American Express® Gold Card review

No matter what kind of foodie you are, you’ll find plenty of potential value in the American Express Gold Card. As a top-tier rewards card offering bonus points at both restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, the Amex Gold makes it easy to earn and save rewards for your next dream vacation.

If you’re an everyday cardholder wondering if the Amex Gold is worth it for you, take it from us: The Amex Gold is one of the best cards on the market if you spend heavily on food and make the most of its perks on dining and travel. This card’s value can more than cover its $325 annual fee in the right hands.

However, those who don’t spend much on groceries and food or who don’t plan to use the many perks included with the card may come up short when trying to offset the annual fee.

Why you might want the Amex Gold card

Along with the Amex Gold’s numerous benefits, rewards-savvy cardholders and frequent travelers will love the card’s impressive rewards rate, bonus category variety, flexible point transfers and high point values. Combined, these benefits can carry a lot of value. However, there is a bit of strategizing that comes with carrying this card and making the most of it.

Solid introductory bonus

The Amex Gold card is currently offering eligible new cardholders a chance at a welcome bonus as high as 100,000 points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership (though welcome offers vary and not all applicants will be be eligible for an offer).

That’s substantially more potential value than the previous offer of 60,000 Membership Rewards points with the same spending requirement. It also easily beats the bonus value you’ll find on many competing rewards cards.

While putting all of your spending on the card will help you reach the bonus faster, focusing on purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets will help you take advantage of the card’s best rewards rates.

Great rewards rate in popular spending categories

At restaurants worldwide, the Amex Gold Card earns 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar on up to $50,000 annually, and 1 point per dollar after.

You’ll also earn 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets on your first $25,000 in spending per calendar year and 1 point per dollar after you meet that threshold. Though having no spending cap would be ideal, a $25,000 cap per calendar year is a generous limit, giving you a nice cushion of just over $2,000 in monthly spending at U.S. supermarkets.

This is one of the best rewards rates you can find in these categories, making the card a shoo-in as one of the best cards for restaurants and supermarkets. Since dining and groceries are two of the most popular consumer spending categories, the Amex Gold card’s rewards rate ranks at the very top of the CreditCards.com rewards cards ranking database. Not only that, but this combination of rewards categories makes sense for anyone who shops frequently at U.S. supermarkets or dines out often.

As one Amex Gold cardholder, Andrew Hollar, founder of Fig, puts it: “I find that most families (my own included) spend more money on food each month than any other expense. Earning 4x points at both U.S. supermarkets and restaurants is ridiculously valuable.”

Valuable, transferable points

Depending on how you redeem them, Membership Rewards points can be pretty valuable. While many redemptions are worth less than 1 cent per point, American Express boasts a wide variety of transfer options that potentially boost the average point value.

We value Amex points at 2 cents per point on average. While this is not the highest point value you can find on a rewards card, when you combine it with a great rewards rate, it makes the Gold card a lucrative option.

If you want to maximize the value of your points and potentially get a higher-than-average value, transferring them to a travel partner is one of the best ways to use Amex points. That’s because many of the Amex hotel or airline loyalty partners allow you to transfer points at a 1:1 rate and offer more than 1 cent per point in value on average.

For instance, if you redeem the points from the introductory bonus for travel bookings through American Express Travel, they’re worth around $600. On the other hand, Bankrate estimates that when transferred to Delta SkyMiles, Amex points can be worth 1.3 cents each (versus just 1 cent each if you booked through the Amex portal).

But before transferring points to another provider, be sure you have an award redemption in mind — once you transfer points, you can’t return them to Membership Rewards. Keep in mind, too, that you’ll be charged an excise fee of 0.06 cents for each point that you transfer (up to $99). Since many airline and hotel loyalty programs offer a point value higher than one cent, however, transferring is often still a lucrative option.

American Express transfer partners

As you see, transferring points for travel is a great way to retain or grow the value of your American Express Membership Rewards. It might also mean getting a lower point valuation. You’ll want to calculate the value of points you plan to transfer to a partner before committing to the transfer. It’s a good idea only to transfer points when you actually need them. For example, transferring Amex points to partners like Hilton and Marriott increases the number of points you’ll have, but the value of those points is lower than the 1-cent-per-point in value you can get on redemption options like select gift cards or airfare booked through amextravel.com.

Flexible point redemptions

From transferring points to airline and hotel partners to redeeming for purchases online, you get a ton of flexibility in how you can use your points. Your points also don’t expire as long as you hold a Membership Rewards points-earning card, and there is no limit to how much you can earn.

However, it’s important to understand how much value you are getting for your points in each situation because some redemptions are much more valuable than others. Looking a little more closely at redemption options, it’s clear that some are better than others:

Amex Gold redemption options

It’s worth noting that American Express Travel redemptions are treated just like cash for the purposes of earning frequent flyer miles, and since points have a set value of 1 cent each, it’s easy to figure out how many points you need to book a flight.

Great customer experience

Among major issuers, American Express has a top-notch customer service reputation. In addition to a highly rated mobile app, American Express offers 24/7 customer service and an online chat feature for finding quick answers to simple questions. In J.D. Power’s 2021 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Survey, the issuer scored 838, landing the top spot among 11 major credit card issuers.

Unparalleled perks, especially for foodies

Points aren’t the only key benefit of the American Express Gold Card. There are several other perks that cardholders must take advantage of if they want to recoup the card’s annual fee and then some, ranging from luxury travel benefits to dining credits.

• Pick your card art– New and existing card members can choose between the classic Amex Gold card art or the Rose Gold Amex.
• No foreign transaction fees – When traveling abroad, you won’t be charged a fee on foreign transactions. This benefit can save you up to 3% per transaction compared to other cards. That said, Amex cards are not as widely accepted abroad as Mastercard or Visa cards.
• Up to $120 in Uber Cash annually – You can get up to $10 in Uber Cash per month to use on Uber rides or toward Uber Eats orders in the U.S. The Amex Gold must be a method of payment and you can redeem with any Amex card.
• Up to $84 in Dunkin’ credits annually – With enrollment, you can get up to $7 in Dunkin’ credits per month to use on your U.S. Dunkin’ purchases. (Enrollment Required)
• Up to $120 dining credit – You can earn up to $10 per month in statement credits when using the card to pay for purchases at participating restaurant partners, including Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys (enrollment required).
• Up to $100 Resy credit – With enrollment, you can receive up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually when you use your Amex Gold card to pay for Resy dining and eligible Resy purchases.
• Travel protections – You can get baggage insurance so that you’re covered if your bags are lost or stolen on a trip with common carriers if you paid with your Gold card (up to $1,250 for carry-on bags and $500 for checked bags). Additionally, when you book and pay for your rental car with the Gold card, you can receive secondary coverage on your car rental in the case of damage or theft. While not the most robust list, these coverages can be valuable, so you’ll want to put all major travel purchases on your Gold card to take advantage of them.
• The Hotel Collection credit – The Hotel Collection is a selection of high-end hotels hand-picked by American Express. When you book at least a two-night stay through The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel, not only will you get a free room upgrade (if available), but you’ll also get a $100 hotel credit to use towards eligible charges* spend on dining, spa and resort activities. *Credit varies by property.
• Extended warranty – On eligible warranties of five years or less, you can extend the original manufacturer’s warranty an extra year.
• Purchase protection – For eligible purchases made with your Gold card, Amex covers up to $10,000 per claim ($50,000 max per year) in the case of damage or theft.

If you are a frequent traveler, the travel credits and benefits that come with the American Express Gold card are very appealing. For more luxury travelers, however, American Express offers a card that is even more packed with plush perks. The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a steep $695 annual fee, but it is loaded with benefits that make it a great choice for travelers who value luxury perks like lounge access, entertainment credits and other convenient benefits.

See related: Amex Gold vs. Amex Platinum

Why you might want a different card

The American Express Gold card comes with a high annual fee, and it has some limitations when it comes to redeeming points.

Although you’ll earn plenty of points by spending in its high-earning categories like at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets, using those points will require a clever strategy on your part to be sure that you’re maximizing your card’s potential.

Limitations on travel spending

Although transferring points for travel is a clear benefit of the Amex Gold and is arguably its best redemption option, rewards for spending on travel are a bit underwhelming. You’ll earn just 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through the American Express Travel portal.

Although this rewards rate is solid at first glance, only airfare purchased directly with airlines or through American Express Travel counts as travel with the Amex Gold. You won’t earn bonus points when booking with third-party travel companies for flights, for hotel bookings or for rental cars. This limits your opportunities to earn points for travel purchases, especially if you’re a savvy traveler who likes to shop around on different travel websites. You’ll still earn 1X points for a travel purchase from a site like Expedia, but you’ll miss out on points. Trying to maximize your card’s rewards rates could lead you to spend more just to purchase directly – and rewards won’t always offset the difference.

High annual fee

Like most upper-tier rewards cards, the American Express Gold Card comes with a high annual fee. You’ll be charged a $325 annual fee and there is no additional fee for up to five cardholders on the same account. On the sixth card and every one after that, you’ll be charged $35 per card (see rates and fees). A major criticism of the card from cardholders is that the annual fee is charged when you open the card, so you’ll need to be prepared to pay upfront and reap the rewards later.

While the Amex Gold is not the most expensive rewards card in the CreditCards.com database (that distinction belongs to The Platinum Card® from American Express), it’s one of the pricier options, with the vast majority of rewards cards charging a lower annual fee and not varying much in rewards potential. Keep in mind that the annual fee will likely be worth it if you make the most of the card. That said, you may need to put in extra effort to understand points valuations and tap into the card’s other benefits.

See related: When are credit card annual fees worth it?

Non-travel redemptions sacrifice value

A value of one cent per point is on the low end among flexible rewards points (especially compared to the value of Chase Ultimate Rewards points). While Amex points are certainly flexible and great for travel transfers, we don’t recommend using Membership Rewards to cover card charges, as this typically offers a much lower value than redeeming or transferring for travel.

That said, sacrificing point value by redeeming for a statement credit may be your only option if you want to use rewards to book travel on third-party sites. However, as mentioned already, your best option if redeeming for travel is by and far transferring points to participating hotels or airlines through Amex Travel – some of which grow your points’ cent value.

Using points for shopping is also one of the worst ways to use Membership Rewards. While you may be able to get gift cards at a reasonable 1 cent per point, redeeming points for merchandise gives you a value of just 0.5 cents per point, even lower than the value you would get shopping with points at Amazon. We strongly advise against using points this way.

How does the Amex Gold card compare to other rewards cards?

While the Amex Gold card offers one of the best rewards rates on both restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases, its high annual fee can be difficult for modest spenders to offset with rewards earnings. While it comes with a few worthwhile credits, its dining credit has some restrictions that may interfere with maximizing its full value. That said, the value of the card’s welcome offer can go a long way toward helping offset the annual fee.

To get a sense of where the Amex Gold stands in today’s marketplace, our team of credit card experts researched hundreds of credit cards to rank the Amex Gold based on factors like its rewards rate, welcome bonus, annual fee and more. The card fared quite well because of its rewards rate, welcome bonus and annual bonus (based on the value of its numerous perks). It does charge a higher annual fee than the average rewards card, however.

Though the Amex Gold can easily pay for itself if you take advantage of its benefits, if you aren’t sure how many of the card’s perks you’ll use and worry about a high annual fee coming back to bite you, there are a few other rewards cards that offer great rewards rates and charge a lower annual fee. Plus, since the card’s rewards are best used for travel transfers, it may not be the best fit if you’re looking for maximum flexibility.

Consider these alternatives:

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	Citi Premier® Card (The Citi Premier Card is no longer available)	Chase Freedom Flex®
Rewards rate Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. Earn 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries. Earn 2x on all other travel purchases. Earn 1x on all other purchases.	Rewards rate Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases	Rewards rate 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. 3% cash back on dining and drugstores. 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Sign-up bonus Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.	Sign-up bonus Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening	Sign-up bonus Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
Annual fee $95	Annual fee $95	Annual fee $0
Other things to know No foreign transaction fees Trip cancellation insurance Free DashPass subscription for one year (activated by Dec. 31, 2027)	Other things to know Access to VIP entertainment and presale tickets No foreign transaction fees	Other things to know Points are worth 25%-50% more if you pair with a higher-tier Chase travel card

The American Express Gold Card vs. the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a great alternative to the Amex Gold card for cardholders who don’t want to spend more than $100 on their credit card’s annual fee but still want a great travel card. Although the Sapphire Preferred doesn’t earn as many points as the Amex Gold on purchases made at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, it has boosted rewards for travel purchases made in the Chase Travel portal and a welcome bonus. Plus, you’ll have the added benefit of earning 3 points for every dollar spent at restaurants and for select online grocery purchases.

Travel redemptions through the Chase Travel portal receive a points boost for Sapphire Preferred cardholders. This perk can potentially outpace the redemption value of the Amex Gold: Chase rewards are worth more when redeemed in this way, while Amex points are worth just 1 cent apiece redeemed through the Amex travel portal. You could find a higher point value by transferring points to a travel partner, but only a handful of American Express partners have points and miles valuations above 1 cent per point.

The American Express Gold Card vs. Citi Premier® Card – (The Citi Premier Card is no longer available)

The Citi Premier Card is an often-overlooked travel rewards credit card that’s comparable to the Amex Gold card. But with a lower annual fee ($95 compared to $325), an annual hotel savings credit and 3 ThankYou points per $1 spent at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels, the Citi Premier Card could offer more rewards at a wider range of places.

The Amex Gold has limited rewards categories compared to the Citi Premier Card. You’ll need to have very focused spending habits to make sure you’re leaning on the Amex Gold’s highest reward categories. The Citi Premier card, on the other hand, doles out a solid rewards rate for each of the Amex Gold card’s categories and throws in gas stations, along with third-party air travel and hotel bookings

Plus, if you pair the Citi Premier Card with another Citi card, like the Citi Double Cash® Card, you can have even broader coverage on spending categories.

The American Express Gold Card vs. Chase Freedom Flex®

If you’re looking to dip a toe in the world of dining and travel rewards, the Chase Freedom Flex card is worth a look. Although it’s marketed as a cash back card, the Freedom Flex actually earns Chase Ultimate Reward points and comes with no shortage of bonus categories, all with no annual fee.

You’ll earn 5 percent back (up to $1,500 per quarter) on rotating bonus categories that you activate quarterly. This can be great if the categories line up with your regular spending, or it can backfire if the categories don’t align with what you plan to buy. Plus, with 3 percent cash back on dining and drugstore purchases all year long, there’s a lot of opportunity to earn cash back without worrying about recouping an annual fee. Additionally, if you decide to take the plunge with a premium Chase travel card, the rewards you earn with the Flex can be redeemed at a 25 percent – 50 percent higher value in the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

Opting for the Freedom Flex or another cash back card will make your rewards-earning experience a little different, particularly as it relates to redemptions. You won’t need to worry about point transfers or maximizing your point value because each purchase earns a percentage back as flexible Ultimate Rewards points. You can redeem these points for statement credits, direct deposits, travel, gift cards or Apple purchases all at a 1:1 rate.

How to use the Amex Gold card:

• Use the card for all restaurant, U.S. supermarket and airfare purchases directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com to take advantage of bonus points.
• Spend at least $6,000 in the first six months to earn the introductory bonus.
• Make all major travel purchases on the card to take advantage of its protections.
• Check out the list of Amex travel partners to see if you can squeeze more value out of your points by transferring them.
• Enroll in and redeem all of the card’s annual statement credit opportunities.
• Look out for Amex Offers to earn bonus points on some purchases.

CreditCards expert experience

If you travel frequently, shop for a household or eat out often, the American Express Gold card can be a rewarding addition to your wallet.

According to Stephanie Zito, CreditCards.com Travel Rewards Expert Contributor:

“The American Express Gold card is the perfect points-earning tool for the traveler who spends their money at the supermarket when they aren’t on the road. Earning 4 points per dollar on groceries can put an extra 100,000 Membership Rewards points in your pocket a year if you max out the benefit. In fact, I once stayed in an overwater bungalow in the Maldives completely funded with points earned by a friend’s use of the AmEx Gold card in the grocery store! Shopping adds up.”

Is the Amex Gold card right for you?

For the right cardholder, the Amex Gold is absolutely worth it. The card offers the highest combined rewards rate you can find on both U.S. supermarket and restaurant purchases – making it ideal for foodies and household shoppers. Plus, if you take full advantage of the Amex Gold card’s rewards and benefits, the card’s value should easily eclipse the annual fee, adding up to over $500 in value.

Evaluating the Amex Gold’s value relative to its annual fee, personal finance writer Nicole Dieker put it like this: “What you might not realize is that the credits, points and benefits offered by the American Express Gold Card can more than offset the annual fee – especially if you use your Amex Gold Card wisely.”

If you take advantage of these benefits, you’ll cover the annual fee and then some. That’s not even considering the rewards you’ll earn via card spend.

However, if you aren’t planning to use your Amex points toward a future trip or aren’t interested in transferring the points to a partner airline, the card may not be as valuable for you as it could be. If you prefer more straightforward rewards, consider a lower-cost cash back credit card that offers bonus rewards where you shop the most.

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.

For rates and fees of the American Express Gold Card, please click here.