American Express® Gold

Dining is the strongest category at 2.4% effective value (4x points at about 0.6 cents each). That dining rate ranks higher than about 63% of the 1,547 cards we track in that category. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

Dining is the strongest category at 2.4% effective value (4x points at about 0.6 cents each). That dining rate ranks higher than about 63% of the 1,547 cards we track in that category.

Madeen values American Express Membership Rewards at about 0.6 cents each. Madeen compares every card using this cash-equivalent estimate while still showing the raw earn rate for context.

The American Express Gold has 4 notable cap or condition rule(s) in Madeen's catalog, including activation windows, spend limits, and category exclusions. Review each bullet below before assuming unlimited earn rates. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

• 3x on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
• 2x on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel purchases, booked through AmexTravel.com
• 4x at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year Capped at $50000 per year.
• 4x on groceries at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year Capped at $25000 per year.

The American Express Gold fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 4x points. Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 4x points. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement.

American Express Gold is one of the clearest dining-and-grocery points cards when you already value Membership Rewards. Madeen compares its effective rate against the cards you carry without bank login, so you can see whether the annual fee is worth it for your actual restaurant and supermarket spend.

Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 4x points. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement.

Compare it against simpler no-fee cards if you want minimum complexity.

A common pick for frequent restaurant and grocery spend; run it through Madeen against your current wallet before you apply.

The American Express Gold has an annual fee of $325 and a foreign transaction fee of None. New applicants may see: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership + receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the.

Annual fee

$325

Foreign transaction fee

None

Signup bonus

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership + receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Offer ends 11/6/2024.

The American Express Gold includes $100 Resy Credit, $120 Dining Credit, $120 Uber Cash on Gold in our snapshot. Perks and benefits can change; verify coverage on the issuer site before you rely on them. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

• $100 Resy Credit

  Enroll and get up to $50 back semi-annually in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases.

• $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, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations.

• $120 Uber Cash on Gold

  Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll automatically get $10 in Uber Cash each month for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. Plus, you'll earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for each Uber Eats purchase on your Card.

• $84 Dunkin' Credit

  Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Dunkin' locations.

• American Express Preferred Access

  With Preferred Access, you will have access to premium seats for select cultural and sporting events, based on availability.

• Baggage Insurance Plan

  Travel more comfortably knowing you can be covered for lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage when you purchase the Entire Fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) on an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage. For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip. Please read important exclusions and restrictions.

• Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance

  Getting into your Rental Vehicle can be the start of a great vacation. When you use your Eligible Card to reserve and pay for the Entire Rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental Company counter, you can be covered for Damage to or Theft of a Rental Vehicle in a Covered Territory. Please read important exclusions and restrictions. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Coverage is not available for vehicles rented in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage.

• Global Assist® Hotline

  Whenever you travel more than 100 miles from home, Global Assist® Hotline is available for 24/7 medical, legal, financial and other select emergency assistance and coordination services, such as medical and legal referrals, emergency cash wires, and missing luggage assistance. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Other terms and conditions apply.

Compare the American Express Gold against Hilton Honors American Express Aspire (3.5% on Dining, $550 fee); Hilton Honors American Express Surpass (3% on Dining, $150 fee); Hilton Honors Business (3% on Dining, $95 fee). Madeen ranks effective value by category and annual fee using the same catalog snapshot dated 2026-05-01.

• Which Credit Card Should You Use for Dining and Restaurants?
• Is Amex Gold or Chase Sapphire Preferred Better?
• Which Credit Card Should You Use for Food Delivery?

• Hilton Honors American Express AspireAmerican Express · 3.5% on dining
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®American Express · 3% on dining
• Hilton Honors BusinessAmerican Express · 3% on dining
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express®American Express · 2.8% on dining

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