Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The American Express® Gold Card is a versatile rewards card for anyone who wants to maximize their dining, grocery and travel spending. Cardholders can benefit from a competitive rewards program and various perks worth over $400 each year, which can more than offset the card's $325 annual fee (see rates and fees).
Below, CNBC Select breaks down the Amex Gold Card's benefits, rewards and fees to help you decide if it's the right card for you.
The American Express Gold Card is great for earning valuable Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets.
- You can earn $400+ in dining and rideshare credits every year (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Exceptionally rewarding for eligible restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Larger annual fee
- Credits are more complicated, you earn them monthly or semi-annually
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You'll know upfront exactly how much you'll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: 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.
- $100 Resy Credit: 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 semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- 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.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Foreign transaction fee
None
Welcome bonus
The American Express® Gold Card offers a valuable welcome bonus to help get your points balance started. Once you're approved for the card, you may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Benefits and perks
While the American Express® Gold Card comes with great perks, it also carries a $325 annual fee (see rates and fees). It's important to be realistic about whether or not you'll utilize all its benefits.
The Amex Gold offers more than enough statement credits to be worth the cost. However, the benefits require diligence to fully utilize, so if you don't see yourself using them, a different card may be a better option.
The Amex Gold Card comes with the following statement credits:
- *$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- $120 Dining Credit: 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.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: 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 semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $100 The Hotel Collection Credit: Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App**. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
Additionally, you can take advantage of:
- No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
- *Access to the Amex Global Assist Hotline and Personalized Travel Service
- *Travel insurance including baggage coverage and rental car loss and damage insurance
Given how popular Uber and Dunkin' are and the fact that you can use the dining credit on Grubhub, including pickup orders, many consumers should have no trouble using the various statement credits. Plus, the Resy credit is as simple as spending at one of the thousands of restaurants listed on the platform – you don't have to make a reservation on Resy.
You can easily justify this card's annual fee by taking advantage of these benefits, but you'll have to stay on top of it. Some perks require enrollment or an extra step before you can use the benefit and the value is doled out monthly or semi-annually. So you'll have to remember to use each perk regularly or you'll miss out on that month's credit.
How to earn and redeem Membership Rewards® points
Earning Amex Membership Rewards® points
The Amex Gold Card earns American Express Membership Rewards points and is especially valuable for certain everyday purchases. Eligible transactions earn:
- 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 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Redeeming Membership Rewards® points
You can use Membership Rewards® points in a variety of ways, including:
- Transfer them to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Redeem them for travel through Amextravel.com
- Cover charges on your American Express card
- Pay with points at checkout with retailers such as Best Buy, Amazon, Dell and others
- Redeem them for gift cards, exclusive access to entertainment experiences and use them for preferred seats at events
- Purchasing merchandise directly through American Express
Although it's possible to easily redeem Amex points for gift cards, merchandise or statement credits, you typically won't get the best value per point with these options. The best way to use Amex Membership Rewards points is to take advantage of Amex's partner travel loyalty programs.
You can potentially earn a much greater value by transferring your Amex points directly to a partner airline or hotel loyalty program, which includes:
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- Aeromexico Rewards
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue
- ANA Mileage Club
- Avianca LifeMiles
- British Airways Executive Club
- Cathay Pacific Cathy
- Choice Privileges
- Delta SkyMiles
- Emirates Skywards
- Etihad Guest
- Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
- Hilton Honors
- Iberia Plus
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
To transfer your points, you'll need to connect the loyalty program to your Amex account and then transfer over the points you need for your booking. Points transfer instantly to some programs, while others may take a few days to process the transaction.
Transferring Amex points to the best partners allows you to book premium travel awards such as business-class flights for fewer points. For example, it can cost thousands of dollars to fly business class from the U.S. to Europe with a Star Alliance airline such as Swiss Air, Lufthansa or United. You could instead transfer Membership Rewards® points to Avianca LifeMiles and book this award. You typically only need 63,000 points (each way) to book these flights.
Rates and fees
As of July 25, 2024, the American Express Gold Card has a $325 annual fee*. If you had the card before that date, the new annual fee will apply to account renewals starting Oct. 1, 2024. There are no foreign transaction fees*. Late payment and returned payment fees can be up to $40 each.
*See rates and fees
Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™.
Card comparison
The American Express Gold Card is a great choice if you spend heavily on dining, groceries and travel. But how does it compare to other rewards and travel cards?
American Express Gold Card vs. American Express Platinum Card®
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- 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.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
The Platinum Card® from American Express is an excellent option if you travel frequently and want to enjoy luxury benefits along the way.
To start, you may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. As you spend with the card, you'll earn:
- 5X points per dollar for flights booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel®, up to $500,000 per calendar year
- 5X points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked via American Express Travel®
- 1X points per dollar for all other eligible purchases
The Platinum Card® comes with a long list of benefits, including credits for travel and major retailers. There is, however, a steep $895 annual fee (see rates and fees) for this card, so if you're debating between the two, be realistic about which benefits you'll reasonably take advantage of to help offset the cost of the annual fee. If you're a big traveler and want airport lounge access and hotel benefits like elite status with Marriott and Hilton, then the Platinum Card® is probably the better fit.
But, it's also key to analyze your spending habits. If you tend to spend a ton on travel, the Platinum Card® may be the better fit, but if your expenses are comprised mostly of grocery shopping and dining, the Amex Gold Card will likely earn more rewards. Since both cards carry significant annual fees, it's important to determine if your budget can handle the additional cost.
American Express Gold Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Long list of travel and shopping protections
- $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit
- Has an annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase TravelSM
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) is constantly rated as one of the best travel credit cards on the market because of its low annual fee (just $95) and valuable rewards. Upon approval, you'll be able to earn a lucrative welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
As you spend with the card, you'll earn:
- 5X on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X on dining
- 3X on online grocery purchases (not counting Target®, Walmart® or wholesale clubs)
- 3X on certain streaming services
- 2X for all other travel purchases
- 1X points for all other purchases
The card comes with excellent travel benefits as well, including no foreign transaction fees, extensive travel insurance including rental car coverage and a variety of transfer partners, including the following 14 airline and hotel loyalty programs:
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- British Airways Executive Club
- Emirates Skywards
- Flying Blue (KLM and Air France)
- Iberia Plus
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
- United Airlines MileagePlus
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- IHG Rewards Club
- Marriott Bonvoy
- World of Hyatt
If you're deciding between both cards, it's important to analyze each issuer's transfer partners for their rewards. For example, if you enjoy flying Southwest Airlines, the Chase Sapphire Preferred may be the better choice, but if you prefer Delta Air Lines, the Amex Gold Card could be the better pick.
The Amex Gold Card also has a few spending credits to be mindful of. If you aren't able to use those to help bring down the cost of the annual fee, the Sapphire Preferred may be the better option, as its annual fee is only $95.
Amex bank accounts to pair with the Gold Card
If you want to simplify your financial life by keeping your card and bank accounts under one roof, American Express has you covered with checking and high-yield savings account options.
With an American Express® Rewards Checking account you get valuable features that are rare to find with checking accounts. You'll earn rewards for debit card purchases at a rate of one Membership Rewards® point for every $2 in eligible spending. On top of that, your checking account balance will earn 1.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as of 06/24/2024 in interest. You get all of that with $0 monthly fees to worry about.
American Express® Rewards Checking Account
Monthly maintenance fee
$0
Minimum deposit to open
$0
Minimum balance
Min balance to open = $0
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
1.00% as of 06/24/2024
Free ATM network
37,000+ MoneyPass® ATMs
ATM fee reimbursement
None
Overdraft fee
N/A
Mobile check deposit
Yes
Terms apply.
Click here to view terms and conditions.
Pros
- Free ATM network
- No monthly fees
- ATM fee reimbursement
- No minimum deposit to open an account
- No overdraft fees
- Can transfer rewards
Cons
- Only available for existing Amex cardholders who've had a card account open for at least three months
The American Express® High Yield Savings Account offers an amazing 3.10% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as of 5/19/2026*, which compares favorably to the savings accounts that offer the best rates. You don't have to jump through any hoops to qualify for this account's high interest rate. Plus, all the money you earn is yours to keep because you won't pay any monthly fees, overdraft fees or excessive transaction fees.
American Express® High Yield Savings Account
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
3.10% APY as of 5/19/2026
Minimum balance
Min balance to open = $0
Monthly fee
$0
Maximum transactions
No limits
Excessive transactions fee
$0
Overdraft fee
$0
Offer checking account?
No
Offer ATM card?
No
Terms apply.
American Express National Bank is a Member FDIC.
Pros
- Strong APY
- Min deposit / Min balance = $0
- $0 monthly fees
- 24/7 customer support
- Helpful "Tips & Tools" section on website
Cons
- Higher APYs offered elsewhere
- No option to add a checking account
- No ATM access
- You can't deposit a check via the mobile app
The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as advertised is accurate as of 5/19/2026. Interest rate and APY are subject to change at any time without notice before and after a High Yield Savings Account is opened. Interest Rate and APY of a Certificate of Deposit account is fixed once the account is funded
There is no minimum balance required to open your Account, to avoid being charged a fee, or to obtain the Annual Percentage Yield (APY) disclosed to you
For purposes of transferring funds to or from an external bank, business days are Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. Transfers can be initiated 24/7 via the website or phone, but any transfers initiated after 7:00 PM Eastern Time or on non-business days will begin processing on the next business day. Funds deposited into your account may be subject to holds. See the Funds Availability section of your Consumer Deposit Account Agreement and Savings Schedules for more information.
Is the American Express Gold Card right for you?
The American Express® Gold Card is best for consumers who spend regularly at grocery stores and restaurants but aim to travel with their hard-earned rewards. Cardholders can quickly rack up points with the Gold card's large multipliers and get big value when transferring rewards to Amex's travel partners.
And while its $325 annual fee (see rates and fees) may seem steep, if you take advantage of all the dining, Resy, Dunkin and Uber credits, as well as other card benefits, you can easily offset the cost and make it worth your while.
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Read more
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
*The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as advertised is accurate as of 5/19/2026. Interest rate and APY are subject to change at any time without notice before and after a High Yield Savings Account is opened. Interest Rate and APY of a Certificate of Deposit account is fixed once the account is funded.
