American Express® Gold Card

Quick Snapshot

• Annual Fee: $325
• APR: 21.24%–29.99% variable
• Rewards: 4X points on dining & supermarkets, 3X on flights, 1X on everything else
• Bonus: Up to 100,000 Membership Rewards points after $6,000 spend in 6 months
• Best For: Frequent diners, foodies, Membership Rewards enthusiasts
• Credit Needed: Good to Excellent (690+)

Overview

The American Express Gold Card is a premium dining and travel rewards card that excels at earning Membership Rewards points on everyday spending. With 4X points on dining worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, plus up to $340 in annual statement credits, this card offers exceptional value for foodies and frequent diners.

Built for those who love dining out and cooking at home, the Gold Card rewards both restaurant meals and grocery purchases with industry-leading earning rates. When combined with valuable credits for Uber, Dunkin', Resy, and dining subscriptions, this card can effectively reduce its annual fee to near zero while accumulating transferable points worth significantly more than cash back.

APR Breakdown

• Purchase APR: 21.24%–29.99% variable
• Balance Transfer APR: 21.24%–29.99% variable
• Cash Advance APR: 21.24%–29.99% variable
• Penalty APR: None

Note: This is a charge card designed to be paid in full each month. Carrying a balance defeats its value proposition.

Benefits Overview

Travel Benefits

• No Foreign Transaction Fees: Use internationally without additional charges
• Trip Delay Insurance: Up to $500 per trip for delays over 6 hours
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: Coverage for qualified trip disruptions
• Baggage Insurance: Protection for lost or damaged luggage
• Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: Secondary coverage worldwide
• Travel Accident Insurance: Up to $100,000 coverage
• Global Assist Hotline: 24/7 emergency assistance while traveling

Everyday Benefits

• Purchase Protection: Coverage on eligible purchases for up to 90 days
• Extended Warranty Protection: Adds an additional year to warranties of 5 years or less
• Return Protection: Get refunded for purchases that merchants won't take back (up to $300 per item)
• Fraud Protection: Zero liability for unauthorized charges
• Free Additional Gold Cards: Add family members or employees at no cost

Lifestyle Benefits

• Global Dining Access: Reservations at exclusive restaurants worldwide through Global Dining Collection
• Resy Benefits: Priority reservations and exclusive dining experiences
• Amex Experiences: Access to exclusive events, concerts, and dining experiences
• ShopRunner: Free 2-day shipping and free returns at select online retailers
• Membership Rewards Program: Transfer points to 20+ airline and hotel partners at 1:1 ratio

Rewards & Points

• 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1X)
• 4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year (then 1X)
• 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com
• 2X points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases through amextravel.com
• 1X point on all other purchases

Redemption Options:

• Transfer to 20+ airline and hotel partners (typically 1.5-2.0+ cents per point value)
• Redeem for travel through Amex Travel portal
• Statement credits (1 cent per point)
• Shopping with points at Amazon and other retailers
• Gift cards
• Pay with Points at eligible merchants

Points never expire as long as your account remains open.

Welcome Bonus

Earn as high as 100,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Value: 100,000 points can be worth $1,500–$2,000+ when transferred to airline partners like Delta, ANA, or British Airways for premium cabin redemptions. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Fees Summary

• Annual Fee: $325 (additional Gold Cards for family or employees have no annual fee)
• Foreign Transaction Fee: $0
• Balance Transfer Fee: Not applicable (charge card)
• Cash Advance Fee: Not applicable
• Late Payment Fee: Up to $40
• Returned Payment Fee: Up to $40

Who This Card Is Best For

Ideal For

• Frequent diners who spend $500+ monthly at restaurants
• Families and home cooks who spend heavily at U.S. supermarkets
• Membership Rewards collectors building points for aspirational travel
• Urban professionals who use Uber, Dunkin', and Resy regularly
• International travelers who benefit from no foreign transaction fees
• Points enthusiasts who understand transfer partner value

Not Good For

• Balance carriers (this is a charge card meant to be paid in full)
• Light spenders who can't justify the $325 annual fee
• Those who don't use credits (Uber, Dunkin', Resy value requires engagement)
• Airport lounge seekers (no lounge access included—consider Platinum)
• Those exceeding category caps ($50K dining, $25K supermarkets)
• Cash back preferrers (Membership Rewards are most valuable when transferred)

Key Pros & Cons

Pros

• Exceptional 4X earning rate on dining and U.S. supermarkets with high annual caps
• Up to $340 in annual statement credits ($120 Uber Cash + $120 dining credits + $100 Resy)
• Up to $84 annually in Dunkin' credits ($7 per month)
• No foreign transaction fees makes it ideal for international travel
• Membership Rewards points transfer to 20+ airline and hotel partners at 1:1 ratio
• Complimentary access to Amex Experiences and exclusive events
• Premium dining benefits through Resy and Global Dining Collection
• Free additional Gold Cards for authorized users
• Purchase protection, extended warranty, and return protection
• Points never expire as long as account is open

Cons

• High $325 annual fee requires maximizing credits and spending to justify
• 4X supermarket earning capped at $25,000 annually (then drops to 1X)
• 4X restaurant earning capped at $50,000 annually (then drops to 1X)
• No lounge access included (unlike Platinum Card)
• Credits require specific merchants (Uber, Dunkin', Resy) to maximize value
• APR is high if you carry a balance (this is a charge card meant to be paid in full)
• Membership Rewards points require learning transfer partners for maximum value
• Not ideal for those who prefer simple cash back

Alternatives to Consider

How the Rewards Add Up

Example Annual Value

If you spend $30,000 per year on typical expenses:

Credits Value:

• Uber Cash: $120
• Dining Credits: $120
• Resy Credits: $100
• Dunkin' Credits: $84
• Total Credits: $424

Net Annual Fee: $325 - $424 in credits = effectively -$99 (profit if you use all credits)

Total Value: 78,000 Membership Rewards points (worth $1,170–$1,560 when transferred) + $424 in credits = $1,594–$1,984 in total value, minus $325 annual fee = $1,269–$1,659 net value.

Should You Get This Card?

You Should Get It If...

• You spend $500+ monthly on dining and restaurants
• You shop regularly at U.S. supermarkets (not Walmart/Target)
• You already use or would use Uber, Dunkin', and Resy
• You understand how to maximize Membership Rewards transfers
• You want premium dining experiences and reservations
• You travel internationally and benefit from no foreign fees
• You're building Membership Rewards for aspirational travel
• You can comfortably pay the balance in full each month

You Should Skip It If...

• You spend less than $500/month on dining and supermarkets combined
• You won't use the Uber, Dunkin', or Resy credits regularly
• You prefer simple cash back over transferable points
• You need airport lounge access (consider Platinum instead)
• You carry balances month-to-month (high APR makes this expensive)
• You shop primarily at Walmart/Target (may not code as supermarkets)
• You can't justify the $325 annual fee with your spending patterns
• You want an all-around travel card (this is dining-focused)

Apply Now

Apply for American Express Gold Card

Information accurate as of December 2025. Terms and conditions apply. Please visit the issuer's website for the most current information.