American Express Gold Card review: Great for everyday purchases and a bonus worth up to $1,200

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Editor’s note: This post has been updated with the current card information.

The American Express® Gold Card wants a seat at your table, whether you’re dining out at restaurants or buying groceries at U.S. supermarkets to cook at home. You might also benefit from its various statement credits to save money throughout the year. With the card’s solid welcome offer, the Amex Gold may be a great option for your wallet. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

Although its annual fee of $250 (see rates and fees) might seem pricey to some, the American Express Gold Card regularly ranks as one of our top rewards cards thanks to a few key features.

First are its exemplary earning rates, which include bonuses of 4 points per dollar at restaurants and on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year at U.S. supermarkets (then 1 point per dollar) — making it one of the best cards for both dining purchases as well as groceries. The card also offers various statement credits (which can be especially great for foodies) that help offset the annual fee.

The Amex Gold’s current welcome offer of 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on the card in the first six months of cardmembership is solid, though you could be targeted for an even higher offer through the CardMatch tool (offer subject to change at any time) or via a friend’s referral link.

Here’s everything you need to know about the American Express Gold Card.

Who is this card for?

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If you’re a foodie and eat out (or order in) frequently, this card is a no-brainer.

That’s because it earns 4 points per dollar at restaurants, including takeout and delivery with services like Grubhub or Seamless (in the U.S.). If you’re a home cook, this card also earns 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar). That’s potentially a lot of bonus Amex Membership Rewards points that you can maximize for travel and other redemptions.

Cardholders also receive up to $120 in annual statement credits ($10 per month) toward dining at select merchants and up to another $120 per year ($10 per month) in Uber Cash toward U.S. Uber rides and Uber Eats orders after enrolling their card. Together, those bring the out-of-pocket cost of the card’s $250 annual fee closer to a mere $10.

In short, the Amex Gold is great for anyone looking to leverage their everyday spending for excellent rewards while also enjoying useful statement credits for things like dining and ride-hailing services.

Read more: Who should (and who shouldn’t) get the Amex Gold?

Current welcome offer

The Amex Gold is currently offering a welcome bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first six months. Based on TPG’s latest valuations, that bonus is worth $1,200.

However, getting an even higher welcome offer of up to 90,000 points may be possible via the CardMatch Tool, so it’s always a good idea to check there to see if you’re targeted (offer subject to change at any time).

Related: Why the Amex Gold is the perfect “in-between” card

Benefits

The Amex Gold offers several excellent perks for cardmembers, but here are the main ones to be aware of and to maximize:

Added together, these perks amount to a good deal of value year in and year out and make the Amex Gold Card an excellent choice in general for travelers.

*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

***Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

Earning

MATHEUS FRADE/UNSPLASH

The Amex Gold impresses when it comes to its bonus categories and long-term earning potential. It accrues points at the following rates (terms apply):

These are some of the most generous earning rates of any rewards card out there. Earning four points per dollar on dining and groceries (up to that $25,000 annual cap) is equivalent to getting an 8% return on spending based on TPG valuations.

If you book flights frequently, this card should definitely be on your radar since that 3-point-per-dollar earning rate is substantial, too.

Related: The best credit cards for dining out, taking out and ordering in

Redeeming

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The American Express Membership Rewards points you can earn with the Amex Gold are among the most valuable rewards points around.

First, cardmembers can transfer their points to the program’s many airline and hotel partners for any number of excellent travel options.

For instance, points transferred to Etihad Guest can then be used to book business-class flights to Europe on American Airlines for just 50,000 miles each way (one of many great redemption options available through this unsung program).

Virgin Atlantic also provides plenty of value — such as the ability to score round-trip, first-class flights on ANA between the U.S. and Japan for as few as 110,000 points. Another excellent redemption option is transferring points to Avianca LifeMiles for cheap Star Alliance premium cabin awards.

On the hotel side, you can transfer points to Choice Hotels and Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio and Hilton Honors at a 1:2 ratio.

American Express even offers transfer bonuses from time to time, which can be a great way of squeezing even more value from the points.

You’ll generally get the most value from your Amex points by transferring them to a travel partner, although that isn’t your only redemption option. You can use points to buy gift cards, cover charges on your billing statement, shop at Amazon or ride with Uber. You can also use points to book travel directly through Amex. However, except for transfer partners, all of these redemption options fall well short of TPG’s valuation of 2 cents per point.

Which cards compete with the Amex Gold?

The Amex Gold’s $250 annual fee places it between mid-tier and premium-level cards. Although there’s no direct comparison on the annual fee front, several cards offer similar bonus categories and perks.

JOHN GRIBBEN/THE POINTS GUY

One of the most obvious comparisons is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, with a $95 annual fee. It is currently offering 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Those bonus points are worth around $1,200 by TPG valuations. The card also underwent a notable refresh in 2021, including enhanced earning rates. The Sapphire Preferred now earns:

Those are some pretty impressive rates, especially considering cardholders get another 10% annual points bonus on base spending plus a $50 annual statement credit for hotels booked through the Chase Travel Portal. The key consideration will be if you spend a lot more on travel versus dining and groceries. If you do, then the Chase Sapphire Preferred might be a better pick for you. Otherwise, you might be better off with the Amex Gold’s higher earning rates and more substantial statement credits.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve deserves a mention on the premium end, as it was once the reigning champ for the highest return on dining spending with a 3-point-per-dollar earning rate. Like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, this card’s earning rates were updated in 2021, so now it accumulates:

While this is another strong earner, you might still be better off with the Amex Gold, depending on your typical purchase activity and if that includes more general dining and grocery shopping rather than travel.

The Sapphire Reserve charges a $550 annual fee, but, as you’d expect, it offers considerably more perks than the Amex Gold, such as a $300 annual travel credit, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit of up to $100 every four years and Priority Pass lounge access.

If the Amex Gold Card’s earning rate at U.S. supermarkets is a selling point for you, you could also consider the Amex EveryDay® Preferred Card from American Express. It earns 3 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets on the first $6,000 spent each calendar year (then 1 point per dollar). However, if you make at least 30 purchases in a billing cycle, you’ll get a 50% bonus on your points. That means you can earn as many as 4.5 points per dollar on groceries, equivalent to a 9% return on spending based on TPG valuations. This card also has a much lower $95 annual fee, but note the much lower cap on bonus earnings for U.S. supermarket purchases each year.

The information for the Amex EveryDay Preferred has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Bottom line

The Amex Gold isn’t just a pretty card. The earning rates at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets make it a strong pick for pretty much all food purchases. The up to $120 in annual statement credits on dining and up to $120 in Uber cash add even more value and make the $250 annual fee easier to accept.

That’s why the American Express Gold Card earns a spot as one of our best rewards cards.

For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here.

Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox and Eric Rosen.