Is The Amex Gold Card Worth It? (2024)

Featured Partner Offer

American Express® Gold Card

Apply Now

On American Express's Website

Partner Offer

Click Here To Apply Now

Rates & Fees/ Terms Apply

4.6

Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs. This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards.

Apply Now

On American Express's Website

Up to 4X Reward Rate

Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X; EarnRead More

Welcome Bonus

Earn 60,000 points + earn up to $100 back

Annual Fee

$325

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Score

Excellent/Good(700 - 749)

Editorial Review

Foodies and travelers can leverage the American Express® Gold Card to the hilt, earning up to 4x points. The annual fee may seem intimidating, but by using the included benefits and doing some spending, it’s easy to come out ahead.

Pros & Cons

• 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, white gold or rose gold versions

See Also

Amex Gold vs. Platinum ComparisonMost Prestigious American Express CardsHere's the real reason why American Express gives out such big rewardsAmerican Express's Main Competition

• 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*

Card Details

• 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.

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.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

The Amex Gold Card offers a competitive rewards structure of 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at restaurants (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.

There’s also a welcome bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months of card membership, plus 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of card membership, up to $100 back. The points potential in both areas rivals some premium cards with even higher annual fees.

In addition, the card comes with standard American Express travel protections and benefits, including secondary car rental loss and damage insurance¹, baggage insurance², an up to $100 credit towards eligible charges to use when you book The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel (minimum two night stay required. Eligible charges vary by property) and no foreign transaction fees.

The Amex Gold Card also gives cardholders some lucrative, mostly dining-themed statement credits. You’ll get:

• $10 monthly Uber Cash credit (worth up to $120 annually, terms apply)
• $10 monthly dining credit at participating restaurants (worth up to $120 annually)
• $100 Resy credit ($50 semiannually)
• $7 monthly Dunkin’ credit (worth up to $84 annually)

While these perks are not necessarily a reason to get the card, they are certainly a welcome addition as they can completely cover the cost of owning the card if fully utilized. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Additionally, the Amex Gold Card offers several helpful features like the Global Assist Hotline³, which offers 24/7 emergency assistance and access to Amex Offers, which can help save you money.

However be aware that the Amex Gold Card does not come with the full suite of benefits accessible to premium cardholders—more on that below.

Whether the card is worth it depends largely on your individual circ*mstances. Evaluate your needs and financial situation to make that determination. That said, some considerations will help you decide whether the Amex Gold Card is a good fit.

When the Amex Gold Card Is Worth It

If you determine that most of your spending is on groceries, airfare and especially at restaurants, this card might be a good fit for you. This card’s bonus for these categories is substantial and will earn significant rewards. Assuming, of course, that you spend enough to outweigh the $325 annual fee.

Similarly, if you can see yourself using up all of the Gold Card’s foodie-centric statement credits each year ($120 dining credit, $120 Uber Cash, $100 Resy, $84 Dunkin’), the card may be a no-brainer since the combined value of the credits (over $400) easily outweighs the card’s $325 annual fee.

Finally, if using your points for travel is your main goal, this card may still be a decent choice. Not only does it earn 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked through Amex Travel or directly with airlines, but the points come as American Express Membership Rewards®, a flexible currency you can redeem for travel or transfer to many Amex partners. You’ll also earn 4 points per dollar spent on restaurants worldwide—not just in the U.S. (up to $50k in spending total starting Jan. 1, 2025).

These points can be more valuable than cash-back redemptions when used for travel. There are other travel rewards cards that may offer better travel-related earnings, however, so weigh that against other Amex Gold Card perks.

When the Amex Gold Card Is Not Worth It

In general, the Amex Gold Card is best for foodies who like to redeem points for travel. If that’s not you, you may be better served with a general cash-back card. These cards earn cash back at competitive rates, often without categories or spending caps to worry about and many come with no annual fee attached.

Additionally, if you don’t see yourself eating up the Amex Gold Card’s numerous dining-related statement credits each year (pun intended), it may be hard for you to justify the card’s steep $325 annual fee. Instead, you may be better served by a more general-use travel rewards card.

The Gold Card earns 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at restaurants (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. To maximize rewards, this card should be used primarily for restaurants, groceries at U.S. supermarkets and airfare. For some, this might require no change. If you primarily spend on dining, groceries and airfare, your rewards rate aligns with the card’s highest earn categories.

Even if you don’t plan to travel much, it may be helpful to keep this card specifically for your food-related purchases. This will ensure you receive maximum benefit without altering your spending habits too much. Also, keep in mind that the card only earns its top rate of 4 points per dollar spent on groceries at U.S. supermarkets on the first $25,000 in annual spending (then 1 point per dollar).

The Amex Gold Card also has a welcome bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months of card membership, plus 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of card membership, up to $100 back. You will net a hefty chunk of points simply for spending the way you normally would.

American Express® Gold Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the best all-around cards for those looking to travel. Not only does it offer many of the same benefits and a similar welcome bonus as the Amex Gold, but it also has a significantly lower annual fee of $95. The card earns 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

While this is a lower rewards rate for groceries and restaurants, the card earns elevated rewards on a wider array of categories not offered by the Gold Card. Those rewards also come as a flexible currency—Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Unlike the Gold Card, you can get 25% more value when your rewards are redeemed for travel through Chase Travel℠. This makes the Preferred card just as strong, if not stronger than the Gold Card. In the end, it comes down to preference. If you are brand loyal to Amex, the Gold Card will serve you well. But depending on your spending habits, you may get more value out of the Preferred card.

American Express® Gold Card vs. Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is another card with a lower annual fee of $95. Like the Sapphire Preferred card, the Citi Strata card offers lesser, but still respectable, rewards over a wider variety of categories. The card earns 10 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com, 3 points per dollar on restaurants, supermarkets, gas & EV stations, air travel and other hotel purchases and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

The Strata card’s ThankYou® Points, like Membership Rewards, can be transferred to several travel transfer partners, making it a good option for those looking to maximize their rewards. The card also gets bonus points for flights and hotels, while the Amex Gold Card only bonuses flights.

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card also has a welcome bonus of 70,000 bonus ThankYou® points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

The card, however, doesn’t offer as many perks as the Gold Card. So while the rewards may be comparable, the Gold Card gets the edge if you value extra protections.

American Express® Gold Card vs. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card

If travel rewards are your top priority, the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card may merit a look. The card has some benefits you’ll find on atravel credit card, such as a free checked bag, 20% back on all in-flight purchases and access to all Alaska Airlines partners through the Oneworld Alliance. But what makes the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature special is its Companion Fare.

The Companion Fare, which is gained each year on your account anniversary, entitles the cardholder to an annual companion fare starting at $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year. You can use the Companion Fare when traveling with another guest on a paid published coach airfare on the same itinerary, booked at the same time.

This alone justifies owning the card, as it can be worth hundreds of dollars in airfare. The card also earns an unlimited 3 miles per dollar on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, unlimited 2 miles per dollar on eligible gas, EV charging, cable, streaming services and local transit including ride share purchases and unlimited 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases, with no blackout dates or expiration on miles on active accounts.

Of course, these rewards are tailored to travel, and thus won’t necessarily net the average consumer as much benefit. But if travel is your top priority, this card will give excellent value, especially considering it has a low annual fee of $95.

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.
¹Eligibility 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.
²Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
³Eligibility 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.