Our Verdict
The American Express® Gold Card (Terms apply, see rates & fees) offers substantial value for foodies with attributes that will attract travelers as well. Whether you dine out or purchase groceries for a meal at home, the Amex Gold offers some of the highest bonus rewards rates in the industry for spending in these categories. Plus, the card’s dining and Uber benefits help justify the $325 annual fee.
Pros
- High rewards earnings possibilities
- Points transfer option to many partners
- Add up to five authorized users for no additional annual fee
- Can choose from regular or rose gold versions
Cons
- Most credits are doled out monthly and can be cumbersome to redeem
- Limited options to carry a balance
- High APR for pay over time feature*
Current American Express Gold Card Offer
- 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.
- 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. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
- $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 U.S. 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.
- 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.
Alternatives to the American Express Gold Card
Table of Contents
- American Express Gold Card: Worth the Price Tag?
- American Express Gold Rates, Fees and Requirements
- What Is the American Express Gold Card Best For?
- How American Express Gold Card Rewards Work
- Amex Gold Card Benefits
- How To Maximize Amex Gold Rewards
- Complementary Cards for the Amex Gold Card
- How the Amex Gold Card Stacks Up
- Should you get an Amex Gold Card?
- Amex Gold Review Methodology
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
American Express Gold Card: Worth the Price Tag?
The American Express® Gold Card is a premium option for those who wish to earn American Express Membership Rewards®. Unfortunately, the annual fee of $325 is high, but cardholders can earn credits with partners that exceed that cost.
The card comes with more than $300 in potential statement credits each year, divided between dining credits (valid at partners including Grubhub and Five Guys), Resy credits and credits to use toward charges made at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. The Amex Gold also provides up to $10 per month in Uber Cash, valid for rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. You must link your eligible card to your Uber account and select it as the payment method to redeem this perk.
Anyone who can maximize these credits can easily justify this card as one of the best American Express cards. However, some customers may find the attached strings too much hassle. Enrollment is required, and the credits are dished out in small increments, making them challenging to track and use without accidentally forfeiting value.
Like many customers, it was the welcome offer that initially piqued my interest in the Amex Gold card. At the time, the bonus alone was worth more than $500. The ability to earn 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (terms apply) lured me in, too—given how highly I value Membership Rewards, no other cards could come close to it at that time.
Though this card isn’t explicitly a travel rewards card, the ability to earn and redeem Membership Rewards can make it an interesting combination for households that prioritize both travel and dining. The card earns 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar beginning on 1/1/2025), 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar), 3 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or on American Express Travel, 2 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
One final advantage is the American Express customer service. I never have trouble reaching an agent who can help through their online chat or phone systems, which eases the potential frustration of handling problems.
American Express Gold Rates, Fees and Requirements
Note that the American Express® Gold Card may not let you carry a balance from month to month on all of your purchases, so the intention should be to pay off your statement balances in full.
Interest Rates
- Regular APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Purchase intro APR: N/A
- Balance transfer intro APR: N/A
Amex Gold Card Fees
- Annual fee: $325
- Balance transfer fee: N/A
- Foreign purchase transaction fee: None
Amex Gold Card Requirements
When applying for the American Express® Gold Card, American Express performs a hard credit inquiry to determine your creditworthiness. Amex may consider:
- Your credit score
- Credit history
- Personal financial factors, including income, assets and housing payments
- History or existing relationships with American Express
- Number of previously opened accounts
If approved, the American Express® Gold Card works like a pay-in-full card. It doesn’t allow you to carry a balance from month to month on purchases, although you may qualify for the card issuer’s Pay Over Time* feature to carry a balance and pay it down over time.
What Is the American Express Gold Card Best For?
The American Express® Gold Card’s unique combination of spending category bonuses and additional benefits makes it one of the best cards for many types of consumers.
| Best For | Reason |
|---|---|
| Best for Dining Among the Best Credit Cards | Earn bonus points in multiple categories with an option to transfer them to nearly two dozen loyalty programs. |
| Best Card With Dining Credits Among the Best Credit Cards for Restaurants and Dining | Earn 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar beginning on 1/1/2025). Also, more than $300 in assorted dining credits at select restaurants with enrollment helps offset the annual fee. |
| Best for Earning Membership Rewards for Varied Food Purchases Among the Best Credit Cards for Groceries | Earn 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 spent in a calendar year, then 1 point thereafter). |
| Best Travel Rewards Earnings for Foodies Among the Best Travel Credit Cards | |
| Best for Dining at Restaurants Among the Best Metal Credit Cards | It weighs about 15 grams and you can choose between a gold or rose gold version. |
How American Express Gold Card Rewards Work
Earning Rewards
The American Express® Gold Card has the following rewards structure: Earn 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar beginning on 1/1/2025), 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar), 3 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or on American Express Travel, 2 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Additionally, the Amex Gold offers the following welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.
Redeeming Rewards
American Express Membership Rewards are valuable because they’re flexible. The points can be transferred to almost two dozen airline and hotel partners, most at a 1:1 ratio. In addition, American Express offers frequent transfer bonuses, which allow you to maximize your earnings. Among the most commonly used airline transfer partners are Air Canada Aeroplan, Delta SkyMiles and British Airways Executive Club.
Membership Rewards can alternately be used to book flights via American Express Travel at 1 cent per point, pay with points at online retailers—most notably Amazon at 0.7 cents per Membership Rewards point or use points for various gift cards in travel, retail and restaurant categories. Rates vary depending on the vendor and fluctuate between 0.6 cents and 1 cent per Membership Reward point.
One of the best ways to transfer Membership Rewards points is during a limited-time transfer bonus period. I once transferred 117,000 Membership Rewards to Air Canada Aeroplan with a 20% bonus, which totaled 140,000 Aeroplan points after the bonus was applied, to book two business-class tickets from Tallinn, Estonia, to Minneapolis on Lufthansa for 70,000 points each.
– Anya Kartashova, Credit Cards Writer
Rewards Potential
Forbes Advisor uses data from various government agencies to determine baseline income and spending averages across various categories. The 70th percentile of wage earners brings in $118,438 annually and has $39,337 that can reasonably be spent on credit cards. We base spending on that number.
American Express® Gold Card Rewards Potential
| Category | Earning Rate | Estimated Annual Spend | Estimated Annual Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Supermarkets | 4X | $7,243 | 28,972 |
| Restaurants | 4X | $4,622 | 18,488 |
| Airfare | 3X | $770 | 2,310 |
| All Other Purchases | 1X | $26,702 | 26,702 |
| Total: 76,472 American Express Membership Rewards |
Amex Gold Card Benefits
- Amex Hotel Collection. Get a $100 hotel credit toward eligible charges, plus a room upgrade upon arrival, if available, when you book a stay of at least two consecutive nights with American Express Travel. Eligible charges vary by property.
- Car rental loss and damage insurance². You may receive secondary auto coverage in an eligible territory when you use your card to pay for a rental vehicle and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental counter. Terms apply.
- Global Assist Hotline³. Get 24/7 access to medical, legal, financial and other select emergency assistance and coordination services when more than 100 miles from home.
- Baggage insurance¹. Amex provides coverage for eligible lost, damaged or stolen baggage. Terms apply.
- $120 dining credit. Amex Gold cardholders can earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when using their Amex Gold to pay at Grubhub, Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys—enrollment required.
- $100 Resy credit. Cardholders can earn up to $100 ($50 per half of the year) in statement credits when paying with their Gold card at participating Resy restaurants—enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin’ credit. Earn up to $7 per month in statement credits when using your Gold card to pay at U.S. Dunkin’ locations—enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash. Get $10 in Uber Cash each month for UberEats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. by adding your Gold Card to your Uber account (terms apply). An Amex card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem this benefit.
How To Maximize Amex Gold Rewards
The Gold Card is among the best for dining and grocery purchases, so using this card makes sense to leverage spending in these categories. It’s also a handy option when paying for air travel unless you have a premium travel card that earns a higher rate. The Amex Gold is probably not your best choice for other travel purchases, like hotels and rental cars. Other rewards cards offer a higher rate on everyday purchases.
Generally, your best value for redemptions is booking travel through American Express Travel or transferring your points to one of Amex’s airline or hotel partners.
Amex Gold Transfer Partners
Amex Gold offers added redemption flexibility by partnering with travel loyalty programs. Cardholders can transfer rewards they earn to any of the following Amex travel partners:
Airline Partners
- Aer Lingus AerClub (1:1)
- Aeromexico Rewards (1:1.6)
- Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1)
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue (1:1)
- ANA Mileage Club (1:1)
- Avianca LifeMiles (1:1)
- British Airways Executive Club (1:1)
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1)
- Delta Air Lines SkyMiles (1:1)
- Emirates Skywards (1:1)
- Etihad Airways Guest Rewards (1:1)
- Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles (1:1)
- Iberia Plus (1:1)
- JetBlue TrueBlue (250:200)
- Qantas Frequent Flyer (1:1)
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club (1:1)
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (1:1)
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (1:1)
Hotel Partners
- Choice Privileges (1:1)
- Hilton Honors (1:2)
- Marriott Bonvoy (1:1)
Complementary Cards for the Amex Gold Card
Pairing the American Express Gold card with another Membership Rewards-earning card makes it one of the top credit card combinations. By doing so, you can earn bonus points in multiple categories and pool points for the best redemptions. Cards that pair well with the Gold Card include:
| Complementary Card | Benefits of Combining With the Amex Gold Card |
|---|---|
| The Green Card offers high rewards rates on travel and transit, giving you extra ways to earn Membership Rewards compared to a Gold Card alone. | |
| This card comes with tons of travel benefits, making it a great add-on for anyone who heads out of town frequently (terms apply). | |
| The Business Gold Card allows cardholders to select which categories to earn extra points in for maximum customization (terms apply). |
How the Amex Gold Card Stacks Up
American Express® Gold Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
With another approach toward flexible rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card puts more emphasis on travel, with an annual $50 credit toward select hotel bookings through Chase Travel℠. It has a much lower annual fee of $95 per year.
Learn more about the card differences in our guide to the Amex Gold vs. the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
American Express® Gold Card vs. The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express (Terms apply, see rates & fees) is one of the most prestigious cards on the market, with a $695 annual fee to match.
Although the Amex Gold offers elevated rewards across wider spending categories than the Amex Platinum, it can’t match the swanky perks that Platinum cardholders receive. Get a full look at the card’s benefits and credits in our comparison of the Amex Gold vs. Platinum.
American Express® Gold Card vs. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Another card suited well for foodies, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card (rates & fees) takes a more basic approach. It has no annual fee but still earns almost as much on dining and grocery purchases. Cardholders earn 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, and 1% on all other purchases. Take note that rewards are issued as cash back—a simpler but potentially less valuable form of award.
No statement credits are included on the Savor, but there also aren’t any games to play. If you’re looking for an unembellished approach to a credit card, this could be a fantastic tradeoff. There’s one other strong positive for the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: New cardholders can take advantage of a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, a 19.49% to 29.49% variable APR applies after that; 3% balance transfer fee for the first 15 months, 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you.
American Express® Gold Card vs. Centurion® Card from American Express*
If you’re thinking about getting the Centurion® Card from American Express* instead, we’ve got bad news for you: The infamous “Amex Black Card” is available by special invitation only. Most people aren’t eligible, but even if you are, it’s not a great deal. The card comes with a $5,000 annual fee and only earns 1 point per dollar on all eligible purchases.
So what makes the Centurion Card worth it? Its perks and personalized service offerings are legendary.
Evaluate Credit Cards Side By Side
Should you get an Amex Gold Card?
Clint Proctor
Credit Cards Lead Editor
Becky Pokora
Credit Cards Writer
Meghan Hunter
Credit Card Expert
My family of four spends a lot on food every month, so I appreciate that the Amex Gold helps us accumulate rewards quickly on every grocery store trip or drive-thru run. But for those with more modest food budgets, the card may only be worth it if they maximize the monthly credits, which can take some work.
Credit Cards Lead Editor
The Amex Gold is worth it for someone who expects to use the card’s dining credits and Uber Cash, which collectively are worth more than $400 per year. For anyone else, it may be better to consider credit cards with a lower annual fee.
Credit Cards Writer
The Amex Gold card is a wise choice for anyone looking to increase their stash of Amex Membership Rewards points, especially if you’re a foodie. It’s hard to beat the card’s bonus earnings on restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases. Add that to the solid welcome offer, the various card credits and the flexibility of Membership Rewards, and it’s easy to realize the value one could get from the card.
Credit Card Expert
Amex Gold Review Methodology
Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria when assigning credit cards a rating. The Amex Gold card was graded based on numerous factors, including its:
- Annual fee
- Welcome bonus
- Ongoing earning rates
- Value of individual rewards
- Included travel or merchant credits
- Additional cardholder benefits
- Flexibility of rewards
Card features we expect cardholders to use the most often are weighted more heavily in our ratings. Together, these factors provide a star rating for the Amex Gold Card.
To learn more about our rating and review methodology and editorial process, check out our guide on how Forbes Advisor rates credit cards.
To view rates and fees for American Express® Gold Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for American Express® Business Gold Card please visit this page.
¹Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Eligible Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible Account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
²Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
³You can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can you get the Amex Gold Card?
You can apply for the American Express® Gold Card online or by calling American Express to submit an application by phone. Alternatively, if you are already an Amex customer, you may have the opportunity to upgrade or product change from the American Express® Green Card* or downgrade from The Platinum Card® from American Express. Such a change would not open a second account, but rather, it would convert your card to a new product with different earning rates, benefits and annual fees.
When requesting a product change like this, you’ll be restricted to the type of card you have for your existing account. In other words, if your card earns Membership Rewards points, the card you request to change to must also earn Membership Rewards. If your card earns cash back, you can request a change to a different cash-back card. And if you have a co-branded Amex card, you can only request a change to another Amex card from the same brand.
How can you be approved for the Amex Gold?
You’ll need to be a well-qualified applicant to be approved for the Amex Gold. You will have a higher likelihood of approval if you have a strong credit history and low credit utilization. Factors including your income, assets and existing liabilities (including housing payments) may also be considered.
*The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor: American Express® Green Card, Centurion® Card from American Express. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
