Do Unlimited Credit Limits Really Exist? Here's the Truth About Premium Cards

Published on June 13, 2025

Ryan Wilcox

By: Ryan Wilcox

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KEY POINTS

  • "No preset spending limit" doesn't mean you have unlimited credit.
  • These cards actually adjust your limit based on spending habits and credit.
  • Premium cards with this feature can offer more flexibility, but not endless buying power.

You may have seen a premium card like The Platinum Card® from American Express described as having "no preset spending limit." That can sound like you have unlimited buying power, but that's not quite how it works.

Put simply, a card with no preset spending limit just doesn't show a fixed credit limit on your statement. It still has a limit -- just a flexible one that adjusts based on your income, payment history, and spending behavior. It's a dynamic limit, not an infinite one.

Here's what else you need to know about cards with so-called "unlimited" credit limits, and what to keep in mind if you have one.

How spending limits are decided on these cards

For a card without a preset spending limit, you might be approved to spend thousands more than a traditional card allows. But your transactions can still be declined if you exceed what the issuer believes is a responsible amount based on your profile.

Card issuers use real-time factors to determine whether to approve a charge, including:

  • Your recent card usage
  • Payment history
  • Total balances across accounts
  • Overall credit profile

It's important to keep in mind that no purchase is guaranteed to be approved, and issuers can lower your maximum at any time.

Cards with higher limits often require strong credit and high income, which is why they'll typically be high-end, premium cards targeted at qualified users.

Examples of cards with no preset spending limit

Amex is the most well-known issuer of cards without a preset spending limit. Some of its most popular cards in that bucket include:

  • The Platinum Card® from American Express
  • American Express® Gold Card
  • The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
  • American Express® Business Gold Card
Ratings Methodology

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express

On American Express' Secure Website.

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The Platinum Card® from American Express
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
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 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
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= Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

APR

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Rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®. 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms apply.

1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points

Annual Fee

$695

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 Membership Rewards® Points

  • This luxury travel card has some of the most prestigious perks you'll find — access to over 1,400 airport lounges, elite status with Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment required), and spending credits worth over $1,500 in value every year. Just be ready for the hefty annual fee, which can be offset in the first year with a welcome bonus worth $800 in points. Terms apply.

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    • Big welcome offer
    • Substantial spending credits
    • Airport lounge access
    • Hotel benefits
    • Flexible travel points
    • Annual fee
    • Limited bonus categories
    • Spending credits can be complicated to manage
    • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
    • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
    • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
    • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
    • With American Express Global Lounge Collection® eligible Card Members can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
    • A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
    • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
    • $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
    • $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Use the dedicated CLEAR Lane to confirm your identity without taking out your passport or ID – this can mean shorter lines, less waiting. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card®.
    • Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
    • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
    • Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
    • $695 annual fee.¤
    • Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
    • Terms Apply.

American Express notes that some purchases may still require pre-approval or split payments, especially if your spending pattern suddenly spikes.

Want to land one of these high-end cards today? Apply for the Amex Platinum Card now, and you could earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your card in your first 6 months. Terms apply.

Are these cards right for you?

If you're looking for lots of spending flexibility, a card without a preset spending limit could be a good fit. But remember that they're not "unlimited" in the way many people assume. Any purchase can still be denied if it's out of the ordinary.

These cards also don't report a set limit to the credit bureaus, which can impact your credit utilization ratio. That can be good or bad, depending on how you manage your balance and payments. In some cases, it might not factor into your credit score at all.

If you don't like the sound of that, you'll probably be better off with a high-limit credit card with a clear maximum. But if you're looking for a card that doesn't have a set limit, one of Amex's top cards will fit the bill.

Apply for the Amex Platinum Card to enjoy no preset spending limit, plus generous rewards, today.

Our Research Expert

Ryan Wilcox
Ryan Wilcox

Ryan is a full-time personal finance writer at Motley Fool Money. He’s been covering topics like credit cards and savings since 2022, focusing on helping people who are new to the world of personal finance.