Who should (and who shouldn’t) get the Amex Gold?
Editor's Note
When it comes time to apply for your first (or fifth) premium-adjacent rewards card, don't ignore the American Express® Gold Card.
The Amex Gold has an annual fee of $325 (see rates and fees), which can be fully offset if you fully use the dining, Dunkin' Donuts and Resy statement credits and the Uber Cash benefit per calendar year. Enrollment is required, and terms apply.
It has relevant bonus point categories, such as dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and earns valuable American Express Membership Rewards points.
Let's explore the reasons why the Amex Gold is a great card to consider, along with who should — and shouldn't — apply for it.
Key Amex Gold benefits
The Amex Gold's $325 annual fee might seem steep initially, but it can be fully offset if you take advantage of the card's up to $424 in annual value.
As a cardmember, you'll get up to $10 monthly (up to $120 per calendar year) in dining statement credits at participating locations such as Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com and Five Guys. Enrollment is required.
You'll also receive up to $120 every calendar year (up to $10 per month) in Uber Cash, which can be used on Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. Uber Cash will only be deposited into one Uber account when you add the Amex Gold as a payment method and redeem with any Amex card.
Additionally, you'll receive up to $100 per calendar year (up to $50 bi-annually) in Resy statement credits. These credits can be used when you pay your bill with the Amex Gold at any restaurant enrolled in the Resy program. No reservation is required for the credit to trigger. Enrollment is required.
Lastly, you can earn up to $84 in Dunkin' Donuts statement credits each calendar year (up to $7 per month). Just use your Amex Gold when you pay at U.S. Dunkin' Donuts. Enrollment is required.
The Amex Gold also has impressive earning categories:
- 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in spending per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
- 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in spending per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
- 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with the airline or through AmexTravel.com
- 2 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com
- 1 point per dollar everywhere else
Currently, the Amex Gold is offering a welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first six months of card membership.
This welcome offer is worth up to $1,200 based on TPG's February 2025 valuations.
However, you could be targeted for a higher welcome offer through CardMatch or a referral link (offers are subject to change at any time).
Who should get the Amex Gold?
People who spend a lot on dining at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets
Most people spend much of their budget at restaurants and grocery stores. If you want to up your points and miles game, you need a card in your wallet that earns a lot of rewards on these categories.
The 4 points per dollar earned on dining at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar) and U.S. supermarket purchases (up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar) amounts to an impressive 8% return based on TPG's February 2025 valuation of Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each.
The 8% return potential makes this card a no-brainer for those who spend heavily dining out and at supermarkets.
People looking to complete the Amex trifecta
While the Amex Gold is strong on its own, it's even better as part of the Amex trifecta, alongside The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express.
Since the Amex Platinum earns 5 points per dollar on flights (booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel, on up to $500,000 of these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar), and the Blue Business Plus earns 2 points per dollar on all other purchases (on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each calendar year; then 1 point per dollar), combining these cards allows you to earn anywhere from 2-5 points per dollar on nearly all of your purchases.
Related: This might be the best Amex card combo: Amex Gold and Amex Business Platinum
People who can maximize the annual statement credits
One of the greatest ways the Amex Gold adds value is through its dining credits and Uber Cash. If you can max them out, you'll cover the card's annual fee and come out with positive value.
The up to $120 per calendar year dining statement credit is broken down into up to $10 monthly. If you eat out or take out from one of the partner dining merchants (Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com and Five Guys), you should easily maximize this up to $10 monthly benefit.
Additionally, when you add your card to your Uber account, you'll receive $10 in Uber Cash deposited to your account monthly to use on U.S. rides and U.S. Uber Eats orders.
As a road warrior, I travel frequently, hopping in and out of many Ubers, so this perk is especially valuable to me. On average, most Uber rides I take are $10, which effectively gets me a free ride every month.
Furthermore, you'll receive up to $100 in Resy statement credits per calendar year. These credits are worth up to $50 bi-annually (Jan-June & July-Dec) and are incredibly easy to use. You simply need to dine at a restaurant enrolled in the Resy program and pay your bill with the Amex Gold. No reservation is required.
If you can maximize these credits, you'll easily justify the Amex Gold's annual fee and even come out ahead.
Related: 8 ways to make the most of the Amex Gold Card's benefits
People who are over 5/24 with Chase
At TPG, we almost universally recommend that you prioritize applying for Chase credit cards because of the issuer's pesky 5/24 rule. Simply put, this rule means you will be automatically rejected for most Chase cards if you've opened five or more credit cards in the last 24 months.
The question of what you should do after you've maxed out your five slots with Chase gets a little trickier, but the Amex Gold could be a great answer.
Not only will you immediately begin earning a valuable transferable points currency, but the bonus categories will also help you earn your next award flight or hotel stay much faster.
Related: Ignoring Chase's 5/24 rule? Here's how that could cost you hundreds of thousands of points
People targeted for a great welcome offer
The public welcome offer on the Amex Gold is currently 60,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first six months of account opening.
Since Amex has a once-per-lifetime policy with welcome offers, it always makes sense to see if you can get a higher offer.
Related: The best credit card welcome bonuses
Who shouldn't get the Amex Gold?
The Amex Gold has the potential to be a very lucrative card, but several groups of people might struggle to get good value from it.
People who are under 5/24 and want more Chase cards
As mentioned above, Chase's 5/24 rule is one of the most important considerations in building a starter strategy for credit cards. Five cards can seem like a lot to someone who has never had one before, but those slots fill quickly, and once you've used them up, it takes a while to get them back.
The Amex Gold will probably be around for a while, so there's no reason to fire off an application for it right now if it means compromising your strategy with Chase.
If you want a card such as the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card in the near future, you should consider locking those in first.
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Gold
People who live outside the U.S.
If you're outside the U.S., this card is far less valuable, as the 4 points per dollar earned on the Amex Gold at U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 each calendar year; then 1 point) and the up to $120 dining statement credit and Uber benefit per calendar year do you no good.
The other perks, such as 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly through the airline or through amextravel.com and an up to $100 statement credit each calendar year when booking through The Hotel Collection (with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com), can easily be trumped by other premium rewards cards. Enrollment is required for the Hotel Collection benefit, and terms apply.
Related: Earning points and miles as an expat
People who won't max out the statement credits
The up to $120 Uber Cash benefit, up to $120 dining statement credits, up to $100 Resy statement credits and up to $84 Dunkin' statement credits you'll get on the Amex Gold each calendar year can be easy for many people to use, but no card perk is a great fit for everyone.
If it sounds like you'll end up spending money you otherwise wouldn't to take advantage of the Uber and dining benefits, you're better off getting a card that comes with benefits you'll more naturally use.
It's also worth checking to see if any Dunkin' Donuts locations exist in your area. Certain states don't have any Dunkin' locations, so if you live in one of those areas that statement credit will be fairly useless for you. Those who live in more rural areas may find it difficult to use the Resy statement credit.
Related: A complete guide to the Amex Gold dining credit
People who've previously had an Amex Gold
Amex's rule on bonus eligibility states that if you have previously earned the bonus on a card, you will not be eligible to earn it again. This includes the American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card, the old version of the Amex Gold, as it is still technically the same product despite undergoing a heavy makeover.
If you've had the card before, you'll likely want to get a different card that allows you to earn a welcome bonus.
People who want more comprehensive travel protections
The Amex Gold isn't among the best cards with travel protections. For example, the rental car insurance* you get with the card is secondary, which means it only applies to expenses not covered by other insurance you have. On top of that, the card also doesn't have any trip delay or trip interruption coverage.
If travel protections are important to you, you'll be better off with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve, which all feature impressive travel coverage.
*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Bottom line
The Amex Gold is a valuable option for U.S.-based customers who spend heavily on dining and groceries at U.S. supermarkets and are looking for an in-between, "premium-lite" card that offers good returns without a hefty price tag.
If you can maximize all the benefits this card offers, it might become a cornerstone of your wallet. But if you live or frequently travel outside of the U.S. or can't max out both annual benefits, you may prefer one of our other favorite travel credit cards.
To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Gold.
Apply here: Amex Gold
Related: American Express Gold vs. Platinum
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click here.