American Express® Gold Card
Rating
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.
The American Express® Gold Card is a premium rewards card for food enthusiasts and frequent travelers. It offers a robust rewards structure, focusing on dining, groceries, and travel, along with a suite of benefits to enhance cardholders' lifestyle and travel experiences.
Key Features
- Rewards Structure:
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery (up to $50,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X)
- 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X)
- 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 1X points on other eligible purchases
- Welcome 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.
- Annual Fee: $325
- Additional Benefits:
- $120 Uber Cash annually ($10 monthly credits for Uber rides or Uber Eats orders in the U.S.) 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.
- $120 Dining Credit annually ($10 monthly statement credits at participating partners)
- $100 Experience Credit for The Hotel Collection bookings of 2 nights or more
- $100 Resy Credit annually
- $84 Dunkin'® Credit annually (You can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credit after you enroll and pay with the American Express Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations)
- No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
Rewards Program
The American Express Gold Card uses the Membership Rewards® program, known for its flexibility and value. Points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, statement credits, or transferred to airline and hotel partners, often yielding high value for savvy travelers.
Rates and Fees
- APR for Pay Over Time Feature: 21.24% to 29.24% variable APR
- APR for Cash Advances: 29.99% variable APR
- Penalty APR: 29.99% variable APR (may be applied for late or returned payments)
- Late Payment Fee: Up to $40
- Returned Payment Fee: Up to $40
- Cash Advance Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- See rates and fees
Who Is This Card For?
The American Express Gold Card is ideal for:
- Food enthusiasts who frequently dine out or order in
- Regular grocery shoppers who can maximize the U.S. supermarket category
- Travelers who prefer booking flights directly with airlines
- Those who can take full advantage of the card's credits to offset the annual Fee
- Consumers who value flexible reward points for travel
Pros
High rewards rate on dining and groceries: The Gold Card offers 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1x) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x), making it one of the best cards for food-related spending
Valuable credits that can offset the annual fee: Up to $424 in combined credits (Uber Cash, Dining, Dunkin', and Resy) can more than offset the annual fee for those who can fully utilize them
Flexible redemption options: Membership Rewards points can be transferred to various airline and hotel partners, providing excellent value for travelers who can optimize their redemptions
Cons
Increased annual fee: The recent hike to $325 may be difficult to justify for those who don’t fully utilize the card’s credits and benefits
Complex benefit management: The card’s multiple credits and perks require careful tracking to ensure you’re getting the most out of them, which might be overwhelming for some users
Limited bonus categories: While the 4X points on restaurants and supermarkets are great, the card lacks bonus categories for everyday expenses like gas, streaming services, or online shopping
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