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American Express® Gold Card
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American Express

American Express® Gold Card

DiningGroceryHotelAirlineTravelIntro OfferNo Foreign Transaction FeesLuxury

Key Features

Annual Fee$325.00
Sign-up BonusUp to 100,000 Membership Rewards points
Rewards Rate1x-5x Membership Rewards points
Regular APR
APR For Pay Over Time Feature: 19.49% to 28.49% variable APR on eligible charges.
Other Fees
Additional Cards (up to the first 5) have a $0 annual fee
The annual fee for the sixth or more Additional Card is $35 each
No Foreign Transaction Fees
NetworkAmerican Express
Read the full review
Best for those with
Very Good Credit

About this card

The American Express® Gold Card is a highly specialized card that offers exceptional value for a specific consumer profile, earning it a 'Good' rating at the very top end of its category, bordering on 'Excellent'. Its primary strength lies in its outstanding rewards program, particularly the market-leading 4X Membership Rewards® points on dining worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets (up to spending caps), which are key everyday spending categories. The flexibility and high value of Membership Rewards points, especially for travel transfers, are a significant draw. The card also benefits from American Express's stellar reputation for customer service and a generous sign-up bonus, all contributing to a strong 'Rewards Rating' of 4.6 and a 'Reputation Rating' of 4.4. However, the card's high $325 annual fee is a notable drawback (Fees Rating: 2.7), which, while potentially offset by various monthly statement credits (e.g., dining, Uber, Resy, Dunkin'), requires active and diligent utilization. This 'coupon book' nature of benefits means the card's net value is highly conditional on the cardholder's ability to consistently use these specific, often merchant-tied credits. If these credits are not maximized, the effective cost of the annual fee remains high, diminishing the overall value. A significant weakness is the card's very high regular APR (19.49%-28.49%) with no introductory offer (APR Rating: 1.5). While premium rewards cards are generally intended for users who pay their balance in full, this high APR makes it extremely expensive should a balance ever be carried, quickly eroding any earned rewards. In summary, the American Express Gold Card is an excellent fit for 'foodies,' urban professionals, and frequent travelers who consistently spend heavily in the bonus categories, are meticulous about utilizing the monthly credits, and always pay their balance in full. For this niche, it delivers substantial value. However, the demanding nature of its fee offsets and the punitive APR for carrying a balance prevent it from achieving a higher, universally 'Excellent' rating. Its strengths are truly exceptional for its target audience, but its weaknesses are significant for those who don't align perfectly with its structure.

3.9
Overall Rating

Pros & Cons

What's great

  • Generous sign-up bonus
  • High rewards rate on dining, groceries, and travel purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Valuable travel protection benefits
  • Monthly statement credits for dining and ride-sharing
  • Purchase protection and extended warranty

Things to consider

  • Significant annual fee
  • High regular APR
  • No intro APR period
  • Rewards categories have spending caps

What this card offers

Sign-up bonuses

  • AS HIGH AS 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Rewards

  • 4X Points at Restaurants Worldwide Per dollar spent on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points
  • 4X Points at U.S. Supermarkets Per dollar spent on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year
  • 5X Points per dollar spent on Prepaid Hotels booked through AmexTravel.com or Amex Travel App™
  • 3X Points per dollar spent on Flights booked through AmexTravel.com or Amex Travel App™ or directly from airlines
  • 2X Points on Prepaid Car Rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® points on all other eligible purchases

Other features

  • Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
  • Get $10 in Uber Cash each month when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account. You can use your Uber Cash on orders and rides with Uber in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
  • Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. Enrollment required.
  • Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment required.
  • As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you are eligible for a complimentary upgrade to Hertz Five Star® Status and can earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™. Enrollment Required for Hertz Five Star® Status.
  • Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges1 at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide every time you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or Amex Travel App.2
  • Eligible charges vary by property.
  • The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
  • If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply.
  • Travel more comfortably knowing you can be covered for lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage when you purchase the Entire Fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) on an Eligible Card. 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. For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip. Please read important exclusions and restrictions.
  • When you use your Eligible Card to reserve and pay for the Entire Rental and decline the collision damage waiver (CDW) at the Rental Company counter, you can be covered for Damage to or Theft of a Rental Vehicle in a Covered Territory. Please read important exclusions and restrictions. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Coverage is not available for vehicles rented in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage.
  • Whenever you travel more than 100 miles from home, Global Assist® Hotline is available for 24/7 emergency assistance and coordination services, including medical and legal referrals, emergency cash wires, and missing luggage assistance. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Other terms and conditions apply.
  • Enjoy every trip abroad with no foreign transaction fees from American Express with the American Express® Gold Card.
  • Card Members can access Amex Presale Tickets® and Amex Reserved Tickets® to select can't-miss events and moments across sports, music, and more. Plus, Card Members can enjoy additional perks when attending select events.
  • Enjoy an enhanced experience at select stadiums and arenas thanks to on-site benefits including dedicated entrances or fast lanes. Plus enroll your Card and get 10% back on qualifying concessions purchases up to $250 per calendar year. Limit one enrolled Card per Card Member.
  • Send & Split®, enhances the way you send money and split purchases with other Venmo or PayPal users, all in the American Express® App. Now you can pay friends with more flexibility and without the standard Venmo or PayPal credit card fee. You can also seamlessly split your Amex purchases with others and get paid back directly to your Card as a statement credit. Best part? You’ll be the one to earn the rewards for the purchase you split. Enrollment required. Terms apply.
  • Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
  • Track spending and rewards, find an airport lounge, make a payment, and get important account alerts in real-time with the American Express® App.
  • You can add an Additional Card for anyone 13+ and you will earn Membership Rewards® points for their purchases in the same way you do on your own.
  • Dropped your phone? Sometimes the unexpected happens. But Purchase Protection can help protect Covered Purchases for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date made on your Eligible Card when they're accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost. Up to $10,000 per Covered Purchase, up to $50,000 per calendar year.
  • When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase with his or her Eligible Card, Extended Warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the Original Manufacturer's Warranty. Applies to warranties of 5 years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your Eligible Card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year.

Additional Notes

The American Express® Gold Card has No Preset Spending Limit, a unique feature that gives you the ability to unlock more purchase power as you use your Card. This means the spending limit is flexible.

Ratings

4.6
4.6
4.3
1.5
2.7