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Introduction to the Amex Gold Card
Foodies and travelers often gravitate toward the American Express® Gold Card for its rewards on dining, flights, and U.S. supermarket purchases.
Business Insider's personal finance experts include this card on our guide to the best travel rewards credit cards because it earns great returns on dining and supermarket expenses. However, the recently increased annual fee of $325 means interested consumers should consider all options.
We'll explore all of these details below in our card review.
$325
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points plus 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide, up to $100 back (Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24)
Good to Excellent
- Great rewards for dining and for shopping at U.S. supermarkets
- Monthly statement credit for eligible dining purchases recoups some of the annual fee
- Underwhelming welcome bonus
Foodies and travelers alike will appreciate the American Express Gold's generous welcome bonus and Membership Rewards points earning. Its Uber Cash credits are useful for rides and Uber Eats, and monthly dining credits with participating merchants like GrubHub and Seamless are easy to use.
Amex Gold Card- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
- Get the American Express® Gold Card in either the Gold, Rose Gold or Limited-Edition White Gold metal design. White Gold design is only available while supplies last.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Dunkin' locations.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Amex Gold Card Overview
The Amex Gold Card sits high on our lists of the best cards for grocery purchases and best cards for dining. You'll also earn bonus points on airfare. Monthly Uber Cash credits and annual dining credits for select restaurants and delivery services go a long way toward offsetting this card's annual fee. But after 2024 rate increases, some cardholders may want to think twice before getting or renewing this card.
Who Should Get the Amex Gold Card?
The Amex Gold Card is a strong choice for travelers thanks to its generous bonus categories, welcome offer, and statement credits. It's less powerful for people who don't travel often or who prefer cash-back rewards.
Amex Gold Card Alternatives
If you want to earn American Express Membership Rewards points, be sure to consider the Amex Platinum Card and American Express® Green Card as well to compare their perks and spending categories. Depending on your travel and spending habits, they could also be a good fit for your wallet.
You can also upgrade an Amex Gold Card to the Amex Platinum Card after one year of card membership, or downgrade it to the American Express® Green Card. This method helps you protect your credit score and credit history, but may preclude you from earning a welcome bonus on other credit cards in future.
Amex Gold Card Rewards
Welcome Bonus
The Amex Gold Card offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership plus 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first six months of card membership, up to $100 back (offer ends 11/6/24).
Earning Amex Membership Rewards Points on the Amex Gold Card
The Amex Gold Card is among the best cards for foodies because it earns strong rewards on dining and grocery shopping. You'll earn Amex points at the following rates:
- 4x at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
- 4x at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 spent in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
- 3x on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com
- 2x on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com
- 1x on all other eligible purchases
To maximize your points earning, you can pair the Amex Gold Card with other Amex cards to earn the most points for every purchase. The "Amex Trifecta" of cards includes the Amex Gold Card, The Platinum Card® from American Express, and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express.
Redeeming Amex Membership Rewards Points
The Amex Gold Card earns American Express Membership Rewards points, which are among the most valuable transferable points currencies and a favorite of rewards credit card enthusiasts.
How Much Are My Points Worth?
The value of Amex points varies depending on how you use them. You'll typically get the best value when you transfer Membership Rewards to Amex airline and hotel partners — 1.8 cents each, on average, according to Business Insider's points and miles valuations.
Best Value: Redeeming for Travel
You'll typically get the most value when you use points for travel. You can transfer points to American Express airline and hotel partners for award flights and stays. Depending on how you book, you could get a value of 2 or more cents for each point. This can be an especially good deal for international first-class and business-class flights.
If you don't want to worry about award charts or blackout dates, you can also redeem points at a rate of 1 cent apiece for flights, and at a slightly lower rate for hotels, rental cars, and more through American Express Travel.
Whatever your plans, earning flexible points like Amex Membership Rewards is a smart move. Instead of locking yourself into a specific airline or hotel program, you'll have the option to turn rewards into travel when you're ready, or statement credits, merchandise, and gifts if you'd rather stay close to home.
Amex Gold Card Benefits and Features
The Amex Gold Card comes with valuable perks for shopping, dining, and travel that can help you save money, including monthly credits that can put a big dent in the card's annual fee.
Dining Credits
The Amex Gold Card comes with several dining credits worth a meal or two each month. But you'll need to enroll in these benefits on your cardholder benefits page in order to begin collecting your rewards.
Up to $10 Monthly at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys ($120/year)
Amex Gold Cardholders can enroll to receive up to $10 a month back in statement credits, worth up to $120 per year, toward purchases at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys.
Even if you don't visit the participating restaurants, credits for Grubhub food deliveries make it easy to max out the credit each month since you'll have so many restaurants to choose from. After you use your Amex Gold Card for the purchase, you'll receive the statement credit. Credits do not roll over to future months — this benefit is "use it or lose it."
Up to $7 Monthly on Dunkin' ($84/year)
As of 2024, cardholders also get $7 each month in the form of statement credits when paying for purchases at participating Dunkin' locations.
Up to $50 Semi-Annually at Resy Restaurants ($100/year)
An annual credit of $100 is another new benefit added in 2024. This benefit is split into two credits of $50 apiece, which apply to eligible dining purchases made at participating Resy restaurants between January through June, as well as July through December. You do not need to book a reservation through Resy, but the restaurant must participate in Resy at the time of your transaction in order for your purchase to be eligible for this statement credit.
Up to $10 Per Month in Uber Cash Credits ($120/year)
The Amex Gold Card comes with $10 a month in Uber Cash credit, again up to a maximum of $120 per year. Once you add and use your Amex Gold Card as the payment method in your Uber account, you'll see a $10 Uber Cash credit in your account. This credit can be used toward eligible U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats purchases, but doesn't roll over month to month.
Up to $100 Annual Experience Credit and Premium Hotel Benefits
You can receive a $100 statement credit toward eligible resort expenses when you book a hotel through the Amex Hotel Collection for a minimum of two consecutive nights. The credit is good for spa massages, dining in the hotel restaurant, or any other on-property expense you may incur during your stay. (The credit does not apply to the cost of your hotel room.)
As an Amex Gold Cardholder, you'll also receive late check-out and early check-in benefits when available, as well as a room upgrade at arrival whenever available.
Car Rental Insurance
The Amex Gold Card offers secondary car rental insurance when you use the card to pay for your rental in full and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver. Coverage is for theft or damage only (not liability) and some rentals, vehicle types, and countries are excluded, so be sure to read the terms.
Baggage Insurance
When you pay for a covered trip with your Amex Gold Card, you have complimentary insurance coverage for baggage loss or damage — up to $500 per person for checked bags, and $1,250 per person for carry-on luggage.
There are exclusions for high-risk items and some states have different limits, so check the terms and conditions for specific details.
Trip Delay Insurance
You can get reimbursed up to $300 for meals, lodging, toiletries, medication, and other personal items if you've paid for a covered trip with your Amex Gold Card and it's delayed by 12 hours or more, up to two times per consecutive 12-month period.
Purchase Protection
When you pay for an eligible item with the Amex Gold Card, you can be covered for loss or damage up to 90 days from the date of purchase, up to a maximum of $10,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per year.
Extended Warranty
Cardholders can also get an extended warranty on eligible items when they use their Amex Gold Card to pay — up to one additional year added to eligible US manufacturers' warranties of five years or less.
Global Assist Hotline
The Amex Gold Card comes with an underrated perk that can be a lifesaver if you have an emergency while you're away from home. Cardholders get access to Amex's Global Assist Hotline, which can help arrange things like passport replacement, medical referrals, and translation services.
The service itself is complimentary, but you'll be responsible for any third-party costs.
Amex Offers
Like other American Express cards, the Amex Gold Card includes targeted discounts and bonus rewards at participating merchants through Amex Offers.
Amex Gold Card Fees
Although the Amex Gold Card charges a $325 annual fee, it's possible to get much more value than that each year between statement credits, perks, and bonus points. It's also a good choice for international purchases, because you won't pay foreign transaction fees.
There are fees for late and returned payments and cash advances as with most other cards.
Compare the Amex Gold Card
The Amex Gold Card is a fantastic all-purpose card, but its $325 annual fee is significantly higher than that of many other mid-tier competitors. Here are three other cards that you should consider when evaluating the Amex Gold Card. All offer comparable — or better — perks than the Amex Gold Card.
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card vs. Amex Gold Card
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is more than sufficient for most casual travelers, with generous returns on everyday categories of spend. For a reasonable $95 annual fee, the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card earns 3x points per dollar at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and on air travel and hotels (1 point per dollar on all other purchases). You'll also get various benefits including purchase protection and extended warranty for items you buy, as well as access to Citi Entertainment with no foreign transaction fees.
Infrequent travelers will enjoy the annual benefit of $100 off of a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) booked through thankyou.com. New cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
Read more in our Citi Premier card review.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. Amex Gold Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card tops our list of the best travel credit cards available today. The $95-annual-fee comes with a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening and a slew of benefits that offer premium value on par with those from much more expensive credit cards.
Cardholders earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, and 1x on all other purchases. They also get up to $50 in annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit towards hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel℠ Portal, a 10% point bonus on their card membership anniversary each year, plus complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership through December 31, 2027.
This card isn't short on purchase protection or travel insurance by any means. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card cardholders get primary car rental insurance, trip interruption/cancellation, trip delay insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, extended warranty, purchase protection, and avoid foreign transaction fees on international purchases.
Read more in our Chase Sapphire Preferred card review.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Expressvs. Amex Gold Card
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card is one of the best cash-back credit cards for anyone who shops at U.S. supermarkets, uses streaming services, or has significant commuting and gas expenses. This is also the card to get instead of the Amex Gold Card if you don't travel very often or can't utilize Amex travel partners.
Cardholders earn:
- 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in spending per year, then 1% back (excludes superstores, convenience stores, warehouse clubs, and meal-kit delivery services)
- 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 3% back at U.S. gas stations excluding those at superstores, supermarkets and warehouse clubs
- 3% back on transit including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
- 1% back on all other purchases
This card only has an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95, so it's significantly lower than that of the Amex Gold Card especially during that first year. If you have a small household with low grocery spend, minimal travel, and a Netflix subscription, this is probably your best choice over the Amex Gold.
Read more in our American Express Blue Cash Preferred review.
Amex Gold Card Cardholder Insights
In addition to consulting our credit card experts, Business Insider skimmed popular online forums such as Reddit to see what everyday consumers have to say about this card. Here are some common themes:
Use the Amex Gold Card to earn travel rewards, or focus on cash back through another card
Many cardholders say that this card makes the most sense if you plan to redeem your rewards for travel. If you don't do so, focusing on cash rewards can be more lucrative for you. You can earn up to 6% cash back on the first few thousand dollars you spend on groceries with the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, which is the top pick for cash back in our guide to the best credit cards for buying groceries.
Top-earning credit card for the right demographic
Amex Gold Card aficionados use this card for most of their everyday expenses. One cardholder said they earn about 90% of their annual rewards through this card and redeem them for a couple of Amex Travel vacations every year.
Not worth the annual fee after rate increase
Other cardholders fail to see the value of this card, especially after the annual fee increased to $325 from $250. Many consumers complain about the annual credits which can only be redeemed in increments each month.
Amex Gold Card Frequently Asked Questions
Primary benefits of the Amex Gold Card include 4x Membership Rewards at restaurants, including takeout and delivery, 4x at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 a year in purchases, 3x on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, and 1x on other purchases. Cardholders also enjoy a dining credit and an Uber Cash benefit.
Compared to other premium rewards cards, the Amex Gold Card offers some of the best rewards on dining and supermarket purchases. However, the annual fee recently increased to $325, and the card lacks some premium travel perks that are available on higher-tier rewards cards with comparable fees.
The current sign-up bonus for the Amex Gold Card is 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership plus 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first six months of card membership, up to $100 back (offer ends 11/6/24).
The Amex Gold Card is a solid mid-tier card with many benefits, but it has a very high annual fee relative to competitors in the same category. People without high dining or grocery expenses may struggle to maximize enough value from this card to justify its $325 annual fee.
To maximize rewards, use the card for all dining and supermarket purchases to take advantage of the 4X points. Utilize the card for flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com to earn 3X points. Take full advantage of the dining credit and Uber Cash benefits to offset the annual fee and enhance your overall value.
The Amex Gold Card is a premium card, so it's harder to get than some other rewards cards. Amex will look at your credit score, income, account history, and other factors when it looks at your application.
You also won't be eligible for the bonus if you have or have had the Amex Gold Card. Amex has a once-per-lifetime rule which means you're only eligible for the bonus once, per card, per lifetime. However, if you have/had the business version of the card — the American Express® Business Gold Card — you're still eligible for the Amex Gold Card.
To be considered for the Amex Gold Card, you'll typically need at least a good credit score, or even better, an excellent credit score. This means a FICO score of at least 670.
If you're still working on building your credit history, be sure to read our guides on improving your credit score and how using credit cards can help boost your score.
The Amex Gold Card is very much worth it if your spending habits line up with the card's bonus categories and you're able to maximize its benefits. For example, if you enroll in and make the most of the monthly Uber Cash and dining credits, you would effectively receive up to $240 in credits.
You'll also have the opportunity to earn a huge amount of points if you spend a lot on dining, US supermarkets, and flights, all of which earn bonus rewards. That said, if you don't typically spend a lot in these categories, or you're not sure you'd be able to use the monthly credits, another card may be a better pick for you.
The Amex Gold Card does not come with a CLEAR® Plus credit. If that's something you're looking for, both the Amex Platinum Card and Amex Green Card offer credits for CLEAR® Plus**. If your home airport has CLEAR® Plus (or you often fly through airports that offer it), becoming a member is a great way to save a ton of time getting through security. Here's more about the CLEAR expedited security program.
The Amex Gold Card doesn't have a preset spending limit. Instead, the amount you can spend is flexible and varies based on factors like your payment habits and past purchase history. If you aren't sure whether a big purchase will be approved, you can use Amex's "Check Spending Power" tool in your online account or app to find out.
Because the Amex Gold Card isn't like a traditional credit card, you must pay your balance in full each month to avoid hefty late fees. However, Amex offers a "Pay Over Time" feature that allows you to pay off eligible charges of $100 or more, with interest, over a longer period.
Yes, the Amex Gold Card is a metal card. It's made of stainless steel and other materials and weighs about 15 grams.
When you apply for the Amex Gold Card, you'll be given a choice of colors: traditional gold, the popular rose gold design or the limited-edition white gold metal design. Rose gold was originally a limited-edition color, but it was brought back in 2021 as a permanent option for cardholders.
If you already have the Amex Gold Card and want to switch your color, you can order a replacement card through the "Account Services" section of your online account.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed the Amex Gold Card
Our team of experts compared the Amex Gold Card against leading competitors, rating the card based on the following criteria:
Annual Fee — Is the card's annual fee in line with rates from competing cards? Is the fee justifiable compared to the card's offered benefits?
Earning Potential — Does the card earn generous rewards on specific spend categories that average consumers can maximize each month?
Benefits and Perks — Do the benefits included on this card significantly enhance the cardholder's lifestyle?
Rewards Ecosystem — Are rewards earned on this card transferrable to other card accounts? Can they be redeemed or transferred for airline and hotel travel?
Learn more about how we rate credit cards at Business Insider.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.
Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
**Enrollment required.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and Cell Phone Protection Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Global Assist Hotline Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, and Baggage Insurance Plan Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
