What is the Amex Equinox Credit?
The Amex Equinox credit is a $300 annual statement credit available to cardholders of The Platinum Card® from American Express. This benefit fully covers an annual subscription to the Equinox+ digital fitness app or offsets $300 from the cost of physical Equinox gym memberships. You must enroll through the designated partner portal to activate the credit.
For years, American Express offered this perk as a fragmented $25 monthly credit. This frustrating structure meant you could never use the full value unless you maintained an expensive, year-round gym membership.
Fortunately, American Express overhauled this benefit. The credit is now issued as a single $300 lump sum per calendar year, making it incredibly easy to use even if you never set foot inside a physical gym.
How the $300 Equinox Benefit Works in 2026
The Platinum Card carries a hefty annual fee, meaning you need to extract every dollar of value to justify keeping it in your wallet. If you are questioning your card strategy this year, our Refreshed Amex Platinum: Is It Worth It? analysis breaks down the total return on investment.
The Equinox credit operates on a strict calendar-year basis. Your $300 allowance resets every year on January 1st and expires on December 31st. Unused portions of the credit do not roll over to the next year.
When you make an eligible charge on your Platinum card, American Express typically posts the matching statement credit to your account within 2 to 4 days. However, the official terms state it can take up to 6 to 8 weeks in rare circumstances.
Eligible Gym Memberships vs. Digital Subscriptions
You do not need to live near a major city to utilize this $300 perk. Equinox offers a digital pathway that makes this credit valuable for travelers and home-workout enthusiasts alike.
| Membership Type | Average Cost | Amex Credit Value | Out of Pocket Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equinox+ Digital App (Annual) | $300 / year | $300 | $0 |
| Equinox Single Club | ~$220 / month | $300 annually | ~$2,340 / year |
| Equinox All-Access | ~$315 / month | $300 annually | ~$3,480 / year |
| Equinox Destination | ~$345 / month | $300 annually | ~$3,840 / year |
The Equinox+ digital app is the undisputed sweet spot for most cardholders. Priced at exactly $300 for an annual subscription, the Amex credit covers it completely. The app includes on-demand and live classes from premium fitness brands like SoulCycle, [solidcore], PURE Yoga, and TB12.
If you prefer lifting weights in person, the credit applies seamlessly to physical club memberships. Whether you have a single-club access pass or a global Destination membership, the first $300 you are billed each calendar year will be wiped out by the statement credit.
Keep in mind that while the credit reduces your overall gym expense, Equinox is still a luxury brand. You are still committing to thousands of dollars in annual gym fees if you choose the physical route.
Step-by-Step: How to Activate the Credit
American Express is notorious for requiring manual enrollment for its benefits. If you simply walk into a gym and swipe your card, you will not receive the statement credit.
Follow these exact steps to ensure your purchase codes correctly:
- Step 1: Navigate directly to the official American Express and Equinox enrollment portal.
- Step 2: Click on “Get Started” and verify your eligibility by logging into your American Express account.
- Step 3: Choose your membership path. You can select either an “In-club experience” or a “Digital experience” (the Equinox+ app).
- Step 4: Create your Equinox account and input your physical Platinum card number as the default payment method.
Do not use Apple Pay, Google Pay, or PayPal to pay for your membership. Using third-party payment processors can mask the transaction data, causing the automated credit system to fail. For more details on how transactions are categorized, review our Credit Card MCC Codes Guide.
The Value Calculation: Is It Actually Worth It?
Valuing credit card perks requires honest math. A $300 credit is only worth $300 if you would have organically spent that money in the first place.
If you are already an Equinox member, this benefit is as good as cash. It represents a flat $300 discount on a bill you are already paying. Simply update your payment method on file to your Platinum card via the specific portal, and the savings are guaranteed.
If you are not a gym-goer, the calculation shifts. The Equinox+ app is an excellent free perk, but most people would not pay $300 out of pocket for a digital workout app when free YouTube videos exist. We recommend valuing this perk at around $50 to $100 in your mental accounting if you only use it casually.
To ensure you never leave money on the table, use automation. We highly recommend reading our Introduction to Pointalize App guide to learn how to automatically track your monthly and annual statement credits before they expire.
Common Mistakes: The Dead Spa Hack and Exclusions
In previous years, clever cardholders discovered a lucrative loophole. They would sign up for a 7-day free trial of the Equinox+ app, book a $250 massage at an Equinox Spa, pay at the front desk with their Platinum card, and trigger the fitness credit without ever buying a gym membership.
As of 2026, this “Spa Hack” is entirely dead. American Express and Equinox updated their backend billing systems. Spa services, personal training sessions, and Pilates classes are now distinctly coded and explicitly excluded from the $300 statement credit.
Other major exclusions to watch out for include:
- Day Passes: Purchasing a $50 day pass to a physical club will not trigger the credit.
- Equinox Shop: Buying branded clothing, supplements, or yoga mats online or in-store does not count.
- Equinox Hotels: Staying at the luxury hotel in Hudson Yards is excluded. If you want hotel perks, use the Fine Hotels & Resorts program instead. You can read our comparison in the Amex FHR vs. Chase Luxury Hotel Collection guide.
The December Rollover Strategy
Because the statement credit resets on January 1st, strategic timing can double your initial value. This is especially useful if you are considering joining a physical gym toward the end of the year.
If you sign up for a $300-per-month Equinox membership on December 15th, that charge will trigger your current year’s $300 credit. Just two weeks later, on January 15th, your second monthly billing cycle will occur. This will immediately trigger the new year’s $300 credit.
By leveraging the calendar rollover, you essentially secure your first two months of an ultra-premium gym membership for free. Just ensure your initial transaction actually posts to your account before December 31st to avoid losing the prior year’s allowance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Amex Equinox credit roll over to the next year?
No, the credit does not roll over. The $300 allowance operates on a strict calendar-year basis. If you do not use it by December 31st, the funds expire and disappear. Your account will automatically reset with a fresh $300 credit on January 1st.
Does the Amex Platinum offer a credit for a SoulCycle bike?
Yes, but it is a completely separate benefit from the $300 Equinox gym credit. Cardmembers receive a distinct $300 statement credit for each SoulCycle at-home bike purchased, up to 15 bikes per calendar year. However, you must have an active Equinox+ membership to qualify, and the purchase must be made in a single transaction.
Do authorized users get their own $300 Equinox credit?
No, authorized users do not receive their own separate $300 Equinox credit. The $300 limit is shared across the entire Platinum account. If an authorized user spends $300 on Equinox, the primary cardholder will no longer have access to the credit for that calendar year.
Why didn’t my Equinox app purchase trigger the credit?
If your purchase did not trigger the credit, it is likely because you paid through a third party. If you download the Equinox+ app and subscribe using Apple iTunes billing or Google Play billing, American Express cannot see that it is an Equ
