The Guide to the AmEx Entertainment/Streaming Credit

One of the perks of holding The Platinum Card® from American Express is a $25 per month digital entertainment credit. Enrollment required. Terms apply.

For fans of Baby Yoda or Wordle addicts, the digital entertainment credit can go a long way in justifying up to $300 of the card's $895 annual fee (see rates and fees). However, the fee doesn't just cover any sort of streaming service. And, it has other limitations, such as how frequently you get the credit.

That said, here's exactly how the digital entertainment credit of The Platinum Card® from American Express works — and how you can maximize it. Terms apply.

American Express advertises this credit as a "$300 Digital Entertainment Credit." However, it's not an actual annual $300 credit. Instead, AmEx will provide up to $25 in statement credits each calendar month when cardholders use an enrolled card to make purchases directly from eligible merchants. Terms apply.

The American Express streaming credit, or AmEx digital entertainment credit, isn't limited to just streaming providers. However, the downside is that AmEx limits the $300 digital entertainment credit to only the following merchants:

• Disney+.

• The Disney+ Bundle.

• ESPN+.

• Hulu.

• Paramount+

• Peacock.

• The New York Times.

• The Wall Street Journal.

• YouTube Premium.

• YouTube TV.

Terms apply.

Make sure your subscription is made directly with an eligible merchant. Payments made through a third party — like Apple — won't qualify for the credit.

To get started using the AmEx streaming credit, you first need to enroll The Platinum Card® from American Express in this benefit. To do so, log in to your American Express account and navigate to this $300 digital entertainment credit page.

Read through the terms and then scroll down to click the "Enroll now" button. After going through the enrollment process, it's worth a few more seconds to return to confirm that there's a checkmark and that your status is "enrolled" at the top of your benefits page.

Both primary cardmembers and authorized users — which AmEx calls "Additional Card Members" — can make purchases to utilize the streaming credit. However, each primary account is limited to a credit of just $25 per month. Authorized users do not get their own $25 per month credit. Terms apply.

The Platinum Card® from American Express cardholders have plenty of ways to maximize this $300 digital entertainment credit. The strategy for you is going to depend on your entertainment priorities. Let's look at a few ways you can maximize this $25 per month credit. Terms apply.

Don't get both Paramount+ and Peacock

Unless Paramount+ and Peacock are the only streaming services you use (or you can't stomach ads), don't expense both of these to The Platinum Card® from American Express, since you already have access to one of these two subscriptions through a different perk.

The Platinum Card® from American Express reimburses you for a Walmart+ membership, which comes with a free subscription to either Peacock Premium or Paramount+ Essential. Both of these plans do come with ads, so if you prefer to pay a premium for an ad-free plan, it might still be worth using the digital entertainment credit for this. But if ads aren't an issue for you, get one plan through Walmart+ and charge the other to The Platinum Card® from American Express to take advantage of the digital entertainment credit.

Watch cable TV with YouTube TV

If cable TV is more your speed than streaming, the digital entertainment credit can cut the cost of a YouTube TV plan by $25. The base plan starts at $82.99 a month, so you'll still be on the hook for most of the cost. Still, though, $57.99 a month for cable isn't a bad deal.

Get a newspaper subscription

Other cardholders of The Platinum Card® from American Express might want to use their digital entertainment credit to keep up with current events.

So, for example, you can support journalism at The New York Times by subscribing to the newspaper. The New York Times is currently offering a basic digital access subscription for just $4 per month for the first year of service — and then $25 per month after that.

You can also consider a subscription for The Wall Street Journal, which regularly offers deals for both digital and print access.

» Learn more: The best credit cards for streaming

Utilizing the digital entertainment credit is key to getting the maximum value out of your AmEx Platinum card membership.

For some, the fact that AmEx makes this a monthly credit may be a letdown. After all, many annual subscriptions cost less per month than paying for a subscription monthly. With this credit, you'll likely find yourself taking the monthly option.

Either way though — if you're a current member of The Platinum Card® from American Express — confirm that you're enrolled in the AmEx digital entertainment credit. Then, review the list of eligible merchants to see which makes the most sense for you. Just ensure you set up auto-pay using your card. Terms apply.

If you don't have The Platinum Card® from American Express but currently pay for one of these services, factor in the AmEx streaming credit when determining the value you can get from the card.