If you're just getting into the points and miles game, the $325-annual-fee American Express® Gold Card can be a great compromise between a no-annual-fee card with everyday benefits and a premium card with airport lounge access that charges a sky-high annual fee to match (rates and fees).
The Amex Gold Card is best for young professionals who frequently go out with friends for dinner and cocktails, but also like shopping for premium groceries and cooking at home occasionally.
The classy metal card looks sleek when you pull it out at a restaurant, and comes with a $10 monthly Uber Cash credit to help you get home safely when you add the Amex Gold Card to your Uber account. Cardholders can also enroll to get up to $10 a month in dining credits, up to $50 twice a year toward Resy restaurants, and up to $7 monthly Dunkin' credit to assuage your coffee and donut cravings.
Most importantly, you won't pay foreign transaction fees, so this card is a great option to take on international trips.
$325
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of Card Membership
Good to Excellent
Pros
Cons
Foodies and travelers alike will appreciate the American Express Gold's generous welcome bonus and Membership Rewards points earning. Its Uber Cash credits are useful for rides and Uber Eats, and monthly dining credits with participating merchants like GrubHub and Seamless are easy to use.
Amex Gold Card- 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.
- 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 get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $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 U.S. 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.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
What Benefits Does the Amex Gold Card Offer?
These are the card's most noteworthy perks that accompany the $325 annual fee (rates and fees). Some benefits require enrollment before you can use them, while others are automatically activated as soon as you become a card member. Terms apply.
- Up to $100 Resy credit, doled out as $50 semi-annually**
- Up to $84 Dunkin' credit, doled out as $7 monthly**
- Up to $120 dining credit, doled out as $10 monthly**
- Up to $120 Uber Cash, doled out as $10 monthly (when you add the card to your Uber account)
- Amex Offers**
- Premium benefits and up to $100 credit on eligible hotel bookings through Amex's The Hotel Collection
- Baggage insurance
- Car rental insurance
- Trip delay insurance
- Dispute resolution protection
- Extended warranty
- Purchase protection
- Return protection
- Access to Events with Amex
- Amex Presale Tickets
**These perks require activation before use
Amex Gold Card Benefits Overview
The following perks require enrollment before you receive credit for qualifying transactions. It's easy to forget to activate your credits, so set a calendar alert to remind yourself to do so as soon as you get your card.
Up to $50 Resy Credit Every 6 Months (Up to $100/Year)
Cardholders can activate up to $50 in statement credits twice a year when they pay for eligible Resy purchases with the Amex Gold Card, for up to $100 a year. Terms Apply.
The Resy reservations tool is growing in popularity nationwide, so this benefit should be very easy for most people to use. The credit amount is relatively generous, with no minimum purchase required and a six-month window for use.
This benefit requires enrollment, which you can complete by logging into your online account, or by calling the customer service number on the back of your card.
Your Resy credit is available once every six months, for an annual total of up to $100: up to $50 between January and June, and up to $50 between July and December.
Eligible Resy transactions include:
- Purchases made directly with U.S. restaurants that offer reservations on Resy.com and the Resy app
- Purchases made directly on Resy.com or in the Resy app
- Purchases made via Resy Pay
Restaurants must be live on Resy.com or the Resy app at the time of your transaction to be eligible for the statement credit and are subject to change at any time. Resy software purchases or Resy-branded Amex gift cards aren't eligible for this benefit, and Amex has the final say on whether the transaction is eligible for credit. In some cases, mobile transactions may not qualify for the credit. Finally, some gift cards purchased at Resy restaurants may not receive the statement credit, so don't rely on this loophole to maximize your credit.
Amex applies this credit based on the date the transaction takes place. If you dine out on the evening of June 30 but the merchant doesn't charge your card until the morning of July 1, for example, Amex will apply your statement credit toward the July-December benefit period instead of the January-June period. To avoid losing your credit to technicalities like this, it's a good idea to use this benefit earlier in the six-month window rather than waiting until the last minute.
Up to $7 Monthly Dunkin' Credit (Up to $84/Year)
Similarly, cardholders get up to $7 a month in statement credits when they enroll and use the Amex Gold Card to pay for eligible Dunkin' purchases within the U.S. Terms Apply.
This perk may be challenging for most people since maximizing the benefit requires placing a monthly order with Dunkin'. If your routine doesn't already include a stop at Dunkin's on a regular basis, you can set up recurring calendar reminders to treat yourself to a donut or warm beverage toward the end of each month.
This benefit also requires enrollment online or by calling customer service.
Your Dunkin' credit is available once per calendar month, for an annual total of up to $84. As with the Resy credit, you may not receive credit for your purchase for various reasons, including if the location you buy from doesn't accept Amex cards or incorrectly codes the transaction, such as when you buy from a Dunkin' inside of an airport or a gas station.
Similarly, Amex credits eligible purchases based on the transaction date, not necessarily when you receive the item. If you buy a coffee on December 31 but the merchant doesn't process your charge until January 1, the credit will apply to your January benefit period.
And if you cancel your Amex Gold Card or your account is past due, you may not qualify for this statement credit.
Up to $10 Monthly Dining Credit (Up to $120/Year)
Amex Gold Card holders who enroll in this benefit get up to $10 a month in statement credits on eligible dining purchases online or in person from the following businesses at their U.S. locations (terms apply):
- Grubhub (including Seamless)
- The Cheesecake Factory
- Goldbelly
- Wine.com
- Five Guys
This benefit doesn't go very far on most purchases from companies like Wine.com. But it can easily translate to a nice monthly burger at Five Guys or a slice of premium cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory and will offset some of your food delivery taxes and fees on Goldbelly or Grubhub and Seamless orders.
As with the previous credits, eligible purchases are subject to the same terms and conditions on transaction timing, merchant coding, and other factors.
Alcoholic beverages can only be sold and delivered to people who are at least 21 or older. Transactions received after 120 days from the transaction date will not be eligible for credit.
Up to $10 Monthly Uber Cash Credit (Up to $120/Year)
Cardholders who enroll in the Uber Cash benefit will receive up to $10 in Uber Cash each month after toggling on the "Uber Cash" payment option within the Uber or Uber Eats apps and adding their Amex Gold Card as a method of payment. Terms apply.
You'll need to use the latest version of the Uber and Uber Eats apps, Your Amex Gold Card must be listed as a method of payment for your rides to qualify for this benefit, and it only applies to transactions completed within the U.S.
This perk can be one of the easiest Amex Gold Card benefits for most people to use, especially those who regularly rely on rideshare or food delivery services from Uber. But even those who don't use Uber often can benefit — when you catch a ride from the airport after arriving in a new city, for example, or for Uber Eats delivery to your hotel in lieu of room service.
As with the other credits, terms and conditions apply for eligibility. Your Amex Gold Card must be in good standing without a past-due balance to qualify for this benefit. Your card information must also be accurately stored with Uber, and payment info submitted via Apple Pay or Paypal will not be eligible for the credit.
If your card details change, such as a new expiration date or card number, make sure you update them within your Uber payment profile before the current month ends to ensure you remain enrolled for this benefit. You may be unenrolled from this benefit if your payment information isn't fully up-to-date by the first day of each month, and it can take up to 48 hours for your re-enrollment to process.
Finally, you'll only receive this credit on a single Uber account. If your Amex Gold Card is a payment method on both your own account and your partner's account, for example, only the first Uber account to which your card was added will receive the credit. This benefit doesn't apply to prior Uber transactions, and can't be used for UberFAMILY profiles.
Elite Benefits and $100 Credit Per Eligible Booking Through The Hotel Collection
Cardholders who book hotel stays through Amex's The Hotel Collection (THC) are eligible for elite-like benefits including noon check-in, late checkout, and room upgrades when available. They will also receive up to a $100 credit for incidental expenses such as restaurant or spa charges and may receive an additional amenity at select properties. Terms apply.
THC perks can be useful for people who don't hold elite status with a specific hotel chain or who are planning a special trip. The $100 incidental credit and premium hotel experience can greatly enhance the value of yourAmex Gold Card membership even if you only use the benefit once a year.
This benefit doesn't require enrollment the same way the previous credits did, but only applies to eligible reservations booked through The Hotel Collection within the Amex travel portal.
Eligible bookings must be reserved in the cardholder's name for a minimum of two consecutive nights or more, and paid with the Amex Gold Card. The cardholder must also stay on the booked reservation to receive THC benefits, and eligible spending must be charged to the hotel room to receive the $100 credit at check-out.
Benefits apply per room, per stay, with a three-room limit per eligible reservation. Back-to-back stays booked by a single cardholder, multiple cardholders staying in the same room, or cardholders traveling in the same party within a 24-hour period at the same property, are considered one stay, and do not qualify for additional THC benefits.
THC perks cannot be redeemed for cash, must be used during the booked stay, and can't be combined with other offers unless indicated.
$325
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of Card Membership
Good to Excellent
Pros
Cons
Foodies and travelers alike will appreciate the American Express Gold's generous welcome bonus and Membership Rewards points earning. Its Uber Cash credits are useful for rides and Uber Eats, and monthly dining credits with participating merchants like GrubHub and Seamless are easy to use.
Amex Gold Card- 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.
- 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 get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $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 U.S. 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.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
Amex Gold Card Rewards
The Amex Gold Card offers a smart way to maximize your spending on restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets.
This card earns points at the following rates (terms apply):
- 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar
- 4 points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 spent in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar
- 3 points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com
- 2 points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com
- 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases
Amex Gold Card Bonus Offer
The Amex Gold Card offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership, worth at least $1,180 based on Business Insider's valuations of 1.8 cents apiece. Terms apply.
This welcome offer is particularly generous because new cardholders get plenty of time to reach the spending requirements. In contrast, most cards offer welcome bonuses that require spending the designated amount in half as much time.
$325
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of Card Membership
Good to Excellent
Pros
Cons
Foodies and travelers alike will appreciate the American Express Gold's generous welcome bonus and Membership Rewards points earning. Its Uber Cash credits are useful for rides and Uber Eats, and monthly dining credits with participating merchants like GrubHub and Seamless are easy to use.
Amex Gold Card- 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.
- 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 get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $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 U.S. 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.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
Amex Gold Card Fees
The Amex Gold Card has an annual fee of $325 (rates and fees).
Amex increased the rate in 2024, but added the Dunkin' and Resy credits to offset the higher cost. The card's value will depend on whether you can utilize most or all of the included credits each year. Most people should be able to use the semi-annual Resy credits pretty easily, which drops the cost of holding the card right away.
Other Fees and Costs
The Amex Gold Card does not charge foreign transaction fees (rates and fees).
Like most other cards, the Amex Gold Card charges penalty fees for late or returned payments and transaction fees for cash advances.
Who Should Get the Amex Gold Card?
The American Express® Gold Card is an urban foodie's best friend. The Amex Gold Card is worth it if you love hitting up the latest restaurants and grabbing cocktails with friends but also enjoy cooking delicious meals at home. You'll rack up valuable Amex points in no time by paying with this card, while being able to make use of valuable statement credits that help justify the annual fee.
This card earns 4 points per dollar on food-related expenses, such as restaurants and US supermarkets (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year at restaurants worldwide and on up to $25,000 per year at US supermarkets) and offers hundreds of dollars in credits that many people can easily spend (terms apply). Our guide walks you through these benefits so you can get the most out of your shiny metal card.
$325
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of Card Membership
Good to Excellent
Pros
Cons
Foodies and travelers alike will appreciate the American Express Gold's generous welcome bonus and Membership Rewards points earning. Its Uber Cash credits are useful for rides and Uber Eats, and monthly dining credits with participating merchants like GrubHub and Seamless are easy to use.
Amex Gold Card- 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.
- 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 get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $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 U.S. 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.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
Amex Gold Card Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of an Amex Gold Card?
Amex Gold Cardholders can enroll in annual credits worth hundreds of dollars from brands Resy, Uber, and Dunkin'. They also get elite-like benefits when booking eligible stays through The Hotel Collection, a premium portfolio of boutique properties worldwide. Cardholders also earn 4 points per dollar spent on eligible dining and US Supermarkets (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year at restaurants worldwide and on up to $25,000 per year at US supermarkets). Terms Apply.
Is the Amex Gold worth it?
The Amex Gold Card is worth the annual fee if you maximize most or all of the dining benefits each year and spend around $1,000 each month at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, according to cardholders on Reddit.
What is the current welcome bonus for the Amex Gold Card?
The current welcome bonus for the Amex Gold Card is 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.
Does the Amex Gold have TSA PreCheck?
No, the Amex Gold Card does not come with a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®.
Does my Amex Gold get me into airport lounges?
No, the Amex Gold Card does not offer airport lounge access. If you want a premium Amex card with lounge access and many other luxury benefits, apply for The Platinum Card® from American Express with a $695 annual fee (rates and fees, terms apply). Alternatively, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers airport lounge access with a $395 annual fee.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and Cell Phone Protection Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Global Assist Hotline Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, and Baggage Insurance Plan Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
