American Express Gold Card
American Express Gold Card by American Express: 5x hotels via portal, 4x dining & restaurants (first $50K/yr), 4x groceries / supermarkets (first…
The American Express Gold Card is American Express's mid-tier credit card. The $325/yr annual fee includes a welcome bonus of up to 100,000 points (offers vary) after spending $8,000 in the first 6 months. Beyond the welcome bonus, here's what the card actually delivers.
Rewards
- 5x (≈10.0% effective at 2¢/pt) on hotels, via portal
- 4x (≈8.0% effective at 2¢/pt) on dining
- 4x (≈8.0% effective at 2¢/pt) on groceries
- 3x (≈6.0% effective at 2¢/pt) on flights
- 2x (≈4.0% effective at 2¢/pt) on travel, via portal
- 1x (≈2.0% effective at 2¢/pt) on everything
Statement credits ($424 total/yr)
| Credit | Value | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Uber Cash | $120/yr ($10/mo) | $10/mo Uber Cash for Uber rides + Uber Eats in U.S. |
| Dunkin' Donuts | $84/yr ($7/mo) | $7/mo at Dunkin' (U.S. only) |
| Dining (monthly) | $120/yr ($10/mo) | $10/mo at Grubhub (incl. Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, Wonder (U.S.; enrollment required) |
| Resy U.S. restaurants | $100/yr ($50 per half-year) | $50 H1 + $50 H2 at U.S. Resy-affiliated restaurants |
What the $325/yr fee is buying
Welcome bonus value (year one): up to $2000. Annual statement credits: $424. Minus the $325 annual fee = up to $2099 in year-one net value before any spending earn. RewardsGuru rating: 4.9/5 — based on our net-value methodology.
Who it's for, who should skip
Best fit: someone whose category spending matches the card's earn multipliers. Skip if: your spending pattern is flat across categories — a 2% flat-rate card would beat this.
Frequently asked questions
What's the American Express Gold Card welcome bonus?
Up to 100,000 points after spending $8,000 in the first 6 months (offers vary). At our ~2¢/pt valuation, that's up to $2000 in real value.
Is the American Express Gold Card worth the $325 annual fee?
Year-one math: welcome bonus value (up to $2000) + annual credits ($424) − $325 fee = up to $2099 net before spending earn. Year-two onward, the credits alone need to clear $325 — they do. Worth it if you'll use the credits, skip if you'd let them expire.
What statement credits does the American Express Gold Card include?
4 recurring statement credits: Uber Cash ($120/yr, $10/mo), Dunkin' Donuts ($84/yr, $7/mo), Dining (monthly) ($120/yr, $10/mo), Resy U.S. restaurants ($100/yr, $50 per half-year). Total: $424/yr.
Does the American Express Gold Card have foreign transaction fees?
Check the card's terms — most premium travel cards waive foreign transaction fees, while no-fee and entry-tier cards usually charge 2-3%. American Express's product page has the current rate.