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Amex Gold Card Review: Big Bonuses on Dining and Groceries

Review Updated
Lyle Daly
By: Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
Writer

Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. He writes for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, and his work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.

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Our Credit Cards Expert

Nathan Alderman
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Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
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Nathan Alderman has worked with The Motley Fool since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As The Ascent's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.

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The American Express® Gold Card is good for people with high food spending, including on groceries and at restaurants. It also has a useful, albeit somewhat complicated, travel rewards program. There's lots of value here for the right card member, but not everyone will be able to use all this card's benefits.

Keep reading our in-depth review to see if this card is a match.

Ratings Methodology
American Express® Gold Card
Apply Now for American Express® Gold Card

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Award Icon 2024 Award Winner

American Express® Gold Card

Great for: Restaurants and U.S. supermarkets

Apply Now for American Express® Gold Card

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

American Express® Gold Card
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Apply Now for American Express® Gold Card

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Limited-time offer
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: n/a

Balance Transfers: n/a

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 per calendar year in purchases), and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.

1X-4X Membership Rewards® Points

Annual Fee

$325

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.

60,000 points + earn up to $100 back

  • This card offers considerable value, as it earns 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X) and 4X points at restaurants. Plus, earn 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on American Express Travel. Meanwhile, over $600 in various spend credits can potentially offset the entire $325 annual fee. (Terms apply.) Overall, it’s an incredibly lucrative card for those who spend a lot in its bonus categories and can use its spend credits.

    • Impressive welcome offer
    • Restaurant rewards
    • U.S. supermarket rewards
    • Travel and dining credits
    • High-value rewards points
    • Annual fee
    • Inflexible spending credits
    • Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
    • Get the American Express® Gold Card in either the Gold, Rose Gold or Limited-Edition White Gold metal design. White Gold design is only available while supplies last.
    • 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 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
    • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
    • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
    • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
    • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Dunkin' locations.
    • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
    • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
    • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
    • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
    • Annual Fee is $325.
    • Terms Apply.
• Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. • Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. • Trip delay insurance underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
 • Extended warranty, baggage insurance plan, car rental loss & damage insurance, and purchase protection warranty underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
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Best for cash rewards on everyday spending 		$200 cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. 2% cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular: 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR

Apply Now for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories 		Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. Circle with letter I in it. N/A 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases 		25,000 points Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases 1.5 points per dollar Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

On Bank of America's Secure Website.

American Express® Gold Card review

Is the Amex Gold Card worth it?

The American Express® Gold Card is worth it if you can use its dining credits and Uber Cash. You can save up to $424 per year this way, so those benefits alone nearly outweigh the $325 annual fee (see rates and fees). But if you're not sure you'll use this card's features, you're better off looking elsewhere.

Author's personal experience

I had mixed feelings about the American Express® Gold Card. I loved the travel rewards program, as I was able to transfer my American Express points to multiple airlines to book business-class flights. The customer service from American Express is second to none, and it has one of the best online platforms of any card issuer. I also love how easy it is to earn bonus points with this card.

What I didn't like was the difficulty in using many of this card's benefits, especially the monthly dining credits and Uber Cash. I'm not a fan of features that you need to micromanage, which is why I eventually closed this card.

What everyone else is saying

Here's a look at other opinions on the American Express® Gold Card, including from professional reviews and social media.

What other review sites say

Average review site rating: 4.1 / 5 stars

This American Express card gets positive reviews. Some consider it a good card and some consider it one of the best, especially for food spending. Other reviewers highlighted the impressive bonus categories, the high-value redemption options with American Express points, and the assortment of spending credits.

The top criticism was the expensive annual fee. Most reviewers also pointed out the difficulty in using all this card's spending credits and that there's a learning curve to using American Express points. Another good point was that this card doesn't have much in the way of travel perks. It mostly has food-related features, so it may not be the best fit if you want to upgrade your travel experience.

Online consensus

The American Express® Gold Card is hotly debated on social media. Those who can easily use the spending credits love it. Social media users also consider Amex Offers to be an underrated perk. But lots of people have been frustrated with this card's changes over the years and how it's becoming more and more of a "coupon book."

This is a fairly popular card among people who live in cities, use Uber, and go out to eat regularly. Young professionals, in particular, seem to really enjoy its benefits. Most others don't think it's worth the cost for what it offers.

Amex Gold Card features and benefits

A big earner with lots of ways to earn bonus points

With many travel rewards cards, you earn bonus points on travel-related purchases, but hardly anywhere else. That's great when you're traveling, but it doesn't do you much good all the times that you're not.

You won't have that problem with the American Express® Gold Card. It earns:

  • 4X points at restaurants worldwide on up to $50,000 per calendar year in purchases
  • 4X points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases
  • 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines and on amextravel.com
  • Terms apply.

So, you'll earn bonus points every time you use your card at the supermarket and when you go out to eat. Its rate of 4X points per $1 is one of the highest I've seen in those categories. You'll earn extra on flight bookings, too.

This card also has an excellent welcome offer of 60,000 points + earn up to $100 back. You earn that by spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months. Terms apply.

Valuable travel points are ideal for booking expensive airfare

American Express has an amazing travel rewards program with a ton of travel partners. You can transfer your points to over 20 airlines and hotels. I haven't found a card issuer with more travel partners. Terms apply.

Where this really comes in handy is costly airfare bookings -- think those business-class and first-class tickets that normally cost $3,000 or more. Instead of paying in cash, you could pick an airline partner and turn your American Express points into miles. Here are a few examples of what you could do:

  • Transfer your points to Delta Air Lines for a transcontinental flight, a trip abroad, or just a short hop to see family.
  • Set out for the United Kingdom by transferring your points to British Airways.
  • Take a trip to Japan by sending your points to All Nippon Airways (ANA), the nation's largest airline.

Just so you know, this rewards program does have a learning curve. One of the most common complaints I see is people who have a huge balance of points with no idea what to do with them. If you're new to travel rewards, you'll probably want to spend a little time learning how to use Membership Rewards points.

Top-notch service and protections for a great customer experience

Something I love about American Express is that it does the little things very well. Customer service tends to be fast and responsive, whether you use live chat or call. American Express regularly ranks at the top of J.D. Power's customer satisfaction studies for this reason.

Many American Express cards offer complimentary protections, and this one is no exception. It offers the following types of coverage on eligible purchases:

  • Purchase protection
  • Extended warranty
  • Car rental loss and damage insurance
  • Baggage insurance plan
  • Terms apply.

Now, you may have seen plenty of credit cards with protections like these. There's a key difference with American Express cards -- American Express handles the insurance itself. It doesn't outsource this to another company.

What does that mean for you? A much more customer-friendly claims process, according to online reports. While claims with other card issuers can be full of hassles, American Express is known for smooth handling of protection and insurance claims.

Spending credits could help you save -- if you can use them

The American Express® Gold Card has several spending credits. Here's what you can get from it:

  • $120 in annual Uber Cash: When you add your American Express® Gold Card to your Uber account, you automatically receive $10 in Uber Cash each month. You can use this for Uber Eats orders and Uber rides in the United States.
  • $84 in annual Dunkin' credits: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits when you use your American Express® Gold Card at Dunkin' locations.
  • $100 in annual Resy credits: Get up to $50 back semiannually in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with your American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases.
  • $120 in annual dining credits: Receive $10 per month when you use your American Express® Gold Card at select participating restaurants and food delivery services. Options include Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys.
  • Select enrollment required; terms apply.

Use all those, and you're saving $424, putting you up $99 on the annual fee! But for most people, using all those credits is a stretch. You're also not really saving money if the only reason you're spending money at those restaurants and through Uber is to use your credits.

Before you get this card, consider whether these credits are a good fit for you. If you use Uber already and go to those dining partners every month, then this card makes sense. If not, well, forcing yourself to order Uber Eats and visit Dunkin' isn't all that fun.

What could be improved

The annual fee is on the high side

The American Express® Gold Card is in an interesting position cost-wise. At $325 per year, it's much more expensive than many of the popular and affordable travel cards. If you don't want to pay that much, check out other credit card reviews for more options.

It is quite a bit less than the premium travel cards -- those generally range from $395 to as high as $695. But because it costs less, it also doesn't have the premium travel perks those cards offer. For example, you won't get any airport lounge access with this American Express card.

It's time-consuming to get the most out of this card

My No. 1 complaint with the American Express® Gold Card is that using its benefits can start to feel like a chore. Figure out a way to use the $10 monthly dining credit. Don't forget about this month's $10 in Uber Cash and $7 at Dunkin', either. Terms apply. Once next month rolls around, repeat the process.

This is seemingly an upscale card for people who spend heavily on dining and travel. There's nothing upscale about tracking small credits every month.

Find the best credit card for your needs

Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.

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What to know before applying

Amex Gold Card credit score

A FICO® Score of 670 or higher is recommended to apply for the American Express® Gold Card, as it's intended for consumers with good and excellent credit. Keep in mind that card applications aren't entirely decided by your credit score. It's important, but American Express looks at a number of factors, including your income and overall credit history.

Pre-approval process

American Express lets you see if you're pre-approved for any of its cards online. You can check in your online account if you're already an American Express client, and if not, you can fill out your information in its pre-approval tool. This will match you with American Express card offers, which may or may not include the American Express® Gold Card.

Regular APR

The American Express® Gold Card is designed to be paid in full every month. If you use its Pay Over Time feature, that has a 21.24% to 29.24% Variable APR.

Fees

Here are the fees for the American Express® Gold Card:

  • Annual fee: $325
  • Cash advance fee: 5% ($10 minimum)
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Returned payment fee: Up to $40
  • See rates and fees.

Credit limit

The American Express® Gold Card has no preset spending limit. Instead, the amount you can spend adapts based on various factors, including your purchase, payment, and credit history. If you want to see if a large purchase will be approved, you can use the Check Spending Power tool in your online account or the mobile app.

Our credit card methodology

At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • There is no credit limit or preset spending limit for the American Express® Gold Card. The spending limit is determined on a month-to-month basis and is based on your payment history, income, credit history, and other habits.

  • No, the American Express® Gold Card doesn't include airport lounge access. If you're looking for a card with that benefit, check out The Platinum Card® from American Express.

  • Yes, the American Express® Gold Card is made of metal.