When it comes time to use on your first (or fifth) journey rewards card, do not ignore the American Categorical® Gold Card.
The Amex Gold has common bonus classes, reminiscent of eating at eating places worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, and earns priceless American Categorical Membership Rewards factors.
And its $325 annual charge (see charges and charges) might be greater than offset when you absolutely use the varied eating and delivery-related assertion credit annually.
Let’s discover the the explanation why the Amex Gold is a superb card to think about, together with who ought to — and should not — apply for it.
Key Amex Gold advantages
The Amex Gold‘s $325 annual charge might sound steep initially, however it may be absolutely offset when you make the most of the cardboard’s as much as $424 in annual worth (enrollment required for choose advantages).
You will stand up to $10 month-to-month in eating assertion credit at taking part areas reminiscent of Buffalo Wild Wings, The Cheesecake Manufacturing unit, 5 Guys, Goldbelly, Grubhub, Wine.com and Surprise (as much as $120 per calendar 12 months).
As a part of the cardboard’s current refresh, Buffalo Wild Wings and Surprise have been added as new companions, whereas Wine.com and Goldbelly will solely be accessible by means of June 30 earlier than being eliminated.
The replace additionally launched automated Hertz Gold+ 5 Star standing, which incorporates advantages reminiscent of space-available upgrades and 25% extra factors earned on all leases, totaling 1.25 factors per greenback spent. Enrollment and registration are required for this profit.
You will additionally obtain as much as $10 per 30 days in Uber Money (as much as $120 per calendar 12 months), which can be utilized on Uber Eats orders or Uber rides within the U.S. (Uber Money will solely be deposited into one Uber account while you add the Amex Gold as a fee methodology and redeem with any Amex card.)
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Moreover, you may obtain as much as $50 biannually in Resy assertion credit (as much as $100 per calendar 12 months). These credit can be utilized while you pay your invoice with the Amex Gold at any U.S. restaurant enrolled within the Resy program. (No reservation is required for the assertion credit score to set off.)
Lastly, you possibly can earn as much as $7 in Dunkin’ assertion credit every month (as much as $84 per calendar 12 months). Simply use your Amex Gold while you pay at a U.S. Dunkin’ location.
The Amex Gold additionally has spectacular incomes classes:
5 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go resorts booked on AmexTravel.com and the Amex Journey App™4 factors per greenback spent at eating places worldwide (on as much as $50,000 in spending per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback spent)4 factors per greenback spent at U.S. supermarkets (on as much as $25,000 in spending per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback spent)3 factors per greenback spent on flights booked instantly with the airline, by means of AmexTravel.com or on the Amex Journey App2 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go automotive leases booked on AmexTravel.com and the Amex Journey App2 factors per greenback spent on cruises and different eligible journey booked by means of AmexTravel.com1 level per greenback spent in all places else
To have a good time its sixtieth anniversary, the Amex Gold can be rolling out a collection of limited-time perks. Cardmembers can enroll and get a one-time assertion credit score of as much as $96 towards an annual Uber One membership (by means of Oct. 30), and a 20% switch bonus when shifting Membership Rewards factors to Hilton Honors (by means of Might 30).
There are additionally focused Amex Journey gives at greater than 250 Resort Assortment properties worldwide, which might embody complimentary third or fourth nights, room reductions or on-property credit (minimal two-night keep required; accessible by means of July 15).
Eligible cardmembers may see extra Amex Gives as a part of the anniversary celebration (enrollment required; not everybody can be focused for a similar gives). Collectively, these promotions can additional increase the cardboard’s worth — particularly for frequent vacationers.
In case you’re excited about making use of for the Amex Gold, discover out your supply and see in case you are eligible for as excessive as 100,000 bonus factors after spending $8,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. (Welcome gives differ, and also you will not be eligible for a suggestion.)
This welcome supply is value as much as $2,000 based mostly on TPG’s Might 2026 valuations.
Who ought to get the Amex Gold?
Individuals who spend so much on eating at eating places and at U.S. supermarkets
Most individuals spend a lot of their funds at eating places and grocery shops. If you wish to up your factors and miles recreation, you want a card in your pockets that earns loads of rewards in these classes.
The 4 factors per greenback spent earned on eating at eating places worldwide (as much as $50,000 per calendar 12 months; then 1 level per greenback spent) and U.S. grocery store purchases (as much as $25,000 per calendar 12 months; then 1 level per greenback spent) quantity to a powerful 8% return based mostly on TPG’s valuation of Membership Rewards factors at 2 cents every.
The 8% return potential makes this card a no brainer for individuals who spend closely on eating out and at supermarkets.
Individuals seeking to full the Amex trifecta
Whereas the Amex Gold is powerful by itself, it is even higher as a part of the Amex trifecta, alongside the American Categorical Platinum Card® and The Blue Enterprise® Plus Credit score Card from American Categorical.
To be taught extra, try our full information to the Amex trifecta.
Associated: This is perhaps the most effective Amex card combo: Amex Gold and Amex Enterprise Platinum
Individuals who can maximize the annual assertion credit
One of many biggest methods the Amex Gold provides worth is thru its eating assertion credit and Uber Money. In case you can max them out, you may cowl the cardboard’s annual charge and are available out forward (enrollment required for choose advantages).
In case you eat out or get takeout from one of many accomplice eating retailers, you need to simply maximize the as much as $10 month-to-month eating assertion credit score.
Moreover, while you add your card to your Uber account, you may obtain $10 in Uber Money deposited to your account month-to-month to make use of on U.S. rides and U.S. Uber Eats orders.
Moreover, you may obtain as much as $50 in Resy assertion credit biannually. These assertion credit are extremely simple to make use of, given no reservation is required.
Associated: 8 methods to profit from the Amex Gold Card’s advantages
People who find themselves over 5/24 with Chase
At TPG, we nearly universally advocate that you simply prioritize making use of for Chase bank cards due to the issuer’s pesky 5/24 rule. Merely put, this rule means you can be mechanically rejected for many Chase playing cards when you’ve opened 5 or extra playing cards within the final 24 months.
Deciding what to do after you have crammed your 5 Chase slots might be tough, however the Amex Gold could possibly be a robust subsequent transfer.
Not solely will you instantly start incomes a priceless transferable rewards foreign money, however the bonus classes will even assist you to earn towards your subsequent award flight or lodge keep a lot sooner.
Associated: Ignoring Chase’s 5/24 rule? Here is how that would price you a whole bunch of 1000’s of factors
Individuals focused for an important welcome supply
Since Amex has a once-per-lifetime coverage with welcome gives, it all the time is sensible to strive for the very best supply attainable. The welcome supply on the Amex Gold can differ, so strive totally different strategies till you discover the most effective supply.
Associated: The very best bank card welcome bonuses
Who should not get the Amex Gold?
The Amex Gold has the potential to be a really profitable card, however a number of teams of individuals may wrestle to get good worth from it.
People who find themselves underneath 5/24 and need extra Chase playing cards
As talked about above, Chase’s 5/24 rule is without doubt one of the most vital concerns in constructing a starter technique for playing cards. 5 playing cards can look like so much to somebody who has by no means had one earlier than, however these slots fill shortly. As soon as you have used them up, it takes some time to get them again.
The Amex Gold will most likely be round for some time, so there is no purpose to fireside off an utility for it proper now if it means compromising your technique with Chase.
If you would like a card such because the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card (see charges and charges) or Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and charges) within the close to future, you need to take into account locking these in first.
Associated: Chase Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Amex Gold
Individuals who dwell exterior the U.S.
In case you’re exterior the U.S., this card is much much less priceless, as its U.S. supermarkets bonus class and most of its assertion credit usually are not helpful overseas.
The cardboard’s different perks, reminiscent of 3 factors per greenback spent on flights booked instantly by means of the airline, by means of AmexTravel.com or the Amex Journey App and an as much as $100 assertion credit score every calendar 12 months when reserving by means of The Resort Assortment* (with each reserving of two nights or extra), are simply trumped by different premium rewards playing cards.
*Eligible expenses differ by property.
Associated: Incomes factors and miles as an expat
Individuals who will not max out the assertion credit
The as much as $10 month-to-month Uber Money profit, as much as $10 in month-to-month eating assertion credit, as much as $50 biannual U.S. Resy assertion credit score and as much as $7 month-to-month U.S. Dunkin’ assertion credit score you may get on the Amex Gold might be simple for many individuals to make use of, however no card perk is a nice match for everybody.
If it sounds such as you’ll find yourself spending cash you in any other case would not to make the most of the Amex Gold’s advantages, you are higher off getting a card that comes with perks you may extra naturally use.
It is also value checking to see if any Dunkin’ areas exist in your space. Sure states and territories like Puerto Rico, Oregon and Washington have no Dunkin’ areas, so when you dwell in a type of areas, that assertion credit score can be pretty ineffective for you.
Those that dwell in additional rural areas could discover it troublesome to make use of the Resy assertion credit score.
Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
Associated: An entire information to the Amex Gold eating credit score
Individuals who’ve beforehand had an Amex Gold
Amex’s rule on bonus eligibility states that you probably have beforehand obtained the bonus on a card, you’ll not be eligible to obtain it once more. This consists of the American Categorical Premier Rewards Gold Card, the previous model of the Amex Gold, as it’s nonetheless technically the identical product regardless of present process a heavy makeover.
In case you’ve had the cardboard earlier than, you may probably wish to get a special card that lets you earn a welcome bonus.
The knowledge for the Amex Premier Rewards Gold has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Individuals who need extra complete journey protections
The Amex Gold is not among the many greatest playing cards with journey protections. For instance, the rental automotive insurance coverage* you get with the cardboard is secondary, which suggests it solely applies to bills not lined by different insurance coverage you might have.
If journey protections are vital to you, you may be higher off with the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked, Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve, which all function spectacular journey protection.
*Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Not all car varieties or leases are lined, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable by means of American Categorical Journey Associated Companies Firm, Inc.
Backside line
The Amex Gold is a priceless choice for U.S.-based shoppers who spend closely on meals and are searching for an in-between, premium-lite card that gives good returns with no hefty price ticket.
In case you can maximize all the advantages this card gives, it’d change into a cornerstone of your pockets. However when you dwell or regularly journey exterior of the U.S. or cannot max out its assertion credit, it’s possible you’ll choose one in every of our different favourite journey bank cards.
To be taught extra, learn our full evaluation of the American Categorical Gold.
Apply right here: American Categorical Gold
For charges and charges of the Amex Gold, click on right here.
