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Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
American Express is one of the world’s largest credit card companies, with more than 120 million cards in circulation. The Gold Card is one of its premium rewards cards that earns Membership Rewards points.
The Gold Card offers 4X points on restaurants and U.S. supermarkets and 3X points on flights. That means you earn four points per dollar spent on dining and three points per dollar spent on flights. All other purchases earn one point per dollar. Membership Rewards points can be redeemed for statement credits, online shopping, travel, and more. For example, you can transfer Membership Rewards points to an airline to purchase flights instead of paying with cash.
The Gold Card comes with a $250 annual fee See Rates & Fees, but new cardholders earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.
* Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The Gold Card from American Express is best suited for individuals who dine out frequently or spend a lot at U.S. supermarkets each year. The card offers 4X points in each of these categories, plus two annual $120 statement credits that can be used for dining.
The Gold Card also offers 3X points on flights, making it worthwhile as a travel rewards card. The card has no foreign transaction fees and provides up to $500 in insurance for checked baggage when flying. Travelers also get access to American Express’s 24/7 Global Assist hotline. American Express has 20 airline and hotel partners, and Membership Rewards points can be transferred to these partners to purchase flights and hotel stays.
The American Express® Gold Card has an annual fee of $250. See Pay Over Time APR See Rates & Fees. There are no foreign transaction fees for this card.
| Annual Fee | Interest Rate | Foreign Transaction Fee |
| $250 | See Pay Over Time APR | None |
The Gold Card offers unlimited 4X points on dining and 4X points on up to $25,000 at U.S. supermarkets each year. After that, U.S. supermarkets qualify for 1X points.
The card also offers 3X points on flights booked directly with the airline or through American Express. All other purchases earn 1X points.
The Gold Card comes with two annual statement credits worth up to $120. One is for purchases from Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milkbar, or Select Shake Shack locations. The other is for Uber and can be used for ridesharing or Uber Eats.
New cardholders earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.
You can apply for the Gold Card online. You must enter your name, contact information, birthdate, social security number, and annual income. American Express conducts a soft credit check, which won’t impact your credit score. You must have a minimum credit score of 670 to pre-qualify.
If you pre-qualify and request a card, American Express will run a hard credit check. Your card will arrive in the mail in 7-10 days.
American Express offers 24/7 customer support by phone, live chat, and email for existing cardholders. New applicants can access phone support from 6am-2am (ET) seven days a week.
American Express has detailed help pages that include a complete guide to the Gold Card.
American Express uses both SSL and 256-bit AES encryption to protect applicants and cardholders. Cardholders can enable two-factor authentication for their online account and use the American Express mobile app to freeze or unfreeze their card at any time.
American Express also has a 24/7 fraud prevention center. If you need help while traveling abroad, the company has a 24/7 Global Assist hotline for cardholders.
The Gold Card and Platinum Card from American Express are both excellent rewards cards. The Gold Card offers more rewards for dining, while the Platinum Card offers more rewards for travel. The Gold Card has a lower annual fee and may be better for spending on everyday purchases like U.S. supermarkets.
The Gold Card has a $250 annual fee, but its rewards more than pay for this fee for many cardholders. New cardholders earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.
The American Express® Gold Card offers 4X points on restaurants and U.S. supermarkets up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X, 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, and 1X points on all other purchases. New cardholders earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership. The card also provides $240 in annual statement credits, nearly offsetting the $250 annual fee. Overall, the Gold Card is a great option if you dine out or travel frequently.
This review was completed based on information on the American Express website.
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.
Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
