When it comes to optimizing purchases and collecting Membership Rewards points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, no other card can match the strong rewards rate of the American Express Gold Card.
American Express Gold Card: At a Glance
| Rewards Rates | -On up to $50,000 in expenditures annually, earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for every dollar spent on restaurant purchases globally; then, 1X points for the rest of the year. -On up to $25,000 in purchases annually, earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for every dollar spent at US supermarkets, then 1X points for the remainder of the year. -Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points for every dollar spent on flights booked either directly via AmexTravel.com or directly from airlines. -For every dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other qualified transactions made on AmxTravel.com, get 2X Membership Rewards® points. -For every dollar spent on any other qualified purchase, earn 1X Membership Rewards® points. |
| Intro Offer | After spending $6,000 on qualified purchases on your new Card in your first six months of Card Membership, earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points. Also, up to $100 back, get 20% back in statement credits on qualified purchases made at restaurants all around the first six months of Card Membership. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24. |
| Ongoing Purchases APR | See Pay Over Time APR |
| Ongoing Cash Advance APR | 29.99% Variable |
| Ongoing Penalty APR | See Rates & Fees |
| Annual Fee | $325 |
| Recommended Credit | 670-850 Excellent/Good |
More Details
Sign-Up Bonus:
- 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points: Earn these points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- 20% Back on Restaurant Purchases: Get up to $100 back in statement credits on eligible restaurant purchases worldwide within the first 6 months. Limited-time offer ending 11/6/24.
Card Design Options:
- Choose between Gold, Rose Gold, or Limited-Edition White Gold metal credit card designs. The White Gold design is available only while supplies last.
Earning Membership Rewards® Points:
- 4X Points at Restaurants: Earn 4X points per dollar on restaurant purchases worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year. After that, earn 1X point per dollar for the rest of the year.
- 4X Points at US Supermarkets: Earn 4X points per dollar at US supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year. After that, earn 1X point per dollar for the rest of the year.
- 3X Points on Flights: Earn 3X points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- 2X Points on Hotels: Earn 2X points per dollar on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- 1X Points on Other Purchases: Earn 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Statement Credits:
- $120 Uber Cash: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and receive $10 in Uber Cash monthly, usable for Uber Eats or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $84 Dunkin’ Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after enrolling and using your Gold Card at Dunkin’ locations, up to $84 annually.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually when you dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Enjoy $10 in monthly statement credits when using your Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys, totaling up to $120 annually. Enrollment required.
- $100 Hotel Collection Credit: When booking two nights or more through AmexTravel.com, receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges like food, beverage, spa, or other on-property expenses. Credit use varies by property.
Additional Perks:
- No Foreign Transaction Fees: Enjoy your travels without extra charges for foreign transactions.
- Annual Fee: The annual fee for the Gold Card is $325. Check out our article on Amex Gold Benefits to see if it’s worth the annual fee.
Related Article: If you’re interested in comparing this card with a more premium option, explore our article on Amex Platinum vs Amex Gold.
American Express Gold Card: Our Take
Overview
The American Express Gold card has much to be loved. Its excellent bonus-earning rates at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants make it a fan favorite. Should you soon be flying, you will also be earning additional Membership Rewards points for travel.
Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, the card must be added to the Uber app to receive this benefit), up to $120 in dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason foodies shouldn’t carry the Amex Gold in their wallet.
These advantages by themselves offset the $325 annual charge on the Amex Gold card and exceed $400. Note that enrollment is needed for a few specific perks.
Benefits
- 4 points per dollar spent on meals in restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively).
- 3 points for every dollar spent on flights booked either directly through amextravel.com or the airline.
- Full of credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Drawbacks
- Not as beneficial for people from outside the United States.
- Using Uber and other eating rewards could prove difficult for some.
Is This Card for You?
The Amex Gold is the king of dining rewards whether your taste is for visiting new restaurants regularly or you aspire to be a home cook. If you spend a lot of your money on food, whether it’s for dining at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets, you will appreciate seeing the points accumulate with this card.
Using one of Amex’s 18 airline or three hotel partners—which include Delta Sky Miles and Hilton Honors—you may also gain greater value for your Membership Rewards points.
Earning Rewards
Through the American Express Membership Rewards program, you will accumulate all of your credits. 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com; 1 point per dollar on other purchases. Earn 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar) and U.S. supermarkets.