying twice in one month, remove the authorized user after your anniversary date has passed.
When you remove an authorized user, their card stops working when ready. They will not be able to make new purchases, but any pending charges will still post to your account. Make sure the authorized user knows their card is being cancelled so they do not attempt to use it.
Adding an authorized user to build someone's credit history
Some people add a family member as an authorized user to help build their credit. When you add someone as an authorized user, Amex may report the account to the credit bureaus under their name. This means the authorized user's credit report will show the account's payment history, which can help their credit score if the account is paid on time.
This strategy works only if Amex reports the authorized user account to the credit bureaus — not all card issuers do this, and Amex's reporting practices can vary. Before adding someone specifically to build their credit, contact American Express and confirm that they will report the authorized user account to all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).
If your goal is purely to build someone's credit and you will not use any of the card's benefits, the $195 annual fee is an expensive way to do it. A secured credit card or a regular card with no annual fee would accomplish the same goal at lower cost. Reserve the Platinum authorized user slot for someone who will actually use the card or the benefits.
What happens if you do not pay the authorized user fee
If you do not pay the $195 authorized user fee, it will be added to your card balance like any other charge. If you do not pay your card bill, the fee will accrue interest and damage your credit score. American Express will not remove the fee or waive it because you did not want to pay it.
If you want to avoid the fee, you must remove the authorized user before the annual charge posts. Once the fee is on your account, you cannot dispute it or have it reversed. Your only option is to pay it or let it damage your credit.
If you are considering cancelling your Amex Platinum card entirely, removing all authorized users first will not save you money — you will still owe any fees that have already been charged to your account. However, removing them before you cancel means you will not be charged again when your card anniversary comes around.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add an authorized user for free on Amex Platinum?
No. Amex Platinum charges $195 per authorized user per year with no exceptions or waivers. This fee is non-negotiable and applies to every authorized user you add, regardless of how long they use the card or how much they spend.
Do authorized users get their own credit line?
No. Authorized users share your credit line and account. All charges they make appear on your bill, and you are responsible for paying them. They do not have a separate account or credit limit — everything is tied to your primary account.
Will adding an authorized user hurt my credit score?
Adding an authorized user should not hurt your score. Amex may do a soft inquiry, which does not affect your credit. However, if the authorized user makes large purchases and you do not pay the bill on time, that will damage your credit because the account is in your name.
Can I remove an authorized user and add them back later without paying twice?
If you remove an authorized user before your card anniversary, you will not be charged again until you re-add them. However, if you remove them after your anniversary has passed, you have already paid the $195 fee for that year. Re-adding them later in the year will trigger another $195 charge on your next anniversary.
What is the difference between an authorized user and a supplementary cardholder?
Amex uses the terms interchangeably. An authorized user and a supplementary cardholder are the same thing — someone you add to your account who receives their own card but does not have a separate account or credit line.