American Express® Gold Card
The Gold Card fits people who put most of their spending on food. It earns 4X points at restaurants worldwide on up to $50,000 per calendar year and 4X at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year. Monthly Uber, dining, Resy and Dunkin' credits can return up to $424 per year against the $325 annual fee. The credits post monthly, so they reward steady use rather than one big trip.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- 4X points at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year
- 4X points at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year
- Up to $120 in Uber Cash per year, delivered as $10 each month
- Up to $120 in annual dining credits at Grubhub, Five Guys, Cheesecake Factory, Wonder and Buffalo Wild Wings
- Up to $100 in Resy credits and up to $84 in Dunkin' credits each calendar year
- $100 credit on qualifying two-night prepaid stays in The Hotel Collection booked through AmexTravel.com
- No foreign transaction fees
- Annual fee: $325
- Pay Over Time APR: 19.49% - 28.49% Variable
- Intro APR: N/A, this is a pay-in-full charge card with Pay Over Time on eligible charges
- Balance transfers: not offered on this card
- Cash advance fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Cash advance APR: 28.74% Variable
- Late payment fee: Up to $40
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Rates and offers verified on the issuer's website on August 27, 2026 and may change. See the issuer's pricing and terms for current details.
- You spend heavily at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets and want 4X on both
- Your routine already includes Uber, Grubhub, Resy restaurants or Dunkin', so the monthly credits fit naturally
- You want Membership Rewards points that transfer to airline and hotel partners
- You pay in full each month and do not need an intro APR
- You should skip it if you rarely dine out or would not use the monthly credits, the $325 fee then outweighs the earning
American Express® Gold Card Review
The Gold Card is American Express's food card. It concentrates its value in two 4X categories, restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and in a stack of monthly credits. This review looks at whether the credits fit your routine well enough to outrun the $325 annual fee.
How You Earn
Earning is concentrated in food categories, with travel accelerators when you book through American Express.
- Category caps reset each calendar year
- After a cap, the rate drops to 1X
| Category | Earn rate |
|---|---|
| Restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year) | 4X |
| U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year) | 4X |
| Flights (airlines or AmexTravel.com) | 3X |
| Prepaid hotels via AmexTravel.com | 5X |
| Prepaid car rentals via AmexTravel.com | 2X |
| All other purchases | 1X |
How You Redeem
Points live in Membership Rewards and are most valuable when moved to travel partners.
- Transfer to airline and hotel loyalty partners
- Book travel through AmexTravel.com
- Cover charges, gift cards or shopping, usually at lower value
Benefits and Protections
The card leans on credits more than insurance, but core protections are included.
- Up to $424 per year in Uber, dining, Resy and Dunkin' credits, enrollment required
- $100 credit on qualifying Hotel Collection stays
- Purchase protections and dispute support from American Express
- No foreign transaction fees
Who This Card Is For
This card suits households whose two biggest card categories are eating out and groceries. It rewards steady monthly use of its credits. It is not built for people who want one flat rate on everything.
- Frequent restaurant and supermarket spenders
- Users of Uber, Grubhub or Resy
- Points collectors feeding a Membership Rewards balance
Comparison
| Feature | American Express® Gold Card | Citi Strata Premier® Card | U.S. Bank Altitude® Go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $325 | $95 | $0 |
| Welcome Offer | As high as 100,000 pts, $8,000 in 6 mo | 60,000 pts after $4,000 in 3 mo | 20,000 pts after $1,000 in 90 days |
| Rewards Rate | 4X dining and U.S. supermarkets | 3X dining, groceries, gas, air travel | 4X dining up to $2,000 per quarter |
| Intro APR | N/A | N/A | 0% for 15 billing cycles |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | None | None | See issuer terms |
| Best For | Food-heavy spending | Broad 3X categories at $95 | No-fee dining rewards |
Issuer Comparison
| Feature | American Express® Gold Card | The Platinum Card® | American Express® Green Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $325 | $895 | $150, closed to new applicants |
| Welcome Offer | As high as 100,000 pts, $8,000 in 6 mo | As high as 175,000 pts, $12,000 in 6 mo | No welcome offer at this time |
| Rewards Rate | 4X dining and U.S. supermarkets | 5X flights and prepaid hotels | 3X travel, transit, dining |
| Key Credits | Up to $424 dining, Uber, Resy, Dunkin' | Hotel, airline, Uber, Resy, CLEAR and more | CLEAR Plus credit |
| Best For | Everyday food spend | Premium travel perks | Existing cardmembers only |