The American Express® Gold Card requires good / excellent credit, and you’ll need to show sufficient income to prove you can repay your balance. That said, American Express doesn’t list specific minimum eligibility requirements for its cards.
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American Express® Gold Card Review: Why It’s Still Worth the Annual Fee
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
LendingTree's Review
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Rewards Rate
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. Terms apply.
Extra Perks
$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.
Key takeaway
The American Express® Gold Card is a stellar option for travel since it can earn Amex Membership Rewards points at a faster pace than any other Amex card. But you may find it hard to maximize its statement credits to offset its high annual fee (see rates & fees).
Pros and cons
Pros
- One of the most rewarding cards due to high earning rate on food purchases
- Generous welcome offer
- More than $400 worth of credits can cancel out the annual fee
- Transfer points 1:1 to 20 airline and hotel partners
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- High $325 annual fee
- Statement credits can be difficult to use
- Redemptions outside of airfare and point transfers have a low value
- Lacks travel perks like lounge access
- Amex has more limited acceptance abroad
- Can’t carry a balance on it for most purchases
Is the American Express® Gold Card worth it?
While the American Express® Gold Card has a higher annual fee than similar cards, its perks and rewards can make it well worth it — especially if you can maximize its credits. Big food spenders can get a ton of value out of this card thanks to its high earnings on restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases. And, you’ll earn valuable points that can be transferred to 20 airline and hotel partners. If you use its $400+ worth of credits in their entirety, you’ll more than cover the $325 annual fee — making it one of the most rewarding cards you can get.
True to Amex fashion, however, this card makes its statement credits difficult to use since they’re all doled in incrementally and do not roll over. This means you’ll have to be intentional about using the credits throughout the year, and that the card’s value drops when you forget to take advantage.
If you can’t use the credits, you may be better off with a lower annual fee card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Or, you might consider splurging for a luxury card like the American Express Platinum Card®. Unlike the American Express® Gold Card, it offers premium travel benefits, including lounge access.
How much are the American Express® Gold Card's benefits worth?
We estimate that the card’s benefits are worth more than $3,000 in the first year:
- Welcome offer: ~$2,000**
- Ongoing rewards: ($20,000 annual spend): ~$593**
- Uber Cash: Up to $120 annually (up to $10 monthly) for U.S. rides and eats*
- Dunkin’ credit: Up to $84 annually (up to $7 monthly)*
- Resy credit: Up to $100 annually (up to $50 semiannually)*
- Dining credit: Up to $120 annually (up to $10 monthly)*
- Hotel collection credit: $100 for each eligible booking
*Enrollment required.
**This estimate is based on LendingTree’s value methodology.
**This estimate is based on LendingTree’s value methodology.
Quick facts
Recommended credit: Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion Good / Excellent
Rewards Rate: 1X - 4X points
- 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.
- Terms apply.
Welcome offer: As high as 100,000 points
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Rates
- Intro purchase APR: N/A
- Regular purchase APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Intro balance transfer APR: N/A
- Regular balance transfer APR: N/A
- Regular cash advance APR: 28.99% Variable
- Penalty APR: See Rates & Fees
*To see rates & fees for American Express® Gold Card, please click here.
Fees
- Annual fee: $325
- Balance transfer fee: N/A
- Cash advance fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
- Foreign exchange fee: None
- Late fee: Up to $40
*To see rates & fees for American Express® Gold Card, please click here.
Compare it to other cards
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | Annual Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Express® Gold Card
|
As high as 100,000 points
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
| 1X - 4X points
| $325 | ||
American Express Platinum Card®
|
As high as 175,000 points
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
| 5X points
| $895 | ||
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
 Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
75,000 points
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
| 1X - 5X points
| $95 |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Citi Strata Premier® Card
Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
60,000 points
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
| 1X - 10X points
| $95 |
Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
How do its benefits compare?
-
Welcome offer: 3.9 out of 5 stars
Current offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
How does it compare to other cards?
With the welcome offer on the American Express® Gold Card worth approximately $2,000 if redeemed for high-value travel options, it’s much easier to justify the card’s $325 annual fee the first year. However, there are plenty of other lucrative card welcome offers out there, many from cards with annual fees below $100.
Is it a good time to apply?
The welcome offer on the American Express® Gold Card stays fairly constant all year long, so any time can be a good time to apply. The chart below shows the recent offers on the card from the previous year.
American Express has a “once per lifetime” rule for the welcome offers on its cards. This means you can only earn the bonus on each of its card products a single time. Fortunately, Amex offers a pop-up when you’re applying to notify you that you’re ineligible for a welcome offer before you submit your application. -
Earning points: 5 out of 5 stars
How many points can you earn?
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. Terms apply.
How does it compare to other cards?
The American Express® Gold Card really shines when it comes to its rewards for food and flights. Its earnings on food-related purchases places it ahead of all other cards in terms of overall earning potential.
However, other travel cards have similar rewards rates with much lower annual fees. For example, the $95-annual-fee Citi Strata Premier® Card offers a high earning rate on a wide variety of categories including hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and gas. Like the American Express® Gold Card, it has valuable, flexible points that you can transfer to hotel and airline loyalty programs, placing it high on our list for earning potential.
Estimated rewards earned per $1 spent*
- American Express® Gold Card: $0.046
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: $0.043
- Citi Strata Premier® Card: $0.040
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: $0.037
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: $0.035
- American Express Platinum Card®: $0.023
*Based on LendingTree’s value methodology→ See the best credit cards for restaurants and dining
The card has a $50,000 cap on restaurant purchases and a $25,000 cap on U.S. supermarket purchases per year. It’s a very high limit, amounting to more than $900 in restaurant spend and more than $400 in U.S. supermarket spend per week. But you should be aware in case you spend heavily on these items. -
Redeeming points: 3 out of 5 stars
How easy is it to redeem points?
- Points don’t expire.
- Redeem points through Amex travel with no blackout dates on rewards.
- Redeem points for flights with any airline through Amex travel for 1 cent per point.
- Transfer points to 21 travel loyalty programs, mostly at a 1:1 ratio, including Delta Air Lines.
- Other travel rewards (e.g., hotels) are only worth 0.7 cents per point through Amex travel.
- Cash back statement credits are only worth 0.6 cents per point.
How does it compare to other cards?
The American Express® Gold Card scores high marks on point transferability. Amex has one of the best lists of transfer partners around, and you can get a ton of value from redeeming points this way. If you don’t want to transfer points, Amex also gives you the flexibility to redeem points through its travel portal for airfare at a value of 1 cent per point.
Unfortunately, you’ll get less than 1 cent per point for other options — including other types of travel through the Amex travel portal — making it less flexible than some cards.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® also let you transfer points 1:1 to a variety of loyalty programs. Plus, they let you redeem points as statement credits for any type of travel at a value of 1 cent per point and give you a 50% to 100% bonus for redeeming points through Chase’s travel portal. You can even get cash back at a value of 1 cent per point with these cards.
→ Learn more: American Express Membership Rewards vs. Chase Ultimate Rewards®
-
Other benefits: 3 out of 5 stars
- Uber Cash
Qualify for up to $120 in annual credits (up to $10 monthly) for U.S. Uber rides or Eats, when you add the card to the Uber app.* - Dunkin’ credit
Get up to $84 in Dunkin credits annually via monthly statement credits of $7.* - Resy credit
Get up to $100 in statement credits each year (up to $50 semi-annually) when you dine at eligible Resy restaurants.* - Dining credit
Enjoy up to $120 in annual statement credits (up to $10 monthly) on eligible purchases at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com and Five Guys.* - Extended warranty1
Qualify for one additional year of extended warranty protection on eligible items that have a manufacturer’s warranty of five years or less. - Purchase protection1
Enjoy purchase protection against damage or theft on eligible purchases for up to 90 days from the purchase date. This coverage is worth up to $10,000 per covered purchase and up to $50,000 per account. - Travel insurance
Cardholders also get a baggage insurance plan1 and secondary auto rental coverage2. - No foreign transaction fees
Use this card abroad without paying additional fees for foreign transactions. (see rates & fees)
How does it compare to other cards?
While the value of American Express® Gold Card benefits exceed the cost of the annual fee, maximizing every perk on this card can be a difficult feat. That’s because most statement credit offers are given out monthly, so you have to use the card for an eligible purchase every single month to get maximum value.
Some of the statement credits are also very specific. For example, the $10 monthly dining credits can only be used at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com and Five Guys*.
In comparison, some other cards offer statement credits that can be used for a much broader range of purchases. An example is the $300 travel statement credit offered on the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which can be used for nearly any type of travel purchase.
*Enrollment requiredTip: Amex Offers can help you get more value from the American Express® Gold Card. Simply add Amex Offers to your account and make an eligible purchase, and you’ll earn additional points or cash back depending on each offer.→ See the best credit cards for travel perks
- Uber Cash
Alternative cards
American Express Platinum Card®
If you’re willing to pay an ($895) annual fee in exchange for more premium benefits, the American Express Platinum Card® could be for you (see rates & fees). It comes with more than $2,000 in statement credits each year, plus access to the world’s largest airport lounge network for eligible card members.
Cardholders also earn a more generous welcome offer and bonus rewards on travel-related spending. And similar to the American Express® Gold Card, you can transfer those points 1:1 to 20 travel loyalty programs.
→ Learn more: American Express® Gold Card vs. American Express Platinum Card®
Tip: You can combine these cards for higher point earnings.
“I use my American Express® Gold Card to earn a high rewards rate at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and use my husband’s card (American Express Platinum Card®) for perks that aren’t offered by the American Express® Gold Card, like complimentary lounge access. I also use it to make large purchases, since they’re covered by purchase protection1 and extended warranty protection1.”
– Tracy Brackman, Senior editor, credit cards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card can be a better option for consumers who want flexible rewards for travel with a lower annual fee. At a cost of just $95 per year, this card offers a highly generous welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Users can redeem rewards for travel through Chase and get up to 75% more value, or they can transfer 1:1 to Chase airline partners like British Airways Executive Club, United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards and World of Hyatt.
This card also comes with a $50 annual hotel benefit for stays booked through Chase TravelSM, and users get a 10% bonus points each year based on the previous year’s spending. It also offers some of the best travel protections of any travel credit card, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, primary auto rental coverage, baggage delay insurance, trip delay coverage and more.
Citi Strata Premier® Card
The Citi Strata Premier® Card is another top card to consider due to its transferable points and low annual fee of $95. This card earns:
- Earn 10x on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases.
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Restaurants.
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets.
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
- Earn a $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
- Travel insurance protection: Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption (Common Carrier), Trip Delay, Lost or Damaged Luggage, MasterRental Coverage (Car Rental).
Rewards earned with this card are very valuable, since you can transfer them to partners like Aeromexico, Choice Privileges, Emirates Skywards, JetBlue TrueBlue and Wyndham Rewards. It’s one of the all-around most rewarding cards in its class and a better value than the American Express® Gold Card.
How to get the American Express® Gold Card
If you’re ready to apply for the American Express® Gold Card, here are some tips to get your application to the finish line.
- Check your credit score.
While American Express doesn’t list minimum spending requirements for this card, it does recommend good / excellent credit to be approved. With that in mind, checking your credit score can give you an idea of whether you’ll be eligible for this card.
Check your credit score for free with LendingTree Spring. - Assess your regular spending.
Make sure you can spend $6,000 on the card within six months of account opening on regular spending and bills. This amount of spending translates to $1,000 per month, and it can help you earn the welcome offer on the card. - Fill out an application.
Find the application on this page where it says “apply now” and begin filling out your information. Be as honest and accurate as you can while providing information like your name, address, household income, monthly housing payment and Social Security number (SSN).
How do we rate travel credit cards?
We take a comprehensive, data-driven approach to identify the best travel cards. We use an objective rating and ranking system that evaluates over 200 credit cards from more than 50 issuers. All recommendations are made by LendingTree’s editorial team, completely independent of affiliate partnerships or compensation. Every card is selected based on its merit and ability to help people achieve their financial goals. We use the following criteria to make our picks:
- Average value over two years (80% of rating)
We calculate the value of rewards and perks for the average cardholder using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and an annual spend of $20,000, minus the annual fee. This value includes the card’s sign-up bonus, annual bonus (including free night certificates) and travel perks like lounge access and travel credits. We look at the average rewards earned over two years to balance out a card’s ongoing value with its first-year value. - Flexibility of rewards (15% of rating)
We consider how easy the rewards are to use, looking at factors like expiration dates, minimum thresholds to redeem, blackout dates and the availability of flexible redemption options like travel statement credits and cash back. - Other features (5% of rating)
We also compare a card’s benefits, such as purchase protections, travel protections and elite status benefits against benefits from other cards.
Frequently asked questions
The American Express® Gold Card does not offer airport lounge access. If you want an Amex card that lets you enter airport lounges, check out the American Express Platinum Card® instead.
You may be able to pay rent with the American Express® Gold Card if your landlord accepts cards as payment.
Yes, the American Express® Gold Card is a metal card.
The American Express® Gold Card has some features of a charge card and a credit card. For example, the card doesn’t have a preset spending limit and instead adapts the amount you can spend based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history. Some purchases need to be paid off each billing cycle, which is another charge card feature. However, the American Express® Gold Card lets cardholders carry a balance in some instances through its Pay Over Time program.
Amex offers instant credit card numbers for some of its cards and in certain situations, which can make it possible to use the American Express® Gold Card before it arrives in the mail. However, you won’t know if you’re eligible for an instant credit card number until after you apply.
1. 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.
2. 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.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
The information related to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.