Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visitamericanexpress.comto learn more.
The American Express® Gold Card is one of the top rewards cards for dining and grocery purchases. And now, it's getting a facelift with new benefits, updates to existing perks and a higher annual fee. It is also offering a sleek limited-edition white gold design option, along with an elevated welcome bonus.
If you have the card or are considering getting it, CNBC Select has the details to help you decide if the Amex Gold Card is worth it.
American Express® Gold Card
On the American Express secure site
Rewards
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year, 3X Membership Rewards® points on per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, 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. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
Annual fee
$325
Intro APR
Not applicable
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
See rates and fees, terms apply.
Read our American Express® Gold Card review.
Pros
- You can earn over $400 in statement credits every year
- Exceptionally rewarding for eligible restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases
- No fee charged on foreign transactions
Cons
- No introductory APR
- $325 annual fee
American Express Gold Card changes
- Annual fee increase
- New statement credits
- White gold option
- Elevated welcome offer
- Benefits that are changing
- Benefits that are staying the same
- Alternative cards to consider
- Is the Amex Gold worth it?
Annual fee increase
The American Express Gold Card's annual fee has increased from $250 to $325 (see rates and fees) for new cardholders. For existing Gold cardholders, thenew fee takeseffect with renewal dates on or after Oct. 1, 2024.
While nobody wants a price increase, American Express is introducing new benefits to help cardholders justify the fee.
New statement credits
The increased annual fee is offset by two new statement credit offers. Eligible purchases will earn:
- Up to $84 in Dunkin' credit each year (up to $7 back per month; Enrollment required).
- Up to $100 in Resy credit each year (up to $50 semi-annually) for in-person dining at U.S. Resy restaurants and other eligible Resy purchases (Enrollment required).
These two benefits are worth up to $184 each year, so if you're able to maximize them, they will more than make up for the $75 annual fee increase.
If you live near a Dunkin', that's as simple as changing where you get your coffee every morning. And even if you don't, you can easily use the Resy credit by spending at one of the thousands of restaurants across the country listed on the platform (you don't actually have to make a reservation on Resy).
Related: What credit score do you need to qualify for the American Express Gold Card?
White gold option
With this overhaul, you can choose from a gold, rose gold or white gold card design. The white gold option is a limited edition and will only be available while supplies last.
Existing cardholders can request the new white gold option by logging into their American Express account, going to the "replace a card" page under "account services" and selecting the "I want to change my Card's design" option.
You can choose from three versions of the Amex Gold card.
American Express
Elevated welcome offer
To complement these changes, the American Express Gold Card is offering a limited-time welcome offer of 60,000 points after spending $6,000 on purchases with your card in the first six months of card membership plus 20% back at restaurants worldwide for the first six months of card membership (up to $100 back).
The best way to maximize Amex Membership Rewards points is to transfer them to one of Amex's partner travel programs. For example, you could transfer points to Avianca LifeMiles to book domestic economy flights from 6,500 miles one-way or business class flights to Europe from 60,000 miles each way.
Don't have great credit? Here are the best travel cards for fair credit
Benefits that are changing
One of the biggest benefits of the Amex Gold Card is the ability to earn 4X Membership Rewards points for purchases at restaurants worldwide. Starting Jan. 1, 2025, this 4X bonus category will be capped and only apply to the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each year (then 1X). While this is a negative change, it will only affect the heaviest of spenders.
The card is also keeping the up to $120 in annual dining credits (up to $10 in credit per month; enrollment required), but the list of eligible restaurants is changing. Five Guys has been added to the list and, as of Sept. 26, 2024, Shake Shack and Milk Bar are no longer eligible. The credit will continue to apply at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly and Wine.com.
Benefits that are staying the same
The Amex Gold continues to be a points-earning powerhouse. In addition to the 4X Membership Rewards points at worldwide restaurants (on the first $50,000, then 1X starting on Jan. 1, 2025), you'll earn:
- 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X)
- 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com
- 2X points on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel booked through booked through Amextravel.com
- 1X points on all other purchases
- Terms apply
You can also receive up to $120 in Uber Cash each year (up to $10 per month and you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express Gold Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account. The Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States).
The card will also continue to offer special perks when booking stays two nights or longer with The Hotel Collection, including a $100 experience credit, room upgrades, early check-in and late check-out (when available).
You'll also continue to have access to a range of travel and purchase coverages, including:
- Trip delay insurance**
- Baggage insurance*
- Car rental loss and damage insurance***
- Extended warranty*
- Purchase protection*
*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.
**Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/ benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
***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. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Alternative cards to consider
The new American Express Gold Card offers a lot of value outside of its generous bonus spending categories, but it's scattered across a selection of monthly and semi-annual benefits.
If you prefer a rewards credit card with a lower cost, you may appreciate the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. It has a reasonable $95 annual fee and earns at least 2X miles on every purchase. Similar to Amex Membership Rewards points, you can transfer Capital One miles to a long list of hotel and airline loyalty programs, including Emirates Skywards, Wyndham Rewards, Avianca LifeMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan and more.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Learn More
Rewards
5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase
Welcome bonus
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A for purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% variable
Balance transfer fee
$0at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Terms apply.
If you want premium perks and benefits that are easier to use, consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. The Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee, but that's partially offset by an up to $300 annual travel credit. The credit automatically applies to a massive list of eligible purchases so you don't need to shop with specific companies to earn it. It also comes with airport lounge access and earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which are valuable transferable travel rewards.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
On Chase’s secure site
Rewards
Earn 5X total points on flights and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Annual fee
$550
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
22.49% - 29.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
5%, minimum $5
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent
Terms apply.
Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve® review.
Is the Amex Gold worth it?
The American Express Gold Card's annual fee is now $325 (see rates and fees), which is a $75 increase. This increased cost is offset by a new Dunkin' credit worth up to $84 per year (up to $7 per month) and up to $100 in Resy credit each year ($50 semi-annually). The card continues to offer perks like a monthly dining credit and Uber Cash credit.
Overall, the pros of the Amex Gold card refresh outweigh the cons if you can fully utilize the card's many benefits. You can now get over $400 in value with the Gold Card annually on eligible dining and travel purchases, making the card worth it for many consumers. Just remember that there are now credits that renew monthly and semi-annually and they do not roll over if unused.
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For rates and fees of the American Express Gold Card®,clickhere.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.