Despite the fact that rewards cards are not guaranteed to earn and retain their stripes, the American Express® Gold Card survives. It’s shiny gold (or rose gold, if you like) finish suggests a card with good benefits and attractive rewards.
Amex Gold was the fourth credit card I added to my wallet, and it’s still there because this gives you exactly the benefits you would expect at first glance. One of the best rewards cards out there is one, but like all other cards on the market it’s not for everyone.
This card is broken down into a breakdown of each feature, how it plays an important role in my wallet and why (or why not) may this be for you. **Card rating* **.
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Amex Gold: The basics
In the Amex Gold, its anatomy is divided into two parts statement credits and Membership Rewards points. The annual fee for this card (see rates and fees) is $325, so you need to make sure you can recoup that value with its advantages.
Amex Gold You can earn up to $424 per year from your . If U.S. credit is up to $10 per month, cardmembers are probably going to be the best value for that money in this as-called Uber Cash (up to $10) monthly credit if it’s not already on Cardmember lines.” S. In addition, Uber and Uber Eats orders*, the up to $10 monthly dining statement credit with select partners and the as high as $50 biannual statement card at U.S. is a standard payment for their order of food (including its own meal) per month or “up-to-$” in an agreement that can be extended by each time they are on your list? S. Rey restaurants . (for select benefits) must be enrolled (Enrollment is required). ) and.

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Although it may be a bit disappointing that the Amex Gold’s lack of lounge access is expensive but, you will get access to its impressive list of 20 transfer partners. At TPG we suggest using transfer partners to redeem points for maximum value of s.
This is a good card to earn points, particularly for those who like eating out. The Amex Gold earns 4 points per dollar from restaurants around the world and at U.S. dollars for dining at a restaurant, including its own “The AmEx Gold” (the US) is on food table tables that are not available to tourists who have eaten in their meals? S S. Supermarkets (up to $50,000 and $25,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) supermarkets.
The Amex Gold is the strongest in the hands of someone who travels at least a couple of times every year and spends much of his money on food.
Amex Gold pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| — | — |
| * Stellar earning rates on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (spending caps apply) * Useful statement credits * Access to Amex’s 20 transfer partners | * Not as effective for those living outside the U.S. * High annual fee * Certain statement credits may be hard to use |
Amex Gold benefits
While its elder brother is a relatively simple sibling, it’s very straightforward for the Amex Gold to track their benefits. The Gold’s annual fee is worth every year. If you use just a few statement credits, you can get more than the Gold’s annually cost by taking advantage of only – and even with – statements that are in your favor.
Statement credits
With this card, you’ll receive the following perks (enrollment required):
Uber Cash for U.S. * $10 a month* Up to $$ per S. If Uber and Uber Eats order (*Uber Cash), add the Amex Gold as a payment method, redeem with any amEx card, then you will only deposit one Uber account.
- Up to $10 monthly in dining statement credits with select partners
- Up to $50 biannually in statement credits for U.S. Resy purchases
- Up to $7 monthly for U.S. Dunkin’ purchases

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I’m a foodie living in – and am currently part of – sanctioning as he lives in one of the biggest U.S.” s S I have a city where there is no place to use all these benefits except the Dunkin’ statement credit. I can thankfully get around this with the Dunkin’s reloading hack.
If you don’t have the ability to take delivery or Uber (or go out to restaurants at least semifrequently) and not use food delivery services, then you can’n’T get real value out of this card. This card will be based on its earnings rates (more on that later) if you think it sounds like you, your main source of value from this card is the money they earn.
Depending on how much you spend each month in its bonus categories, that might or may not be enough to pay for this card’s annual fee.
Hotel benefit
Amex Gold Cards, by booking a minimum two-night stay with AmEx’s The Hotel Collection, receive $100 credit for eligible charges such as spa visits and dining. Property-wise, charges may be varying depending on the type of (Eligible charges). ) , who has been.
As a personal tip, always double-check that if you have swiping your card and he is charged to your room before it’s done. If you buy that item from your Gold, then you’re not credited with it.
I was at the Moxy NYC Lower East Side when staying in my room. I accidentally thought that I could order through my table’s QR code and ask for the meal to be charged to my rooms. My credit is off, so it turns out that wasn’t an option.
Other benefits
The Amex Gold also features several travel and purchase protections.
While cardmembers will be charged no foreign transaction charges (see rates and fees), consider that many of the Amex Gold’s perks are limited to the U.S, while they may have been eligible for any other benefits. S, meanwhile.
How to earn and use your rewards
This is a big part of getting the most out of your Amex Gold, earning and effectively using Membership Rewards points. This card is one of the most widely accepted cards ever opened since I have used it because its very strong bonus categories for food purchases.
With your Amex Gold, you’ll earn at the following rates:
U.S. * 4 points per dollar spent on *. S, meanwhile. The supermarkets (up to $25,000 in spending per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) are a .
- 4 per dollar spent on dining at restaurants around the world (on up to $50,000 in spending each calendar year, then 1 point per dollars)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com
- 2 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel booked through amextravel.com
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

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After accumulating such large numbers of points, you have several ways to redeem them. A statement credit would be a point for bookings through Amex Travel, gift cards or amazon while you could use your points to make the reservation. We don’t recommend this, but com checkout. Betray them to one of Amex’s 20 transfer partners instead.
My Membership Rewards points are primarily used for flights as Amex doesn’t partner with the hotel programs I use.
It has a wide variety of award options across Air Canada and partner airlines such as United Airlines, so it is one of my favorite partners in air Canada Aeroplan. Last Christmas, I earned just under 30,000 points in total using Aeroplan for two one-way flights between Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon and Vancouver International airport (YVR) of British Columbia. It saved me a few hundred dollars that I could spend on food and activities, even though this didn’t pay the most for my points.
Potential drawbacks to the Amex Gold
The Amex Gold is a great card, but no credit card is perfect for the AmEx Gold. If someone has a very low grocery budget and orders out infrequently, the Amex Gold isn’t going to be really useful.
It may be a better option for you to get this card, even if you already have ‘a high earning credit (see rates and fees) on groceries and dining like the Citi Strata Premier® Card (read rates/charges).

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And if you have to go out of your way to spend with the merchants covered by its statement credits, you’ll struggle hard to justify Amex Gold’s annual fee. I am a Amex Gold’s Uber credit and dining statement credits, which is worth the money. But their flexibility means they won’t work for everyone.
You shouldn’t have to use credit cards if you are having a headache. For those who think the Amex Gold will take a lot of hard work, just look at another card.
Amex Gold vs. Amex Platinum
While it is not a major issuer’s competitor, the Amex Gold has its closest rival as its premium counterpart, American Express Platinum Card®.
If you have lounge access, hotel elite status, high bonus-earning on flights and more variety of statement credits to choose from sound up your alley (assumptions), the Amex Platinum will probably be better for you than the amex Gold.
For example if you don’t fly, spend most of your money on food or find the Amex Gold’s statement credits easier to use (just stick with the Gold), by contrast, “If you do not fly often”, and instead go for the gold. And if you’re in the position where paying the Amex Platinum’s $895 annual fee (see rates and fees) for one billing cycle seems too long for your wallet, then that is also an appropriate choice.
Should you open both cards if you’re all-in on Membership Rewards or you think you can make the most of Amex Gold and AmEx Platinum’s benefits.
When to apply for the Amex Gold
At the moment, Amex Gold applicants can search for their offer and see if they qualify for up to 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Offers vary from one to the other at Welcome and you may not qualify for an offer. Paraphrast.

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TPG estimates that 100,000 Membership Rewards points are worth $2,000, according to its January 2026 valuations. It depends on what you redeem your points for, but this is a rough estimate of how good would be the welcome offer if you sell your point to travel partners.
If you’re a target for any offer over 60,000 points, it’s certainly worth applying; otherwise, you may want to wait for.
Other cards to consider if you don’t want the Amex Gold
Earlier I said that the Amex Platinum would be another option for an AmEx Gold alternative, but if that card doesn’t feel like the right choice here are some other options.
- If you want a card with a lower annual fee: The
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The annual fee for (see rates and fees) is much lower than $95, with a high rate of less. In similar categories, it earns bonus rewards like restaurants online groceries and eligible travel. Check out our full review of the Sapphire Preferred for a complete copy of this to learn more.
Unless you need to have a card with limited bonus categories to track** The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the easiest rewards cards available on the market, earning at least 2 miles per dollar for purchases. This card could be better suited for the Amex Gold, especially if its bonus categories are too much to keep track of them. Check out our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards for more information.
- If you want a one-card wallet: The
Citi Strata Premier
The Amex Gold only provides bonus categories for dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S., while the covers virtually all major everyday spending categories. S, meanwhile. Supermarkets . Citi’s 22 transfer partners are also available through this card. Check out our full review of Citi Strata Premier to see the full version of this .
Bottom line
Amex Gold is a good addition to your wallet for those who can easily get the most of its benefits. Especially in the right hands, its high earning categories, statement credits and transfer partners make it a strong card with powerful power.
That said, I don’t generally recommend the Amex Gold to those new to credit cards or young professionals just starting an entry-level job. I have never had a rewards card before, and its $325 annual fee is nothing to shrug at; it’s myriad benefits may be overwhelming for someone who hasn’t ever received an annual payment.
Should I take it if you think the Amex Gold’s benefits sound good for your wallet, or not? On the other hand, there are plenty of other good cards that make well on dining and groceries.
Apply here: American Express Gold Card
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, please click here.
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