Don’t ignore the American Express ® Gold Card when applying for your first ( or fifth ) travel rewards card. The Amex Gold has favorite extra groups, such as dining at cafes and U. S. shops, and earns important American Express Membership Rewards points. And if you fully utilize the Uber Cash benefit, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Resy statement credits each year ( enrollment required ), the$ 325 annual fee ( see rates and fees ) can be fully refunded. Let’s go over the benefits of the Amex Gold card, as well as who should qualify for it and what does not. Key Amex Gold benefitsThe Amex Gold’s$ 325 annual fee might seem steep initially, but it can be fully offset if you take advantage of the card’s up to$ 424 in annual value ( enrollment required for select benefits ). You’ll receive up to$ 10 per month in dining statement credits at participating restaurants like The Cheesecake Factory, Five Guys, Goldbelly, Grubhub, and Wine .com (up to$ 120 per year ). Up to$ 10 per month in Uber Cash can be used on Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the United States ( Uber Cash can only be deposited into one Uber account when you use Amex Gold as payment method and redeem with any Amex card ). Additionally, you’ll receive up to$ 50 biannually in Resy statement credits (up to$ 100 annually ). When you pay your bill with the Amex Gold at any restaurant that is a part of the Resy system, these funds can be used. ( The statement credit must not be reserving any reservations. ) Lastly, you can earn up to$ 7 in Dunkin ‘ statement credits each month (up to$ 84 annually ). Apply your Amex Gold when making a purchase at a United States Dunkin’ ATM. Find out your offer and check if you are eligible for as much as 100, 000 bonus points after spending$ 6, 000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. The Amex Gold also has impressive earning categories: 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide ( on up to$ 50, 000 in spending per year, then 1 point per dollar spent ); 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets ( on up to$ 25, 000 in spending per year, then 1 point per dollar spent ); 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly ( Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. ) Based on TPG’s February 2026 valuations, this welcome offer is worth up to$ 2,000. Who ought to purchase the Amex Gold? People who spend a bit on dining at cafes and at U. S. supermarketsMost people spend many of their finances at restaurants and grocery stores. You need a passport in your pocket that generates a lot of rewards in these groups if you want to increase your points and miles activity. Based on TPG’s valuation of Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each, the 4 points per dollar earned on dining at restaurants around the world (up to$ 50, 000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar ) and U.S. supermarket purchases (up to$ 25, 000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar ) equal an impressive 8 % return. The 8 % return possible makes this card a no-brainer for those who spend strongly on dining out and at stores. People looking to complete the Amex trifectaThe Amex Gold, along with the American Express Platinum Card ® and the American Express Blue Business ® Plus Credit Card, is strong on its own, but it’s even better when it’s a part of the Amex trifecta. Check out our comprehensive link to the Amex trifecta for more information. Related: This might be the best Amex card duo: Amex Gold and Amex Business PlatinumPeople who can increase the monthly statement creditsOne of the greatest techniques the Amex Gold adds value is through its dining speech credits and Airbnb Money. If you can get the most out of them, you’ll pay the annual fee ( enrollment required for some benefits ) and emerge ahead. Occupying long, giddy IMAGES: If you frequent one of the partner dining establishments and order takeout, you can easily use up to$ 10 per month for dining statement credit. Also, when you add your cards to your Uber account, you’ll obtain$ 10 in Uber Cash deposited to your account monthly to use on U. S. trips and U. S. Uber Eats purchases. Additionally, you’ll be given up to$ 50 in Resy statement credits on average every two years. Because there is no need for reservations, these statement funds are very simple to use. Associated: 8 ways to make the most of the Amex Gold Card’s benefitsPeople who are over 5/24 with ChaseAt TPG, we almost uniformly recommend that you prioritize applying for Chase credit cards because of the borrower’s nasty 5/24 law. Simply put, this rule means that if you’ve opened five or more credit cards in the last 24 months, you will be automatically rejected for most Chase cards. The Amex Gold might be a wise choice after you’ve filled your five Chase slots, but it can be challenging to decide. Not only will you immediately begin earning a valuable transferable rewards currency, but the bonus categories will also help you earn toward your next award flight or hotel stay much faster. Ignoring Chase’s 5/24 rule, exactly? It always makes sense to try for the best offer possible because Amex has a once-per-lifetime policy with welcome offers. The welcome offer on the Amex Gold can vary, so try different methods until you find the best offer. Who shouldn’t receive the Amex Gold? The best credit card welcome bonuses Although the Amex Gold has the potential to be a very lucrative card, some people might struggle to get good value out of it. People who are under 5/24 and want more Chase cardsAs mentioned above, Chase’s 5/24 rule is one of the most important considerations in building a starter strategy for credit cards. Five cards may seem intimidating to someone who has never used one before, but those slots quickly fill up. Once you’ve used them, it takes a while to get them back. The Amex Gold will probably be around for a while, so there’s no reason to fire off an application for it right now if it means compromising your strategy with Chase. You should think about locking those cards in first if you want one like the Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card ( see rates and fees ) or the Chase Sapphire Reserve ® ( see rates and fees ) in the near future. If you live outside the United States, this card is much less valuable because its bonus category for U.S. supermarkets and the majority of its statement credits are not useful abroad. URBAZON/GETTY IMAGESThe card’s other perks, such as 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly through the airline or through AmexTravel.com and an up to$ 100 statement credit each calendar year when booking through The Hotel Collection* ( with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com ), are easily trumped by other premium rewards cards. *The amount of eligible charges depends on the property. The up to$ 10 monthly Uber Cash benefit, up to$ 10 in monthly dining statement credits, up to$ 50 biannual Resy statement credit, and up to$ 7 monthly Dunkin’ statement credit you’ll receive on the Amex Gold can be simple for many people to use, but no card perk is a great fit for everyone. If it sounds like you’ll end up spending money you otherwise wouldn’t to take advantage of the Amex Gold’s benefits, you’re better off getting a card that comes with perks you’ll more naturally use. Additionally, it’s worthwhile to check your neighborhood for any Dunkin ‘ Dos. If you live in one of those areas, the statement credit will be largely useless to you if you don’t have access to any of those states and territories, such as Oregon and Washington. Those who live in more rural areas may find it difficult to use the Resy statement credit. A complete guide to the Amex Gold dining credit The former version of Amex Gold, the American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card, is still technically the same product despite receiving a significant makeover, including this one. If you’ve had the card before, you’ll likely want to get a different card that allows you to earn a welcome bonus. People who want more comprehensive travel protectionsThe Amex Gold isn’t among the best cards with travel protections. For instance, the secondary insurance* for a rental car you receive with the card only applies to expenses that are not covered by your other insurance, for instance. OSCAR WONG/GETTY IMAGESIf travel protections are important to you, you’ll be better off with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve, which all feature impressive travel coverage. *Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. There are geographic limitations, and not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more information. AMEX Assurance Company is the underwriter of all policies. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. Bottom lineThe Amex Gold is a valuable option for U. S. based consumers who spend heavily on food and are looking for an in-between, premium-lite card that offers good returns without a hefty price tag. This card might become your wallet’s cornerstone if you can make the most of all the benefits it offers. However, you might prefer one of our other favorite travel credit cards if you live abroad or frequently travel abroad, or you can’t use all of your statement credits. To learn more, read our full review of the American Express Gold. Apply to American Express Gold by clicking on the link below for Amex Gold rates and fees.
